Chapter 675: Family Affairs and State Affairs

Great Zhou Palace City, Fengtian Hall.

Just as Jia Cong was immersed in the novelty of his first morning court, listening with great interest to the consultations and reports between officials and the Emperor.

Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun suddenly stepped out of the ranks and said these shocking words, making Jia Cong feel a chill in his heart.

Ever since Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao personally visited the firearm workshop that day, he was greatly appreciative of the successful development of the rear-loading gun and its display of immense power.

Jia Cong also tasted the deep and gloomy thoughts of this supreme ruler from the conversation between Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao and Shi Ding.

He was worried that after the powerful force of the rear-loading gun was exposed, it would once again arouse the covetousness of those with ulterior motives.

So he began to vigorously investigate the old case of private firearm manufacturing in Jin Ling, collect evidence, punish crimes strictly, and use this to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, deter the petty, and cut off the thought of covetousness.

In the time since then, whether Jia Cong received a letter from the Xinchun Firm in Jin Ling or heard Shi Ding talk about Jin Ling affairs.

He knew that the newly appointed Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Thousand-Household Wang Zhangjiang was a very formidable character.

This person had not been in Jin Ling for long before he began to investigate Zhen Shiwen's involvement in private firearm manufacturing with all his might, and he took steps to build his position, which was quite effective.

Jia Cong now carefully considered that after the former Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Thousand-Household Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, this sharp-handed Thousand-Household Wang must be a cold piece laid by the Emperor early on.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao understood the power of firearms and its huge role in cleaning up and reorganizing the military power structure.

His desire to control the advantages of firearms had also reached an unbearable heat, and he would never allow others to have a trace of covetousness and overstepping.

Last year's major case of private firearm manufacturing in Jin Ling never found the mastermind behind the scenes, which had always been a major heart disease of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

Although he had already returned to the Love Shenjing, he had been busy with the spring examination and the construction of rear-loading guns for more than half a year, and he had even somewhat forgotten about this old case in Jin Ling.

But Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had never relaxed his investigation into this case. Now that Zhen Shiwen's intentional private firearm manufacturing had been proven by Wang Zhangjiang.

Does it indicate that digging out the true mastermind of this case is no longer confusing and out of reach...

And using this major case to deal with the Jin Ling Zhen family was just Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao following the trend.

Because the Jin Ling Zhen family had great prestige and influence in the six states and one prefecture of Jiangnan.

The Jin Ling Zhen family had a special status among the prominent clans, not only belonging to the old meritorious camp of the Four Princes and Eight Counts, but also having the noble Zhen Old Matriarch standing behind the Zhen family.

And the Retired Emperor stood behind the Zhen Old Matriarch. Although the Old Matriarch had passed away, this hidden connection would not disappear in a short time.

If Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao used the major case of private firearm manufacturing to bring the Jin Ling Zhen family down to the dust.

For the reduction of the old meritorious strength of the Four Princes and Eight Counts in the court, and for the ebb and flow between the two generations of monarchs, it could allow the Emperor to stand in a more favorable position.

Jia Cong could think of these, and Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, whose schemes were like the sea, naturally had this plan early on.

He deduced the relationship clearly and thought of Zhen Fangqing, who had not left the capital for long. According to the calculation of the itinerary, she should be almost at Jin Ling now.

His heart could not help but feel deep worry...

He remembered the day of sending her off in the suburbs, when the two were in the same carriage, talking wholeheartedly, holding hands, whispering in each other's ears, and breathing in each other's breath. Since they met, it was the first time they were so intimate.

That imperial betrothal that was aborted midway ultimately left an indelible mark between them.

According to Jia Cong's understanding of Zhen Fangqing and his attention to her daily words and deeds, this lady in the boudoir who had embroidery in her heart naturally realized the danger of the family early on.

That sea ship fleet of considerable scale of the Zhen family had always been controlled by the second branch of the Zhen family.

