Chapter 337

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Shi Xiangyun had been staying at the Rongguo Prefecture for over half a month. Today, the wife of the Marquis of Lady Bao Ling, Lady Chen, came to pick Xiangyun up to return to the mansion.

Lady Chen had privately asked Xiangyun's maid, Cuilu, who said that Xiangyun was very close to Jia Cong, and Jia Cong even let her choose a courtyard she liked in the Huifang Garden, which she could move into when she came.

Although Xiangyun didn't take the courtyard because she was only staying at the Jia family's for a short time, Jia Cong was indeed very good to Xiangyun, and Lady Li felt more at ease after hearing this.

The Shi family had two marquises in one branch, but the second son, Shi Nai, was mediocre in talent. Although he inherited the Shi family's hereditary title of Marquis of Lady Bao Ling and held a real position, he had no achievements and seemed to have faded into the crowd.

Instead, it was the third son of the Shi family, Shi Ding, who was granted the title of Marquis Zhongjing ten years ago due to his meritorious service in supporting the Emperor, becoming a pillar of the state deeply relied upon by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

Now, the influence of the Shi family's third branch was already above the second branch, and Lady Li had one legitimate and one illegitimate son, but both were of mediocre character...

Shi Nai also realized that his branch was lacking in talent, so he kept a low profile, did not pursue luxury, lived simply, and even needlework was handled by the women of the family.

This made it impossible for people to find any fault, and it had been stable for more than ten years.

Now it has reappeared!

Xiangyun smiled proudly and said, "Third Brother has performed meritorious service again. The palace rewarded him with a python robe and tribute silk. He knew I liked wearing red, so he specially picked this material to send me for making clothes."

Here, she was chatting with Jia Mu, and Lady Wang, Wang Xifeng, and others were also sitting nearby.

Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and the others were all startled when they heard this, but not because of Xiangyun's beautiful tribute silk, but because Jia Cong had performed meritorious service and been bestowed a python robe by the Emperor.

Jia Mu felt both happy and helpless when she heard this. This boy had only recently been granted a title, so why was he bestowed a python robe by the Emperor again so quickly? Such favor was truly rare.

Marrying into a great family to build up strength was a matter that a noble lady like her needed to manage to protect her household.

This Brother Cong not only had great ability outside, but was also very meticulous about family matters, even remembering that Xiangyun liked to wear red, and specially picked this material to send her.

However, this matter had nothing to do with Wang Xifeng, so she naturally didn't take it to heart.

And it was a leisure position sitting in an official office every day. After being an official for more than ten years, he had only been promoted from a Ministry of Works official to a vice-director. He was not a jinshi, so his official career was considered to have reached its end.

Lady Chen naturally put her thoughts on this niece. That year, when Lady Chen and the wife of Marquis Zhongjing, Lady Li, went to congratulate Jia Mu on her birthday, they saw Jia Cong, who had won first place in the Yongzhou examination, for the first time in Rongqing Hall.

Therefore, when Lady Chen came to the Jia mansion now, she mostly had the feeling of visiting in-laws.

However, people's circumstances are not constant, and water has no constant shape. Staying like this for years is not a long-term plan. Therefore, marrying to build up strength and making up for deficiencies became the most convenient and feasible method.

The seventy years of accumulated fortune of the Jia family seemed to have converged on this Brother Cong. If only he could share a little with my Baoyu and Lian'er...

Not only was he unparalleled in appearance and demeanor, but he was also sharp and decisive in his dealings. Plus, he was the grandson of the Shi family's aunt, so the Shi family women immediately identified him as a rare commodity worth hoarding.

Since the passing of Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua, only Jia Zheng had been holding a real position of Grade 5 in the imperial court in the two mansions.

Just as she said this, Xiangyun subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth. She was about to blurt out that she wanted to take it and wear it, but remembering Seeing Tan Chun's warning, she obediently swallowed the rest of her words.

These matters of children are like a long-flowing stream, difficult to achieve in one go. Frequent visits and silent influence are the long-term way.

