Chapter 838

Rongguo Mansion, Rongqing Hall.

Baoqin paid her respects to Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Wang Lady, and others, and then followed Jia Cong out of Rongqing Hall; their backs followed each other, looking very harmonious.

Wang Lady felt disgusted, thinking that Baoqin's response was appropriate and she had originally thought she was a very good one, but it turned out she was also muddled, somewhat unable to distinguish between close and distant relations.

She was the eldest girl's maid; did she not know that Baoyu was her own brother, yet she got close to an outsider and refuted Baoyu's face, truly not understanding the distinction between superior and inferior.

Jia Mu did not care at all, only feeling that it was just a small matter; since it was the language of the officialdom, there were some taboos, and it didn't matter if others didn't listen.

Moreover, Yuanchun being close to Jia Cong was also a good thing in Jia Mu's eyes.

The eldest granddaughter would return home in the middle of the year, and the Second Branch's status was now awkward; Yuanchun having a harmonious relationship with Jia Cong was also of great benefit to the harmony of the family in the future.

Baoyu looked at the two leaving, full of grievance and injustice, but Baoqin walked without looking back and didn't take him seriously at all, so there was no way he could stop her.

Jia Zheng snorted coldly at Baoyu, "Since it is news from the palace and involves official entanglements, there must be many taboos, so how can you talk about it in public?"

"You only know how to mess around in the inner chambers every day, and you have no sense of the importance of an official career, yet you love to talk too much, making people laugh at you."

"After you go to the Imperial Academy, you must study hard to make progress; if you are not peaceful and abide by the rules again, you won't be ashamed to death, but I will be ashamed to death!"

Baoyu had originally had a heart full of sorrow and indignation and heroic passion, only feeling that Jia Cong was worldly and hypocritical, blocking people's innocence in everything, simply not knowing what he was talking about.

Jia Zheng's lecture fell down in an instant, and he suddenly felt clear-headed, his anger and obsession vanished, and he listened with trepidation and bowed his head...

At this time, Lin Zhixiao's wife came in and said, "Grandmother, word came from the East Road Courtyard that the Xia family sent a message that Lady Xia and Xia Gu Niang are coming to visit."

"They are coming to pay New Year's greetings to Grandmother and the family, but the Second Master and Second Mistress are in the West Mansion, so how should we receive and arrange them? I have come to ask for instructions."

Wang Lady saw Baoyu being reprimanded again and felt helpless in her heart; hearing that the Xia family mother and daughter were coming to the door, she hurriedly changed the subject.

She said, "Grandmother, the Xia family pays attention to etiquette; Lady Xia said before the New Year that she would pay New Year's greetings to Grandmother during the festival, and it just happens to be the second day today."

Jia Mu laughed, "Isn't that good? Don't go to the East Road Courtyard; invite people to Rongqing Hall, it's more convenient, and I can also talk to Baoyu's new wife."

Baoyu heard the words "new wife" and, in front of Daiyu and the other sisters, could not help but be startled, feeling very ashamed and faceless, feeling that his innocence had been washed away.

Wang Lady was happy in her heart; the daughter-in-law was outstanding in appearance and the family was extremely wealthy; this marriage was a matter of pride for the Second Branch, so she naturally wanted to show it off more.

She took Baoyu and got up to go and welcome the Xia family mother and daughter; Baoyu, in front of Daiyu, always wanted to prove his innocence and wanted to stay away from this matter, but he couldn't.

Although Xia Gu Niang was beautiful, she was not as good as Lin Sister, but Jia Zheng was present, so Baoyu really dared not disobey and could only compromise.

Rongguo Mansion, inner courtyard winding corridor, Baoqin and Jia Cong walked side by side; the sun was bright, the cold wind blew gently, and her lotus-green cloak was blown gently.

The corridor was empty and long, and few people walked there; Baoqin felt quiet and satisfied in her heart; she had never been alone with Jia Cong like this, and intentionally slowed her pace.

Jia Cong also slowed his pace involuntarily and asked, "Baoqin sister, what words did Eldest Sister ask you to pass to me?"

Baoqin said, "Before the New Year, Zhao Wang often entered the palace to have an audience with the Empress, discussing the matter of Zhao Wang's remarriage several times; the Empress selected a daughter of the Chen family from the Langya noble family for Zhao Wang."

"Langya County belongs to the Emperor's latent fief, and the Emperor also nodded to this marriage; before the New Year, the three letters and six rites had already been issued in the palace, waiting for the former Princess to pass the mourning period before marrying."

"The young lady says that since the Jinling Guard Army case, the Emperor has had a rift with Zhao Wang, and there have been rumors in the court about Zhao Wang succeeding to the throne, which makes it easier for people to have doubts."

"Because the former Princess died of illness, there were many rumors in the palace; with all the reasons combined, Zhao Wang has suffered many weakening measures this year, and his reputation is no longer what it used to be."

Baoqin stopped her words here, turned her head to look at the front and back of the corridor, and it was empty and no one was walking there.

Jia Cong saw Baoqin lean slightly closer to him, smelled a strand of refreshing daughter's fragrance, and her voice was also lighter.

She said, "The young lady walks in front of the Empress every day and has heard some rumors."

"The Empress is taking advantage of Zhao Wang's remarriage to gather connections for Zhao Wang again and repair his past reputation, but the wedding is still some time away."

"So taking advantage of the New Year's etiquette, everyone is accustomed to it, and Zhao Wang will set up a banquet to ease the connections of the officialdom and nobility."