After the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard sealed the Zhen family's shops and broke into the Zhen family's mansion to search, the Zhen family's sea ship fleet strangely disappeared in the outer sea.

Jia Cong would not naively think that this was just a coincidence. He could almost conclude that this was a plan by Zhen Fangqing to avoid disaster in advance.

Because the astonishing mobility of a sea ship fleet familiar with outer sea routes, and the huge possibilities it carried, were enough for Zhen Fangqing to leave a retreat for herself.

The Love Shenjing and Jin Ling were thousands of miles apart, and he was beyond his reach. He hoped that Zhen Fangqing's response method could survive this crisis.

In the Fengtian Hall, just as Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun finished speaking, and Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was still pondering without speaking.

Jia Cong heard officials walking out of the ranks in front of him.

Anyone standing in front of Jia Cong was a high-ranking official of the third grade or above, all of whom were heads or deputy heads of the government offices, and were the backbone of the morning court officials.

Jia Cong heard that official report: "Your subject, Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Zhou Xianyang, seconds the words of Lord Xu.

Last year, when Weiyuan Count Jia Cong cracked the Great Case of the Jiangnan Guard Army, the imperial court issued a court gazette. This official paid attention to the ins and outs of the Guard Army case, which was linked to a case of private firearm manufacture.

Firearms are sharp weapons of the country and the fence of the country. Private manufacturing by the people is equivalent to rebellion, which is a matter of great importance, but this case was not solved at that time.

Now the Embroidered Uniform Guard has captured the suspect of this case, proving that Zhen Shiwen was one of the masterminds of private firearm manufacturing.

Although Zhen Shiwen has lost his life, private firearm manufacturing is a crime that is overwhelming and cannot be easily forgiven.

Whether there are accomplices who escaped by luck, and whether hidden dangers have been left behind, must be investigated to the end to avoid future troubles.

Zhen Shiwen is the eldest son of the main branch of the Jin Ling Zhen family and has a prominent position in the Zhen family. His father, Zhen Yingjia, is the President of the Tiren Academy in Jin Ling and a high-ranking official of the third grade of the Imperial Court.

Zhen Shiwen conspired to privately manufacture firearms. If Zhen Yingjia knew nothing about it, he was lax in governing the family and had no way to teach, so he was hard to blame and hard to bear the preciousness of his official title.

If Zhen Yingjia had known about it long ago and had the intention to cover it up, then it would be contempt for national law, equivalent to rebellion, which is no small matter.

The Jin Ling Zhen family is a powerful clan in Jiangnan, with great prestige in the region. In Jin Ling, they are known as "Zhen Half-City," with houses full of gold and silver, and overwhelming wealth.

Such a prominent family, if they have the heart of disobedience, will surely cause great disaster and cannot be underestimated.

Your subject requests the Emperor to handle this case strictly to avoid unexpected disasters in the Jiangnan land."

Just now, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun reported in court that Zhen Shiwen was the mastermind of private firearm manufacturing in Jin Ling, which had already caused a stir in the court.

Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Zhou Xianyang's seconding report was no different from adding fuel to the fire, extending Zhen Shiwen's participation in private firearm manufacturing to the prominent clans having the heart of disobedience.

It stirred up waves in the court even more and caused an uproar among the morning court officials.

Jia Cong heard Zhou Xianyang's theory of punishing the heart and only felt a chill all over his body. Zhou Xianyang's words were to put the Jin Ling Zhen family to death!

Just now, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun had only finished speaking, and even Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had not yet spoken.

Censor-in-Chief Zhou Xianyang said these clear and logical words like knives and halberds in an instant. His thinking was so sharp, as if he had prepared a draft in advance...

If it is said that the civil officials in the court have no trust in the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But Zhou Xianyang is the head of the Censorate, a proper pure civil official, and his words have much more weight than Xu Kun's.

The officials in the ranks began to discuss in low voices, eager to move, while Jia Cong noticed that Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao on the dragon throne remained silent...

