Chapter 80: A fresh flower planted in cow dung

Jia Cong ran to the window and looked out. He saw that Jia Rong's hat was already gone, his hair bun was disheveled as he fled in a panic, and even his luxurious clothes had been torn in several places.

The burly man behind him, with long arms and legs, caught up in just a few steps. He kicked Jia Rong to the ground, took a swig of wine, threw the flask away, and began kicking and beating Jia Rong right there in the street.

After kicking him a few times, he felt it wasn't enough and cursed, "You thousand-cut scoundrel, how dare you touch your father's woman? I'll castrate you!"

As he spoke, he kicked viciously toward Jia Rong's crotch. Cai Xiaoyu, up on the second floor, could hear Jia Rong's blood-curdling scream from far away; the sharp, piercing sound made one's scalp tingle.

At this moment, several men caught up from behind and grabbed the burly man. The man struggled while continuing to curse, unwilling to stop.

Two more servants dressed in livery ran over, rushing to help the fallen Jia Rong.

But Jia Rong had just been kicked in a vital spot by that man; his whole body was curled up like a shrimp, and it was unclear whether he was dead or alive, so there was no way to lift him up.

One of the servants had no choice but to carry him on his back, and the two hurried away, presumably to find a doctor, not daring to seek out the burly man to reason with him.

After a good while, the gossip-loving Cai Xiaoyu called a waiter over to ask.

Usually, he would only practice his blade techniques properly in the courtyard of Qu Hongxiu; at the Luoxia Villa or the Jia Fu, he never practiced in front of others, as it was truly too eye-catching.

Liu Yuer, who was with Jia Rong today, turned out to be this Chen Xiong's old flame.

Thinking of Jia Rong's wretched appearance just now, Cai Xiaoyu was right: it was a fresh flower planted in cow dung.

Once the waiter finished his story, it disgusted the gossip-loving Cai Xiaoyu to no end; two men fighting in the street, and it was actually over jealousy for a third man.

The third day of the eighth lunar month was Jia Mu's birthday. Jia Cong had hoped the old lady would overlook him, so he could avoid going back to deal with the lukewarm social obligations.

The demeanor and bearing of the two maids were different from when they were at the Jia Fu.

That scene just now gave Jia Cong his first vivid realization of the filth within the Ningguo Prefecture.

Wu'er also brought over the various breakfast items she had prepared early.

Unfortunately, Jia Zheng still sent a servant ahead of time to call him home to celebrate the birthday.

Tonight, their share of the bill with Jia Cong was waived; he was the only one left to pay the tab.

However, going back was fine too, because in a few days the Yongzhou Prefectural Examination results would be posted. The location for the posting was under the east wall of the Ministry of Rites' South Court in the East City of the Divine Capital.

After working up a sweat, he went to fetch water for a bath, and Qingwen helped him comb his hair and change his clothes again.

Over these two years accompanying Jia Cong to study at Mount Luocang, they had been away from the oppression and restraint of the Jia Fu and had been further influenced by Jia Cong's temperament.

Profound Heaven Palace, Luoxia Villa.

Only then did he learn that the burly man who had been beating people was Chen Xiong, a Grade 6 Captain of the Brave Cavalry Battalion, and was said to be a distant relative of the Duke of Qi's mansion.

The students in the Bing Literature Hall of the Qingshan Academy were all those who had not yet entered the school. For the past half-year, they had been busy participating in various levels of the child examinations. Once the Yongzhou Prefectural Examination ended, the academy gave the Bing Literature Hall students four days of leave.

It was just that Liu Yuer found Chen Xiong crude and vulgar; after coaxing money out of him a few times, she began to hide from him and hooked up with Jia Rong, who was young, wealthy, handsome, and tactful.

Cui Anzhi and Liu Xiaoping mocked Cai Xiaoyu, saying he had dirtied his ears by inviting such a filthy affair.

……

In two years, Qingwen and Wu'er had both grown increasingly beautiful and pretty. Girls matured early, and the two elf-like maids had shed some of their childishness, appearing even more delicate and moving.

Waking up early, Jia Cong practiced his punches and kicks in the courtyard for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. In fact, the stance was the blade technique taught by Qu Hongxiu, which he used daily as a fitness exercise.

Qingwen was increasingly delicate, clever, crisp, and delightful.

Although her sharp-tongued temperament remained, there were only a few people at Luoxia Villa, and everything was simple and clean, without the sordid affairs of the Jia Fu.

She didn't need to struggle or talk back, and there was no fear of being resented for being flirtatious and clever.

Wu'er was increasingly graceful and beautiful, gentle and refined; looking at her entire bearing, one could no longer tell she was just a maid.

Having lived on Mount Luocang for two years, where the air was clear, and with Jia Cong teaching her some methods of self-care, her originally delicate constitution had become much healthier.

Qingwen peeled a chicken egg clean, placed it in Jia Cong's bowl, and asked, "Cong Sanye, how many days are we staying when we return to the mansion this time?"

