Chapter 557: How Precious is the Imperial Heir

Shenjing, Qingyu Ward, Xia Mansion.

Hearing that Wang Fei Zhao had suddenly passed away, Lady Xia felt a surge of shock and uncertainty.

Lady Xia had some dealings with Wang Fei Zhao and knew that the Wang Fei was born into the Zhang family of Jiangling, a prominent family of the Great Zhou, and was the legitimate eldest daughter of the main branch, a family of quite noble and pure status.

Wang Fei Zhao was only in her twenties this year, in the prime of her vitality. A few days ago, she only heard that the Wang Fei's brother had lost his life, and because the Wang Fei was grieving, she had been unwell.

But it was by no means a critical illness. As the primary wife of the eldest imperial prince, the Wang Fei had a noble status, and whenever her health was unstable, there were naturally skilled imperial physicians to diagnose and serve her, so it was not considered a matter at all.

Lady Xia never expected that Wang Fei Zhao would pass away because of this minor, nameless ailment. Thinking that she and her brother were actually so close, she could not help but feel surprised and sigh...

The Xia family of the Osmanthus was a great imperial merchant family that had been hanging on to the Ministry of Revenue for two generations. When Xia Gu Niang's father was alive, he was a person who could dance with long sleeves.

Relying on the gold and silver wealth in his hands, he established friendships with some princes and nobles of the current dynasty, using the Xia family's business platform to wash gold and silver for those powerful people, generating profit and accumulation.

And after the old master of the Xia family passed away, these powerful people who had befriended him continued to use the Xia family's business stalls to secretly earn gold and silver profits, while also providing the Xia family with necessary protection.

This was also an important invisible reason why the Xia family's business stood firm even after the old master passed away, leaving only orphans and widows.

When Li Zhongmao, Zhao Wang, first emerged, he was befriended by the old master of the Xia family through roundabout ways. Over these years, quite a lot of the Zhao Wang Mansion's idle gold and silver had been placed in the Xia family's business to generate profit.

In the past, these gold and silver interest dealings were settled by Lady Xia and Wang Fei Zhao's confidante nanny, so Lady Xia and Wang Fei Zhao had quite a bit of friendship.

Now hearing that she had suddenly passed away, the Xia mother and daughter were naturally very surprised. It was not that the friendship between the two sides was so deep; what they first thought of was the gold and silver dealings with the Zhao Wang Mansion.

After Wang Fei Zhao passed away, how should the huge wealth of the Zhao Wang Mansion placed in the Xia family be settled and operated subsequently?

Although Lady Xia was a merchant woman, she was a woman with quite a bit of means and scheming. She knew very well that the most important of the connections left by her old master was Li Zhongmao, Zhao Wang.

Zhao Wang was the eldest son of the current Emperor, excelling in both literature and martial arts, having made repeated military achievements, and having quite a reputation both inside and outside the court. Everyone said he was the person who would take over the throne in the future.

The Xia family was able to establish a bond with such an imperial prince when he was in his potential residence. Once Zhao Wang ascended the throne in the future, the Xia family would definitely rise to the heavens. What kind of glory and decency that would be.

Although the Xia family had lost their heirs, they still had an only beloved daughter. In the future, even if it were a grandson, it would still be the Xia family's close bloodline, which could also inherit the Xia family's industry.

It would be with the protection of the new Emperor that her daughter and her bloodline would definitely be able to continue their wealth for several generations.

Therefore, Lady Xia had always been quite attentive to maintaining the bond with Zhao Wang.

Even if the harvest was not good that year, Lady Xia would definitely not let the Zhao Wang Mansion suffer a loss, even if she had to subsidize the gold and silver herself, so as to accumulate more incense fire feelings.

Now that Wang Fei Zhao had suddenly passed away, the gold and silver dealings between the Zhao Wang Mansion and the Xia family would inevitably have some discrepancies and changes.

Lady Xia was naturally extra cautious about this, and she must not let the Xia family lose this heaven-sent connection at this juncture.

