Chapter 143: Granted the Right to Direct Memorials

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Early in the morning, Lady Wang went to pay her respects to Jia Mu as usual. Because Jia Mu had vaguely heard about the Xue family matter a few days ago, she asked about the reason in passing.

Lady Wang said: "My sister is a widow, and she only raised Pan Er as a son. It is also quite pitiful. Pan Er is also a filial child, and he is extremely good to his own sisters."

Jia Mu's expression softened upon hearing this. It sounded similar to her own Baoyu, so she said: "In that case, he is also a good child."

Lady Wang added: "Who is to say otherwise? It's just that the child's temperament is a bit reckless. This year, he was also unlucky and had some disputes with others outside.

The servant beside him, in order to protect his master, fought with that person a few times. Originally, it was a small matter, but who would have thought that the person had a hidden illness, and after returning home for a day, he died.

That family then falsely accused Pan Er of beating someone to death and reported it to the Yingtian Prefecture, making things a bit unsettled."

Jia Mu's expression changed upon hearing this. Hearing that it was only the servant beside him who beat someone to death, she said: "For children of families like ours, filial piety and knowing etiquette are the most important things; everything else is a small matter.

Which child is not raised to be naughty and love to make trouble? It is inevitable that the servants beside them will incite and indulge them, leading to some troublesome things. It is just that getting entangled in a human life case is difficult to handle.

She plans to bring her sisters to Shenjing for a long stay. Firstly, the brothers and sisters haven't seen each other for many years, and secondly, she wants her uncle to discipline the child more."

Ever since Lady Wang received her sister's letter and knew that Jia Cong was unwilling to help, Aunt Xue didn't say anything in the letter, but she felt uncomfortable in her heart, forgetting what she had done originally.

Jia Mu's expression was a bit unhappy, and she said: "His temperament of attracting trouble is not as obedient and worry-free as Baoyu and his sisters. I would rather stay further away, let go of my hands, and have more peace of mind and happiness."

Lady Wang smiled slightly: "Although Cong Ge'er has been a bit glorious these past two years, it is also because he has had no blessings since he was young and was not raised and nurtured by Grandmother's side. Otherwise, his sense of propriety in all matters would probably be more appropriate."

"Finally, has this matter been settled? They are all relatives. If we can help, we should lend a hand. It is not a matter worth mentioning."

Jia Mu felt unhappy when she heard this, and her tone was a bit sharp: "He makes so much trouble at home, but once he goes out, he wilts. Where did his usual ability go? He doesn't even know how to help his relatives."

As for how she treats Daiyu in her heart, just look at how the old lady treats Jia Cong.

That kid acts big in front of relatives, but he can't hide everything from the old lady. Moreover, he got the old lady's word to bring her sister's family over to live, so he was satisfied in his heart.

When Jia Mu heard the mention of Wang Ziteng, her expression was a bit indifferent. Last time, Wang Ziteng's wife secretly harmed Jia Cong, almost causing the Jia family to lose all face. The knot in Jia Mu's heart is hard to remove, and she has long since developed a dislike.

After thinking for a while, she said again: "It's just that relatives should always support each other. Which child doesn't have bumps and troubles? They will be sensible when they grow up."

"Originally, Cong Ge'er went to Jin Ling on imperial business. Because he had an imperial order, I heard that the officials in Jin Ling all gave him some face, so my sister begged him to mediate."

Fortunately, she didn't want to make her daughter-in-law lose face in front of her, so she said: "That is a good thing. You sisters haven't seen each other for many years. When they come, bring them to the prefecture to stay for a while. I am old now and love the liveliness."

Lady Wang added: "Yesterday, my sister sent someone to bring a letter, saying that the matter was resolved, but she was worried that Pan Er had no discipline in Jin Ling."

"But Cong Ge'er said he was young and couldn't handle it, so he pushed it away. This is still young, and he doesn't take human relations to heart. Later, it was Father who wrote to the Jin Ling Prefect, Jia Yucun, to settle the matter."

Today, she said these things to lay the groundwork for the old lady. The old lady values face in front of relatives. Having been a daughter-in-law for many years, how could she not know?

In recent years, the old lady has raised Daiyu like her own heart. How could she not know the old lady's meaning? It's just that for her own son, she naturally has her own plans in her heart.

Lady Wang hurriedly replied: "Grandmother's words are reasonable. My sister's heart is too soft, and she is too lenient with the people below, which is why these things happen."

