Chapter 545: Secret Book Stirs Up Wind and Clouds

Rongguo Prefecture, East Wing Courtyard, Main Hall.

Madam Wang and Madam Xia saw Baoyu and Xia Gu Niang paying their respects to each other, and smiles appeared on their faces.

However, Madam Xia's smile was meaningful, while Madam Wang's smile had no doubts.

Baoyu saw Xia Gu Niang's bright eyes, like autumn water containing light, her eyes moist and soft, intentionally or unintentionally glancing at him, as if there was affection and yet as if there was none, which truly made people's hearts beat faster.

It made him unable to help but have a lot of wild thoughts...

The maids around Baoyu, like Sister Xi Ren and Bichen, were flattering and obedient to him, and even let him fool around at will, both having warm beds and playing like mandarin ducks in the water.

But it was limited to his own room; outside, Baoyu didn't dare to be presumptuous. Even if he teased Jin Chuan a few times, it would cause a huge disaster and he would be beaten half to death by Jia Zheng.

As for facing young ladies from outside, such as the estrangement of Lin Daiyu and the lightness of Xue Baochai, in the final analysis, none of them took him seriously.

Even if he took a fancy to Wu'er's beauty, he just used excuses to get close, wanting to say a few good words, but Wu'er also avoided him like a plague.

Therefore, in these years, the path had been distorted. In Baoyu's eyes, except for the maids in the room, most of the girls in the world were somewhat high and mighty, difficult to approach, which made him sigh with admiration.

It even made him feel that these gentle girls made of water and spirit should have left the world and been high and mighty; how could they be easily touched or reached by a "turbid creature" like him?

But this Xia Gu Niang in front of him was completely different from other outside young ladies.

Xia Gu Niang's charming and moving eyes did not have the coldness and disgust that Baoyu often suffered, but were a kind of scrutiny and curiosity, and even a trace of strange intimacy.

It made Baoyu feel joy and happiness in his heart, vaguely feeling that the estrangement and coldness he suffered from Sister Lin and Sister Bao could be compensated for by this Xia Gu Niang...

Baoyu sighed in his heart, Heaven truly pities him, not abandoning his romantic style, letting him see such a lovely girl. Thinking of these things, Baoyu's heart surged, and his face couldn't help but show a silly look again.

Fortunately, at this time, he noticed a scorching gaze from the side, which pulled Baoyu out of his silliness.

He subconsciously turned his head and collided with that person's gaze, and his heart shook slightly again.

He almost blurted out, "What a beautiful maid, she is not much worse than Wu'er and Qingwen by Jia Cong's side, and is a grade better than the maids in my own room."

She had been following Xia Gu Niang, so she must be Xia Gu Niang's personal maid. Truly, like master, like servant; she was also an outstanding figure.

This little maid didn't dare to look at people directly, often stealing glances at him with her big, watery eyes, which were full of affection. Baoyu was overjoyed in his heart; this one was even more sensible.

He just felt for a moment that this maid was even more lovely than the young lady.

He sighed in his heart, not knowing which lucky person would get this pair of outstanding people in the future...

Xia Gu Niang saw the changes in Baoyu's expression, surprised and happy for a while, sighing for a while, and acting silly for a while.

Just a moment ago, she felt that Baoyu had a good appearance, but now seeing his various strange states, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

This "Baoyu" was actually a fool; compared with that person in Jia's East Prefecture, he was worlds apart. However, it looked like he was like her mother, someone easy to fool...

……

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

The sun was about to rise to the center of the sky, and the warm spring sunlight shot into the study from the window lattice, warm and bright, illuminating everything in the room.

Jia Cong was leaning on the soft chair in front of the desk, carefully reading and pondering the notes he had excerpted.

Hearing Zhi Shao sat in the sunny spot under the south window of the study, holding an embroidery frame in her hand, using the boundary line method she had just learned from Qingwen to embroider a sleeping lotus with blooming flower buds.

She was wearing a snow-blue satin embroidered long jacket with a cross-collar; the fabric was exquisite, the tailoring was fine, and it was close to the shoulders and waist, reflecting the harmonious sunlight, setting off her graceful and undulating figure, making her look moving.

So much so that in the gaps of Jia Cong's reading, his gaze was often involuntarily attracted by Hearing Zhi Shao.

Zhen Ying Lian was sitting on the floor in front of the bookshelf, not knowing what miscellaneous book she was flipping through, with a coarse pottery jar beside her, filled with nuts and snacks, which she would put a few into her small mouth from time to time.

She was now at the age of growing up, and her small mouth was constantly moving. Her mother, Madam Feng, doted on her daughter and often sent some exquisite snacks.

