Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Ningrong Street, Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Cong and Jia Lian returned from Chongqingfang carrying Jia She's coffin. They set up a mourning hall in Rongguo Mansion and assigned servants to take care of matters such as setting up a memorial tablet, keeping the body, and holding a memorial ceremony.

The main gate of Rongguo Mansion was wide open, with white curtains and mourning flags hung everywhere, lanterns lit on both sides day and night, people coming and going in a bustling crowd, and the wailing inside shook the mountains and hills.

Although Jia She was a dandy guy, he was the heir to the title of Rongguo Mansion and held an extraordinary position in the Rongguo Mansion. During his lifetime, he could only live in the East Courtyard, but after his death, he was able to enter the Rongguo Mansion with dignity.

Emperor Jia Zhao whitewashed Jia She's innocence and deprived Jia Cong of the honor of marriage. After an invisible struggle with the retired emperor, he finally won.

Although he secretly ordered the Jinyiwei to investigate the matter of Hongchun's furs, he naturally had to play his role well in public, and Jia She carried out all the funeral rites according to the rites for the death of a nobleman.

Officials from the Ministry of Clan Affairs came to the mansion to discuss the etiquette and rules, and the Ministry of Yin and Yang of the Imperial Observatory specially sent a date for choosing a date, and it was decided that the coffin would be kept for eighteen days. The Jia family also decided to hold the funeral and send the obituary three days later.

The Rongguo Mansion also invited 108 eminent monks to perform the Great Compassion Repentance in the mourning hall to pray for the soul of Jia She to rest in peace and to absolve the deceased of his sins.

Grandmother Jia set up an altar again and selected ninety-nine Taoist priests from famous Taoist temples in the city, such as the Qingxu Temple and the Changchun Temple, to hold a forty-nine-day ceremony in the East Courtyard to resolve grievances and cleanse karma.

Three days after Jia She's coffin was laid to rest, the Jia family sent a notice of the death to all noble families, relatives and friends from the capital to Nanjing. There was an endless stream of nobles, officials, relatives and friends who came to express their condolences.

Jia She's funeral was solemn and grand, completely in keeping with the manner of a century-old duke family. People inside and outside the family who saw it all felt that it was as it should be.

Under this appearance of hustle and bustle, the nerves of the Rong family's leaders, such as Jia Mu and Jia Zheng, have been completely paralyzed, and they will not think about anything dangerous.

They all seemed to have forgotten why the Jinyiwei broke into the East Courtyard early in the morning to arrest Jia She on the day he died, and they did not delve into the sensitive reasons behind it.

Among all the people, only Jia Cong knew clearly that given Emperor Jia Zhao's mind and calculations, the matter of Jia She would not end there, and there would definitely be many variables and entanglements in the future.

……

On the day when Jia She's body was laid to rest in Rongguo Mansion, news came from the palace that Concubine Zhen, a favorite concubine of Emperor Hongxuan and the one who had raised the late Emperor Yong'an, had passed away in Qinghe Palace a few days ago.

The Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Clan Affairs issued an imperial decree, requiring all imperial edicts to be brought to the court and observed according to their ranks and ranks.

Emperor Jiazhao issued an edict the same day: the death of the dowager queen should be regarded as a national mourning. All families with titles were not allowed to hold banquets or music for one year, and common people were not allowed to get married for three months.

Moreover, starting from the second day after the death of Concubine Zhen, Emperor Jiazhao would take time out of his busy state affairs to go to Qinghe Palace to keep vigil to show his respect for the former emperor and Concubine Zhen.

Moreover, Emperor Jiazhao went to Chonghua Palace to pay his respects to the Emperor more frequently than before.

These actions of the emperor quickly dispelled the rumors that had been spreading in the court and the country, suggesting that there was a rift between the emperor and his son, as he had used Jia She's death to seize the Princess Taishang Ring and grant her a marriage.

At the same time, the emperor's act of mourning for the old Concubine Zhen after her death further elevated the old Concubine's funeral to a higher level, attracting all attention and making people ignore some of the darkness behind it.