"It is still Grandmother who cherishes us younger generations. My sister's daughter, Baochai, is an excellent girl. When she comes one day, Grandmother will surely like her when she sees her."

At this time, Yingchun, Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Baoyu, and others were talking and entered Rongqing Hall to pay their respects to Jia Mu. Lady Wang stopped talking.

The sisters were chatting with the old lady when they heard chaotic footsteps in the covered walkway outside, as if many people were running.

Jia Mu felt strange in her heart and called Yuanyang to go outside and see what was happening.

It was just that Yuanyang didn't return after being out for a long time. Jia Mu felt a bit strange, but she didn't take it to heart and continued chatting with Daiyu and the others.

At this time, she saw Yuanyang enter Rongqing Hall with a face full of joy and said: "Grandmother, just now I went to the walkway outside and heard the news from the little maids in the front. I was afraid they had heard it wrong,

so I went to the Rongxi Hall to inquire, and only then did I come back to report the good news to Grandmother."

Jia Mu was stunned: "Report good news? What good news?"

Yuanyang smiled and said: "Just now there was a commotion outside because an official came from the palace to pass an imperial decree to reward Third Brother Cong with gold. Father has already received the decree on behalf of Third Brother in Rongxi Hall."

Jia Mu looked surprised and asked: "What did you say? He is still in Jin Ling, why did he suddenly receive an imperial decree to reward him with gold!"

Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Yingchun, and the other sisters were also shocked when they heard the news. However, since there was a reward of gold, it must be a good thing. They were all pleasantly surprised in their hearts, but they didn't know what good thing it was.

Baoyu looked blank, and there was even some impatience in his heart.

In the past two years, there have been too many shocking things about Jia Cong. He felt that Jia Cong was too noisy and lacked a quiet and leisurely atmosphere, wasting such a good skin.

Lady Wang's prayer beads turned faster again, and a surge of depression rushed to her forehead. Just now, she was still saying in front of the old lady that Jia Cong was self-important and had no relatives in his eyes.

Before these words had even landed, this kid had caused an imperial decree to reward him with gold, as if he were deliberately coming out to slap her in the face. Even for his lowly life, it was actually something that couldn't be said.

Yuanyang continued: "The imperial decree says that Third Brother made a contribution in Jin Ling, saying he helped Prince Ning, and also said he offered the court some method of three-stage firing. I can't say exactly what it is.

The Emperor promoted Third Brother Cong to a seventh-rank official position. From now on, he is not called a Fengyi Lang, but a Chengshi Lang. He also rewarded Third Brother with five hundred gold, a large tray full of yellow, carved with cloud patterns and palace flowers, looking rare."

Hearing these words, everyone in the hall was stunned. Jia Mu had lived in a great family all her life and knew a little about officialdom.

Since ancient times, in the ups and downs of officialdom, to be promoted by one rank often requires years of effort. Some people wait until their hair and beard are white, and they are still just a sesame-sized official.

Her own Zheng'er, because of his father's last memorial back then, was granted the position of a fifth-rank Yuanwailang by the Emperor. After waiting for more than ten years, it is still the same.

The last time the Emperor issued an imperial decree to grant that kid an eighth-rank official position was only a month ago.

Only a few days have passed, and he has actually been promoted to a seventh-rank official again. What exactly did this kid do to be so favored by the Emperor? This ability to be promoted is too outstanding.

Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, Yingchun, and the other sisters were all overjoyed when they heard the news. Third Brother Cong's ability is also strange; wherever he goes, he has to stand out.

It's just that the three-stage firing that Yuanyang mentioned is some kind of strange thing. How could these boudoir women have heard of it?

At this time, Jia Zheng walked into Rongqing Hall with a face full of smiles.

"Grandmother, today is truly a great joy."

Jia Mu felt that these words sounded familiar no matter how she heard them, and she felt a bit tired of it in her heart. She didn't know what happened this year, but all the good luck of the Jia family had been taken by this kid.

"Just now, an imperial decree was passed down from the palace, saying that Cong Ge'er offered the court the method of three-stage firing muskets in Jin Ling. The Emperor was overjoyed and called this method a sharp weapon to stabilize the country, and also established a Firearms Battalion because of this method.

Because Cong Ge'er made a contribution with his suggestion, he was promoted from an eighth-rank Fengyi Lang to a seventh-rank Chengshi Lang, and was also rewarded with five hundred gold.

In addition, he was asked to be a consultant for Prince Ning in Jin Ling, to assist Prince Ning in handling important matters, and he was also granted the right to direct memorials."

(End of chapter)