Chapter 188

Liu Jizhu presented the scroll and the brocade box in his hand to Guo Youchang's official desk and said: "My Lord, this is the imperial decree just issued by the Ceremonial Supervision to the Department of Sacrificial Rites, asking the Ministry of Rites to proclaim and soothe according to etiquette.

I have concerns about the content of this imperial decree, and I ask the Minister to make a decision."

Guo Youchang unfolded the scroll and looked at it, his eyes suddenly froze, and his expression revealed astonishment.

He also opened the red brocade box, inside which was a scroll woven with silk, embroidered with orchids and auspicious grass, exquisite and gorgeous, revealing a luxurious and festive atmosphere.

Guo Youchang has served in the Ministry of Rites for many years and knows that such edicts are all woven by the Divine Silk Edict Bureau of the Ministry of Works, which is not a one-day achievement, and now it is sent together with the imperial decree, so it should be that the Emperor had a decision long ago.

Guo Youchang could guess the general content of this edict without opening it.

"Minister, Jia Cong is only a seventh-rank scattered official with an idle position; the Emperor bestowing such grace is not in accordance with regular regulations, and the Ministry of Rites has never proclaimed such an edict; what kind of regulations to adopt has no fixed precedent to follow."

Guo Youchang knew that Liu Jizhu, as the Director of the Department of Sacrificial Rites, valued etiquette and regulations the most; historically, the proclamation of edicts, according to different ranks, had different etiquette and arrangements, and not a single bit could be wrong.

If it were an imperial decree from the court, before the jade seal was used, and without the participation of officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Rites could completely return it without complying with the regulations and etiquette.

Whether it was his own promotion or Jia Cong being bestowed grace, it was all born from one thing, and the same goal was achieved by different paths; the Ministry of Rites even lost the former Minister Li Jizong.

But the imperial decree is different; it is the imperial edict issued directly by the Emperor, without going through the court discussion of the Cabinet and the Secretariat, only for the Emperor's own decision.

A few days ago, he had also handed over official business with Jia Cong, who was only a teenager.

The Emperor wants to rectify the etiquette of filial piety and righteousness; small flaws are not worth mentioning.

By comparison, this proclamation is just an act of bestowing grace, just a bit more face and glory, so don't worry about it; just proclaim it according to the fifth-rank regulations."

Although rejected by the Emperor because of regulations, the youth's talent is unquestionable; his heart couldn't help but be shocked; how old is that kid, to have already reached this point?

Since the construction of the Great Temple, Jia Cong was granted an eighth-rank official position; every one of these things is not in accordance with the system, but in the holy heart.

Being able to reach his position, although his character is a bit upright, he is not a fool; the Minister is pointing out the way for him, just accept it properly.

Fortunately, it was rejected by the Emperor; otherwise, the glory of a scholar plus a jinshi would have caused a huge uproar.

This edict is just for the Emperor to achieve his goal in the dispute of filial piety and righteousness, so that he can take care of both ends, not fall into the mud, and be open and aboveboard.

This edict is not only bestowing grace on Jia Cong, but also the Emperor showing the world his filial piety and kindness; only after this edict is issued can this matter be truly landed.

Guo Youchang looked at the imperial decree on the desk, his thoughts surging.

By comparison, this edict is indeed not abrupt.

He was actually recognized by the Minister of War and Marquis Zhongjing as having the talent for observing government and assisting in management; these two are both steady officials in the court, how can they ignore his words?

Minister of War Gu Yankui even memorialized to let Jia Cong enter the Ministry of War to observe government, and Marquis Zhongjing Shi Ding also memorialized to let Jia Cong enter the Five-Army Firearms Battalion to assist in management.

Liu Jizhu originally wanted to argue for a while, but after listening to Guo Youchang's words, he swallowed his subsequent words.

It's just that this youth's talent is outstanding and his fortune is strange, truly unheard of; given time, it will be limitless.

A month ago, Jia Cong made contributions in Jin Ling, but the Emperor rejected Prince Ning's request; now it seems that the Emperor had a decision in his heart long ago.

The day before yesterday, it was rumored in the court that Jia Cong presented a strategy for strengthening the military with firearms, which was grand and meticulous, and won the holy heart; the Emperor had already followed his memorial to build a Firearms Supervision in the Ministry of Works.

Guo Youchang thought for a moment and said: "Jizhu, this edict cannot be looked at only by its appearance; its root lies in building a temple to settle the spirit for Empress Dowager Xianxiao.

The twelfth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, New Year's Eve, early morning.

West City of the Love Shenjing, Hongde Gate.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the cold wind was biting.

Two large carriages slowly drove into the dark and deep gate, as if they were instantly swallowed by a ferocious giant beast.

After a long time, they passed through the city gate and entered the noisy and prosperous Love Shenjing.

Compared with other carriages and horses on the road, these large carriages looked a bit strange; the carriage bodies were all covered with gray-white canvas, seamless, and the scene inside the carriage could not be seen at all.

