Red Mansion Royal Cat

Chapter 510: The Useless Grandson
Many people from the Lin family came to Beijing, the one with the highest seniority was the third uncle Lin Jin, who temporarily served as the patriarch of the Gusu Lin family.

The old woman who was chatting happily with the old lady at this time was Lin Jin's wife, Fu.

The Fu family came from a prominent weaving and embroidery family in Hangzhou. Not only did the Fu family produce several juren (imperial scholar), but Old Lady Fu’s father also served as a scholar in the Hanlin Academy and was the superintendent of education in Fujian. His disciples were spread all over the south of the Yangtze River.

The old lady had a good impression of Fu. The last time they met was when Lin Jin and his wife came to the capital to help Lin Ruhai propose marriage.

Twenty years later, the two met again, and it was because of a happy event.

The old lady openly belittled and secretly praised Jia Cong, and scolded him for his ability to "cause trouble", then waved to Yuanyang to take Jia Cong into the house.

Old Madam Fu would not take this seriously. Who in the world doesn't know Jia Cong, the Imperial Cat? The name of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may not be as famous as that of Jia Cong, the Imperial Cat.

"Grandson greets grandmother and great aunt."

As soon as Jia Cong entered the room, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times.

Old Lady Fu said to Daiyu immediately, "Yu'er, help him up quickly. This child is so honest that he almost broke the bricks on the ground."

Then she smiled and said to the old lady, "I don't believe a word of what you just said. How could such a filial child give you a headache?"

These are not compliments from Old Lady Fu. Nowadays, filial piety is more important than anything else.

In the eyes of the world, how bad can a filial person be?

Jia Cong had a pleasant appearance and was particularly attractive to older people. Mrs. Fu felt at first sight that this child was a perfect match for her daughter Yu'er, and beckoned him to come closer.

"This child looks so happy, just like the fairy child in the New Year pictures. The children of my elder sister are all so good-looking. Unlike the ones in my family, for example, Bai'er, I don't know who he takes after, he doesn't look like a son, but like his father, with a stern face every day..."

puff~
Tanchun, who was sitting nearby, was the first to laugh out loud, and Daiyu also covered her mouth and laughed.

It’s true that what Mrs. Fu said really described Lin Bo’s character very vividly.

Lin Bo, the most promising one among the Lin family's Mu generation, is simply a younger version of Lin Ruhai. He learned everything from his uncle.

I guess he is only a little lively around his fiancée Tanchun. At other times, he gives people the impression of an old scholar or a patriarch.

The four maids in the room, Daiyu, Tanchun, Xichun and Xiangyun, were all laughing, but Jia Cong was the only one who wanted to save face for his brother-in-law Lin Bo.

"Grandma, Third Brother Bai is a steady person. His Majesty has praised him before, saying that Third Brother Bai is the next Uncle Lin and a loyal and capable minister of the imperial court."

With such praise from the emperor, Lin Bo’s future is bound to be bright.

Lin Ruhai won the third place in the imperial examination at the age of 20, was promoted to the Imperial Censor of Yangzhou Salt at the age of 30, and entered the central government as the Minister of Revenue at the age of 40. He was on his way to becoming a prime minister.

Lin Bo is only in his early twenties now. As long as he works in a local area for three to five years, he will be able to put on a scarlet robe and become an official in one of the six ministries and five temples after returning to Beijing.

The Gusu Lin family has been silent for more than a decade, but now they have many talented people and no longer have to worry about lack of successors.

Hearing what Jia Cong said, Mrs. Fu's smile widened.

She called Tanchun to her side, touched her pretty face and rubbed her little hands, looking so cute.

She also looked at Xichun, who had bright eyes and was still childish but already a graceful young lady, and Xiangyun, who was whispering in Daiyu's ear, and felt jealous and envious.

"I will steal a few of my elder sister's granddaughters to my house and take them back to the south tomorrow."

The old lady pretended to be generous when she heard this, and waved her hand, saying, "Take them away quickly. These girls are chattering all the time, and it's giving me a headache..."

"Ah, old ancestor, don't you want to cherish the girl?"

Xichun was happily eating a plate of sugar-frosted plums, but when she heard these words, she quickly ran to the old lady, blinking her big eyes and looking like she was about to cry.

"Is it because Xi girl eats too much that the old ancestor dislikes me? Then how about I only eat half from now on? The rest should be presented to the old ancestor as a filial piety."

As he spoke, he handed the fruit plate in his hand to the old lady, his eyes fixed on the dried fruits in the plate. His reluctant look was really funny.

The old lady pushed the fruit plate back, pinched Xichun's still chubby face, pulled her into her arms and said with a smile: "Xichun girl is the most lovely, how could grandma give you up and leave? Even if I give Baoyu and this little monkey to someone else, grandma will not give you up."

"Grandma wants to give me to someone else?"

As he was speaking, Baoyu, wearing a golden crown, a red robe and a jade belt, strode in.

