Red Mansion: Incense and God Road, starting from the City God of Shenjing

Chapter 34: The Hunting Storm Arrives During the Holidays
The huge city of Shenjing has a population of over one million.

Countless strange things happen every day.

Lin Daiyu's entry into the mansion was a big event for the Jia family.

But in the entire Shenjing City, it is really inconspicuous.

Even the spies from the Rongguo Mansion only reported the news according to convention.

Then I no longer paid any attention to it.

In recent days, the hottest topic among the high-ranking officials in Shenjing City has been the Beijing Camp.

Commander: Wang Ziteng, Deputy Commander: Zhao Qi.

All perished within a day.

This resulted in two vacancies for powerful military officers, one of the second rank and the other of the third rank.

Early morning the next day.

There was almost a huge quarrel in the court over these two positions.

The first to initiate it were the nobles of the Kaiyuan era.

There is only one word difference between him and the founding heroes.

In fact, it was a group of nobles that grew up during the several northern expeditions of Emperor Kaiyuan, the retired emperor.

The two Dukes’ Mansions are headed by Duke Dingguo and Duke Weiguo.

There are also six marquisate palaces, twelve earlate palaces and some viscount and baron families.

Although most of the family heads have been passed down to the second generation, they have basically followed Emperor Kaiyuan in the Northern Expedition when they were young.

It is countless times better than the decline and decay that occurred after the founding fathers passed the legacy to three or four generations.

Faced with the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Beijing Camp, the Kaiyuan lineage naturally did not want to let it go.

However, the position of commander of the Beijing camp had previously been in the hands of the Jia family, and later it was transferred to Wang Ziteng.

On the surface, he is also a member of the founding lineage.

How could the eight dukes and twelve marquises allow the Kaiyuan lineage to take away this powerful military position?

The two sides quarreled.

Not only that, some civil servants also stepped forward to fish in troubled waters.

I hope to set a precedent in Daqian of using culture to control military power.

There were quarrels in three morning courts in a row. Emperor Shunde had no power and had to delay the process.

No one knew what the retired emperor Kaiyuan, who held real power, was thinking in the Huangji Hall.

No decree has been issued.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, the quarrels in the court became more and more intense.

Jia Cong originally planned to go to the palace as agreed after the Mid-Autumn Festival to find out the background of the Daqian royal family.

Unexpectedly, on the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Jia family welcomed the palace eunuchs again.

Xia Shouzhong was led into Lixiangyuan by Yuanyang.

The capital city of Shenjing has become somewhat chilly in autumn.

But Jia Cong was still dressed in a simple scholarly attire, holding a copy of Mencius in his hand.

His mount, Dabai, was lazily leaning against the fence of the pavilion.

Seeing Xia Shouzhong coming, he subconsciously bent his back slightly.

A low growl came from his mouth.

It's just a posture of preparing to pounce.

This frightened Xia Shouzhong, the close attendant of Emperor Shunde, so much so that he felt a chill down his spine.

"Dabai, stop it!"

Fortunately, Jia Cong kicked Dabai lightly at this time.

This allowed Xia Shouzhong to break free from the terrifying power of the tiger.

"Greetings, Master Jia. Our family is honored."

After taking a look at Dabai with lingering fear, Xia Shouzhong hurriedly stepped forward with a smile to greet him.

But I was secretly surprised.

It looks like this white tiger is about to become a great monster.

But Jia Cong scolded him like a cat.

This kind of method is rare even among the Xuanmen spiritual practitioners.

"Manager Xia, you're welcome!" Jia Cong put down the book and nodded lightly.

"How come you have time to come to my Lixiangyuan today?"

Xia Shouzhong heard Jia Cong talking about "Lixiangyuan" instead of "Rongguo Mansion".

My heart moved and I thought of the information I had received before.

But he had nothing to say to the people in the Jia family.