At this time, Jia Cong saw another official coming out of the ranks of officials in front, who was the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Wei Guanyao.

He said: "Reporting to the Emperor, the Jin Ling Zhen family is a prominent clan in Jiangnan and an official family, not an ordinary family. The eldest son of the main branch privately manufactured firearms, which is shocking and cannot be ignored.

Your subject seconds the words of Lord Xu and Lord Zhou. This case must be strictly investigated, and related accomplices cannot be easily let go, so as to uphold the law."

Originally, the seconding of Censor-in-Chief Zhou Xianyang had already caused an uproar among the officials attending the morning court, and everyone was already eager to move.

Coupled with Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao on the jade throne, hearing Zhou Xianyang's words, he neither spoke nor refuted, and his attitude was intriguing.

But all officials who mixed into the morning court to listen to politics were people who had developed in their official careers, and none of them were fools.

Even if they were not sure in their hearts at first, waiting for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wei Guanyao to also speak to second it, who couldn't see the trend of today's court.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard checked the evidence, the Censorate and the Court of Judicial Review echoed in unison, the Three Judicial Offices already occupied two, the Emperor did not say a word, just waiting for the wind to rise, only a fool couldn't see what it meant...

Just waiting for the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wei Guanyao to finish speaking, in less than two breaths.

Officials such as the Censor of the Jiangnan Circuit of the Censorate, the Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and the Minister of Justice Chen Maoshu stepped out one after another to second it.

All said that the Zhen family children of Jin Ling privately manufactured firearms, the crime was the same as rebellion, and it must be investigated to the end.

Zhen Yingjia is a high-ranking official of the third grade, lax in governing the family, and has no way to teach, so he is hard to blame, and it seems that he also participated in the crime, and the Three Judicial Offices need to strictly investigate and distinguish...

Jia Cong, who was in the ranks of officials, witnessed officials stepping out to second it one after another, one after another, which was spectacular.

It seemed that at that moment, all the officials in the hall became indignant, righteous, and hateful of evil.

A strange feeling arose in his heart. He really didn't expect that he would see so many powerful people on the same stage in his first morning court...

A solemnity arose in his heart. The Zhen family was completely defeated.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao on the jade throne saw the officials who requested strict handling of the Zhen family, discussing in groups, speaking in unison, his eyes were solemn, calm, and his expression was firm.

He said: "All my beloved subjects distinguish right from wrong and safeguard the discipline of the Imperial Court, which is a fair and upright act.

The suspect's confession verified by the Embroidered Uniform Guard shall be transferred to the Three Judicial Offices for review today. Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wei Guanyao shall be responsible for the main trial. Anyone involved in the case shall be strictly punished and cannot be tolerated.

Zhen Yingjia, President of the Tiren Academy in Jin Ling, is absurd in governing the family and has no way to teach. His own child committed the crime of rebellion, and he is hard to bear the weight of his official title. He is dismissed from his post today for investigation, and handed over to the relevant department for investigation and sentencing!

The Three Judicial Offices shall each send capable personnel to Jin Ling to review the suspect's confession. Within fifteen days, clear the case and set the sentence, waiting for the Imperial edict to be announced..."

As Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao left his seat and retired from the court, a group of morning court officials walked out of the Fengtian Hall. Jia Cong's mood was a bit solemn, and he left the main hall with the crowd dispersing from the court.

Among the officials leaving the hall, Minister of Justice Chen Maoshu and Wei Guanyao slowed their pace and walked at the end of the crowd.

Chen Maoshu said: "Lord Wei, yesterday you and I both read the investigation files of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Zhen Shiwen has been dead for half a year, and I fear all related clues have been extinguished.

Wanting to dig out the ins and outs of this case, I fear it is extremely difficult."

Wei Guanyao said solemnly: "Zhen Shiwen was killed in the home of his mistress. Both men and women were killed at the same time, and it happened the day after the Jin Ling firearm private manufacturing workshop was raided.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard said Zhen Shiwen was the mastermind of firearm private manufacturing, but you and I both know clearly that he was at most an accomplice, and in the end, he was silenced.