At this time, everyone in the hall saw Cuilu behind Xiangyun holding a piece of bright red satin, which was covered with golden bamboo leaf patterns. The gold and red complemented each other, clear, noble, and elegant, which was very eye-catching.

In the past, whenever an old relative visited and talked about how remarkable Brother Cong was, they would still consider their own face and join in the fun, saying that Baoyu was not bad at all, looked good, and was very filial.

Lady Wang was almost numb to hearing such things. Hearing about other people's children being so strange and remarkable every day was a helpless torment for her.

Xiangyun still had an unwilling expression on her face. She had been having a great time playing with her sisters in the Huifang Garden these past few days, and she didn't expect her aunt to come and pick her up to go back so soon.

Lady Wang actually felt indifferent toward Shi Xiangyun, because Xiangyun was raised by the Old Lady and was the direct bloodline of the Shi family.

They were not as good as her sister's daughter, Baochai, who was the close bloodline of their Wang family, and there was no one more trustworthy.

Such rewards and honors were now too far away from the Jia family, and the trend of the family's decline was already obvious.

"Also, Third Brother's python robe is really beautiful. He looks so spirited when he wears it. I originally wanted to..."

"I am also a mother, raising Xiangyun and the two boys at home. It is secondary for the sons to build merit outside, but it is even more rare for them to be so close and protective of the sisters at home."

Actually, according to her wishes, she would rather Xiangyun stay at the Jia family, so she could be closer to her cousin, the Count of Weiyuan.

However, Lady Chen was, after all, the wife of a Marquis. She had the overall situation, etiquette, and pattern in mind, and knew that anything done in excess is as bad as not doing enough.

Therefore, in Lady Wang's heart, Xiangyun belonged to the category of outsiders, and she had lost both parents since childhood, which was even more inauspicious than the eldest daughter of the Lin family.

Lady Chen saw Xiangyun and smiled, "You girl, you've become so happy here with your aunt that you've forgotten to return. Hey, where did this material come from? It looks very bright."

Only a few years had passed, and Jia Cong had developed to this extent, which made Lady Li feel even more that her judgment hadn't been wrong.

Jia Mu naturally knew her niece-in-law's thoughts very well and said, "This grandson is too troublesome. I get a headache when I see him, but it is indeed a good thing that he is good to the sisters at home."

Ever since that boy was granted a title, no one even said these polite words anymore. Her Baoyu couldn't even be considered a foil; he looked good.

The maid outside the hall lifted the curtain, and a pretty and slender figure walked in.

Although the Shi family's second branch didn't raise a daughter, fortunately, they raised the eldest legitimate daughter of the Shi family's first branch, Shi Xiangyun, who had been beautiful and graceful since childhood, with a bright and flawless temperament, a choice for marriage.

That was no small matter. The Jia family hadn't had the glory of bestowed clothing for twenty years.

Lady Chen smiled, "Aunt's grandson is really too proud. It hasn't been long, and he has performed meritorious service again. This is the first time I've heard of a teenager being bestowed clothing."

Actually, Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and Wang Xifeng could all hear the tone in Lady Chen's words.

After a year or two, when Xiangyun reached the age of marriage, when the time was ripe, letting her own third uncle speak to the Emperor would naturally be successful.

Therefore, Lady Wang didn't care at all about the Shi family wanting to match Jia Cong and Xiangyun, as long as it didn't affect her Baoyu, she didn't care how they tossed and turned.

The women in the hall were all spinning their own thoughts in their hearts.

But they didn't expect Shi Xiangyun to continue, "Third Brother also said that he went to the palace today to receive a banquet, and the Empress also bestowed grace, letting Third Brother go see the eldest sister of the family."

"Third Brother also talked a lot with the eldest sister in the palace."

This news stunned Jia Mu and Lady Wang. Jia Cong had actually met Yuanchun in the palace.

Even Jia Mu only had the opportunity to see Yuanchun when she entered the palace to pay respects during the holidays, and that wasn't even something that happened every year.

