Chapter 739: Graceful and Sentimental

Count's Mansion, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Zhen Ying Lian walked back and forth, helping Jia Cong tidy up the desk, looking curiously at Jia Cong writing and drawing on the paper, her beautiful eyes flashing, full of interest.

She wore a crimson embroidered vest with an inlaid collar, over a pink stand-up collar jacket with a side opening, and tied a lotus-colored embroidered sweat towel, looking very pretty and cute.

Since she entered the Jia mansion, she had been very favored by Jia Cong, and with her mother's care, her days were peaceful, and her eating and sleeping were steady.

Although she was only fourteen, she had changed greatly in the last half-year, growing into a slender and graceful figure, her waist slender, her bearing moving.

In the beginning, Jia Cong studied poetry and books hard, focusing on the imperial examinations, and spent the most time in the study. Because Zhen Ying Lian served in the study, she spent more time with him than anyone else.

Reading, writing, and in their leisure time, the two were intimate, whispering to each other, laughing without restraint—it was a daily occurrence.

Whenever Jia Cong didn't leave the study, Zhen Ying Lian would guard the study and not leave. In the spring, she would be drowsy, as young girls are, and would often lean against Jia Cong and doze off.

It was not rare for her to be held by him and sleep soundly. Because Zhen Ying Lian was younger and more delicate than Zhi Shao, Wu Er, and the others, they were all accustomed to such intimacy.

Now, Jia Cong restrained his willfulness. This girl had grown too fast in the last half-year, her figure swaying, her flower buds beginning to bloom, which was truly somewhat tempting.

Yet she herself hadn't realized it, her speech and actions remained naive, and she had no reservations toward Jia Cong.

Playing and being intimate like before—although Jia Cong liked it, it already felt somewhat torturous...

It was noon, the sun was bright, merging into warmth, and Zhen Ying Lian's slender figure swayed by the desk, making Jia Cong somewhat distracted.

He needed to concentrate slightly to focus his attention, using a custom-made compass and ruler to carefully draw and write on the cowhide paper.

……

After drawing the draft, he took out the telescope sent by Noyan Taiji and kept playing with it.

This telescope was made of top-quality refined copper, the surface polished smooth as a mirror, shining golden in the bright sun, very eye-catching.

The hand-held part of the lens barrel was carved with complex and exquisite patterns to increase the friction for gripping.

The edges of both ends of the lens were also inlaid with a circle of tiny rubies, the gold and red colors reflecting each other, exceptionally luxurious and beautiful.

The lenses used inside were not the glass fired in later generations, but were polished from natural, pure white crystal, with excellent light transmission and clarity.

Last time, when Jia Cong was customizing a Rubik's cube, he had seen a few telescopes at a Russian shop in the east of the city.

But whether it was the material, workmanship, or precision and clarity, they were far inferior to the one in his hand, and could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Noyan Taiji had said this was presented by the Russian court, so it must be a top-tier item; ordinary goods naturally couldn't compare.

Jia Cong held the telescope and looked out from the window. Every grass and tree in the garden in the distance was as clear as if carved, detailed and subtle.

……

Zhen Ying Lian on the side said, "Young Master, you've been fiddling with this thing all day. It looks so exquisite, even brighter than my gold necklace."

Jia Cong laughed, "This isn't made of gold; it's made of top-quality refined copper. It's called a telescope and can see things in the distance."

Zhen Ying Lian was very interested upon hearing this, walked to Jia Cong's side and sat down, saying, "Young Master, let me see too."

Jia Cong smiled and handed the telescope to her, and taught her hand-in-hand how to adjust the focus.

Because Zhen Ying Lian couldn't adjust the focus for a moment, her body subconsciously leaned back, and she leaned against him involuntarily.

Jia Cong felt the fragrance and softness in his arms and gently supported her slender waist.

He saw Zhen Ying Lian seemed not to notice at all, holding the telescope and exclaiming in surprise.

He couldn't help but find it funny. This girl had a good appearance, but her heart was truly big, and she hadn't fully "enlightened" yet.

