Chapter 318: Wealth and Nobility, Full of Twists

At this moment, Jia Mu's mind still revolved around the words "second-class Wei Yuan Hou Jue" and "hereditary without reduction"...

That her own grandson had been granted a marquis title was indeed surprising to Jia Mu.

But that was all—Jia Family was a dukedom lineage; though their title had been downgraded, her son's rank had been reduced from duke to super-rank marquis, and he still held the first-class Divine Might General military post.

This was several ranks higher than a second-class marquis, utterly incomparable—yet the other family's second-class marquis carried the phrase "hereditary without reduction."

Jia Mu was no stranger to "hereditary without reduction," for her own family's Bao Ling Hou Jue title was also hereditary without reduction.

Her other nephew, Shi Ding, had earned his Hou Jue Zhongjing Hou Jue title through his loyalty to the current emperor, and it too was hereditary without reduction.

In terms of prestige and longevity, the Shi family had long surpassed the Jia family.

So Jia Mu understood better than anyone the immense impact such a title could have on a family.

Jia She's marquis title, after three generations of successive downgrades, would no longer match the second-class marquis, and after three generations, it would continue to decline further...

Jia Cong's second-class marquis, however, was hereditary without reduction—ten generations hence, he would still be a second-class marquis.

Jia Mu could clearly foresee that within three generations, Jia Cong's branch, though originally a collateral line, would become the undisputed main lineage.

Xue Baochai, upon hearing this, wanted nothing more than to flee Rongqing Hall immediately, to escape the needle-pricking, cat-scratching discomfort in her heart—but as a junior, she could not leave prematurely.

By then, who would remember her, once a first-rank duchess?

That woman had been dead for years; when she was brought into the Eastern Courtyard, Jia Mu had been consumed with shame and rage, and even when she died in childbirth, Jia Mu never once went to see her.

Thinking of these things, Jia Mu felt a bitter-sweet emptiness, a profound sense of loss.

Li Shi said half-jokingly:

"Madam Jia, Cong-ge is too outstanding. I suggest we find him a good match among the old noble families soon, or Jia Family's gates will be crushed by suitors—haha."

Xue Xue Yima said: "Old Madam, your Cong-ge is truly extraordinary—so young and already a hereditary marquis. Jia Family now holds two noble titles—what immense honor."

She was simply exceptionally skilled with words; her compliments always struck right at Jia Mu's heart.

She didn't even know what she looked like... In the entire household, only Yu-er's mother, back when she was young and mischievous, had sneaked over to the Eastern Courtyard a few times to peek...

She knew her second sister-in-law had raised the eldest son's daughter since childhood, treating her as her own, so she was happy to support her sister-in-law's efforts.

One good trait of Jia Mu's character was that she didn't waste mental energy on things that displeased her—she turned them over in her mind a few times, then let them go, leaving only joyful matters behind...

Besides, she had seen Jia Cong once in Rongqing Hall, and his appearance had left a deep impression; now, with his title, he was truly unmatched.

This made Jia Mu, inexplicably, recall Jia Cong's birth mother.

In the future, the honored Grand Dowager Lady enshrined in the ancestral hall would be none other than your low-born mother.

This alone lessened half her sorrow over the eventual decline of the main lineage—after all, that was all in the distant future; right now, two noble titles in one family was her tangible honor.

Upon hearing this, several elderly women in the hall exchanged glances; Xue Xue Yima's heart sank—how could the Xue family possibly offer a noble title among the old hereditary houses?

The phrase "two noble titles in one family" struck Jia Mu's heart precisely.

Lady Li, wife of the Hou Jue Zhongjing Hou Jue, was no fool; seeing Chen Shi's expression, she knew exactly what she was thinking—her own branch had no daughter to offer, so she had no stake in it.

Jia Mu usually enjoyed playing cards and chatting with Xue Xue Yima, for Xue Xue Yima possessed a quality no one else had.

