Chapter 402

Jin Ling, Rongyu Square, Zhen Mansion.

The Old Lady of the Zhen family scolded severely, "Shiwen, it's no wonder your father is angry. You are too absurd. How could you do the dangerous thing of privately transporting firearms?"

"Because of this matter, all the shops in the house were searched by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, making such a big noise. In the future, who will dare to do business with the Zhen family!"

When the Old Lady heard this, she was shocked, fearing that the Old Lady would hold onto this matter and remove her son's authority to look after the business. Then how would the first branch interfere in the family business?

She hurriedly said, "Old Lady, Shiwen was indeed wrong this time. As the saying goes, learn from your mistakes, and he also knows the severity."

"This time he was able to return safely from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the matter has passed. He will definitely correct his mistakes and manage the family business carefully. If there is another accident, neither his father nor I will be able to forgive him."

At this time, Hearing Zhen Fangqing, who was beside the Old Lady of the Zhen family, said, "The Third Brother's matter has caused quite a stir. Although he has returned safely now, the matter will not pass easily."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is best at secret investigation and peeping, and their actions are gloomy and strange. They gave Jia Cong face this time and released the Third Brother. I fear they will definitely send people to monitor the Third Brother's movements behind their backs."

"In order to prevent side issues, it is most appropriate for the Third Brother to stay in the mansion for this period of time and avoid the limelight outside."

When the Old Lady of the Zhen family heard this, she also felt it made sense. She also heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guard was insidious and cold-blooded. Once involved, it was a great danger, and it was not so easy to get rid of it cleanly.

Letting her son stay in the mansion to avoid the limelight was also a steady and safe method.

But she thought about it again, wouldn't her son be equivalent to being grounded in disguise? How could he manage the business?

Would the affairs in the shop be left to the Third Young Lady to toss about?

However, now her son's safety was the most important thing, so although the Old Lady had doubts in her heart, she dared not say that Hearing Zhen Fangqing's method would not work.

Zhen Yingjia, who was on the side, was silent. He looked at Hearing Zhen Fangqing and sighed slightly in his heart. This niece of his was intelligent and quick-witted, meticulous in thought, and best at grasping the situation.

His son was ultimately a step behind compared to her. No wonder after his second brother had an accident, a young girl in her prime could steadily manage the family business.

The Old Lady of the Zhen family said, "Qing'er is right. This time the matter has become big. Shiwen will avoid the limelight in the mansion, and Qing'er will watch the business outside."

She smiled at Hearing Zhen Fangqing, "You just sent a letter, and Cong Ge'er was so warm-hearted to help. Otherwise, Shiwen would not have escaped danger so quickly. This Ge'er is ultimately a capable person."

"You prepare a gift to thank him. In a few days, it will be my birthday banquet. Write another invitation and send it to him."

"I will also see this young Count of the Jia family. The streets all say that this Cong Ge'er is both literary and martial, and he is extremely handsome. I will also see if it is true as the rumors say."

The Old Lady heard the meaning in the Old Lady's words. The Old Lady felt that Jia Cong was capable because he saved her son from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and she actually began to value Jia Cong.

She had said many good things about Jia Cong in front of the Old Lady in order to let the Third Young Lady marry as soon as possible, but now things were happening one after another, and the Old Lady was even more concerned about Jia Cong.

Not only did she let the Third Young Lady prepare gifts to thank him, but she also let her write a birthday invitation to invite him to the mansion to meet. It was clearly the posture of looking at a grandson-in-law.

This year, Jia Cong was titled Count at a young age, and his name spread far and wide. Even in Jin Ling, the Zhen family heard his name.

Last time, the Old Lady and the Third Young Lady Zhen went to the Love Shenjing to worship the Old Imperial Consort. Her son-in-law, Prince Beijing Shui Rong, highly praised Jia Cong.

Her daughter, who was the Princess Beijing, also said that this person was a good match among the noble children.

At that time, the Old Lady only wanted to find a suitable candidate to marry off the capable Third Young Lady of the second branch, so as not to hinder the family business.