"Young Master, I see Master Miao Yu and Little Sister Xiuyan in the plum forest under the South Slope. Why don't I see Sister Zhi Shao? I can see it so clearly."

Jia Cong laughed, "She's likely weeding and loosening the soil for the plum forest so it can bloom more magnificently at the end of the year. Let's go over and take a look too."

Zhen Ying Lian laughed, "Alright, Young Master has been sitting for a long time, you should go out and move around."

The two left the study, but didn't see Qing Wen's shadow. Zhen Ying Lian felt Jia Cong was walking too slowly and grabbed his hand.

The afternoon sun was warm and dazzling, feeling warm when it shone on people.

Jia Cong couldn't help but ask, "Zhen Ying Lian, did you use the perfume I gave you?"

Zhen Ying Lian laughed, "No, I used perfume soap to bathe this morning. Young Master, you smell it, isn't it very fragrant?"

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "I'll smell it when we go back."

Zhen Ying Lian saw Jia Cong's bright, jade-like smile and realized she had spoken too quickly, having been somewhat forgetful just now, and her pretty face flushed red.

Originally she was pulling Jia Cong to walk fast, but in the end, it became Jia Cong pulling her to walk.

……

The two walked to the South Slope Plum Forest of Dengxian Pavilion and saw Miao Yu and Xing Xiuyan holding short-handled flower hoes, loosening the soil and digging grass for the plum roots, and carefully sprinkling ash.

The dozens of plum trees planted here were transplanted from Mount Xuanmu in Gusu when Jia Cong and Zhi Shao returned from the south last year. They had already bloomed once last year.

Miao Yu had grown up on Mount Xuanmu since she was a child and had many feelings for this plum forest from her hometown, giving birth to much concern in her heart.

She had practiced in the empty gate for many years and, under the influence of Abbess Xiushan, cooked tea with plum stamens and made soup with plum petals, naturally knowing how to care for plum trees.

Today, hearing Xing Xiuyan mention the plum forest under the South Slope, she came over with her to tidy it up.

Although she had entered the empty gate to practice since she was young, was cold and strange, and was not tolerated by the world, her heart of the red dust had not been completely severed.

Ever since she met Zhi Shao and Jia Cong, after several twists and turns, her state of mind was chaotic and shaken, and her thoughts of love and attachment were gradually losing their suppression.

She developed many attachments to the people and things around her that she hadn't had in the past...

Zhen Ying Lian went up to help Xing Xiuyan. Both young girls were at an age of vigorous energy, and naturally, they had no reservations about doing the work.

Jia Cong saw that Miao Yu's pale ink-white skirt was already stained with spots of mud. After loosening the soil and weeding for a long time, her pretty face was flushed, and a layer of fine sweat appeared on her forehead.

He went up and took the short hoe from Miao Yu's hand, saying, "I'll do it. You rest for a while."

Miao Yu didn't speak, just gave him the hoe. She had originally thought Jia Cong was pampered and couldn't do this kind of rough work.

She stood on the side and watched for a while, seeing that although he was somewhat unfamiliar at first, he soon became familiar with the work. He was truly capable of what others couldn't do, and a trace of a smile appeared on her face.

Jia Cong laughed, "There are old women in the mansion who tidy up the flowers and trees. You can just call them to do it. You are a guest, so how can I let you labor?"

Miao Yu said, "There are many plum trees planted in Panxiang Temple, and there are few people in the temple. Jinghui, Xiuyan, and I have all done these things, so it's nothing."

After the few of them were busy for a while, they tidied up all the plum trees on the slope.

Jia Cong wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and asked, "Why don't I see Zhi Shao, and I don't hear any movement from Second Sister and the others?"

Xing Xiuyan said, "Sister Zhi Shao is accompanying the Abbess to talk. After lunch, the Old Lady from the West Prefecture sent word, saying that the days are short and the weather is cold now."

"The Old Lady doesn't dare to nap, worried that she won't sleep well at night, and asked if the sisters were free to accompany her to talk and play mahjong, so Second Sister and the others all went over."

