Chapter 123 Returning home, the title belongs to you!
Datong Bridge Wharf has now entered a state of control.

All merchant ships are prohibited from docking.

The entire dock was surrounded by Dragon Guards.

There is a post at five steps and a sentry at ten steps.

“Your servant respectfully welcomes the Marquis back to the capital.”

“Greetings to Princess Anguo.”

I watched Jia Cong take Baochai and Daiyu off the boat.

Xia Shouzhong, who had been waiting here for nearly two hours without any dissatisfaction, hurriedly went to greet him with a smile on his face.

“Your Majesty heard that the Marquis was returning to the capital today, so he specially asked me to come and greet him.”

“The army returned the day before yesterday.”

“Your Majesty ordered all civil and military officials to go out of the capital to welcome him.”

“The triumphal ceremony ended yesterday, but His Majesty said that the ceremony of presenting the victory and surrendering the captives will be held together with the return of the Marquis.”

According to Daqian’s custom, the army would return to the capital victoriously after a campaign.

Depending on the results of the battle, there should be different welcoming ceremonies, commonly known as triumphal ceremonies.

When the army returned victoriously, they would first go to the Taimiao and Taishe to pay tribute to the ancestors of heaven, earth, etc., and perform the ceremony of offering sacrifices and captives.

To offer sacrifices means to report the news of victory to the ancestors of heaven and earth and to thank them for their protection.

To offer prisoners means to present various spoils of war, including prisoners, for possible processing.

This time, Jia Cong suppressed the rebellion in Shandong and defeated the White Lotus Sect, and his contribution was second only to destroying the country.

If Jia Cong returned to the capital with the Beijing army, it should be the Emperor Shunde who personally went to the outskirts of Beijing to greet him.

Since Jia Cong was not around, he was demoted to a lower rank and replaced by civil and military ministers.

This is also the low-key result that Jia Cong deliberately wanted.

“General Manager Xia, thank His Majesty for his kindness on my behalf.”

“We are old acquaintances, there is no need to be so polite.”

Jia Cong replied with a smile.

Emperor Shunde had kept the ceremony of offering victory and surrendering captives in reserve for him to return and hold.

It is not difficult to see that everything is just as Jia Cong expected.

Today, it was not only the people brought by Xia Shouzhong who came to the dock to greet us.

There were also people sent by the Jia family, led by the housekeeper Lai Da.

More than thirty servants driving a dozen horse-drawn carriages were stopped outside by the Dragon Guard.

Jia Cong just glanced at it from a distance and knew that this was what Xia Shouzhong meant.

I just ignored it, just to avoid being an eyesore.

The items on the ship were carried by the two personal guards commanders Ma Ruyue and Hou Jingyun, who led the soldiers of the Beijing camp.

From Jiangnan to Shandong, the two of them are now capable of standing on their own.

Jia Cong doesn’t need to worry.

Jia Cong rode a white tiger and walked side by side with Xia Shouzhong.

“My Lord, the Ministry of Works has completed the renovation of your mansion last month, all in accordance with the Duke’s design.”

“It’s right next to Rongguo Mansion.”

“I personally inspected it. Your Majesty has purchased a lot of items from the palace treasury. I guarantee that the Marquis will be satisfied.”

“Thank you, Manager Xia.”

Jia Cong nodded.

“This time I brought back tens of thousands of books from Jiangnan, and I’m worried about where to put them.”

“It’s just right to set up a library in the mansion.”

“The Book of Rites says: If a gentleman wishes to transform the people into good customs, he must do so through learning!”

“I heard that General Manager Xia has several distant nephews in his hometown. According to the ancestral precepts of Daqian, outsiders are not allowed to make friends with eunuchs.”

“But the friendship between this Marquis and General Xia is as pure as water.”

“There is no money involved, so it’s not a taboo.”

“If the nephew of General Manager Xia is interested in studying literature, he can come to my library to borrow books.”

“When I have learned something in the future, I will be able to serve Your Majesty.”

“My Lord is a great scholar of the time. I would like to thank you in advance.”