Jia She's funeral coincided with the state funeral of Concubine Zhen. Grandmother Jia had no choice but to downgrade all funeral standards by one level on the fourth day of Jia She's funeral to show her respect and mourning for the noble person in the palace.

A memorial hall for the imperial concubines was set up in the palace, and Jia's mother, Xing, Wang and other mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren all went to the court every day to offer sacrifices.

Because the women in the family went to the court to pay their respects every day, Jia She's funeral was attended by the men, including Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and Jia Cong.

Grandmother Jia was worried that the inner courtyard would be unattended, so she asked Aunt Xue to help look after it. Also, because Wang Xifeng was young, she asked her to take leave and let her take care of the house.

……

Every morning, Jia Cong would dress in mourning clothes, go to the mourning hall to keep vigil, burn paper and money, and kowtow to the mourners.

Today is an era where filial piety is more important than anything else. In the past, Jia Cong was abused by his biological father and stepmother in the East Courtyard. As he continued to excel and become famous throughout the world, these old stories have become interesting gossips in the market.

By now, everyone in the capital city of Shenjing knows that Jia Cong and his biological father Jia She have a deep rift.

Moreover, this time, because Jia She died suddenly, the emperor granted the marriage out of filial piety, which caused Jia Cong to lose a great honor. In the eyes of outsiders, Jia Cong must have become even more disgusted with his biological father.

Jia Cong was a young and prosperous man, which inevitably attracted jealousy and sidelong glances from others. Not to mention outsiders, there was a person like Mrs. Wang in his family.

Therefore, many people were watching coldly, waiting to see if Jia Cong would show any disrespect or neglect towards his biological father. Once any evidence was found, it would be an act of disobedience that would be condemned by everyone.

But in the end, it was beyond those people's expectations. Although there was a rift between father and son, Jia Cong performed the mourning etiquette at the funeral meticulously and patiently, and no one could find any fault with it.

Jia Cong's behavior was not only due to his clear understanding of the importance of filial piety and etiquette in the hearts of the people.

Moreover, because Emperor Jia Zhao used his father's death as an excuse to arrange a marriage for Jia Cong, he had to play the role of observing filial piety.

Therefore, every day when guests came to pay their respects in his mansion, he would be very careful in every aspect, greeting them with words, bowing and kneeling to express his gratitude, and being very respectful. He would also personally take care of the arrangements inside and outside the funeral.

Outsiders could not tell that he was in the least bit negligent about the funeral due to his grudge with his biological father, and family members including Jia Mu and Jia Zheng were all impressed by his filial act.

Just after a few days, stories began to spread in Shenjing City about how Weiyuan Marquis Jia Cong had put aside the old grudges against his biological father, adhered to filial piety, and regarded death as life.

Since the secret letter from the Imperial Chariot Division informed the palace of Jia Cong's filial and courteous behavior, Emperor Jia Zhao felt at ease after knowing it.

With Emperor Jia Zhao's sharpness and wisdom, he certainly would not believe that Jia Cong would develop any admiration for Jia She based on the past of these two father and son.

But one thing is obvious, Jia Cong is fully aware of the deep meaning of his forced marriage, and his impeccable filial piety is a perfect footnote and full stop to his forced marriage.

……

In the early morning, the sun was rising, and the red sunlight shone on the low-hanging white banners outside Jia She's mourning hall, revealing a strange solemnity.

Jia She's mourning hall was divided into inner and outer areas by the coffin and the spirit tablet, and covered by a curtain.

The inner hall was where the female family members kept vigil and where female guests from outside came to pay respects. The outer hall was where Jia Cong and Jia Lian kept vigil and where male guests from outside came to pay respects.

At daybreak, Jia Cong and Yingchun came early as usual and kept vigil in the inner and outer halls respectively.

Just as they knelt in the mourning hall, Jia Cong heard light footsteps in the inner hall, and his heart was slightly moved.

At this hour there would be no outsiders to pay their respects, so Jia Cong stood up and went into the inner hall.
Sure enough, Daiyu had just come over and was kneeling with Yingchun to burn paper.

