Chapter 44 Imperial Decree
Moreover, she also wanted to have more private savings so that she would have more confidence when she needed to make certain decisions in the future!
"Brother Cong has already passed the imperial examination, why are you still working so hard?"
Looking at the various books on the desk, Baochai asked!
Jia Cong smiled and said, "Studying is like sailing against the current. If you don't move forward, you will fall behind! Moreover, the title of scholar is only the first step. Those who can participate in the provincial and imperial examinations are all extremely talented. How dare I slack off?"
Baochai's eyes were fixed on Jia Cong's face. At this moment, Jia Cong was confident, humble, resolute and indifferent!
Seeing that Baochai didn't say anything, Jia Cong raised his head and their eyes met. Under the light, Baochai was more beautiful than flowers at this moment, which made Jia Cong a little dazed.
After an unknown amount of time, Baochai suddenly came to her senses, feeling a mixture of joy and panic in her mind. She hurriedly stood up and didn't even dare to look again.
"I... I'm leaving..." Just like that, he rushed out of the study in a panic, without even paying attention to Ying'er in the small hall, and walked quickly out of the courtyard.
Jia Cong was distracted, but he found a handkerchief that Baochai had dropped on the desk. The handkerchief was pink, with a blooming peony on it and a faint fragrance coming from it...
Baochai ran all the way to the small corner door, stroking her chest and breathing heavily, her eyes absent-minded, and her originally fair and tender cheeks flushed.
"You scoundrel!" Baochai scolded him in a low voice, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up and her eyes looked around with a fierce look.
She raised her hand, trying to cover her burning cheeks, but then she let out a soft cry, and the handkerchief was gone.
"Girl..." Ying'er caught up with her breathlessly, "Why are you walking so fast!"
Baochai forced herself to calm down and said calmly, "I just suddenly remembered something and wanted to go back!"
" Why hurry in? If it's urgent, why is she lingering in front of the door?"
Baochai glared at Ying'er fiercely and said, "You don't feel anxious anymore. Is that not okay?" Then she pushed the door open and walked in, leaving Ying'er confused.
In a blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed!
On this day, there was suddenly a noise outside Jia Cong's courtyard. Jia Cong was frowning, but saw Qingwen hurriedly entering the courtyard.
"Master, quickly change your clothes and go to the front yard. There has been an imperial decree from the palace, and the Third Master must go with you to receive it!"
Jia Cong was shocked when he heard this. An imperial edict? He didn't know what kind of big event had happened. He didn't dare to neglect it. With Qingwen's help, he dressed up and hurried to Rong Xi Tang.
When they arrived at Rong Xi Tang, they saw the master from Lian Ning Mansion also coming over.
Jia Zhen, Jia She and Jia Zheng were chatting with an old eunuch. Jia's mother, Mrs. Xing, Mrs. Wang, Mrs. You from the East Palace and other ladies of high rank were waiting in the side hall in their full makeup.
After Jia Cong and Jia Lian, whom they met on the road, entered the courtyard, they bowed and stood beside Jia Rong, who had arrived earlier. Soon, Baoyu, Jia Huan and Jia Lan also arrived.
Nowadays, the most powerful eunuch in the palace is named Dai Quan. He is a close confidant of the retired emperor and is in charge of the Daming Palace.
The Daming Palace was supposed to be the residence of the emperor, but after Emperor Longxing ascended the throne, in order to show his filial piety, he went to the Longshou Palace, and the Daming Palace was still the residence of the retired emperor.
In addition to Dai Quan, there is Xia Shouzhong, the chief steward of the six palaces beside Emperor Longxing!
The one who came to the Jia Mansion to announce the decree this time was Xia Shouzhong! Although the Jia Mansion was familiar with Dai Quan, they did not dare to neglect this General Manager Xia.
"Manager Xia, everyone in the mansion has arrived!" Jia Zhen said respectfully.
Xia Shouzhong nodded, "Then let's get down to business first!"
The incense, candles and incense table were already ready. Xia Shouzhong stood up and said, "People from Rong and Ning mansions, please accept the order!"
Everyone knelt on the ground and listened to Xia Shouzhong read out the imperial edict. First, there was a long string of clichés and praise for the two Dukes Rong and Ning. Then, he said, "Now that Luosha Country has invaded the border, the nobles in the court should contribute to the country. Order Niu Jizong of the Zhenguo Duke Mansion to be the General Zhenwei, and lead 30,000 troops to guard the border in the Lanzhou camp. The other eight dukes and twelve marquises will each send a son of the main lineage to lead the battalion commander and the general... I decree!"
When everyone in the Jia family heard this, they were all stunned!
"Why don't you accept the order?" Xia Shouzhong shouted softly. Jia Zhen hurriedly got up, stuffed the silver bill into his pocket and took the order!
"The military situation is urgent. His Majesty has ordered the army to set out in three days. Each prefecture needs to report the list tomorrow. Don't delay!" After saying that, Xia Shouzhong led a group of eunuchs away in a hurry.
Jia Zheng stood up in a panic, "How could this be?"
The rest of the people also had different expressions!
"Bang!" Seeing the panicked crowd, Jia's mother knocked her cane hard, "Let's go back to Rong Xi Tang first. What's the etiquette for panicking here?"
A group of people entered Rong Xi Tang one by one, and Wang Xifeng, Li Wan and all the sisters were there.
When everyone was seated, the old lady said with an unpleasant look, "Tell me what we should do!"
"Old lady, can you adopt a son from the side branch immediately? No matter if he is from the East or West Mansion, he will always be considered a son of the main line!" Jia Zhen spoke first.
Grandmother Jia angrily scolded, "Who do you think your Majesty is? The imperial edict clearly stated that the main branch of the family must be married. Do you want to be dismissed from office and stripped of your title by the court for deceiving the emperor like this? It would be fine if it was any other day, but who would dare to do this at this moment?"
Jia Zhen grinned, then said with a wry smile, "Old lady, if this is the case, I am afraid that my East Mansion is powerless . My grandson has been injured in the past few years and cannot wield a sword or a gun. Although Rong'er is not good, he is my nephew's only blood after all."
The meaning is very clear. We are the only two of us in Dongfu. You can't cut off the roots of our Dongfu.
"My son can't ride a horse or pull a bow, so I can't go and bring shame to our ancestors!" Jia She said indifferently.
Wang's heart moved, and she immediately said, "Our second wife's Lan'er and Huan'er are young, so it's okay if Baoyu goes, after all, it will bring honor to the family. However, the old ancestor can't live without Baoyu. Since the eldest brother's lineage has two sons, why not give this opportunity to the first wife's lineage!"
"Lian'er is smart, and Cong'er is also capable! Originally Lian'er is the elder brother, but he is the only legitimate son of the eldest wife. In my opinion, why not let Cong'er go?"
How could it be easy to guard the border? How cruel are those demons? Every year, countless soldiers are put into this bloody grinding wheel. If Jia Cong goes, it will be just what Wang wants. Even if Jia Cong doesn't die at the border, as long as he is injured or disabled, what's the use? How can he suppress her Baoyu?
Before anyone else could speak, Jia Zheng shouted and slapped Wang to the ground, "How could I marry such an evil woman like you! Cong is a man of letters who has come down to earth, the top three candidates in the imperial examinations, and he will be the top scholar in the future. How dare you, an evil woman, push Cong out to die?"
Wang was shocked and then wailed, Jia Zheng glared at her angrily!
Suddenly, Jia Zheng looked up at Baoyu, his fists clenched and his eyes bloodshot!
