Chapter 312

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Qingzhi Studio.

In the main hall, skirts fluttered, green shadows swayed, and laughter sounded like silver bells.

The Qingzhi Studio, which had been silent for half a year, seemed to suddenly burst with vitality and life.

Four or five old women carried four or five large wooden chests from outside the second gate, entering the Qingzhi Studio one after another.

These were the luggage Jia Cong brought back from Liaodong, most of which were various Liaodong specialties.

Qingwen, full of joy, directed the old women to place the things, while Wu'er grabbed a large copper coin from the silver box to give to the old women who moved the luggage to buy wine.

Ever since they heard yesterday that Jia Cong was returning to the capital, the girls in the Qingzhi Studio hadn't slept peacefully for half the night.

Before dawn, Zhi Shao, Wu'er, and Zhen Ying Lady Lian were up, and they even woke up the sleepy Qingwen.

Several of them, along with the little maids, cleaned the Qingzhi Studio inside and out until it was as clean as new.

But she also didn't understand why Jia Cong would be so repulsed by this marriage.

She asked with some concern: "You have returned safely and performed military deeds. Everyone in the prefecture says you are going to be promoted and granted a title, so what is there to be unhappy about?"

With this brother she was closest to making decisions for her, the discomfort and fear that had been hidden in Seeing Yingchun's heart for many days suddenly dissipated, and she felt relaxed.

Throughout the entire Qingzhi Studio, everyone else called Jia Cong "Cong Sanye," only Zhen Ying Lady Lian, having first met Jia Cong in Jinling, had gotten used to calling him "Young Master," and she hadn't changed it since.

Her skin was as delicate as snow, with a rouge mole between her eyebrows, her eyes bright and shining. There was quite a bit of regret and heartache in her words: "Young Master, you have gotten darker and thinner."

But they all knew that Jia Cong and Seeing Yingchun were very close as siblings, and Jia Cong must have his reasons for saying such things.

Wu'er teased: "You are the shameless one, thinking about Cong Sanye's good looks every day, you're almost going to get a stye."

Zhi Shao just smiled with her lips pursed to the side, but she saw that although there was a smile on Jia Cong's face, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if he had something on his mind.

Just now in Seeing Tan Chun's room, his words about Seeing Yingchun's marriage had surprised all the sisters present.

Jia Cong smiled: "In Liaodong, the food isn't as particular as at home, the sun is poisonous, and the snow is heavy. Even if there is a little light, it's dazzling at night, so it's no wonder I got dark and thin."

Qingwen happened to come in and smiled: "It doesn't matter if the Master is a bit dark and thin. Let Wu'er arrange more soup, and he will recover after resting. Our Cong Sanye looks good no matter what."

It was just that Jia Cong had many things to do today, and he hadn't been seen since noon, so everyone was looking forward to his return.

Seeing Yingchun had been fearful of this hasty marriage from the start.

In the main room, Zhi Shao was changing Jia Cong's outer garment into casual clothes and soft shoes. Her beautiful eyes looked at him, full of soft attachment and smiles.

Zhen Ying Lady Lian watched with burning eyes, just not having decided who to help.

Qingwen's pretty face flushed, and she countered without hesitation: "You are the shameless one; you even called Cong Sanye's name in your dreams last night."

Jia Cong smiled slightly at her: "It's not a big deal. I can solve it. I let you fall into Jiangnan back then; in the future, I will never let those around me suffer again."

Wu'er's face turned as red as a cloth, and she rushed up to embrace Qingwen, laughing and scuffling. Qingwen was most afraid of being tickled and couldn't stop begging for mercy under Wu'er's treatment.

It wasn't until after noon that Jia Cong, having talked with the sisters for a long time, returned from Seeing Tan Chun's room.

Beside him, a slender and delicate figure circled them, wearing a rose-red printed cross-collared jacket, a light pink long skirt, and a pure gold necklace around her neck.

But Jia Cong was the brother she trusted and valued most, and also her greatest reliance, so Seeing Yingchun naturally believed his words completely.

Jia Cong asked clearly that both families had already exchanged betrothal gifts and names, and the Sun family had sent the betrothal gifts at the end of the fifth month. Now, only the wedding date remained to be decided by both sides.

It was said that the official matchmaker only came at the beginning of the fifth month, and the wedding arrangements were made so compactly. It was said that Sun Sun Shaozu was even eager, and Jia She was extremely willing to enter into this marriage.

Even though Jia Zheng had said a few words of disapproval, it was of no avail; after all, Seeing Yingchun was the daughter of the first branch.

In fact, in terms of etiquette, Seeing Yingchun was already considered a daughter-in-law of the Sun family, just not yet married into the house.

But as long as she hadn't married into the house, for Jia Cong, everything was still in time. He knew what kind of person Sun Sun Shaozu was, so he would naturally never let the subsequent events happen.

With his seniority, opposing this marriage to Grandmother Jia or Jia She would be of no help. Where would he, as a brother, have the standing to speak about the marriage of children?

He could only use his own methods, and even if he had to use extreme means in the end, he would never let Seeing Yingchun step into a dead end.

The 14th year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the 6th day of the 6th month.

Today, the captive-offering ceremony would be held at the Meridian Gate, with sacrifices to heaven at the Asking Heaven Pavilion in the Kunyang Palace, announcing to heaven, earth, and ancestors the meritorious deeds of pacifying the barbarians and expanding the borders!