Although Daiyu did not have to wear mourning clothes like Yingchun, she also wore plain clothes.

She wore a plain white double-breasted jacket, a white cross-collared midi, and an ivory-white long skirt. She had no jewelry in her hair except for a white flower in her hair. She was simple, elegant, quiet, graceful, and extraordinary.

Since Jia Cong and Yingchun went into mourning, the sisters in the family often came in plain clothes to accompany Yingchun to keep vigil.

Among them, Daiyu came the most often. Often when Jia Cong came from the East Palace early in the morning, she would come over to keep vigil with Yingchun not long after.

After Jia Cong went back to have lunch and rest at noon, Jia Lian came to replace him, and only then would Daiyu go back to the East Palace with Jia Cong.

Jia Cong came over and knelt down beside Daiyu, asking, "Sister, why did you come here so early again? You didn't even get a little more sleep. You just got sick, so you need to take good care of yourself."

Daiyu put a piece of paper money into the brazier. The red light of the fire illuminated her pretty face. She said, "How can I be so delicate? I have recovered from my illness a long time ago. I just came to accompany my second sister."

Yingchun understood in her heart that Daiyu came here not to accompany her, but she said softly: "Sister Lin is the one who is closest to my heart."

……

Like Jia Cong, Yingchun has a weak relationship with her parents. Her biological mother died when she was young, and she was taken in and raised by her grandmother Jia. From then on, she became very estranged from her biological father and mother.

Mrs. Xing was only thinking about grabbing power and making money in the East Courtyard, while Jia She just drank and had fun with his concubine every day, and almost forgot about his daughter.

Throughout the year, Yingchun and Jia She, father and daughter, only saw each other a few times during the New Year holidays, and they didn't even have a chance to say a few words to each other all year round.

It is this environment lacking family affection that has bred Yingchun and Ermu's wooden personality.

It was not until four years ago that Grandmother Jia brought Jia Cong to the West Mansion to be raised. With Jia Cong as a brother, Yingchun felt reassured and her taciturn and dull nature gradually faded away.

Now Yingchun has managed the East Palace well inside and out, and has gone from being an unknown person in Grandmother Jia's eyes to being a most valued granddaughter.

After a while, Tanchun also came into the inner hall in plain clothes to keep vigil.

The mourning hall was solemn and it was not convenient to talk much. The four people just knelt quietly. The mourning hall was empty, but not boring. There was only the company of their own feelings and the gentle and affectionate support for each other.

……

When it was bright, Wang Xifeng and Ping'er slowly walked towards the mourning hall.

Halfway through the journey, they saw Shishu and Zijuan, wearing mourning belts around their waists, sitting and talking on the corridor outside the mourning hall.

When they saw Wang Xifeng, they quickly stood up and bowed.

Wang Xifeng asked with a smile: "Why are you sitting here instead of serving your young lady so early in the morning?"

Zijuan said, "Our girl is in the funeral hall keeping vigil with the second girl."

Wang Xifeng didn't care. She just walked away and said to Ping'er, smiling, "This Third Brother Cong is good at pleasing girls. When he was keeping vigil, all the sisters in his family were eager to follow him."

When Ping'er heard Wang Xifeng's unintentional words, her heart suddenly skipped a beat and she turned around to look at Zijuan who was sitting on the porch.

Suddenly I remembered that day when I went to Yingchun Courtyard to deliver a message about the Third Master's arranged marriage. When I left, I saw Daiyu's back from afar.

Looking back now, it is very likely that Daiyu entered Yingchun's courtyard, but somehow did not enter the door and left alone.

Only Ping'er knew about this matter. She didn't take it seriously at the time and only mentioned it to others when she came back.

Now when she saw Zijuan, she remembered that since the funeral of Master Zi Da, Miss Lin came here almost every day, and when she left, she was always accompanied by Master Cong San to go back to the East Palace.

The intimate form of it, if you think about it carefully, is somewhat different from that of other sisters.

