Chapter 198

Ningguo Mansion, Jia family ancestral hall.

At the ritual gate, Jia Cong held the black-bottomed silver-decorated imperial spirit tablet, followed by two maids from the Ningguo Mansion, each holding a red-oiled tray containing the imperial pearl crown and court dress.

In the courtyard of the ancestral hall, the branch descendants of the Jia family in the capital stood in their respective positions, including many descendants of the Jin Ling Jia family who came to the capital for the ancestral sacrifice, filling the large courtyard.

Everyone saw that he was solemn and dignified, with an extraordinary bearing, holding the spirit tablet and walking through the hall full of Jia family descendants as if there was nothing there, as if he were the only one walking in the huge ancestral hall.

The descendants of the eight branches of the Jia family in the capital, although most of them had not dealt with him, now no one did not know him.

Mainly because he had done too many eye-catching things in the past two years: young top scholar, granted seventh-rank, famous in Jinling, lyrics moving Jiangnan, mother granted filial title; every one of them attracted attention.

And it was said that he looked like his mother, too handsome, eye-catching wherever he went, standing out from the crowd, so people couldn't help but remember him.

And today, because of the matter of his deceased mother's spirit tablet entering the ancestral hall, he had caused such a big disturbance, becoming the focus of everyone's eyes even more.

The descendants of various branches looked at him with different eyes: amazement, admiration, jealousy, contempt, indifference, and so on.

The positions in the spirit pavilion were arranged according to seniority, extremely strict.

Wu'er followed Jia Cong's instructions and was careful, so she didn't attract anyone's attention.

……

Jia Cong, according to the master of ceremonies' guidance, solemnly placed Lady Du's spirit tablet in the predetermined position in the spirit pavilion.

Lady Wang, Wang Wang Xifeng, and others thought that it was fortunate that the Old Lady was not feeling well and was helped down by Sister Yuanyang, otherwise she would never have been able to bear this.

Seeing him return, everyone asked about the matter of welcoming the spirit back to the ancestral hall. Jia Cong told them the general situation and result. A major event had finally landed properly, and Lin Daiyu and others were happy for him.

But the mood of the descendants of the Ning and Rong mansions in the main hall and the female family members in the inner hall to kneel and worship the ancestors was a world of difference.

By the time he walked into the main hall holding the spirit tablet, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and others had all breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that this disaster had finally landed.

The Jia family spring sacrificial ceremony, which had been interrupted, resumed.

The master of ceremonies had been told by Jia Zhen that the placement of the spirit tablet must be flawless and without any faults, as he had been scared by the previous events.

He knew that Lin Daiyu was worried about the ancestral hall and had been waiting here for his news.

Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and others knelt toward the spirit pavilion. Although they were worshipping the ancestors of the Rong and Ning dukes, Lady Du's spirit tablet on the spirit pavilion seemed to be looking down from above, and the female family members kowtowed solidly.

Jia Jing was seeing Jia Cong for the first time. His eyes, which had been blinded by the dream of longevity, saw Jia Cong's extraordinary bearing, and his dead-water-like eyes suddenly lit up.

And after those who sent sacrificial gifts left the Ningguo Mansion ancestral hall, everything that happened in the Jia family ancestral hall spread quickly through various channels.

Jia Cong was busy with the spring sacrifice in the ancestral hall and returned to the Qingzhi Studio, only to find Lin Daiyu talking to Zhi Shao and Wu'er.

Jia Cong, guided by the master of ceremonies of the ancestral hall, held Lady Du's spirit tablet and entered the inner hall. In the center of the inner hall was a spirit pavilion several stories high, on which the spirit tablets of the ancestors and imperial-titled ladies of the Jia family were placed layer by layer.

The branch descendants in the courtyard were the same as before; after all, the messy affairs of the direct descendants had little to do with them.

Not long after Jia Cong left the Muni Nunnery, Wu'er and Lin Daiyu took a carriage back to the mansion and entered the mansion from the rear corner door next to the Qingzhi Studio.

In the main hall, Jia Zheng asked the servants to lead the people who sent sacrificial gifts to the side hall for tea, but these people saw Jia Cong leading the spirit tablet into the inner hall and didn't stay any longer, leaving one after another.

This was almost like kneeling and apologizing to that woman.

Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Zhang Zhang Youshi, Wang Wang Xifeng, and others in the inner hall witnessed this scene, and their hearts were churning with various tastes, all different.

Lin Daiyu thought that Third Brother originally still had a handle to be grasped; even if he was outstanding, he would always be picked out by those who didn't have eyes. Wasn't that the case with Prince Wang Wang Ziteng's wife back then?

Now that Third Brother's biological mother's imperial title was determined, there would be no more gossip from others in and out of the two mansions, and there would be no more such entanglements and obstructions in the future.

Zhi Shao only thought that Jia Cong's heart was full of joy, far from worry and fear, and that was enough; everything else was not worth mentioning.

Wu'er didn't have many thoughts. Third Master had survived such difficulties before, and now it was much better than before. Even if there were some twists and turns, they would always pass, as long as she could stay by his side.