As soon as he came in, he knelt down and kowtowed to the two old ladies sitting in the main seats, just like Jia Cong.

"Grandson greets grandmother and great-aunt!"

The old lady raised her hand and pointed at Baoyu, and introduced him to her proudly.

"This is my grandson Baoyu, whom I have raised for more than ten years but has yet to become anything."

Look at what he said. If Baoyu is not a capable person, there would be few noble families in the capital who would dare to say that he is a capable person.

Jia Cong was really annoyed by the arrogant words of his elders. Just because Baoyu was only sixteen years old, he was already a fifth-rank official of the imperial court, and he was also a Jinshi of the imperial examination. How dare you say that he was useless? Only the old lady had the qualifications to say that.

Mrs. Fu's envy has reached a peak. This old lady of the Jia family is really...

So irritating!
I'm not angry, I'm not angry. His brother from the Jia family is outstanding, and my brother from the Lin family is not bad either!

But Jia's Baoyu is really handsome, and even more cheerful than Yu'er's fiancé.

It’s no wonder that Old Lady Fu is “fond of new things and tired of old things”; it’s just that Baoyu’s looks are just too good.

That face that looks like the Mid-Autumn moon is definitely the favorite of the elderly. It is so festive and you can tell at first glance that he is a blessed person.

Because of Baoyu's appearance, the children in the house seemed to have lost favor. Even Lin Bo, who came from the government office, could not pull the grandmother's eyes away from Baoyu.

After all, Brother Bai, who is more like his father than his son, is definitely not as likable as Master Bao, who dresses up to entertain his parents.

A lot of people from the Lin family came this time, and they brought a lot of property, dowry and furniture.

Following the instructions of Old Master Lin, Lin Bo had bought a courtyard with four entrances in Huanghuafang near the Imperial Examination Hall.

The two Lin residences were only one street apart, so they could look after each other in the future. Tanchun's wedding dress had been prepared, and they were just waiting for the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, when the Jia family would marry off their daughter and the Lin family would marry off their daughter. It would be auspicious and a long-lasting marriage.

……

This year's spring seems to come earlier than in previous years. The spring breeze in February has turned the willow branches on the river bank green.

Although the coming-of-age ceremony was to be held in a few days, Lady Lin Daiyu did not change her work plan and once again started the new year's inspection with her men.

Jia Cong felt that there had been a lot of noise in the city recently, and he was too lazy to pay attention to those who were still grinning at him. He changed into casual clothes, took all the imperial gifts he could take, and got into the carriage of Princess Wen'an.

"Sister Bao went to the Ministry of Revenue, and my third sister has to stay in the Compulsory Education Department to handle official business. I don't even have anyone I can use around me now..."

Daiyu put down the document in her hand, stretched out her slender jade finger and touched Jia Cong's forehead.

Master Cong was reluctant to leave the warm and soft legs. He opened his eyes slightly and wanted to grab Daiyu's fingers and put them into his mouth.

Unfortunately, this game has been played many times, and Daiyu has long been alert and did not let Jia Cong succeed.

Jia Cong lay down again and rubbed against Daiyu's arms.

"Why is this so difficult? We can just tell our fourth brother and ask the Crown Princess to hold a small selection and choose a few capable people to help us."

This small selection is not about selecting palace maids or concubines for any prince or grandson of the emperor, but about selecting a minister for the princess.

In the absence of the imperial examination for women, the only option left was to become a princess's magistrate.

Daxia is a vast country with many talented men and women. There is no reason why we can't select a few capable people.

With the precedent of Baochai and Tanchun having obtained official positions in the court, when the news spread that Princess Wen'an wanted to choose two more assistants, she believed that no one would be willing to choose them.

After listening to Jia Cong's advice, Daiyu frowned slightly.

"Chun'er is still young, and the other princesses already have their own patron saints. It would be too much trouble to ask the Crown Princess to hold another small selection just for me. I'm afraid someone in the court will say that I'm spoiled and arrogant, which would cause trouble for the Crown Princess."

Jia Cong curled his lips and said, "Sister Lin has not figured out one thing yet. With the precedents of Sister Bao and Sister San, everyone in the court with a discerning eye hopes that Sister Lin will have a few more praisers by her side."

Impeachment? Not happening.

Even if there is, it will be drowned in the spit of those officials who hope their daughters will have a bright future.

This is interest. When interests are at stake, let alone Daiyu just wanting to choose a Zanshan, even if Daiyu wants to be the chief spear and stick instructor of the Twelve Guards of the Beijing Camp, as long as his daughter can be an adjutant, some people in the court will help Daiyu create a heroic image of uprooting a weeping willow and challenging the young King of Liang with a spear.

"Then give it a try?"

"Let's give it a try~"

Daiyu was persuaded by Jia Cong. After staying in Shunyi County that night, she wrote a letter and ordered her personal soldiers to deliver it to the capital overnight.