When the sunlight in front of the desk became increasingly dazzling, Jia Cong stretched his waist and put down the book in his hand.

On the corridor outside the study, a small red clay stove was flashing with fire, emitting a sweet, soft, and glutinous smell, also mixed with a trace of good-smelling medicinal air.

Now that Wang Xifeng was pregnant and showing, she shouldn't be overworked daily, so the household chores in Ping'er and Wu'er's hands were more detailed and cumbersome than before.

Although Wu'er was busy in the West Prefecture during the day, as long as she had free time, she would return to the East Prefecture every morning to manage nourishing meals for Jia Cong, and only return to the West Prefecture after finishing the work.

When footsteps sounded in the hall, it was time for Jia Cong's daily lunch in the courtyard. Zhen Ying Lian was the first to sit up and run to the hall to help set the table.

……

After the maids in the courtyard sat full at a table, Jia Cong said to Wu'er, "Now that you are managing the house in the West Prefecture, things are complicated. You don't have to come back to work every morning; let Lingguan help you manage it."

Wu'er smiled and replied, "Although Second Grandmother has reduced her management these days, Ping'er and I are busier, but those household chores in the West Prefecture are not coming up every moment.

Generally, they are concentrated in two periods: morning and sunset. Every morning, the managing maids and old women from various places come to report on the execution of affairs from the previous day.

If there is a deviation, we need to make a decision, but if there is nothing, they will disperse, or receive new tasks for the day; before sunset, people from each room will also report the difficult problems of the day.

As for the warehouses, procurement, and collection in various places, there are special people in charge inside and outside the courtyard, and they are led by Lin Zhixiao's family, reporting accounts to Second Grandmother's courtyard every other day.

Therefore, on ordinary days, Ping'er and I are busier in the morning and sunset, and there is not much to do at other times.

Every day around noon, it happens to be free time, and the East and West Prefectures are just a few steps away. It's also idle for me to stay in Second Grandmother's courtyard.

It's better to come back to help Cong Sanye manage things, and I can be with the sisters, which is more lively than being alone in the West Prefecture."

……

In fact, Wu'er coming back and forth around noon every day was naturally because she couldn't let go of Jia Cong in her heart, and also because Baoyu often came to make trouble recently, and she felt annoyed, so she calculated the time to avoid him.

But she didn't mention this to Jia Cong, because this matter was not a big deal at the moment; Baoyu was just always pretentious and didn't dare to do anything.

And Wang Xifeng and Ping'er had already seen Baoyu's thoughts and would naturally help her block and resolve them. Now she was a person in Jia Cong's room, and even Grandmother Jia didn't dare to do anything.

But if she told Jia Cong about this, with his temper, he would definitely make trouble for Baoyu. Wu'er thought that Jia Cong had just inherited the title and was facing the spring examination, so she didn't want to cause trouble for him.

Jia Cong smiled, "Since you are not afraid of toil, then follow your own meaning, just be careful yourself and don't be too tired."

Wu'er smiled beautifully and replied, "Cong Sanye, please rest assured, I know the priorities myself, and I am just looking forward to Cong Sanye getting through this hard time early and winning the golden list early."

Once the topic of winning the golden list was mentioned, the atmosphere at the dinner table became enthusiastic.

Except for Qingwen, who was bought into the Jia family by Lai Mama, and Hearing Zhi Shao, who was said to be from the family of a convicted official and was also bought by Lai Da since she was a child.

Other maids were all born in the Rongguo Prefecture, and their families had lived in the Jia family for several generations. Thirty years ago, when Jia Jing passed the imperial examination, their parents hadn't even been born.

They had never seen the rare event of winning the golden list. Even Lingguan and Douguan grew up in Jiangnan and were from poor families, so their knowledge was even thinner.

A group of maids chattered and said many excited and curious words, and everyone felt honored that Cong Sanye would be decent and glorious again before long.

……

Jia Cong suddenly asked Wu'er, "Are Lin Zhixiao and his wife doing things properly daily? The old family servants in the Jia family in the past were very presumptuous. When the Lai family brothers were in charge, they did many evil things, burying many hidden dangers for the family.

Last year, the Wu Jinxiao brothers from Heiliaodong were dismissed for greed and baseness. We were originally from the East Prefecture, and the West Prefecture was not our territory.

Now that we are in charge, we can't let such things happen again. Doing things only asks for loyalty or treachery, right or wrong. Since we are newcomers, there is no need to worry about those old faces." Wu'er was naturally clever. Although Jia Cong didn't say it explicitly in advance, sending his trusted maid to the West Prefecture was not only to do things, but also to help him keep an eye on the people and things in the West Prefecture.

