Dream of the Red Chamber: A Refined and Elegant Young Man in a Turbid World

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's stern expression softened somewhat, and he stroked his beard, saying:

"In that case, let's go and pay our respects to the old lady first." He then turned to Jia Cong, his tone softening considerably.

"Cong-ge'er's poems over the past half day have shown some real talent. When you get back, please copy down the couplets you composed today and send them to me for my review."

Jia Cong quickly bowed and replied, "Your nephew obeys your second uncle's command."

Upon hearing this, Baoyu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly straightened his clothes, his embarrassment vanishing, and urged, "Cong-ge'er, let's hurry up and go. The lotus seed soup in the old lady's bowl will get cold if we go too late."

Jia Zheng glared at him, but did not reprimand him further. He simply bowed to the guests and led them on their tour, leaving only Baoyu and Jia Cong to follow Yuanyang toward Jia Mu's Rongqing Hall.

Whether it was Jia Zheng, Jia Cong, Bao Yu, or even Yuan Yang, they all knew perfectly well that Grandmother Jia doted on her precious grandsons and was afraid that they would be beaten or scolded by their fathers.

So when the time was almost right, he called Yuanyang over to find a pretext to rescue Baoyu. However, since Jia Cong was also present, it wouldn't be good to be biased, so he invited her along as well.

Upon reaching Grandmother Jia, the old lady hurriedly called over her beloved grandson, embracing him tenderly, wiping the sweat from his brow, and then stroking the back of his neck.

"Were you ever beaten or scolded by your father?"

Baoyu, quite obediently, pointed at Jia Cong.

"Fortunately, Brother Cong came with me and helped me out of many predicaments, otherwise I would have been scolded by my father to the point of being unable to lift my head today."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia looked up at Jia Cong, who was standing to the side, her smile becoming even warmer. She beckoned him closer, took his hand, and examined him closely.

"Good child, it's thanks to your help that your second brother is able to get things done. It's admirable that you are so quick-witted and able to help Baoyu out of trouble."

Jia Cong, however, remained unperturbed by either favor or disgrace.

"Grandfather is too kind. My second brother is exceptionally talented and doesn't need my help. It's just that he was a little reserved when he met the master, which is why his thoughts were not flowing smoothly."

Grandmother Jia was very pleased with Jia Cong's humility and patted his hand.

"Good, good, good children. Someone, quickly bring up two bowls of lotus seed soup."

Amber responded, and Baoyu pulled Jia Cong to sit down as well. After they drank heartily for a few sips, Grandmother Jia continued speaking with a smile.

"A few days ago, Feng said that the perfume workshop's harvest was not bad, and it would be time to send Cong'er's share in a few days."

Upon hearing this, Jia Cong thought, "Am I finally going to be financially free?" He hurriedly put down his chopsticks and got up.

"Grandson thanks Grandfather for his understanding."

"Your father never cares about anything. He should have given you a job long ago. Only when you have money in your hands can you feel at ease."

Grandmother Jia patted the back of his hand, her eyes showing more affection.

"Feng girl is always very efficient. The workshop's income is partly due to your efforts. If it weren't for the innovative methods you came up with, it wouldn't be so prosperous."

After finishing the lotus seed soup and chatting and laughing with the old lady for a while, Jia Cong was the first to stand up and bow to her.

"Grandfather, I must take my leave now. I need to go back and review the lessons left by Master Sun."

"Good, good, good. Now that you have learned martial arts, you must be even more diligent and self-disciplined, and not slack off."

Grandmother Jia nodded with a smile, then instructed Amber:

"Go open the sandalwood box in the east wing and take out the Zhaowu Mace inside. It was the weapon our ancestors carried when they helped Emperor Taizu establish his rule over the Central Plains. It has been passed down for three or four generations. Today, I will reward you with it."

Amber responded and left. Soon after, she returned with two young children, carefully carrying in a sandalwood box inlaid with a red gold beast head. Upon opening the box, a layer of bright yellow brocade lined the inside, where the four-sided mace lay quietly.

The mace was dark and unadorned, yet it exuded a chilling aura. The four characters "Zhaowu Jingyuan" were written in bird-and-insect seal script, gleaming with a dark golden luster.

The mace handle is wrapped in black rhinoceros hide, a tribute from the Western Regions, which has been smoothed and polished by years of handling. A gold bell with openwork carving hangs from the end, and when it is shaken, it makes a sound like the cry of a phoenix, clear and melodious.

Upon seeing this, Jia Cong quickly composed himself, bowed, and solemnly presented the item with both hands. He felt its weight upon holding it, and his wrists sank slightly. The cold, hard touch seemed to hold the golden spears and iron horses of the old Duke who had fought countless battles.

"Grandson thanks His Majesty for this gift! He will diligently polish and polish it every day, never forgetting the founding achievements of his ancestors who braved wind and rain to expand the territory!"

The Rong and Ning families originally rose to prominence through military merit. The first generation, Duke Ning, Jia Yan, and Duke Rong, Jia Yuan, were genuine founding military generals who were granted the title of Duke of the highest rank based on their outstanding military achievements in following Emperor Taizu in his campaigns. They were core members of the "Four Kings and Eight Dukes" group and the foundation of the Jia family's century-long legacy of nobility.

In particular, Jiao Da, who was drunk all day long, relied on the fact that he had "followed the old masters on three or four military campaigns and carried the old master out of a pile of dead bodies" to act like an old man in the Rong Mansion.

Baoyu also stepped forward to take a look, finding it quite interesting.

"Cong-ge'er, when you practice this mace in the future, you must invite me to watch. I've only seen people wielding maces in plays, I've never seen it in real life."

Jia Cong smiled as he put away the Zhaowu Golden Mace, which was over three feet long, and looked at Baoyu.

"Second brother is joking. How could my rudimentary skills, which are not even at the beginning, be able to wield such a divine weapon? Master Sun also said that one must enter the third level before one can practice with weapons."

Jia Baoyu didn't practice martial arts, but Grandmother Jia was a shrewd person.

"So, Cong'er has already passed the first level of martial arts training?"

"It's probably too late. Master Sun has already begun teaching his grandson the second level of the mental cultivation method."

Grandmother Jia was even more delighted upon hearing this.

"Excellent, excellent! I never imagined that our family would produce such a gifted and hardworking individual over the years. Our ancestors would surely be able to rest in peace with a smile!"

Seeing that Grandmother Jia was happy, Jia Cong cautiously tried to speak as well.

"May I ask, ancestor, what level of cultivation did our ancestors reach back then?"

Although Grandmother Jia was a woman, she had naturally seen her ancestors practice martial arts. After counting on her fingers, she slowly began to speak.

"The blessings bestowed upon our ancestors were extraordinary; if I remember correctly, they were around the seventh or eighth level."

Jia Cong's eyelids twitched. The Rongguo Mansion was indeed deeply rooted. In Sun Tai's words, there were very few experts at the seventh level or above. No wonder they were able to build such a large fortune with the Taizu Emperor.

Baoyu, listening intently, was itching to hear more.

"Good brother, once you've reached the seventh or eighth level, you'll have to show me a set of skills. I've never seen real martial arts from a prestigious family before; it'll be much more exciting than what you see in plays!"

Grandmother Jia put her arm around Baoyu and tidied his slightly disheveled sideburns.

"Nonsense, this skill isn't for playing around; it's for fighting on the battlefield..."

Having received this reward, Jia Cong finally felt much more at ease. The heavy Zhaowu Golden Mace in his hand was no ordinary weapon; if it weren't for his status as a member of the Rongguo Mansion, it would be an overstepping of his authority for anyone else to use it.