Originally, the young master and young lady of the inner courtyard grew up together, so it was not a big deal.

But then he thought back to that day when he left Yingchun Courtyard. That afternoon, Miss Lin suddenly fell seriously ill, which alarmed the old lady and caused unrest in both the East and West Mansions.

Could it be that Miss Lin got sick because she was so upset after hearing that the Third Master was granted marriage? Thinking of this, Ping'er was also shocked.

The Third Master and Miss Lin are cousins, and love affairs between cousins ​​are common in a large mansion. However, if they are carried out privately, it will probably not look good if it gets out.

Besides, everyone in the family knew that the old lady had already set her sights on Miss Lin and would marry her to Master Bao when she grew up. If my guess was correct, if this matter got out, I was afraid that there would be another big disturbance in the family.

But Ping'er was kind-hearted and honest. Although she had seen through some of the matter by chance, she would not tell anyone else, not even Fengjie.

Because she knew that Jia Cong had to observe mourning for three years and could not get married during these three years. If this matter were to get out, it would harm him for no reason.

……

Wang Xifeng brought Ping'er into the inner mourning hall. Seeing Daiyu and Tanchun had arrived early, she was slightly stunned, then smiled and said, "Sister Lin and Third Sister are the most thoughtful. They came early to accompany the spirit."

Jia Cong saw Wang Xifeng in mourning clothes, but she looked even more beautiful and eye-catching than in her usual gorgeous clothes.

She was Jia She's eldest daughter-in-law, and the main female member of the family keeping vigil. But although Jia Cong was dressed in mourning, her eyes were full of spring, her pretty face was rosy, and she looked bright and she did not seem to be sad at all.

However, the eldest brother did not say anything to the second brother. Although he strictly observed filial piety in Jia She's funeral and there was nothing wrong with him, if he said that he was sad in his heart, no one would believe him.

At this time, Ping'er saw Daiyu kneeling beside Jia Cong. One was handsome and elegant, and the other was delicate and pretty. They were a dazzling match. She became more and more convinced that her guess was correct.

Wang Xifeng said to Jia Cong, "Brother Cong, you have to work harder today. Your second brother has gone to the clan house to do some work. It is estimated that he will waste most of the day and will not be able to come in time to replace you to keep vigil."

Jia Cong asked, "Why did my second brother suddenly go to the clan residence?"

Wang Xifeng replied, "The eldest master was the heir of the Rongguo Mansion and was listed as a nobleman in the clan office. Now that he has passed away, our family must go to the clan office to cancel his name and inherit the throne.

The old lady said that the honorary title passed down by the Duke is the foundation of the Rongguo Mansion. Your second brother is the eldest son of the eldest house, and it is the most important thing to inherit the blessing of the ancestors as soon as possible. "

When Jia Cong heard this, he understood. Now that Jia She was dead, the Jia family needed to go to the clan house to cancel Jia She's household registration and report the name of the crown prince Jia Lian. After getting permission from the palace, they could downgrade their rank and inherit the title.

Jia Cong recalled that when he had made great achievements in Liaodong, Emperor Jia Zhao had resorted to the method of replacing the crown prince in order to sever his relationship with the family. At that time, Grandmother Jia almost broke with her grandson.

From this we can see that the title of Rongguo Mansion is as important as life in Lady Jia’s eyes.

Now that her son's body was still warm, she thought of having her grandson go to the clan office to have his household registration cancelled, so that she could get the palace's approval earlier and the Jia family's hereditary title could be established as soon as possible.

Jia Cong saw that although Wang Xifeng's words were simple, her words revealed her unconcealable joy and pride.

……

Jia Cong had no interest in these trivial matters in Rongguo Mansion, so he said casually: "Second brother is the eldest son of the eldest house, and it is reasonable for the son to inherit the father's business.

When you inherit the title of the eldest master, you will also take over the family business. Then, you will have to worry more than you do now."

Jia Cong's casual remark pleased Wang Xifeng very much. If the mourning hall had not been so solemn, she would have laughed out loud.

