Chapter 293: Wealth and Honor Delude the Heart

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Rongxi Hall.

After Jia Zheng and the other guests arrived at Rongxi Hall, not long afterward, a palace eunuch entered the hall, followed by several young attendants carrying or shouldering gifts.

Jia Zheng recognized this man—he had come to the mansion last year to deliver an imperial edict; it was Guo Lin, deputy director of the Qianyang Palace eunuch bureau.

Jia Zheng knew Guo Lin was the Emperor's personal attendant; for him to come personally to bestow rewards for merit showed how seriously His Majesty regarded this matter, proving Jia Cong had truly rendered great service.

Jia Zheng's heart surged with excitement, and he hurried forward to say: "If it isn't Eunuch Guo's honored presence—Jia Zheng pays his respects."

Guo Lin smiled broadly: "Master Jia, you're too kind. The Liaodong Garrison achieved a great victory at Ya Fu Pass; your Jia Yunwu Jian has repeatedly devised brilliant stratagems in this campaign, using firearms to inflict heavy losses on the Jurchen tribes."

"He personally led five hundred elite cavalry to break enemy lines and block their advance, displaying extraordinary valor, personally slaying the enemy commander—undoubtedly the foremost merit of this battle. His Majesty was overjoyed and ordered me to come here to bestow rewards."

"He bestows upon Jia Yunwu Jian one set of precious armor, a thousand taels of gold, fifty bolts of tribute silk, and ten jars of imperial wine. After the court deliberates on merit and final rewards are determined, His Majesty will grant additional honors."

Normally, Guo Lin's visit would have been to proclaim an imperial edict and confer titles outright, not merely to deliver gifts.

Everyone had assumed he excelled only in literary matters; no one expected him to be so extraordinary in military affairs—such a young man, yet already capable of leading troops and slaying enemy generals.

The odd pairing of these two arrangements—was it deliberate intent by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao or Prince Prince Zhongshun, or merely coincidence? Outsiders could not know.

He had witnessed such things as a child among his elders; now the same scene was unfolding again among the Jia family's sons.

Since Jia Cong went to Liaodong, Lady Rongguo Prefecture had grown suddenly quiet; previously, his daily comings and goings had been the only source of vitality in this hereditary noble household.

…

Jia Zheng was flushed with excitement—Jia Cong excelled in both civil and military arts, achieving dual merits; this is how a true man should live!

This morning, as usual, the young ladies of the garden came to pay their respects and chat; Lady Wang and Xue Xue Yima joined them in idle conversation, all in cheerful harmony.

"Eunuch Guo has come to bestow rewards—Jia Zheng is deeply grateful; please enter the main hall for tea!"

"Master Jia, you're too courteous. With Jia Cong as your family's rare phoenix, one cannot help but envy you—I shall drink this tea, to catch some of the good fortune, ha ha."

Today, as Guo Lin arrived to bestow rewards, officials from the Clan Office also entered the mansion to negotiate.

But Jia Mu and the others would feel none of this tension—they would enjoy their merriment just as before.

Rongqing Hall.

Yet yesterday, the Left Minister of War, Peng Runan, and Chen Yi of the Left Military Command, reported the victory to court and mentioned that Jia Cong deserved to be enshrined for merit.

They also mentioned the proposal to replace the heir of Lady Rongguo Prefecture; this matter remains unsettled, so the rewards naturally cannot yet be finalized.

Even Xi Chun had grown tired of the Western-speaking music box Jia Cong had sent her; but with Third Brother away, she had no one to ask for new toys.

Now that he had gone north, the entire Lady Rongguo Prefecture had become still as stagnant water.

His Majesty's favor and promotion of him must be imminent; for such a man, Guo Lin naturally saw no harm in adding a few kind words.

Guo Lin was a trusted eunuch of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao; though he knew the Emperor was deeply suspicious, Jia Cong's many extraordinary deeds had made him increasingly significant in His Majesty's eyes.

Jia Zheng listened to Guo Lin's words, his heart swelling with emotion—he could no longer recall how many times Jia Cong had brought honor to the household these past years.

Until a maid came to report that an official from the Clan Office had arrived to pay respects to the old lady.

Without someone to talk to, write, or play chess with, Lin Daiyu and the other young ladies found the days dull and uninteresting.

Jia Mu's heart jolted—noble families never liked dealing with the Clan Office, for when its officials came calling, it was rarely good news.

A few years ago, when witchcraft accusations plagued the household, the Clan Office had come; Jia She was detained there for three or four days, and Jia Mu still trembled at the memory.

But since the man had already arrived, there was no point in hiding from him; she ordered Lady Wang and Xue Xue Yima to sit beside her.

Li Li Gongcai led Lin Daiyu and the other unmarried young ladies out of Rongqing Hall to avoid the male officials.

But since Jia Cong had gone north, Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and the others had grown more observant—they knew well that when the Clan Office came, it was rarely good news.

After leaving Rongqing Hall, the two pulled Ying Chun aside, circled around, and returned behind the screen in the hall.

Now, only Third Brother had much contact with officialdom; perhaps this outsider's business had something to do with him after all.

…

The man sent to Jia Mansion as a mediator today was Zheng Yu, a fifth-rank clerk of the Clan Office; those who held office in the Clan Office were almost always imperial clan members.

Zheng Yu's father was a Prince Consort, his mother the seventh princess of the Retired Emperor—thus he was descended from imperial nobility.

Prince Prince Zhongshun received word from Guo Lin and dismissed the matter entirely; he had long held resentment toward the Ning-Rong Jia family, and later Jia Rong had stolen his beloved Qi Qi Guan.

This made him despise the Ning-Rong Jia family even more; though Ningguo Prefecture had been stripped of its title, Lady Rongguo Prefecture still stood—and in Prince Prince Zhongshun's eyes, Lady Rongguo should be stripped too, for that would suit him perfectly.