Wu'er said, "In the past few months I have been in the West Prefecture, I have also secretly paid attention. Lin Zhixiao and his wife had a good reputation in the mansion in the past, unlike the Lai family brothers.

Although they couldn't avoid some involvement when working under the Lai family brothers, Second Grandmother knows the ins and outs and says they have never actively done evil things, which can be considered to have some integrity.

Now that Cong Sanye is in charge, they have all seen Cong Sanye's methods and dare not have any improper or presumptuous actions.

I observe carefully every day and have walked around with Ping'er sister. Their accounts for various items are clear, and there are no omissions. Looking at their words and deeds, they are also people who have settled their minds.

There is another important point: their daughter Xiaohong was originally driven away by Second Madam, but Cong Sanye promoted Xiaohong to be a managing maid in the Rongxi Hall, which made this couple very convinced by Cong Sanye.

Second Grandmother said that although Lin Zhixiao's family are born servants, their family's incense is not very prosperous. The Lin family has been a single lineage for two generations, and Lin Zhixiao has only one daughter, Xiaohong.

Lin Zhixiao had a biological brother in his early years, but he died long ago, leaving behind a son, but that son is a mute, just arranged to be fed and raised.

Second Grandmother said that the Lin family's incense is actually broken. They are not like the Lai family, who have descendants everywhere, and they don't attach great importance to the inheritance of wealth, so their minds to do bad things are very light. Plus, Cong Sanye values and treats Xiaohong well, so they naturally work for Cong Sanye wholeheartedly."

After lunch, the two walked around the courtyard and continued to chat.

Jia Cong smiled, "That's good. At least there are two more people in the family who can be used. After this year, if Xiaohong does things effectively, I will promote her to the first rank, so that the couple can be more at ease.

Since their work can be trusted, let them do more trivial things in the future, so you can withdraw, so as not to be too tired."

Wu'er felt strange when she heard this. Does Cong Sanye not need me in the West Prefecture and want me to come back to serve? Jia Cong saw that Wu'er's eyes were a little confused and her expression was very cute, so he smiled, "Why, are you addicted to managing the house and really want to be a proper housekeeper in the West Prefecture? There is a long time to come, but I am reluctant."

Wu'er suddenly seemed to think of something, and a blush couldn't help but surge on her pretty face...

……

At this time, the old woman in the outer courtyard came in to pass the word, saying that the young master's young servant had handled the matter and was waiting to report to the young master.

Jia Cong's eyes lit up slightly when he heard this, so he went out of the inner courtyard alone and arrived at a side hall in the outer courtyard of the Count's Prefecture, seeing Jiang Liu waiting there.

"Cong Sanye, according to your instructions, I have already bought this thing."

Jiang Liu said, taking out a small package from his body, carefully opening it, and inside was a blue-covered booklet, about the thickness of dozens of pages of paper.

Jia Cong asked, "When you bought this thing, did you let anyone remember your origin?"

Jiang Liu said, "Cong Sanye, please rest assured. Cong Sanye said that this matter is not allowed to be spread, and I didn't come forward in person. I found several people in the market and turned it over several times before it reached my hands.

Now it is a bit chaotic outside, and candidates are going around looking for this thing, so no one can find me.

Moreover, this thing was bought on the black market, which is even harder to find traces of. I spent seventeen taels of silver to buy it, two of which were intermediary fees; this little booklet is actually worth fifteen taels of silver."

Jia Cong was also a little tongue-tied when he heard this; fifteen taels was enough for an ordinary family in the Love Shenjing to live a well-fed life for more than half a year.

Jiang Liu said, "When this little booklet first came out, it sold for ten taels a copy, which was already an astonishingly high price. A set of Four Books with double seals of pine ink from Hanwenxuan outside only costs ten taels a set.

Very few people bought it at first, but later, because more and more candidates wanted to buy it, those who bought it first privately reprinted and sold it for profit, and the price was speculated higher and higher.

I bought it for fifteen taels through the black market; now the market outside has been speculated to twenty taels a copy."

Jia Cong heard Jiang Liu's account, and his heart felt a little heavy. He heard a key point from Jiang Liu's words.

This booklet appeared in the market, and only a very small number of people bought it. Now it has become so swarming and tight, it is those who bought the booklet first who privately reprinted and resold it for huge profits.

That is to say, this little booklet sold for twenty taels a copy, and the speculation was so eye-catching, it looked like the work of those later people, and the originator was strangely downplayed...

Is this someone doing it on purpose, or is it a situation that appeared unintentionally?...

Jia Cong opened the little booklet with a complicated mood. It was densely written with names, roughly estimated to be nearly a hundred people.