Jia Mu noticed the hopeful look in Chen Shi's eyes—she knew perfectly well what this second nephew's wife was thinking; she still cared deeply for Yun-Feng Yaotou, and had likely already set her sights on that boy.

Previously, Jia Mu had thought Jia Cong unworthy of Shi Xiangyun; now, with the imperial edict of enfeoffment issued, she had no grounds left to think so.

Now she was thinking: perhaps a marriage between close families wouldn't be such a bad thing...

But she had spent her lifetime as a first-rank noble lady, well-versed in the affairs of official families, and knew this matter was not so easily settled.

She said calmly: "Before Cong-ge was enfeoffed, I, as his grandmother, could have arranged his marriage—but now it's different.

He was enfeoffed for military merit, and he's still young; in a few years, when he comes of age, the palace may issue an imperial decree—this sort of thing is common, and this old woman dares not make arbitrary decisions for him."

Li Shi and Chen Shi, both marquises' wives, understood perfectly the inner workings of noble houses—they immediately realized what she meant: it was about imperial marriage!

The emperor granting marriage to his trusted ministers or their children was the most common way to bind them to his favor!

This Cong-ge, so young, had already been granted a hereditary marquis title by the emperor—he was truly favored in the Son of Heaven's heart, and since he was still below the age of martial maturity, he would surely be granted an imperial marriage in the future.

Li Shi and Chen Shi exchanged glances, each understanding the other's intent—her own third uncle was one of the emperor's loyal followers from the ascension.

If that third uncle petitioned the emperor to grant a marriage between Cong-ge and Yun-Feng Yaotou, one a loyal follower, the other a favorite of the throne—it would be a perfect match.

Xue Xue Yima, as the wife of a royal merchant, was not part of the noble hereditary circle, and thus understood none of these subtleties.

She merely felt that the old lady and the two nieces-in-law were speaking in riddles—what exactly were they talking about?

But Xue Baochai understood far more than her mother; her mind was sharp and insightful.

Just now, when she heard the old lady say that Jia Cong had been enfeoffed and she could no longer arrange his marriage, and that the palace might issue an imperial decree, and that such things were common...

Seeing the bright glances of the two Shi ladies, Xue Baochai suddenly understood—her face slowly turned pale.

Two words circled in her mind: imperial marriage, Shi Xiangyun...

No wonder Yun-Feng Yaotou had suddenly been sent to stay at Jia House, and why she'd gone out of her way to watch Jia Cong enter the city—every time she spoke of him, her pride was unmistakable...

Jia Mu merely watched the expressions of her two nieces-in-law; internally, she understood everything—but she would not voice her opinion, letting them maneuver as they wished, for in any case, it benefited the Jia family.

As for her earlier thought of matching Jia Cong with Xue Baochai, she had long discarded it.

The very next day after Jia Cong's enfeoffment, Qin Ye, Director of the Ministry of Works' Construction Bureau, came calling.

After half a year, Qin Ye had not changed much; his daughter's disappearance seemed to have troubled him little.

But his gaze at Jia Cong was complex—this youth who had once accompanied him on official business to Jin Ling had then been only a seventh-rank official.

Now he was a second-class marquis; back then, he had been entangled with Qin Ye's daughter in ways hard to untangle—his daughter's taste in men had indeed been excellent.

Qin Ye had come because the emperor had granted the former Ningguo Prefecture to Jia Cong for residence.

But Ningguo Prefecture was an imperial-constructed ducal residence; for a second-class marquis to inhabit it, its original ducal structure must be downgraded to marquis standards, or it would be an act of usurpation—this could not be taken lightly.

The Ministry of Works' Construction Bureau, as the official authority over construction, was the institution responsible for such downgrading.

The two had once been colleagues for half a year in Jin Ling, and should have been close.

But after the matter of Qin Keqing, Jia Cong had formed a strong prejudice against Qin Ye's character; though Qin Keqing was now unharmed and still managed Xinchun Company in Jin Ling...

