Chapter 92: Baochai's Sorrow and Anger
Baoyu and the other man returned with a look of confusion, suspicion and grievance on their faces.
Especially Xue Pan, his mother had clearly told him to dress decently, so isn't what he wore decent enough today? Even if he was going to Wanhua Tower, he would not be able to wear anything more than this.
Scratching his head, he entered Lixiangyuan and pulled a maid to ask, "Where is my sister?"
"The eldest lady is in the back hall. She said she will go to Miss Lin's place soon. The mistress is in the front with the old lady!"
Xue Pan ignored him and walked straight to the back hall.
"younger sister!"
Baochai was very happy today. Today, the sons of the four kings, eight dukes, and twelve marquises all came for Jia Cong. This was the honor that Jia Cong brought to the Jia family. Moreover, Jia Cong actually supported her brother so much. Others might not know, but how could she not know Jia Cong's intentions?
Hearing Xue Pan's voice, Baochai hurriedly turned around to look. When she saw what Xue Pan was wearing, she couldn't help but become anxious.
"Brother, you haven't changed your clothes yet? Didn't someone send a message saying that uncle and the master of the Shi family have arrived? Why haven't you gone yet?"
"This..." Xue Pan scratched his head , "I got the news, and my mother even asked Tongxi to tell me to dress decently, but when I went there, my uncle scolded me and told me to come back and change my clothes. Isn't my brother's clothes decent enough?"
Baochai felt dizzy. What was going on in her brother's mind? The people who came today were all the heads of the families. Even the younger ones must be capable children of the families, otherwise they would not have been brought here. Such a solemn scene, and her brother went there like this? Was he treating it as a normal visit to a brothel?
Gritting her teeth, Baochai tried to suppress her anger. After all, this was not the time to be angry. "You guys, go and help your brother change his clothes. No need to be so fancy, just plain and elegant. Immediately, take off all those small ornaments, you are not allowed to wear them!"
Xue Pan was pulled away by the maid in confusion, and Baochai then sat down with a sigh.
"Don't worry, young lady. The Third Master is here to take care of you. He won't let me lose face!" Ying'er advised.
"Ah!" Baochai sighed. Who could understand the pain in her heart? Her brother was so disrespectful in front of that enemy. What should she do...
At the beginning of the afternoon, carriages and sedan chairs gathered in front of the Jia Mansion. All the female family members went directly to Grandmother Jia, who led the high-ranking officials in the mansion to receive them. The rest of the people gathered in Rong Xi Hall, where Jia She, Jia Zheng and others came to greet them.
First, people from the Marquis' Mansion came, and then people from the rest of the Duke's Mansion followed. The elders chatted with Jia Zheng and others, while the younger ones were headed by Jia Cong.
Apparently, everyone had received instructions from their families, so they were respectful and friendly to Jia Cong! Even those who were not going to guard the border together were all like this.
"Where is my great general!" Niu Jizong shouted with a loud laugh.
Jia Cong stepped forward and heard Niu Jizong say, "Well, I've said long ago that this boy is capable. Now, if we meet him outside, most of us will have to pay our respects to him first."
These noble children, like the two families of the Jia family, had their titles greatly reduced. In terms of national etiquette, there were really few who were higher than Jia Cong, the second-class earl.
"Besides, maybe in two years, I will have to pay my respects to this kid."
"I, Old Niu, only regret that I chose to play it safe and did not listen to Brother Cong. Otherwise, I might be a marquis now!"
"Uncle Niu is mature and steady, and I am just a rookie with only a lot of hot blood and energy. How can I deserve such praise from Uncle Niu!" Jia Cong said with a smile.
Wang Ziteng, who was standing aside, looked at Jia Cong in front of him, and then looked at the two nephews who were huddled aside and dared not speak. He really didn't know what to say.
Wang Ziteng's attitude towards Jia Cong's rise is extremely complicated.
First of all, the higher Jia Cong's status, the greater the benefit for Wang Ziteng, who is from the same lineage, and the more important he will be in the court. However, the appearance of Jia Cong will naturally make the original relationship in the Jia family army submit to him. Wang Ziteng can control the Beijing camp because of the support of the Jia family and the submission of the Jia family's connections, but now, with his own family, he has become the outsider.
And most importantly, Jia Cong's rise was too fast, leaving him no time to react or make arrangements.
He couldn't get his hands on the Lanzhou camp. Now that Jia Cong had returned, he was not only promoted to earl, but also caught the emperor's eye. If he dared to suppress him, not only would he arouse the emperor's dissatisfaction, but the four kings and eight dukes, and even the Jia family would probably become alienated from him.
The Wang family is not a member of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes, but they are closely related to the Jia family. However, because of this difference, the Four Kings and Eight Dukes have almost never really recognized him. But now, looking at the attitudes of other dukes and marquises towards Jia Cong, the Jia family will once again become the leader of the Eight Dukes and Twelve Marquises, and it will only be a matter of time.
Sometimes, there is indeed a world of difference between different bloodlines and surnames.
As the group of people were talking, a servant came hurriedly outside, "Master, Second Master, the old lady wants Third Master to come over!"
"Since it is Lord Feng who has invited us , Brother Cong may go first!" everyone said.
Jia Cong nodded, took Baoyu and Xue Pan to introduce them to his peers, and then hurried towards Jia's mother's courtyard.
When Jia Cong entered the back hall, he saw that it was filled with pearls and jades. There were at least twenty people in the room.
On the high couch, there was an old lady of similar age sitting on either side of Lady Jia. Next to the old lady on the left was a young woman who seemed to be about the same age as Li Wan and the others.
Next, the officials from each prefecture took their seats in order!
In the hall, Xing, You and Wang were taking care of everyone, so Li Wan and Wang Xifeng could only go in and out like ordinary maids, serving tea, water, fruits and food.
The one who was the most frustrated was Wang! She was the proper wife of the family, but in this situation, she didn't even have the right to speak. After all, Jia Zheng was only a fifth-rank official, so he could only hire a fifth-rank concubine for her. Jia She inherited the title of a first-class general, which was equivalent to the same rank, and Jia Zhen inherited the title of a third-class general, which was equivalent to the third rank. Therefore, Xing and You, who she usually looked down upon, were more respectable than her in formal occasions...
"old lady!"
Jia Cong was not restrained and bowed to Lady Jia first!
Grandmother Jia's face was full of smiles. Today, all the imperial edicts from various mansions came, almost like when the old Duke was still here, and these imperial edicts were all respectful when they spoke. After so many years, there was such a highlight moment again.
"You monkey, come here quickly!" Grandmother Jia waved her hand and called Jia Cong to her side.
