Chapter 493: Sending Beauty to Break the Situation

Ningrong Street, Count's Prefecture.

The sun had gradually set, and Jia Cong returned from the Western Prefecture. Seeing Zhen Ying Lian reading in the study, he said he wanted to write a memorial.

Zhen Ying Lian helped him grind the ink, spread the rice paper, and sat in the corner of the study, flipping through the Romance of the Western Chamber that Lingguan had lent her.

She wore a pine-smoke green cross-collar vest, a white cross-collar jacket, an ivory-white long skirt embroidered with plum branches, and a bright red-gold collar around her neck. Although she still had some childishness, it was hard to hide her beauty and moving appearance.

Zhen Ying Lian was at the age of a young girl. Girls at this time were precocious, and she also opened up, developing a yearning for such stories of talented men and beautiful women, and was somewhat fascinated by the story of Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying.

She read the book: Feelings have already touched the lungs, intentions have already provoked the liver and intestines……, only feeling that every word and sentence was lingering in the bones, and her heart couldn't help but thump.

She couldn't help but raise her head to look at Jia Cong, who was writing and drawing on the desk. Her pair of moist, beautiful eyes flowed with autumn waves, and the corners of her mouth carried a shallow smile, and she would blush for no reason.

Young Master seems a bit strange today, saying he wants to write a memorial. She specially ground a thick pool of ink, waiting for him to use it.

In the past, when Young Master did such things, he would always finish it in one go, but today, that snow-white memorial had passed for a long time, and he hadn't written a single word.

Zhen Ying Lian was somewhat confused, but didn't take it to heart. She knew that Jia Cong was observing mourning at home and was temporarily not an official, so he didn't need to report to the Emperor, so it didn't seem to matter if he couldn't write a memorial.

Just accompanying him to flip through books like this was also a beautiful thing. Although Lingguan's Romance of the Western Chamber was good-looking, this Zhang Sheng didn't seem to be as powerful as Young Master…….

Jia Cong naturally didn't know that Zhen Ying Lian was beginning to understand love, read that Romance of the Western Chamber, and was full of romantic fantasies, wandering around and couldn't leave him.

……

These past few days, Jia Cong had Jiang Liu, Jiang Xiao Liu, Yu Xiuzhu, and others walk around outside, paying close attention to the news of Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang.

Now, although he was observing mourning at home and had resigned from his official position as the Firearms Division Supervisor, he knew the news outside clearly.

Every day, Jiang Liu and others would bring the news from outside back to the prefecture to report to him.

He knew that a few days ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard raided and sealed several shops operated by the three families, such as medicine and fur shops, took away several shopkeepers and clerks, and also took away the shop's accounts.

By the next day, the Embroidered Uniform Guard summoned Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang, and they entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office and never came out again.

And these past few days, the gates of the mansions of Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang were closed. Except for the daily purchase of rice and grain by servants, few people went in and out, and they all looked terrified and restrained.

Yesterday, he specially invited Cai Xiaoyu out for tea. Cai Xiaoyu's father, Cai Xiang, was a Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, so the news was much better than ordinary people.

He told Jia Cong that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had obtained evidence of the crime, and it was said that the salt and iron smuggling of these three families had started since last year, involving a significant amount of contraband and silver flow…….

This matter had caused a huge disturbance in the noble circle of the Divine Capital.

The family members and children of Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang were looking for relationships everywhere, trying to find ways to exonerate them.

Old nobles like Prince Beijing Shui Rong and Duke Qiguo Chen Yi had entered the palace to plead with the Emperor, but Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao avoided seeing them.

Now the guilt of Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang smuggling salt and iron was undoubtedly confirmed…….

Jia Cong felt that the whole thing was like boiling water that was gradually heating up, and he was waiting for when it would boil and turn flowers.

Therefore, this memorial this morning had not been written, and he was waiting for the latest news.

He was preparing to submit a memorial to plead for Jia Lian, not because Jia Lian was his eldest brother.

But as an official of the imperial court, heaven, earth, monarch, relatives, and teachers, loyalty, filial piety, etiquette, and law, he must make such a gesture. This is the rule of this world and the officialdom.

Moreover, he knew very well in his heart that the crime of the whole thing was Jia She, and Jia Lian was just a scapegoat.

Whether it was to avoid implication for those in the Western Prefecture who cared, or out of personal pity and conscience, or even for his own safety, he needed to submit a memorial to plead for Jia Lian.

……

Waiting until sunset, Jiang Liu and Jiang Xiao Liu hurried back to the prefecture, bringing the latest news they had inquired about.