I thought that Cong Lao San, an official, always spoke differently. He spoke directly and was respectable in every way.

Wang Xifeng said, "Look at what you said, Third Brother. We are all family, so it is only natural for you to worry and work hard.

Your second brother is not as capable as you. He can earn a hereditary title and a family fortune by charging into battle on his own. He can only benefit from the glory of his ancestors."

Jia Cong noticed that Wang Xifeng was full of complacency in her words, and although he disagreed in his heart, he did not dare to say anything.

Jia She stole the muskets stolen from Liaodong, which involved a private musket-making workshop in Nanjing, and the crime he was involved in was indeed not small.

Emperor Jia Zhao only used Jia She's death to prevent the retired emperor from arranging a marriage for him, which is why Jia She's guilt was temporarily suppressed.

The past is over and it is time to settle the accounts. Given Emperor Jia Zhao's character and scheming, it would not be easy for Jia She to inherit his title smoothly.

……

It was not until that afternoon, when there were no outsiders paying tribute in the mourning hall, that Jia Cong saw Jia Lian enter the mourning hall. Although he had changed into mourning clothes, he smelled of alcohol.

Jia Lian seemed to be in a good mood. He stepped forward and said to Jia Cong, "Third brother, you have worked hard today. I went to the clan affairs office today and was delayed for quite a while."

Jia Cong frowned slightly and said, "Second brother, we are in Xiaozhong now, how can you drink?

There have been many foreign guests at the memorial service these days, and they have many gossips. You are the crown prince of Rong State, and if your words were to fall into other people's mouths, they would be criticized."

Jia Lian looked a little embarrassed and said, "What Third Brother said makes sense. But today when I went to the clan house to do some work, I met Zheng Yushu, a fifth-rank official, and we had a very pleasant conversation.

Third brother, you know that when the eldest master passes away, the clan house will cancel his title and renew his position. This is a critical moment for our Jia family. In the past, the eldest master did not leave any connections in the clan house.

Zheng Yushu and I get along well, so I naturally don't want to miss this opportunity. It will also be a good opportunity for me to have an eye on the matter in the future. So I asked him to keep an eye on the affairs of the Zongrenfu on my behalf. Since I'm asking for a favor, I have to treat him to a meal and get to know him better.

But I know that I am in great mourning and dare not drink too much. Zheng Yushu also knows the reason and does not urge me to drink. We just drink and eat together and talk about our family history."

Jia Cong had heard Tanchun mention Zheng Yushu.

At that time, he was still in Liaodong. Because of his great achievement in the victory of Yafu Pass, Zheng Yushu was sent by King Zhongshun to the Jia Mansion to discuss with Lady Jia about changing the title of the crown prince.

It is said that Zheng Yushu is also a descendant of the royal family and nobles. After many twists and turns, he can really be considered a noble family with the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Cong said, "Even so, you should be more careful at this moment. Now there are no guests. Go wash up and get rid of the smell of alcohol, so as not to give others an excuse to accuse you of this."

Jia Lian smiled and said, "Third brother is really thoughtful. I will go and take care of it first and then come back. Third brother, you can work harder for a while."

Jia Lian was gone for a cup of tea before he came back leisurely. He had changed his clothes, combed his hair, and the smell of alcohol was gone. He waved his hand and told Jia Cong to go back and rest.

Before leaving, Jia Cong went into the back hall and saw Yingchun, Daiyu and Tanchun were still there, but Wang Xifeng took Ping'er to take care of miscellaneous chores in the mansion.

Seeing that Daiyu had been kneeling for a long time, Yingchun was afraid that she was too weak to endure it, so she asked Jia Cong to take Daiyu back home first. She and Tanchun would wait for Wang Xifeng to return before going back to sit and rest.

……

Ningrong Street, Earl's Mansion.

Jia Cong and Daiyu walked through the wind and rain corridor between the two mansions and entered the East Mansion, and they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The mid-autumn sun was bright in the East Palace, the trees were green and the flowers were fragrant, and the depression and dullness brought by the funeral ceremonies in the West Palace was dissipated at once, and the mood became brighter.

