Chapter 297

Jia Jing had seen Jia Cong several times and admired his appearance and ability very much; being able to have such a good disciple adopted under his knees was naturally a thousand good things.

The most important thing is that Jia Cong happened to make great military achievements but failed to inherit the title in the Rongguo Prefecture, so he must be dissatisfied in his heart.

Under such circumstances, inheriting the Ningguo line to seek the restoration of the title is simply a match made in heaven.

As long as this matter is achieved, the Ningguo title will be reborn in his hands, and when Jia Jing is buried, he will no longer have to be ashamed of his ancestors.

Therefore, he was extremely enthusiastic about making this happen, staring at Jia Mu, hoping that the old lady would agree immediately.

Jia Mu was actually basically willing in her heart; if her own grandson could get a title, that would also be the glory on her face.

However, she was not completely senile after all, and said, "Brother Jing, logically speaking, if adopting a disciple can help Ningguo restore the title, I naturally agree.

But if you want to adopt someone like Brother Huan, I can make the decision, but Brother Cong is different."

Jia Jing and Jia Xiao had strange expressions on their faces when they heard Jia Mu mention Brother Huan; why would they want to adopt this frozen cat Brother Huan? They would have to waste white rice to raise him.

……

So in the end, they could only say goodbye first and wait for Jia Cong to return from Liaodong to discuss it.

However, they also knew that what Jia Mu said made sense; this was not adopting an ignorant child, but a dignified fifth-grade official of the court; how could it be done just by saying it?

Usually, there is no hindrance to drinking and having fun, but he can't do any of the proper business that requires identity verification.

Jia Mu continued, "Brother Cong, although he is not old, is not an ordinary disciple; he is now a fifth-grade official, a regular official of the court, and a person used by the Emperor."

Xue Yima Xue naturally reciprocated and said some nice and useful words.

Xue Pan beat Feng Yuan to death in Jin Ling, and Jia Yucun was greedy and broke the law, using the method that Xue Pan died of an acute illness to let him escape the law.

The Xue family's old woman naturally moved the things back to the main hall of the inner courtyard.

Jia Jing was eager to restore the family business, fearing that long nights would bring many dreams; such a talent as Jia Cong was unique in the clan, and now was a rare opportunity.

It is said that now he is commanding an army alone in Liaodong to suppress the Jurchens; if he makes military achievements again and is promoted by the Emperor, then no matter what the old lady says, she will not let such a disciple leave the prefecture to be adopted.

It is likely that the Imperial Clan Court and the palace will have to nod, and he also needs to know about it himself; this matter is not urgent, so let's wait until he returns from Liaodong to discuss it."

Jia Jing and Jia Xiao were a bit disappointed when they heard this.

He also has his own big ideas; it is not so simple for him to be adopted into another branch; even if I talk to his master, it won't count.

The gate of Lixiang Courtyard facing the back street, people coming in and out, the Xue family's servants carried boxes of gifts and put them in the hall before retreating.

But Jia Xiao's family was about to be unable to open the pot, and he was hoping to make this happen and share more benefits, so naturally, he was as anxious as Jia Jing.

……

After Jia Mu thanked her, she chatted with Xue Yima Xue a few words, saying that now your brother also knows how to do business outside, which shows that he is sensible when he grows up.

Jia Mu felt a bit strange in her heart when she heard this, and she was somewhat embarrassed; this can also be considered her good teaching....

After Jia Jing and Jia Xiao left, Xue Yima Xue happened to come over and sent Jia Mu some gifts that Xue Pan brought back from doing business outside, several pieces of top-grade fur, and several branches of old mountain ginseng.

As usual, she praised Baoyu a few words, and suddenly mentioned Jia Cong, saying that it was all because of the Old Lady's good teaching that she raised such a capable grandson, who became a high official at such a young age.

But at the same time, it also turned Xue Pan into a "black household"; in the official documents of the government, he, Xue the big fool, was already a dead person.

Later, I heard from friends that there was a way in Datong, Ping'an Prefecture; that place is not like the Love Shenjing under the Emperor's feet, there are not so many stresses, and it is easy to do business and earn silver.

Xue Pan was already a bit suffocated in the Love Shenjing, so he went on a trip with a few friends; although he didn't make big money, he made some small money and saw the world.

When he came back, he brought a lot of gifts for his mother and sister; Xue Yima Xue felt that her son was beginning to be sensible and was very happy; as for whether he made money or not, she didn't care.

The gifts carried into the main hall were opened one by one, including top-grade apricot preserves, berries, yellow rice, hazel mushrooms, black fungus, fur, and medicinal materials.

There were also stationery items such as top-grade water willow paperweights, brush holders, inkstone boxes, and whole boxes of Balin seal stones.

Baochai was helping Xue Pan organize the gifts, separating a few to send to the sisters in the garden, and of course, one was to be sent to Qingzhi Studio.

Xue Pan suddenly asked, "Sister, has there been any news about Brother Cong recently?"

Xue Baochai was a bit curious, "Brother Cong is so far away in Liaodong; I heard he only sent a letter to the Great Xue Yima's husband; why did you suddenly ask about him?"

Baochai knew that her brother had never been on good terms with Jia Cong because of Ying Lian; why did he suddenly mention him today?

"Sister, you don't know; as soon as I returned to the capital, I heard about Brother Cong; it's really spreading all over the Love Shenjing."

Baochai asked with a smile, "What did they say? Tell me about it too."

"They said he fought a big battle with the Jurchens in Liaodong; he was very powerful; he took hundreds of cavalry and dared to charge thousands of Jurchens, and even beheaded the Jurchen vassal king with one knife.