As the morning light dawned in the east, the main room of the Qingzhi Studio was bustling with people moving back and forth, appearing exceptionally busy.

Zhi Shao and Wu'er were dressing Jia Cong in his official uniform—not the green robe of a Grade 5 civil official, but the ceremonial armor of a Grade 5 Martial General, which had been sent by the Ministry of Personnel just yesterday.

For his great victory at Yafu Pass, Jia Cong was granted the title of Grade 5 Martial General, and his civil rank was simultaneously promoted to Grade 5A.

Because he was the main meritorious general for the captive-offering ceremony today, he naturally had to wear the Grade 5 military armor.

After dressing and tidying up, he left the inner courtyard, passed the second gate, and walked through the ceremonial gate.

Along the way, countless people in the Jia Prefecture saw him in his military attire, looking brilliant and heroic, their gazes filled with burning heat and envy.

By now, it had spread throughout the prefecture that Cong Sanye Cong had achieved the first merit in the battle of Liaodong and was going to the Meridian Gate today to offer captives to the Emperor.

And after the captive-offering ceremony, the palace would grant great rewards to the meritorious ministers of this battle. As the minister with the first merit, Cong Sanye Cong's rewards would surely be the most eye-catching.

Back then, the concubine-born son who was despised in the eastern courtyard, and that Qingzhi Studio that stood alone in the northwest corner of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture.

In the eyes of many, they were anomalies in the Lady Rongguo Prefecture.

No one had ever thought that the person in that courtyard would actually reach this point today.

Back then, maids like Wu'er and Qingwen, who were raised in the western prefecture, were ridiculed and mocked by many when they were sent to serve Jia Cong.

But over the past few years, which of the old women and maids in the garden wasn't jealous to the point of red eyes, having accidentally picked up such a reliable and formidable master.

Many people in the Lady Rongguo Prefecture realized that perhaps in a few days, things in the prefecture would change.

Great Zhou Palace City, Meridian Gate.

One thousand ceremonial elite cavalry of the Five Armies, in bright armor, were lined up below the Meridian Gate tower, in high spirits, with shining armor and sharp swords and spears.

Two thousand imperial infantry were lined up from the starting point on both sides of the imperial road outside the Meridian Gate, extending all the way to below the Meridian Gate tower.

Five hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard banner-bearers held high the five-colored coiled dragon imperial flags, fluttering in the wind, seemingly wanting to roll up the clouds in the sky, with flags snapping and prestige shaking.

All civil and military officials below the third rank were below the Meridian Gate tower, standing in rows according to their rank. Looking at them, they were a neat and dense mass of red and blue, which was quite spectacular.

Following the rows of officials were envoys from various countries with gorgeous clothing, different features, and different temperaments, all having received imperial edicts to observe the Great Zhou captive-offering ceremony.

These envoys included those from Bulute, Kazakh, Khotan, Goryeo, Japan, Luzon, Ryukyu, Annam, Siam, Sura, etc., too numerous to count.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao held a captive-offering ceremony of such a grand scale.

First, it was to display the brilliant martial achievements of the Emperor Jia Zhao reign in pacifying the Jurchens.

Second, it was to show the national strength to the neighboring barbarian countries, boasting of military power and establishing prestige.

Among these envoys observing the ceremony, those from countries like Goryeo, Japan, Annam, and Siam had often had disputes and friction with the Great Zhou in recent years.

And above the Meridian Gate tower, the Emperor's imperial carriage was in the center, with high-ranking officials and ministers of the third rank and above lined up on the left and right.

Under the yellow silk umbrella, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao wore a black gauze wing-good crown, a bright yellow dragon robe, a nine-coiled dragon jade belt around his waist, and imperial boots.

He looked below the tower, where hundreds of Embroidered Uniform Guard imperial soldiers in blue brocade robes, wearing black gauze crowns and hanging embroidered spring swords, were escorting more than a hundred prisoners in formation.

These Jurchen captives had been washed and changed before entering, to maintain the decorum of the ceremony.

Although after the captive-offering ceremony, according to the regulations, the surviving Jurchen generals like Li Li Manzhu would all be ordered to be beheaded as a sacrifice to heaven...

The three generals at the front of the team galloped toward below the Meridian Gate tower.

The young general in the center stood tall and straight, his silver armor bright, his features handsome and heroic.

The three riders galloped to below the tower, dismounted, and saluted. Jia Cong held high the captive-offering papers.

A clear and high-pitched voice rang out below the tower:

"We, your subjects, acting on the King's order, went to the Liaodong land of the Nine Borders to suppress the Jurchens. We fought several battles, traveled a thousand miles, executed the barbarian chieftains, killed the brave, pacified the local people, and displayed military might."

"We offer the Jurchen bandit chieftain Li Li Manzhu and 103 others, in celebration of our Emperor's brilliant sagely virtue and martial achievements, protecting the Great Zhou territory for ten thousand years of peace!"

As soon as Jia Cong finished speaking, the elite cavalry of the Five Armies and the imperial infantry lined up in the Meridian Gate square shouted almost in unison.

"In celebration of our Emperor's brilliant sagely virtue and martial achievements, protecting the Great Zhou territory for ten thousand years of peace..."

Thousands of elite soldiers repeated the chant in unison, the sound roaring and shaking the clouds!

The civil and military officials were invigorated, shouting "Long live!"

The envoys from the four barbarians were trembling in their hearts!

(End of chapter)