Xie Jing, Qi Jianhui, and Qiu Liang were escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard before sunset and were detained by the Dali Temple.

This afternoon, officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Zongren Prefecture went to the three mansions respectively.

Hearing the two pieces of news, Jia Cong probably clarified the context of the matter.

These three people would be detained by the Dali Temple, which must be the same as Jia Lian, having been confirmed to have confessed to the salt and iron smuggling. Next, they would wait for the Dali Temple to judge the case, and the scale of the judgment was undoubtedly in the palace.

As for the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Zongren Prefecture going to the three mansions respectively, it must be related to their respective titles.

These three people were different from Jia Lian. They were all hereditary noble titles. Committing the major crime of salt and iron smuggling, their titles would surely be unable to be kept.

According to the Da Zhou etiquette system, those who are found guilty must first have their titles stripped, and then according to the size of their crimes, they will be considered, or their titles will be confiscated, or their descendants will be demoted and inherited.

After clarifying the general direction of the matter, his thoughts suddenly became clear. He took a brush, dipped it in the thick ink that Zhen Ying Lian had ground, and wrote furiously on the snow-white memorial.

……

Rongguo Prefecture, Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

Since Zhang Youshi diagnosed the pulse of pregnancy, Wang Xifeng's heart, which was on the verge of despair because of Jia Lian's matter, suddenly regained vitality, and her sorrowful mood also melted away.

There were many people in the Jia family, and it was impossible to hide the news. The children of women were major events in the inner house. As soon as the doctor left, the maids and old women in the courtyard came in twos and threes to congratulate her.

Wang Xifeng just responded with a smile and didn't show too much joy. After everyone was sent away, Ping'er brought a cup of warm tea in.

Wang Xifeng took a sip and frowned, saying: "You call this tea? Why is it so light as if it were mixed with water? Isn't there a lot of the top-grade cloud mist tip that Grandmother gave last time left?"

Ping'er smiled: "Grandmother is pregnant now, how can she drink strong tea? I specially mixed it light. After a while, tea water can't be touched."

"I have asked Lin Da Niang to buy top-grade honey, chrysanthemum, and milk. These things are good for nourishing people."

Wang Xifeng smiled: "Tea can't be drunk, how can you say it is so powerful? Now what time is it, it hasn't even shown."

Ping'er said: "I often hear the old women in the prefecture nagging that in a family like ours, women's children are the first priority. Grandmother hasn't had any movement for these years."

"Now Bao Er Ye has had an accident, Grandmother has lost most of her backing, but fortunately she has good news, and she will have more reliance in this prefecture in the future. It is right to be more careful."

Wang Xifeng sighed: "It's still too early to say this. I don't know if it's a boy or a girl."

Ping'er coaxed: "A boy is naturally the best, and a girl is also good. They are all Grandmother's blood, and they will be reliance in the future."

Wang Xifeng subconsciously touched her lower abdomen: "Your Bao Er Ye was timely this time, and he was actually useful for once."

Ping'er heard Wang Xifeng talk about dirty words and blushed.

Wang Xifeng smiled: "What is there to be shy about? In the future, when you are given to Third Brother Cong, you will have more heart, and have this day early, and you will have a foundation for a lifetime."

"There is only you who is sincere in this courtyard. Look at the few days since Bao Er Ye had an accident, I was ill and couldn't manage things, and the threshold of our courtyard is almost covered with spider webs. As soon as they heard I had good news, they all came out to show their heads."

Ping'er heard Wang Xifeng's first sentence, and she was looking forward to it in her heart, but hearing her last sentence, her heart was a bit dim.

Since the Embroidered Uniform Guard entered to take people that day, the Fengjie courtyard was tossed into a mess, and Ping'er spent a lot of effort to rearrange the courtyard to its original state.

Wang Xifeng managed the house on behalf of Lady Wang, her mind was shrewd, her language was sharp, and her means were ruthless. No one in the Rongguo Prefecture dared not to respect her, and they all called her the "Patrolling Sea Yaksha" behind her back.

But ever since Bao Er Ye was imprisoned and found guilty, Grandmother was ill and couldn't manage things, and the Second Lady let Third Young Lady and Eldest Grandmother take over the errand.

The servants in the prefecture all had a wealthy heart and two decent eyes, thinking that Grandmother had already failed from now on, and they walked around her courtyard on weekdays.

No wonder she would say the cold words that the threshold was covered with spider webs.

……

The two were talking about idle things when they suddenly heard the maid outside say: "Grandmother, Lady, you are here. Please come in and sit."

Wang Xifeng heard the words, struggled to get out of bed, and let Ping'er help her out.