……

There were 20,000 Yingzhou Zuotunwei soldiers stationed outside Shunyi County. When Daiyu was inspecting the public school in the county, Jia Cong took a few personal guards and went to the camp of Yingzhou Zuotunwei in disguise.

Guo Yuchuang, the commander of the Left Guard of Yingzhou, has an old friendship with the Jia family. He is more than ten years younger than Master She, but judging from the fact that he is a third-rank military general, he is definitely one of the young generals in the army.

"Nephew, why are you here? Did something happen in Beijing? Or do you want to beat someone up? Why don't you call me to help you?"

It’s not that Guo Yuchuang has to be a jinx, it’s just that Jia Cong’s identity is too special.

The Yingzhou Zuotunwei was not part of the Twelve Guards of the Capital Camp. Unless the Emperor issued an order himself, the only old general in the capital who was qualified to mobilize him was Zhang Yue, the Duke of England, and Jia Cong with the gold order in his hand.

Guo Yuchuang had already received the imperial report and knew that Jia Cong had been dismissed from his official position.

Upon hearing the news of Jia Cong's sudden visit, Guo Yuchuang thought that something had happened in the capital again, and this guy came with the emperor's secret order to mobilize troops.

Jia Cong grinned and said, "It's okay, it's okay, Uncle Guo, you are really... I am accompanying my sister Lin to inspect the capital, and I came to visit you in the camp. Look, I brought you some delicious food."

It is said to be delicious and the taste is indeed amazing, but in fact, it is all dried meat roasted by Jia Cong himself.

Guo Yuchuang invited Jia Cong into the camp, set up a table in the central military tent, and ate meat and drank with Jia Cong.

Of course, since they are in the military, they have to restrain themselves and not drink too much.

After drinking a glass of wine, Jia Cong's face turned rosy.

Guo Yuchuang drove everyone out of the tent, and then asked, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Jia Cong clasped his fists and smiled, "I really can't hide it from Uncle Guo... I came here to tell Uncle Guo in advance that in the fall, Uncle Guo will probably go out to sea with me and visit Japan."

bang~
"oops!"

Hearing this, Guo Yuchuang was not at all unhappy or evasive. Instead, he was overjoyed and so excited that he almost punched the table in front of him, making a big hole.

"Finally it's my turn, Old Guo!"

Going to sea, or going to Japan, what else can they do? Of course they will go to war!
Fighting in a war represents military merit, and military merit represents being granted a title or appointed as a general.

Yingzhou Zuotunwei, who was raised by his "stepmother", finally had the opportunity to fight in the war and make merit.

Jia Cong put his fingers to his mouth and made a hushing sound.

Then he whispered, "Uncle Guo, only the Second Saint, the Crown Prince, Zhang Shuai, Wang Ziteng, and you and I know about this. Even my father doesn't know. Keep this secret for now to avoid a fight between the Five Military Commanders."

It’s a headache when there’s a war, and it’s also a headache when there’s no war.

There haven't been many wars in the court in the past two years, and the north is stable. There are only one or two opportunities to make meritorious service in the army. Everyone in the Five Military Commandery is almost green-eyed.

Jia Cong advised the emperor to let the Yingzhou Zuotunwei accompany him to the sea, which was obviously out of selfish motives.

He could no longer get involved in the Beijing camp, and the six generals of the Eastern Palace could not leave. Only the Yingzhou Zuotunwei had the closest relationship with the Jia family, so he asked the emperor to give this opportunity to make merit to Guo Yuchuang.

Seeing that Guo Yuchuang had suppressed his excitement, Jia Cong spoke again: "The Yingzhou Zuotun Guard is going to sea, and relying on the current weapons, it is difficult to compete with the people in the hands of His Royal Highness Prince Jing. If we want to make meritorious deeds, we need to replace the latest weapons. My nephew has already made an agreement with the Ministry of Works, and the most advanced artillery, muskets and various firearms will be dispatched in the near future. Uncle Guo must train the soldiers well and make them master the use of these equipment."

Guo Yuchuang pounded his chest with his big fist, making a loud thumping sound, and laughed with his teeth bared.

"Don't worry, nephew. I can't say anything else, but the soldiers under my command will definitely get familiar with the new guys and will definitely not hold you back!"

Having said that, Guo Yuchuang still swore and whispered, "But I am a rough man, and the people under me are all fighters who can only swing knives. My nephew should send more people to teach us."

The corners of Jia Cong's mouth twitched. Oh, why are all these brothers of my father like this?

"Okay, I'll have Donggong Liu lead his men over here, and we'll treat it as a military exercise between the two armies. We'll learn and improve through the battle. Using the name of a military exercise will also help us avoid being seen by others."

The change of clothes was decided, and the two began to talk about the plan of going out to sea.

But before he could say a few words, Jia Shiyi outside the tent suddenly shouted, "Third Master, there's something wrong in the city. Miss Lin sent someone here. Please go there as soon as possible."

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

　I’ll stop here tonight and continue tomorrow. Good night!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)