Chapter 671: No Repeating the Past

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Jia Cong's courtyard.

The sky had gradually brightened; Qingwen carried a copper basin of hot water to the main chamber's entrance, as usual tapped twice, then reached out to push the door open.

Since Jia Cong rose daily with maids attending him, he always closed his door at night but rarely locked it, to allow the maids easy access in the morning.

This was the inner compound of the marquis's residence, Jia Cong's personal quarters; each night it was separately locked, so leaving the main chamber unlocked overnight was perfectly normal.

Qingwen, who had served him for years, naturally knew this rule.

Every morning, they would knock twice out of propriety, then walk straight in—long accustomed, it had become second nature.

Today, when Qingwen pushed the door, it wouldn't open—it was bolted from inside. She frowned in surprise: Third Master was acting strangely; why had he locked the door?

Inside, Zhi Shao heard the knock and flushed with flustered embarrassment; she looked pitifully at Jia Cong, whispering, "Third Master," her eyes pleading for help.

Jia Cong couldn't help laughing. "Don't be afraid—they'll find out anyway. At most, they'll tease a little."

Zhi Shao blushed. "No—I'm not ready to face anyone yet."

Jia Cong smiled. "Just lie still. I'll handle Qingwen."

He walked to the screen before the bed, lowered the hanging curtain, fully concealing the bed, then went to open the door.

Outside, Qingwen, unable to push the door open, began to suspect—thinking of yesterday's intimacy between Jia Cong and Zhi Shao, and the strange atmosphere during last night's cooling-off.

Had Zhi Shao really spent the night on watch—and done something intimate with Third Master? The thought made Qingwen's face burn crimson.

As for what "doing something intimate" meant, Qingwen had heard plenty—since childhood, the old women in the household had told bawdy tales; she understood perfectly, and was even curious.

Last night, driven by curiosity, she'd wanted to sneak out and listen—but it had rained and thundered, making it impossible to leave her room, and she'd eventually fallen asleep in confusion.

It must have happened last night—Third Master and Zhi Shao—and he'd even bolted the door beforehand. Qingwen's thoughts tangled, and a sudden pang of loss stirred within her…

…

Jia Cong opened the door and saw Qingwen holding the copper basin, seemingly dazed, her lovely face flushed red—strikingly alluring.

Seeing Jia Cong himself open the door, not Zhi Shao, Qingwen felt even more certain she'd guessed right, and couldn't help letting out a huff.

Jia Cong found it odd—this little girl suddenly acting petulant so early in the morning.

Qingwen placed the basin on the stand, wrung out a cotton cloth, and handed it to Jia Cong. "Third Master, wash your face."

As Jia Cong took the cloth, Qingwen's large eyes darted back and forth. "Where's Zhi Shao?"

Jia Cong replied casually, "Zhi Shao isn't feeling well—she hasn't risen yet. She's resting inside."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened—the curtain that always hung before the bed was now drawn, completely obscuring the inner chamber.

Qingwen grew even more curious—why had the curtain been pulled now, when it was always left open?

"Third Master, since Zhi Shao isn't feeling well, let me go in and check on her."

Inside, Zhi Shao heard this and flushed with shame—afraid Qingwen would burst in, exposing her in this state.

She thought of sliding off Jia Cong's bed to her old side couch.

But as she moved too quickly, her face paled slightly, and her waist and abdomen ached—she froze in place.

…

Jia Cong saw the mischievous glint in Qingwen's eyes and sighed at her gossiping nature; he reached out, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and pulled her back.

As the saying goes, a man's head and a woman's waist are not to be touched lightly—Qingwen, suddenly embraced, blushed furiously and forgot her suspicion.

Jia Cong slipped a comb into her hand. "Quick, comb my hair—I have something for you to do later."

Qingwen murmured "Oh," took the comb, and began brushing his hair, her eyes constantly flicking toward the curtain.

Suddenly she sniffed. "Third Master, you smell so fragrant—why do you smell like Zhi Shao?"

Jia Cong's face flushed with embarrassment—he suddenly remembered Qingwen's peculiar trait: her nose was extraordinarily sharp.

She'd once detected Qu Qu Hongxiu's scent in his room; of course she could detect Zhi Shao's.

Jia Cong said, "Zhi Shao was in my room last night—of course I carry her scent. What's strange about that?"

Qingwen didn't believe him—she'd spent nights in his room too, yet he'd never smelled like her.

…

Just as Qingwen finished combing his hair and he had rinsed his mouth with toothpaste, Lingguan entered the room.

"Third Master, breakfast is ready—you'll need to eat before heading to the office."

