Chapter 315 The enemy may appear anywhere!

Jing’an Hou Mansion
The southern expedition had not yet ended, and the first grand court meeting was held on the morning of the ninth year of Shunde.

Emperor Shunde did not begin to reward people for their contributions in the southern expedition.

Jia Cong’s title is still the First-Class Marquis of Jing’an and the First-Class Marquis of Wuwei!

However, in today’s Shenjing City, the position of the Marquis of Jing’an’s Mansion is even more important than the imperial palace in the hearts of many powerful people.

In mid-air, five semi-saint treasures were circling around the sacred treasure of ritual in the center.

Endless starlight power was drawn down from the sky, and majestic literary energy surged like a tide.

The dazzling Confucian and Taoist Five Virtues Formation has now become a great wonder in the city of Shenjing.

Every day, countless people from other places come to the capital and look at it from afar, including many students who come here because of its reputation.

Jia Cong’s reputation as a man who could enlighten people had spread.

Many scholars come here with some hope, hoping to get some “luck”.

Confucianism and Taoism are essentially a way to cultivate the mind. If your mind is open, your practice will be twice as effective with half the effort.

In addition, there are scholars who come here every day because of his reputation, and the accumulation of small amounts adds up to a large number.

There were actually a few scholars who broke through the Confucian and Taoist realms when observing the formation of the Marquis’ Mansion.

As a result, the reputation of the Confucian and Taoist Five Virtues Formation at the Jing’an Marquis Mansion became more and more famous.

It has become a scenery that scholars from other places must visit.

“The Marquis has returned home!”

“Hurry up and tell Grandma Yuanyang that the Marquis is back!”

We saw Jia Cong’s carriage returning home under the escort of the Blood-Clothed Guards.

The mansion’s doorman hurriedly sent someone to the backyard to report.

Today, not only Jia Cong did not stay in the palace to attend the subsequent banquet.

Even the sisters at home did not enter the palace to attend the festive banquet hosted by the Queen.

“Master, you are back!”

When they stepped into the backyard with Baochai and Daiyu, Yuanyang came up to greet them with several maids.

“The old lady and Master Zheng Er came here early in the morning after dinner.”

“Master Bao and Master Huan are also here!”

“I saw that the Third Miss’s eyes and eyebrows were much more lively today than before, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Master Xiao Qiang from the East Palace also asked someone to come this morning and asked about it. He wanted to come over to celebrate the festival together after the palace banquet in the afternoon.”

“I refused because my master is not at home.”

They arrived at an elegantly decorated flower hall and while helping Jia Cong change from his official uniform to casual clothes, Yuanyang reported in a low voice.

“Sister Yuanyang, Uncle Lin should be back soon. Have someone guard outside the palace gate.”

“As for Madam Xue, Brother Pan and Brother Ke and Sister Baoqin are spending the New Year in Beijing for the first time. Please don’t neglect them.”

“Go ask the eldest lady of the West Mansion and make sure that the New Year gifts are ready.”

……

“Don’t worry, Master. I’ve taken care of it.”

“Mrs. Xue came earlier than the old lady today.”

“The eldest wife caught a cold the day before yesterday and has just gotten better. It is not suitable for her to go out, so she did not come.”

“I was given 10,000 taels of silver as an annual gift, as well as a lot of jewelry. One of the head ornaments was given by the emperor in the palace. It’s really a great honor.”

“The small academy in the mansion has already closed for the day a few days ago, and I have also asked someone to invite Sister Zhu’s father, Mr. Mingzhong.”

“It’s just that the gentleman is a bit old-fashioned. He didn’t want to come at first, but later it was Xiaolan who invited him.”

Jia Cong nodded slightly when he heard this.

Yuanyang was personally trained by Lady Jia. Not only does she have excellent aptitude in the Taoist spiritual cultivation, but now with the help of various resources from the Marquis’ Mansion, she has reached the middle stage of the second realm.

It also takes into account all the social etiquette involved in welcoming and seeing off guests.

A month before the war, he started preparing for the New Year with his servants.

Jia Cong saw all of this!
“Thank you for your hard work, Sister Yuanyang.”

“What’s so hard about this? I can spend the New Year at home this year instead of fighting outside.”

“I am so happy that I can’t wait to see you!”

After straightening Jia Cong’s collar, Yuanyang took two steps back.

A handsome young man, elegant and extraordinary.

There is an indescribable grace in every gesture.

In a trance, I seemed to see the day when I was assigned to Jia Cong’s courtyard.

As a maidservant beside Lady Jia, Yuanyang had a lot of respect in the mansion, but in the final analysis, she was just a slave.

You never know when Lady Jia will let him out.

Only when Jia Cong called her “Sister Yuanyang” that year did Yuanyang feel respected for the first time.

I still can’t forget it.

“Sister Yuanyang, when the time is right, I will definitely give you an explanation.”

