Chapter 97

By the time the sky turned slightly dark that day, the people who came to offer congratulations had all dispersed.

A small banquet was set up in Tan Chun's room, and Daiyu, Yingchun, Shi Xiangyun, and Xichun were all present.

Of course, Baoyu couldn't be missing, though he originally didn't want to come.

Jia Cong not only spent two years in the academy reading the corrupt books of national thieves and salary ghosts, but he actually entered school; for Baoyu, it was truly infuriating.

Although he was unhappy in his heart about Jia Cong's deep salary poison, the sisters had all gone, and Lin Sister was also going, so he had no choice but to go reluctantly.

Tan Chun knew that because Third Brother Cong liked to study, the Eldest Sister-in-law liked to have Jia Lan get close to Third Brother Cong; now that Third Brother had achieved the top rank, she feared the Eldest Sister-in-law was even more willing in her heart.

So she asked Shi Shu to invite Li Gongcai to bring Jia Lan along.

Jia Cong knew the sisters wanted to host a celebration for him, so he asked Wu'er to make arrangements in the kitchen in advance, having Sister Liu prepare thirty plates of fruit and dishes, as well as a small jar of fruit wine.

By the time the lamps were lit, Shi Shu, Cui Mo, and the others hung up six palace lanterns and lit the candles on the candlesticks one by one; the room was brilliant with light and shining.

Tan Chun smiled: "I heard there were three or four thousand students participating in the prefectural examination, and Third Brother alone took the top spot; could it be that he is truly a star of literature descended to earth as described in the plays?"

Daiyu also had a slightly flushed face and raised her cup to let Jia Cong drink two sips.

Jia Cong smiled: "Third Sister is exaggerating; for things like examinations, one needs solid study, but luck is also very important; I just had a bit more luck than others."

The sisters clapped and cheered, and Jia Cong didn't act coy, taking a sip from the wine cup in Tan Chun's hand.

At the banquet, he listened to the sisters talk about interesting things in the boudoir and asked him to talk about what he saw and heard at the Qingshan Academy.

Jia Cong poured wine to toast Yingchun and Li Wan, because these two were older than him, and drank a cup with the sisters, making the atmosphere of the small banquet lively.

Next was the smiling Yingchun; her own younger brother was actually so promising, taking the top rank upon entering the examination field for the first time, her heart was full of joy, and she also let Jia Cong drink half a cup from her hand.

Li Gongcai, who was on the side, smiled and said to Jia Lan: "Lan'er, remember today's event; when you grow up, you must study as hard as your Third Uncle Cong and win the laurel as a youth."

Xichun was more playful; she was only a few years older than Jia Lan and was full of childishness, having to stand on the kang to feed the wine to Jia Cong's mouth, which made the sisters laugh for a while.

Tan Chun smiled: "Lin Sister's words are right; I haven't seen Third Brother produce any new works in the past two years; today you took the top spot and achieved the top rank, so you should write a poem to express your ambition."

Shi Xiangyun was heroic, not only drinking a sip with Jia Cong but also pouring another cup for herself to drink for fun; no wonder the story of the drunken sleep on the begonia would happen later.

Jia Lan was still just a young child at this time and didn't really understand his mother's words, but he was always obedient, so he gave a half-understanding "hmm."

Jia Cong was stunned by these words; in the past few years, he had read the Four Books and Five Classics thoroughly, and his mind was all on the imperial examinations, and the Great Zhou's imperial examinations didn't have a test poem section.

"Third Brother is too modest; younger sister toasts Third Brother with this cup, wishing Third Brother to be on the Golden List soon."

Jia Cong hurriedly raised his wine cup, but Tan Chun stopped him with a smile: "The Jia family has never produced a top rank; today, the Jia top rank is noble, so this first cup must be taken from my hand to show the joy of winning the laurel."

Daiyu suddenly said: "Back then, Third Brother Cong wrote that 'Bu Suan Zi', which became famous in the Divine Capital, but I haven't seen any new works from you in these years; are you hiding your talent, not showing us the good ones you have?"

Seeing Daiyu and Tan Chun full of interest, and Yingchun, Li Wan, and even little Xichun seemingly expectant, Jia Cong couldn't dampen everyone's spirits.

This scene made Baoyu feel a wave of bitterness in his heart; now the sisters in the family were all on good terms with Jia Cong, and he was almost becoming a lonely ghost.

The small banquet lasted for nearly two hours, until the wine was dry and the dishes were finished.

In the past two years, in order to focus on his studies, he didn't want to attract too much attention, so he hadn't written any poetry.

Jia Cong sighed in his heart; this Li Wan was too much of a teacher by example; her son wasn't much taller than a stool, yet she had such heavy expectations for him; I fear this child will have a monotonous and hard life in the future.

Besides, with such splendor in his heart, how could he look at ordinary poetry? Even if he racked his brains to write it, it would just be an imitation.

So he went to Tan Chun's desk, took paper and ground ink, and picked up his brush to write.