Xia Shouzhong was in charge of two important departments: the Imperial Household Department and the Imperial City Department.

He was considered the most trusted confidant of Emperor Shunde.

There are no close relatives in the family anymore, but these days, clan concepts are deeply rooted in people’s minds and bodies.

It would be fine if Jia Cong sent it to someone else.

Gold, silver and money were nothing rare in the eyes of Xia Shouzhong, the chief of the Imperial Household Department.

However, among the tens of thousands of books in Bailu Academy’s collection, there are countless rare and valuable copies, as well as classics annotated by many great scholars.

In this world, Confucianism and Taoism flourish.

Reading and learning literature is not just about buying a few books and studying hard at home. Without the guidance of a famous teacher, ordinary people with average talent will spend their entire lives studying.

Not even one out of a hundred people can develop a sense of righteousness.

The value of Jia Cong’s free gift is far beyond what money can compare to.

“My Lord, take a rest at home tomorrow. There is no need to rush to move to the new mansion.”

“Your Majesty is going to hold a grand court meeting the day after tomorrow, and he will summon the Marquis after the meeting.”

“Whether to keep or give up the title of the Rongguo Mansion will depend on the Marquis’s opinion.”

In return, Xia Shouzhong made an exception and told Emperor Shunde some of his plans.

The news is not that important.

But it represents Xia Shouzhong’s own attitude.

“I understand. Thank you, Manager Xia, for reminding me.”

As they were talking, the two of them had already arrived outside Ningrong Street.

Xia Shouzhong looked up at the plaque that read “Rongguo Mansion Built by Imperial Order”.

“My Lord has returned victorious today and wants to reunite with his family, so I will take my leave first.”

After saying this, he tactfully bowed to Baochai and then led his people away.

……

“Brother Cong, you have suffered so much!”

When we arrived at the mansion, the middle door was wide open.

Jia Zheng had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

When he saw Jia Cong returning, he felt complicated and ashamed.

These days, the threshold of Rongguo Mansion is almost trampled flat by the powerful people in Shenjing. Who is it for?

Jia Zheng knew it clearly.

“Uncle, this is not the place to talk. Let’s go to the mansion first.”

It is true that Jia Zheng is pedantic and incompetent, but it is also true that he is humble and kind.

Such a true nature makes it difficult for people to feel bad about him.

“Hey, Brother Cong is right, look at me…”

“Come into the mansion quickly. The old lady and Ying girl have been waiting in Rongqing Hall since early morning.”

“My niece looks thinner, and the old lady will definitely feel distressed when she sees her.”

Only after being reminded of this did Jia Zheng come to his senses.

While leading the three people into the mansion, he kept asking questions with concern.

Wait until you arrive at Rongqing Hall.

More than twenty maids and old women stood on both sides.

Grandmother Jia sat in the center, and on her left sat Madam Xing.

On the right are Li Wan and the haggard-looking Wang Xifeng.

Sanchun and Shi Xiangyun were sitting around a small table in the hall, staring at the door.

His face was full of anxious anticipation.

Even Xiaodong came today and sat next to Xichun.

Now everyone in the mansion knows that Xiao Dong’er is the most favored by Jia Cong.

Yuanyang was also specially assigned two maids to serve her.

The treatment is exactly the same as that of a young lady in a mansion.

“Third Master is back!”

As soon as she saw Jia Cong, Xiao Dong’er jumped up excitedly.

Jia Cong quickly used his supernatural power to support him and prevent him from falling.

After greeting his sisters at home, Jia Cong said to his grandmother.

“Ma’am, I’m back!”

“Just come back! Just come back!”

“Come over to me so I can take a good look!”

“These days have been hard on you and me.”

Grandmother Jia wiped the corners of her eyes.

He held the hands of Jia Cong and Daiyu, and then looked at Baochai beside him with confusion.

“My dear grandson, who is this girl?”

“This is Sister Bao from the Xue family in Jinling.”

“The Xue family? But Princess Anguo?”

Grandmother Jia was surprised.

(End of this chapter)