Seeing people at the door, this courtyard had been cold for more than ten days, and it was rarely lively.

Not only Grandmother and Lady Wang came, but behind them followed Yingchun and Li Wan, as well as Grandmother's maid Yuanyang, Lady Wang's maid Yu Chuan, Yingchun's maid Xiuju, and Li Wan's maid Suyun.

A crowd of people stood in the outer room of Wang Xifeng, looking very popular, which was a world of difference from the cold threshold of the past few days.

Grandmother saw Wang Xifeng get up to greet guests and said: "You are still ill, and you have a body, so you don't need to respond to these empty rituals. Just lie on the bed."

Grandmother was still happy about Wang Xifeng's pulse of pregnancy. Filial piety is the most important thing, and the wealthy families have always paid attention to blood inheritance. Bao Er Ye is her eldest grandson of the first branch, and they have been married for some years, but the first branch has had no offspring, which is also a concern for Grandmother.

Now that the eldest grandson is found guilty, it was originally a frustrating thing, but I didn't expect the eldest grandson's wife to have this unexpected joy, which made Grandmother open up a lot.

Grandmother took Wang Xifeng's hand and sat on the kang, Lady Wang sat on the side chair, and Li Wan and Yingchun only stood on the side.

Grandmother took Wang Xifeng's hand and said: "Now that you have a body, you must not think or worry too much. Everything must be based on children."

"Lian'er's matter, I have already ordered Brother Cong, he will personally submit a memorial to the Emperor to plead for his brother. This boy has always been valued by the Emperor. With him coming forward to plead, it will always be of some use."

"So, you don't have to be sad about this matter anymore, just raise your fetus well."

Wang Xifeng was overjoyed and asked: "Is Brother Cong really going to personally submit a memorial to the palace to plead?"

Grandmother smiled: "Can I lie about this? It was at Rongqing Hall just now, he promised it himself. He is an official after all, can he deny it?"

Yingchun said on the side: "Second Sister-in-law, don't worry, since Brother Cong opened his mouth, he will surely do it."

Grandmother sighed: "Our Rongguo Prefecture's Cao-character generation children, except for a Lan'er, haven't had any follow-up for so many years, which is a bit cold."

"Baoyu's marriage has to wait for a few years, and Brother Cong is at the age of marriage, but the family has had such a major event, he has to observe mourning for three years, and he can't marry a wife. He can't be counted on for three or four years."

Grandmother smiled at Wang Xifeng: "Now I am counting on you, adding children to the family, recently there are no good things, and it is good to wash away the joy." Lady Wang heard Grandmother's words about adding children, and her heart also skipped a beat. Originally, she thought that Jia Lian was found guilty, and the first branch was completely defeated.

In the future, the inheritance of the title and the prefecture would have nothing to do with the first branch, and the inside and outside of the Rongguo Prefecture would belong to her Baoyu, but she didn't expect that at this juncture, Wang Xifeng suddenly became pregnant.

Although even if a son is born, he can't catch up with the inheritance of the title, because the title is inherited by father and son.

But if Wang Xifeng gives birth to the eldest great-grandson of the first branch of the Rongguo Prefecture, then this child's position is not small, covering her grandson Jia Lan.

With the name of the eldest great-grandson, he will be able to divide a large portion of the family property in the future. Thinking of these, Lady Wang felt lost in her heart. It is really man's calculation is not as good as heaven's calculation.

……

Wang Xifeng didn't have such calculations as Lady Wang, because it was too early for her to think about these.

She heard that Jia Cong was willing to plead with the Emperor, and she was overjoyed. She was a woman and didn't understand official matters, and didn't know that she could plead with the Emperor.

It sounded very powerful. It seems that Third Brother Cong is reliable, unlike others who only drum up a few words, and there is no real use.

At this moment, she was full of this matter. Hearing Grandmother's words about adding children, she said casually: "I also want to borrow Grandmother's blessing to have a boy, but where can this matter be accurate?"

Grandmother smiled: "A boy is naturally the best, if it is a girl, I will also treasure her. Which of your Second Sister, Third Sister, Fourth Sister is not raised by my side?"

"If you have a girl, I will raise her for you, and you don't have to worry about it. Look, is it good?"

At this time, Ping'er brought the tea tray into the room and served tea to Grandmother and Lady Wang. Wang Xifeng saw Ping'er's slender and graceful figure, and saw Yuanyang beside Grandmother, and moved slightly in her heart.

She said with a smile: "Grandmother is thinking of me, which is naturally my blessing. However, the incense of the first branch in the future, the bulk is estimated to be with Brother Cong."

