Chapter 686

Lady Rongguo Mansion, East Road Courtyard.

Early morning, there were few pedestrians on Ningrong Street, and the rising sun cast large golden shadows, dispelling the ethereal morning mist in the air.

A carriage came out of the east corner gate of the Count's Mansion, drove all the way west along Ningrong Street, walked for the distance of two arrows, and stopped in front of the black oil gate of the East Road Courtyard.

A woman from the East Road Courtyard, accompanied by three inner courtyard maids, had already been waiting at the gate early. Seeing the carriage stop, they greeted it.

I saw the curtain of the carriage lifted, and a woman who looked clean and capable came down, moved the carriage stool from behind the carriage and placed it in front of the carriage, before reaching out to help Seeing Tan Chun get off.

Afterwards, Seeing Tan Chun's maids Shi Shu and Cuimo also came down, each carrying Seeing Tan Chun's personal clothing box, makeup box, stationery, and writing brushes.

Seeing Seeing Tan Chun, the woman said with a full smile: "We received a message from the East Prefecture yesterday, knowing that the Third Young Lady was coming back, the young lady's room has been cleaned up."

"The bedding and bed curtains have all been changed to new ones, the young lady can rest peacefully when she arrives, and all meals and hot soup are served by clever maids, so the young lady doesn't have to worry about anything."

"The eldest young lady of the East Prefecture asked to order that a portion of ice basin be sent every morning and evening, so that the young lady can cool off, and another portion is for the old master and mistress to use."

Seeing Tan Chun smiled and said: "Thank you, Auntie. Today is the old master's day off, is he in the study?"

The woman replied: "He was originally at home, but because Cheng Rixing opened a new antique shop on Yuhe Street and got several Tang dynasty antiques, calligraphy, and paintings."

"Yesterday he sent a post to the old master, inviting the old master to visit his shop to appreciate paintings and drink wine. He sent a carriage to pick him up early this morning, and it is estimated that he will not return to the mansion until noon."

Hearing this, Seeing Tan Chun didn't care.

She knew that since the second branch moved into the East Road Courtyard, those pure guests who originally flattered the old master saw that the second branch had lost power and scattered one after another.

Only this Cheng Rixing still remembered some old feelings and often came to the East Road Courtyard to accompany the old master to talk, never breaking off contact, and was also a person with some city government.

Seeing Tan Chun said: "I will go to the inner courtyard to settle down first. When the old master returns to the mansion, please inform me so that I can go to pay respects. Thank you, Auntie."

Seeing Seeing Tan Chun's polite words, the woman felt even more honored and diligently led Seeing Tan Chun into the gate.

……

Since the main branch's Jia Cong inherited the Lady Rongguo noble title, the second branch's Jia Zheng moved out of the Lady Rongguo main mansion and settled in the East Road Courtyard.

The second branch was originally the main branch of the Lady Rongguo Mansion, and Wang Furen was the mistress of the Lady Rongguo Mansion. The second branch's servants were also a cut above the others in the mansion, looking quite arrogant.

Originally, the old master and mistress lived in the East Road Courtyard, and the main branch's Lady Lian Er Ye and Feng Grandmother lived in the Lady Rongguo Mansion, also relying on their mistress's face to live.

That period was when the second branch's servants were the most glorious, and no one expected today's result.

The second branch's servants, who were originally arrogant, were now truly a cut below the main branch's people in the mansion, because others had become the direct descendants, and they had become a side branch.

In the eyes of the second branch's servants, the masters of the entire second branch were going downhill. Even the Bao Er Ye Bao, who was still favored by the Old Madam, was not as decent as before.

Although this master was still stuck in the West Prefecture, the maids and boys around him were cut off by the Second Grandmother, and he didn't dare to make a sound.

It seems that even if the Bao Er Ye Bao was obedient, he still wanted to stay in the West Prefecture, and it looked embarrassing to look at, so where was the spirit of the Jia family's phoenix man in the past.

……

There was only one person in the second branch who was different, going against the wind and becoming even more decent than before, and this person was the third young lady of the second branch, Seeing Tan Chun.