Jia Cong was clear that the Old Lady valued health, and indeed had the habit of not napping in winter, so he didn't care in his heart.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

The incense tripod exhaled fragrance, light smoke curled, the incense cage was slightly red, and warmth rose.

The Old Lady was playing cards with Wang Xifeng, Ying Chun, and Tan Chun, while Daiyu and Xiangyun sat on the side drinking tea.

Yuanyang stood behind the Old Lady, gesturing with her fingers to the other three, all smiles.

Wang Xifeng, Ying Chun, and Tan Chun were all clever people; how could they not understand her meaning?

The three of them just remained calm, their card play having an unusual tacit understanding. They often won a round from the Old Lady, then followed by losing three rounds, making the Old Lady very happy.

A woman from outside came to report that the Second Lady had come to pay her respects. The Old Lady's expression stiffened upon hearing this.

Nowadays, she was truly disgusted with her second daughter-in-law; every time she came, she said bad things, making people feel uncomfortable.

Just now, she was playing cards with her granddaughters, and her heart was very comfortable. She didn't know what this daughter-in-law was coming to say again, hoping she wouldn't ruin the mood and delay everyone's fun.

But since she was already here, could she be driven out? She laughed, "Invite her in quickly. I'm happy today, so don't talk about anything else, just come and play cards."

After a while, Lady Wang entered the inner hall, actually full of smiles, which surprised the Old Lady.

In the past, this daughter-in-law always came with a bitter and deep-seated hatred. Today she was so joyful, which was a good thing.

The Old Lady laughed, "Since you're here, sit down and play a round. My hand is very smooth today."

Wang Xifeng hurriedly stood up to give up her seat, and Lady Wang laughed, "I'll play cards with the Old Lady another day. Today I came to report good news to the Old Lady."

Everyone in the hall was surprised. What good news could the Second Branch have?

The Old Lady laughed, "Where does the joy come from? Tell us so we can be happy too."

Lady Wang said, "Today I went to Bao Yu's courtyard. Bao Yu is doing well in everything, but Cai Xia's complexion is not good. I privately asked a few more questions, and she said her period is seven or eight days late, and her body is somewhat strange, and she doesn't know the reason."

When Lady Wang said this, young girls like Ying Chun and Daiyu didn't react for a moment.

Wang Xifeng was stunned, and the Old Lady's face was full of joy, blurting out, "Is she pregnant?"

Lady Wang laughed, "I guessed the same. Because I wasn't sure in my heart, I hurriedly invited a doctor to take a look."

"After the doctor diagnosed and asked questions, he said it was seven or eight parts certain. If her period doesn't come in five or six days, it will be ten out of ten."

Ying Chun, Daiyu, and the others finally understood what was going on, their pretty faces flushed red, and they hurriedly stood up and retreated to the outer hall to sit.

The Old Lady laughed heartily, "This is truly good news, great news! My Bao Yu is also going to branch out and spread leaves."

Wang Xifeng on the side was stunned, her heart full of shock. She wondered why her aunt was in such a hurry to stuff Cai Xia into Bao Yu's room. This eye for talent was truly poisonous.

She didn't expect this girl to be so useful. Bao Yu had only slept with her for half a month, and she was already pregnant.

Could it be that this girl had eaten the Old Lord's elixir? It was too responsive...

At this moment, Baochai brought the maid Jin Chuan into Rongqing Hall, followed by two women carrying several bags.

She said that the Duan Family Grain Shop in the north of the city had a new batch of top-quality Bigeng rice, and her brother Xue Pan had obtained quite a bit, so she sent some to the Old Lady to taste.

The Old Lady was very happy upon hearing this, and told the news of the pregnancy in Bao Yu's room. Baochai was also surprised upon hearing it.

……

Love Shenjing, north of the city, Yongchun Street.

The street was bustling with people, and the shops on the side of the road were all prosperous, with people coming and going, without interruption.