Jia Cong asked, "Lingguan, why are you handling this? Why isn't Liu Wuer here this morning?"

Lingguan replied, "Liu Wuer left early for the Western Courtyard—yesterday, the physician said Second Mistress is nearing her confinement; she may deliver this month. Everything must be handled with care."

"So the Western Courtyard's household duties can't fall to Second Mistress—Liu Wuer and Ping'er must manage them all. That's why Liu Wuer left so early."

Jia Cong smiled. "I think that physician's skill is ordinary. Everyone knows pregnancy lasts ten months—how could it be July? What's this about June?"

Lingguan didn't mind. She laughed. "Third Master, you're impressive—even this you know."

Jia Cong didn't say this lightly.

According to the original timeline, Wang Wang Xifeng was meant to give birth to a daughter named Qiao'er—whose birthday was precisely the seventh day of the seventh month.

Because she was frail as a child, the countrywoman Liu Liu Laolao suggested a remedy of poison to counter poison, a charm to turn misfortune into fortune, and named her Qiao'er.

If events still followed the original path, then Wang Wang Xifeng's delivery should occur exactly on the seventh day of the seventh month.

But since I arrived in this world, many things in the Jia household have changed drastically.

Lin Daiyu will no longer weep herself to death.

Seeing Yingchun will not marry Sun Sun Shaozu and be abused to death.

Qin Qin Keqing has escaped her original tragedy and now has a completely new fate.

Zhen Ying Lady Lian and Qingwen, too, have had their destinies altered by me—they will no longer suffer misfortune.

The direct second branch of Lady Rongguo Prefecture has also changed dramatically because of my rise.

Jia Zheng, the second branch, has become a collateral line, moved out of Lady Rongguo Prefecture, and relocated to the Eastern Courtyard; my branch, the eldest line, now inherits the Rong family's estate and stands as the true lineage of the Jia family in the Love Shenjing.

Even the early downfall of Ningguo Prefecture is closely tied to me…

Jia Cong didn't know whether other unforeseen changes had occurred because of his presence—he himself didn't even know.

Although Jia Lady Lian's exile had no direct connection to him, it had still veered completely from its original course.

Given all these altered causes, whether Wang Wang Xifeng would still give birth to Qiao'er on the seventh day of the seventh month remained uncertain.

…

Jia Cong, Qingwen, and Lingguan left the room, closing the door behind them—he knew Zhi Shao was shy and needed time to compose herself.

Qingwen, seeing Jia Cong deliberately shut the door, grew even more suspicious—she longed to push it open and demand answers; her curiosity burned.

Were they, as Old Chen had said…

Lingguan noticed Qingwen's odd expression and asked curiously, "Qingwen, what's wrong with you? You're acting so strange."

Qingwen, seeing Jia Cong enter the main hall, whispered into Lingguan's ear: "Do you really think Zhi Shao is unwell?"

Lingguan thought a moment. "Third Master dotes on Zhi Shao—if she were truly ill, he'd have summoned a physician immediately.

Why would he leave her alone in the room, with the curtain drawn? Zhi Shao isn't sick."

Qingwen murmured, "She's not sick… yet Third Master hides her, as if afraid anyone might see her."

Lingguan suddenly understood—her face flushed. "Third Master kept Zhi Shao from seeing people because Zhi Shao herself is embarrassed—not wanting to be seen.

Hehe, Qingwen, you're the one who told me Old Chen's stories—you still don't get it? They've become lovers."

Qingwen found Lingguan's logic sound, but grumbled in protest.

Lingguan couldn't help laughing. "Look at you—so sour. Are you jealous because Third Master isn't with you?"

Qingwen shot back immediately. "Don't act innocent—you're the one who obeys him most.

Every time you rub his head and shoulders, sing him little songs in his study—you're secretly delighted. Even a fool can see it.

Don't tell me you don't want to be with Third Master."

Lingguan's face flushed crimson—Jia Cong had hit the mark. She had just passed her fourteenth year, barely thirteen, and though still half-understanding, she was not entirely ignorant.

Since childhood, her family had sold her to a troupe; she had long lost all sense of home. After meeting Jia Cong in Su Zhou, she escaped her wandering misery.

When one is at their darkest, loneliest moment, and someone rescues and cares for them, they naturally develop an indescribable attachment—unconsciously wanting to give everything to that person. Lingguan, though young, felt this same emotion.

Qingwen saw that Lingguan wasn't angry at her words—her bright eyes sparkled, filled with longing and delight, lost in thought.

She'd surely been struck by truth—otherwise, why would the girl look so dreamy?

Just as Qingwen felt a pang of insecurity, Jia Cong called her—she hurried into the main hall.

