Chapter 252: Renewing Old Ties at a Different Mansion

Rongguo Prefecture, rear corner gate.

Today is the day Qin Keqing leaves the prefecture. Jia Mu has spoken: a woman who has divorced cannot exit through the eastern or western corner gates on either side of the main entrance.

She can only exit through the rear corner gate on the north side of Rongguo Prefecture. The dissatisfaction in the old lady's heart is obvious, but she simply finds it difficult to voice it aloud.

Outside the rear corner gate is the back street of Jude Ward. Very few people pass through there, making it appear empty and desolate.

Three carriages are already parked here, two of which were sent by the Qin family, loaded with over a dozen red-lacquered, gold-traced trunks.

The carriage at the very front was prepared in advance by Jia Cong. Baozhu and Ruizhu are just about to help Keqing into the carriage.

On the steps of the rear corner gate, Zhang Zhang Youshi is dressed in plain mourning clothes; Jia Zhen is still in the mourning period.

Beside her, Wang Xifeng is covered in pearls and jade, wearing a stone-blue silver-fox vest of kesi silk over a jade-green floral-scattered crepe skirt, her appearance elegant and charming.

Among everyone in the entire prefecture, only these two are seeing Keqing off, making the scene appear somewhat desolate and cold.

Now seeing Keqing leaving the prefecture, Wang Xifeng feels very reluctant in her heart. No matter how capable she herself is, she is only a domestic woman who rarely steps beyond the inner chambers; it will not be easy to see Keqing again in the future.

Keqing's face flushes slightly, looking indescribably shy and moving. She bows slightly to Jia Cong and says, "Then I must trouble Young Master Cong..."

However, Keqing has already divorced and left the prefecture; she is no longer a daughter-in-law of the Jia family. Even if Jia Cong's behavior is somewhat abrupt, others cannot find fault with it.

Wang Xifeng asks, "Brother Cong, where are you headed?"

Wang Xifeng sees that he is also riding a large horse as black as satin. Wang Xifeng recognizes this horse, as it is the only one of its kind in Rongguo Prefecture.

Although Keqing has divorced and left the prefecture, her maiden family is an official family. She is still the eldest daughter of the household and is very much loved by her parents, so she has a place to rely on.

Regarding these matters of the Five Military Battalions, Wang Xifeng had heard Tan Chun mention them while chatting with her sisters in the garden. Tan Chun was most curious about what Brother Cong was doing outside.

Jia Cong smiles slightly and says, "Today I am going to the North Drill Ground of the Five Military Battalions on official business. I happen to be passing by the Qin residence in Guizhi Lane. Since Miss Qin is leaving the prefecture today, as a member of the Jia family, I should see her off. It can be considered fulfilling the proprieties."

It is said that this brother of hers has recently been going to the Five Military Battalions to tinker with firearms. As for what exactly they are, she naturally does not understand too well.

This back street is rarely traveled; Wang Xifeng looks around with some curiosity.

Unlike her own maiden family, which has withered, with her mother struggling to get by with two younger sisters, Zhang Zhang Youshi has no way to retreat other than the Jia family.

Zhang Zhang Youshi looks at the youthful and pretty Keqing, feeling truly envious in her heart.

However, neither Zhang Zhang Youshi nor Wang Xifeng are foolish women; they both hear that there is an indescribable strangeness in Jia Cong's words.

Beside her, Wang Xifeng's ears are constantly ringing with Jia Cong's previous sentence: "Since Miss Qin is leaving the prefecture today, as a member of the Jia family, I should see her off. It can be considered fulfilling the proprieties."

Zhang Zhang Youshi watches Jia Cong ride his horse, accompanying the carriage as it leaves, and a strange feeling arises in her heart.

Jia Cong is seen wearing a snow-blue light silk robe, his waist bound by a bamboo-patterned satin belt, a green jade hairpin in his hair, his appearance indescribably handsome and capable.

Although Wang Xifeng's temperament is sharp and shrewd, she likes Keqing's outstanding character and appearance. Since Keqing married into the Jia family, she has also been very close to her.

Suddenly, a crisp sound of horse hooves rings out in the empty back street.

It is said that this was a congratulatory gift from Prince Jia Shun when Jia Cong was granted his official title, and it has been kept in the prefecture for the past two years.

Now that she has divorced and left the Jia family, there is naturally no need to address each other by the uncle-niece relationship.

As for Jia Cong appearing here, Wang Xifeng is not surprised. Jia Cong's Qingzhi Studio is close to the rear corner gate, and he usually exits and enters the back street when going to the government office.

"Miss Qin..." This form of address carries an unusual intimacy, which makes Wang Xifeng feel somewhat awkward.

She suddenly remembers that when the Ningguo Prefecture was about to be raided, Jia Cong suggested bringing the Ningguo women to Rongguo Prefecture to take temporary refuge.

At that time, Jia Cong already addressed Keqing as "Miss Qin." Keqing was still "Rong's wife" then. Wang Xifeng felt it was strange at the time, only assuming it was a slip of the tongue by Jia Cong.

Now that she thinks about it carefully, it seems Jia Cong never called Keqing "Rong's wife." Instead, he was extremely fluent when calling her "Miss Qin," as if he were used to it.

It is as if he knew Keqing would not be "Rong's wife" for long. Wang Xifeng's mind is sharper than most people's; thinking of all the traces, she cannot help but feel a bit creeped out.

Thinking back to that day at the Rongqing Hall, Jia Cong spoke up so much to protect Keqing, and today he says it's on the way, but looking at his posture, it is clearly a prepared move.

This is not "seeing her off on the way"; it looks more like sending a wife back to her maiden home!