A few months ago, the Hongxing Southern Goods Store on the street had a major incident, selling pickled soft-shelled turtle meat, leading to a major case of poisoning officials.

Although the matter had subsided, the murderer who poisoned the Right Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Huang Hongcang, had not yet been brought to justice.

Although tested by Li Chengming, the head of the Imperial Hospital, the soft-shelled turtle meat sold by the Hongxing Southern Goods Store was non-toxic, and the owner of the Southern Goods Store was released without guilt by the Court of Inquiry.

For an ordinary merchant with no background to walk out of the Court of Inquiry alive after being imprisoned was already a great blessing and fortune.

But even so, the Southern Goods Store's business could no longer be done. The southern goods in the store were suspected of poisoning officials; who would dare to come to the door to buy things?

That couple of shop owners walked out of the Court of Inquiry prison covered in scars, sold the shop after a few days, packed up their business, and returned to their hometown to nurse their wounds in sorrow and fear.

Now this Hongxing Southern Goods Store had changed its face and become a Jiujin Cloth Store, and its business was very good.

I heard that the Tongwen Hall of the Court of State Ceremonial recently purchased a large amount of cloth from this cloth store because they were receiving the Remnant Mongol three-tribe delegation.

Precisely because there were many business dealings with the Tongwen Hall, officials from the Registrar's Office of the Court of State Ceremonial often entered and exited the cloth store, contacting various sales documents.

In a bustling market like Yongchun Street in the Love Shenjing, the prosperity behind the scenes of life and death, ups and downs, was staged almost every day.

Over the past few months, few people remembered that there had been a Hongxing Southern Goods Store on the street.

Now the most prosperous shop on Yongchun Street was not the Southern Goods Store, nor the cloth store, but the newly opened Duan Family Grain Shop.

The Duan Family Grain Shop's business was booming, not only because the price of grain in the Love Shenjing was soaring.

It was also because the shopkeeper had extensive connections, and many wealthy families in the Love Shenjing were purchasing and hoarding grain at the grain shop, making the Duan Family Grain Shop famous in the market.

So much so that the yamen runners, government officials, and local ruffians wandering on Yongchun Street didn't dare to easily make things difficult or harass the Duan Family Grain Shop.

On this day, the shopkeeper of the grain shop, Duan Chunjiang, was busy with a few transactions, clearing the accounts at the counter, the abacus clicking loudly.

Beside the abacus was a plate of roasted sheep intestines, dark red and dry, with a bland smell.

At this time, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build, bright clothing, and an ordinary appearance entered the shop, looking like a merchant with some assets.

The Duan Family Grain Shop's business was prosperous, and countless merchants entered and exited every day. Such a character appearing in the shop was the most common thing, and no one would pay special attention.

……

Duan Chunjiang saw the person coming, his expression moved slightly, and he put down the abacus in his hand.

He said with a full face of smiles, "So it's Boss Sun. The top-quality Bigeng rice you wanted has arrived and is all stored in the backyard. I'll take you to take a look."

The two entered the inner room of the backyard. Duan Chunjiang carefully closed the doors and windows, and Boss Sun asked, "Have you found any clues about the grain route?"

Duan Chunjiang shook his head and said, "How can one find out about such military matters in the market? Only people in the officialdom know the details."

"Han people are not like us Mongols; they have too many damn rules. Officials and merchants are different, the boundaries are clearly defined, and merchants rarely associate with officials."

"Not to mention that I am an outsider with no foundation in the Love Shenjing. How could I associate with officials in such a short time?"

"A few days ago, I racked my brains and, under the pretext of selling and transporting grain, won over a few handlers from a carriage firm in the north of the city."

"Because they were temporarily conscripted by the Ministry of Revenue some time ago, they had transported a large amount of military grain out of the pass, and the destination was the Jiuzhen."

Boss Sun felt joy upon hearing this and said, "Shopkeeper Duan is truly capable. You could even find such a path—truly pervasive."

Duan Chunjiang laughed bitterly, "Don't be happy too soon. Although I found the people who transported the grain, they don't know the final storage place either."

