Chapter 308: The Whole City Welcomes the Marquis Home

The fourteenth year of Jia Zhao, the eighteenth day of the fifth month.

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Years ago, when the witchcraft incident broke out in the East Courtyard, Lady Xing was implicated by Wang Wang Shanbao's wife and was increasingly shunned by Jia Mu.

For the past two years, aside from daily courtesies and rules, Lady Xing had rarely come to Rongqing Hall, yet today she had already been sitting here for a long time.

Today, Lin Lin Daiyu and the other sisters were not present; only Seeing Yingchun sat in attendance at the lower seat.

However, Seeing Yingchun's expression was somewhat constrained and uneasy, her complexion slightly pale, her bright eyes lowered, and a pale pink soft-smoke gauze handkerchief was twisted into a ball by her slender fingers.

Lady Xing said with a face full of smiles: "Old Ancestor, the groom's name is Sun Sun Shaozu. His father is Sun Sun Zhanying, the hereditary Grade 5 Garrison Commander of Datong. He is the third son born to the legal wife."

"He and the Master have always had dealings, and speaking of it, he is an old family friend of our Jia family. I have also met him once; he is a man of imposing appearance and can be considered a person of status."

"He heard that the Second Girl is still unmarried, so he requested a government matchmaker to come and propose. The Master and I are both very satisfied with this match, and the Master asked me to come and request your instructions, Old Ancestor."

It was indeed rare for Seeing Yingchun to be able to marry a husband of such status, and if word got out, the Jia family would not lose face.

As for whether Seeing Yingchun would marry a good man, Lady Xing did not care in the slightest. She was merely a concubine-born daughter, not one born from her own womb, so what was there to be concerned about? Marrying her off would also mean one less eyesore.

Jia Mu was stunned upon hearing this, though deep down she was pleased. This Second Girl had the temperament of a block of wood; she wouldn't even cry out if pricked with a needle, yet she had actually said such a heart-pleasing thing.

Seeing Seeing Yingchun sitting to the side in a daze, her delicate body tense and her face somewhat pale, Jia Mu knew that her granddaughter was taciturn and timid. Hearing of such a major life event, she was likely feeling fearful.

Jia Mu asked: "How is this man's character? That is the most important thing. He must be good to the Second Girl. Even if his official rank is lower or his family is not wealthy, it does not matter."

For a great clan like the Jia family, marriage matters were most concerned with dignity. For a concubine-born daughter like Seeing Yingchun, it was generally very difficult to marry into the legal line of an official family as a primary wife.

Therefore, Jia She valued the relationship with the Sun family highly, saying that as long as they formed a marital alliance with the Sun family, wealth would surely roll in hereafter.

"Second Girl, from what I hear, that man also comes from an official family and is the legal son of the primary wife, so he must be a good man. You need not be afraid; I am here, and I will not let you suffer a loss."

Lady Xing knew that Jia She's business outside had a great deal to do with the Sun family of Datong.

Jia Mu teased: "You silly girl, how can a daughter not get married? Your Mistress said that Sun Sun Shaozu is seeking a post in the capital and will put down roots in the Love Shenjing hereafter."

Marrying well was her good fortune; marrying poorly was her fate. In any case, it had nothing to do with her.

Lady Xing smiled: "Old Ancestor, please rest assured. This man knows how to speak and act, and he is also sensible and meticulous. He is currently awaiting a post at the Ministry of War and will soon obtain a substantive position. There is absolutely nothing improper."

Seeing Yingchun had, after all, been raised by Jia Mu's side, and she did care somewhat for this granddaughter. Now that there was a suitable family, she naturally had to ask a few more questions.

Seeing Yingchun gathered her courage and said: "I do not want to marry. I want to... stay at home and be filial to Old Ancestor for a few more years."

"At worst, we can provide a larger dowry of silver; these are trivial matters."

And this Sun Sun Shaozu was not only from a hereditary official family but was also an old friend of the Jia family. Most importantly, he was born to a legal wife.

Once Jia Mu heard it was a hereditary military family and that he was a legal son, she was also somewhat satisfied in her heart.

Lady Xing had always been a person who coveted wealth. With such a reason, how could she be unwilling? Naturally, she spoke all manner of good things about Sun Sun Shaozu in front of Jia Mu.