"The eighth day of this month is Zhao Wang's birthday, and the Prince's Mansion will hold a grand birthday banquet; Zhao Wang and the Empress talked about the guests and mentioned Cong Sanye twice, seemingly valuing Cong Sanye quite a bit."

"The young lady says that Zhao Wang's situation is subtle now, and any matter involving the royal family is a dangerous situation, so Cong Sanye must be careful when dealing with matters."

"Even if you receive an invitation from the Prince's Mansion and cannot refuse due to worldly affairs, when dealing with it, be more thoughtful and cautious, and don't leave any handle."

Jia Cong heard these words, and his heart felt a slight chill; the main culprit of the Jinling Guard Army case, Zhang Kangnian, was the cousin of the former Princess Zhao.

Zhang Kangnian was originally the Commander of the Su Zhou Guard and was recommended by Zhao Wang Li Zhongmao, so he was able to turn from military to civil and climb to the high position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital.

He was the main culprit of the Jinling Guard Army case, and after his tracks were exposed, he was beheaded by the main culprit of the big case, Du Hengxin, to silence him.

Zhang Kangnian's accidental death made whether Zhao Wang Li Zhongmao was involved in the Guard Army case a rotten account that could never be calculated clearly.

Suspicion is sometimes a fatal poison; with Jia Cong's understanding of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's temperament, this headless case was a shadow in the Emperor's heart that was difficult to erase.

Prince Kangshun had the kindness of promoting Jia Cong, and Prince Ning had the friendship of working together as colleagues with him; although Zhao Wang had tried to win him over, the two had no friendship at all.

And Zhao Wang had rumors of inheriting the great unification, and others were even more prone to jealousy and sensitivity toward princes with this status.

Jia Cong even felt that if Zhao Wang were truly wise and intelligent, he should not have let such rumors spread in the court and the public, and now it was difficult to return.

Regardless of what kind of consideration it was, Jia Cong would keep his distance from Zhao Wang, and now that he had received Yuanchun's reminder, he was prepared in advance, so he was naturally more cautious.

He smiled and said, "Eldest Sister's news is extremely useful, making it convenient for me to respond in advance; you go back and tell Eldest Sister that I will definitely handle it cautiously."

Rongguo Mansion inner courtyard, flowers and trees were sparse, bridges wound around the water, and there were several winding corridors in the courtyard, winding through the inner courtyard, blocking the wind and rain, and facilitating travel.

Because Baoqin slowed her pace, Jia Cong also walked slowly, and the two were just talking, so they slowed down their pace.

Over there, Wang Lady took Baoyu and walked the nearest wind and rain corridor, arriving in front of Jia Cong and Baoqin, and received the Xia family mother and daughter who entered the inner courtyard.

Xia Jingui knew that her life had been decided after the Jia family sent the betrothal gifts, and thinking of herself, such a person, being promised to such a filthy person as Baoyu, she was also angry and hateful in her heart.

But as long as she thought of Jia Cong parading on the street, riding a horse majestically, romantic and suave, handsome and unparalleled.

Her heart was filled with hot blood, and she was confused; she threw all her resentment behind her, and as long as it was because of Jia Cong, even if it were a dragon's pool or a tiger's den, she would have to crash into it.

Today, she came to pay New Year's greetings to Jia Mu, and she heard that all officials had holidays, so Jia Cong, as the head of the two mansions, would definitely be at home to entertain guests.

She went to the West Mansion to pay her respects, and most likely she would be able to meet the sandalwood man in her heart, so she dressed up her appearance and clothing well before going out.

A few days ago, because Jia Cong achieved success in the imperial examinations, she was a bit obsessed and bought a pile of Four Books and Five Classics, studying and pondering in her spare time, and actually had quite a bit of insight.

Thinking of the subtle words and great meanings in the books, Jia Cong, such a person who had read many books, could achieve success in the examinations, all because his breadth of vision was not ordinary.

That womanish thing Baoyu, who was red all over all day long, dressed like an actor, and was vulgar inside and out.

Jia Cong must be disgusted when he saw it; at least she was like that, and since Baoyu scolded them both as "salary-eating worms," the two must have common interests.

The Xia family was extremely wealthy, and Xia Jingui had many gorgeous clothes, but she secretly pondered Jia Cong's preferences and would not reveal a trace of vulgarity.

Today, her clothing was elegant and noble, her makeup was delicate and bright, beautiful and generous, pretty but not vulgar, charming but not seductive, and she was radiant.

Baoyu had been in Rongqing Hall just now, and Jia Mu, in front of Daiyu and the other sisters, said something about wanting to see the new wife, which made Baoyu feel very ashamed.

Even if he followed Wang Lady to welcome the guests, he was a bit unwilling, and he was thinking about how to face Lin Sister when they met in the hall, which was truly difficult to die for.

But as soon as he saw Xia Gu Niang's appearance, all kinds of filthy thoughts were forgotten, and he sighed in his heart, his heels felt soft, and his face was full of silly and beautiful colors.

He also saw Baochan behind Xia Gu Niang, her pretty face flushed, her bright eyes squinting, looking at him carefully, secretly containing spring feelings, which was moving.

Baoyu thought of the study in Mengpo Studio, where the two of them were intimate and lingering, and he was even more confused, wishing he could run to Wushan again.

It was the first time he felt that his marriage was actually quite good, and in the future, he would hold two beauties in his arms, enjoy the beauty, and have great fortune.

For a moment, he felt like he had fallen into bliss, like stepping on the clouds, and he was overjoyed, although his eyes moved and his eyebrows jumped, he was just forcibly restraining himself.