Chapter 311

When Jia Jing heard Jia Cong's words, his hand trembled violently, and he actually plucked out a tuft of his beard, making him grimace in pain.

Jia Jing could never have imagined that after Jia Mu mentioned the huge benefits of inheriting the Ningguo succession, Jia Cong would refuse without a second thought.

The people in the hall looked surprised, all finding it strange that Jia Cong would be unwilling to accept such a good thing.

Even an outsider like Xue Xue Yima felt that for Jia Cong, this was like a pie falling from the sky.

Ever since she met Jia Cong in Jinling, his appearance and ability were impeccable. To tell the truth, she liked him, but unfortunately, Jia Cong was a concubine-born son and could not touch the power and property of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture.

But if this boy became the legitimate son of the Ningguo Prefecture, things would be completely different. Once he obtained the Ningguo title, who else in the Jia family could compare to him?

Her daughter liked him so much that even if she promised him to her, it would be fine. Yet this Brother Cong was actually unwilling to be adopted—wasn't he being foolish?

However, Xue Xue Yima was an outsider after all, and she had no say at this time, so she just felt anxious in her heart.

Jia Jing steadied himself, still holding onto a glimmer of hope, so he immediately thought of another possibility and asked: "Brother Cong, you just entered the palace to see the Emperor; has the Emperor already granted you a title?"

When Jia Jing heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and said to Jia Mu: "Old Lady, the rewards will only be granted in three days; there is still time."

When Jia Mu heard the word "disaster," she was startled, mainly because the raiding of the Ningguo Prefecture last year had left too much of a psychological shadow on the Old Lady.

She couldn't help but sink her face slightly and said: "Brother Cong, I have already told you the benefits of adoption. It is a great thing for you; don't be foolish."

When Jia Jing asked this, everyone in Rongqing Hall looked at Jia Cong, many with burning gazes.

Jia Mu looked up at Jia Cong, seeing his face calm and his lips slightly pursed, looking unwilling.

Jia Cong said clearly: "Old Lady, after the Ningguo title was abolished, it was decreed that the title could only be restored if Ningguo descendants performed military service within three years. A year has passed, yet not a single person from Ningguo has joined the army—they have been this negligent!"

However, the papers had already been submitted to the Imperial Clan Court a few days ago, and there was no way to go back on it now.

"Old Lady, if you had asked me to inherit the Ningguo lineage before I went to Liaodong, it would have been a minor matter, but to inherit Ningguo now would be to bring disaster upon the Jia family!"

Once the family takes this step, the impeachments from the Censorate will surely swarm in, and the Lady Rongguo Jia family will surely become the target of public criticism. Disaster will arrive from morning to evening!

"Old Lady, back then, Brother Zhen acted lawlessly, causing Ningguo to be raided and its title abolished. I must never repeat the same mistake!"

"I was not the only one who entered the palace to see the Emperor today; there were other generals who performed meritorious deeds in the Liaodong battle. The Emperor summoned us only to offer encouragement. Only after the captive-offering ceremony in the palace is completed in three days will the rewards be granted according to merit."

Jia Cong refused to inherit Ningguo so quickly. The only reason Jia Jing could think of was that Jia Cong had already been granted a title during his audience with the Emperor, which was why he refused to be adopted into Ningguo.

But he didn't believe it in his heart and asked irritably: "For no reason at all, why are you saying such discouraging words? Transferring lineages and inheriting successions is common in large families; how could it bring disaster?"

Jia Cong frowned slightly and said: "Old Lady, I just said that this matter must absolutely not be done!"

Jia Mu frowned. If this boy were really granted a title in three days, then Lady Rongguo would have two titles in one family—what a great honor! Jia Mu felt moved just thinking about it.

The current Emperor is a sagely monarch who sees clearly for ten thousand miles. How could such petty schemes to solicit rewards be hidden from the bright light of heaven?