"After they were conscripted by the Ministry of Revenue, they transported grain with the army for several days. The grain team left Zijing Pass and stopped at a place called Baotunli."

"Grain carts and soldiers from the Jiuzhen had already gathered there. After both sides counted and handed over the grain, they returned to the Love Shenjing along the original road, and none of them knew the final storage place."

"I have used various tortuous means to find several other carriage firms conscripted by the Ministry of War, and the news I got was the same."

"Under the Khan, I was in charge of military supplies and grain, and I know best the principle that 'troops and horses move, grain and grass go first'."

"Grain routes and storage points have always been the most important of military matters. Even if they are careful, it is within reason."

"But the Zhou people are so cautious and thoughtful this time, which is very unusual, showing the Great Zhou's determination to prepare for war is quite hot and firm."

……

Duan Chunjiang took out a map from the cabinet, found the location of Zijing Pass, and pointed his finger north to a place.

He said, "This place is Baotunli. Its location is moderate to Datong, Xuanfu, and Jizhou, suitable for the transit of grain and grass to various places."

"I am not familiar with this place. Does Brother Dali know it?"

Sun Dali said, "Last time there was a major change in my family, and many of the clan's industries were sealed. However, those were all on the surface."

"My family has operated in the north for several generations. Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails. Along the Jiuzhen and the capital line, many secret stakes and manpower were left behind."

"Although I don't know the details of Baotunli, I know that the Great Zhou army has set up many small military garrisons along the line from the Love Shenjing to the Jiuzhen."

"Each garrison is stationed with hundreds of soldiers, serving as transit for grain transport and troop mobilization. I think Baotunli is also like this."

"I will write a letter immediately upon returning. In two or three days, or at most five or six days, I will definitely be able to find out the situation in Baotunli."

"Perhaps I can follow the vine to find the melon and have other gains..."

Duan Chunjiang felt secretly happy hearing this and suppressed the urge to ask about the secret stakes. This was the foundation of the other party's survival, so naturally, he wouldn't reveal it to him.

When this family moved north as a whole, they were able to be accepted and treated favorably by the Khan because they relied on this capital.

The Khan also looked at the long term, knowing that they had defected north so fiercely, they must have buried stakes within the passes long ago, which was why they had the confidence to be "rare goods to be hoarded."

Sun Dali said, "If Shopkeeper Duan wants to take root in the Love Shenjing and have gains in military intelligence, associating with officials is the only way, otherwise it will be difficult to move."

"I don't know if Shopkeeper Duan has made progress on the Xue Pan matter I mentioned last time. If we can connect with Jia Cong through this person, it will be of great benefit to us."

Duan Chunjiang laughed bitterly, "I originally thought that Xue Pan and Jia Cong were close relatives, so it would be easy to connect."

"I have asked him a few times, and he just dodged the question, his expression very awkward."

"I think he must have told Jia Cong, and it seems the other party didn't give this cousin face."

"I have said that Han people in the Central Plains have many rules. Officials and merchants are separated, clearly distinguished."

"Jia Cong is famous outside. They all say that although this person is young, he is cunning, wise, and has gloomy methods, which is extraordinary. Otherwise, how could he do so many major things?"

"Therefore, this matter should not be urged again. It is best to let nature take its course."

"Xue Pan is arrogant, stupid, and has no city. I am worried that if he mentions this matter too much, Jia Cong will smell something, and then there will be complications, so I have to guard against it."

Sun Dali had to give up hearing this. The two talked about other matters, agreed on a time to meet again, and went out of the inner courtyard together.

Sun Dali took away a few bags of top-quality Bigeng rice when he left, leaving no flaws at all.

It was just that when he left the Duan Family Grain Shop, he didn't notice a man on a stall across the street who was picking out goods at will.

This man was tall and thin, his back slightly hunched. Although he was buying things, his eyes were intentionally or unintentionally glancing at the entrance of the grain shop.

When he saw Sun Dali's appearance clearly, a look of surprise and shock appeared on his face... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 740 =====