The names listed at the beginning were all candidates for chief examiners for this year's spring examination, and some of the names were quite shocking.

Cabinet Grand Secretary Cai Xiang, Cabinet Grand Secretary Wang Shilun, Minister of Revenue Chen Mo, Minister of Works Li Dekang, Left Vice Minister of Revenue Xu Liangxiong, Right Vice Minister of Rites Huang Hongcang...

These people were all high officials of various ministries in the Love Shenjing, and they had a good reputation in the scholarly community because they were all pride of the examination field who entered the second tier in the past.

Even some of the names appeared in the Lingxing Pavilion of Qingshan Academy, making Jia Cong, a student of Qingshan Academy, very familiar with them.

These people all had the qualifications to become chief examiners for the spring examination of the 15th year of Emperor Jia Zhao. Only those in the officialdom would be familiar with their resumes and would accurately list them.

Except for these people who were qualified to become chief examiners, the other officials in the booklet were all small officials of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ranks of various ministries, and these people were all listed as subordinate officials for the spring examination.

Although the subordinate officials for the spring examination were not as prominent as the chief examiners, their role could not be ignored. They were generally engaged in examination supervision, practical handling, and even the heavy responsibility of initial screening and re-evaluation of papers for the spring examination.

The spring examination was the final act of the imperial court's grand ceremony of selecting talent, but anyone who could be selected as a subordinate official for the spring examination was not an ordinary person, and it was not surprising that there were Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua from previous years among them.

Moreover, for the officials listed in the booklet, each person's official position, age, hobbies, etc., had a concise description.

Some of the information was equivalent to personal privacy, which made Jia Cong feel secretly shocked. If all this was true, the person who wrote the booklet must have a very deep foundation.

The hundred or so people in the booklet were almost the most elite batch of people in the officialdom of the Love Shenjing.

Some of them had already reached the peak of officialdom, some were the backbone of various ministries, and some, although unknown at the moment, would mostly become leaders in the officialdom in the future.

In fact, before the metropolitan examination, the candidates' speculation about chief examiners and subordinate officials was also a matter of human nature and could not be considered an abnormal act.

It was just that someone deliberately made this list and finally spread it everywhere among the candidates, whether it was for curiosity or for huge profits, in the end, it had the suspicion of disturbing right and wrong.

Jia Cong took this booklet, returned to the inner courtyard from the outer courtyard, and walked alone in the garden for a long time, but couldn't think of any clues.

Finally, he returned to his study and stuffed the blue-covered little booklet into an inconspicuous place on the bookshelf.

……

Love Shenjing, Pushiyuan (Office of Investigation) Yamen, Office of the Court Affairs.

Zheng Yingquan, a Grade 5B official of the Pushiyuan, held a blue-covered booklet in his hand and walked hurriedly into the office of Zhou Junxing, the Court Affairs Officer.

He glanced at Zhou Junxing, who was flipping through official documents, and said, "Reporting to the Lord, the subordinate has already collected this booklet from the market, and the content is somewhat unusual.

It doesn't look like the work of people in the market. Yesterday, according to the Lord's instructions, I deployed several subordinates to visit the market secretly to investigate this matter, but no news has been sent back yet."

Since Zhou Junxing was transferred to the position of Court Affairs Officer of the Pushiyuan in the 10th year of Emperor Jia Zhao, he had remained motionless in this position for more than four years, which showed that his talent and performance were highly recognized by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

Since its establishment in the Hongxuan dynasty, the Pushiyuan had been an official office with a bad reputation, and Zhou Junxing, the head of the Pushiyuan, had an even worse reputation as a "cruel official" in the imperial court.

But this high official of the secret office, who made people talk about him with fear, was actually a person with an extraordinary appearance; he was nearly forty, with a thin face, upright features, and a beautiful short beard, looking dignified.

It was truly impossible to see a trace of the appearance of a treacherous and cruel official.

Zhou Junxing took the blue-covered booklet and just flipped through two pages casually, then frowned.

He said, "You should adjust those subordinates of yours; don't spend too much heart in the market. There are only small characters there, which are irrelevant to the overall situation.

Re-deploy capable personnel and focus on checking officials in the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, and other official offices who can often contact official resume documents.

Especially those retired officials, mainly those who live in the capital for retirement, and those who return to the outer provinces for retirement as secondary; check the near first and the far later, and don't let any of them go. There must be a result within seven days!" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 546 =====

In particular, for those officials who have already retired and settled in the capital for their twilight years, followed by those returning to their home provinces to retire, prioritize the nearby over the distant—do not let a single one slip by. You must have results within seven days!" (End of chapter)