Chapter 56: Entering the Game Deeply

Zheng Zheng Yingquan, the director of the Inquiry Court, looked refined and gentle on the outside, but his temper was calm and meticulous. Every question he asked Jia Cong could be heard to have been carefully considered beforehand.

Jia Cong said that the thief had a knife wound on his back. Because Jia Cong stated that he was a descendant of the Lady Rongguo Mansion, the thief had misgivings in his heart and did not harm him for a while, only wanting to use him as a protective talisman.

Later, the thief's knife wound flared up, and he lacked medicine, getting a fever from the wound and being on the verge of death. He originally wanted to kill Jia Cong to silence him, but Jia Cong took the opportunity to escape.

Zheng Zheng Yingquan's mind was meticulous. He asked about the location of the thief's knife wound, the symptoms of the fever, the place where they hid, and so on.

He even asked if they had encountered people from the Inquiry Court on the road, and even didn't let go of the details of how Jia Cong escaped.

If it had been someone else, they would have been asked for flaws long ago.

Fortunately, these questions were all in Jia Cong's assumptions. With the information explosion of his previous life, his insight in this area was naturally something Zheng Zheng Yingquan couldn't imagine.

Some descriptive details, he had even deliberated with Qu Qu Hongxiu on the way back to the city.

In the end, Zheng Zheng Yingquan gained nothing. When he left, he looked at Jia Cong with a complex expression, his eyes somewhat sinister.

He had only returned to the East Road Courtyard to smash everything in the room, and later went back to drinking with his concubine.

He had already made up his mind to close the door and study for this period of time. After his injuries healed, he would go to Qingshan Academy to study and avoid contact with the outside world, to avoid causing trouble.

Rushing back to Chunhua Tower and waiting for a long time, Guo Guo Zhigui brought He He Jizhen, saying that Zhou Zhou Xizhe had gone out to visit a friend and hadn't met him.

He said it was to thank them for visiting the mansion last time, so he specifically invited them to drink tea at Chunhua Tower. Because he was currently studying painting techniques, it just happened to be a chance to ask the two masters for advice.

Just on the day Jia Cong met the guests, Jia Mu had summoned Jia She and his wife to the Rongqing Hall and told them about placing Jia Cong in the West Mansion to recuperate.

Another day passed, and Aunt Zhao said that Wang Wang Shanbao's wife had invited Ma Ma Daopo to perform rituals in her room, taking away fifty taels of silver from Wang Wang Shanbao's wife.

The Old Lady had spoken, so Jia She, as a son, naturally had nothing to say. Besides, he had forced a maid to death and beaten his son; his words didn't carry much weight.

Guo Guo Zhigui left, and Jia Cong went to the house he rented alone, but didn't see Qu Qu Hongxiu, feeling somewhat disappointed.

Anyway, he had always disliked this son, and it was better that he didn't show up in front of him.

And made an appointment to come and perform rituals again in two days, guaranteeing that Wang Wang Shanbao's wife's disasters would be completely eliminated.

Jia Cong's maternal grandfather in his previous life was a master of mounting calligraphy and painting. Although his painting was not as profound as his calligraphy, he still had the insight, so he raised some painting technique questions to ask He He Jizhen for advice.

Jia Cong had finally relaxed a bit after dealing with the guests.

……

Jia Cong was a victim and a descendant of the Lady Rongguo Mansion. Although the Inquiry Court was powerful, in terms of propriety and law, they didn't dare to throw him into prison for interrogation.

Behind the Jia family stood the group of nobles of the Four Dukes and Eight Marquises, and the energy contained within was difficult to calculate.

To treat such a noble descendant without evidence, unless Zheng Zheng Yingquan didn't want his life.

Jia Cong mentioned a few words when Wu'er served him food. Wu'er was extremely intelligent. After she returned from the kitchen, Jia Cong knew the situation in the East Road Courtyard these past few days.

Jia Cong waited until his injuries were mostly healed, then let Guo Guo Zhigui drive him to the East City. Arriving at Chunhua Tower, he let Guo Guo Zhigui drive to invite He He Jizhen and Zhou Zhou Xizhe.

Xing Madam often closed the door and cursed, but she didn't dare to scold the Old Lady. At most, she would vent on the second branch, and after scolding a few times, she would stop.

Wu'er's mother managed the kitchen, where maids and old women came and went frequently, so the news was the most well-informed.

……

It scratched the itch of this He He Qingzhu, so he talked freely.

He He Qingzhu was different from the rigorous Zhou Zhou Xizhe. He had a somewhat playful style in the world. Although he was a well-read scholar, he wasn't trapped by official documents and often frequented the streets and alleys.

Therefore, he was well-informed and talked freely, even mentioning official anecdotes such as the old clan elder of the Clan Court retiring and the Emperor appointing Prince Prince Zhongshun as the new clan elder.