So he merely sent Zheng Yu to handle the matter, for Zheng Yu was shrewd and adaptable—only he could manage such a delicate, house-destroying task of replacing heirs.

As for pressuring the Jia household, Prince Prince Zhongshun would never do it; whether Jia Cong or Jia Lady Lian inherited the title, it made no difference to him.

Zheng Yu had drawn the unlucky lot of this thankless task, and he resolved to deliver his message and nothing more—he would leave the Jia family to decide for themselves.

After entering Rongqing Hall, Zheng Yu naturally lavished praise on Jia Cong's first-class merit in Liaodong, spinning extravagant tales—otherwise, asking them to swap heirs would have been too blunt to broach.

Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and the others were stunned to hear that Jia Cong, merely by going to Liaodong, had achieved battlefield merit—and even the foremost merit.

How could this boy stir up such commotion wherever he went? Wasn't he a scholar? How could he possibly fight on the battlefield…?

Xue Xue Yima, beside them, listened with bright eyes—this Jia Cong truly had heavenly talent; he could even fight wars.

What a pity such a man cannot inherit the title or estate—if only he hadn't been born to the wrong mother, he would have been extraordinary indeed!

Behind the screen, the young ladies exchanged pinches and tugs, their eyes smiling into crescent moons.

They had guessed right—the official's business truly concerned Jia Cong, and it was good news: he had achieved great merit in Liaodong.

But how could such a man possibly go to war and risk his life? What if he were harmed? Each felt a pang of fear.

Yet the official had said he earned the foremost merit, praised him, and spoke in congratulatory tones—clearly he was unharmed; otherwise, his words would have been different. Their hearts finally eased.

…

But the words that followed from the Clan Office official turned Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and Ying Chun pale.

They heard Jia Mu's cold, stiff voice: "What did you say? That Lady Rongguo should strip Lady Lian'er of his heirship and give it to Jia Cong? Whose idea is this?!"

Zheng Yu saw Jia Mu's expression and knew today's visit was useless; he wasn't surprised—he knew some of Jia Cong's circumstances within the household.

Besides, the court's message was clear: no coercion whatsoever; the family must decide for itself. He had delivered his message—he could now return and report his duty done.

Still, Zheng Yu had to clarify the matter thoroughly; he was dispatched by the Clan Head, and he must see his task through to the end.

"Old Madam, please do not be angered. Yesterday, Minister Peng of the Ministry of War and Duke Qi entered court to report the victory. During the court deliberation on rewards, because your Jia Yunwu Jian's merit was outstanding, he displayed the martial spirit of the former Marquis of Rong."

"If he could inherit the former Marquis of Rong's title, he would surely continue his ancestors' legacy. That is why the Clan Office sent me here to negotiate—everything is left to your family's discretion, with no pressure."

"I have now delivered this message. I shall take my leave. When your household has decided, send someone to inform me at the Clan Office."

Having finished his words, Zheng Yu naturally did not stay to observe the Jia family's expressions; whether they changed heirs or not meant nothing to him.

He departed, utterly unconcerned—but his words had struck the Jia household like a thunderclap.

Jia Mu sat there, her face dark. This boy had gone to Liaodong and now dared to entangle himself with the family's title—how dare he forget his own station!

Lady Wang's face was grim; her prayer beads had stopped turning, clenched tightly in her hand, her knuckles faintly white.

The family title—my Jia Baoyu hasn't even received his share yet—how could it possibly go to Jia Cong? Even the Clan Office officials have come to plead for him—then what is my Jia Baoyu worth?

Only Xue Xue Yima's eyes gleamed with excitement; she thought it would be a good thing if Jia Cong inherited the title.

She had always believed that despite his talent, Jia Cong was merely a Shuzi —he could never touch the title or estate of the Jia household.

No matter how outstanding he was, he could never compare to Jia Lady Lian or Jia Baoyu, the legitimate Di sons.

But if Jia Cong inherited the title, the picture would change entirely—who among the Jia clan could rival him? Jia Baoyu would be utterly insignificant.

At that time, he and my daughter would be perfectly matched!

But Xue Xue Yima was merely an outsider; she could not utter a single word on this matter—otherwise, not only would the old lady turn against her, even her own sister would be furious.

So she could only sit helplessly, anxious.

…

At this moment, Jia Zheng entered Rongqing Hall, beaming—he had just seen Guo Lin off and came to report the good news.

Perhaps too excited, he failed to notice the unusual atmosphere in Rongqing Hall; he enthusiastically recounted how Jia Cong had earned merit and how the Emperor had sent rewards.

Jia Mu sneered: "He has talent, he earns merit, he wins the Emperor's rewards—I can't stop him from his antics. But he must not even think of the family title!"

"Let him remember his station—I'm still alive! He'll soon be rid of this foolish notion!"

Jia Zheng was baffled; Lady Wang quickly explained the Clan Office's visit.

Jia Zheng was equally astonished—had Jia Cong become so outstanding that court ministers believed he deserved to inherit Lady Rongguo Prefecture's title?

In truth, if Jia Zheng thought carefully, it made sense…

"Old Madam, this is the Clan Office's proposal—Jia Cong is thousands of miles away; he surely knows nothing of this. How can you say he's coveting the family title?"

Jia Mu fell momentarily silent—perhaps that was true. But she was still angry; ultimately, it was still that boy who had caused this trouble.

But then Jia Zheng spoke the next sentence—and Jia Mu flew into rage…

"Actually, the Clan Office's suggestion is not entirely without merit. Jia Cong excels in both civil and military arts; no other youth in our clan can match him. If he inherits the title, he will surely restore the Jia family's glory."

(End of chapter)