Chapter 31

Zhou Junxing still wouldn't give up, arranging for his men and the Zhen'an Prefecture's forces to conduct another round of searches of Shuyun Villa.

He also had Wang Dong gather the maids who were not on duty in the villa and personally questioned them, but in the end, they found nothing.

In the stone pavilion, Prince Prince Jia Shun's face was gloomy; the villa being turned upside down by a large group of officials made this virtuous prince feel that he had lost face.

But he couldn't stop these people from acting, because if they couldn't catch the killer, he wouldn't be able to give an account to the Love Shenjing and the scholars of the world; this literary gathering would become the last Nanxi Literary Gathering.

The group of old scholars and famous masters participating in the literary gathering, seeing a large number of officials running around in the villa like wolves and pigs, with swords and bows flashing with cold light, were already sitting on pins and needles, wishing they could leave the villa early.

But the killer hadn't been caught yet; if they proposed to leave now, they were afraid of being suspected. Zhou Zhou Junxing was a famous cruel official, accustomed to fabricating charges; if they were implicated by him, it would be too late to regret.

Everyone was suffering through it.

In the end, even Zhou Zhou Junxing gave up hope. He and Zhang Shou'an both concluded that the killer must have left the villa immediately after committing the crime, and they could only investigate further later.

Zhou Zhou Junxing glanced at Wu Wu Jinrong's body, seemingly lost in thought, and then looked gloomily at the crowd participating in the literary gathering, turning and leaving with his more than ten black-clad followers.

Ge Ge Chunjiang mocked: "I told you to wear more when we went out, but you didn't listen. Now you're going to freeze your skin off."

Ge Ge Chunjiang hurriedly lifted the other end, smiling sideways: "Where did you pop out from? Let's hurry and carry the things down; Dad's carriage is still waiting below."

There had been many people who became famous in the scholarly world because of the Nanxi Literary Gathering, but none at Jia Cong's age; I'm afraid there will be no one to follow in his footsteps.

Today's literary gathering was truly too turbulent, with someone actually being killed in the hall, which was truly shocking, but such a strange thing as the Jia family son from Lady Rongguo Prefecture also happened. As the scholars participating in the gathering dispersed, in a few days, Jia Cong's strange story and that 'Bu Suan Zi, Ode to the Plum Blossom' that shocked everyone would surely spread throughout the Love Shenjing.

Little Qin's clothes were a bit thin, and he was hunched over in the wind and snow. Hearing Ge Ge Chunjiang's words, he responded with a shiver.

Suddenly, a thin figure flashed into his line of sight, a dog-skin hat wrapped tightly around his head, and he ran over and lifted one end of the corpse litter.

The snow was getting heavier and heavier; as far as the eye could see, it was all white.

Ge Ge Chunjiang had grown up playing with this cousin since he was a child, and the two had a good relationship, but he knew his father didn't look up to Little Qin, thinking he had no focus and was someone who couldn't accomplish anything.

Once Zhou Zhou Junxing and the others left, the old scholars and famous masters participating in the literary gathering said their goodbyes to Prince Prince Jia Shun one after another, and in no time, most of the people had left.

Ge Wu tightened his collar and cursed in a low voice: "This damn weather, snow and rain, it won't stop! Where did that Little Qin run off to go crazy again!"

One was his son Ge Ge Chunjiang, and the other was his wife's nephew, Little Qin.

Ge Ge Chunjiang had a simple temperament and a sturdy build, and he effortlessly picked up Wu Wu Jinrong and put him into the corpse litter—this thing was specially used by coroners to transport corpses, similar in shape to a modern stretcher.

This Ge Wu had been a coroner in the Zhen'an Prefecture for twenty years, and fiddling with corpses was a family craft; this time he brought two apprentices.

"Dad, Little Qin had to pee, he went to relieve himself just now, he'll be back soon."

Because of this, Ge Ge Chunjiang had often covered for his cousin.

Time had already passed the hour of the sheep (1-3 PM), and the sky had turned gloomy again, with goose-feather snow starting to fall again.

Born into a high family but with a lowly birth mother, yet possessing astonishing talent—this in itself had a legendary luster.

Ge Ge Chunjiang was afraid his father would urge him again, and looking at the increasing wind and snow, he muttered: "That Little Qin, that loser, he's really lazy and has too many bowel movements; he won't roll back even now."

"I'm telling you, when we went out, my mother stewed a pot of snakehead and mutton soup; let's hurry back so we can have a feast."

Zhang Shou'an diligently said goodbye to Prince Prince Jia Shun, Liu Liu Yanxiu, Zhang Zhang Tianshi, and others, and had the coroner Ge Wu transport the body away.

When they left Shuyun Villa, they happened to hear some discussions among the eunuchs and maids in the villa, saying that because Jia Cong's birth mother was lowly, he had been abandoned by his family since he was a child, and it hadn't been easy for him to live to this age.

This made these sentimental scholars sigh quite a bit, and many of them even quoted a few lines about "Heaven sending great responsibilities to such a person."

Many of these scholars participating in the Nanxi Literary Gathering came from poor families, and many were from middle-class families, but none came from a family of wealth and status like the Jia family.

There are many people in the world who despise the poor and love the rich, and the "hatred of the rich" is the same in ancient and modern times. They were still very happy to talk about the anecdotes and scandals of the great noble families in their spare time.

I imagine that after they go back this time, this strange story of the Jia family son will become an important topic of conversation in their gatherings with friends and relatives.

Liu Liu Yanxiu and others called Jia Cong into the stone pavilion to talk and praised Jia Cong's 'Bu Suan Zi, Ode to the Plum Blossom' again.