Lady Xia said to Mother Chen, "Tomorrow morning, you prepare a set of top-quality sacrificial items and prepare the carriage and horses. I want to go to the Zhao Wang Mansion to mourn."

She said to Xia Gu Niang, "Daughter, once Wang Fei Zhao passes away, some of the family's business will probably be busy for a while, and things will definitely increase.

The things Mother said just now were all carefully calculated for you, and they definitely won't be wrong for you. You think about it carefully yourself.

Now this matter is just our family's own thoughts; Lady Jia probably doesn't have this idea yet. As long as you make up your mind, Mother will definitely find a way to help you handle it..."

Great Zhou Palace, Qianyang Palace.

The night was dark, and every distance in the main hall was placed with a high-hanging bright tile palace lamp, dispelling the deep darkness in the hall.

On both sides of the imperial desk were two wide bronze candlesticks, filled with bright palace candles, illuminating the area around the imperial desk like daylight.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was reviewing the memorials piled up on the imperial desk. Almost every night, he would work until the Hai hour before the eunuchs reminded him to rest.

The whole main hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. One could clearly hear the extremely slight friction sound of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's vermilion pen writing rapidly on the memorial, mixed with the Emperor's few coughs.

The deputy director of the eunuchs, Guo Lin, hurried into the hall, his thin and hunched figure leaving a distorted dark shadow on the gold bricks of the main hall.

He walked to the imperial desk and bowed, saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, news from outside the palace: two hours ago, Wang Fei Zhao passed away in the Wang Fu."

Hearing this, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's face changed slightly, and he asked urgently, "I did not hear that her illness was critical. How could she suddenly be gone? Are these people in the Imperial Hospital just for show!"

Ever since Jia Cong cracked the major case of the Guard Army in Jinling, one of the main culprits, Zhang Kangnian, had conclusive evidence of his crimes and died an unnatural death.

And Zhang Kangnian was the legitimate cousin of Wang Fei Zhao, a proper relative by marriage of Zhao Wang, with a close relationship, and was recommended by Zhao Wang to be an official in Jiangnan.

Because Zhang Kangnian was a third-rank Jinshi, a few years ago, he caught up with the sudden death of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital. Through Zhao Wang's connections, Zhang Kangnian's military position was transferred to a civil position, climbing to a high position in the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital.

If Zhang Kangnian's official career change hadn't been too dazzling, it wouldn't have made Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao feel deep doubts about the eldest imperial prince he had always esteemed after the Jinling Guard Army major case was cracked.

Zhao Wang had twice submitted memorials to plead guilty and defend himself because of this matter, saying that he had recommended the wrong person and had the crime of negligence, but that Zhang Kangnian had acted illegally in the auxiliary capital, which he knew nothing about, and it had nothing to do with the Zhao Wang Mansion.

At that juncture, if Zhao Wang hadn't submitted a memorial to defend himself, he wouldn't have been able to pass the hurdle at all. But by submitting a memorial to defend himself, could he really clear himself completely?

If it weren't for Zhao Wang's recommendation, Zhang Kangnian wouldn't have been able to hold an important position in the Jinling Guard Army, let alone have a glorious official career, transferring from civil to military.

If he didn't have these high official positions as a backing, he wouldn't have been able to commit such a monstrous crime.

Even if Zhao Wang submitted a memorial to defend himself and appeared heartbroken, it was just like yellow mud falling into his pants—if it wasn't shit, it was shit.

After the Zhang Kangnian incident broke out, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao used the Zhongche Office and the Tui Shi Yuan to quietly comb through the officials and connections recommended by Zhao Wang, as well as the potential generals in the army.

But he didn't touch the children of the Jiangling Zhang family in Shenjing. These people were the same-generation brothers of Wang Fei Zhao. Some were small and medium-sized officials in the capital's government offices, and some were doing business in Shenjing.