"Although he is observing mourning for three years and cannot marry a wife, he can't marry a wife, but it's not that he can't have offspring."

"Brother Cong will be fifteen next year, and he has raised so many confidant maids in his room. Maybe that branch will bloom."

Lady Wang, Li Wan, and others heard Wang Xifeng suddenly turn the topic to Jia Cong, and felt a bit strange in their hearts, but this topic was not strange. In a wealthy family, having a concubine before a wife was not a rare thing.

Grandmother nodded: "Your words are reasonable. If he can do that, it is also a good thing."

"I don't care about the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. As long as the children in the future are as sensible and clever as Baoyu, I will surely treasure them all."

Wang Xifeng heard this and felt strange in her heart. If the first branch raised such goods as Baoyu, that would be a mess, but she naturally wouldn't say such words.

Wang Xifeng said again: "Speaking of this topic, I remembered something Grandmother said."

Although Wang Xifeng was a first-class shrewd person, Jia Lian's accident made her lose her square inches these past few days.

It wasn't until she suddenly found out she was pregnant that her heart settled down. Just now, hearing Jia Cong was willing to plead with the Emperor for Jia Lian, she felt that after Jia Lian had an accident, she was in a disadvantageous position, the family's human feelings were thin, and no one could reach out to help, only Jia Cong was the real backing of the first branch in the future.

After her mind was clear, that shrewd and clever energy revived, and that series of words made Grandmother very happy.

At this time, seeing Ping'er come in to serve tea, that original plan didn't want to be delayed anymore.

Because when the Great Master forced to take Yuanyang that day, Wang Xifeng saw that Yuanyang was aiming at Third Brother Cong, otherwise she wouldn't have been willing to be the Great Master's concubine, just waiting there.

Yuanyang, like Ping'er, was also a first-class figure among the maids of the Jia family, and she was the most intimate person to Grandmother. Maybe Grandmother also had the same thoughts as herself.

By then, someone would have taken the lead, and what would happen to her Ping'er? It would be better to take advantage of everyone being here today to get things done, fall into position, and save others from thinking about it.

……

Grandmother asked: "I have said many things, which one are you talking about?"

Wang Xifeng smiled: "That day Cousin Xiuyan came to our house, Grandmother said Brother Cong is fifteen next year, and should put two people in the room, and asked me who is suitable."

"That day I mentioned Sister Hearing Zhi Shao and Zhen Ying Lian, but Grandmother felt Zhen Ying Lian was thirteen, and she was too young, so she had to wait a few years."

"At that time, Lady Xing said Cousin Xiuyan is fifteen this year, and Grandmother felt this age was just right, so she could discuss this matter next year."

Grandmother smiled: "I remember this matter, why did you suddenly think of this today?"

Wang Xifeng smiled: "It was a coincidence. That day I met Aunt Xing and chatted for a few words. It seems that Cousin Xiuyan is not fifteen this year, but thirteen like Zhen Ying Lian."

Grandmother heard this and was stunned, frowning and asking Yingchun: "Xiuyan is with you, is she really thirteen?"

Yingchun's expression was slightly awkward. Although she also liked Xing Xiuyan, Lady Xing reported her age falsely, which was equivalent to fooling her Brother Cong, and Yingchun didn't intend to hide it for Lady Xing.

She said: "Xiuyan is indeed thirteen this year. I think Lady Xing remembered it wrong."

Grandmother was familiar with the tricks of inner-house women, how could she not understand Lady Xing's calculation.

Frowning, she said: "Your Lady Xing is not reliable in doing things. Zhen Ying Lian has been raised in the prefecture for two years, and I said she is young, so that Miss Xing is naturally not suitable."

Wang Xifeng's previous series of inducements were just waiting for Grandmother to say this sentence.

She smiled: "Grandmother is right. In a family like ours, the girls who enter the room should be older to be sensible and careful. I have someone who is more suitable."

Lady Wang, Li Wan, and others heard this and felt rare. Today, Wang Xifeng had bumped into a guest, why did she turn the topic around for no reason and become a matchmaker for Jia Cong?

Yuanyang, who was standing behind Grandmother, heard Wang Xifeng's words, and her expression changed slightly. Her fingers unconsciously pinched the sweat towel at her waist.

Grandmother smiled: "It is really a pulse of pregnancy, even the things she thinks about are full of joy. Tell me who you value so much, and you want to give her to your brother of the first branch."

Wang Xifeng smiled and pointed at Ping'er, saying: "Except for Ping'er, who else can it be?"

