Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 742 Braking with stillness
Emperor Xifeng opened the box in front of everyone, sealed the edict inside, and tied it up with a red string, saying, "This box should be hung behind the plaque of Zhengrenhe in the Qianqing Palace. The Dragon Guard, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the East Factory, and the Three Law Departments should send people to guard it day and night to prevent it from being replaced or tampered with."

"My servant obeys the order." Dai Quan bowed hurriedly and said.

"When the day comes when I can no longer bear to speak, that will be the time for this box to see the light of day again. The country and its people will be in the hands of you, my dear ministers." Emperor Xifeng said in a deep voice.

"We are willing to sacrifice our lives for the country and even die for it." Duan Zhun hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed with all the ministers.

"Everyone, please stand up." Emperor Xifeng waved his hand, and four Dragon Guards came in carrying a ladder. Under the gaze of everyone, they placed the jade box on the plaque and then stood at the corner of the hall to guard.

Emperor Xifeng sent everyone away and left.

People filed out one after another, wondering in their hearts, who would the current emperor want to pass the throne to?
At the same time, he also secretly admired that the emperor's move was indeed brilliant, as it resolved the conflict without leaving any trace. He thought that once this matter was spread, there would be no more disputes over the throne.

Because there is no room for dispute, the current emperor has already appointed a crown prince, but it has not been announced yet. There will be no dispute over the succession to the throne in the future.

The princes were all worried and whispered to each other, not knowing who would win. Of course the eldest and the second oldest had the best chance.

Sun Can looked calm and was not eager for the throne. He just said hello to Sun Chi and went back home to study.

This time, disaster struck unexpectedly. I didn't expect that after returning from the Western Regions after making great contributions, I would be punished one by one for no reason. Who wouldn't feel aggrieved in this situation?
It is impossible to say that he has no grievances or resentments in his heart, but he is a filial son. Since the queen ordered him not to defend himself, he stayed in the mansion honestly, thinking that the innocent will be cleared and the truth will come out one day.

Sun Chi finally saw him, so he quickly chased him and jumped onto his carriage, whispering, "Are you unhappy, second brother?"

Sun Can shook his head and said, "No. It's a pleasure to be able to relax and read at home."

Sun Chi comforted him, "Don't worry, your mother will speak for you. After a few days, your father will find out that it has nothing to do with you, and everything will be fine."

Sun Can smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Cong was implicated by me and has been demoted to earl. Can this case be overturned? Forget it, let it go."

Sun Chi whispered, "I guess the name in the box is probably my second brother's. When the time comes, my second brother can restore Cong's title with just a word. What's the value?"

"Be careful with your words." Sun Can glared at him and scolded, "You are talking nonsense? Let others know that you are good."

Sun Chi laughed and said, "Isn't this just a random guess? Father didn't say that we can't guess.

You are the eldest son, and you have made contributions to the country. This time you were framed. Even your elder brother was framed. How could the emperor not know about this? If not you, who should he pass on the throne to?"

Sun Can shook his head and said, "I'm afraid not."

Sun Chiqi asked, "How did Second Brother know?"

Sun Can sighed and remained silent. He just intuitively felt that the emperor did not have high hopes for him.

Although he did not have to be the emperor, it was always embarrassing for him as the eldest son to not be able to inherit the throne.

It means that his character and talents are not recognized, and when the new king ascends the throne, he will be on guard against himself as the eldest son.

Sun Chi thought about it, smiled and consoled, "It's not worth it if you can't sit on that chair. Didn't my second brother say that the Western Regions are vast and boundless? Wouldn't it be great for us brothers to go to the Western Regions and expand our territory in the future?"

Sun Can smiled bitterly and said, "You, as a prince, how dare you leave the capital without an imperial edict?"

Sun Chi frowned and said, "Second brother, you know that I am determined to fight on the battlefield. If my father is gone, who dares to control me? I am not a pig in a pen.

If you piss me off, I will leave the capital even if I have to give up my crown. A good man has ambitions to travel far and wide, so how can he be restrained by others? "

"You... Oh..." Sun Can hurriedly said, "Speak softly. How can you say such nonsense? If you leave, what will happen to the Queen Mother?"

Sun Chi said with a smile: "Isn't the new emperor the son of the queen mother? There are so many sons in the capital, one less of me will do."

"Asshole, don't travel far away when your parents are still alive." Sun Can scolded.

Sun Chi grumbled, "My mother is in such good health. Maybe even if I die, she will still be here. Wouldn't that mean I will be locked up in the capital for the rest of my life? I won't do that."

Second brother, you don’t want me to go to the battlefield when I’m sixty or seventy, right? "

Sun Can couldn't do anything about him and could only smile bitterly and shake his head.
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"Young Master, the emperor has believed slander and has severely punished you with a crime that he did not commit. I'm afraid his mind may change." Niu Jizong said slowly.