Perhaps the Emperor felt that the Zhang Kangnian matter had been pointed out, and it was not appropriate to involve too many people. Wang Fei Zhao was the primary wife of the eldest imperial prince and also the daughter-in-law he had agreed to at the beginning, so he left some face.

But Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao didn't expect that he didn't touch the Zhang family's children in the capital, but Zhao Wang Li Zhongmao, in order to avoid suspicion, used various means in a very short time to force these Zhang family children out of Shenjing.

All means were soft and hard, forcing those who were officials to be transferred to remote states, and those who were doing business to end their business and move out of the capital, as if he were in a hurry to distance himself from the Jiangling Zhang family.

Zhao Wang Li Zhongmao's move didn't win Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's favor, but instead made him feel a trace of disappointment in his eldest son.

His son was such a decisive person; once his wife's family had a change, he started this kind of tail-cutting survival method...

When Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao chose a wife for his eldest son, he didn't choose from high officials and nobles, but chose the legitimate eldest daughter of the Jiangling Zhang family as the primary wife of the eldest imperial prince. Among them, the Emperor had long-term considerations.

The Jiangling Zhang family was a prominent family with a heritage of five hundred years. In the former Song Dynasty, it was a famous family. Several people in the clan had reached the peak of officialdom in the former Song Dynasty, and their family glory was extraordinary.

Since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Zhang family had lived in the ancestral land of Jiangling, always passing down poetry and books, and their style and behavior were very peaceful.

Although the Zhang family children had been studying for generations, the Zhang family's literary spirit was not outstanding, unlike the Liu family, which produced seven Jinshi in one family.

The Zhang family children, each generation or every other generation, would produce one or two third-rank talents to enter the court as officials, keeping the Zhang family's poetry and official status from declining.

And since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Zhang family hadn't produced any high officials above the second rank, which could be considered a noble family that didn't show its face.

Such a family with outstanding reputation but simple official entanglements was undoubtedly very pleasing to the Emperor's eyes.

Choosing the legitimate eldest daughter of the Zhang family as the primary wife of the eldest son not only matched their status, but in the future, when the eldest son inherited the throne, the Zhang family woman would be the mother of the world, and there would be no worries about the power of the maternal relatives.

From this point of view, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao indeed had deep expectations for his eldest son, who had extraordinary talents, and had planned for him far and wide...

But no one expected that after the Zhang woman had been Wang Fei Zhao for only a few years, the legitimate branch of the Jiangling Zhang family produced outstanding children.

Wang Fei Zhao's cousin, Zhang Kangnian, with Zhao Wang's support, was only in his thirties and had already reached the high position of the third-rank Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital.

Now it was just like this; it could only be said that Zhang Kangnian also had talent, and that was it.

What was even more unexpected was that Marquis Weiyuan Jia Cong went south to Jinling twice, and with a series of punches and kicks, he exposed a major case that had plagued Jinling for a long time.

Zhang Kangnian used his seniority in the Jiangnan officialdom to collude with Du Hengxin, the Regional Military Commissioner of Jinling, to control the military power of the Jinling Guard Army and caused great harm in the auxiliary capital of Jinling.

This single incident touched the sensitive nerves in Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's heart...

From that time on, the movements of the Zhao Wang Mansion became a routine record in the secret documents of the Zhongche Office. Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao naturally knew that shortly after the Jinling incident broke out, Wang Fei Zhao was bedridden.

Guo Lin replied, "News from outside the palace: I have already retrieved the medical records of the Imperial Hospital. Last year, Li Chengming of the Imperial Hospital once entered the Zhao Wang Mansion to diagnose the illness for the Wang Fu.

According to Li Chengming's medical record, Wang Fei Zhao was only grieving, which led to the invasion of external evil. It was just a very ordinary illness, not a critical or urgent one.

Li Chengming also prescribed a prescription for nourishing qi and calming the spirit. After the year, Li Chengming entered the Zhao Wang Mansion twice. According to the medical record, the Wang Fei's illness was the same, and there was no sudden change, and the medication was the same as usual."

