Chapter 484: Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Pear Fragrance Court

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Pear Fragrance Court.

Seeing Xue Pan babbling after drinking, and actually suggesting that his younger sister become a concubine for Jia Cong, Xue Yima Xue was so furious that she flew into a rage. She picked up a shoe pattern from the sewing basket on the table and lashed out at Xue Pan's face.

Xue Pan took a hit to the face, covered his head, and scurried away to dodge, shouting, "Mother! I'm not just spouting nonsense; I'm doing this for Sister's own good. It wouldn't be too late to hit me after you let me finish."

Xue Yima Xue scolded, "You're talking rubbish! With what you just said, you call that doing it for your sister's own good?"

Xue Pan said, "Mother, your son has his reasons for saying this. You and Sister are both in the inner chambers and don't know what people are saying outside."

Xue Yima Xue scolded, "That wretch outside—he can even teach you to let your own sister be a concubine? Do you have any sense of being a brother?"

Xue Pan shamelessly forced a smile, "Mother, I just let it slip. It's all my fault. But you don't know what people outside are saying about the Jia family."

Xue Yima Xue asked strangely, "You can't keep your mouth shut, so how does this have anything to do with the Jia family again?"

At this moment, Tongxi brought over some hangover soup. Xue Pan took it and drank it in one breath, saying, "Your son has gotten to know a few sons of noble families, such as Feng Feng Ziying, the son of the General of Divine Might, Chen Chen Yejun, Wei Wei Ruolan, and others.

We have often gathered for feasts and conversations these days, and it has been very refreshing. These people have some insight, and after listening to them, I feel there is a lot of truth in what they say.

They all say that among the sons of the nobility in the Love Shenjing today, the most outstanding one is Brother Cong. He is talented in both civil and military affairs, and at fourteen, he became a Count with a hereditary, perpetual title—something that hasn't happened twice in the nearly hundred years since the founding of the dynasty.

This time, he performed meritorious service in Jin Ling. Although the Emperor did not promote his title, he raised the building standards of his residence by one grade. This is how great the favor is. They all say that if Jia Cong performs meritorious service again next time, he will definitely be promoted in rank.

Mother, look at how old he is. He won't even be fifteen until next year. Feng Feng Ziying and the others say that with Jia Cong's ability and speed of promotion, even if he doesn't become a Duke before he is twenty, he will at least manage to become a Hou Jue.

They say that today is a time of peace and prosperity, unlike the time of the founding Emperor, when it was necessary to destroy nations and expand territory. It's impossible to become a Duke now, so a Hou Jue is already the pinnacle.

If our family can connect with a figure like Jia Cong, won't we be able to walk sideways in the Love Shenjing in the future? Who knows, we might even be able to return to Jin Ling later.

Besides, it's not like you don't know—my sister has long had her eye on him, and it's not like you don't know..."

Hearing that Jia Cong could become a Hou Jue in the future, Xue Yima Xue's heart skipped a beat. If that day really came, it would truly be incredible. How old is he?

However, no matter how much her son talked, there was no reason to let her daughter be a concubine.

Xue Yima Xue gritted her teeth and said, "Even if Brother Cong is remarkable, our Xue family's daughter will absolutely not settle for this. If you talk nonsense again, I will no longer have you as a son."

Xue Pan suddenly blurted out, "Mother, you say the Empress is the Emperor's legal wife, but the Emperor's Imperial Consort is actually just a concubine..."

Hearing this crazy talk from Xue Pan, Xue Yima Xue was startled. She hurried to the door to take a look, and only after discovering that no one was passing by did she heave a sigh of relief.

She turned back, grabbed the shoe pattern on the table, and lashed out at Xue Pan's head again: "You worry-free wretch, how can you say such things? Do you want to be like Jia Baoyu and have the Imperial Clan Court come to your door?"

Xue Pan also realized it in an instant. Seeming to be frightened, his face twitched. He hurriedly shut his mouth, then turned and shouted, "Tongxi, bring your master another bowl of hangover soup."

