Chapter 903

Rongguo Prefecture, Lixiang Courtyard.

Before the door leading from the main hall to the inner room hung a half-old gray silk curtain. Baochai was sitting on the kang in the inner room, a small embroidery frame placed on a small table, but it had been abandoned halfway through.

Her hair, black as silk, was simply coiled in a bun. The peony-shaped pearl hairpin was no longer worn; instead, a peachwood pin was stuck in her bun, making her look very simple and plain.

She wore a light blue cotton-padded jacket with dark patterns, an indigo vest embroidered with silver thread, and a plain white satin cotton skirt. Her attire no longer had a hint of luxury, revealing loneliness amidst her elegance.

The light blue palace flower she often wore at her temple had long been taken off and locked away. Although she still had skin like ice and snow and eyebrows like a painting, bright and moving, her pretty face had already grown thin.

She held a miscellaneous book in her hand, but she had no mood to read it; it was merely for show. She sat there alone, lost in thought, with a worried expression.

Ever since Xue Pan was taken to prison, Lixiang Courtyard had been filled with gloom. Xue Yima was a person who doted on her son, and with her son involved in a major case with an uncertain fate, she cried and wailed all day long.

Baochai could only endure the sorrow and loneliness in her heart, comforting her mother in every way every day, while she herself grew more haggard, thinking of Jia Cong from time to time, feeling increasingly desolate and helpless.

Ever since she sent the letter to Jin Ling that day, mother and daughter had gone to the Wang Prefecture again to ask Wang Ziteng to run errands for Xue Pan. When Wang Ziteng heard the whole story, he also hesitated in his heart.

He only said that the imperial court was currently engaged in the war against the Mongols, and Xue Pan was involved in a major military secret case, which was truly too contrary to the current situation. It required careful planning before a decision could be made.

Xue Yima and Wang Ziteng were siblings; how could she not understand the meaning of his words? Her brother was shirking his responsibility, and it was just as her daughter had said, making her feel even more sorrowful and helpless.

Now she only hoped that the letter would be delivered to Jin Ling as soon as possible, pinning all her hopes on Xue Yuan, counting the days almost every day, calculating where the letter had reached, truly feeling that every day was like a year.

Xue Yima sent someone to the yamen to inquire about the situation. She originally wanted to visit her son, but the Supreme Court stated that Xue Pan was involved in a major military secret case, and no visits were allowed for imperial criminals.

Xue Yima was both shocked and afraid, and could not help but cry again. She could only ask Jia Zheng to find a way. Because of the Jia Yucun affair, Jia Zheng was already unable to protect himself and was in a state of utter distress.

But it was not good to refuse Xue Yima, so he braced himself to visit Yang Hongbin. Because of Jia Cong, Yang Hongbin treated Jia Zheng with considerable courtesy and explained everything to him.

He said that the evidence of Xue Pan's offense was clear, and there was no need for torture or interrogation at the moment; he was currently just being held in custody. He would find a way to look after him so that Xue Pan would suffer less.

Jia Zheng breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and returned to tell Xue Yima the details, adding that Yang Hongbin was a close friend of Jia Cong, and since he had promised, Xue Pan would definitely not be mistreated in prison.

Seeing that her own brother held a high position but stood by and watched, while her brother-in-law, despite his low official rank, was willing to run errands for her son, Xue Yima saw clearly the difference in their loyalty.

Although Jia Cong was away on an expedition, he had deep connections in the capital, and even the Supreme Court officials were his close friends. Moreover, he was willing to use his influence to look after her son.

As Xue Yima sat trapped in her sorrow, seeing the situation before her, she felt even more regretful and frustrated. If she had fulfilled her daughter's wishes earlier, she would have had more to rely on at this time...

Baochai sat alone in her room, thinking for a moment about when Jia Cong would return in triumph, then about when her Third Uncle would arrive in the capital, and then about her brother's conviction, fearing that the family's reputation would decline from then on.

Once she reached that state, the thoughts she originally held in her heart would surely become even more distant. It was truly a fragrant heart, with a thousand kinds of worries, lingering and unresolved, enough to break one's heart.

Just as she was worrying, she heard footsteps outside the main hall. Jin Chuan was saying, "Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady, Lin Young Lady, Shi Young Lady, you have all come."

Ever since the Xue family incident, Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others, out of sisterly affection, came to Lixiang Courtyard every day to accompany Baochai, chat, and help her relieve her worries.

Baochai gathered her spirits and lifted the curtain, letting Jin Chuan and Ying'er serve tea. The sisters had only chatted for a few sentences when they heard several muffled thunders from outside, seemingly coming from afar.

And this thunder was very strange; it didn't stop after a few rumbles like usual, but one after another, as if it would never end, as if the sky had collapsed.

The sisters had never encountered such a strange thing before and were all somewhat pale, feeling a buzzing in their ears, and even the ground beneath their feet was trembling. They looked at each other in astonishment.

They hurriedly walked out of the main hall to listen. The rumbling thunder became clearer. The birdcages hanging on the veranda were filled with birds jumping around in confusion, chirping in fright.

Yingchun said, "Why is there dry thunder on such a sunny day? And it's so intense and frequent; it makes one's heart panic. It has never happened before."

Baochai said, "Even if there is dry thunder on a sunny day, it only rumbles once or twice and then stops. It's too strange for it to rumble dozens of times in a row like today."

Shi Xiangyun's bright eyes turned, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she said, "This doesn't sound like thunder at all. Didn't you hear clearly just now? It rumbled so many times in a row.

Every sound is the same. How could thunder in the sky be like this? I think it sounds more like the sound of cannons firing. When it comes to this trade, Third Brother is the most proficient.

Although I have never heard cannons firing, my Third Uncle has mentioned it many times. He said that the Great Zhou's cannons were also modified by Third Brother, and they are a hundred times more powerful than any musket.