Guo Lin paused slightly here and said, "According to the medical record of the Imperial Hospital, Li Mingcheng entered the Zhao Wang Mansion for the last time half a month ago, when the Wang Fei's condition was as usual.

After that, the Zhao Wang Mansion did not invite Li Mingcheng to the mansion for diagnosis again. According to common sense, the Wang Fei's illness was just a heart disease, not a major illness. Since no imperial physician was summoned, it was mostly likely that she had already recovered. But I didn't expect that she would suddenly pass away..."

After Guo Lin finished speaking, he presented the secret document of the Zhongche Office recording this matter and the two medical records he had used to the imperial desk with both hands.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao flipped through it a few times and threw it on the imperial desk. A cold snort containing mockery came from his mouth, and the sound echoed in the empty main hall, covering the quiet night with a trace of gloom.

He really did not expect that his son would have such a resolute and calculating mind, in order to protect himself and for the sake of the future throne.

Once something happened, everything could be abandoned. Today it was the Zhang family children, and even his own hair-tied wife. Tomorrow, would it be himself, this father Emperor!...

Guo Lin, who was bowing before the imperial desk, understood the Emperor's actions and nature best. This deep and cold snort seemed to contain unpredictable danger, making the hair on his back stand up.

Guo Lin had spent almost his whole life in the palace, so he naturally understood imperial matters very well.

As long as it involved the risk and entanglement of imperial power, even if there was the kindness of father and son for many years, it would become as cold as iron overnight, and the kindness of relatives would be overturned, becoming like enemies.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said coldly, "I didn't expect that this son of mine was such a formidable person. I didn't know it before; I really underestimated him!"

Guo Lin gathered his courage and said, "Your Majesty, although there are doubts about this matter, there is no solid evidence. Should I summon Li Mingcheng of the Imperial Hospital to the hall to ask clearly?"

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao looked exhausted and said, "There is no need for this. Li Mingcheng is the head of the Imperial Hospital and has superb medical skills. How could he have misdiagnosed Wang Fei Zhao's minor illness?

Asking him to come and inquire would only expose his own ugliness. What is the point of this? No matter what the truth is, now that the person is gone, is there any need to pursue it!"

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao thought for a while and said, "On the seventh day, someone must be sent to the Zhao Wang Mansion to mourn the Wang Fei."

Guo Lin was shocked when he heard this. Wang Fei Zhao passed away, and the Emperor actually wanted to send someone to mourn the Wang Fei. This courtesy was no small matter.

Although it was not explicitly stated that it was on behalf of the Emperor to mourn, for someone in the palace to openly mourn a princess.

Anyone with a discerning eye would see that it was the Emperor's instruction, and it was also the Emperor showing his attitude to the world.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao seemed to see Guo Lin's confusion and said, "The Jiangling Zhang family is a prominent family of the Great Zhou, with quite a reputation and influence in Jiangnan, and has a name for virtue among the scholars and people.

The legitimate son of the Zhang family just committed a major crime and died an unnatural death. The eldest daughter of the Zhang family, who was the primary wife of Zhao Wang, also died abruptly. It inevitably makes people suspicious. I don't want the royal family to be splashed with dirty water.

If this matter was really done by him, he did a stupid thing..."

After Guo Lin left the main hall to handle the matter, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao sat alone on the throne, looking at the memorials piled up on the desk, and a heavy sense of exhaustion surged in his heart.

The eldest son, whom he had regarded as the successor to the throne in the past, turned out to be such a person. His desire for this throne was so scorching.

In order to keep the future throne, he didn't even hesitate to take action against the person who shared his bed. Was his heart really that ruthless?

Even if he possessed the ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains, the successors were all such short-sighted and foolish people. It was truly disappointing...