Wang Ziteng, Liu Fang, Hou Xiaokang and other nobles gathered in Jia Cong's inner study and all agreed with him. At this moment, the situation in the capital changed suddenly. Jia Cong was repeatedly demoted and his power was reduced again and again. If he didn't think of a way to reverse the decline, he was afraid of unexpected disasters.

Therefore, regardless of the sensitive timing, they all came to Dingguo Mansion (now renamed the First-Class Earl's Mansion) to test Jia Cong's attitude.

Jia Cong and Pang Chao looked at each other and smiled, saying, "My dear brothers, don't panic. Although Cong's title has been demoted, he is still the emperor's consort. Does the emperor really want to kill me? I don't think so.

At most, I will be stripped of my military power, and I will be an idle noble, which is also good. When the country is in trouble, maybe the emperor will think of me, and if I make some contributions, won’t the title be returned? "

Niu Jizong shook his head and sighed, "I'm afraid that the accumulated criticism will destroy me. The New Party members, Dai Quan, Li Meng, Wang Ning and others will not want to see Shao Bao reinstated and look down on other officials."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "As the saying goes, a new emperor appoints new ministers. Even if Cong doesn't have a chance this time, he may have a chance next time. I heard that the emperor has already appointed a crown prince, right?"

Wang Ziteng said: "Although the crown prince has been decided, we don't know who it will be. If it is not the Second Prince or the Tenth Prince, the fortune of our family... may be hindered."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "My dear brothers, you are worrying too much. Why should we worry about this problem? The Queen is still in the palace. I think she has a good plan."

Everyone's eyes moved slightly, and they smiled and said, "That makes sense, but if we can show some filial piety to the queen, wouldn't that be icing on the cake?"

Jia Cong said: "Our filial piety is only on swords and guns. As long as there are no problems with the Beijing camp in the hands of the brothers, I think the situation will not get out of control."

Niu Jizong and others hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Shaobao, if it really comes to a critical moment, as long as Shaobao gives the order, we will go to the palace to defend the king like last time!"

Everyone knows that they are deeply bound to the Jia family, and that their wealth and power all come from the last Tu Fei rebellion.

If Jia Cong's banner falls, everyone will no longer be favored by the emperor, and it is only a matter of time before their power is stripped away, and they may even lose their lives and property.

They might as well take another gamble. With the elite Beijing troops who are fully equipped and ready for battle at any time, they can at least fight Li Meng and Wang Ning to a draw, even if they cannot sweep across the capital. By then, the situation in the court will no longer be decided by the emperor and the civil servants.

The worst result will not be worse than it is now, and losing is impossible anyway.

Jia Cong bowed and said, "Thank you all for your generosity. Judging from the current situation, Mr. Pang and I both believe that it is not the last moment yet.

Cong has been blessed by the emperor for generations, and he only knows how to be loyal to his country. Unfortunately, the treacherous people are in power, and they have deceived the emperor's wisdom, and we cannot tolerate them. I hope that the emperor can find out the treacherous people as soon as possible, so that we don't have to risk the wrath of the world. "

Everyone said, "Young Master, what you said is very true. We have been loyal and good people for generations. If it weren't for the persecution by the treacherous officials, we wouldn't have come to this."

Jia Cong said: "It's still the old rules. If Cong thinks it's extremely urgent, he will send a message. You just need to be prepared. If you trust Cong, then we can do it together."

"Yes. Don't worry, Young Master. We are not those hoodlums. If you want us to be killed, forget it." Everyone agreed quickly.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Brothers, you are so ambitious even though you hold high positions. I admire you."

Everyone smiled at each other. In order to keep the power they had obtained, they did not care about military advice.

After discussing some details, Jia Cong escorted everyone out. As soon as he saw everyone off, he saw a familiar blue cloth carriage coming in from the corner gate. Before the carriage stopped, two young women dressed as men jumped out.

Jia Cong was a little surprised, and hurried over to greet them, smiling, "Si Niang, Wei'er, why did you think of coming to see me?"

Yang Si Niang rolled her eyes at him and said, "Let's talk inside."

"Let's go." Jia Cong hurriedly led the two into the inner study and asked with a smile, "What's the matter?"

Yang Si Niang asked with some concern: "Are you... okay?"

Jia Cong spread his hands and smiled: "What do you think is wrong with me?"

"I heard that the emperor has punished you again and demoted you to earl. It is really like living with a tiger to serve the emperor. All your great contributions to him are in vain." Yang Si Niang said hatefully.

Jia Cong pulled the two of them to sit down and said with a smile, "What's it worth? I never took this stubborn idea to heart. Only scholars and peasants hope to be rewarded with titles and official positions by the emperor. Real heroes always rely on themselves." He pointed to himself.

Bai Qiuwei was relieved to see his open-minded and generous expression, and said mockingly, "You are good at flattering yourself."

Jia Cong sneered, "Mr. Pang told me to be a hero. How can a hero depend on others for support?"

