Chapter 200 Baoqin's Marriage
"Brother Cong, I need your help with something!" Baochai whispered at the side.
"Sister Bao, are you and I both worthy of a petition?" Jia Cong replied, "As long as Sister Bao says so, I will do whatever it takes for you."
Baochai looked at Jia Cong tenderly, and then continued, "It's not really my business, but a matter of my sister Baoqin."
"When my second uncle was still alive, I had arranged a marriage with the Hanlin Mei family! This time when my second aunt came to Beijing, she was also thinking of discussing it with the Mei family!"
"However, Tad came to the house two or three times, but the Mei family refused to see him!"
"In my opinion, this Mei family is just flattering the powerful and bullying the weak!" Xiangyun said angrily, "Before, seeing the Xue family's wealth, they naturally wanted to get engaged. Now that Sister father has passed away, her mother has been seriously ill, and the family business has plummeted, the Mei family may have the intention of regretting the engagement!"
The other sisters also spoke up to speak up for Baoqin!
"Third brother, if it is convenient, please help Sister Qin for once. Sister Qin is staying in our house for a while and has the best relationship with us!" Yingchun also spoke softly.
She had encountered the incident with Sun Shaozu , which was over, but Yingchun was still frightened. If she married such a man, what good would she have in the future? Therefore, she felt the same way about Baoqin's situation!
"What is Sister Baoqin's plan?" Jia Cong asked.
"I haven't told Second Aunt about this yet, but if we take the initiative to cancel the engagement, people will say that Sister Qin is trying to get rich and give up the Mei family. If that's the case, how can she get married in the future?"
"So, let's first ask what the reason is. If it's a misunderstanding, it's fine. But if the Mei family really wants to cancel the engagement, it would be best if they take the initiative to cancel the engagement! However, I'm afraid that this will offend the Mei family! After all, the Mei family is also a noble family in the Imperial Academy. If they hold a grudge, wouldn't it damage Sister Qin's reputation behind her back?"
Jia Cong rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "Haha, this is easy!"
"Then I will first find someone to get the Mei family to cancel the engagement!"
"What if the Mei family refuses to agree?" Tanchun worriedly.
"Haha!" Jia Cong sneered, "I heard someone say the other day that this Hanlin Mei has been idle for many years, and recently he finally found a way to be transferred to Shandong to take up a real position as Tongzhi, and he is just waiting for the Ministry of Personnel to use the seal!"
The girls understood immediately that Jia Cong's master's grandfather was the Minister of Personnel. If Jia Cong interfered, the Mei family's good fortune would never be accomplished.
"As for damaging Sister Qin's reputation, Sister Bao doesn't have to worry! After the engagement is called off, I'll hold a banquet and acknowledge Bao Qin as my godsister. I want to see how bold the Mei family is to ruin my sister's reputation."
"Sister Qin is so lucky to have such a brother to support her. She is no longer afraid of the Mei family's mischief! It's a pity that I don't have such a good brother!" Daiyu said with a raised corner of her mouth.
Jia Cong chuckled, "I do n't want to become a foster brother or a foster sister with Sister Lin, or..."
"Don't say anything!" Before Jia Cong could finish his words, a fragrant handkerchief was placed directly over his mouth.
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Three or five days passed in a flash, and early in the morning Jia Cong was woken up by Xiangling, "Master, the time has come!"
After a while, Qingwen and Xiaoque'er also came in!
He was woken up by several maids in a daze, and was asked to wash and change clothes. When everything was almost done, Qingwen brought the food that had been prepared long ago for Jia Cong to eat.
It must be said that being an official in ancient times was hard enough. Generally speaking, the officials had to enter the palace at 5 a.m. for the morning court session, and those who needed to attend the court session naturally could not be late, so they had to wait outside the palace at least a quarter of an hour in advance.
In this way, getting up in the morning to pack up and rushing on the road would take at least half an hour for a short distance, and if the distance was far, it would even take an hour in advance to get up at the beginning of the Yin hour (3 a.m.) to start preparations.
The younger ones were better off, but the older ones were afraid of losing manners in front of the emperor, so they didn't even dare to eat or drink, and could only go to court with ginseng slices in their mouths.
However, how many people are as young as Jia Cong who are qualified to attend court?
After they finished eating, Qingwen took out the dragon robe and helped Jia Cong put it on. Then, several maids held lanterns and sent Jia Cong to the Eryi Gate in the front yard.
Outside the ceremonial gate, Lu Feng was waiting with a horse. Jia Cong jumped on the horse and went out of the house directly. Lu Feng also got on the horse and followed behind him! As soon as he walked out of the door, he saw Jia Zheng's carriage creaking towards him.
Normally, Jia Zheng was not qualified to attend court meetings, so he would go directly to the Ministry of Works, where he would naturally arrive later. Today was the day of the grand court meeting, so he also went to court.
The uncle and nephew greeted each other, and then Jia Cong rode his horse beside Jia Zheng's carriage and slowly headed towards the palace.
Even though Jia Cong thought he had gotten up very early, when the uncle and nephew arrived outside Chengtian Gate, there were already quite a few people waiting.
The arrival of Jia Cong made the quiet crowd a little noisy! All the people from the four kings, eight dukes and twelve marquises gathered around and saluted Jia Cong. Jia Zheng stroked his short beard and smiled. His nephew really made him proud. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, only Jia Cong could have such power.
More and more people gathered, including the Shangshu and Shilang of various ministries, as well as the Yuanping lineage headed by Meng Zong, all arrived!
Jia Cong first went to pay his respects to Fang Yao, and then he talked to Meng Zong for a few words, until the morning was about to arrive, when Prince Beijing and Prince Zhongshun also arrived one after another. Jia Cong went forward to pay his respects, and Prince Beijing smiled and returned a half-salute, but Prince Zhongshun snorted coldly and ignored him.
Jia Cong didn't care. Because of the matter with the chief official in the palace and Sun Shaozu, he didn't give Prince Zhongshun any face at all. It was normal for Prince Zhongshun to dislike him.
At noon, the palace gates were wide open. First, the Dragon Guards came out to guard both sides. Then, the eunuchs called for court and led all the civil and military officials inside.
The group crossed the Jinshui Bridge, passed the Wumen Gate and the Huangji Gate, and arrived outside the Huangji Hall where court was held.
"Uncle, your nephew will go in first!" Jia Cong said to Jia Zheng.
There were too many people attending the court meeting, so it was naturally impossible for everyone to enter the hall. Low-ranking officials like Jia Zheng could only stand outside the hall.
In the hall, everyone was divided into civil and military officials and arranged in classes. With Jia Cong's title of Marquis of Guanjun, apart from the two princes standing in the front, only Meng Zong was slightly better than him, so Jia Cong simply stood beside Meng Zong.
"You kid, didn't your grandfather Daishan teach you the rules?" Meng Zong said with his eyes wide open, "I am a duke, and you are only a first-class marquis. You should stand behind me."
Jia Cong smiled nonchalantly, "The first Rong Kingdom really didn't teach this, how about you ask them? Besides, my title of First-Class Marquis is much more important than the title of Duke of Qing."