……

That night, the Jia family spring sacrifice banquet was held as usual. Jia Mu braced herself to show her face, otherwise the embarrassment at the spring sacrifice today would have been confirmed.

She forced a smile and said a few words, then sat for a while and left.

However, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, and Zhang Zhang Youshi didn't dare to leave early. After the spring sacrifice, the whole family gathered, and the mistress in charge had to preside over it.

After Jia Mu left, Seeing Tan Chun saw that Jia Cong had passed another major difficulty and was very happy for him, so she wanted to ask Shi Shu to invite Jia Cong to the inner banquet.

Seeing Tan Chun was shrewd and capable, and she was the most compatible with Jia Cong. She always had the intention of helping him, thinking that Third Brother's biological mother had been granted a title and entered the ancestral hall, so he should have the same status as other brothers.

Sitting at the outer banquet as a teenager during New Year and festivals didn't look right, so he should be sitting with sisters of the same age.

Although the Old Lady had left the banquet, Seeing Tan Chun's move was still a bit bold.

Everyone knew that the Old Lady never arranged for Jia Cong to sit at the inner banquet.

But unexpectedly, Lady Wang smiled and agreed, saying that you sisters should also gather together more and laugh, while Lady Xing on the side didn't say a word.

Jia Cong was brought into the inner banquet by Shi Shu and sat at a table with Jia Baoyu and the sisters, but his heart felt a little strange.

He didn't expect that the incident at the ancestral hall today had truly overturned the cognition of these women in the inner chambers.

Although he had done many brilliant things this year.

But in a wealthy family like the Jia family that had been luxurious for generations, women in the inner chambers like Jia Mu and Lady Wang felt that literary talent was just the icing on the cake.

It was good to have it, but it wasn't worth mentioning if you didn't.

With huge assets at home to chew on, and inheriting titles and memorials to become officials, didn't Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen all live like this?

There was a Jia Zhu, but he was exhausted by reading, which gave them an even bigger blow. The act of a wealthy family studying hard like a poor family was ultimately not right.

So Jia Cong winning the top scholar and being granted an official position, although glorious, was not as good as the glory of the Jia family's hereditary nobility in their eyes.

If they didn't have this idea, how could they spoil Jia Baoyu like this?

But the incident at the ancestral hall today exceeded their imagination.

The Old Lady's obstruction of Jia Cong's biological mother entering the ancestral hall actually caused such a big disturbance.

These women didn't understand the principle that the Emperor's heart was like iron.

They only knew that at the critical moment, so many officials actually came forward to help him. This kid's foundation was too hard.

They were all from noble families, so they naturally understood these connections and backgrounds, which were more precious than ten thousand taels of gold at critical moments.

Lady Wang thought of the time when she used schemes to make her sister-in-law falsely accuse Jia Cong, but the scholar who accused him was stripped of his fame, and her sister-in-law was confined to the Buddha hall, no different from being dead.

Now even the Old Lady...

So hard-fated and criminal, anyone who hindered him didn't end up well!

Although Lady Wang still had secret thoughts of suppressing Jia Cong, after seeing today's events, she was also afraid, so she changed her strategy. Even if she had calculations in her stomach, she didn't dare to show them on her face.

When Seeing Tan Chun wanted to invite Jia Cong to the inner banquet, she went with the flow and did a favor, her face even more kind and benevolent.

But in Jia Cong's eyes, compared with Seeing Tan Chun's bright and moving straightforwardness and innocence, Lady Wang's kindness and generosity were always mixed with things that made people uncomfortable.

But Lady Wang's subtle change in attitude made him realize that the change in the ancestral hall today had made many people re-examine him.

At least the Old Lady's obstruction of his biological mother entering the ancestral hall had set the best example, and the inexplicable secret suppression in the inner chambers would definitely be much less in the future.

The women rolling in the big mansion were not fools, with a wealthy heart, two snobbish eyes, and an abacus that was loud and fine.

He could also live a cleaner life, after all, he felt disgusted by playing palace fighting dramas with women and had no interest at all.

With Jia Cong at the table, Seeing Tan Chun, Seeing Yingchun, Little Xichun, and others were much more interested, and the atmosphere became active.

Seeing Tan Chun said, "Just now the Mistress said that Xue Yima Xue's family from Jinling will arrive in the Love Shenjing in a few days. Xue Yima's family has a Xue Baochai sister who is excellent. From now on, there will be another sister in the family to keep company. Isn't that good?"

Lady Wang smiled, "Xue Baochai is an excellent child, who has loved reading and writing since she was a child. From now on, you sisters will be together, and you will definitely be harmonious."

Jia Baoyu had long heard Lady Wang chanting, saying that his cousin was excellent in heaven and on earth, a first-class daughter, and he didn't know how she compared to Miss Lin.

Jia Cong thought of the beautiful girl in the Xue family mansion in Jinling. His lyrics could be sung in Jinling, and tracing the source, there was some connection with Xue Baochai.

(End of chapter)