Chapter 317: Grudges and Debts Are Conditioned Phenomena

As Huang Huang Hongcang read the imperial edict, the Jia family gathered in Rongxi Hall wore expressions of stunned disbelief, nearly all losing their composure.

Even Jia Mu, though elderly and unused to prolonged kneeling, remained kneeling in dazed silence long after Huang Huang Hongcang finished reading, utterly at a loss.

After hearing the edict, Jia She and Lady Xing turned pale; Jia She, consumed by envy, lowered his head and glared at Jia Cong, who knelt before him.

He recalled how, years ago, he had despised and beaten the wretched boy for being unable to inherit the estate—yet now this same wretch had become a marquis.

Jia She's heart swelled with rage and injustice—how could this be? The boy was barely a child, yet His Majesty bestowed such boundless favor—how could such a wretch possibly deserve it?

He himself couldn't even lay a hand on Lady Rongguo Mansion, yet this wretch had been granted Ningguo Prefecture—this would truly drive him mad!

When Jia Zheng heard the edict granting Jia Cong the title of Silver-Green Guanglu Doctor, adding the Silver Seal and Green Ribbon, and enfeoffing him as Second-Class Lord Weiyuan Hou Jue, his mind began to buzz.

The Jia clan had truly produced a prodigy—Jia Cong had been granted the Silver-Green Guanglu Doctor rank, a third-rank civil honorific, and enfeoffed as Second-Class Lord Weiyuan Hou Jue—both civil and military distinction!

He… was not yet of age for martial training, yet already achieved this—unbelievable! The Jia clan would now revive its glory; ancestral blessings had sent down such a talent!

At this moment, Jia Zheng seemed deaf to the subsequent words of the imperial grant—iron tablets, hereditary succession—and was entirely swept away by ecstatic joy.

Wang Lady, kneeling behind, nearly fainted from envy; she glanced at Bao Yu beside her, her eyes brimming with resentment.

Last time, the Imperial Clan Office had proposed making Jia Cong heir to Lady Rongguo, nearly letting the boy seize the Lady Rongguo title—thankfully, the old lady had vetoed it, giving Wang Lady great relief.

He had even severed ties with the Ningguo line—why then was Ningguo Prefecture granted to him? Ningguo was even more opulent than Lady Rongguo! She could not accept it—she simply could not!

This scene before him was one Huang Huang Hongcang had seen countless times.

As a third-rank official, Huang Huang Hongcang had presided over countless enfeoffments and honors—each of high rank, exceeding ordinary favor—and half the receiving families were overcome with ecstatic joy.

Jia Lady Lian stared at Jia Cong in shock—I haven't even inherited the title yet, and this boy has become a marquis already. Still, it's fine—when both brothers are nobles, it'll be respectable enough.

But no one had anticipated the Emperor's favor would extend so far beyond their expectations…

Huang Huang Hongcang now wished to see how the young man, receiving such imperial grace, would react—wild with joy, trembling with awe—after all, the entire Jia family had already lost their composure; how much more so a boy?

…

The enfeoffment and rank had been deliberately kept low, to allow the Emperor to bestow greater grace.

The original list submitted by the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel had proposed Jia Cong be enfeoffed as Second-Class Lord Weiyuan Hou Jue, with hereditary demotion—standard procedure for such honors.

Yet he saw none of the expected spectacle: Jia Cong's face bore joy, but his demeanor remained respectful and composed, showing not a trace of confusion or wild elation.

Yet who could have foreseen that, barely two months later, this boy had himself been enfeoffed as a marquis by the Emperor…

According to the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Personnel's expectations, given Jia Cong's monumental achievement in exterminating the Jurchens, the Emperor would have granted three generations of non-diminishing inheritance—perfectly fitting.

Had he been older and more experienced, even a marquis title could have been considered; second-class marquis, while generous, was not excessive given his deeds.

Huang Huang Hongcang observed that after reading the edict, the Jia family remained frozen in shock, kneeling as if stunned—clearly shaken to their core.

Yet if Jia She learned of Jia Lady Lian's reckless thoughts, he would likely beat his son to death.