That year, Cong Sanye Cong was looked down upon in the mansion because his concubine mother's background was not good.

The Third Young Lady did not dislike him at all, but valued this cousin very much, and had been close to Cong Sanye Cong since childhood, even closer than a brother and sister.

Now that Cong Sanye Cong had become the head of the Jia family's two mansions, the Third Young Lady who had been close to him since childhood had also risen with the tide.

The Third Young Lady was not only taken to the East Prefecture by Cong Sanye Cong to be raised, but it was said that her food and clothing in the East Prefecture were the same as the Second Young Lady of the East Prefecture, and she was very favored by Cong Sanye Cong.

Those gossiping servants in the East Road Courtyard now privately said that the Jia family's second branch was considered fallen. Although there was the Bao Er Ye Bao, the legitimate son, he was a piece of goods that couldn't be supported on the wall.

If the second branch wanted to rely on him to make a fortune and turn over in the future, it might be faster for everyone to wipe their necks and be reincarnated……

……

Now in the East Road Courtyard, only Wang Furen felt that Bao Yu was good in every way and would definitely bring glory to his ancestors, and she wanted to fight for a breath for herself and not let Jia Cong be proud for a lifetime.

The servants below watched the wind and the situation, and privately said that if the second branch wanted to be glorious in the future, they would mostly have to rely on the Third Young Lady Seeing Tan Chun.

Now the Second Young Lady of the East Prefecture, because of her own brother, Cong Sanye Cong, had become the eldest young lady of the East Prefecture, who was originally not favored.

Originally, she was a concubine-born daughter who was not looked upon, but now many noble families wanted to come to the door to marry, nothing more than looking at Cong Sanye Cong's power and future.

After Cong Sanye Cong settled in the East Prefecture, he took the Third Young Lady to live in the East Prefecture, and the old master never said anything, and was even happy to see it happen.

Some of the servants in the East Road Courtyard with flexible brains naturally thought that the Third Young Lady was about to reach the age of fifteen, and she had to plan for her marriage.

Now that she had established a foothold in the East Prefecture and was favored and lifted by Cong Sanye Cong, it must be the path of the Second Young Lady.

Plus the Third Young Lady was so beautiful, I don't know how many noble families would break the threshold for the Third Young Lady in the future in order to get involved in Cong Sanye Cong's power and future.

By then, the Third Young Lady marrying into a noble family was almost a certainty, and the entire second branch would be glorious because of her.

Because Seeing Tan Chun was close to Jia Cong, Wang Furen showed enough of her legal mother's posture in front of Seeing Tan Chun and often ignored her.

However, the servants in the East Road Courtyard who were flexible didn't have Wang Furen's face. Whoever had a future and was glorious, they would go to flatter whoever.

……

The woman who came to pick up Seeing Tan Chun was such a flexible person, and there were definitely not a few such servants in the East Road Courtyard.

These people were all determined in their hearts that as long as they were diligent to Seeing Tan Chun and burned this cold stove well, and obtained the favor of this Third Young Lady, they would definitely have great benefits in the future.

Therefore, although Seeing Tan Chun did not live in the East Road Courtyard for a long time, and Wang Furen was indifferent to her coming and going, she couldn't stand the servants below being intentional.

As long as Seeing Tan Chun wanted to come back to stay for a few days, without Wang Furen's personal instructions, the servants below would rush to clean up Seeing Tan Chun's room and arrange all kinds of clothing, food, and hot soup properly.

Although Seeing Tan Chun was shrewd and clear about the reason for the second branch's servants' enthusiasm, she felt at home every time she came back, which was not a bad thing.

……

Seeing Tan Chun entered the inner courtyard but did not return to her room directly, but first went to Wang Furen's room to pay respects, and then went to Zhao Zhao Yiniang's room to meet.

Although Zhao Zhao Yiniang was Seeing Tan Chun's biological mother, in the backyard of a large family, the legal mother and mistress were heaven, and the etiquette could not be wrong by half……

After she brought Shi Shu and Cuimo back to the room that had been cleaned up, she packed her personal clothes and jewelry, and searched for a while, when she suddenly remembered something.