The Emperor is obsessed with investigating this case. Finding the mastermind behind the scenes is only one thing. The prominent clans having the heart of covetousness is what the Emperor is worried about.

Since Count of Weiyuan Jia Cong first advocated the technique of firearms, with the power of a thousand firearm soldiers, he fought in Liaodong and pacified the Jurchens in one fell swoop, ending the heart disease of the Imperial Court for decades.

The Emperor determined from this that the power of firearms is a weapon to suppress the country, and added the Shenji Camp to the Five Military Camps. In just a few years, the number of soldiers has exceeded ten thousand.

Like heavenly punishment, the awe-inspiring power, back then Jia Cong pacified the Jurchens using only a thousand firearm soldiers. Now the Emperor uses ten times that, and it is more than enough to awe the four seas.

Recently, the firearm workshop outside the city has been heavily guarded, and the court and the public have spread the news that the Count of Weiyuan seems to have created new firearms again, and the power is huge, far exceeding the past.

Under such circumstances, the Emperor will never tolerate the covetousness of others.

Knocking down a Zhen family to give others a warning is the most urgent matter in the Emperor's heart..."

Rongguo mansion, Fengjie courtyard.

Behind the pink oil large shadow wall, the plane tree by the east wall in the courtyard has lush branches and leaves, green and lush, casting a large area of cool tree shade.

The afternoon sun is tilted to the west, and the blue-gray eaves cast shadows on the blue brick ground in the courtyard, revealing a bit of pleasant quietness.

The potted flowers placed at the foot of the west window wall are mostly competing to bloom, red, yellow, and pink, bright and gorgeous, adding a bit of richness to the small courtyard.

Through the glazed window lattice under the west window, one can see Wang Xifeng leaning on the couch, and there are quite a few figures walking in the room.

Ping'er came out from the side room, wearing a white thin silk jacket with a side-opening, covered by a vest with chrysanthemum patterns and a cross-collar, and lotus-root-colored silk trousers on her lower body. She walked lightly, her appearance beautiful and charming.

In her hand, she held a black lacquer tea tray, inside which was a pastel glazed tea cup. She walked to the front of the main room and lifted the door curtain to enter.

Sitting in the main seat in the room was a kind-faced woman, a famous doctor in the city, proficient in the way of nourishing the fetus and protecting the fetus, and also a famous midwife in the city.

Wang Xifeng had been pregnant for nearly nine months and had reached the time near childbirth. Half a month ago, she had left everything alone and handed it all over to Wu'er and Ping'er to manage.

Fortunately, for the first half year, the two of them followed Wang Xifeng, receiving her personal instructions daily, and were already very familiar with the various tricks and proportions of managing a large mansion.

Coupled with the fact that both of them were intelligent and clever, worked cleanly and efficiently, and both had established a status with Jia Cong, they were both people in his room, just a matter of time.

Because they were managing their own man's family business, they were naturally more dedicated than usual. Even if Wang Xifeng could not manage affairs, they still managed the inside and outside of the West Prefecture very properly.

Although the Old Matriarch doted on Baoyu, as an elder in the family, she had always attached great importance to the descendants and bloodline of the younger generation.

Although Jia Lian was exiled to the army, Wang Xifeng was about to give birth and might give birth to the great-grandson of the Rongguo mansion's main branch. The Old Matriarch was looking forward to this very much.

Early this morning, she asked Lin Zhixiao's wife to invite the famous doctor to take Wang Xifeng's pulse and look at the fetus.

The Old Matriarch herself was a person who had come over and knew that a woman's childbirth was a life-and-death pass. Wang Xifeng was also having her first child, which had more risks, so naturally, everything had to be proper, and she didn't dare to be careless.

In the main room, Ping'er brought the tea cup in and saw the woman taking Wang Xifeng's pulse and looking at the qi, asking about daily life, touching the abdomen and listening, and after a lot of tossing, she stopped.

