Chapter 633

Earl's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Early in the morning, before the sky was fully bright, even though it was a day off, Jia Cong still got up early.

The room was filled with a faint scent of powder, the candlelight was still bright, and the shimmering yellow radiance swayed, illuminating Qingwen's fair and pretty eyebrows and eyes, making her look exceptionally delicate and moving.

She helped Jia Cong put on his clothes and fasten the buttons, then nimbly moved behind him, wrapped her hands around his waist to help him tie his jade belt, and then pressed him into a chair to begin untying his hair and combing it.

Jia Cong moved from the East Courtyard to the West Mansion at the age of ten, and Qingwen began following him to serve.

They had long been accustomed to such morning dressing and washing; they appeared very tacit, and as Qingwen's comb slid through, Jia Cong felt his scalp tingle, and he closed his eyes, appearing very comfortable.

Qingwen was the same age as Jia Cong, but she was a few months younger than him and not yet fully fifteen. However, girls grow quickly, and the half-grown girl had already blossomed into a graceful and slender figure, moving and charming.

She saw in the dressing mirror that Jia Cong's eyes were closed, his handsome face relaxed, and as she fussed over his head, he seemed to be enjoying it, which made her purse her lips and smile.

Qingwen casually tucked the comb into her own dark, shiny temple, applied slight pressure with both hands to bundle Jia Cong's hair, and then nimbly coiled it into a bun.

She pulled out the prepared jade hairpin from her own beautiful hair, inserted it horizontally into Jia Cong's bun, and smiled as she looked in the mirror a few times, only stopping when she felt satisfied.

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and Zhen Ying Lady Lian slipped in like a wisp of smoke.

Qingwen smiled and said, "Zhen Ying Lady Lian, Cong Sanye doesn't need to get up early to study anymore, yet you still get up so early. Be careful, if you don't get enough sleep, you won't be able to grow tall."

Because Qingwen was a year older than Zhen Ying Lady Lian, this always made her feel proud, especially in front of Jia Cong, where she would mention it from time to time.

Zhen Ying Lady Lian walked to Qingwen's side, unconvinced, and straightened her slender waist as if in a huff. Compared to Qingwen, she was already shoulder-to-shoulder tall, like a newly sprouted willow branch, very fresh and lovely.

She ignored Qingwen's teasing, grabbed Jia Cong's hand, and said, "Young Master, today is the fifteenth. You said today is the day the palace examination results are posted."

"I've grown so big and have never seen the golden list posted. Take me along when you go to check the results today, let me broaden my horizons. At worst, I'll just sit in the carriage and not show my face."

Qingwen's eyes lit up from the side, and she said, "How could I have forgotten this? Cong Sanye, take me to see the novelty too. Zhen Ying Lady Lian and I will just stay in the carriage and not come out."

Jia Cong looked at their excited expressions, both looking like they wanted to see something novel, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He said, "Originally, taking you to see the excitement would have been fine, but the results won't be posted today, so we'll have to change the day."

Among the girls around Jia Cong, Zhen Ying Lady Lian was the most literate and studied with Jia Cong in the study every day, so she had some knowledge.

She asked curiously, "Young Master, wasn't it agreed that the court would post the results on the fifteenth? Can the court just change its mind as it pleases?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "It's not that they are changing their minds as they please, it's just that some accidents occurred. In short, when the day comes for the results to be posted, I promise to take you to see the excitement."

At this moment, a light and playful voice came from the doorway: "Third Brother is taking people to see the excitement, such a good thing, why didn't you think of me?"

Jia Cong saw a graceful figure swaying at the doorway. Lin Daiyu was pursing her lips and smiling. Under the morning light, her fairy-like appearance and jade-like face, with her skirt fluttering in the wind, seemed real yet illusory, indescribably beautiful, with the maid Hearing Zi Juan following behind her.

However, although she was smiling, she only stood at the doorway and did not enter Jia Cong's bedroom, because Jia Cong had just washed and dressed in the morning and had not left the inner chamber, so she had to avoid suspicion to some extent.

Although she was intimate with Jia Cong, she was, after all, somewhat different from Qingwen, Zhen Ying Lady Lian, and the others who were Jia Cong's personal attendants.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister got up early today."

Lin Daiyu smiled slightly and said, "I felt sleepy last night and went to bed earlier than usual, so I got up early today. Knowing Third Brother is home for the holiday today, I came over to stroll around."

