Chapter 65: The Imperial Clan

Ever since settling down in the Qingzhi Study and having Qingwen apply the medicine again, the wounds on Jia Cong's back were completely healed.

Qu Hongxiu's medicinal ointment was truly miraculous; after only four or five applications, not even a trace of a scar remained.

This time, dealing with Wang Shanbao's wife was thanks to Qu Hongxiu's help; relying on himself alone, it would have been absolutely impossible.

He did not know if she was still living in that small courtyard in the West City. He had intended to go see her, but he restrained himself and did not go.

Last time, when his wounds were not fully healed, he had Guo Zhigui drive him to the Chunhua Pavilion, using He Jizhen and Zhou Xizhe as cover, to meet Qu Hongxiu halfway.

Guo Zhigui had a simple and honest personality and would not harbor suspicions about this, and he himself believed he would not let anyone see any flaws.

But now, the matter of Wang Shanbao's wife had not truly ended, and he had to be cautious.

Last time, when Liu Bi came to see him, he had said he would go back and help him postpone the time for entering the Qingshan Academy to study, but this time would not be very long.

Without the persecution and obstruction of that couple in the East Road Courtyard, and now having obtained a quiet place like the Qingzhi Study, Jia Cong finally focused his energy on reading.

He could then build a high-level understanding and analysis of human life and all things upon the foundation of the Great Dao he had comprehended from the Four Books.

Fortunately, he had memorized quite a bit, and combined with his work in cultural and historical units like the Provincial Museum in his previous life, he had many contacts and accumulations in Sinology that allowed him to draw inferences about other cases.

After studying the "Great Learning," he then studied the "Analects" and "Mencius," allowing him to experience the delicate and subtle academic threads within them.

After mastering the Four Books and Five Classics, one could participate in the child examinations to obtain the status of a Scholar. After the Scholar status came the Provincial Graduate, and then the Metropolitan Graduate. It is said that ten years of cold-window study is not an exaggeration for ordinary people.

Although he could escape temporary distress by relying on these schemes and tricks, to establish a long-term footing, given his current situation, there was only one path: to study and enter officialdom.

At this time, Jia Cong began to study the "Great Learning," which he viewed as his foundation.

His own starting point was actually not low.

It sounded like he had read half of the Four Books, but for a young child of this age, reading was limited to rote memorization, recognizing thousands of common characters; this was considered qualified.

Only by finally mastering and integrating them could one comprehend the mental methods of the world in the "Doctrine of the Mean," so the "Doctrine of the Mean" was always placed last in the study of the Four Books.

Once the Four Books were mastered, he would then pass the Five Classics barrier: "Classic of Poetry," "Book of Documents," "Book of Changes," "Book of Rites," and "Zuo Zhuan."

Fortunately, he had the complete set of Four Books published by the Yuwen Pavilion sent by Xiao Jindong, with critical annotations by famous scholars at key points, and a few sets of Four Books commentaries sent by Jia Zheng, which were just right for his current use.

Even if he relied on his knowledge and skills from later generations to become a wealthy man with vast riches, in this official-oriented world, without the protection of power, he would sooner or later be swallowed up until not even his bones remained.

Among the Four Books, the "Great Learning" was the foundation of all laws, providing the outline and teaching people the principles of investigating things, rectifying the mind, cultivating oneself, and governing others.

Moreover, Jia Dairu of the Jia clan's righteous school was himself shallow in learning; he probably had a patchy understanding of the "Great Learning" and "Doctrine of the Mean," let alone explaining the subtle meanings to the young children.

Jia Cong had studied for three years in the Jia clan school, mainly reading books for young children like the "Thousand Character Classic" and "Classic of Filial Piety," and after becoming familiar with them, he began to read the "Great Learning" and "Doctrine of the Mean."

Now he only needed to lay a solid foundation for a ten-thousand-foot tower, sorting out and comprehending from the beginning; a few years of effort would surely lead to success.

Just three days after Wang Shanbao's wife was arrested and taken to the Zhen'an Prefecture, a sixth-rank clerk from the Imperial Clan Court brought two attendants to his door.

They summoned Jia She to the Imperial Clan Court to accept questioning by the Grand Chief, regarding the witchcraft affair that had occurred in the Jia family.