Ningrong Street, Marquis's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Before dawn, Jia Cong got up early. Liu Wuer had already prepared the bathtub with hot water, served him to bathe and cleanse his body, and helped him comb and tie his hair.

Zhi Shao took a new azure plain robe made by Qingwen, helped him put it on and arrange it neatly, looked at it from front to back, and only then did she stop when she felt it was appropriate.

Liu Wuer, while helping Jia Cong comb his hair, said, "Cong Sanye, yesterday I heard the nannies who went out to buy things in the Western Mansion say that for the past two days, Wang Fei Zhao passed away, and the news is spreading fiercely in the city.

They also said... they also said that Wang Fei Zhao's death has something to do with Cong Sanye. If things are really like this, and Cong Sanye still goes to mourn, will Zhao Wang... In my opinion, it's better not to go.

If the men of the Jia family go, it's fine. Either the Second Master or Baoyu will do. Why must Cong Sanye go personally?"

Jia Cong said, "In the past, it could be like this, but now it's not possible. Right now, I have inherited the Rongguo hereditary title and am the head of the Rongguo Mansion.

Wang Fei Zhao passed away. High officials and nobles in the court, the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, will all send people to mourn. If the Jia family only lets the old master or Baoyu show up, and I, the head of the family, am lazy, it would be too disrespectful. After all, Zhao Wang has a princely title, and I am of the same generation as him, and we know each other.

The precious sword in the study was a gift from Zhao Wang. Publicly and privately, I must go to mourn, otherwise it would be too arrogant."

Zhi Shao on the side asked curiously, "Cong Sanye and Wang Fei Zhao have no connection, so how can the Wang Fei's passing involve our Cong Sanye?"

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "Since Liu Wuer said so, I can probably guess what the talk outside is. It's nothing more than me cracking the major case in Jinling, and Wang Fei Zhao's brother was caught and died because of it.

Wang Fei Zhao died of excessive grief because of her brother's death. But this matter sounds very unreasonable. Even if the Wang Fei was sad about her brother's death, she wouldn't have lost her life because of it.

Even if she died because of this, it's hard to relate it to me. I went to Jinling to handle the case by imperial decree, and the Wang Fei's brother committed a crime against the national law and needed to be punished according to the law. This is the heavenly principle and the righteous path."

Jia Cong pinched Liu Wuer's little hand and laughed, "So you don't have to worry blindly. After all, Zhao Wang is a dignified imperial prince. How could he not know the weight of this national etiquette?

I'm just going to pay my respects; it's not a big deal. I'll be back in a moment."

Liu Wuer had been managing household chores in the Western Mansion for the past two days and had heard too much idle talk from those nannies, and it involved big figures like the Prince and Wang Fei, so she was afraid that her Cong Sanye would suffer a loss.

Hearing Jia Cong's explanation, she felt relieved. After helping Jia Cong arrange his clothes and appearance, the few of them ate breakfast together again and watched Jia Cong leave the inner courtyard.

Shenjing North City, Yulong Street, Zhao Wang Mansion.

Jia Cong sat in the carriage and entered Yulong Street. White banners were flying at the entrance of the Zhao Wang Mansion, white lanterns were hung high, and the Prince's personal guards were lined up at the entrance of the Wang Fu to guard, with white mourning bands tied to their clothes, weapons, and sword hilts.

The open space in front of the Wang Fu was already full of carriages and horses from various families, and the entrance of the Wang Fu was crowded with people, with all kinds of people coming in and out.

There were imperial nobles wearing python robes, noble ladies sitting in sedan chairs entering the corner door, and many officials wearing official uniforms.

Today, Wang Fei Zhao passed away, and Zhao Wang is the eldest imperial prince. According to the regulations and etiquette, high officials above the fourth rank in the court will all come to mourn.

Among the royal family, princes, princesses, and imperial sons-in-law of the same generation will also come to mourn in person.

Although senior princes will not come in person, they will also send their heirs or legitimate sons to the mansion to pay their respects on their behalf.