A turbulent marriage arrangement ended with such an unexpected change, which was a relief for Jia Cong.

He swiftly removed the mourning band from his forehead and casually removed the white flower from Daiyu's hair bun.

Daiyu just pursed her lips and glanced at him without saying anything. The two of them did not return to their own yard, but just strolled aimlessly in the garden.

Jia Cong said, "Sister, you have just recovered. You don't need to come and keep vigil with me every day. You should take better care of yourself."

Daiyu blushed slightly and said, "I'm not accompanying you, I'm just accompanying my second sister."

Jia Cong pretended to be disappointed and said, "That's just my own wishful thinking."

Daiyu couldn't help but smile, then restrained her expression and said, "I know that there is an old grudge between my third brother and his son, but the dead are the greatest. After all, my eldest uncle is my mother's eldest brother and my third brother's father.

Now that he is gone, it is my duty to show some filial piety and courtesy."

Daiyu said this with a slight smile on her face: "Besides, Third Brother was deprived of his love and was given a marriage. He lost his marriage and his beautiful wife. It's quite pitiful. I will accompany you more to prevent you from being secretly sad."

Jia Cong turned around to look at Daiyu and saw that her eyes were full of affection, with a hint of mischief and smile.

He frowned and said, "Look at what you said, sister. I can't get married, but instead of offering some comfort, you gloat over my misfortune. Is there any benefit to you?"

Daiyu blushed and said, "What nonsense! What good can it do me?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Since you pity me for losing my beloved wife, why not give me your sister..."

Daiyu glared, covered his mouth with her hand, her pretty face flushed, and said angrily: "You want to bully me by saying crazy things again. I will go and tell my second uncle, how about we judge the matter?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "It's better if you tell him. I wonder what the master would think if he knew that I bullied you."

As he spoke, he gently held Daiyu's little hand that was covering her mouth.

Daiyu did not struggle, but with a suspicious look in her eyes, she tilted her head and asked, "Third brother, why do I feel like you have become a bit bad after coming to Jinling this time?"

Jia Cong was slightly stunned: "Nonsense, how could you learn bad things from that place?"

Daiyu let him hold her hand, blinked her eyes, and said, "I know that the Xinchunhao Jiangnan branch is in Jinling, and it is your Miss Qu who is in charge now.

I heard that Miss Qu is only a few years older than you, but she has been your master since childhood. It must be that she has corrupted you since you went to Nanjing this time. Who knows, hum!"

Jia Cong: “…….”

The two were chatting there when they suddenly saw Qingwen walking quickly towards them on the path ahead. Daiyu immediately withdrew her hand.

Qingwen said, "Third Master, the old lady asked Sister Yuanyang to tell you to go to Rongqing Hall to meet a guest. I have been looking for you everywhere, and now you are here."

Jia Cong asked, "What guest has the old lady brought? Why does she want me to meet him?"

Qingwen said, “This time the old lady prayed for the eldest master’s soul and invited ninety-nine Taoist priests in the city to chant incantations for his soul to be reborn, among them was Taoist Zhang from the Qingxu Temple.

He came to visit the old lady, so the old lady asked the third master to meet the guest together, and the second master Bao also went. "

Daiyu asked curiously, "Where is this Taoist Zhang from? Why is there such a big ceremony? It's ok for him to meet my grandmother, but why do my third brother and Baoyu have to accompany the guests?"

When Jia Cong heard about Taoist Zhang from Qingxu Temple, he immediately remembered an anecdote.

He smiled at Daiyu and said, "My sister, I don't know why, but Taoist Zhang from Qingxu Temple has a rather impressive background. He became a Taoist monk in place of the old master and was named the Great Illusionary by the late emperor.

He should be over eighty years old now. Because of his seniority and old qualifications, the princes and dukes now call him "immortal". He has always had contacts with the Jia family and all the ladies and girls have met him.

But I have never encountered one before, why don't you come with me, sister, and we go and see what this old Taoist priest is like." (End of this chapter)