Besides, marrying the Third Young Lady to the Count Lord Weiyuan of the Rongguo Jia family was also a good way for the Zhen family to form an alliance, which was also a method commonly used among noble families.

And it was also of great benefit to the first branch managing the Zhen family business in the future. At that time, she only thought about these benefits.

But she did not expect that Jia Cong would be so capable after arriving in Jin Ling for not long, being able to easily get her son out when facing such a powerful yamen as the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In the past, she had never seen Jia Cong and had no intuitive experience. Now she realized that this youth was not only famous, but also a person with extreme means.

The Third Young Lady was originally very powerful in the family. If she married Jia Cong in the future, and two powerful people were together, whether the first branch could really control the Zhen family business was really a matter of two opinions.

Thinking of these things, the Old Lady felt quite regretful that she had dug a hole for the Third Young Lady and finally fell into it herself.

But she heard Hearing Zhen Fangqing's tone was light, and she said to the Old Lady, "Old Ancestor, rest assured, I will prepare the gift myself and send it to the old mansion in Xinglong Square, and I will also write the birthday invitation properly and send it to him."

Jin Ling, Longtan Port.

People were coming and going on the pier. Not far away, in the river waves, a passenger ship that had set sail from Gusu was slowly docking at the pier.

In the pavilion on the pier, Jia Cong and Zou Min'er stood side by side, followed by Lingguan, and Lingguan's little hand was holding Douguan.

Because the matter was urgent, Jia Cong and Zou Min'er took Lingguan and left Gusu overnight, not having time to bring the other four little actresses.

Those four little actresses were screened by Zou Min'er from more than a dozen little actresses, all of whom were excellent in singing and skills.

They were Fangguan, Ouguan, Aiguan, and Kuiguan.

This time, Jia Cong and Zou Min'er sent dozens of men to go east along the river to various prefectures. The team that entered Gusu had previously received Jia Cong's instructions to send these four little actresses back to Jin Ling.

These little actresses would enter the Miscellaneous Drama Color of the Love Shenjing Teaching Workshop in the future. They were all daughters in their teens and had never traveled far alone. As the host, Zou Min'er naturally had to go to the pier to pick them up.

Lingguan, Douguan, and these four grew up in an opera troupe and were usually like sisters, so Jia Cong specifically brought the two of them to pick them up.

When the passenger ship docked, four girls in their teens, each carrying a small bundle, stepped off the passenger ship timidly, looking at the bustling pier in front of them with caution.

Until Lingguan and Douguan ran to greet them, a group of little girls laughed and played together.

They had all left their hometowns since they were young, and some didn't even know where their families were. Only the sisters who grew up together in the opera troupe were the closest people to each other.

After they chattered and told each other about their separation, Jia Cong and Zou Min'er took them back to the Qinyin Pavilion to settle down.

They were all coming to Jin Ling City for the first time. Along the way, they were all lying on the car window, watching the magnificent scenery of this great city in the South of the Yangtze with curious eyes, and their words and eyes were full of amazement and novelty.

The carriage ran for the time it takes to drink two cups of tea and stopped as usual not far from the main entrance of the Qinyin Pavilion. The group got off the carriage and was about to enter the pavilion.

Just as they walked to the door, they saw a middle-aged woman walking over and calling to Zou Min'er, "Young Lady, is it really you? I didn't dare to recognize you when I saw you last time, but this time I saw it clearly."

Jia Cong looked back and saw that the person calling Zou Min'er Young Lady was a woman in shabby clothes, with a box for selling rouge and powder hanging on her body.

Zou Min'er looked back at the woman. Jia Cong noticed the look of surprise in her eyes, but heard Zou Min'er say coldly, "This sister-in-law has recognized the wrong person."

The woman was confused and muttered, "Young Lady, I am Wu Sao from the kitchen. Since the mansion was raided, there has been no news of the Young Lady."

"As long as you are alive, it's fine. I watched you grow up since you were a child, how could I recognize the wrong person?"