She said: "Shi Shu, I forgot to bring the box of Changbai blood velvet slices that the Second Sister gave me a few days ago. I wanted to give it to the old master to nourish his body."

"Help me go back to the East Prefecture to get it, so that the kitchen can stew a bowl for the old master in the evening."

Shi Shu agreed and walked out of the room with light steps.

She was not like Seeing Tan Chun, a noble daughter who had to take a carriage when going out and couldn't be seen easily. After reaching the second gate, she had to go straight out of the black oil gate.

It was only the distance of two arrows from the East Road Courtyard to the East Prefecture, and she didn't need to walk the whole way.

She only needed to come out of the East Road Courtyard's black oil gate, walk a few dozen steps, and then turn into the Lady Rongguo Mansion's west corner gate.

Then cross the West Prefecture and enter the East Prefecture through the small gate connecting the two mansions, neither ostentatious nor familiar.

……

Just as Shi Shu walked out of the black oil gate, she saw a carriage parked at the gate, which looked very unfamiliar, not like the carriages of the two mansions, nor the East Road Courtyard's.

She asked the retainer guarding the gate curiously: "Are there guests visiting the old master and mistress today?"

The retainer guarding the gate knew that she was Seeing Tan Chun's personal maid and a popular person in the courtyard now, so he naturally didn't dare to be negligent.

He smiled flatteringly: "There are indeed guests visiting today, but they are not visiting the old master, they are visiting the mistress, and they are distinguished guests from the Zhen family in Jin Ling."

Shi Shu just asked casually and was about to step out of the gate when she heard the retainer say the Zhen family in Jin Ling, her heart shook, and she couldn't help but stop.

……

Yesterday, Seeing Tan Chun went to the Seeing Yingchun Courtyard to chat and gather, and brought Shi Shu along.

Seeing Tan Chun and the sisters played chess, embroidered, and chatted in the main room, while maids like Shi Shu, Hearing Zi Juan, Seeing Jin Jin Chuan, and Cuilu chatted in the side room next door.

The side room and the main room were separated by only a thin wooden wall. When the young ladies needed service, they just had to call, and these personal maids could hear them.

Therefore, the maids like Shi Shu and Hearing Zi Juan could hear seven or eight out of ten of the conversations of the young ladies in the main room next door.

Later, Cong Sanye entered the courtyard, and the main room was lively for a while. Shi Shu and maids like Hearing Zi Juan naturally heard about the Zhen family sending silver.

Jia Cong said, "The Zhen family's affairs are quite risky. Second Sister-in-law is not as gentle as you and Ping'er. She is shrewd and bold, and sometimes doesn't follow the rules."

"In the past, she often acted beyond the rules. I hope that after hearing Aunt Xue's words, she will become vigilant and not do anything inappropriate."

Jia Cong smiled again, "However, with you watching over the West Prefecture for me, I don't need to worry much; nothing major will happen."

Wu'er smiled and said, "Isn't Qingwen always saying I'm a housekeeper? Cong Sanye, rest assured, Wu'er will definitely help Cong Sanye be a good housekeeper."

Jia Cong leaned back, resting in Wu'er's soft, fragrant embrace, and said with a smile, "I don't just want you to be a housekeeper."

The reason Jia Cong said this was because Wu'er had already performed the family rites to Grandmother Jia in the Rongqing Hall. As a senior maid who had accompanied and served him since childhood, her status was already different.

Wu'er's pretty face turned pink, her heart pounded, and a charming smile appeared on her face. Biting her cherry lips, she forgot herself and wrapped her arms around his neck, gently pulling him into her embrace.

Jia Cong closed his eyes slightly, feeling peaceful and at ease in his heart. He gently rubbed Wu'er's delicate, soft hands, immersed in the fragrant, sweet scent.

Time passed, and the morning sun outside the window gradually brightened, until Ling Qi Guan had prepared breakfast and came to call them to eat.

Love Shenjing, Da Zhou Imperial Palace, Ganyang Palace.