In his view, though young, Jia Cong displayed extraordinary literary and martial talent, repeatedly earning merit in Liaodong, and his decisive victory at Qingyuanji had nearly annihilated the Jurchens—a glorious triumph bordering on national conquest.

But Huang Huang Hongcang, as Right Vice Minister of Rites and right hand to Grand Minister Guo Guo Youchang, knew the hidden truths behind this enfeoffment.

He could not help but regard Jia Cong with new respect.

He could not help but nod slightly—charging into battle, slaying thousands, this youth clearly possessed extraordinary bearing and spirit; unlike the rest of the Jia clan, he was incomparable—and no wonder His Majesty…

"Lord Weiyuan Hou Jue, receive the edict!"

"Your servant, Jia Cong, kowtows to thank His Majesty for his boundless grace—Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Jia Cong knew his campaign in Liaodong, wiping out the Jurchens, had earned him undeniable merit and a title was inevitable—but his own estimate matched Jia Mu's closely.

The most likely reward was a first-class viscountcy; after all, this was an age of peace, and extermination of rebels, however great, did not threaten the state's survival.

His youth and lack of seniority were inherent disadvantages, and the current Emperor was known for stinginess with titles—first-class viscountcy was perfectly suited, and that was likely all he would receive.

He had thought it unlikely he would even be granted a marquis title, let alone hereditary succession—yet Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had granted him both.

This unexpected blessing moved him deeply, and his cry of "ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years" was utterly sincere.

…

At this moment, Jia Mu, supported by Sister Yuanyang and Sister Hupo, returned to Rongqing Hall.

The scene of the edict reading in Rongxi Hall had been too shocking—Jia Mu's mind was still a blur, and she had not yet recovered.

In Rongqing Hall, Lady Chen of Lady Bao Ling Hou Jue, Lady Li of Hou Jue Zhongjing Hou Jue, Wang Wang Xifeng, and Li Li Gongcai waited already.

They had naturally learned the contents of the edict read in Rongxi Hall.

Wang Wang Xifeng's expression was dazed—only recently she had feigned helplessness before Jia Mu, scheming desperately to prevent Jia Cong the Third from seizing her branch's title.

Yet how short a time had passed—Jia Cong the Third had now earned himself a marquis title, leaving Wang Wang Xifeng seething—Jia Cong the Third was truly ascending to heaven.

Li Li Gongcai held Jia Lan's small hand, whispering advice—urging him to take his third uncle as his model, so one day he might earn her a noble title.

Xue Xue Yima had also heard the news of Jia Cong's enfeoffment; her heart burned with excitement, and she hurried to Rongqing Hall to offer congratulations.

Xue Baochai, who had been conversing with her sisters in Qingzhi Studio, was forcibly dragged by Xue Xue Yima to Rongqing Hall to offer her felicitations.

Xue Baochai had no wish to go—she was sharp and perceptive, and knew full well her mother's thoughts: now that Jia Cong had been enfeoffed, her mother had designs.

Among all the sisters, only Xue Baochai did not rejoice at Jia Cong's enfeoffment.

For she understood clearly: now that Jia Cong was a hereditary marquis, countless eyes would fix upon him.

Would he marry a merchant's daughter? Only a noblewoman like Lin Lin Meimei, from an official family, could match him—her own faint hopes had become impossibly distant.

At this critical moment, she had no desire to join the celebration in Rongqing Hall and risk revealing her thoughts, inviting humiliation.

Yet Xue Baochai could not resist her mother's insistence—she had always been filial, and so reluctantly followed.

Lady Chen of the Lady Bao Ling Hou Jue and Lady Li of the Hou Jue Zhongjing Hou Jue hurried to congratulate their aunt, showering Jia Cong with lavish praise as if he were basking in radiant glory.

Lady Chen's eyes scanned the hall, and she could not help but grow angry—where had Shi Xiangyun gone again? Even now, she was running about aimlessly…

Jia Mu saw Xue Xue Yima arrive with Xue Baochai; Xue Xue Yima's face glowed with joy, as if she herself had been enfeoffed, while Xue Baochai stood silently to the side, offering no cheer.

Jia Mu glanced at the exquisite and outstanding Xue Baochai, and sighed inwardly.

(End of Chapter)