Most could only marry small officials without foundations or become wives to concubine-born sons of great families. The life after marriage would mostly be miserable, lacking the ease of their maiden days.

"If you want to be filial to me, it is only a carriage ride away, which is very convenient. I think this match is good, so let it be decided. Once you have a good destination, I will be at ease."

Seeing Yingchun could no longer hold back and said: "Old Ancestor, can we wait until Third Brother Cong returns..."

As for why she had to wait for Jia Cong to return, even she herself could not explain the reason.

To be promised to someone she had never met, she felt fearful in her heart, afraid she would suffer losses and hardship. She only wanted the brother she trusted and felt closest to to be by her side to put her heart at ease.

When Lady Xing heard Seeing Yingchun suddenly mention Jia Cong, she felt disgusted. The state she had fallen into in the Jia family was largely caused by that beast.

She frowned and said: "What kind of talk is this? Marriage is a major event, decided by the orders of parents. He is only your brother; does he have a say in this!"

Seeing that the situation was not right, Lady Wang, who was to the side, hurriedly came out to smooth things over.

She said: "This does not count for much. The Second Girl and Brother Cong are close as siblings; she just wants her brother to know about this happy event."

In fact, regarding the marriage between Seeing Yingchun and Sun Sun Shaozu, Jia Zheng felt it was improper and had privately told Lady Wang that the Sun family were sycophants and should not be deeply associated with.

However, Seeing Yingchun was Jia She's daughter, and after all, they were from different branches, so Jia Zheng could not say much. Seeing that Jia Mu was already willing, Lady Wang was even less likely to speak out of turn.

Jia Mu, however, was clear about the affairs of the inner chambers. She knew that Seeing Yingchun and her brother had been close since childhood; even the shoes and socks that boy wore were made by her own hands.

"I know you are concerned about your brother. Now it is only an engagement, not yet the wedding. Your brother will be able to return in a few days, and by then, I will have him carry you out of the door himself."

Upon hearing the word 'engagement', Seeing Yingchun's heart trembled, and tears welled up in her bright eyes, yet she dared not let them fall.

The fourteenth year of Jia Zhao, the third day of the sixth month.

Yesterday, the military post station transmitted a message by fast horse: Jia Cong, the Supervisor of the Firearm Bureau, would lead his troops to arrive at the capital the next day to report on his mission.

Early this morning, five hundred elite cavalry from the Five Armies Camp of the Love Shenjing received an imperial decree to go five miles outside the city to welcome and congratulate Jia Cong on his achievement of pacifying the Jurchens.

Leading the welcoming party was Lin Zhen, a Grade 4B Assistant Regional Commander of the Five Armies Camp.

Traditionally, when a great victory is achieved in war and the army returns to the capital, depending on the scale of the military merit, if the main general is a high-ranking noble, there would be officials of equal rank going outside the city to welcome them.

If all officials were to welcome them, that would be the merit of saving the nation and preventing its destruction; throughout history, such instances could be counted on one's fingers.

Jia Cong was currently a Grade 5 official. Although he had achieved great merit, his age and military seniority were too shallow after all.

Yet Emperor Jia Zhao sent high-ranking military officers and the most outstanding elite ceremonial cavalry to welcome him five miles outside the city; the favor and esteem shown are evident.

This was not merely the imperial grace and dignity bestowed upon Jia Cong, but also served to highlight and embellish the supreme glory of the Jia Zhao reign in expanding the frontiers beyond the passes.

Under the vast heaven, there is no land that is not the King's; within the borders of the land, there is no one who is not the King's subject.

A glorious, sweeping victory, expanding the borders by a thousand miles—the brightest jewel in the crown of glory naturally belongs to the sovereign who sits high above.

Early this morning, the five hundred ceremonial elite cavalry of the Five Armies Camp wore gilded iron helmets with phoenix-wing hairpins, donned fish-scale gold-inlaid fine armor, carried ceremonial long-handled goose-quill sabers, and rode upon tall, spirited horses.

Along the central axis avenue of the Love Shenjing, they headed straight for the Xinde Gate in the east of the city. Along the way, the horse hooves sounded like thunder, and the gold helmets and armor radiated dazzling brilliance in the sunlight, as imposing as heavenly soldiers descending.