Could it be that Keqing's determination to divorce and leave the prefecture was actually for this kid?

Wang Xifeng suddenly realizes, and a strange gossip-filled light flashes in her watery phoenix eyes.

Good for you, Third Master Cong, you really have the guts of a lecher to actually have such a scheme!

Jia Cong sends Keqing to the vicinity of Guizhi Ward and then calls for the carriage to stop.

It is inconvenient for him to send Keqing to the Qin residence. Right now, Keqing has just divorced and left the prefecture, and Qin Ye knows about his past with Keqing.

With Qin Ye's nature of clinging to power, a married-off daughter is like spilled water. He would rather have his daughter live as a wealthy widow in the Jia family than have her divorce and return home.

But now Keqing has returned, which must be a great violation of Qin Ye's original intention.

If Jia Cong were to appear at this time, Qin Ye would definitely be suspicious. Causing a scene would make it impossible for Keqing to establish herself in her maiden home.

Although it is impossible for Keqing to stay in her maiden home for a lifetime, it is currently the most appropriate place for her to stay.

He has already almost lost her, and now that he has finally managed to turn things around, he will not let such a thing happen again.

He does not want to be a moral gentleman. To completely possess a woman he likes and who likes him is the thing he should most do.

This world has strict rituals and powerful clan laws, but to him, these do not count for much; there are always many methods that can be used.

Keqing naturally understands Jia Cong's thoughts. He is concerned about her situation in the household, and she feels a bit dejected in her heart.

She tells Ruizhu to take the other two carriages back to the prefecture first. Jia Cong lets Jiang Liu lead his horse, and he drives the carriage himself toward the south of the city.

In fact, he has no destination; he just doesn't want to miss such an opportunity to be alone after so many changes since they parted in Jin Ling.

The carriage speeds lightly along the official road in the south of the city. The blowing wind lifts the carriage curtain, revealing a pretty face as bright as a rose.

That face carries an intoxicating smile, overflowing with the relief of having broken free from shackles, looking at the handsome and clear youth driving the carriage, her eyes full of attachment and affection.

Clouds steam at the horizon, and mountain flowers by the road are bright and beautiful.

Finally, the carriage stops, and the world seems to quiet down at this moment.

The curtain is gently lifted, and a pair of watery, beautiful eyes look at the youth's warm and gentle smile.

Her soft hands are held by a pair of warm hands, and the heat coming from the palms makes Keqing's heart tremble.

"Brother Cong..." She called him that when they were in Jin Ling, and it was filled with sweet and unforgettable memories.

Now, all of this seems to have returned.

Beijing Prince's Mansion.

In Shui Rong's study, there are no luxurious furnishings, because this is a study in the true sense of the word.

Although the Beijing Prince's Mansion is a family of military merit, by Shui Rong's generation, he has a great fondness for literary matters.

Shui Rong has loved reading poetry and prose since he was a child. Although his literary talent is ordinary, he has strategies in his chest and high aspirations.

Since the fall of the Jia family, Shui Rong, with his talent, has become the most outstanding figure among the Four Kings and Eight Dukes.

The Imperial family has also repeatedly bestowed great favors on the Beijing Prince's lineage. Shui Rong's father, because he had the merit of "following the dragon" for the Retired Emperor, was specially permitted to inherit the princely title for three generations, which is unique among the noble families.

A person like Shui Rong has enjoyed wealth since birth and can be said to have everything, but recently he has always had something on his mind that makes him somewhat restless.

At this time, a servant of the Prince's Mansion walks into the study: "Your Highness, the matter you asked me to inquire about has now been confirmed."

"The woman Your Highness saw that day is indeed the wife of Jia Rong of the Ningguo Prefecture, the Qin woman. She is the daughter of Qin Ye, the Construction Secretary of the Ministry of Works."

"She married into the Ningguo Prefecture in the sixth month, and it has only been a few months now."

"The Ningguo Prefecture steward, Lai Er, was convicted and beheaded. His son, Lai Shangrong, because his crime was not serious, is to be exiled to the northwest frontier to be a slave."

"I gave him some benefits, and learned from him that Jia Rong is a broken man and had no real husband-and-wife relationship with the Qin woman."

Shui Rong's face is surprised upon hearing this, and a dark, deep light flashes in his eyes.

That day, he went to the Ningguo Prefecture to raid the house under imperial decree and unexpectedly saw Qin Keqing.

He was born into a wealthy princely family and has seen countless beauties in his life; he has long been calm about female beauty.

But suddenly seeing Qin Keqing's peerless beauty, he was deeply captivated. As if by a ghost, he has been unable to forget her since then, unable to sleep or eat in peace.

With his status, coveting the wife of a convicted prisoner is an extremely indecent thing.

Moreover, although Jia Rong was convicted, the crime did not extend to his wife and children. His wife is still the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke Jia family, and her status is extraordinary. For him, it is impossible.

But he still went against his usual behavior and had people inquire about Qin Keqing's background.

He is not just confused by Qin Keqing's stunning beauty; there is another reason for this.

He discovered that this eldest young mistress of the Ningguo Prefecture has a face and demeanor very similar to someone he knew in his childhood, who has been dead for many years.

Although the family this person belonged to was not the Imperial family, her status and position were also extraordinary.

Later, he inquired again and learned that Qin Keqing was adopted by the Qin family, not born of their blood, which made him feel even more that there must be something strange, and it could even be a "rare commodity to be hoarded"...

"I also learned that before Jia Rong was escorted to Qiongzhou to serve his sentence, he had already written a divorce letter for the Qin woman. I heard that she is leaving the prefecture today to return to her maiden home."

"There is actually such a thing!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 253 =====