Midsummer was like fire, and the originally cool main hall became somewhat hot and stuffy.

Therefore, before noon every day, Guo Lin would have the eunuchs sprinkle well water around the main hall to eliminate the accumulated heat.

On both sides of the Emperor's imperial desk were placed two brass ice basins, filled with crystal-clear crushed ice, emitting bursts of icy mist, causing the heat in the main hall to dissipate rapidly.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was wearing bright yellow thin silk casual clothes and a light, breathable golden wing-shaped crown, concentrating on flipping through various memorials.

Most of these memorials were submitted by officials from various regions through the Office of Transmission, and some were re-examination reports urgently sent from Jin Ling by the Three Judicial Offices.

Since the morning court session that day, officials from various ministries had impeached the Jin Ling Zhen family for acting illegally, demanding a strict investigation and trial.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao went with the flow and issued an imperial decree in court, ordering the Three Judicial Offices to send personnel, with the Court of Judicial Review taking primary responsibility for the trial, and setting a deadline of half a month to go south to re-examine the evidence of Zhen Zhen Shiwen's treason and convict him according to the law.

These past two days, the Three Judicial Offices' re-examination reports had been sent back to the Love Shenjing by fast horse, day and night.

However, after Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao read these reports, he felt much disappointment.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested the Zhen family's steward, Chen Rong, and extracted evidence of Zhen Zhen Shiwen's intentional private manufacture of firearms, after re-examination by the Three Judicial Offices, all could be confirmed.

But the major case of private manufacture of firearms that shook Jiangnan last year stopped abruptly upon deep investigation and made no further progress.

Even with the shrewdness and capability of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander Wang Wang Zhangjiang, apart from verifying Zhen Zhen Shiwen as the main culprit in the private manufacture of firearms, the remaining doubts in this case were difficult to break through.

Whether it was the Court of Judicial Review Judge Yang Yang Hongbin who went to Jin Ling for re-examination, or the Court of Judicial Review Minister Wei Wei Guanyao who sat in the Love Shenjing's government office.

When they contacted the various evidence files provided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and re-examined the clues of the major case of private manufacture of firearms, they could easily discover the key oddities.

Although Zhen Zhen Shiwen of the Zhen family's main branch was the main culprit in the private manufacture of firearms case, he was not the true mastermind behind the scenes.

They flipped through the files of the Jin Ling Xiuchun Street murder case, as well as the testimony of the maid of Zhen Zhen Shiwen's concubine, Yu Niang.

Zhen Zhen Shiwen and Yu Niang were killed in their room in the middle of the night, with clean and silent methods.

No gold, silver, or valuables were lost in the room; it was definitely not the work of ordinary thieves. It was obvious that Zhen Zhen Shiwen had been silenced.

The killer was the true mastermind behind the Jin Ling firearm private manufacture case, but all clues leading to the final truth had been cut off in time.

Even though Wang Wang Zhangjiang, Yang Yang Hongbin, Wei Wei Guanyao, and others were all experts at investigating cases and arresting criminals, they were at their wits' end regarding this.

All the doubts regarding the investigation and re-examination of this case were detailed in the memorials submitted by the Three Judicial Offices.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao read the Three Judicial Offices' memorials and understood that although this major case of private manufacture of firearms in Jin Ling had been investigated many times, it could currently only be used to convict the Zhen family.

The dark veil that made him wary, worried, and gloomy, could never be lifted, and he didn't know when it would be revealed to the world...

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao read the memorials and took another gray-white secret memorandum from the imperial desk. This was reported by the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office by eight-hundred-li fast horse and had just been presented to the palace at noon.

For major and important cases, the Three Judicial Offices investigate openly, and the Central Vehicle Office investigates secretly; this had always been Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's method of handling affairs, so as to avoid listening to only one side and being blinded.

Therefore, after reading the Three Judicial Offices' memorials, he also read the Central Vehicle Office's secret report very carefully.

The content recorded in the Central Vehicle Office's secret memorandum, compared with the description in the Three Judicial Offices' memorials, adopted a different focus.