These magnificently dressed and mighty cavalrymen quickly attracted the attention of everyone in the city, and thus the news of Jia Cong of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture leading his troops back to the capital spread rapidly.

The people of the Love Shenjing were well aware of Jia Cong of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture; it was mainly because the stir Jia Cong had caused in the Love Shenjing over the past few years was truly not small.

From the excellent poems and lyrics that spread from the Nanxi Literary Gathering four years ago, his reputation had already spread throughout the Love Shenjing.

Afterwards, he first achieved the top rank in the Yongzhou Academy Examination, and a few years later, he won the top rank in the Yongzhou Provincial Examination. A few of his lyrics and odes were famous throughout the land, and he was recognized in the scholarly circles as a genius of the world.

Now, such strange news had spread again: a scholar in a blue gown could actually mount a horse and wield a saber, devise strategies to win, and permanently pacify the Jurchens. This was truly rare in the world.

Such deeds were naturally the legends most talked about among the common people.

Added to this, the government had received hints from the palace and intended to promote among the people the grand event of the imperial court pacifying the Jurchens in Liaodong and expanding the territory.

Jia Cong, who was at the focus of the event, attracted even more attention.

From the moment the five hundred ceremonial elite cavalry went out of the Xinde Gate to welcome the Liaodong soldiers back, many people in the Love Shenjing gathered from all directions toward the Xinde Gate.

The imperial army had annihilated the Jurchens in Liaodong, their military achievements were illustrious, and they were praised by the world. Today, the Liaodong generals with military merit were returning to the capital; no one wanted to miss such a lively scene.

The teahouses and wine shops near the Xinde Gate quickly became overcrowded, among which there were quite a few scholars in Confucian caps and blue gowns.

Some of the scholars had emblems on their clothing; those with keen eyes knew that those were the emblems of the Qingshan Academy.

This was not strange; the young general who was returning in victory today was the pride of the Qingshan Academy. These scholars who came to witness the grand occasion might very well be the senior or junior fellow students of Jia Cong.

Moreover, news had just spread from the Qingshan Academy that although Jia Cong was still only a Provincial Graduate and had not yet obtained the title of Presented Wu Wu Ju Ren.

But after the news of the great victory at Qiu Qingyuan Collection arrived, the Academy Principal, Zhao Zhao Chongli, decided to record Jia Cong's name in the Lingxing Pavilion in advance.

The Lingxing Pavilion of the Qingshan Academy was a place where literary spirit gathered; only those who had passed the Presented Wu Wu Ju Ren examination had the honor of having their names recorded. By rights, Jia Cong was still only a Provincial Graduate and did not have this qualification.

However, Principal Zhao Zhao Chongli's decision was supported by all the instructors and students of the academy; the military merit of killing enemies and expanding the territory for the nation was enough to surpass the honor of passing the Presented Wu Wu Ju Ren examination.

Even the flower houses and brothels along both sides of the street had twenty percent more guests than usual, because flower houses and brothels were certainly not ordinary bungalows; they all had second or third-floor balconies and pavilions, and the view for watching the scene was excellent.

And the peddlers and hawkers on the street also increased all of a sudden, taking advantage of the bustling crowd to solicit more business to make a living.

Whether they were scholars in blue gowns, merchants and commoners, or porters and laborers, or even the famous beauties of the flower houses with their red sleeves fluttering.

Everyone wanted to see with their own eyes what kind of aura this strange youth who had achieved such world-shaking merit possessed.

In the crowd, there were also many young women and wives from commoner families, as well as young wealthy women wearing veils or sitting in carriages. They also found various excuses to come out and see this rare sight.

Because it was rumored throughout the Love Shenjing that this young noble of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture, the youth who had slaughtered thousands, was not only proficient in both literature and martial arts but also possessed peerless beauty and was unmatched in handsomeness...

"Do not be surprised that he attained his degree early; it is only natural that the Moon Goddess loves the youth."

Which young woman in her youth would not have secret thoughts in her boudoir, and would not admire talent and handsomeness?

In the past, the gates of the Duke's mansion were deep and heavy, and ordinary common women found it difficult to see his unmatched style. Now that this person was leading troops in victory and parading through the streets, they naturally wanted to see his long-famed jade-like appearance.

To see if he was truly as peerless and unforgettable as rumored.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 309 =====