Jia Cong told her to send word to the outer courtyard: Jiang Liu was to wait at the second gate—he had tasks for him.

…

Inside the main chamber, Zhi Shao rested a while, then rose to wash and dress.

Blushing, she rolled up the bloodstained bedding and hid it, laid fresh sheets on the bed, sighed faintly—her shame at facing others had eased considerably.

Hearing the door open, she saw Lingguan enter with a food box.

"Zhi Shao, Third Master sent me to bring you breakfast."

Lingguan placed the dishes on the table, but remembered her earlier conversation with Qingwen about lovers—her cheeks flushed again.

!

She looked up, studying Zhi Shao curiously—her cheeks glowed with a soft pink, her eyes shimmered like autumn water, radiant and luminous. She couldn't help saying, "Zhi Shao, you're so beautiful today."

Zhi Shao smiled, touched her cheek. "Wait until you're a little older—you'll be even more beautiful."

Zhi Shao held a special fondness for Lingguan, whom Jia Cong had brought back from Su Zhou.

The girl was a little stubborn, but diligent, clever, clear-minded, and pretty—and they were both from Su Zhou.

Even when Zhi Shao felt unwell, she sometimes let Lingguan take her night watch.

Though Lingguan was deeply attached to Jia Cong, she was still young—smaller than Qingwen—and her thoughts on romance were not yet strong.

Even if she suspected Jia Cong and Zhi Shao were lovers, she didn't mind much—they ate breakfast together, occasionally laughing and chatting.

At this moment, Jia Cong entered the room, and Zhi Shao asked curiously, "Third Master, it's already time for you to report to the office—why haven't you left the mansion yet?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Jiang Liu has already applied for leave on my behalf at the Hanlin Academy. Today I won't be reporting there—I'll stay home for half a day and keep you company."

Although he was appointed Hanlin Academician for Lecturing by Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, this title was merely an honorific granted upon passing the imperial examinations.

The Emperor had no intention of letting him live a life of refined leisure in the Hanlin Academy—his true duty lay in the Firearms Division of the Ministry of Works.

Jia Cong understood this well, and so did Hanlin scholar Ge Ge Hongzheng; thus, when Jia Cong occasionally requested leave, Ge Ge Hongzheng paid it no mind.

For Jia Cong, bound by the current clan laws and ritual proprieties, he could not grant Zhi Shao any formal status—nor could he do so for Wu'er, who had already undergone the family rites.

Yet, unlike the prevailing beliefs of this world, in certain special moments, offering simple companionship was something he felt he must strive to do—and could do.

…

Great Zhou, Hanlin Academy, Office of Ge Ge Hongzheng.

The Hanlin Academy was a premier institution of refined prestige; its officials composed imperial edicts and buried themselves in literary archives, often seeming oblivious to affairs beyond their desks.

Thus, Hanlin officials rarely became entangled in court intrigues, and even fewer ever fell into criminal misconduct.

But recently, an incident had shaken the Hanlin Academy, leaving its chief, Ge Ge Hongzheng, deeply troubled.

Before this year's spring examination, the Hanlin Academy—as the gathering place of the empire's top scholars—had three of its officials selected as examination officers.

One was appointed as co-examiner for the metropolitan examination; the other two as graders.

Seventy-five candidates who failed the exam jointly petitioned to accuse these three Hanlin officials of involvement.

Though they had not been arrested or convicted, all three were found to have violated propriety, tarnishing the Hanlin Academy's purity, and were recommended by the Ministry of Personnel for demotion and exile from the capital.

Exiling Hanlin officials to provincial posts was not uncommon.

But for Hanlin officials to be exiled due to criminal misconduct was profoundly humiliating—damaging the Academy's esteemed reputation and severely hindering their future careers, bringing great disgrace upon the Hanlin Academy.

At this moment, in the office, besides Ge Ge Hongzheng, sat Li Li Congmian, the Hanlin Academy's fourth-rank assistant reader.

Li Li Congmian had served in the Hanlin Academy for many years, rising from seventh-rank to fourth-rank—he was a senior Hanlin official.

Moreover, Li Li Congmian was even of imperial bloodline; his ancestor had been a distant cousin of Emperor Taizu Li Li Tianling.

When the Great Zhou was founded, Li clan relatives rose to prominence; Li Li Congmian's ancestor entered court service, but never as a high-ranking noble—only slightly better off than commoners.

From his ancestor's generation onward, the Li family had already passed beyond the fifth degree of kinship from the Emperor's direct line; by Li Li Congmian's time, he had no blood connection to the imperial family whatsoever.