Even if they met, they couldn't say much, because the rules in the palace were strict and it was really not like other places.

Otherwise, Yuanchun wouldn't have said things like "a place that cannot be seen by others" later, and her disgust was evident.

To talk about the daughters of the Jia family, the one Jia Mu was most concerned about was the eldest granddaughter whom she didn't see once a year.

Sending this most outstanding legitimate granddaughter into the palace, the Jia family could be said to have had great plans, pinning the Jia family's future prosperity and longevity on Yuanchun.

Hearing this news, Jia Mu and Lady Wang were both a bit distracted.

Lady Chen saw that her aunt had something on her mind, so she stood up to say goodbye.

Shi Xiangyun said to Jia Mu, "Old Ancestor, I will go back with my aunt first. Remember to send someone to pick me up to play."

Jia Mu coaxed her with a smile, "I heard from your aunt that your needlework is getting better and better. You must make me a satisfactory gift next month, otherwise, I won't come to pick you up."

The reason Jia Mu said this was because August was her birthday month.

Shi Xiangyun smiled, "Good Ancestor, that's not difficult. Tell me what kind you want, and I guarantee I will make it to your satisfaction."

Jia Mu had originally had complicated thoughts after hearing about Yuanchun and was in a depressed mood, but she was also amused by Xiangyun's words.

Jia Mu let Wang Xifeng send Lady Chen and Shi Xiangyun out.

She then immediately let Yuanyang go to the East Mansion to call Jia Cong to Rongqing Hall to talk. The eldest granddaughter had been in the palace for eight years, and there wasn't much daily news. Since Jia Cong had met her and said a lot,

Jia Mu naturally had to call him over to ask in detail.

Ever since Jia Cong was granted the East Mansion, Yuanyang had been guarding Jia Mu's side every day and had never been here. It took a lot of effort to find Jia Cong in the Huifang Garden.

For the past two years, every time Jia Mu sent Jia Cong to Rongqing Hall, she almost always let Yuanyang go to call him, and the two had almost formed a tacit understanding.

On the way, Yuanyang said a few words about what had just happened in the hall, and Jia Cong knew that calling him over must be to ask about Yuanchun.

Back then, the Jia family sent Yuanchun into the palace to seek fortune in order to continue the family's prosperity. Everything about Yuanchun was naturally what Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and others were most concerned about.

In the original trajectory, Yuanchun was an important figure related to the rise and fall of the Jia family.

From the beginning of her being titled the Virtuous Consort, the Jia family buried the hidden danger of decline after reaching its peak. When she died mysteriously, the Jia family collapsed rapidly.

Moreover, Yuanchun being titled a consort was also very strange. She was unknown for more than ten years after entering the palace, then suddenly prosperous, and then fell quickly. There was also the theory that she died an unnatural death.

At least according to Jia Cong's personal experience, the old-fashioned nobles like the Four Kings and Eight Dukes were once the pillars of the Retired Emperor and had always been disliked and excluded by the current Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

Under normal circumstances, as the granddaughter of Duke Rongguo, Yuanchun would never have been titled a consort by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao. Even if she were titled a consort, it wouldn't have been more than ten years after entering the palace.

Looking into this, it was full of suspicions and conspiracies. These women of the Jia family wanted to sell their daughter for glory, which was destined to end in nothing.

In Rongqing Hall, as soon as Jia Mu saw Jia Cong, she had no intention of asking about his meritorious service and rewards, and told the maids and old women serving in the hall to retreat.

Only then did she ask, "I heard from Yun'er that you entered the palace today and met your eldest sister?"

Jia Cong replied, "Eldest sister misses the elders and sisters at home very much, so I told her many interesting things about the family, and eldest sister was very happy to hear them."

Jia Mu felt sour in her heart when she heard this, her eyes were a bit moist, and she sighed slightly.

Yuanchun was Jia Mu's eldest legitimate granddaughter and had been raised by her side since childhood, more esteemed by her than the other three sisters. If it hadn't been for the family, she wouldn't have been willing to send her into the palace.