Jia Cong submitted his name card at the entrance. The family member who received it looked at the name card, and his expression changed slightly.

This made Jia Cong feel a bit strange. Could it be that Liu Wuer was right, and the Wang Fu was angry at him because of the Wang Fei's death, and after seeing his name card, they were preparing to treat him differently...

Fortunately, after the family member looked at the name card, although his expression changed, the etiquette was not discounted. While asking someone to go in and report, he politely invited Jia Cong into the mansion.

Jia Cong entered the Wang Fu and saw many familiar faces in the crowd.

Prince Beijing Shui Rong, Duke of Zhenguo and First-Class Count Niu Jizong, Duke of Liguo and First-Class Viscount Liu Fang, etc., and old nobles of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes like Chen Ruiwen, grandson of the Duke of Qiguo.

Another person was wearing a moon-white five-dragon robe, wearing a hair-pin silver-winged prince hat, standing tall and straight, with a noble bearing. Seeing Jia Cong arrive, his eyes were very kind and gentle.

This person was Li Zhongrui, the second son of the current Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who had worked with Jia Cong in Jinling.

Jia Cong and Shui Rong and others greeted each other one by one. Prince Ning smiled and said, "Working with Jia Yuzhang in Jinling back then, thinking about it now, it feels like yesterday.

Jia Yuzhang went to Jinling again, but this Prince couldn't happen to be there, which is a bit of a pity. I heard Jia Yuzhang was busy with the spring exam. After the imperial exam, please come to my humble mansion to discuss the old feelings."

Prince Ning had less heroic sharpness than Zhao Wang, but he had more kindness and approachability, without any princely arrogance.

He and Jia Cong were old acquaintances from Jinling, and their words were closer, but the two of them met in Jinling while investigating the major case of the Water Supervision Department, so it was not easy to talk too much about this old feeling now.

Because the major case of the Water Supervision Department back then and the major case of the Jinling Guard Army last year were matters of the same lineage, and the later incident led to Zhang Kangnian being punished, which led to today's funeral in the Wang Fu.

Jia Cong and Li Zhongrui were not in a good position to talk much about this matter at this juncture...

The few were chatting together when suddenly a servant of the Wang Fu led Zhao Wang over. Everyone was a little strange, because Prince Ning and others had already greeted Zhao Wang when they arrived at the mansion.

This time it was specifically for Jia Cong. Prince Ning, Prince Beijing, and others present all felt a bit strange, because the cause of Wang Fei Zhao's death had already spread.

Tracing the source, it had something to do with Jia Cong...

Zhao Wang walked to Jia Cong and clasped his fists in greeting. Although his face was a bit pale, his spirit was clear, his eyes were gentle, and there was no strangeness. Facing Jia Cong, there was no resentment.

He said warmly, "This Prince heard that Jia Yuzhang is about to take the spring exam and has always been reading behind closed doors. Today you took time out of your busy schedule to come to the mansion to mourn; this Prince appreciates your high righteousness."

Seeing his warm words and the sincere and peaceful gratitude in his words, without any pretense, Jia Cong felt a bit solemn in his heart.

He hurriedly replied, "Your Highness is too polite. The Wang Fei's passing is heartbreaking. Please, Your Highness, restrain your grief."

Prince Ning Li Zhongrui, First-Class Count Niu Jizong, and others on the side who were close to or familiar with Jia Cong, seeing Zhao Wang and Jia Cong greeting each other, their words were smooth and there was no strangeness, all breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, a servant hurried over from the mansion entrance and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, someone from outside reported that someone from Qianyang Palace has come to mourn the Wang Fei!"

Zhao Wang's face changed slightly when he heard this, and he said, "Hurry and take me to the mansion entrance to welcome them!"

Prince Ning and others on the side heard that it was someone from Qianyang Palace, and they all tasted that it must be the Emperor's intention, so they didn't dare to be negligent or rude, and followed Zhao Wang to the mansion entrance to welcome the visitors. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 558 =====