Behind the carriage were more than a dozen soldiers with swords and guns, and the drivers were all strong servants, wearing green gauze and soap-colored service clothes.

Passersby on the street who were knowledgeable could recognize that these women wearing soap-colored service clothes were official servants of the Ministry of Rites' Jiaofang Division.

This kind of carriage for escorting female prisoners of the Jiaofang Division often drives into the Love Shenjing from all over the country around the New Year.

The Great Zhou's Jiaofang Division continues from the former Song Dynasty, under the Ministry of Rites; under the Jiaofang Division, there are the Jiaofang Division, Fule Academy, Goulan, Sixteen Buildings, and other places.

Among them, the Jiaofang Division is in charge of the etiquette, music, singing, and dancing of the world, training music and dance talents, managing and preparing palace banquets and music, and is directly managed by the Ministry of Rites.

Fule Academy is a place where Jiaofang musicians live together.

Goulan is equivalent to an official theater, which is a stage for Jiaofang singing and dancing musicians to perform plays and miscellaneous dramas.

The Sixteen Buildings are at the bottom of the Jiaofang Division, mainly raising official prostitutes, a place for officials and civilians to drink and have fun.

And the main source of population for the Jiaofang Division is the wives and children of convicted officials.

As well as a small number of civilians who have no way to make a living and have nowhere to go, and voluntarily join the Jiaofang Division.

Among the wives and children of convicted officials, those who are young, healthy, literate, knowledgeable about music, and skilled in arts are mostly filled into the Jiaofang Division, taught and cultivated as musicians.

The second-class ones are filled into the Sixteen Buildings as official prostitutes.

The third-class ones, who are older or have physical illnesses, are filled as hard laborers in various places.

But these are just regular examples; since the crime is on them, falling into the Jiaofang Division, they have long been unable to control themselves.

In the artificial environment, various dirty things are countless; even if they are classified as first-class, they are coveted by high officials and nobles, and falling into bed playthings is common.

In one of the large carriages of the Jiaofang Division, inside the dim carriage, more than a dozen women were crowded.

Many of them were dressed as maids and servants, all disheveled, with gray faces, dirty clothes, and in a mess.

But one woman squeezed in the pile looked a bit different.

She was in her teens, her clothes were old, but she was dressed neatly; although there were damages and stains, she did not look sloppy.

Her hair was also combed neater than others, and there was an old copper hairpin inserted in her bun.

It's just that the dust on her face was heavier than others, pitch black, and she couldn't see her appearance or complexion; only behind her ears could she see a little white and delicate skin.

A pair of small hands were red and swollen from the cold, and there were many cracks, looking a bit ugly.

She shrank in the pile, avoiding the cold air leaking from the carriage shed, and her frostbitten hands often touched her waist intentionally or unintentionally.

Inside her clothes, she was wearing a jade belt, a tiger-patterned jade belt, which used twelve pieces of top-quality Hetian white jade, with delicate carving.

When the female relatives of the family were imprisoned in Jin Ling, a man she didn't know came to see their mother and daughter once, saying he was a colleague of her father before; although he only came once.

He saved their mother and daughter's lives; they were not abused or insulted in the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison, but that was all; no one could save them.

Her mother died after two months in prison, probably because she didn't want to live anymore.

But she didn't want to die; she was still young and not willing to die like this.

Since leaving Jin Ling and being escorted to the Love Shenjing Jiaofang Division, the protection of the man who claimed to be her father's colleague had come to an end.

Along the way, she used smoke ash to dirty her face, froze her small hands to look ugly, and exchanged the only gold hairpin she had hidden on her body with the servant who was watching for a copper hairpin.

Because copper is much harder than gold, she secretly sharpened one end of the copper hairpin to be extremely sharp when she slept at night and inserted it in her bun, and others couldn't detect it.

When it is impossible to do anything, she can stab others to death, or end herself.

The jade belt around her waist had not left her since that day in Ziyun Pavilion; this was once her most beautiful reverie, and also her most humiliating memory.

"I don't necessarily have to buy it; since this young lady likes it, I'll let it go to you."

They only said this one sentence; now thinking about it, why did he appear there? This sentence is full of conspiracy, deception, and coldness.

At her father's birthday banquet, where guests were full and the house was magnificent, he led countless soldiers to rush into the house, forcing her father into a dead end.

She saw her father commit suicide in front of her with her own eyes; no amount of regret and hatred could wash away the blood at the birthday banquet.

Why did she always carry this jade belt with her? Even she couldn't explain it clearly.

She only knew that he came from the Rongguo Prefecture in the Love Shenjing, which is one of the few noble and wealthy families in the world.

She thought about killing him to avenge her father; this seemed as difficult as ascending to heaven, and she didn't know how long she could live in the Jiaofang Division.

Even if this is wishful thinking, it is the only reason for her to live.

(End of this chapter)