He said to Xue Yima Xue again, "Mother, don't be angry. Your son won't talk nonsense in the future. But you should also listen to your son's advice: don't get involved in any 'Gold and Jade Affinity' business with Xue Yima.

If it turns out to be true and you really marry Sister to that wretch Jia Baoyu, it would be truly terrible."

Xue Yima Xue frowned and said, "Don't be too ambitious. Brother Cong is not bad, but we aren't high enough to reach that branch. What's wrong with Jia Baoyu? He is the legitimate son of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture and your aunt's bloodline.

And with such appearance and character, apart from Brother Cong, who in the Jia family can compare to him?"

Xue Pan said disdainfully, "In the past, everyone outside said he was born with jade in his mouth, which was somewhat strange. Perhaps those noble young ladies outside really did find him rare.

But now his reputation stinks to high heaven. Who would still pay attention to him?"

Xue Yima Xue was startled when she heard this: "What nonsense are you talking about? Jia Baoyu is not like you, wandering around everywhere. He is very well-behaved and doesn't even step out of the main gate. Where did this reputation of stinking to high heaven come from?"

Xue Pan laughed with some schadenfreude: "Mother, you are always at home, so you really don't know the current trends outside.

My friends all say that for sons of noble families, wandering around outside, even drinking and fighting, doesn't count for much as long as it doesn't lead to loss of life. It's just spending some silver anyway.

Jia Baoyu doesn't step out of the main gate, but this kid opens his mouth and calls the Retired Emperor stupid..."

Xue Pan finally managed to swallow the deadly words, picked up the hangover soup brought by Tongxi, and gulped down another mouthful.

He said, "You are always saying your son is unpromising, but Jia Baoyu is much worse than your son. He speaks of the crime of deceiving the Emperor and actually dares to scold the Emperor's father.

You say, how much face would the Emperor lose, and how angry would he be? Otherwise, why would he specifically send people from the Imperial Clan Court to beat him up?

I heard Feng Feng Ziying and the others say that the old nobles and marquises in the Love Shenjing today treat the Retired Emperor as a god. Jia Baoyu scolding him as stupid... this has offended the public.

Let's put it this way: if Jia Baoyu were to seek a marriage in the future, none of the noble young ladies in the Love Shenjing would fancy him. If any family were to marry their daughter to him, wouldn't they be going against the Emperor and the Retired Emperor?

Mother, you say Jia Baoyu's reputation now doesn't stink to high heaven, so what is it? I just can't stand his 'King Bao' style, making it seem like the whole world has to like him. His nonsense has finally caused trouble.

Mother, you are always saying he is good, but where is he good? He can't study, he is idle, and he has nothing to do. He is not even as good as me; I can still run businesses for the family, while he only knows how to play with little maids in the inner chambers.

Although your son is a wanderer, I still know how to be loyal to the Emperor and love my country. He is motherly and crooked all day long, he is nothing..."

Xue Yima Xue couldn't help but frown as she heard her son becoming increasingly vulgar, but she felt that her son's words also seemed to have some truth.

Xue Pan gulped down three cups of hangover soup, his mind clear. Whether it was an extraordinary performance or words he heard from others, he became increasingly excited as he spoke.

"Mother, don't be confused. Jia Baoyu is now unwanted by everyone. Are you still going to push Sister over there and throw her into this fire pit?"

Originally, Xue Yima Xue felt that Jia Cong could not be relied upon, so she retreated to the next best thing, and Jia Baoyu was also an excellent choice.

But now, after being beaten by her son's chaotic punches, her mind was completely muddled, and her original plan began to waver.

Xue Baochai, in the inner room, had actually been paying attention to the words outside. When she heard her brother talk about being a concubine, she felt uncontrollable shyness and could only cover her ears and steal the bell, pretending she hadn't heard.

But as for the other things her brother said, although somewhat vulgar, Xue Baochai felt they made a lot of sense.

In fact, compared to Brother Cong or her own brother, Jia Baoyu was roughly the same type of person, only Jia Baoyu was a bit more refined and dissolute than her brother.