This had not lessened his estrangement from or coldness toward Qin Ye.

To Qin Ye, Jia Cong was probably now wealthy and powerful, and looked down on him, a low-ranking Construction Bureau director.

With Ningguo Prefecture confiscated and his daughter divorced and vanished, the fragile connection he had built with the Jia family had completely dissolved.

Though he felt helpless, he still took great care in downgrading Ningguo Prefecture's structure, hoping to use this opportunity to rebuild ties with Jia Cong.

Many nobles loved luxury and splendor—perhaps this young new marquis shared that taste.

If he allowed some ducal luxuries to remain, as long as they weren't blatant usurpations, Qin Ye would gladly do him a favor.

The main areas requiring modification in Ningguo Prefecture were the main hall's scale, gate dimensions, eave decorations, threshold height, and even the size of the stone lions at the entrance.

All these had to be changed from ducal to marquis standards.

Inside, the ceremonial gate and main path, the scale of the Zhengtang Conglü Hall—all required reduction in size.

As the two walked through Ningguo Prefecture, since its confiscation, all servants had been dismissed.

The vast Ningguo Prefecture stood empty, everywhere covered in dust and cobwebs, already showing signs of decay.

Fortunately, the estate had been vacant only half a year; with thorough cleaning, it could regain its former vitality.

Along the way, Qin Ye and Jia Cong pointed out each area needing modification and specified the exact standards required—his explanations were extremely detailed.

As Director of the Construction Bureau, Qin Ye's craftsmanship was still trustworthy.

Along the way, Qin Ye waited for Jia Cong to ask for leniency—to preserve some of the original ducal luxuries—so he could earn Jia Cong's favor.

As a long-serving Director of the Construction Bureau, Qin Ye had seen this many times.

But reality differed from his hopes.

Jia Cong suddenly said: "Director Qin, His Majesty's grace has granted me the imperial-constructed Ningguo Prefecture. All ducal standards within must be fully modified—leave not a single thread or hair of them!

Furthermore, any overly luxurious elements must be changed to simple elegance. I require a marquis residence beyond reproach, worthy of His Majesty's grace—please, Director Qin, lend your expertise!"

Jia Cong bowed to Qin Ye and took his leave, leaving Qin Ye stunned in place.

Jia Cong knew that now, newly enfeoffed as marquis and granted Ningguo Prefecture, he was under the watchful eyes of all—countless old and new nobles in the capital were watching him.

At this critical moment, he would not give anyone the slightest opening regarding the Ningguo Prefecture modifications—simplicity and humility were what he must now embody.

After the imperial edict was read yesterday, he sent letters to Qu Qu Hongxiu and Qin Qin Keqing in Jin Ling, instructing them to purchase for him a group of servants with clean backgrounds, loyal and trustworthy.

With Qu Qu Hongxiu's worldly experience and Qin Keqing's meticulous care, they would surely find him the most reliable people.

These two women were now the most trustworthy people Jia Cong could rely on outside his household.

He dared not buy servants locally in the capital, nor dare to transfer staff from Lady Rongguo Prefecture.

If he did, who knew how many spies would be planted among them—especially agents from the Zhongche Office were inevitable.

As for transferring staff from Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Jia Mu would certainly be eager to oblige.

The result would be that soon after, figures like Lai Er would appear in his marquis residence—Jia Cong was not that foolish.

As he entered the second gate of Lady Rongguo Prefecture, he met a messenger maid who said the old lady wished to speak with Third Master Cong in Rongqing Hall.

Jia She's first-class Divine Might General title was a military post, distinct from a noble title.

Jia She's courtesy name was Lord Enhou—this name could not be chosen lightly, or it would be usurpation.

The original text never stated that Jia She's title was downgraded after Jia Family's disgrace; this is merely webnovel fantasy.

In this story's setting, the normal downgrade from duke is super-rank marquis, far higher than marquis.

(End of Chapter)