I heard that the vassal king was one zhang tall and one zhang wide, holding a golden-backed big machete, and had the courage of ten thousand men, and yet he was still beheaded by Brother Cong with one knife.

Isn't he a scholar? Why haven't I heard that he was so powerful before...."

Ying'er, who came in to serve tea, laughed when she heard this, "Young Master, how can anyone be one zhang tall and one zhang thick?"

Baochai was also listening with a smile on the side; she had heard about Jia Cong from the sisters in the garden a few days ago, saying that he had made the first merit in Liaodong and had been granted an official position by the royal family.

He was even much better than what she had seen with her own eyes; not only was his literary talent shocking, but he was also both cultured and martial; there was actually such an outstanding person in the world.

Although Baochai knew clearly that Jia Cong had no intentions toward her and was mostly thinking of others in his heart....

But she still couldn't help thinking about him; hearing about his excellence, she couldn't help but feel sweet in her heart; she was originally very good at controlling herself, but now she was like being possessed by a demon.

Just hoping he would come back early; it had been a long time since she had seen him.

……

Xue Pan tilted his head and looked at his sister, "Sister, Mom is not here today; tell me honestly, did you fall for Brother Cong!"

Baochai was so angry that her face turned red, and she spat, "There is no brother who talks such nonsense to his sister; see if I don't tell Mom."

Xue Pan was most afraid of his sister getting angry, so he hurriedly begged for mercy, "Okay, okay, can't I just not say it?"

Baochai was curious, "Strange, didn't you usually not like Brother Cong? Why do you keep mentioning him today?"

"He and I are just because of that girl Suyun, and it's not a big deal; he is more handsome than me and more popular with women; Suyun loves to follow him, I admit it."

Baochai's face turned red again when she heard this; what popular with women? Isn't she a woman?

"Your brother, I admire heroes the most; Brother Cong took the head of a general among ten thousand horses, isn't that a hero? Brother admires such people."

Xue Pan said with his eyes shining, as if he had brought himself into it, as if the prestige of taking the general's head was Xue the big fool himself.

Baochai shook her head with a smile when she saw her brother showing that reckless look again.

However, Baochai was still very happy that her brother was no longer resisting Brother Cong.

The two siblings were talking when Xue Yima Xue happened to come back after sending the gifts.

"Pan'er, I just came back from your aunt's place; she heard from your uncle that the situation in Datong, Ping'an Prefecture is not peaceful now, and the Mongol Tatars have often invaded the border recently.

The Nine Provinces Controller is patrolling the border there; I heard that he is catching soldiers for fraud, and it is very chaotic; you are not allowed to go there in the future! The family is not short of the hundreds of taels of silver you earn.

You give me peace and stay at home; I don't think you can play with people like Brother Cong; usually, walk around more with Baoyu and Jia Lian; at least they are all proper relatives."

Xue Pan curled his lips, "Baoyu has made appointments to drink, as for Brother Lian, I'd better stay away from him, so as not to cause trouble."

Xue Yima Xue was curious, "What did Jia Lian do to you? How can he cause you trouble?"

Xue Pan said mysteriously, "Mom, haven't you heard that Brother Lian has also been to Ping'an Prefecture a few times?"

Xue Yima Xue asked curiously, "I heard people talk about it in the garden, so what? Didn't you also go to Ping'an Prefecture?"

Xue Baochai on the side also looked over curiously, knowing that her brother must have something to say.

"Oh, my mom, can Jia Lian going to Ping'an Prefecture be the same as me going?"

"This time in Datong, I drank with a few friends, and they said that the Great Master of the Jia family is sending sea salt, tea, and iron pots to Datong and has earned a lot of silver!"

"Brother Lian going to Ping'an Prefecture a few times might be to handle these businesses; I still dare to associate with him."

Xue Yima Xue's face changed when she heard this; she had been a merchant's wife for half her life and was not an ordinary inner-chamber woman; she was also well-informed.

Naturally, she knew that sea salt, tea, and ironware were forbidden items in the Nine Borders; if the Tatars outside the pass got them, it would be a crime of treason and beheading.

"You wicked obstacle, how can you talk nonsense like this? See if I don't beat you to death!"

Xue Yima Xue took the feather duster and beat him, but she couldn't bear to really beat him; most of it was thunder and little rain.

Baochai on the side also turned pale when she heard this; she naturally knew the severity of her brother's words.

Xue Pan said aggrievedly, "My mom, I'm not talking nonsense; it was what those friends said when drinking, and it was very detailed."

Xue Yima Xue said angrily, "You unpromising thing, you drank a few cups of yellow soup and spread these nonsense words of beheading; what if it spreads out?"

"If something happens, how can you let us Xue family behave?"

Baochai on the side also complained, "Brother is too unaware of priorities; if these words spread, something big will happen."

"You shouldn't have listened to these words at all; even if you listened, you should have let them rot in your stomach; how could you mention them everywhere? Who else have you told these words to!"

Xue Pan said annoyedly, "I'm not a fool; I always know some priorities; I only told you; I didn't mention a word to anyone else."

Xue Yima Xue said fiercely, "From now on, you will forget these words; if you dare to talk nonsense outside, I will strangle myself, so as not to be angered to death by you!"

Xue Pan was startled; although he was a young master and absurd, he was very good to his mother and sister, so he hurriedly swore that he would never say these words again.

Baochai's heart was beating wildly; she was the daughter of an imperial merchant and had more experience outside than ordinary ladies.

She naturally knew that if these things went wrong, it would be a capital crime; the Great Master of the Jia Prefecture is his own father; should she tell him?

Perhaps it is better not to tell him; he is still in Liaodong now, and knowing it will do him no good; maybe after the incident, he will be implicated.

(End of chapter)