The two went to the main hall together, and Lin Daiyu asked, "Third Brother originally said the palace examination results would be posted on the fifteenth, why is it not anymore? Did the court issue a notice?"

Jia Cong replied, "I haven't seen a notice, but on the way back to the mansion yesterday, I encountered an unexpected event, so the results will definitely not be posted today."

Jia Cong told her about meeting Yang Yang Hongbin yesterday and the major fraud case that had erupted in the metropolitan examination.

Lin Daiyu was surprised when she heard this and asked, "How could such a thing suddenly happen, even implicating the third place on the examination list? Third Brother, you are the top candidate, with all eyes on you, will there be any hindrance?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Sister, don't worry. Ever since the old Marquis passed away last year, I have been in deep mourning and have stayed in the mansion."

"With the spring examination approaching this spring and candidates from all over arriving in the capital, Master Liu said the spring examination is the final stage of the imperial examinations and has always hidden risks, so he had me use deep mourning as an excuse to close my doors to guests and focus on my studies."

"So for these few months, I have almost never stepped out of the house. Except for people from the firearms workshop coming to the door on official business, I haven't seen any other guests."

"Many candidates arriving in the capital have visited out of admiration, but I have received their cards and declined, seeing none of them, and have never had the slightest entanglement. Even if they wanted to implicate me, they would have no way to start."

Lin Daiyu heard these words and, seeing Jia Cong's calm demeanor, stopped worrying about this matter and just found some other casual topics to talk about.

Yesterday, after learning from Yang Yang Hongbin that a fraud case had erupted in the metropolitan examination, Jia Cong also became vigilant.

If the metropolitan examination fraud case were handled by the Court of Judicial Review, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Wei Guanyao, and the Assistant Minister, Yang Yang Hongbin, were both upright officials who would surely handle the case impartially and also consider the overall situation and balance.

But having Zhou Zhou Junxing of the Investigation Office handle it was a different matter. This person rose to power through framing and cruel methods, and he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals; there were rumors about this throughout the court and the public.

Lin Zhaohe was the third place in the current metropolitan examination and one of the popular candidates to win the top spot in the world.

That Zhou Zhou Junxing would implicate such a person, who was under the gaze of all, into a fraud case, shows how ruthless and unscrupulous he is.

Although Jia Cong spoke lightly to Lin Daiyu, he himself had closed his doors to guests and studied for the past half year, having no contact with the current candidates and leaving no handle for anyone to grab.

But with the fraud case controlled by a person like Zhou Zhou Junxing, he could not be without precautions.

Years ago, Zhou Zhou Junxing's son, Zhou Zhou Zian, because of jealousy that Jia Cong had won the top spot in the provincial examination, had slandered and provoked scholars at the site where the provincial examination results were posted.

Many officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate submitted memorials to severely punish Zhou Zhou Zian, with the spearhead pointing directly at Zhou Zhou Junxing.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao also found it difficult to ignore public opinion and issued an imperial decree to strip Zhou Zhou Zian of his status as a student and forbid him from participating in the imperial examinations for three years.

Because of this, Jia Cong and Zhou Zhou Junxing formed a grudge. If Jia Cong were to make a mistake, Zhou Zhou Junxing would not be soft on him.

Over the past few years, Jia Cong had heard much about Zhou Zhou Junxing's past. At the beginning of the Emperor's reign, he had a special relationship with Zhou Zhou Junxing, but later, forced by the overall situation of the court, he was demoted to Dezhou for many years.

But five years ago, he was recalled to the Love Shenjing and entrusted with the important task of the Investigation Office.

A person like Zhou Zhou Junxing has a dark foundation and ruthless methods, and stands behind the current Son of Heaven; Jia Cong could not afford to be the slightest bit careless.

Even if he were a Grade 5 official, a Count, and the current top candidate, to Zhou Zhou Junxing, he would only be a fatter fish.

However, he was not afraid of Zhou Zhou Junxing causing trouble right now.

Yesterday, after the firearms workshop finished building the prototype of the rear-loading rifle, Jia Cong was going to submit a memorial to the palace today, which would surely be a great achievement.

No matter how Zhou Zhou Junxing acts, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao understands the weight and measure of things in his heart; naturally, evil spirits will retreat, and there will be no taboos...

Jia Cong and Lin Daiyu had just chatted for a while when Seeing Yingchun, Seeing Tan Chun, Shi Xiangyun, Xing Xing Xiuyan, and other sisters entered the courtyard.