After a while, Xue Baochai heard that there was no more talking in the outer room, and her brother had also returned to his own room. Xue Baochai went over and lay on the embroidered couch, her thoughts still unsettled.

Suddenly, she heard Jin Jin Chuan's voice from the outer room: "Sister Qingwen, how do you have time to come here?"

Qingwen's clear and limpid voice rang out: "Today, our Cong Sanye invited the divine physician Zhang Zhang Youshi to the prefecture to take the pulse for Lin Meimei. The Cong Sanye said that this Dr. Zhang has remarkable medical skills.

The Cong Sanye knows that your young lady has an old illness and has always needed to take Cold Fragrance Pills to suppress it, so he invited your young lady to the Eastern Prefecture to let Dr. Zhang take her pulse and see if there is a better way to regulate it."

Xue Yima Xue smiled and said, "Brother Cong is truly thoughtful. He invited a famous doctor to the prefecture and also thought of our Xue Baochai. Go back and thank him for me."

Xue Baochai, hearing this in the inner room, felt happy in her heart, so she lifted the door curtain and came out.

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Jia Mu sat on the couch in the main seat, with Jia Zheng sitting beside her, and Lady Wang and Wang Wang Xifeng sitting in the lower seats.

Originally, Jia Mu had asked Sister Yuanyang to go to the Eastern Prefecture to invite Jia Cong and ask him to come over to discuss matters together, but after Sister Yuanyang returned, she brought back Seeing Yingchun, and Jia Cong was nowhere to be seen.

Jia Mu felt a little unhappy in her heart and said to Seeing Yingchun, "Your brother is now at home, so he can be considered to have some foundation. How can he be so unconcerned about such an important matter as the inheritance of the family title?

I asked him to come over to offer ideas. What urgent matter does he have that he doesn't come over himself, but instead sends you, a young lady, over?"

Seeing Yingchun stood up and said, "Old Ancestor, Brother Cong invited the famous physician Zhang Zhang Youshi from the Love Shenjing today to take the pulse for Lin Meimei. This Dr. Zhang has very brilliant medical skills and cured Father Lin's illness in Yangzhou.

Moreover, Dr. Zhang has a way to treat Lin Meimei's deficiency syndrome. Brother Cong takes this matter seriously, so he is accompanying Dr. Zhang for the diagnosis. As for the matter of Great Master's title inheritance, after Sister Feng discussed it with me that day, I already asked Brother Cong, and he told me everything he knew. You can just ask me, Old Ancestor.

After he is done with Lin Meimei's matter, Brother Cong will come over."

Jia Mu heard that it was to see a doctor for Lin Daiyu, and although she couldn't complain too much, she was still a little unhappy in her heart.

Although her granddaughter's health was also what Jia Mu cared about most, compared to the inheritance of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture title, it was still secondary in her heart.

It was just that inviting a doctor to take Lin Daiyu's pulse was such a small matter, yet in that kid's heart, it was actually considered more important than the Lady Rongguo title inheritance. She, the grandmother, had sent someone to summon him, yet he simply didn't come.

Jia Mu said with a depressed mood, "He is full of vigor outside, but when he gets home, he doesn't care about anything. Although it is a good thing that he knows how to cherish his sisters.

But young people ultimately lack a sense of proportion and don't distinguish between what is light and heavy, urgent and slow..."

Seeing Yingchun listened from the side, silent, but in her heart, she thought that the Old Ancestor had actually forgotten that there had been an incident of changing the heir before, which made everyone look embarrassed.

Now, how could Brother Cong be willing to say more about the Western Prefecture's title? If he really managed too much, the Old Ancestor might have doubts again.

Jia Zheng heard Jia Mu's words and hurriedly came out to smooth things over, saying, "It won't take much time for the doctor to take Lin Meimei's pulse. Once the matter is finished, Brother Cong will naturally come."

He then asked Seeing Yingchun, "Second Girl, what did Brother Cong say earlier about the matter of inheriting the title in the prefecture?"