That sixth-rank clerk's words were cold, with a somewhat aggressive tone.

The gatekeeper went to report to Jia She, trembling, and almost scared Jia She into collapsing on the ground—disaster had arrived!

It was likely that the damned dog of a servant had been spouting nonsense at the Zhen'an Prefecture, provoking the Imperial Clan Court to come and make an arrest.

Jia She was a hundred times unwilling to go to that Imperial Clan Court. Da Zhou's Imperial Clan Court managed the titles, salaries, teachings, and punishments of the imperial clan and noble descendants.

It would not be a good thing for a noble descendant to be summoned by the Imperial Clan Court, but it was impossible not to go.

That sixth-rank clerk's expression was icy, and Jia She did not dare to delay. Before leaving, he had a servant hurry to report to Jia Mu.

Jia Mu was also panicked upon hearing the news, only having Lai Da select a shrewd servant to follow, so that any news could be reported back in time.

Thus, they endured for several hours, waiting until the sky was dim, and still Jia She did not return. Another servant who had followed him came back to report.

The Imperial Clan Court questioned the Master regarding the witchcraft affair in the household. Because the matter was not yet clear, the Master needed to stay in the Imperial Clan Court for the night and could not return for the time being.

The whole family panicked upon hearing this. Jia Mu was even more anxious, not just because of her deep love for her son, but most importantly, Jia She still held the title passed down from the old Duke.

If Jia She were truly implicated in the disaster of using witchcraft to harm his own brother, he would likely be stripped of his title. What would happen to the title left by the ancestors?

The best result would be for the Emperor to allow the title to be passed to his heir, which would mean Jia Lian would inherit the title.

But the Jia family did not have a hereditary title that would never be reduced; by the time it reached Jia Lian, the First-Rank General title would be reduced to a Second-Rank General.

Although the title was reduced, the title still existed, which could be considered fortunate.

If the Emperor, due to his disgust for Jia She's disregard for human ethics, actually revoked the Jia family's title, then the Jia family would be completely finished.

A noble who had lost his title was no longer a noble; he was just a paper tiger with a hollow name, mocked by everyone in the Divine Capital.

If it reached this point, Jia Mu would truly have the heart to die. After she passed away, what face would she have to meet the old Duke, to meet the ancestors of the Jia family?

Jia Mu endured such an anxious night, and at the first light of dawn, she had Yuanyang help her change into her formal court attire, and early on, she took a carriage to the palace gate to submit a memorial requesting an audience with the Empress Dowager.

Because the Qingzhi Study was located in a remote area, the news Jia Cong received was already the next morning, and Jia Mu had already dressed formally and gone to the palace gate.

He heard that yesterday, an official from the Imperial Clan Court had brought two attendants, invited the Master to the Imperial Clan Court for questioning, and had not returned all night. He understood a few things in his heart.

That Wang Shanbao's wife must have been unable to withstand the torture at the Zhen'an Prefecture and had truly implicated Jia She and his wife to save herself.

He had met the Zhen'an Prefecture Magistrate Zhang Shou'an at the Shuyun Villa. This man was slick and smooth; having asked about things he shouldn't have, he must have thrown this hot potato to the Imperial Clan Court.

It was just that because it involved a noble like a First-Rank General, the one-sided words of a mere servant woman from the Jia family were simply insufficient to serve as solid evidence.

Therefore, the officials from the Imperial Clan Court only brought two attendants to summon Jia She to the Imperial Clan Court for questioning, rather than directly bringing yamen soldiers to arrest him.

Perhaps in the end, the Jia family would lose all face, but it would likely not hurt their foundation.

Jia Cong had long anticipated this result. After all, they were founding nobles with two Dukes in one family; how could they fall because of such a groundless name of witchcraft and harming others?

And Jia Mu, firstly, was old, and secondly, was not a wise and clear-sighted woman. Although she was a figure in the inner chambers, how could she understand the mysteries and entanglements of the outside world?

A few days ago, the Zhen'an Prefecture came to the door, which had already made her feel empty inside. Now that her son had been summoned by the Imperial Clan Court, she was increasingly anxious and confused.

Unlike Jia Cong, the initiator, who could remain calm and watch from the sidelines.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 66 =====