"I have four days of leave. This time, besides the old lady's birthday, I also have to wait for the Ministry of Rites to post the results. We'll return after seeing the results; it should take three days."

"Oh, three days. That's a bit long, but seeing the Cong Sanye's results is a big deal."

Wu'er laughed from the side, "You've grown wild from staying outside; not having to go home is what suits you best."

Qingwen pouted and said, "The mansion isn't as comfortable as it is here. A bunch of masters restraining us, we can't even breathe properly. Do you dare say you like going back?"

Wu'er said leisurely, "The Cong Sanye is a young master of the mansion. Once the Cong Sanye gains merit and becomes an official in the future, he will always have to return to the mansion. Can he live here for a lifetime?"

Actually, Wu'er also liked the current days. If she could just accompany the Cong Sanye like this for a lifetime, how good that would be.

Two years ago, the matter of Baoyu wanting to claim her had spread like wildfire, making Wu'er feel very disgusted. Her mother had even come to incite her, but she was silenced by Wu'er's sharp retort and gave up the idea.

Therefore, Wu'er also didn't like staying in the mansion, lest she encounter these messy things again. But the Cong Sanye was a son of the Jia family, so it was mostly impossible.

Jia Cong smiled, "You two don't need to guess blindly. Even if we return to the mansion, once the door of the Qingzhi Study is closed, it won't be much different from here. What are you worried about? You have me."

"Things will only get better in the future. One day, we will live our own lives, without needing to answer to anyone, without the cumbersome etiquette and concerns, and no one will ever restrain us again."

Qingwen's beautiful big eyes flashed with light, "The Master has spoken to my heart. None of the masters in the mansion are as good as the Cong Sanye. As long as we listen to the Cong Sanye and follow him well, we can live a good life."

Wu'er laughed with a 'pfft' upon hearing this, "Look at how sweet your mouth is, chattering non-stop, you little sycophant!"

Qingwen narrowed her eyes and said, "Who are you calling a sycophant!" She bared her fangs and brandished her claws as she lunged at Wu'er, who dodged away with a giggle.

Jia Cong ate the breakfast on the table, smiling as he watched the two maids playfully chasing each other.

Thinking of those dire memories in the Jia family, this right before his eyes was the true life.

……

Rongguo Prefecture.

Seeing Tan Chun's maid, Shi Shu, was heading to Yingchun's room when she met a tall and plump maid on the way, carrying a food box. It was Yingchun's head maid, Siqi.

Shi Shu smiled, "Sister Siqi, you have to do such things yourself? You could just let a little maid run the errand."

"You don't know those people in the kitchen who have no sense. If you ask them for a bowl of steamed egg custard, they make all sorts of excuses. A little maid going over there is useless, otherwise, they'd think the people in the Second Young Lady's room are easy to bully!"

Shi Shu understood this in her heart. Siqi's maternal grandmother was that wife of Wang Shanbao, who had been sentenced to death in Zhen'an Prefecture two years ago and was beheaded after autumn.

This matter originally didn't have much to do with Cong Sanye Cong, but because the Cong Sanye hated her for forcing his maid Zhi Shao to her death, he had broken both of the old woman's legs before she was taken away by the yamen runners.

The wife of Wang Shanbao had always been detested in the mansion, and no one sympathized with her. Moreover, regarding the Cong Sanye's actions in that matter, others couldn't find any fault.

However, the wife of Wang Shanbao was, after all, Siqi's maternal grandmother. To say Siqi had no resentment toward the Cong Sanye in her heart, how could that be possible?

It was just that everyone in the mansion knew that the Second Young Lady Yingchun and Cong Sanye Cong were biological siblings, and the Second Young Lady valued this younger brother the most; the sibling bond was very deep.

Siqi didn't dare to have any conflict with the Cong Sanye, but she couldn't help but harbor a grudge in her heart.

That Sister-in-law Liu who managed the kitchen was the mother of the Cong Sanye's head maid, Wu'er. For some reason, Siqi didn't like her, and the two had friction several times, but it hadn't blown up.

"Why, are you at odds with the kitchen side again? We people have grown up together since childhood; listen to my advice."

"Even if Sister-in-law Liu looks at the Cong Sanye's face, she would never dare to slight the Second Young Lady. Why must you do this?"

Siqi raised her willow eyebrows, "Why is Sister Shi Shu so free today? You came early in the morning to lecture me."

Shi Shu glared at Siqi and said, "Don't be ungrateful. I'm saying that because I care about you. Whether you listen or not is up to you. I'm looking for your young lady; is she in the room?"

Siqi lowered her eyelids and said, "She's in the room. She got up early to do needlework; she's not even afraid of hurting her eyes."

"Then I'll go find your young lady. Third Young Lady sent me to say that Cong Sanye Cong is returning to the mansion today."

Siqi was stunned upon hearing this, and Shi Shu didn't care about her, heading straight into Yingchun's room first.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 81 =====