Chapter 199: The Truth of Righteousness and Loyalty

Ningguo Prefecture, Jia family ancestral hall.

At the ceremonial gate, Jia Cong held a black lacquer silver-inlaid memorial tablet, followed by two maids from Ningguo Prefecture, each carrying a red-lacquered tray holding the ceremonial crown and robes of the honored lady.

In the courtyard of the ancestral hall, the Jia family's collateral branches in the capital stood in their assigned places, among them many descendants from Jin Ling who had come to the capital for the ancestral rites; the vast yard was filled to capacity.

All who saw him were struck by his solemn bearing and noble presence; as he carried the ancestral tablet and moved through the sea of Jia clan descendants, he seemed oblivious to them all, as if the entire ancestral hall belonged to him alone.

Though most of the eight collateral branches of the Jia family in the capital had never interacted with him, none among them did not know him now.

Primarily because over the past two years he had accomplished too many remarkable feats: top scholar in the provincial exam, imperial grant of seventh-rank status, name renowned in Jin Ling, poetry stirring the lands south of the river, his mother ennobled as a filial and meritorious lady—each alone drew wide attention.

And it was widely said his appearance resembled his mother's, so strikingly handsome that wherever he went he stood out like a crane among chickens, impossible not to remember.

And today, due to the controversy surrounding his late mother's tablet being admitted into the ancestral hall, he became even more the center of everyone's gaze.

The gazes of the collateral branch descendants toward him varied—amazement, admiration, envy, disdain, indifference—all present.

The positions within the spirit pavilion were arranged strictly by generational rank.

Wu'er, having received Jia Cong's instructions, moved with careful discretion and drew no notice.

…

Following the master of ceremonies' guidance, Jia Cong solemnly placed Du Shi's memorial tablet in its designated position within the spirit pavilion.

Wang Lady and Wang Wang Xifeng and others thought with relief that Jia Mu had just been unwell and been escorted away by Sister Yuanyang to rest—otherwise, she would never have endured this.

When he returned, they asked about the ceremony of bringing the spirit tablet back to the ancestral hall; Jia Cong recounted the general events and outcome, and with this major matter finally settled, Lin Daiyu and the others were glad for him.

Yet the mood for the ancestral worship performed by the descendants of Ning and Rong in the main hall, and by the women of Ning and Rong in the inner chambers, was worlds apart.

When he entered the main hall carrying the tablet, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and others all exhaled in relief, feeling this ordeal was finally over.

The Jia family's spring ancestral ceremony, which had been halted mid-proceeding, resumed.

The master of ceremonies, having been warned by Jia Zhen that the tablet's placement must be flawless and beyond reproach—having been frightened by the earlier chaos—was now extra cautious.

He knew Lin Daiyu had been anxious about the ancestral hall matters and had been waiting here for his news.

Lady Xing, Wang Lady, and the other women knelt before the spirit pavilion; though they bowed to the ancestral spirits of Ning and Rong, the tablet of Du Shi seemed to gaze down from above, and the women bowed their heads with genuine reverence.

Jia Jing saw Jia Cong for the first time; his eyes, long clouded by the delusions of immortality, brightened suddenly at the sight of Jia Cong's extraordinary bearing.

After those who came to offer sacrifices left the Ningguo Prefecture ancestral hall, news of everything that had transpired there spread rapidly through every channel.

After Jia Cong finished his duties at the ancestral hall and returned to Qingzhi Studio, he found Lin Daiyu talking with Zhi Shao and Wu'er.

Under the guidance of the master of ceremonies, Jia Cong carried Du Shi's tablet into the inner chamber, where a multi-tiered spirit pavilion stood at the center, each level holding the memorial tablets of past Jia family nobles and honored ladies.

The collateral branch descendants in the courtyard remained as before; after all, the scandals of the main line had little to do with them.

Shortly after Jia Cong left the Monastery of Enlightenment, Wu'er and Lin Daiyu returned to the mansion by carriage, entering through the rear side gate beside Qingzhi Studio.

In the main hall, Jia Zheng had servants lead the visitors offering sacrifices to the side hall for tea, but upon seeing Jia Cong escort the spirit tablet into the inner chamber, none lingered—they all took their leave in turn.

It was almost as if they were kneeling and apologizing to that woman.

In the inner chamber, Lady Xing, Wang Lady, You Shi, Wang Wang Xifeng, and others had all witnessed this scene; each felt a different storm of emotions.

Lin Daiyu thought that before, her third brother had always had some flaw to be seized upon—even if he excelled, those blind fools would still find fault to gossip about, as Prince Teng's wife had once done.

Now that his mother's status as a titled lady was confirmed, both within and beyond the two mansions, no one could speak ill of him anymore; such harassment and obstruction would never trouble him again.

Zhi Shao only wished Jia Cong's heart might be filled with joy, free from fear and sorrow—that alone was enough; everything else was trivial.

