Chapter 178: Unprovoked Old Grudges

Wang Xifeng was indeed as accurate as a god; Mother Zhou happened to hear what Jia Lian said just now when she came to find her.

She knew her master Lady Wang's mind best. Now that she knew about Jia Cong's scandal, how could she not go and make trouble? She turned around and went to Rongqing Hall to be a reporter.

Lady Jia heard that Jia Cong had actually hooked up with a nun and brought her back to the residence, and she was so angry that she smashed her teacup on the spot.

Back then, Jia Jing of the East Prefecture abandoned his huge family business and ran to become a Daoist, causing a huge disturbance. The Old Lady had always had taboos about monks and Daoists.

This beast wanted a woman; where couldn't he find one? He had to go to the temple to find a nun and bring her back to the residence.

Back then, his father brought a prostitute into the residence, and as a result, he cursed a lot of people to death, and even the Old Duke was harmed, making the whole city full of storms and turning the world upside down, letting the nobles of Shenjing see enough jokes.

This public case had been stuck in Lady Jia's heart for more than ten years; it was the thing she hated the most in her life, otherwise, she wouldn't have disliked Jia Cong so much.

Therefore, she felt an indescribable disgust and hatred for this kind of woman who was not from a proper background, and it had almost become a heart knot.

Now, this reckless and low-class embryo was just like his father, actually bringing this kind of unreliable woman into the residence.

Did he want the events of that year to happen again, and let outsiders see a joke again? That would really be turning the world upside down. This really touched Lady Jia's reverse scale.

The Old Lady even made a fierce statement: if Cong Sanye Cong brought that nun back, he would not be allowed to enter the residence.

This morning, she heard Fengjie say that she received a letter from the old Jin Ling residence, saying that Jia Cong set off from Jin Ling for the capital on the 20th of the 12th lunar month. Calculating the days, he would be back in the residence in these few days.

She also sent a trusted servant to the pier and city gate every day to inquire, and found that the news of Jia Cong's return to the city was reported in advance, to save him from causing trouble and making her mother angry.

Now Jia Cong's literary name was almost spread throughout the land, which was also a great glory for the Jia family. If his reputation were ruined because of these romantic messes, it would be too much of a loss.

And this kind of thing, not to mention the Jia family, but any noble or official family, if the descendants were absurd and hunted for beauty, kept as outside mistresses, they would also be criticized, let alone bringing them back to the residence openly.

She told the things she heard one by one.

After all, it was the spirit of a teenager. Being alone outside for half a year without the restraint and guidance of teachers, his behavior was a bit too out of line.

This heart had two crimes combined, and she became more and more furious.

Several people were discussing finding some lively ways to spend the New Year. The first thing was to ask Jia Cong if he had any new works besides those two good poems.

Plus, she heard those words from Lady Shi Zhe. That Shi family descendant was her maternal relative. This evil obstacle caused such things, wasn't it stepping on her face on the ground?

She was a bit hesitant, but seeing that the Second Young Lady and Third Young Lady were there, she thought it was okay. Everyone in the residence knew that the Second Young Lady cared most about this brother, Cong Sanye, and the Third Young Lady was most compatible with the Second Young Master.

"For no reason, the Old Ancestor is so angry; what happened?"

However, his reaction was not as intense as Lady Jia's. It was common for aristocratic descendants to be hot-blooded and admire beauty, and even he himself couldn't be exempt.

Jia Zheng also made up his mind that in a few days, when Jia Cong returned to the residence, he would call for more restraint and guidance.

In Daiyu's room, Yingchun and Seeing Tan Chun were coming over to talk together, laughing and talking, the atmosphere relaxed and comfortable.

Daiyu was shocked when she heard this. The Old Ancestor was the Old Ancestor of the two prefectures, with a noble status, and everyone respected her. Who dared to give her such a big anger?

At this time, she saw Hearing Zi Juan coming in from outside, with a worried look on her face, saying: "Young Lady, the Old Ancestor was angry in Rongqing Hall, and even smashed the teacup."

The news reached Jia Zheng's ears, and he, who had always valued Jia Cong highly, also felt that Jia Cong was really too absurd this time.

Lady Jia was furious in Rongqing Hall. This kind of thing couldn't be hidden in the residence, and the reason for the anger was so strange. Hearing Zi Juan came out of the Old Lady's room, so naturally, someone told her the news.

Daiyu felt a sourness in her heart when she heard that Jia Cong only saw someone once and searched the whole Jiangnan for her, and actually wanted to bring her back to the residence.

It was true that there was such a good person who entered his heart, but then she thought about it and felt something was wrong.

Cong Third Brother was such a smart person; how could he do such an absurd thing, leaving people with handles for no reason?

Seeing Tan Chun blushed when she heard Hearing Zi Juan's words. Third Brother actually did this kind of romantic thing, but she said:

"Third Brother is meticulous in his thoughts; he doesn't look like a reckless person. I'm afraid there is another reason. Outsiders spreading rumors, it is also possible."

Yingchun was stunned for a long time before saying: "Even if you bring someone back, as long as people are willing, what is worth mentioning? It is important that Cong Brother can return to the residence safely."