"This time, I performed military service in Liaodong. Ningguo did not think to encourage its descendants to act, but only let me inherit Ningguo, which carries the suspicion of cleverly seizing national merit. This is a crime of deceiving the Emperor."

That was a title. The Jia family could enjoy wealth and honor for several generations, ultimately because they had noble titles. Now that Jia Cong was so young and a title seemed within reach, how could people not be jealous?

When Jia Jing and Jia Xiao heard this, their faces turned red. As for those dissolute sons of Ningguo, they were scared stiff at the mere mention of joining the army, so what could they do?

Jia Mu felt pained by the honor that was within reach, and her mood was a bit distracted. She seemed to have forgotten Jia Cong's refusal just now and said somewhat gloomily:

"That is perfect. I have checked the dates, and tomorrow is an auspicious day. Brother Cong, you will enter the ancestral hall tomorrow to offer sacrifices to the ancestors and transfer your lineage, so that one matter can be settled."

The people in the hall gasped after hearing these words. Jia Mu and the others were only thinking about restoring the Ningguo title and strengthening the Jia family's momentum; they couldn't imagine the twists and turns Jia Cong was talking about.

At this moment, Jia Mu was also frightened by these words. If letting Jia Cong inherit Ningguo would actually lead to the crime of deceiving the Emperor, then she would never dare to do so.

At this time, Jia Zheng said: "Old Lady, we thought wrongly about this matter before. Brother Cong's words make a lot of sense. Now that Ningguo has been abolished, Lady Rongguo must never get into trouble again!"

Jia Jing suddenly said: "Brother Cong, what you said is just speculation. Perhaps the Emperor, mindful of the Ningguo ancestors' achievements, will not mind you inheriting the title. How can you know without trying?"

At this moment, everyone sitting in Rongqing Hall, one by one, were not fools, and they all looked at Jia Jing with surprised eyes.

They never expected that a scholar who had passed the provincial examination twice and a high-minded person who had practiced Daoism for so many years would say such selfish and cold words.

Jia Cong asked curiously: "Does Master Jing mean that you want me, a descendant of Lady Rongguo, to use my own life and future as a bet to gamble for the title of your Ningguo lineage?"

Jia Mu said angrily from the side: "Jing-ge, do you know what you are saying? You can't use matters of beheading and raiding the family as a test. I think you are obsessed with restoring the title."

She glanced at Jia Cong standing to the side. She thought it was a good thing, but after hearing what this boy said, it turned out to be so fatal. This boy was indeed formidable.

It made her feel as if she were truly senile. Jia Mu felt an indescribable awkwardness in her heart, and she felt quite ashamed...

She said irritably: "Let this matter end here. Zheng-er, you go to the Imperial Clan Court yourself and get the papers back. Just say that Brother Cong will no longer transfer his lineage and inherit the succession, so as not to leave any handle for others."

When Jia Jing heard this, his face changed drastically, and he begged Jia Mu: "Old Lady, you can't do this; this is the only hope for Ningguo to restore its title..."

Jia Mu ignored him and let Sister Yuanyang support her as she left.

Jia Cong looked at Jia Jing and Jia Xiao with some disgust. He never expected that the descendants of the ancestors of Ningguo, who had fought through mountains of knives and seas of blood, would be so unbearable. From now on, there would be no more Ningguo title in the world.

He didn't want to stay in Rongqing Hall for even a moment, so he bowed to Jia Zheng and left in a hurry.

After Jia Cong passed through the hanging flower gate and bypassed the covered walkway, a fragrant breeze suddenly drifted by, and a slender figure emerged from the side.

"Third Brother, you're back!"

Jia Cong looked closely and saw it was Seeing Tan Chun, wearing a rose-red embroidered cross-collared long jacket and a snow-white pleated skirt. After half a year, she was still as heroic, charming, and pretty as ever.