Because they all knew today was the day the palace examination results were posted, they had originally come to wait for good news, but naturally, they had all made a wasted trip.

Jia Cong roughly explained the reason, and although the sisters were surprised, seeing Jia Cong calm and composed, they stopped worrying.

In their hearts, Jia Cong was the top candidate of the current examination, so he would surely become a Rank Jinshi; it was just a matter of waiting a few more days.

When the time reached mid-morning, Seeing Yingchun, Lin Daiyu, and the other sisters went to the Rongqing Hall in the West Mansion to pay their respects to Jia Mu, while Jia Cong took the memorial he had written early and went to the Meridian Gate to present it to the palace.

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Wang Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

On this day, the sky was slightly bright, and behind the pink-painted shadow wall, the windows of the three-bay hall were already brightly lit.

Maids and old women were carrying hot water, towels, breakfast, teacups, and other items, moving in and out of the corridor doors.

Because the fifteenth was the day the palace examination results were posted, Jia Cong would inevitably have the joy of success.

Although Wang Wang Xifeng was not feeling well, she still got up early to prepare for Liu Wuer and Ping'er to arrange the celebration in the mansion.

After mid-morning, Qingwen came to pass the word: "Cong Sanye has confirmed that the court will not post the results today, so Second Mistress doesn't need to be busy today."

Wang Wang Xifeng felt strange when she heard this, but since it was Jia Cong's meaning, it was naturally correct.

She heard from the old women under her that the Second Mistress and Bao Er Ye had entered through the West Corner Gate.

Wang Wang Xifeng thought that since Bao Yu's birthday banquet, he had become strange, suddenly breaking his head and staying in the East Courtyard, supposedly to study there.

Although Bao Yu had stayed in the East Courtyard for nearly a month, he had not returned to the West Mansion.

But to say he was studying, Wang Wang Xifeng felt it was a lie to fool ghosts; with his temperament, playing with little maids in the East Courtyard was more like it.

But early this morning, Lady Wang and Bao Yu suddenly came to the West Mansion, and Wang Wang Xifeng felt it was somewhat strange.

Now the West Mansion was the property of the First Branch, and Bao Yu living in the West Mansion for so long didn't look like anything.

Last time she cut off most of his maids and servants, and after the incident, he acted as if nothing had happened, still huddled there without moving. If it were said that Jia Mu loved him and couldn't bear to part with him, that could be a reason, but with her making such a fuss, her aunt didn't say a word, which really showed she could hold her temper.

Right now, this mother and son going to the Rongqing Hall early in the morning was likely because Jia Mu missed Bao Yu and specifically sent word to summon them. She feared Bao Yu would move back to cause trouble again, and Wang Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel a headache.

Lady Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Lady Wang brought Bao Yu into the hall; since yesterday, her mood had been mixed with joy and worry.

Since that day when Bao Yu was absurd in the Mengpo Study, he was broken in the head by his father, Jia Zheng, in a fit of anger.

Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were worried that the scandal would be exposed, so they used the name of Bao Yu studying to keep him in the East Courtyard for nearly a month.

During this nearly month-long period, the Xia family side was calm and peaceful. Jia Zheng and his wife had the same thoughts; the maid Bao Yu had played with didn't reveal the slightest flaw after returning to the mansion...

Although this barely managed to muddle through, keeping her was always a disaster. The marriage between Bao Yu and the Xia family girl had to be accomplished for the aftermath to be truly resolved.

But on the day Lady Wang proposed the marriage to the Xia family, a long time had passed, and there was still no news from the Xia family side.

!

Yesterday, the Xia family old woman sent a box of seasonal gifts. Lady Wang asked about the recent situation, and the woman said that the family business was busy recently, and the Mistress had gone to Tongxian to manage the business and would return in a few days.

Lady Wang couldn't get the point either. Whether the Xia family Mistress and the Xia girl would agree to this marriage, the woman who delivered the gifts didn't know, so Lady Wang naturally wouldn't talk much with her.

Besides, according to Lady Wang's idea, the Jia family was a noble Duke's family, and Bao Yu was the legitimate grandson of the Duke of Lady Rongguo.

She had already lowered herself to propose marriage to the Xia family, so she naturally waited for them to reply, and there was no reason to urge them.

Otherwise, it would be a great loss of face, and the Xia family would think Bao Yu had nowhere else to find a marriage and was counting on their Xia family girl.