There was no one else here, so Baochai and Daiyu went to their respective rooms to change into their regular clothes.

Only two little maids who served as substitutes for Yuanyang were standing at the door.

He lowered his head, looked at his nose with his eyes, and looked at his heart with his nose, as if he didn’t exist.

Jia Cong said gently.

“I have never thought about asking for any position, nor have I thought about asking for any explanation.”

“I just hope that you can be safe and sound.”

Yuanyang seemed to sense something and gently pulled Jia Cong’s sleeve.

“Master, no matter what happens, I must put my own safety first!”

“Don’t worry, Sister Yuanyang. No one in this world who can do anything to me has been born yet!”

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong smiled and nodded, then left the room.

Meet Baochai and Daiyu.

Several people came to Tongxi Hall.

A screen divides the hall into two rooms, inside and outside.

There was a burst of laughter from the inner room.

But in the outer room, Jia Zheng and Li Wan’s father Li Mingzhong, the two relatives, were chatting casually.

Li Mingzhong has an old-fashioned personality, but his daughter has been a widow in Rongguo Mansion for several years.

How could I not care?

His words were quite cold, but Jia Zheng knew he was in the wrong, and his words were filled with guilt and flattery.

On the other side, Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, Xue Pan and Xue Ke sat in a circle.

Jia Baoyu has been looking listless and often drowsy since the Mid-Autumn Festival. Today, when he came to the mansion, he didn’t even say a few words to his sisters, and now he is even more depressed.

I have been glared at by Jia Zheng several times.

On the contrary, Jia Huan was kept by Grandmother Jia in the past two years, and he used the connections left by Jia Daishan of Rong State to invite a famous teacher.

Yuanyang knew that Tanchun was concerned about her younger brother, but she didn’t want to cause trouble for Jia Cong.

He asked someone to pick a few magical herbs from the treasury and secretly send them to the West Palace.

Today, his martial arts has entered the realm of body-building. His posture is upright, and his every move is in order. He has undergone a complete transformation.

Years ago, Xue Pan had gone through the process of offering betrothal gifts, asking for the name, offering good news, and paying the betrothal gifts with Princess De’an of Prince Zhongzhi’s mansion.

The betrothal gifts were sent to Prince Zhongzhi’s residence, which marked the finalization of the marriage.

All we have to do is wait until next year and choose an auspicious day to get married.

……

“Meet my second uncle, Mr. Mingzhong!”

Seeing this, Jia Cong stepped forward and bowed to greet him.

“Brother Cong is back!”

“Greetings to Marquis Jing’an!”

Jia Zheng and Li Mingzhong also stood up, especially Li Mingzhong, who no longer looked as unhappy as when he first arrived in Beijing.

Being old-fashioned also has its advantages.

It is said that there is no order of learning, those who achieve success come first.

Jia Cong was recognized as a semi-saint of his time, and Li Mingzhong treated him with complete respect as a teacher.

After a few greetings, Baochai and Daiyu went inside.

Jia Cong then asked, “When did Second Uncle return to Beijing? Why didn’t he inform us in advance?”

“These minor matters are not worth mentioning compared to the major events of the country that Cong has to worry about.”

“Not long after the old lady wrote to me, I received a transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel and handed it over to someone, and then I went back.”

“We only arrived outside the city last night, found a place to rest for the night, and entered the city early this morning.”

“I heard the old lady was here, so I came straight over.”

“That’s good. The old lady is old, and I’m away from home all year round. I can rest assured with my second uncle at home.”

“Brother Cong, please stop flattering me.”

Jia Zheng picked up the tea, took a sip, and then smiled bitterly.

“My colleagues in the Ministry of Works wrote to me before and told me that the Minister of Works would retire after the New Year.”

“Your Majesty must be intending to promote me.”

“But I have also seen clearly over the years that people who do not understand the ways of the world do not know how to use tricks.”

“There was almost a chaos in Shandong. Fortunately, the two people you sent, Cong, took action in time.”

“The position of the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works a few years ago was obtained by your grandfather. How can he be considered an official?”

“Your grandmother told me that Brother Cong wants me to teach at Dongli Academy?”

“Yes, my nephew thought that the academy was newly established, and it would be more reassuring to have a family member to take care of it.”

“My second uncle has a good character. He can help educate talents for the country without bringing shame to our Jia family.”

The innate gods are no longer like the hedgehogs they were when they first awakened.

He used a cold appearance as a protective color to hide himself.

In front of Li Mingzhong, Jia Cong praised Jia Zheng highly in his words.

No one could find fault with what he said.

In this era, clan ties are indeed more important than anything else.

However, Jia Zheng also saw many things clearly during his tenure in Shandong.

I already know my own weight.

“Brother Cong, your Dongli Academy benefits the poor scholars all over the world. The lowest-level teacher in it is a second-level Confucian scholar.”

“My second uncle has read the books of sages for so many years, but he has never learned anything.”