A few days ago, Yingchun heard Seeing Tan Chun say that Jia Cong had done many glorious things in Jin Ling, but he also took many risks. For her, it was enough that Cong Brother returned safely, and nothing else mattered.

Daiyu and Seeing Tan Chun were suspicious of Jia Cong's affairs, but hearing Yingchun's words, they smiled at each other. This Second Sister was always a beat slow, and she was too indulgent to Third Brother.

As long as her brother could return safely, don't say bringing a nun home, even if he poked a hole in the sky, Second Sister probably wouldn't take it to heart.

Great Zhou Palace, Ganyang Palace.

Guo Lin held a gray-white sealed scroll; this kind of seal was unique to the Zhongche Office's secret documents, and it was just sent from Jin Ling by fast horse.

"Your Majesty, this is a secret report sent urgently from Jin Ling by the Zhongche Office, saying that Jia Cong was assassinated in Gusu. The assassin was a personal soldier of Zou Huaiyi of the Water Surveillance Office, and the mastermind was Cui Bowang, a Jingli of the Jin Ling Guard Station."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's gaze was like a knife, and he took the secret document and browsed it carefully.

Guo Lin said on the side: "Your Majesty, that Cui Bowang's younger brother, Cui Boliang, was a Hundred-Household confidant of Zou Huaiyi, the Thousand-Household of the Water Surveillance Office. On the day of the birthday banquet at the Zou residence, he was killed on the spot by Jia Cong because he resisted."

"This Cui Bowang assassinated Jia Cong to avenge his younger brother. Fortunately, Jia Cong dodged the assassination and only suffered some injuries, which is not a big deal."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao sneered: "If this was just an assassination caused by a private grudge, then it wouldn't count as anything."

"But why could the people of the Jin Ling Guard Station instruct the personal soldiers of the Water Surveillance Office, and as soon as Cui Bowang failed, he was killed? Covering up, really treating everyone in the world as fools!"

Guo Lin felt cold in his heart when he heard this. The Emperor was suspicious of the Jin Ling Guard Station, but there was no solid evidence. If this was true, what place in Jin Ling was clean?

This time, the Emperor sent him to dispatch spies of the Zhongche Office to Jiangnan, in addition to collecting intelligence on the major Water Surveillance Office case and monitoring the actions of personnel sent from Shenjing, he also investigated and collected information on Jiangnan's livelihood and politics.

Although Jiangnan was an important tax area for the country, various drawbacks such as private salt, banditry, gentry and powerful families seizing power and exploitation, and land annexation causing civil disasters had accumulated over time, and the prosperity had already shown a state of distress.

And the local Guard Stations were responsible for guarding the land and settling the people. Among them, Jin Ling was the weight of Jiangnan, and it was even more of a case of pulling one hair and moving the whole body. The Emperor was somewhat wary, and there was no solid evidence, so he had been hiding it.

At this time, an attendant reported from outside the door that Minister of War Gu Yankui was waiting outside the hall.

During this period, Gu Yankui was ordered to prepare for the establishment of the Firearm Battalion, selecting personnel from the Five Military Battalions, purchasing firearms, and other matters, all of which had made some progress.

This time he entered the palace to see the Emperor, which was to present the strategy for the establishment of the Firearm Battalion that he had written with his heart's blood for the Emperor's review.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao looked at the strategy presented by Gu Yankui. Although there was nothing amazing, it was mature and steady, and he encouraged this old minister a few words.

He also said: "Now the soldiers of various Guard Stations are exhausted and their combat power is not strong. I want to promote the method of firearms to assist them. Minister Gu should work more on this."

After Gu Yankui retired, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked Guo Lin again:

"Yesterday, Li Dekang of the Ministry of Works reported that the main hall of the Great Ci'en Temple has been completed and consecrated, and the Empress Dowager's spirit tablet has been settled. Why hasn't Jia Cong returned to the capital to report the mission?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the slave has already received news that on the 20th of this month, Jia Cong set off from Jin Ling, and calculating the days, he will arrive in the capital to report the mission in these few days."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao thought at this time that Jia Cong had unique insights into firearms, and it was he who proposed the three-stage firing method that day, perhaps he could let him help Gu Yankui.

And Jia Cong assisted Prince Ning in solving the major Water Surveillance Office case in Jin Ling, and his merit was very special, which was also obvious to all.

Although Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao rejected Prince Ning's request for merit for Jia Cong, he found an excuse that Jia Cong was already a scholar and had been granted a seventh-rank official position, so it was not appropriate to add official positions.

Although there was this excuse, it was not that he didn't reward Jia Cong for his merit, but that grace must come from above.

He didn't forget how he ascended the throne that year. It was always a taboo for imperial princes to be on good terms with officials.

In the dispute over building a temple and settling the spirit for Empress Dowager Xianxiao and correcting filial piety and etiquette, Jia Cong played a very special role.

Now that the great temple had been built and the spirit tablet had been established, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao naturally wanted to complete the work, and Jia Cong's reward should also come from this, just like doing a thing, it must have a beginning and an end, to be more justified.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 179 =====