Ping'er quickly handed the pastel tea cup to the doctor and asked: "Auntie Chen, how is our Second Grandmother's fetal appearance? Is everything proper?"

The doctor smiled and said: "Girl, rest assured, the Second Grandmother's blood and qi are full, the pulse is smooth, and the fetal position is also very correct. By the day of delivery, it will definitely be smooth, and everything is proper."

Wang Xifeng asked with great expectation: "I heard that Auntie has a unique skill. As long as you take the pulse and look at the appearance, you know whether the pregnancy is a boy or a girl?"

The doctor smiled and said: "There is such a thing. Because I have seen many women and delivered even more children, over a long time, I have some wonderful insights.

Although I can't be ten percent sure, before the woman gives birth, I can always see seven or eight percent accurately."

Ping'er heard this and asked curiously: "Auntie Chen, look at whether our Second Grandmother is pregnant with a boy or a girl?"

Ping'er was Wang Xifeng's personal maid, so she naturally understood her thoughts best. Although the Second Grandmother now had the support of the Cong Sanye and was managing the family business in the West Prefecture, she was living securely.

But Lian Er Ye had to be exiled for fifteen years, which was half a lifetime. The Second Grandmother was like a living widow and really wanted to give birth to the great-grandson of the West Prefecture, so she would have an extra layer of reliance in the future.

The doctor heard this and smiled: "The Second Grandmother's pulse is steady, the fetal movement is powerful, and she likes sour and has a pointed abdomen. In my opinion, this fetus must be a young master.

Therefore, Second Grandmother, just relax, nourish the fetus well, and giving birth to a boy is just around the corner."

The doctor had done this all her life and had seen all kinds of scenes, so naturally, she was full of good words and auspicious words, which sounded very smooth and sincere.

Ping'er heard this and was full of smiles, and Wang Xifeng was even more happy, saying: "Ping'er, go withdraw ten taels of silver and give it to Auntie Chen as a gift to ask for these auspicious words."

The doctor was happy in her heart, feeling that the Rongguo Jia family, a prominent clan, was truly generous. She took Ping'er's silver, said a few more good words, and left happily.

Wang Xifeng was in a great mood and was chatting with Ping'er when Lin Zhixiao's wife lifted the door curtain and entered, holding a letter in her hand.

She said: "Second Grandmother, just now the post horse came and sent a letter from the wife of the maiden family in Jin Ling."

Wang Xifeng felt a bit strange when she heard this and said: "It's not a year or a festival now, why did a letter come suddenly."

So she took the letter, opened it, and took a close look.

Although the Jin Ling Wang family is a prominent clan in Jiangnan, it is not a scholarly family, so before Wang Xifeng married, she didn't know a single character.

But after arriving at the Jia family, because she was managing the household for Wang Furen, she couldn't avoid contacting documents and contracts daily. She was a clever person, so she remembered many characters after stumbling.

Reading daily letters was not difficult, but she still couldn't write. When encountering writing matters, she used to ask the servant Caiming to write for her, and sometimes the sisters in the family helped.

Therefore, she could read this letter from her maiden family in Jin Ling smoothly.

Ping'er saw Wang Xifeng reading the letter, her expression was a bit strange, and she couldn't help but be curious, asking: "Second Grandmother, what important matter did the wife say in the letter?"

Wang Xifeng said: "I haven't heard that the wife had any dealings with the Zhen family before, why is she writing a letter from so far away to plead for the Zhen family's eldest wife?"

Ping'er heard that it was related to the Zhen family, and couldn't help but move in her heart, naturally thinking of one person, that Miss Zhen San who had a betrothal with the Cong Sanye.

Wang Xifeng said: "The wife said that the Zhen family's eldest wife came to plead for help, asking me to help their family.

It seems that the Zhen family is going to have a big accident, actually sending gold and silver treasures from thousands of miles away..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 676 =====