They gathered for nearly two hours before dispersing. He He Jizhen was in high spirits and even painted a picture of ink bamboo on the spot to give to him.

The next day, he let Guo Guo Zhigui drive him to Chunhua Tower again. This time, he still let him invite Zhou Zhou Xizhe.

After Guo Guo Zhigui left, he went to that small courtyard again, but saw Qu Qu Hongxiu wearing coarse cloth clothes, her hair wrapped in a printed floral cloth, sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard.

Her hands were slender, her posture graceful, and her hair strands fluttering, looking like a young woman in cloth clothes, not at all like a Hidden Sect assassin.

Jia Cong said happily: "You are really here!"

"I was just looking for a place to stay in the city. Your place is very quiet, so I came to stay for two days. It seems your injuries are mostly healed."

"I use this place for emergencies. You can stay as long as you want. I came to find you because I want to ask you to help me with something."

Qu Qu Hongxiu smiled: "Living in your courtyard and then ordering me around, you really don't suffer a loss..."

Leaving that small courtyard, he returned to Chunhua Tower. After waiting for only half a cup of tea, Guo Guo Zhigui invited Zhou Zhou Xizhe over. Jia Cong asked Zhou Zhou Xizhe for advice on painting techniques and sat for more than an hour before dispersing.

When Jia Cong returned to the Jia Fu, Wu'er stepped forward to help him take off his coat and said: "Just now, Sister Ping'er came over and said the Second Madam pointed out the vacant courtyard next to the Lixiang Courtyard for Third Brother to live in."

"The Second Grandmother has already ordered people to tidy it up, and the furniture and decorations are being prepared. In two days, Third Brother will move over."

The courtyard next to the Lixiang Courtyard—wasn't that where Xue Baochai's family lived when they first arrived at the Jia Mansion? It was just that according to the timeline, it was probably a year or two later.

Qingwen was high-spirited when she heard about moving to a new courtyard, saying that she knew that place. It was far from the Old Lady's Rongqing Hall, and even if it was noisy, no one would care.

Wu'er just smiled faintly and looked at Jia Cong's face. Seeing that he didn't show any abnormality, she felt somewhat aggrieved for Jia Cong in her heart.

She was meticulous, but she could tell that the Old Lady and the Madam had prejudices against the Third Brother; otherwise, they wouldn't have assigned him such a lonely place.

Ever since Wu'er came, Jia Cong's daily diet and life were all done by Wu'er. She had helped out by her mother's side since childhood and knew best about these refined things.

Qingwen was clever and nimble, doing things quickly, so she managed Jia Cong's clothing and needlework. Since there were these two maids in the room, Jia Cong lived much more delicately than before.

After dinner, the sky was completely dark. Jia Cong said to Wu'er and Qingwen: "Tonight, I want to close the door and study. You don't need to accompany me in the room; go to the side room to rest."

Qingwen hurriedly asked: "Then what if Third Brother wants tea? Don't you need someone to serve you?"

"Hmm, you brew the tea and put it on the table in the warm rattan; if I'm thirsty, I'll pour it myself."

Qingwen seemed somewhat disappointed. She hadn't been here for many days. Although the Third Brother didn't speak much, she felt that this master was different from others in the mansion, showing intimacy, and she liked to stick by his side.

"Wu'er, Third Brother's injuries haven't healed yet, so why study so hard? It's not like it can't wait a few days."

Wu'er rolled her eyes at Qingwen: "They all say Third Brother writes good calligraphy and can compose good poetry. These learnings don't fall from the sky; isn't it all from hard study?"

Qingwen jumped for joy: "I heard Miss Lin read Third Brother's poetry in the Rongqing Hall. Miss Lin is learned, and she also said Third Brother's poetry is written extremely well."

Wu'er asked curiously: "You heard the poetry Third Brother composed? Recite it for me to hear."

Qingwen wrinkled her little face: "I don't know how to read. Although I heard it, I forgot it as soon as I turned around."

Qingwen suddenly felt that it was quite shameful for a maid serving such a learned Third Brother not to know how to read. After moving to the courtyard, she must ask Third Brother to teach her how to read when he had time.

The two little maids were chattering away when they saw Jia Cong close the door of the main room, turn up the lamp, and sit down at the desk.

Qingwen hurriedly brewed hot tea and brought it in. When she came out, she felt bored, so she yawned and went into the side room next door.

Wu'er went out to fetch a basin of face-washing water and suddenly saw a black shadow flash in the courtyard, which gave her a fright. When she looked closely, there was nothing.

It was probably because her eyes were blurred just now. She shook her head and carried the basin into the room, but saw Qingwen sleeping on the bed without taking off her clothes.

Wu'er laughed: "Truly a heartless one, falling asleep as soon as she touches the bed."

She washed her face with warm water and suddenly felt sleepy. She swayed and walked toward the bed, but thought to herself that it was all because of this girl Qingwen, who had led her astray.

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(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 57 =====