Lady Wang, who was on the side, asked, "Now that your eldest sister is a female official in the Fengzao Palace, do the noble people in the palace still esteem her?"

When Jia Cong heard this, he frowned. He naturally heard the tone of Lady Wang's words. She didn't ask if her daughter was living well, but only if she was esteemed by the noble people in the palace.

This noble person in the palace mostly referred to the Emperor, but it was hard to say it directly. Jia Cong sneered in his heart, not expecting Lady Wang to have such ambitions.

He replied, "The Empress is kind to eldest sister. This time when I entered the palace for the banquet, the Empress considered the kindness of relatives and specially arranged for me to meet eldest sister."

"As for whether other noble people esteem her, I don't know. Eldest sister lives in an official office near the Fengzao Palace. That place is a bit secluded, and there is no one there daily, with only Baoqin serving her."

Jia Mu and Lady Wang both looked ugly when they heard this. Living alone, with only one maid serving her, this was too dire.

Actually, they could see Yuanchun at most once a year and couldn't say much. How could they know the details of her daily life in the palace? Yuanchun was afraid that the family would worry, so she didn't talk about these things.

You must know that even for illegitimate daughters like Yingchun and Seeing Tan Chun, they had more than one personal maid, not to mention the governesses who knew the ways of the world.

The situation of the woman who entered the palace was not even as good as that of the illegitimate daughters at home, which truly shattered the beautiful dreams of Jia Mu and Lady Wang of clinging to the royal family.

Jia Cong continued, "The current Emperor is diligent in government affairs, and no monarch in history has surpassed him. He reads memorials until late at night every day and gets up for the morning court at the hour of the rabbit, never changing for ten years."

"The sage kings of the past were nothing more than this. Moreover, the Emperor does not admire female beauty, is of high virtue and reputation, advocates simplicity, and has stopped the selection of palace maids for three years..."

Jia Cong clearly praised the Emperor like a flower, but Jia Mu and Lady Wang were not stupid. How could they not hear the meaning in his words?

Reading memorials until late at night every day and getting up for the morning court at the hour of the rabbit, I'm afraid he doesn't even have time to visit the harem, and he has stopped the selection of palace maids for three years, being almost indifferent to female beauty...

Sending the beautiful eldest daughter of the family into the palace, isn't that just winking at a blind man?

But I didn't expect Jia Cong to continue to add insult to injury: "It is also heaven's blessing for our sage monarch. The Emperor has four sons. The eldest son, Prince Zhao, and the second son, Prince Ning, are both talents of the current age. The succession is prosperous, which is the fortune of the world..."

Jia Mu felt depressed when she heard Jia Cong's words, and Lady Wang's face was already ugly.

Because the information in Jia Cong's words was very clear: the Emperor is not fond of female beauty, has many descendants, has no heart for the harem, and has two adult sons with outstanding talents who can take over the great unification.

Then they have sent Yuanchun into the palace for so many years, isn't it just wishful thinking and a daydream?

Don't talk about bathing in imperial favor and descending the dragon's blood. I'm afraid that even if she let the Emperor take a look, he wouldn't have the time. Otherwise, how could she have been in the palace for eight years, losing a lot of money, without any movement?

At this time, Jia Cong suddenly remembered the sentence Yuanchun said to him: "If Brother Cong could have been born a few years earlier, perhaps the family wouldn't have needed to let sister enter the palace..."

He couldn't help but feel touched in his heart. The fatigue and loneliness on Yuanchun's face at that time made him remember it vividly to this day.

He said, "Old Ancestor, this time I saw eldest sister, she has been in the palace for eight years, wasting her youth in vain. I couldn't bear it in my heart. There is a rule in the palace for release after ten years. Eldest sister will always have a day to return home to fulfill her filial piety."

Hearing Jia Cong's words, Jia Mu was quite moved, but Lady Wang's gaze toward Jia Cong became cold and sharp.

(End of chapter)