Seeing Tan Chun looked at him, her bright eyes crystal clear, her face full of bright and clear smiles, like the bright and dazzling light of an early summer afternoon, which was very moving.

"Everyone knew Third Brother was coming back today, and the sisters are all in my room. I specifically went to Rongqing Hall to see what was happening, and it just so happened that you came."

"I sent Shi Shu once. Why were you in Rongqing Hall for so long? Was there something being discussed?"

Jia Cong smiled: "It was just about me inheriting the Ningguo succession. I told the Old Lady and Master, and this matter has great risks, so the Old Lady also denied it."

Seeing Tan Chun said excitedly: "It's good that it didn't happen. I've been worried for several days. Everything is fine in Lady Rongguo Prefecture, why would you want to inherit another lineage?"

She turned her head to look at Jia Cong carefully, her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed: "Third Brother, you've lost weight and gotten darker. You must have suffered a lot outside the pass."

Jia Cong smiled slightly: "Outside is naturally not as good as home, but these don't count for much. My spirit is much better than before."

Seeing Tan Chun saw his eyes were bright and clear, his smile gentle and warm, and although his cheeks were slightly thin, they exuded a firmness and steadiness that hadn't been there before.

Just walking by his side like this, she felt it was truly wonderful. The afternoon sun was warm, and it seemed to make her heart feel slightly hot.

After entering Seeing Tan Chun's room, there was a chorus of surprise and joy. After half a year of not seeing each other, they seemed even closer than before.

Shi Shi Xiangyun came up and chattered with Jia Cong about the rare sights she saw at the Xiande Gate in the morning, occasionally sighing with admiration.

She also quietly asked in his ear who the girl was who was riding a horse beside him in the morning, wearing a veil hat.

Jia Cong looked at Shi Shi Xiangyun with some surprise and blurted out that she was his guard. Shi Shi Xiangyun's eyes were full of teasing, with an expression that said she didn't believe him at all.

Lin Daiyu tilted her head and looked at him carefully, saying with some reproach: "So that day when we looked at the map, Third Brother said you would be back in the third month—it turns out you were fooling me."

Jia Cong smiled: "Things change quickly at the border towns, so how could I be sure? But haven't I returned? After half a year, Sister Lin has grown quite a bit, and your complexion is much better."

Lin Daiyu's face flushed slightly: "I haven't missed a day of the methods Third Brother taught me; they really are useful."

Jia Cong saw Seeing Yingchun smiling at him, but there seemed to be a trace of worry hidden in her expression, and she looked troubled, which made him feel a bit strange.

"Brother Cong, you've been away for half a year. Look, you've gotten darker and thinner. You must rest well at home this time."

Jia Cong asked: "I see Second Sister's complexion is not good. Is she feeling unwell?"

Shi Shi Xiangyun, standing to the side, was quick-tongued and said: "Second Sister has something on her mind now. She has just gotten engaged and will soon be a bride!"

Jia Cong was stunned when he heard this, his face sank slightly, and a bad premonition arose in his heart. Only he knew clearly that Seeing Yingchun getting engaged was not a good thing.

He hurriedly asked: "Whose family is she engaged to?"

Seeing Tan Chun said: "It's the Sun family, hereditary commanders of Datong. His name is Sun Sun Shaozu. Second Sister wanted to stay in the boudoir for a few more years and didn't want to get engaged so early, but the Old Master insisted on this marriage."

Jia Cong's face was already gloomy when he heard this. It really was him!

Seeing Yingchun saw his expression turn ugly. She trusted Jia Cong very much, so her heart couldn't help but thump, and she asked: "Brother Cong, is there something wrong?"

Jia Cong said in a deep voice: "Second Sister, this person is a tiger and a wolf. If you encounter him, you will definitely not have a good ending. As your brother, I will never let you marry him!"

Lin Daiyu, Seeing Tan Chun, and the others rarely saw Jia Cong speak like this, and their faces changed instantly.

(End of chapter)