The investigation of Zhen Zhen Shiwen's case was only briefly mentioned to avoid overlapping with the Three Judicial Offices' memorials; the secret memorandum mostly recorded the situation surrounding the major case.

For example, after the imperial decree was issued to Jin Ling, the Zhen family head, Zhen Shijia, was dismissed and investigated, causing a huge uproar in Jin Ling City.

Because everyone believed that the Zhen family's mansion was about to collapse and that confiscation and extermination were imminent, many merchants who had business dealings with the Zhen family cut off their business dealings with them one after another.

Many merchants who had outstanding debts with the Zhen family gathered at the Zhen family's various shops, and even attacked the Zhen family's mansion, demanding the withdrawal of various business funds.

The Zhen family's second branch steward, Liu Linjiang Xian, struggled to cope, but Zhen Zhen Fangqing, who managed the Zhen family's business, never showed her face.

Central Vehicle Office secret agents investigated secretly in the city and confirmed that Zhen Zhen Fangqing was not in Jin Ling City and her whereabouts were unknown...

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao saw this and felt doubts in his heart. He asked, "Guo Lin, according to your report, Zhen Zhen Fangqing left the Love Shenjing more than ten days ago."

"Even if the carriage and horse journey were slow, she should have arrived in Jin Ling long ago. Why is there no trace of her now? Could it be that an accident happened on the way?"

"Although the Old Imperial Consort Zhen has passed away, the late Emperor still had some lingering affection for her."

"Now the imperial court is handling a major case, and the Zhen family's crimes have not yet been settled. If something happens to her at this time, it won't look good on my face."

Guo Lin said, "This matter is indeed a bit strange. The Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office deployed quite a few people to search inside and outside Jin Ling City, but there is no trace of her."

"The more than ten family members of the Zhen mansion who left the capital with her are also missing, and their whereabouts are unknown."

"The slave will immediately issue a document to the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office, asking them to increase the search efforts and find Zhen Zhen Fangqing's whereabouts at all costs."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Now the Zhen family is facing a drastic change, and Zhen Zhen Fangqing left the capital to return home, but went missing at this time."

"If she was harmed by strongmen on the way, that would be fine; it would just be a matter of arresting the criminals."

"If she deliberately hid her tracks, then she has other plans. Although the Old Imperial Consort's great-granddaughter is a woman, she is not an ordinary person."

"Search for her whereabouts, don't just toss about in Jin Ling City; also patrol all places along the way from the Love Shenjing to Jin Ling."

"Fortunately, although she is somewhat extraordinary, she is a woman after all and does not affect the overall situation. Just try your best to find her, so there will be an explanation to the late Emperor in the future."

Guo Lin hurriedly replied, "The slave obeys the decree."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said this and put it aside for the time being, continuing to browse the secret memorandum in his hand.

The secret memorandum later narrated that the Court of Judicial Review Judge Yang Yang Hongbin, who was in charge of this case, was worried that the situation would intensify, leading to a dangerous situation of looting and armed fighting, harming the stability of the people in the auxiliary capital.

Using reasons such as the Zhen family being under the imperial court's guilt, their property awaiting disposal, merchant debts being handled according to the contracts of both parties, and breach of contract matters being ignored,

he issued a document to the Ying Tian Prefect Jia Yucun, deploying yamen runners from all over the city to guard the Zhen family's shops and mansion, suppress the city merchants, and protect the auxiliary capital from chaos.

In the appendix of the Central Vehicle Office's secret memorandum, the list of merchants who had business disputes with the Zhen family was detailed.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao browsed through it casually, but unexpectedly discovered a familiar name: the Imperial Merchant Xin Chun Bank's Jiangnan headquarters.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's voice was slightly cold as he asked, "Jia Cong is the mastermind behind Xin Chun Bank. Does he also have business dealings with the Zhen family?"

Guo Lin felt a chill in his heart and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office has already carefully checked this. The Jia and Zhen families are family friends in Jin Ling, and the two families have had many dealings for many years."

"Last year, Jia Cong went to Jin Ling to handle the major case of the Guard Army. Because of family etiquette, he visited Old Lady Zhen, and thus became acquainted with Zhen Zhen Fangqing."