Zou Min'er was indifferent and said, "I am not any Young Lady, just a song and music lady in the pavilion. You have indeed recognized the wrong person."

After Zou Min'er finished speaking, she entered the Qinyin Pavilion without looking back.

After Zou Min'er settled the accommodation for Ouguan and others, Jia Cong saw that she was still somewhat unsettled.

The two returned to the private room that Jia Cong often booked on the third floor and closed the door. Jia Cong asked, "I can see that the woman did not recognize you wrongly."

Zou Min'er said, "Although I grew up in Jin Ling, the Zou family was an official family. I grew up in the inner residence since I was a child. Except for my relatives, few outsiders knew what I looked like."

"Even so, I used a pseudonym when I came to Jin Ling, and I wore a veil every time I went in and out, just in case I met someone I knew back then and was recognized."

"But I didn't expect to meet her. This Wu Sao worked as a cook in my house for many years and was very familiar with me."

"She was hired by my family, but she was not a slave, so she would not be sold when the mansion was raided, only dismissed. She might be making a living nearby recently, which is why she bumped into me."

Zou Min'er was indifferent and said, "I just denied it. She will probably be half-believing. However, Wu Sao is just an ordinary civilian woman. I believe she will not hinder me."

Speaking of this, Zou Min'er looked at Jia Cong with complicated eyes and said, "And back then you entered the Zou mansion to take people, and you didn't meet Wu Sao, so she shouldn't know you."

Jia Cong naturally understood what Zou Min'er meant. If Wu Sao knew him and found that Zou Min'er and the person who destroyed her home were together.

An outsider, who would know the intricate entanglements between the two? Seeing such a scene, the first reaction would be surprise and suspicion.

Once the news spreads, it would be very unfavorable for Jia Cong and Zou Min'er to handle matters in Jin Ling.

Jia Cong walked to the window of the private room and looked at the street below, but he could no longer see Wu Sao's figure, and his brows frowned slightly.

He said to Zou Min'er, "According to what you said, there should be no major problem. Be careful when going in and out in the future, and try not to meet that woman again."

When Jia Cong left, he took Lingguan and Douguan back to the mansion. Ouguan, Fangguan, and others were surprised and envious when they saw that they did not live in the Qinyin Pavilion, but followed the good-looking Master Jia.

Jia Cong returned to the old mansion in Xinglong Square. Just as he walked to the second gate, he saw Steward Jin Cai walking quickly toward him.

He said, "Cong Sanye, the Cong Sanye of the Jin Ling Zhen family has come to visit the Cong Sanye to express his gratitude and is currently having tea in the Xuanhe Hall."

Jia Cong was slightly stunned. He had just rescued the Cong Sanye Zhen from the Embroidered Uniform Guard yesterday, and he came to visit today. It was quite timely.

Jin Cai looked at Jia Cong, and the expression on his face was somewhat strange, as if he had something to say but stopped.

Jia Cong asked curiously, "Steward Jin, is there anything wrong?"

Jin Cai said strangely, "The person driving for the Cong Sanye Zhen is Liu Xian, the steward of the Zhen family's second branch. In previous years, the Jia and Zhen families had exchanges of gifts during the holidays, and I have seen him several times."

"It's just that the Cong Sanye Zhen and his personal servant are both a bit strange. The old slave found that they have ear holes like a girl's on their earlobes..."

Jia Cong was a little stunned, "... Jin Steward, you have a very careful eye."

Jin Cai's face was a little embarrassed, "Hehe, the old slave saw it unintentionally, and they entered the Xuanhe Hall. Liu Xian guarded the hall door and did not allow the servants in the mansion to enter."

"All tea and water were taken over by Liu Xian and then sent into the hall by the Cong Sanye's personal servant. The behavior is very strange."

"The old slave has had some dealings with the Zhen family over the years and knows a rare thing about their Zhen family. Nowadays, the person in charge of the Zhen family business is not a male, but the Third Young Lady of the Zhen family's second branch."