Such a great master of spiritual cultivation was actually excluded and alienated from his family. "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. According to Taizu's etiquette, the palace is going to send a mooncake food box and Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to each noble family."

"To show that our nobles of Daqian and the imperial court are one and reunited."

"I just thought that I haven't come to visit you for a long time, so I took this opportunity to say hello to you."

Xia Shouzhong came from the imperial palace, was full of nice words, and praised Jia Cong highly.

Even if you don't like it, you won't offend the other person because of it.

"In addition, there are some changes to this year's Mid-Autumn Festival."

"In previous years, the moon worship ceremony was held in the palace, and then His Majesty held a banquet in the Wenhua Palace to entertain the country's civil and military officials and top nobles."

"It's just that your majesty has been thinking about the long period of peace in Daqian these days, and the nobles and generals' descendants are living an increasingly extravagant life."

"We have lost the martial spirit of our ancestors and have decided to change tomorrow's Mid-Autumn Festival dinner into an autumn hunting activity."

"What did Manager Xia say?"

Jia Cong raised his head.

"Your Majesty has been disturbed by the dispute over the position of the commander of the Shangjing Camp in the court recently, and he wants to find an excuse to go out and avoid it."

"Excuse me for being so nosy, but it would be best if you could also join the autumn hunt."

Xia Shouzhong lowered his head and spoke in a low voice as if hinting at something.

"Since Manager Xia said so, I might as well go and take a look." Jia Cong thought thoughtfully.

"It's good that my uncle knows what's going on."

"The emperor will leave the palace at the end of the Yin hour tomorrow, and then all the dignitaries will travel together to the Xishan Royal Hunting Ground, which is thirty miles away from Shenjing City."

"We will arrive at the end of the Si hour, rest at noon, and officially start the autumn hunt in the afternoon."

"This autumn hunt will last for three days."

"The Empress and the Imperial Consort will accompany the Emperor. His Majesty has ordered that the female relatives of the imperial concubines of each household may travel together to accompany the Emperor."

"Your Highness can also bring the women in your family with you."

Xia Shouzhong explained all the hunting matters in detail.

Jia Cong had not been very interested in this kind of large-scale blind date event.

But Xia Shouzhong must have come here in accordance with the order of Emperor Shunde.

The meaning behind this is interesting if you savor it carefully.

"Thank you, Manager Xia, for the reminder."

Jia Cong nodded and winked at Yuanyang who was waiting several feet away from the pavilion.

The latter understood what he meant and went into the house to get out a few banknotes.

"Now that everything is said and done, I'll take my leave."

"I'm going out tomorrow, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find time to greet you, Uncle. We would like to wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival in advance."

"Thank you."

Xia Shouzhong had long been accustomed to Jia Cong's indifferent style of doing things.

He didn't think much of it, but instead thought of the silver note that Yuanyang took out when they were saying goodbye.

Xia Shouzhong felt flattered.

After repeatedly declining, he gave Yuanyang a few instructions before accepting it.

"Sister Yuanyang, have they sent the people away?"

In the pavilion, after Yuanyang came back, Jia Cong asked.

"In reply to your words, according to your instructions, I have prepared three thousand taels of silver notes for General Manager Xia."

"I don't know whether it is too much or too little."

"Before leaving, Manager Xia specifically told me to tell you that you must not break your promise to go hunting in the West Hills tomorrow."

Yuanyang lowered his head and told everything.

"The palace's steward will be useful one day. Three thousand taels of silver is not a lot..."

"But the Mid-Autumn Hunt was held so hastily..."

"And you specially came to invite me..."

"Is it Emperor Shunde's own intention, or is it Xia Shouzhong who knows something and is giving me a hint..."

"Sister Yuanyang, go ask the other courtyards of my second sister. Rongqing Hall should have received the news as well."

"Who's going to participate in the autumn hunt tomorrow? I want to make a plan."

Jia Cong opened his mouth and gave orders.

"Yes, slave, go now!"

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(End of this chapter)