That Xia family old woman also conveyed news on behalf of the Xia Mistress this time: the palace selection had ended, and the Jia family's eldest daughter was not selected this time.

The Xia family relatives had done their best, but it didn't work out. They also offended others in the palace for handling affairs for the Jia family girl and were assigned bad tasks, thus suffering and having bad luck.

Lady Wang had originally used all the private silver she could move because of the decline of the Second Branch, making a desperate gamble, just wanting to gain imperial favor for her eldest daughter so the Second Branch could turn things around.

She didn't expect that it would fall short of success, and without hearing any movement for ten thousand taels of silver, it just disappeared without a sound.

Even though Lady Wang came from a Jinling noble family and had been the mistress of the house for more than ten years, ten thousand taels of silver was still a large amount.

But the Xia family all said that the Xia family relatives who handled affairs for her had suffered because of this, so even if Lady Wang wanted to complain and question, she couldn't find a reason and couldn't speak up...

After the Xia family old woman left, Lady Wang felt uncomfortable and restless all day long.

It wasn't until Jia Zheng mentioned something after returning from the yamen that Lady Wang's depressed mood finally eased a little.

It was just that Lady Wang thought that her daughter had missed the selection period this year and had no chance to gain favor in the palace, so after ten years, she would have to be sent home.

If it were four or five years ago, her daughter would have been in her prime, and with her outstanding talent and appearance, she could have easily married into a noble family in the Love Shenjing to be the mistress.

But now that she was in her twenties, finding a decent marriage was already very difficult. She didn't expect that her pair of children would fall into such an awkward situation.

Tracing the root cause of this matter, if Jia Cong had agreed to use the public silver at the beginning and used the name of the Lady Rongguo Mansion to act, her daughter's matter would likely not have ended this way.

Thinking of these things, Lady Wang naturally felt another layer of jealousy toward Jia Cong.

Early this morning, she was still in a depressed mood when she encountered Jia Mu sending a personal old woman to the East Courtyard to summon Bao Yu to the West Mansion.

Lady Wang felt a new hope when she heard this.

Now, the matter of her daughter seeking favor was completely hopeless.

If she wanted the Second Branch not to lose more weight in the Lady Rongguo Mansion, her greatest reliance was Jia Mu's love for Bao Yu.

Therefore, when Jia Mu's old woman came to urge, Lady Wang hurriedly brought Bao Yu to the West Mansion.

Lady Wang entered the Rongqing Hall and, with a series of warm words, coaxed Jia Mu into joy, and also said that Bao Yu shouldn't just focus on studying but should be more filial to Jia Mu on behalf of the Master, which was the right thing to do.

Jia Mu was happy in her heart and spoke on the spot, letting Bao Yu move back to the West Mansion today so he could accompany her every day.

At this time, because Wang Wang Xifeng heard that Lady Wang and Bao Yu had entered the Rongqing Hall early in the morning, she came to pay her respects to Jia Mu, also intending to interrupt and stir things up.

It was just that as soon as she entered the hall, she heard Jia Mu and Lady Wang talking warmly, and Bao Yu was even sitting next to Jia Mu acting spoiled, so she knew she was a step late and it was too late to stir up trouble.

Jia Mu saw Wang Wang Xifeng and asked: "Feng Tan Yatou, I remember saying before that the fifteenth is the day the palace examination results are posted. Has Cong Ge'er gone to check the results?"

"He is the top candidate of the metropolitan examination, and he might even win the top spot in the palace examination. It looks like another happy event, so the family should prepare a little, lest it be as busy as a pot of porridge last time."

Wang Wang Xifeng didn't expect that Jia Mu, who had always been indifferent to Cong Cong Lao San's studies, would actually remember this today. It was truly a change of character, which was quite rare.

She was just about to tell Jia Mu that an accident had occurred today and the court would definitely postpone the posting of the results.

It was just that before Wang Wang Xifeng could open her mouth, Lady Wang spoke first: "Grandmother, regarding the posting of Cong Ge'er's palace examination results, the Master specifically mentioned it after returning from the yamen yesterday."

"During the morning court session yesterday, a censor impeached the metropolitan examination candidates for fraud, and even the chief examiner was implicated."

"His Majesty was furious and ordered the Investigation Office to thoroughly investigate the major fraud case. All day yesterday, the city was in an uproar, and many candidates on the list were thrown into prison."

"The court has already abolished the original palace examination list, and if this continues, I fear the metropolitan examination list won't be kept either. Who knows how many candidates have committed fraud."