The sound of cannons firing is extremely loud, just like thunder in the sky. Since it rumbled so many times just now, it must be many cannons firing together. There's no mistake.

It might even be the commotion Third Brother caused. Isn't he the most skilled at tinkering with firearms? This time he led the six thousand troops of the Divine Machine Camp on the expedition, and I heard he brought many cannons."

Daiyu smiled and said, "Although I don't understand what cannons are, Third Brother went to Tongzhou five days ago, which is hundreds of miles away from the Love Shenjing. How could we hear the sound of cannons from so far away?

It's clear you are making things up. Yun Sister has been a bit strange lately, not leaving Third Brother's name out of every two or three sentences. Even thunder in the sky is linked to him. When did you become so close?"

Yingchun and the others laughed when they heard this, but only Shi Xiangyun felt guilty. Originally, with her quick wit, she would have had to argue and bicker with Daiyu; that would have been interesting.

At this moment, she lost her confidence first, her little face flushed, and she said one thing while meaning another: "Who is close to him? Third Brother is only good at studying; he's too dull in other areas, very boring!"

Only Baochai seemed not to have heard the others' gossip and suddenly said, "Could it be that Brother Cong is not in Tongzhou, but is actually near the Love Shenjing at this moment, which is why he caused this commotion?"

The sisters all laughed and said they absolutely didn't believe it. Shi Xiangyun took the opportunity to get rid of her shyness and embarrassment, laughing that Baochai was even better at making things up than she was.

She also said that Third Brother had been away for four or five days; how could he still be lingering near the Love Shenjing? He must have reached Tongzhou long ago and cleaned up many Mongol Tatars.

After Baochai spoke, she also felt she was a bit obsessed. Perhaps it was because her brother had met with a major disaster, and she was truly too anxious and helpless, always wanting Jia Cong to support her.

To think she was so wishful, hoping he was still lingering in the Love Shenjing and could come home immediately. He was now thousands of miles away; how could he help her...

The sisters chattered and discussed the strange thunder. The gossip in the boudoir was leisurely and interesting, which actually relieved some of the worries in Baochai's heart.

In fact, behind their words, they were all thinking of Jia Cong in their hearts, but the way each person thought of him was different.

After Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters chatted for a while, fearing that Baochai would be depressed cooped up in her room, they went together to the garden to walk around and talk.

Now that Baoyu had moved out of the Western Prefecture and gone to the Imperial Academy to study, the inner courtyard of the Western Prefecture was much quieter, and the sisters could walk around without any worries.

When the sun rose high, Baochai had the maid set out food in Lixiang Courtyard and kept the sisters for a meal, but then she saw Wang Xifeng come over.

She smiled and said, "I was going to see Aunt and Sister today, but I met Lin Zhixiao's wife reporting matters before I left. It just so happened that I got news of Brother Cong, so I'm coming over to tell you all."

Yingchun hurriedly asked, "Isn't Brother Cong at the North Three Passes? How could Lin Zhixiao's wife know his whereabouts? What is the situation? Feng Sister, tell me quickly."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "Where is Brother Cong at the North Three Passes? He was still wandering around the eastern suburbs of the city this morning, and he fought the Mongol Tatars and even won a victory."

Shi Xiangyun said, "Oh my, so I really guessed it right. It really was Third Brother who caused the commotion. Feng Sister, did he also fire cannons to beat the Mongol Tatars?"

Wang Xifeng said in confusion, "What firing cannons? Lin Zhixiao's wife didn't say. Because her husband was out and about, he heard this news from inside the city.

It is said that the Mongol Tatars suddenly invaded this morning, and cavalry charged toward the east of the city like a blanket. Brother Cong happened to be there, and he killed and wounded many Mongol Tatars.

Many soldiers on the city walls saw it with their own eyes, which is why the news spread to the city. It absolutely cannot be wrong. You just wait and see; Brother Cong will be proud again this time!"

Wang Xifeng was very familiar with Jia Cong's ways. Whenever he caused some commotion, it would mostly be a good thing. Such a battle to kill the enemy would definitely lead to military merit.

Last time Jia Cong went to Liaodong, he was granted the hereditary title of Count Weiyuan. Now that he had fought the Mongol Tatars outside the Love Shenjing, it looked like he had made a significant contribution.

If he could be rewarded for his military merit this time, the Jia family's main branch would be even more glorious and powerful, and she would also rise in status in the Jia family, and her husband Jia Lian would have more to rely on outside...

Daiyu didn't care about Jia Cong killing the enemy and making a contribution, but only asked, "Feng Sister, Third Brother drove back the Mongol Tatars. Doesn't that mean he is going to return to the city in triumph?"

When Baochai heard this, her heart couldn't help but jump. She was panicking in her heart, helpless inside and out. How good it would be if he could come back...

The question Daiyu asked was also what Yingchun wanted to say. She also thought it would be good if her brother came back. Shi Xiangyun and Baochai were also staring intently, just waiting for Wang Xifeng's reply.

Wang Xifeng said, "How could it be so easy to come back? Although Brother Cong killed and wounded many Mongol Tatars, the number of Tatars is extremely large, and he cannot withstand them either.

It is said that he took his cavalry to the north, followed by a large group of Mongol Tatars. After that, no one can say for sure. However, the Second Master of the Shi family led troops out of the city to reinforce him.

You don't need to worry too much. Brother Cong has great ability. What has he not succeeded in doing over these years? Have you ever seen him suffer a loss? This time it will definitely be the same."

Shi Xiangyun said urgently, "It's just that Third Uncle knows Third Brother's situation. I will return to the prefecture now. If Third Uncle hasn't returned, I will wait. I must know Third Brother's safety."