Seeing Yingchun said, "Brother Cong said that the mourning period for Great Master has already passed the seven-seven count. According to reason, the father's title should have been inherited, and the Imperial Clan Court should have issued a document long ago, but now there is no movement at all, which is indeed a bit strange.

Brother Cong also said that although the inheritance of noble titles is managed by the Imperial Clan Court, it also needs to be approved by the Emperor according to the regulations before the Imperial Clan Court will handle it according to the system.

Perhaps the government affairs in the palace have been busy recently, and the inheritance of Great Master's title is also a common matter, so it is possible that it has been delayed for a few days.

Brother Cong said that he has never had any dealings with the Grand Ancestor of the Imperial Clan Court, so it is not easy to go and inquire rashly. Moreover, because of the Ningguo Prefecture matter last time, the Grand Ancestor seems to have some resentment towards our family, so it would be even worse to ask.

Under the current circumstances, there is no need to be anxious about anything. We can only wait patiently for a few days and see the situation."

Jia Mu heard these words and was unhappy in her heart. She originally thought that this kid was a capable person, but looking at what he said, it was as if he hadn't said anything. This title belonged to their First Branch, yet he was not concerned at all.

Lady Wang heard this and sneered in her heart. It was clear that Brother Cong didn't want to pay attention to the Western Prefecture's title inheritance.

He had already obtained a title himself, so as long as his own family had face, why would he care whether the Western Prefecture's hereditary title could be inherited? It was a pity that he was still a member of the Jia family, yet he was so cold-hearted and cold-blooded.

Jia Mu said, "He is just young and hasn't seen many things, so he doesn't know the weight of it. Great Master's mourning period has long passed forty-nine days, yet there is no movement regarding the title inheritance.

Whenever something strange appears in such matters, there must be a reason. How can we just wait blindly like he said? I can't rely on him, so I can only sacrifice my own old face.

Zheng'er, help me write a greeting memorial to the Empress Dowager. The wording must be respectful and polite, and slightly mention the matter of Lady Rongguo's title inheritance.

The Empress Dowager and I still had some friendship when we were young, and she will understand the meaning when she sees the memorial. As long as she says a few words for our Jia family, this matter might pass."

Wang Wang Xifeng, who was on the side, felt happy in her heart. She was born into the Jin Ling Wang family and married into the Lady Rongguo Jia family, so she naturally heard about some old noble affairs from back then.

The current Empress Dowager Yizhang was about the same age as Jia Mu and was also born into a noble family. The two had dealings when they were young ladies and were genuine friends. Their friendship was naturally more profound than other noble ladies.

This father-son title inheritance was originally a matter of common sense, and she didn't know why it was stuck. Since the Imperial Clan Court hadn't made a sound, there must be nothing serious.

Now that the Old Ancestor had taken action and brought out such a great figure as the Empress Dowager, this matter would definitely be cleared up soon.

As soon as Wang Wang Xifeng thought of these things, her mood instantly became bright and sunny. Her long-awaited Second-Rank noble status was already within reach. How much face would that be?

Ningrong Street, Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

Jia Mu and the others were racking their brains to plan the title inheritance, but Jia Cong didn't want to pay attention at all. Since he knew about Jia She's hidden crimes, he concluded that there would be changes in the Lady Rongguo title inheritance.

But this matter involved too many secrets, and it was not something he could intervene in. Moreover, Jia She brought this upon himself, and Lady Rongguo could not escape the blame, so he couldn't blame others.

What he cared about most at the moment was Lin Daiyu's deficiency syndrome.

Zhang Zhang Youshi had taken the pulse for Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai respectively, and was invited by Jia Cong to the study to inquire about the details.

Zhang Zhang Youshi stroked his beard and said, "Just now, I explored the pulse and observed the Qi. Lin Meimei is truly born with a delicate constitution, but like Master Lin, she was born with a weak pulse, which is the same as my initial judgment.

Now that Lin Meimei's illness has been determined, I can prepare the targeted precious medicine according to the condition when I go back, using the Three-Life Soul-Returning Grass as a guide. It will be completed in half a month.

