Chapter 447 See How Many Children You Can Have
After Jia Cong got up in the morning and had just eaten something and was about to go on business, Jia Zhong came to report that a eunuch had come from the palace.
Arriving at the front hall, before Jia Cong could speak, the eunuch hurriedly bowed and said, "His Majesty has sent me to tell the Marquis that he will be hosting a banquet in the evening and that he is requested to come early."
"Oh?" Jia Cong was stunned. "Your Majesty is giving a banquet? Are there others?"
"This servant doesn't know!"
"Thank you for the trip, eunuch. I will enter the palace early this afternoon to pay my respects to His Majesty."
After taking the red envelope handed over by Jia Zhong, the eunuch did not stay long and left the Jia Mansion directly.
Jia Cong left the mansion and headed straight for the main camp of the Beijing Camp outside the city. During this period, the Beijing Camp had undergone some changes. Niu Jizong had gone to Fengzhou to garrison the border, and the Beijing Camp had dispatched some of its elite troops to join Niu Jizong's army. However, this also led to the promotion and rotation of some of the officers in the Beijing Camp.
Overall, this made Jia Cong's control over the Beijing camp a little stronger.
However, although Jia Cong now has two errands, he is not actually very busy! With Hou Jing and his men in charge of the Five Cities Military Department, Jia Cong no longer needs to worry too much. Each military department has at least two disciples from each prefecture in charge, so there will be no monopoly.
Most of the people in charge of the Bingmasi treasury and accounts in the rear were Jia Cong's confidants, so even if some people had some ideas, they could not hide them from his eyes and ears.
As for the Beijing camp, it gradually got back on track.
Many of Jia Cong's colleagues who had accompanied Niu Jizong to the border defense had been promoted to key positions. Their bond with Jia Cong, forged on the battlefield, was a life-and-death friendship, and they wouldn't betray him for mere trifles. Furthermore, Jia Cong treated them with kindness, even more so than others. Consequently, at least half of the officers in the Beijing garrison were his direct subordinates, and the others couldn't cause any trouble.
The business on the farm outside the city has now been fully expanded. The accounts are managed by Wang Xifeng and her personal guards and family members, while the incoming and outgoing goods are managed by Jia Yun and Jia Qin. Xue Ke personally monitors the transportation routes. Not only the various prefectures in Daqian, but Jia Cong also personally organized a caravan to travel to neighboring countries.
It is no exaggeration to say that based on this point alone, Jia Cong's future value will be difficult to estimate!
However, the one who made the fortune naturally belonged to the emperor. Although he was just reaping the benefits, Emperor Longxing also felt at ease taking advantage of his son!
At least this year, Emperor Longxing has a lot more money on hand as he needs silver everywhere. The rebellion in Jiangnan last year had a great impact on the salt administration and taxation in Jiangnan. Fortunately, there is a large amount of silver here to make up for it, otherwise the national treasury would certainly be stretched this year.
In addition, Lin Ruhai's urging of the repayment of the debts was quite effective. The founding family was now well-off, and without Jia Cong's advice, all the debts were repaid. Seeing this, the other prefectures in the capital could no longer turn a blind eye. Even if they could not pay it back, they would at least make a gesture and return part of it.
Even the Zhen family in Jiangnan, Old Lady Zhen returned a small portion of the money to show her loyalty to the retired emperor .
Overall, although Daqian cannot be described as peaceful and prosperous, nothing serious has happened.
After a short tour of the military camp outside the city, Jia Cong returned to his residence around noon. After a simple meal, Li Wan from the West Mansion arrived, accompanied by Wang Xifeng.
The sisters had mentioned several times before that Li Wan missed Jia Lan and couldn't sleep, so Jia Cong thought of taking her and Keqing to the Imperial College to meet Jia Lan and Qin Zhong.
"Sister-in-law, please sit for a moment. I have sent someone to pass a message to Keqing. We will leave later." Jia Cong said to Li Wan.
Li Wan nodded gratefully. To be honest, she didn't really want to disturb Jia Lan's hard studies. However, as a mother, this was the first time that Jia Lan left the house and was not with her, so it was normal for her to be worried.
"Would you like to go with me later, sister-in-law?"
Wang Xifeng snorted coldly, "Second Madam doesn't have any good sons in the Imperial College, so why would she go there?"
"What's the matter? Second Madam wants a son?" Keqing's voice came from outside the door.
Keqing entered and greeted the others. Wang Xifeng glared at her and said, "You little slut, Second Madam doesn't want a son. Having Ping'er by my side for the rest of my life is enough. But you, don't you..."
Seeing Wang Xifeng talking nonsense again, Li Wan immediately covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "You rascal, you poor wretch, how dare you say anything!"
Wang Xifeng grunted twice, and when she saw Jia Cong's half-smile in her eyes, she swallowed the words in her mouth.
"Now that we're here, let's go. I have to go to the palace again when we get back!"
Jia Zhong had already prepared the carriage. Since they were going to the Imperial College, they did not let the maids follow. Instead, Jia Zhong brought a group of eunuchs and capable old women, and Lu Feng brought a team of personal guards.
After Wang Xifeng escorted the others to the Chuihua Gate, she said, "You go ahead. I'll go talk to my eldest sister-in-law."
Jia Cong was half a step slower. When he saw Keqing and the other two leave, he whispered in Fengjie's ear, "Don't worry, little Feng'er. The master has promised you children, so you will definitely have more."
After saying that, he left with a big laugh.
Wang Xifeng's pretty face flushed red, and she spat fiercely at Jia Cong's back, "Tsk, you're such a fool, you only know how to tease me, the Second Madam."
In fact, Wang Xifeng, Keqing and others knew very well that even if they wanted to have children, they would have to wait a year or two after Jia Cong's wedding. Not to mention them, even Yuanyang and Zhen Muring knew this.
The Jia family was no small family, and the inheritance of legitimate and illegitimate children was of great importance. Whether he was the eldest son of a legitimate wife or an illegitimate child would make a huge difference.
Naturally, the women didn't want Jia Cong to worry about this matter, so even if Jia Cong didn't say it, they would not get pregnant first.
And the eldest son can only be born to Daiyu or Baochai!
"What are you laughing at, you little bitch?" Wang Xifeng turned around and saw Ping'er, her eyes wide with smiles. "Hmph, one day I'll make the decision and promise you this buffalo grass. Then we'll see how many children you can have."
"Just talk nonsense, ma'am!" Ping'er said without a care. "Next time you serve me, just don't ask for mercy."
The relationship between the master and servant became much closer than before. After all, they were now comrades in the same trench, helping each other out on the battlefield.
"Okay, you little girl, you dare to argue with grandma. Today I will let you know how powerful I am!"
The two of them were fighting as they headed towards You's courtyard.
Keqing and Li Wan rode in a carriage, while Jia Cong rode a horse, all the way to the Imperial College! On the carriage, she would secretly lift the curtain and glance at Jia Cong from time to time. Keqing's face was full of shyness and joy, and she even forgot for a moment that Li Wan was also in the carriage.