"Bah, what kind of hero is he? He's just a rapist." Bai Qiuwei spat.

Jia Cong laughed loudly, hugged the two girls on his left and right, and said, "I accept the name of a lecherous thief as long as I can win the favor of the two beauties. Anyway, it won't hinder me from becoming a hero."

Bai Qiuwei quickly broke away from him, sat further away, frowned and said, "Behave yourself, I'm not Si Niang."

"I know, you are Wei'er." Jia Cong said with a grin, and reached out to pull her into his arms again. This time Bai Qiuwei just glared at him and didn't struggle anymore.

Yang Si Niang asked worriedly, "Do you have any plans? I think the emperor is going to harm you."

Jia Cong tightened his grip around her shoulders and said, "Don't worry, I have my own ideas and I won't let anyone kill me easily."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Well, prepare the Hydra people, and just like last time, come to my house to protect your sisters at the critical moment." Jia Cong said.

"I understand. Don't worry."

Bai Qiuwei said faintly: "What about me?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "How about you give me a big fat boy?"

"Go to hell!" Bai Qiuwei blushed and scolded, "Don't forget that you are still wearing mourning clothes. Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

Jia Cong teased her, "Seeing you, I don't care about filial piety. Let's have a baby quietly without anyone knowing."

"If you keep talking nonsense to me, I'll leave." Bai Qiuwei said angrily.

Jia Cong hurriedly hugged her and said, "Okay, let's get down to business. Last time I heard you say you went to the south, did everything go well?"

Bai Qiuwei rolled her eyes at him and said, "I've already finished my work, and you, a master, are asking me this. Humph."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Isn't this busy? I usually give this information to Lingsu and Mr. Pang to handle. They said everything went well."

Yang Si Niang smiled and said, "Don't worry, I sent Hydra's people to help. Sister Bai has already cleaned up those messy sects in Jiangnan."

"Well, that's great. The situation in the capital is tense right now, and I can't care about what's happening outside."

"Have you ever thought about taking the initiative?" Bai Qiuwei pondered, "Instead of waiting for the emperor to make a move, why not strike first?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Now the time has not come, and I am not sure of winning, so I don't want to take any risks.

The emperor is not a foolish ruler. He has already thought of the methods we can think of, and after the Tu Fei Rebellion, he will not let us succeed easily."

"Then what opportunity are you waiting for? Aren't you afraid of being gradually eroded and disintegrated? By then, you won't even have a chance to fight to the death."

Jia Cong leaned over and kissed Bai Qiuwei on the cheek, then said with a smile, "Don't worry, Wei'er, I haven't married you yet, how can I bear to die like this?

If the time comes, our Holy King and Holy Mother will join forces to slaughter the people of Shenjing until a river of blood flows. How do you think?"

Bai Qiuwei smiled and said, "It's a deal."

Yang Si Niang glanced at Jia Cong, and said with a little hesitation: "The people below have found out some news about your father-in-law's family. Do you want to hear it?"

Hmm? Jia Cong raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Just say it."

"Fu Shi was dismissed from his post again, and he often went to Lord Lin's house to beg for money, hoping to make a comeback.

Lord Lin was very busy with affairs of state and had no time to meet him, so it was usually Aunt Fu who received him. Fu Shi always pretended to be pitiful in front of Aunt Fu.

They said that you were angry at him for no reason because of your bad relationship with the second branch of the West Mansion, and repeatedly encouraged Aunt Fu to whisper in his ear, hoping that Lord Lin would defeat you and let him be reinstated." Yang Si Niang said.

Jia Cong sneered: "My father-in-law is a scholar who won the imperial examination. Would he listen to the orders of an aunt?"

Bai Qiuwei said, "As the saying goes, a mother's status depends on her son. Lord Lin may not take it seriously now, but if Aunt Fu gives birth to a son, think about it, which is more important, a son-in-law, a nephew or a biological son?"

Jia Cong was slightly stunned, and said: "That's quite interesting. The Lin family has only one son for three generations. If Aunt Fu really gives birth to a son, she will not only be honored by the son, but she will probably fly up to the tree and become a phoenix."

Yang Si Niang said, "So you should be careful, and don't tell your wife, lest she think I am trying to sow discord between you and your husband."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know you are doing this for my own good. Although my father-in-law is dear to me, he is not as dear as my wife.

Mr. Pang told me a long time ago that if you want to gain a foothold in the court, you must never completely trust one person, otherwise you will be harmed by him.

I have never been able to meet Mr. Pang's expectations. I can only be a little cautious with people outside. I am absolutely open-hearted to you, otherwise life would be too boring."

Bai Qiuwei smiled and said, "Aren't you afraid that we will harm you?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "You won't, I'm sure of that."

"why?"

“Because you are not politicians.”

"You have a conscience." Bai Qiuwei and Yang Si Niang laughed in unison.

(End of this chapter)