……

As soon as she said this, everyone was shocked. They couldn't have imagined that Wang Xifeng had gone around in circles and said a carload of words, just to send Ping'er to Jia Cong's room to be a girl.

Who in the Rongguo Prefecture doesn't know that Ping'er is Wang Xifeng's dowry maid, who grew up with her, and is the first confidant beside Wang Xifeng.

And Ping'er is intelligent and capable. Wang Xifeng manages the prefecture daily and always takes her by her side, treating her as her right-hand man.

Even Li Wan jokingly called Ping'er Wang Xifeng's master key.

Daily, the servants in the prefecture, whenever they think of the strict and strong Wang Xifeng, they will always think of the pretty and gentle maid Ping'er beside her.

Like Lady Wang, Li Wan, and other women from great families, they understand even more that the dowry maids of any young lady from a great family are first-class figures, and they are also the confidants that women who go out of the cabinet rely on most.

Not to mention a maid like Ping'er who is capable and loyal, Wang Xifeng actually made such a move, which is somewhat unreasonable.

Grandmother heard Wang Xifeng's words, and her expression was stunned, saying: "Feng girl, what are you thinking? You are willing to give this girl away. Ping'er is your arm."

Wang Xifeng smiled: "Look at what Grandmother said. Ping'er has been with me since she was a child, and now she is sixteen, just in her prime. Do I want her to be a maid for a lifetime? It's not a long-term thing."

"Finding a good place for her can be considered as fulfilling the friendship between master and servant."

"In the past, Bao Er Ye and I were busy with our own affairs and didn't care much about our brothers. Now that Bao Er Ye has had an accident, it is Brother Cong who is helping inside and outside."

"I, as the eldest sister-in-law, should have been worried for him. This matter is handled this way, Ping'er will have a place in the future, and Brother Cong will have one more useful person by his side. It's a double good, both sides are beautiful."

Grandmother heard Wang Xifeng's words, and felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart. Although she was old, she was not confused about inner-house matters.

She just thought about it slightly, and how could she not understand in her heart.

Now that her Lian'er is imprisoned and convicted, the first branch not only has no title, but also no foundation to stand on. Feng girl is such a shrewd person, how could she not see her own situation clearly.

She saw it clearly. Even if her second daughter-in-law is her own aunt, she doesn't count on her at all, just wanting to win over Brother Cong as a backing, and even sent the most confidant maid to someone else.

This calculation is not wrong, but Grandmother felt a bit lost in her heart. She is the old ancestor of these two prefectures, and Feng girl didn't want to rely on herself, and was not as good as that grandson in the Eastern Prefecture.

Lady Wang saw this scene, feeling a bit disgusted in her heart. That boy in the Eastern Prefecture is really good at taking advantage of the Western Prefecture, and even a decent maid doesn't let go.

At most, he is like this, just a maid, not something valuable.

He has long since established a prefecture and lived separately. Even if he becomes more rare, can he occupy Baoyu's title and the family business of the Western Prefecture? As long as the Master inherits the title, the two prefectures will be clear…….

……

Grandmother looked at Ping'er, who was standing on the side, blushing, somewhat at a loss, as if ready to run away at any time.

She asked: "Ping'er, your master's plan, are you willing?"

Ping'er's body trembled, and she said without hesitation: "I listen to Grandmother and Grandmother's instructions."

Everyone saw that although she was blushing, she was graceful and standing, her words were clear, and she didn't hesitate at all. Her eyes were turning, moving and moving. Everyone could see that she was extremely willing in her heart.

Ping'er is Wang Xifeng's dowry maid. She said she wanted to give someone away, can others say no?

Grandmother asked: "Does Brother Cong know about this?"

Wang Xifeng smiled: "I have mentioned this to him, Grandmother, don't worry."

Grandmother said: "This is also a good thing. Today, both I and your Lady are here, so this matter is settled. However, you have a body now, and you need capable people to serve you."

"Wait until your child lands, and then let Ping'er go to the Eastern Prefecture to fall into the room."

Yuanyang beside Grandmother heard this, and her expression had a kind of forced concealment of sadness.

Everyone talked about idle things for a while, and then dispersed. When Grandmother and Lady Wang walked in the front, Li Wan and Yingchun came to congratulate Ping'er.

Li Wan took Ping'er's hand and said: "Your Grandmother has done a thing to break the situation, which is good for others and yourself. You are finally a blessed person." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 494 =====

Li Wan took Ping'er's hand and said: "Your mistress has indeed done something that breaks the deadlock; it is beneficial to both others and herself. You are, after all, a person of good fortune." (End of chapter)