Wu'er had no grand thoughts; her third master had endured far worse before, and now things were vastly better—even if some turbulence remained, it would pass, as long as she could remain by his side.

…

That evening, the Jia family's spring banquet proceeded as usual; Jia Mu forced herself to appear briefly, lest today's humiliation at the ancestral rites be confirmed.

She forced a smile, spoke a few words, sat a moment, then departed.

But Wang Lady, Lady Xing, and You Shi dared not leave early; after the ancestral rites, the entire household gathered, and the chief daughters-in-law must oversee the proceedings.

After Jia Mu left, Seeing Tan Chun, seeing Jia Cong had passed another great trial, was deeply glad for him and wished to send Shi Shu to invite him to the inner table.

Seeing Tan Chun was sharp and capable, and most in tune with Jia Cong; she always wished to support him, thinking that since his mother had been ennobled and admitted into the ancestral hall, he deserved the same status as his brothers.

During festivals and banquets, a half-grown boy being seated at the outer table looked absurd—he should sit with his peers, the young ladies.

Though Jia Mu had left, Seeing Tan Chun's move was still bold.

Everyone knew Jia Mu had always refused to seat Jia Cong at the inner table.

Yet to their surprise, Wang Lady smiled and agreed, saying, "You young ladies should gather more often and laugh together," while Lady Xing remained silent.

Jia Cong was led into the inner table by Shi Shu and sat with Jia Baoyu and the other young ladies; yet he felt a faint strangeness.

He had not expected that what had transpired in the ancestral hall today had truly overturned these women's perceptions of him.

Though he had accomplished many remarkable things this year,

in a noble house like the Jia family, with generations of luxury and privilege, Jia Mu and Wang Lady and the other inner chamber women still viewed literary talent and brilliance as mere embellishments.

Of course, it was nice to have—but not worth much without it.

With vast wealth to spend and hereditary titles to inherit, one could become an official—hadn't Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen all risen that way?

Then there was Jia Zhu, who had literally been worn out by relentless studying, delivering a crushing blow to them: in a wealthy family, emulating the grueling study habits of poor scholars simply didn't make sense.

So though Jia Cong had topped the provincial exam and received an official post, to them it still paled beside the glory of the Jia family's hereditary nobility.

If not for this mindset, how could Jia Baoyu have been raised so indulgently?

But today's events in the ancestral hall exceeded their imagination.

Jia Mu's delay in admitting Jia Cong's mother's tablet had provoked such a massive uproar.

These women did not understand the iron will of the Son of Heaven.

They only knew that at a critical moment, so many officials had stepped forward to support him—this boy's background was far too formidable.

All came from noble families; they understood well that connections and influence at crucial moments were more precious than ten thousand taels of gold.

Wang Lady recalled how she had once schemed to have her sister-in-law falsely accuse Jia Cong, only for the scholar to lose his degree and her sister-in-law to be confined to a Buddhist chapel, no different from death.

Now even Jia Mu…

Such a hard fate, such a curse—anyone who stood in his way met a terrible end!

Though Wang Lady had long harbored secret schemes to suppress Jia Cong, after witnessing today's events, she was afraid—and changed her strategy; no matter what plans she still held, she dared not let them show on her face.

When Seeing Tan Chun suggested inviting Jia Cong to the inner table, she readily agreed, playing the part of benevolent kindness, her expression now one of tender compassion.

But in Jia Cong's eyes, compared to Seeing Tan Chun's bright, frank, and natural charm, Wang Lady's kindness and generosity always carried something unsettling.

Yet Wang Lady's subtle shift in attitude made him realize that the incident in the ancestral hall today had caused many to reassess him.

At least Jia Mu's obstruction of his mother's admission to the ancestral hall had served as the clearest possible lesson—future covert suppression from the inner chambers would surely diminish.

The women who maneuvered in great households were no fools; they had hearts set on wealth and status, eyes sharp for advantage, and abacus fingers that calculated with precision.

He could now enjoy more peaceful days; frankly, the thought of engaging in palace intrigues with women repulsed him—he had no interest whatsoever.

With Jia Cong now at the table, Seeing Tan Chun, Seeing Yingchun, Little Xichun, and the others became much livelier, the atmosphere brightening.

Seeing Tan Chun said, "Just now, Madam Wang mentioned that Xue Xue Yima's family from Jin Ling will arrive in the capital in a few days. Xue Xue Yima has a daughter, Xue Baochai, who is truly excellent—now we'll have another sister to keep us company, won't that be nice?"

Wang Lady smiled: "Xue Baochai is a wonderful girl, fond of reading and writing since childhood. You young ladies will surely get along well together."

Jia Baoyu had long heard Wang Lady praise this cousin of his as peerless, a paragon among women—he wondered how she compared to Lin Lin Meimei.

Jia Cong recalled the beautiful girl with emerald brows and crimson lips from the Xue family mansion in Jin Ling; his own poems had spread through Jin Ling, and tracing their origin, he found some connection to Xue Baochai.

(End of chapter)