Thus, while the Li family could trace its lineage to the imperial clan, Li Li Congmian's name did not appear on the imperial genealogical register.

Li Li Congmian relied on years of diligent study, passing the second-class imperial examination before age thirty, and entering the Hanlin Academy.

He worked conscientiously, bore burdens without complaint, possessed outstanding talent, and had some family connections—so he remained in the Hanlin Academy.

Several successive Hanlin chiefs approved of him, allowing him to rise quietly from seventh-rank Hanlin compiler to fourth-rank Hanlin assistant reader.

Now rumors circulated within the Hanlin Academy that Li Li Congmian, with his deep seniority, might be Ge Ge Hongzheng's successor as chief.

Li Li Congmian enjoyed a close personal relationship with Ge Ge Hongzheng and was his trusted subordinate; today, the two met in the office to discuss the matter of the demoted Hanlin officials.

…

Ge Ge Hongzheng sighed, "All three were seasoned Hanlin officials with three years' service, men of profound scholarship who had never previously transgressed propriety.

Their conduct during the spring examination—socializing and feasting with candidates, exchanging poetry, and openly discussing exam trends—though improper, was not a grave crime.

A stern reprimand would have sufficed, yet it escalated to the point of exile from the capital."

Li Li Congmian urged, "This year's spring examination exposed a massive cheating scandal, damaging the imperial examination system's purity.

Though your colleagues' conduct was merely a minor lapse, His Majesty sees the broader picture.

The current Emperor seeks to restore the integrity of the examination system by severely punishing cheating and official misconduct; your colleagues, caught in the storm, simply suffered ill fortune.

Their exile from the capital still leaves them serving in office—after a few years, when the scandal fades, out of collegial duty, we should do what we can to assist them.

Besides, they are not the only officials implicated in this punishment.

It is said that besides Xu Xu Liangxiong of the Ministry of Works, sixteen other examination officers were convicted and dismissed, many sentenced to exile on the frontier.

Over thirty other examination officers were demoted from the capital for misconduct.

Aside from the Ministry of Rites, all five other ministries had officials named among them—nearly half of all spring examination officers were implicated.

Never in the history of Great Zhou has such a thing occurred; His Majesty's fury is understandable.

Compared to your three colleagues, who were not convicted or dismissed, merely exiled from the capital, His Majesty and the Ministry of Personnel have already shown deference to the Hanlin Academy's prestige—Master, you need not be overly distressed."

Ge Ge Hongzheng shook his head. "I am not merely saddened by their fates—they were simply not cautious enough in office.

My deeper concern lies elsewhere: just as the spring examination cheating scandal was reaching its peak, the petition from seventy-five candidates suddenly surfaced.

With seventy-five candidates involved, it has become a case of 'the law cannot punish the multitude'—and at this critical moment, it was like pouring oil on fire. It's too convenient."

Hearing Ge Ge Hongzheng's words, Li Li Congmian's heart skipped a beat.

Though his superior was a refined Hanlin chief, he was no bookish, rigid scholar—he was sharp in reading the winds and observing trends.

After a moment's thought, Li Li Congmian said, "Master, your concern is not without merit.

It is said the Dalisi and the Judicial Court have investigated the seventy-five petitioners and confirmed their claims as true.

Your suspicions may well be shared by those seasoned investigators at the Dalisi —but so far, there is only speculation, no concrete evidence.

Moreover, such matters are beyond our Hanlin Academy's jurisdiction—we must leave them to the proper authorities."

As they spoke, a servant at the door reported.

"Master, Jia Jia Xueshi's personal attendant has delivered a letter, stating that Jia my lord is occupied with workshop duties today and cannot report to the office—he formally requests leave."

Ge Ge Hongzheng read the letter, smiled faintly, and told the servant, "Carry my message: Jia Jia Xueshi handles vital state affairs—let him attend to them. I grant him leave."

After the servant left, Li Li Congmian chuckled, "This Jia Jia Xueshi is remarkably talented, well-versed in everything, holding multiple posts at once."

Ge Ge Hongzheng glanced at Li Li Congmian, his eyes holding a knowing smile.

He said, "Jia Yuzhang may be young, but he deserves the title of Hanlin Liu Wenxuan. When he took his provincial examination, he penned a four-character thesis that shook the court—truly a genius.

His four-character thesis—I wrote the middle section myself—and I still hang it in my study as a personal reminder.

Yet though His Majesty granted him the honor of Hanlin, he never intended for him to become a true Hanlin scholar. Jia himself likely knows this too—what a pity.

In the end, our Hanlin Academy must rely on men like you, rising from the next generation…"

… (End of Chapter)