"The Xin Chun Bank's Jin Ling branch is now booming in business, attracting much attention in Jin Ling, and is a leader among Jin Ling business firms."

"Zhen Zhen Fangqing manages the Zhen family's business. In business, one naturally acts for profit. The Jia and Zhen families are also family friends."

"Publicly and privately, she has the convenience of Jia Cong's connections, and having business dealings with Xin Chun Bank can be considered reasonable."

"According to the report of the Imperial Household Department officials, Xin Chun Bank's accounts registered with the Imperial Household Department last year showed an annual profit of over 300,000 taels."

"At the beginning of this year, the Xin Chun Bank Jiangnan headquarters borrowed the Zhen family's merchant fleet to sell perfume and other creations to overseas countries, making huge profits."

"If this trend continues, this year or next year, Xin Chun Bank should be able to achieve the promise Jia Cong made at the beginning: an annual profit of 500,000 taels within three years of establishing the firm."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao heard this, his eyes brightened slightly, and he muttered, "I didn't expect him to really do it..."

Guo Lin said, "It's just that a change has occurred. Last month, the Zhen family's merchant fleet left the port twice and loaded a large number of Xin Chun Bank's commercial goods, as usual, to be sold to overseas countries."

"However, this time the fleet went to sea and has since lost contact, and there has been no news of the ships returning to this day."

"After the Zhen family incident, the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office paid attention to this matter and specifically sent personnel to verify it."

"Later, it was reported that according to coastal boatmen, around May of this year, typhoons frequently ravaged the sea."

"Many ships sank and suffered disasters after going to sea. Most of the Zhen family's merchant ships likely encountered a disaster and are definitely inauspicious."

"So this time, the Xin Chun Bank Jiangnan headquarters suffered heavy losses, which is why it appeared on the list of those pursuing silver debts from the Zhen family."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao pondered for a moment and asked, "This matter is somewhat coincidental. It happened to encounter a disaster when going to sea at this time. Is the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office's news reliable?"

Guo Lin replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office is remotely led by the Love Shenjing's Grand Chief. Now, the person in charge of the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office is an old man who has been in the office for ten years."

"He is shrewd, capable, and effective in handling affairs. He is a trustworthy person, and the news will definitely not be wrong."

"However, what Your Majesty said is very reasonable. At the time when the Zhen family's crimes were settled, the Zhen family's fleet happened to have an accident, which indeed seems strange."

"The slave will issue another document to let them increase personnel to investigate."

"No matter what the result of the Zhen family's merchant fleet is, life or death, we must find out the exact result..." (End of chapter)

Although Bao Yu was getting married, since the Old Madam was still in the mansion, the Lady Rongguo public treasury would definitely allocate silver.

But Wang Furen had also been managing the house for many years, and she knew the foundation of the Lady Rongguo public treasury better than outsiders.

According to previous years, the Lady Rongguo public treasury would have an income of nearly 20,000 taels a year.

In the event of Bao Yu's marriage, even if 10,000 taels were allocated, it would not be a big deal; at worst, it could be filled in the following year.

But now she was no longer the mistress, and had no power at all.

And since last year, the court had been implementing new policies, and a large amount of summer and autumn taxes needed to be paid on time every year.

After Cong Ge'er inherited the Lady Rongguo title, the West Prefecture had 500 fewer stones of noble property.

Wang Furen had privately calculated that the annual income of the West Prefecture's public treasury was at most 10,000 taels.

This silver was now the private property of the main branch, so how could it be given to her for Bao Yu's marriage.

Even with the Old Madam's face, Jia Cong and Wang Wang Xifeng could barely spend 5,000 taels, and no more.

Wang Furen had long ago made calculations privately, and had been having a headache about this matter, and she didn't have much left to sell in her two dowry shops……

She didn't expect that someone would send a pillow when she wanted to take a nap.

Wang Furen looked at the jewelry in the small box, and her heart couldn't help but beat. With this birthday gift from the Zhen family, Bao Yu's marriage could be decent…… (End of chapter)