Chapter 175 Prince Beijing Arrives
"By the way, who took over several important positions?" Jia Cong asked.
Wang Ziteng's face condensed. "Why do you say that the emperor is on the side of His Majesty this time? The Minister of War was replaced by Yuan Peng. Like Fang Yao, he is a minister of His Majesty's palace. As for the deputy commander of the Dragon Guard and the commander of the Shandong camp, we were going to compete with Yuan Ping's lineage for it, but in the end His Majesty decided on the brothers Shang Yan and Shang Xin."
"These two are the Queen's brothers. Shangjia has been very low-key over the years. Even though His Majesty wanted to grant him official positions several times, he was directly rejected by the Queen. But she never thought that this time the two Shangjia brothers would soar to the sky! One inside and one outside, plus the Queen is in charge of the harem. Fortunately, the Queen has no legitimate son, otherwise..."
Jia Cong also nodded, "After something like this, I'm afraid your majesty is not confident in others! Your majesty and the queen are very harmonious, so it's not surprising that your majesty employs merchants. After all, although they are relatives, it doesn't matter if the queen doesn't have a legitimate son."
"That's right. So even though there are some opposing voices, the majority of people agree with it!"
In the afternoon, Jia Zheng hurried back! Not long after, the rest of the dukes and marquises, led by Niu Jizong, arrived.
"Niu Jizong, hello to Marquis Guanjun!" As soon as they met, Niu Jizong bowed directly to Jia Cong.
Jia Cong laughed and stepped forward, "Look, uncles, Uncle Niu knows that I am not in good health and it is not convenient for me to return the gift to him, so he uses me as a scapegoat. If you don't let Uncle Niu drink a few more cups in my house today, I, a young man, will be bullied by Uncle Niu in the future."
Niu Jizong was supported by Jia Cong, and he stood up and looked at the little guy, feeling infinite emotion in his heart! It has only been a few years, and what he said before has come true.
However, he also thought clearly that Jia Cong was made a marquis by luck and strength. He could envy him but not be jealous.
Immediately, Niu Jizong put his arm around Jia Cong's shoulders and boasted to everyone, "How about this? I want to ask you if you are convinced or not. Which of your subordinates is as capable as Brother Cong? Although I, Old Niu, have not been made a marquis, my soldiers have become champion marquises! Just based on this point, I am better than you!"
As he spoke, he pointed at Hou Jing and his younger generation behind him and said, "What are you waiting for, you bastards? Why don't you pay your respects to your Lord? You useless bastards, if you can catch up with Brother Cong, it will be your good fortune! Listen carefully today, if anyone dares to be disrespectful to Brother Cong in the future, I, Old Niu, don't care where you come from, I will just hang you up and beat you up!"
Ma Chuang and others did not dare to delay and hurried forward to pay their respects!
"We are all brothers. There is no need to listen to Uncle Niu! Next time something like this happens, we brothers must stand shoulder to shoulder and block each other's daggers."
A crowd of people surrounded Jia Cong and entered the inner hall. Jia Zheng, who was following beside him, felt a little disappointed and a little happy. Unconsciously, this nephew had surpassed him. Just like when his father was alive, the eight dukes and twelve marquises all headed by the Jia family, and now, it's back again.
Looking at Baoyu who was cowering on the side and Jia Lian who didn't know what to say, Jia Zheng secretly decided in his heart that after Cong'er had dealt with the clan school, he would throw Baoyu in first. This time, no one could stop him.
After everyone chatted for a while, someone came to report that Prince Beijing had arrived.
Jia Cong looked at the expressions of the people around him, and then smiled and said, "The prince has arrived, we should go to greet him, otherwise it will appear that our families do not know etiquette."
"Besides, the prince is still the prince after all, so we should be more careful when speaking!"
Everyone understood what he meant, and Niu Jizong grinned, "Don't worry, Brother Cong!"
As they spoke, a group of people went out to meet them!
When Jia Cong had the main gate opened in the front yard, Prince Beijing's carriage slowly arrived!
"Your Majesty, we welcome you!"
Led by Jia Cong, everyone bowed and saluted!
The king's carriage stopped, a minor official came forward and lifted the curtain, and Prince Beijing walked out with a smile.
"Please stand up, my dear lords and brothers. Today is Marquis Guanjun's banquet. I am here as a guest, but I must not take the spotlight!" Prince Beijing said, giving a false support.
Everyone stood up when they heard this!
"Your Majesty, I am Jia Cong, and I pay my respects to you! I have made humble contributions, but was fortunate enough to be granted a title by Your Majesty, so you held a family banquet just now. But now that you have come to visit me, how can I possibly deserve it?" Jia Cong stepped forward and said respectfully.
Prince Beijing stepped forward to support Jia Cong, "We are old friends, why would you say that? Moreover, the champion marquis is the bravest among the three armies, and I have always admired him. It is a blessing for the country that the two lords Ning and Rong have successors!"
"Your Majesty, you are so kind!"
As he spoke, he led Prince Beijing into the inner hall!
Prince Beijing sat in the first seat, Jia Cong sat beside him, and the rest sat down in order!
"Today is a great occasion for your family, so I have prepared a small gift!" As he said this , he waved his hand, and a chief official led several servants to carry in a blood-red coral statue that was more than three feet tall!
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will accept it with a thick face!" Jia Cong said after thinking for a while.
After chatting for a while, King Beijing turned to Jia Zheng and said, "I heard that there is a son in the family of the old man, who was born with a jade in his mouth. I wonder if it would be convenient for me to meet him?"
Jia Zheng stood up hurriedly, and then led Baoyu, who was standing in the corner, to his side.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Baoyu prostrated himself. The Prince Beijing in front of him was handsome and polite, much better than the others.
Prince Beijing stood up and helped Baoyu up. The two held hands for a moment. Prince Beijing praised, "It lives up to its reputation. It is indeed like a precious jade!"
"Where is the treasure you are holding?"
Baoyu took off his jade, and King Beijing looked at it carefully. "The spiritual jade, never lose it, never forget it, it will bring you eternal life. It can remove evil spirits, cure diseases, and predict good and bad luck!"
“Does it work?”
Jia Zheng, who was standing by, said hurriedly, "Even though you say that, I've never tried it!"
"It's really amazing!" Prince Beijing laughed, "I've finally opened my eyes today!"
Seeing that Prince Beijing actually attached so much importance to him, Baoyu was even more delighted, and even couldn't help wanting to get closer to Prince Beijing.
After asking a few more questions, Prince Beijing said, "Today is our first meeting, and it's very hasty, so there is no gift of congratulation. This is a string of wagtail incense beads that the emperor personally gave me the other day. Just use it as a gift to celebrate our acquaintance!"
Baoyu happily took it, and then Jia Zheng also stepped forward. The father and son saluted together and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Jia Cong squinted his eyes and watched the show. Although it seemed that the coral was far more valuable than the necklace, Prince Beijing was obviously closer to Baoyu. Jia Cong didn't care about this, but Prince Beijing's intentions were worth pondering!
In addition, these wagtail scent beads have extraordinary significance!
There is a line in the poem "Book of Songs·Xiaoya·Changdi": "Ji Ling is in the field, and brothers are in trouble." The Ji Ling here refers to the wagtail, which itself is a metaphor for the brotherhood. The meaning of the emperor giving the pearl necklace to Prince Beijing is clear, but Prince Beijing now gives it to Baoyu, which is intriguing.