Lin Jiang Xian - Willow Catkins

Spring dances before the White Jade Hall, the east wind rolls them evenly. Bees and butterflies are in chaotic disarray. When have they ever followed the flowing water? Must they necessarily be consigned to the fragrant dust?

Ten thousand threads and a thousand strands never change, letting them gather and part as they will. Do not laugh at the prime of youth for having no roots. With the help of a good wind, it will send me up to the blue clouds.

Seeing him write without a moment's hesitation, Daiyu, Tan Chun, and the others were all surprised, not knowing if Third Brother Cong was a genius of unparalleled talent or if he had already drafted it, as he wrote it down without even thinking.

When Jia Cong finished writing, Daiyu, Tan Chun, and the others gathered around to recite it, feeling that this Lin Jiang Xian was written so perfectly that it seemed to seep into their hearts.

"Do not laugh at the prime of youth for having no roots, with the help of a good wind, it will send me up to the blue clouds."

Truly fitting; isn't this the self-account of Third Brother Cong's hard work over the years?

Jia Cong sighed secretly: Cao Gong, I'm sorry.

Those few lines in this poem were similar to his situation in recent years, so it could be considered appropriate for the occasion.

……

The next morning, the Lady Bao Ling Hou Fu, the Zhongjing Hou Fu, and other officials and nobles on good terms with the Jia family all sent people to offer congratulations.

Originally, Jia Cong wanted to stay in the Jia Prefecture for a few days before returning to Mount Luocang, but now he was the protagonist, and many of those who came to offer congratulations were either rich or noble, so he, the person involved, had to receive them.

Thus, the matter of returning to the mountain to study was delayed.

Of course, there were things he didn't know; the person who came from the Lady Bao Ling Hou Fu to offer congratulations wasn't a family member, but the Lady Bao Ling Marquis's wife, Lady Chen.

She even mentioned Shi Xiangyun's marriage in front of Jia Mu.

Shi Xiangyun had lost both parents since she was young and was raised by the Second Branch of the Shi family.

Lady Bao Ling Marquis Shi Nai was mediocre by nature, and the Lady Bao Ling Hou Fu had been wealthy for decades, but Shi Nai wasn't good at management, so the mansion's days were only superficially glorious.

Shi Xiangyun had lost both parents, so it would be a hindrance when marrying into a family in the future; as the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch of the dignified Shi Marquis family, she definitely couldn't marry down.

Although Shi Xiangyun was still young, Lady Bao Ling Marquis's wife, Lady Chen, had already started to worry; although she wasn't her own daughter, she had raised her since she was young.

Although she also let her do some needlework to help out, she still loved her in her heart.

A few days ago, Lady Chen saw Jia Cong at the Rongqing Hall, and that peerless appearance made her unforgettable; if such an outstanding young man didn't have such an obscure background, I fear people would have already broken down the threshold.

Hearing these past two days that he had achieved the top rank in the Yongzhou prefectural examination, it was even more extraordinary, and looking at Jia Cong's response at the Rongqing Hall that day, he was also someone capable of standing on his own.

Although Shi Xiangyun had been raised by the Aunt since she was young and could be considered childhood sweethearts with Baoyu, Baoyu was the phoenix grandson of the Rongguo Prefecture, and just because Xiangyun had lost both parents, I fear there was no hope.

But it was different with Jia Cong; Jia Cong's background just happened to offset Shi Xiangyun's shortcomings.

If it weren't for that background, such talent and appearance would have been coveted by others long ago, so she developed some ideas.

It was just that as soon as she revealed her intentions, Jia Mu said that Yun'er was still young and there would be time in a few years, implying she wasn't interested in Jia Cong.

Lady Chen also found it strange; other families would be too late to cherish such an outstanding grandson, but the Aunt actually didn't take it to heart, so the matter had to be dropped for now.

……

Baoyu went to Tan Chun's room to attend Jia Cong's celebratory banquet, and returned feeling unhappy.

He felt that everything in the mansion had changed, and as for when it started to change, it was after Jia Cong moved to the West Branch.

That person not only looked good but could also write brilliant poetry and could please the sisters.

He went to that academy to read those corrupt books of national thieves and salary ghosts; originally, he looked down on it, but who knew that by relying on these corrupt things, he actually achieved the top rank.

Now the whole world was congratulating him, and even Lin Sister's eyes when looking at him were different.

Instead, I, a pure person who doesn't want to fall, have become a lonely ghost ignored by everyone.

Seeing Baoyu absent-minded, Lady Wang asked and found out that because Jia Cong had achieved the top rank, the sisters in the garden hosted a celebration for Jia Cong and also called Baoyu to go along, but Baoyu returned like this.

No one knows a son like his mother; how could Lady Wang not know why Baoyu would be like this? Her own son was born with jade in his mouth and was originally so noble, but now he had to suffer such idle anger.

Her heart was filled with resentment again; if this continued, wouldn't the sky of the Jia Prefecture change!

(End of chapter)