"It is said that this Third Young Lady has outstanding talent, which no one in the Zhen family can compare to. In the past few years, she has managed the Zhen family business very well, which is a strange thing in Jin Ling City."

"It is rumored that this Third Young Lady often dresses as a man to go in and out of the Zhen family shops to manage business. In the old slave's opinion, this Cong Sanye Zhen is likely that Third Young Lady Zhen."

Jia Cong understood when he heard this. Didn't Liu Xian, the steward of the Zhen family's second branch, deliver the letter to him for the Third Young Lady Zhen last time? He also came with him today.

Therefore, it was not that the person who came might be the Third Young Lady Zhen as Jin Cai said, but it must be.

Jin Cai on the side saw Jia Cong's thoughtful expression, and began to mutter in his heart, the Cong Sanye always attracts daughters, he wouldn't have attracted the Third Young Lady of the Zhen family too, and now she has come to the door...

This master is truly incredible, don't cause any trouble...

Jia Cong said to Jin Cai, "Let the servants outside the second gate stay away from the Xuanhe Hall, and do not approach. Transfer the two maids in my courtyard to serve outside the hall."

If it was really the Third Young Lady Zhen who came to visit under the name of her elder brother, it was truly unconventional, but after all, she was a daughter of a noble family, so she still had to be careful and respectful in etiquette.

He called Lingguan, who was about to return to the inner courtyard with Douguan. Since it might be a female guest, it would be convenient to bring Lingguan to meet her, and it could also avoid suspicion between men and women.

When he brought Lingguan to the Xuanhe Hall, he saw Liu Xian, whom he had seen that day, standing at the hall door from afar.

Inside the hall, a tall and beautiful figure in a green robe was standing with his back to him, admiring the calligraphy and painting hanging in the middle hall.

Although he only saw the back from afar, the posture was very clear.

He saw that this person had wind-blown clothes, a thin waist and a straight back, black hair like ink, and hands behind his back, with slender fingers, white as jade, indescribably elegant and free.

Jia Cong had heard Yingchun and Daiyu mention the Third Young Lady Zhen, but he had never seen her.

Daiyu had always been arrogant, but whenever she heard that a lady of the same generation was visiting and was trying to see Jia Cong in a roundabout way, she would have a little jealousy.

Back then, the Old Lady of the Zhen family brought the Third Young Lady to visit the Old Lady. Although it was to visit the Old Lady, after a few words, she also found an excuse to see Jia Cong, and Daiyu was inevitably uncomfortable.

However, at that time, Jia Cong happened to be summoned by the palace, so he did not meet the Third Young Lady Zhen.

Afterward, Daiyu teased Jia Cong about this matter, and her words were quite unconvinced, but even so, she spoke frankly to Jia Cong, saying that this Third Young Lady Zhen was also very outstanding.

Jia Cong naturally believed in Daiyu's vision. This girl, with just a back view, revealed a sense of being extraordinary and uninhibited, which was completely different from the women Jia Cong knew.

Jia Cong just arrived at the hall door when he heard Liu Xian say to the hall, "Cong Sanye, Count Lord Weiyuan has arrived."

Jia Cong brought Lingguan into the Xuanhe Hall. At this time, Lingguan was also confused. She didn't know why Jia Cong brought her to meet a guest.

It was just that Lingguan trusted Jia Cong very much, and only felt that Jia Cong must have his reasons for doing so, and she just followed him.

At first, Lingguan thought she was meeting a male guest, and felt a little strange and shy.

It was just that she was born in an opera troupe, and she was more sensitive to women's forms than ordinary people in her daily singing and dancing.

Seeing the guest's back in the hall, she felt a little strange. This person had a thin neck and a straight back, and a waist like a willow, clearly a woman, but dressed in men's clothes.

Hearing Zhen Fangqing, who was admiring calligraphy and painting in the hall, heard Liu Xian's reminder and turned around. What entered her eyes was a pair of bright eyes as deep as an autumn pool. (End of chapter) *** **【403-0】 Meeting to Investigate the Maze**