"When the Master was studying in the past, there was no such absurd time. Now the hearts and minds of scholars have also gone bad."

"Originally, Cong Ge'er winning the top spot in the metropolitan examination was such a happy event, but it just happened to encounter such a twist."

"Now that he is the top candidate, he is truly a tall tree attracting the wind. If he is also implicated, that would be truly terrible..."

When Jia Mu heard this, her face changed, and she felt very uncomfortable in her heart. Wasn't it said that Cong Ge'er could still win the top spot? How did such a thing happen?

Bao Yu, who was on the side, felt somewhat cheerful when he heard Lady Wang's words. He wasn't gloating over Jia Cong's misfortune, but he had many feelings in his heart.

He had always viewed the sour scholars who read the sages' books as "moths of salary," and was often misunderstood by others. Now he knew that his high opinion was not wrong at all.

These scholars always talk about the sages' teachings, but in private, they do such filthy and shameless things, and they still falsely claim to be disciples of the name and teachings. They are not even as good as the vulgar peddlers and pawns.

I will never be such a person. Even if the Master forces me to study, out of filial piety, I have to pretend to comply, but I must never lose this noble heart...

If Sister Lin and the other sisters in the family also understood this uninhibited spirit of mine, how good that would be...

Not mentioning Bao Yu secretly intoxicated, Wang Wang Xifeng spat hard in her heart when she heard Lady Wang's words, thinking that her aunt didn't hope for anything good, and this mind was also dark enough.

Now the Lady Rongguo Mansion was the property of the First Branch, and Jia Cong was the pillar of the First Branch, so Wang Wang Xifeng naturally wanted to protect him with all her might.

Moreover, after these years, Wang Wang Xifeng originally felt that Jia Cong had a hard fate, but now it seems that he is definitely a person of noble fate, immune to all poisons...

Although Qingwen came to pass the word in the morning that the palace examination results would not be posted today, she didn't mention the fraud, but Wang Wang Xifeng never lost in a battle of words.

She smiled and said: "Regarding the fraud, Brother Cong said early in the morning that with so many scholars in the world, it is inevitable that one or two will not live up to expectations, and it is not a big deal."

"Second Mistress should also think about it. Brother Cong was the top candidate in the academy and provincial examinations. I heard people say long ago that as long as the top candidate of the provincial examination doesn't hand in a blank paper in the spring examination, a Rank Jinshi is guaranteed."

"Brother Cong's ability to study is famous throughout the world. If others go to cheat in the examination, does he need to do such a thing? People would laugh their teeth off if they heard that."

"If someone really wants to use fraud to implicate him, that would be even better. Second Mistress doesn't need to worry."

Lady Wang heard Wang Wang Xifeng's words were thorny, praising that boy from the East Mansion to the sky, and mocking her own words in secret, and that "Second Mistress" every time she spoke was even more infuriating!

This was reminding her that she was the mistress of the Second Branch and shouldn't point fingers at people from the First Branch...

Jia Mu felt strange and asked: "Feng Tan Yatou, your words sound rare. How can someone implicating and framing him be a good thing?"

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Actually, Brother Cong hasn't seen this kind of thing before. Does Grandmother still remember that year when Brother Cong won the top spot in the academy examination? It won enough face for the Lady Rongguo Mansion."

"But a scholar had a crooked mind and, jealous that Brother Cong won the top spot, reported Brother Cong to the Ministry of Rites, saying he was not worthy of being the top candidate."

"As a result, Brother Cong was fine, but because that scholar slandered others, his status was stripped by the court, and I don't know where he is digging for food now."

"Second Mistress, I heard that the scholar was a student raised by the Second Aunt's family. Too much time has passed, I don't know if I remembered it wrong?"

When Jia Mu heard this, she remembered that stupid woman from Wang Wang Ziteng's family and that old matter from the early years. Now, thinking of it, she still felt angry, and even felt a bit of resentment toward her daughter-in-law.

Lady Wang's face changed greatly when she heard Wang Wang Xifeng's words, not because Wang Wang Xifeng mentioned her sister-in-law, but because she thought of the root of this matter...

Wang Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Grandmother, think about the things over the years. I have never seen a noble fate like Brother Cong's. There have been no shortage of people trying to harm him over the years."

"But every time those who wanted to harm him ended up with no good end. If there are still people who don't have eyes, the family doesn't need to worry, just wait and watch a good show..." (End of chapter)