Chapter 242

After the imperial decree was announced, the Prince of Beijing Shui Rong saw that the young man beside Jia Zheng was handsome and clear, with a heroic spirit, and his eyes lit up.

He smiled and asked: "Jia Cunzhou Gong, is this the Jia Yuzhang who wrote 'The rolling Yangtze River flows eastward' in the mansion?"

Hearing the Prince of Beijing ask about Jia Cong, Jia Zheng's sorrowful mood also decreased a bit: "It is indeed my nephew; Cong'er, hurry up and pay your respects to the Prince of Beijing."

Jia Cong stepped forward to pay his respects to the Prince of Beijing; the Prince of Beijing seemed very interested in Jia Cong, looking him up and down several times, with a look of exclamation in his eyes.

He said: "I heard early on that Yuzhang has extraordinary talent; before he was twenty, his calligraphy had already formed a school, and his two new poems were famous in Jiangnan.

He is also the top scholar who won two top titles in the imperial examination, which hasn't been seen in the dynasty for decades; seeing him today, even his character and demeanor are rarely seen in the world.

Jia Cunzhou Gong, this is not the Prince's light talk; in the future, the new phoenix will be better than the old phoenix, which is also inevitably promising; the Rongguo Prefecture has produced such a good descendant as Yuzhang, and the re-shining of the family reputation is just around the corner.

Today the Prince has official business, but when I have time in the future, I will definitely invite Yuzhang to visit my humble home, to combine books and poems, to enjoy the elegance."

Jia Cong heard that this Prince of Beijing seemed to have a strange praise and attention for him, but he had only met him for the first time, so he felt a little strange in his heart.

He also said to Jia Zheng: "Master, I will go to settle the female family members to avoid, and dare not delay the official business of the lords."

Everyone followed the sound and looked, only to see that it was Jia Cong who spoke.

……

Seeing that although Zhang Zhang Youshi's expression was sorrowful, she was not panicked, perhaps because she had expected today's situation.

Following closely behind was a group of palace attendants, led by a fifth-rank head eunuch; these were palace attendants specially in charge of counting and raiding property.

Facing this kind of situation, it was still somewhat frightening and abnormal, which could be considered human nature.

Guo Youchang, who was on the side, said: "Lord Jia, since your mansion has received the decree, we must immediately raid and seal the mansion according to the imperial will!"

Under the guidance of the family members, Jia Cong first entered Jia Zhen's courtyard; seeing Zhang Zhang Youshi's sickly face, he didn't say much, just explained the matters at hand.

Jia Zheng's face changed; although he knew this was inevitable, he still felt a burst of panic in his heart.

But Shui Rong saw that although Jia Cong was young, he didn't change his face in the face of major events, his thinking was meticulous, and he was calm and daring; just this city and courage were enough to make people look at him with new eyes.

Jia Cong had a grateful expression: "The Emperor's benevolence and kindness, the Jia family is deeply grateful."

Jia Cong said modestly: "Your Highness is too kind; I am only fifteen, my knowledge is shallow, and I still ask Your Highness for more guidance."

"Wait!"

He felt more and more that this young man was even more outstanding than the rumors, by a few points.

"Your Highness, Minister Guo, the family is also in a hurry to receive the decree, and now the female family members are still in the mansion; can you allow me to settle the female family members to avoid, and then raid the house.

As soon as Guo Youchang finished speaking, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who followed closely behind waved his hand, and under the steps of the main gate, a large group of Embroidered Uniform Guard soldiers flew up.

Facing this kind of disaster of house raiding and sealing, ordinary people would be panicked; Jia Zheng could also be considered an old official in the government office for decades and had seen a lot of the world.

Also, dare to ask if the personal valuables and dowry of the female family members are also included in the raid, so that I can arrange them accordingly, so as not to violate the imperial will."

"The personal valuables and dowry of the female family members are not included in the raid, and can be taken for self-protection."

The Prince of Beijing exchanged a few more polite words with Jia Cong, his words were enthusiastic and gentle, and even Jia Zheng felt a little surprised, thinking that Cong'er was too outstanding, which was why this prince favored him so much.

Guo Youchang said: "Although Jia Zhen and his son committed serious crimes, it was not an act of rebellion; the crime does not extend to the family; the mansion and property of the Ning Prefecture will be raided, and the family members and servants will find their own way in the future."

"Cong has already communicated with the raiding officials, the valuables and dowry of the female family members are not included in the raid, Eldest Sister-in-law can pack them up properly for self-protection."

Hearing this, the panic on Zhang Zhang Youshi's beautiful face decreased a bit; the whole family was raided, and she originally thought that the rest of her life would be bleak and helpless.

She didn't expect that she could still retain her valuables and dowry; although she couldn't be as rich and glorious as before, at least there was no problem with her livelihood.

"The master and his son were convicted, and I, a woman, was helpless and originally had only one death; thanks to Cong brother's help, I am deeply grateful."

Jia Cong said: "We are all one family, Eldest Sister-in-law, don't be outside; it was also the old matriarch who ordered me to come and settle the female family members.

