Chapter 291 Lin Ruhai Enters Beijing
During the next three days, Jia Cong did not feel tired. Apart from following the ministers to mourn the deceased every day, he spent most of his time accompanying the emperor in the Daming Palace.
Moreover, the Queen would send some food and drinks from time to time, and even the old lady and others benefited from it.
The imperial edicts from various prefectures also had to stay in the palace for three days. The houses they lived in were not in the palace itself, but in the row of houses next to the back palace. This was a real torture for these pampered imperial edicts.
As for the food, although it is not bad, it is not very delicious either, and it can only barely fill the stomach.
But on the first night, a female official from Fengzao Palace came and brought food to the old lady. This kind of reward made the old lady proud in front of all the old relatives and friends. However, the old lady also knew that she naturally did not have such face in front of the queen. It must be because of the respect of her grandson that she was treated like this.
Of course, the old lady was not ignorant. The rich food and drink sent by Fengzao Palace was distributed directly to the old concubines and old sisters, which made everyone envious and grateful.
Compared to Jia Cong and others in the palace, the situation at home was much stricter.
As soon as the old lady and others left, at dawn the next day, Keqing came directly to the West Mansion, bringing Xiao Que'er and the maids from each room with her, and all the servants in the mansion were handed over to Jia Zhong.
Jia Zhong was originally from the palace, so he understood these things better than Wang Xifeng and others, so he naturally knew how to control them.
The West Mansion was also in a state of emergency , because only a group of girls, Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, Jia Huan, Jia Lan and others were left, so most of the girls stayed in their own courtyards, occasionally visiting Fengjie's courtyard. Wang Xifeng personally led the maids to patrol the mansion, fearing that some ignorant maids and servants would drink and gamble.
"I don't know how the old lady and third brother are doing in the palace. They must be exhausted these days, and the food and clothing are not as good as at home." Daiyu said to Wang Xifeng in Fengjie's room.
Because gatherings for fun are not allowed, the girls came individually even if they did, and they did not gather together.
As for Keqing and Li Wan, they took turns with Wang Xifeng in patrolling the mansion.
"Don't worry!" Wang Xifeng took a sip of tea, "What kind of person is Brother Cong? How can he be the same as others? Brother Cong is favored by the Emperor and the Empress, so he will naturally not be neglected in the palace. Maybe, the life of Bison Cao is more comfortable than our family."
"You are the only one who worries all day long, worrying that others don't know what you are thinking about!"
"What nonsense are you talking about, little Feng girl!" Daiyu said in shame, "Isn't it normal for me to worry about the old lady and my third brother?"
"Yes, it should be so! One is my dear grandmother and the other is my dear sweetheart, how can it not be so?" Wang Xifeng said with a big laugh.
"Feng girl, you, a poor girl, only know how to talk about me! If you are capable, wait until third brother comes back and talk to him and see if he can deal with you, Feng Lazi!" Daiyu said while biting her teeth.
Wang Xifeng drank a sip of tea with a guilty conscience. That enemy really had every intention of punishing her...
"Has Uncle Lin sent a letter? Is he going to the capital soon?" Wang Xifeng quickly changed the subject.
Daiyu shook her head. "My third brother said earlier that according to the normal schedule, he might arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow! But, Daddy didn't write to me."
That’s right, Lin Ruhai arrived in the capital on the third day after Jia Cong entered the palace, which was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month .
The Lantern Festival, which should have been a lively occasion, was devoid of any festive atmosphere in the capital due to the death of old Concubine Zhen. Instead, it was bleak and desolate with white hanging everywhere.
Lin Ruhai entered the city, and the soldiers from the Beijing camp who followed him returned to the camp directly outside the city.
Not long after they walked forward, a team of fast horses came to meet them.
"Excuse me, is this Master Lin?"
The coachman hurriedly opened the door of the carriage, and Lin Ruhai got off the carriage. The leading knight hurriedly dismounted and greeted, "Teng Wu, the personal guard of the Marquis of Guanjun, greets Lord Lin!"
Teng Wu had met Lin Ruhai before in Jiangnan with Jia Cong, so he naturally knew him.
"Because of the death of the old concubine in the palace, the Marquis and everyone in the Jia family are in the palace. The Marquis asked me to come and welcome Lord Lin! This is the robe that the Marquis prepared for Lord Lin. The Marquis said that after Lord Lin enters the capital, his family and entourage can return home first, but you must go to the palace immediately to pay respects to the emperor and His Majesty, and then make plans."
In fact, it should have been Baoyu who came to greet Lin Ruhai. After all, the other people in the Jia family were in the palace, Jia Huan and Jia Lan were young, and Baoyu was suitable. Moreover, Baoyu was waiting outside the palace, so it was convenient for him to take time to greet Lin Ruhai. However, Baoyu was bored waiting these days.
There were disciples from various prefectures outside the palace, but none of them could satisfy Baoyu's liking, so he was naturally unhappy.
In addition, he also knew two days ago that when Lin Ruhai returned, Sister Lin would also return to the Lin Mansion to live, and he was somewhat dissatisfied with Lin Ruhai's return.
So, after receiving the message, he simply said that he was not feeling well and did not want to come to greet him.
Jia Cong had no choice but to reply to the old lady and let his personal guards go first.
" The Marquis is in the palace and cannot come to greet you personally. Please forgive me, sir!"
Lin Ruhai nodded slightly, "It's okay, we are all family, there is no need to pay attention to these empty formalities."
Afterwards, Lin Ruhai took the robe from Teng Wu's hand, gave some instructions to the butler behind him, and returned to the carriage. Teng Wu asked a team of people to take the other carriages to the Lin Mansion first, while he led people to escort Lin Ruhai's carriage straight to the palace.
When they arrived at the palace, they saw Jia Cong and Xia Shouzhong waiting outside the palace.
Jia Cong took two steps forward to the front of the carriage and gently helped Lin Ruhai get off the carriage. "Uncle, you must have worked hard on your way back."
Lin Ruhai patted Jia Cong's hand and said, "The soldiers and horses you left behind have taken good care of you along the way. They have no worries about food and daily necessities. How can you say that it is hard? Shouldn't you be in the palace? Is it convenient for you to come out now?"
"It's okay. His Majesty knows that my uncle has returned, so he asked me and Manager Xia to come out and greet him personally."
Lin Ruhai was an official at the Lantai Temple. After returning, he had to go to the Lantai Temple first, and then wait for the emperor to summon him before he could enter the palace to meet him and wait for the court to send him.
However, now that such a thing has happened in the palace, in order to show loyalty and filial piety, it is naturally most appropriate to meet the emperor directly.
Seeing that the two stopped talking, Xia Shouzhong also hurriedly came forward and said, "Greetings to Lord Lin. His Majesty has ordered Lord Lin to come directly to the palace to meet the emperor."
Lin Ruhai nodded and returned the greeting, saying, "In that case, I'll have to trouble Manager Xia."
Afterwards, Xia Shouzhong led the two into the palace and headed towards the back hall of the Longshou Palace.