Jia Cong wasn't surprised by this; although that great man was a hero who settled the world, he was also famously talented, and this 'Ode to the Plum Blossom' was his signature work—how could it not be amazing?

Liu Liu Yanxiu said: "You have extraordinary talent; you should spend more time reading and don't waste such a heaven-sent gift."

Jia Cong answered respectfully: "Junior will strictly follow Master Jing'an's teachings and will certainly study hard."

"What books are you reading now, and who is your teacher?"

"Returning to Master Jing'an, Junior has finished elementary studies and has started reading the Four Books. I have no teacher and have been self-studying, having obtained a few volumes of 'Four Books Collected Commentaries' from the family's Second Master, which I usually study carefully."

Liu Liu Yanxiu's face was unhappy: "No teacher? With your aptitude, if your family didn't hire a famous teacher to teach you, aren't you afraid of delaying yourself?"

Jia Cong's expression was a bit awkward; although the Jia family was unkind to him, family ugliness should not be aired in public, and as a matter of clan etiquette, even if he was unhappy in his heart, he wouldn't talk about it in front of outsiders, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

What kind of person was Liu Liu Yanxiu? With a lifetime of experience and immersed in worldly affairs, he saw through things clearly. Seeing Jia Cong's expression, he guessed a few things.

Thinking that his birth mother was of humble origin, he estimated that he likely lived a dire life in the family, and having heard many such scandals of noble families, he changed the subject.

It was already past the hour of the sheep, and it would take two hours to get from here to the East City of the Love Shenjing. The spring days were short, and it would likely be dark by the time they entered the city.

A murder had occurred at Shuyun Villa today, which was not quite right. Liu Yanxiu and the others didn't want this youth to be delayed and have to travel at night, lest something go wrong.

After chatting for a few words, Jia Cong bid farewell to Prince Prince Jia Shun, Liu Liu Yanxiu, and Zhang Zhang Tianshi.

Although these three were close to him because of his outstanding talent, it was only their first meeting after all. Jia Cong was afraid that if he said too much, he would reveal signs of being too familiar too soon, which would be counterproductive.

He wasn't naive enough to think that just because he wrote a good poem, these people would treat him like a nephew, and from then on, he could rely on them and everything would be fine.

These people could reach their current status naturally because they were not shallow people. The effect of him making a name for himself by writing a poem at the Nanxi Literary Gathering today had already been achieved, so it was not a wasted trip.

Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself; this is an eternal truth in that world as well.

Since this world is like this, he would use his own methods to stand firm, and when he accumulated more foundation, there would naturally be a great world waiting for him to explore.

At the very least, he wouldn't have to live in the shadow of people like Jia She and Lady Xing, struggling to survive every day in that storage room in the East Road Courtyard.

Zhang Zhang Yuzhen looked at Jia Cong's departing figure and said:

"Master Jing'an, I haven't seen such a strange youth in many years. I really have developed a desire to cherish talent."

Liu Liu Yanxiu smiled: "Such a youth is indeed rare. Could it be that Master Zhang wants to take him as a disciple?"

The sword-wielding girl behind Zhang Zhang Yuzhen's eyes brightened, looking at Jia Cong's little-adult appearance, guessing that he would look quite fun if he wore a Daoist robe.

Zhang Zhang Yuzhen smiled: "I lead the Zhengyi sect; if I take him as a disciple, he would have to follow me and become a little Daoist priest. The Jia family is a wealthy and powerful family and would never agree."

"It's just that this child's fortune is erratic, his three souls are mysterious and detached, and he has unpredictable opportunities. Yet he is also extraordinarily intelligent. Such a destiny is one in ten thousand; if it's not great luck, it must be great disaster."

"And since he grew up, his life path must have been full of obstacles. Now that he is still young, it would be appropriate for someone to guide him."

Liu Liu Yanxiu felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this. The Zhang Tianshi clan had been passed down for thousands of years with an extremely deep foundation, and their secret "Five Phases Technique" had the power to predict gods and ghosts, which was by no means an ordinary Jianghu trick.

This old Daoist priest had been looking at Jia Cong from time to time since he entered the villa. Could it be that he had seen something?

Zhang Zhang Yuzhen added: "Master Jing'an has been at Mount Mount Luocang for ten years, and your mountain gate is empty. Seeing such an outstanding youth, didn't you feel the desire to cherish talent?"

Liu Liu Yanxiu collected his thoughts and smiled: "The Zhang Tianshi himself cannot take him, so you're putting the idea on me? You and this child are quite fated, planning for him like this."

Zhang Zhang Yuzhen's expression was solemn: "Affinity is also lack of affinity. Such a strange youth, if he can grow up well, can benefit the world; if there is no one to guide him and he makes a mistake, he might cause chaos in the world."

Liu Liu Yanxiu looked surprised and asked: "Is the Zhang Tianshi exaggerating?"

"It is absolutely not an unfounded statement. His destiny and energy are very different from ordinary people. Born into wealth, growing up in humility, he harbors an obsession to break the situation in his heart; his life is destined to be full of fortune and disaster."

Jia Cong walked out of the gate of Shuyun Villa and found that the wind and snow outside were getting tighter.

Standing on the hillside, he saw a team of carriages and horses winding through the snowy ground from afar; judging by their attire, it should be Zhou Zhou Junxing and Zhang Shou'an's men.

He fastened his bright red scarlet felt cloak and walked down the mountain steps.

By the time he got into Guo Zhigui's carriage and sped toward the Divine Capital, he didn't know that a commotion had been triggered in Shuyun Villa...

(End of chapter)