“If I go, wouldn’t it be a laughing stock? It might even affect your reputation, Brother Cong.”

“I’m at home, to show my filial piety to your grandmother.”

“Secondly, Uncle Dairu, who is in charge of the clan school, has been lacking energy in recent years, causing the clan school’s atmosphere to deteriorate day by day. I am ready to take over the clan school.”

“Whether it’s studying or practicing martial arts, if we can really cultivate a few talents for the clan, a hundred years later, my second uncle will be able to hold his head high and meet our ancestors.”

“That’s fine. Tomorrow I’ll have Sister Yuanyang allocate 20,000 taels of silver to the clan school to be used to repair the school and hire famous teachers.”

“It can be considered as doing my part for the clan.”

Jia Cong nodded and said.

He chatted with Jia Zheng and the other two for a while, and then greeted Xue Pan and the other three.

Jia Cong came in.

There is a hanging curtain beyond the screen.

A scent of cosmetics wafted over my face.

Yingying Yanyan is so lively.

Grandmother Jia sat in the center, with Mrs. Xue sitting below her.

There were also a few older people such as Wang Xifeng, Li Wan, Qin Keqing and others on both sides.

Below are the four sisters, Shi Xiangyun, Xing Xiuyun, Xue Baoqin, Baochai and Daiyu who had just returned with Jia Cong.

Several senior maids in Jia Cong’s courtyard were also serving on the side.

Only Miaoyu has been busy with the expansion of Shintoism recently and has not been able to spare the time to return to Beijing during the New Year holidays.

“Brother Cong is back!”

“Sister Xiangyun mentioned you just now.”

As soon as Jia Cong came in, Tanchun continued to tease Xiangyun.

Speaking of which, Xiangyun is almost reaching the age of Xu family.

The Shi brothers of Baolinghou Mansion acted as if nothing had happened and said nothing about it.

I wish Xiangyun could live in the Jing’an Marquis Mansion forever.

Among the powerful families in Shenjing City who had sons of marriageable age, no one dared to come to the Baoling Marquis’s mansion to discuss marriage.

It was as if there was no Shi Xiangyun among the daughters of officials in the capital.

To be precise, it’s not just Shi Xiangyun.

The fact that Sun Shaozu’s three clans were exterminated by Jia Cong was not deliberately concealed, and it was no longer a secret in the eyes of those who were interested.

……

We had lunch together at Tongxi Hall at noon.

In the afternoon, several famous opera troupes in the city were invited.

It is like spring all year round in the Marquis’ Mansion, and even in winter, the scenery in the garden is pleasant.

Now that the stage was set up, several troupes that had received generous rewards wanted to give their all.

It really makes everyone happy.

Until after dinner, it was no longer just a stage.

Juggling, storytelling, and all kinds of other performances, it was clear at a glance that Yuanyang put a lot of thought into finding someone.

By the time midnight approached, Grandmother Jia was running out of energy.

Then everyone dispersed.

……

study
“Brother Cong…”

After seeing everyone off, Baochai and Daiyu came to the study room at the same time.

The happy look on his face during the day was replaced by a serious expression.

“What’s wrong, Sister Lin, Sister Bao…”

Jia Cong smiled and put down the book “Miscellaneous Notes on Formations” from Wuyi Mountain in his hand.

“It’s okay, it’s just…”

Baochai pondered for a moment, then looked up at Jia Cong.

“Cong’er, no matter what happens, we should deal with it together, right?”

“Don’t think too much, Sister Bao, I just can’t sleep today, so I’m just sitting in the study.”

Jia Cong smiled and tried to comfort him, but unfortunately it had little effect.

Even Daiyu, who was still a little immature, pursed her lips and looked at Jia Cong, as if she would not give up until she made things clear today.

“That’s fine. You’ll know in a few days anyway.”

Jia Cong sighed lightly and turned to look at the map of Daqian on the wall.

Unlike the official map, this is a map that records the situation of Shinto.

It is densely marked with the ghosts and gods who have taken office in various places.

The highest concentration of population is found in Jiangnan and Shandong.

The rest are the protectorates established in Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi, Korea, and the Southeast Asian countries.

As for the rest, most of them only have some symbols of the county town god’s palace.

“Sister Miaoyu wrote to me a few years ago and told me that the expansion of Shintoism in various places was going very smoothly…”

As soon as Jia Cong finished speaking, Baochai and Daiyu’s expressions suddenly became solemn.

Shintoism developed exceptionally smoothly.

Is this a good thing?

Perhaps this is a good thing before a great war breaks out, or before a great war comes.

But now the great era has begun.

All major forces began to gradually enter the scene.

It is very important who can seize the initiative.

Under normal circumstances, how could they allow the Shintoism under Jia Cong to expand so rapidly in various places?

This went so smoothly, which could only mean…

The other party’s plan this time is even bigger than Jia Cong expected!

(End of this chapter)