As for that Miss Xue, she has an old illness of many years. Is the Cold Fragrance Pill she uses a strange prescription from the sea? It can be considered targeted, but it seems to be slightly insufficient.

I will take the prescription back to study it. Perhaps I can exchange some ingredients, which can increase the medicinal properties by ten or twenty percent and make the preparation of this medicine less cumbersome."

Jia Cong felt grateful and said, "Then I will have to trouble you, Old Sir. Your divine skills can eliminate the hidden worries of the sisters in my family. Jia Cong is endlessly grateful."

A strange feeling suddenly rose in Jia Cong's heart. That year, because Lin Daiyu hid his handwritten book, Jia Baoyu threw a tantrum and smashed the jade, making Lin Daiyu vomit blood and feel cold-hearted.

Perhaps from that moment on, the trajectory of many things and the destiny of many people were invisibly changed.

At the moment, Zhang Zhang Youshi, relying on his superb medical skills, confirmed the diagnosis and prepared medicine for Lin Daiyu, which could cure her congenital deficiency syndrome and avoid Lin Daiyu's fate of dying young.

He could even help Xue Baochai revise the side prescription of the Cold Fragrance Pill...

Jia Cong was full of joy and was about to send Zhang Zhang Youshi out of the study when Zhang Zhang Youshi inadvertently saw a seven-string zither hanging on the wall, his eyes flickering slightly.

He smiled and said, "I know that the mentor of the Count of Lord Weiyuan is the literary master Liu Jing'an, and your mistress, Lady Cui, is a master of the ancient zither in the Great Zhou.

I think the Count of Lord Weiyuan must have inherited the master's teachings and is also a master of music. This zither has a simple and ancient shape and is a rare ancient object. It is quite extraordinary and must be an object that the Count of Lord Weiyuan often plays."

Jia Cong took a look at the zither on the wall. He had been very familiar with this zither since he was a child. When he lived in the warehouse of the Eastern Courtyard, it was hanging on the wall of the room.

Later, he brought it to the Qingzhi Courtyard of the Lady Rongguo Prefecture, and after that, he brought it to the Count's Prefecture. For so many years, it had almost never left his side.

Because his wet nurse, Xue Yima Zhao, told him that this zither was the only relic of his biological mother, Du Du Jinniang, and told him to keep it well.

Although his mistress, Lady Cui, was a master of the ancient zither, every time he went to Mount Kuocang, he mainly followed Liu Jing'an to study for the imperial examinations. Because time was limited, he only learned some superficial knowledge from his mistress, Lady Cui.

Lady Cui had told him that the maintenance of the ancient zither not only requires frequent playing, but it cannot be kept in a box for a long time. It needs to be hung frequently to breathe light and air, which will make the zither sound more harmonious.

Before Jia Cong went to Jin Ling last time, he had asked Zhi Shao to put this zither in a box. It was only after he returned this time that he took the zither out and hung it up again.

But apart from that, Jia Cong didn't have much knowledge about the ancient zither. To him, this zither he had been familiar with since childhood was just a relic of his deceased mother. He didn't care much about whether it had much value.

He had been to Zhang Zhang Youshi's residence in Huaxi Village and knew that he was not only superb in medical skills but also proficient in painting and was a person who was proficient in miscellaneous studies.

Since he said that this zither was a rare ancient object of great value, he shouldn't be talking nonsense and must be aiming at something.

It has always been difficult for ancient zithers to be passed down through the ages. Ancient zithers that have been passed down for several generations in the previous dynasty are generally treasures of great value.

But his biological mother, Du Du Jinniang, was just a courtesan in the Xiang Yunyan Building during her lifetime. Although she had the name of a top courtesan, she shouldn't have been able to afford such a precious object of great value.

Jia Cong felt slightly strange in his heart and also gave birth to a trace of caution.

He said, "I have let you laugh, Mr. Zhang. I am either busy with official business or following my teacher to study for the imperial examinations. I have only learned some superficial knowledge of my mistress's skills.

This ancient zither is not something I often use, but just a decoration in the study."

Zhang Shi looked at the ancient zither again and said, "So that's how it is." (End of chapter)