Please Eldest Sister-in-law pack up your items and move to the West Prefecture to take refuge as soon as possible.

In addition, the imperial raid is to be carried out, the silver treasury in the prefecture is a heavy place, is it proper? Originally, Feng sister wanted to come to remind Eldest Sister-in-law, but didn't expect the imperial decree to come down, and she didn't have time to come over."

Zhang Zhang Youshi replied: "Ever since Lai Er was detained by the Grand Court of Justice that day, I felt something was wrong, so I withdrew a thousand taels from the silver treasury for household use, and sealed the rest of the silver, not a single bit missing."

Hearing this, Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief: "Eldest Sister-in-law is a smart person, this matter was handled properly; when checking the raid, it can be guaranteed to be safe."

This Zhang Zhang Youshi was also a woman with outstanding appearance and ability, but she was not born into a high family, was not only a successor, but also had no offspring.

Therefore, Jia Zhen never put Zhang Zhang Youshi in his eyes, and only fooled around with maids and concubines in the prefecture; otherwise, if he really gave Zhang Zhang Youshi the power to manage the house, the Ningguo Prefecture might not have ended up like this.

Jia Cong came out of Zhang Zhang Youshi's residence and went to Jia Rong's courtyard to see Keqing; his heart suddenly couldn't help but feel a burst of excitement; ever since Keqing entered the East Prefecture, they hadn't seen each other properly.

If it weren't for the rush in the Rong Prefecture, with no one to send, and Lady Wang feeling he was young and didn't need to worry too much about the defense between men and women, he wouldn't have been able to come to see Keqing openly at this moment.

As soon as he entered Keqing's courtyard, he felt a little strange; Keqing was now the eldest daughter-in-law of the direct branch of the Ningguo Prefecture and the legitimate young mistress of the prefecture, and her status could be considered very noble.

Originally, this courtyard should have been full of maids and women, rich and glorious, but what he saw before him was so desolate, unusually quiet and bleak.

"Cong… Cong Young Master, why is it you!"

As soon as Jia Cong entered the courtyard, he met Ruizhu; Ruizhu stared at him with wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe that he appeared here.

In fact, Ruizhu's reaction could be considered normal; the Jia family of Ning and Rong was a noble clan with bells and cauldrons, and the etiquette and defense between men and women were strict.

Now Keqing was a new bride of Ningguo, and under normal circumstances, she rarely saw outside men, let alone outside men entering the inner courtyard directly.

Jia Cong smiled: "Isn't it me, is your young lady here? I'm here to see her; today the palace issued a decree to raid the Ning Prefecture, I'm here to take your young lady to the West Prefecture to take refuge."

Hearing that the palace was coming to raid the house, Ruizhu was startled, and seeing Jia Cong's relaxed expression, his smile was warm and bright, which was very pleasing and good-looking.

Hearing him still call his own young lady young lady, not Rong eldest young mistress, and remembering the things between him and the young lady in Jinling, her face turned slightly red.

"Ruizhu, why are there only you in this courtyard, so desolate."

"The mistress arranged a few useful maids and old women for the young lady, but the young lady didn't use them, only using a few rough maids for sweeping, saying she wanted to be quiet."

What kind of thoughts the young lady had, Ruizhu naturally knew very well, so she hurriedly turned and entered the room, her voice full of joy: "Young lady, Young Master Cong is here."

Hearing Ruizhu's words in the room, Keqing almost couldn't believe her ears; how could he come here.

Until she saw Jia Cong enter the room, she was still stunned, just staring at him with her beautiful eyes without blinking, and in an instant, faint tears rippled out.

Seeing Keqing wearing a white cold plum embroidered jacket, a light lotus cross-collar coat, and a blue-trimmed dark green horse-face skirt, Jia Cong thought she was indescribably delicate and cute.

She was elegant and quiet like an orchid, without the glory and joy of a new bride; compared to when he saw her in Jinling, she was even thinner and bleaker, and a burst of tenderness rose in his heart.

"Ruizhu, help your young lady pack up her personal valuables and dowry; Jia Zhen and his son are convicted, the imperial court issued a decree to raid the house, don't delay, follow me to the West Prefecture to take refuge."

"Cong Young Master, the young lady usually wears very simple clothes, those jewelry and dowry brought over were not used, and they are all put away, they can be moved immediately."

Hearing Jia Cong still call her young lady, Keqing's delicate body trembled, and tears couldn't help but burst out of her eyes.

Ruizhu quietly left the room and closed the door gently, sitting on the steps alone; although she was happy for her young lady, she didn't know what would happen in the future.

Looking at Keqing's tearful face, Jia Cong said softly: "Keqing, everything is over, you don't have to stay in this place anymore."

"Back then, my father envied the nobles and set up the marriage, which was known to the whole city; Ningguo was powerful, and it concerned the life and death of my parents, and I didn't want to implicate you…."

Jia Cong no longer cared about anything, and hugged her into his arms: "You don't need to say anything, I understand everything; from now on, everything is up to me, you don't have to suffer this kind of grievance anymore."

(End of chapter)