RPAGF Chapter 71 Jia Yucun's Hatred
Chapter 71 Jia Yucun's Hatred
Today is the auspicious day of Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, marrying the second daughter of the Zhen family. The entire capital is bustling with excitement.
Just then, the Dowager Consort recovered from her illness, and the Emperor Emeritus was overjoyed. He issued a special decree allowing the second daughter of the Zhen family to marry out of the Dowager Consort's palace.
The retired emperor showed his filial piety, and Emperor Yankang could not pretend not to see it. He also wanted to take the opportunity to win over the Xun Gui lineage and share in the joy, so he decided to attend the wedding in person.
The news spread, and the entire city was thrilled.
As dawn broke, the teahouses and restaurants along the main streets the wedding procession passed were already packed with people, and the prices for private rooms were several times higher than usual.
Everyone was waiting to witness this rare spectacle.
The bride's sedan chair would not leave the palace until noon, and the streets were not yet cleared or under curfew, with ordinary people walking as usual.
Jia Yucun walked slowly through the bustling crowd with his hands behind his back. He had just come from the Ministry of Personnel. Because the Rongguo Mansion had taken care of everything, the officials in the Ministry of Personnel were exceptionally polite to him, and he was sure that he had secured the position of Prefect of Jinling.
When good things happen, one's spirits are high, and the unpleasantness of being tricked by Jia Zheng yesterday also vanished.
Jia Yucun was in high spirits and planned to find a restaurant to have a few drinks, and also to join in the fun of the wedding and share in the joy.
"Brother Amemura!"
Suddenly, someone gently patted his shoulder. Jia Yucun turned around and saw Leng Zixing, an old friend he had met years ago when he went to the capital for the imperial examinations. Leng Zixing was also Zhou Rui's son-in-law.
Meeting an old friend in a foreign land made Jia Yucun even happier. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two found a restaurant with empty seats and sat down to reminisce.
Leng Zixing picked up the wine pot, filled it with wine for Jia Yucun, and said with a smile, "From now on, I shall address you as Your Excellency, Prefect."
Jia Yucun stroked his beard and laughed heartily: "Our friendship is based on poverty and hardship, so it's naturally different from others. As you address me today, just continue as before."
Leng Zixing sneered inwardly: If I didn't have the Jia family backing me, why would you be so polite?
After a few drinks, Jia Yucun suddenly remembered what had happened the day before, and asked indirectly, "I've heard that there's a young master in the Rongguo Mansion who was born with a jade in his mouth. I wonder what kind of person he is?"
Leng Zixing had just left his father-in-law's house and was on his way to find Jia Yucun, knowing exactly what Jia Yucun was up to.
He put down his chopsticks and briefly recounted the story of Jia Baoyu being born with a jade in his mouth, and casually mentioned that Jia Baoyu had been beaten the day before and was now bedridden.
Jia Yucun coughed awkwardly twice, then quickly raised his glass: "Let's drink! Let's drink!"
Leng Zixing smiled inwardly, picked up his wine cup and downed it in one gulp. He then chatted with Jia Yucun about things in Jinling, mentioning the four great families of Jinling. He then changed the subject: "There's something Brother Yucun probably hasn't heard of. Last month, the nephew of Master Zheng and his wife in the Jia family accidentally killed someone in a fight over an actress..."
Jia Yucun was taken aback upon hearing this.
Leng Zixing continued, "This matter will require Brother Yucun's help to cover it up. You don't need to worry; the Wang family in Jinling will handle everything. You just need to go along with it and do them a favor. Later, when you're promoted and given a higher rank, it will be easier for you to meet with the Jia family, won't it?"
Jia Yucun felt his head buzzing. What a sanctimonious and arrogant Lord Zheng! No wonder he got such a good thing out of nowhere; he had been planning this all along.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he began to hold a grudge against Jia Zheng!
Leng Zixing poured him a drink and said with a smile, "You were once a prefect, how can you not understand this simple principle? In the eyes of these powerful families, a murder case is nothing. As long as you have money and power, there is nothing you can't handle."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "To be honest, the Xue family is already on their way to the capital."
Jia Yucun's hand tightened around the wine glass, then slowly loosened after a moment.
Leng Zixing saw this and secretly felt pleased with himself: This matter has been accomplished.
"Clang—clang—"
The gong for clearing the streets was sounded, and the officers of the Infantry Department began to drive away pedestrians from the streets.
After Jia Yucun had drunk two jugs of wine and was a little tipsy, the commotion outside started.
"They're here! They're here!"
"Look, it's the Emperor's entourage!"
"You bumpkin, this is the Empress Dowager's ceremonial procession, modeled after the Emperor Emeritus's."
"Exactly, where did this country bumpkin come from? Even when the royal family marries off their daughter, there's no custom of the emperor personally escorting the bride."
As Jia Yucun walked out of the restaurant, he frowned. The ceremonial guard in front of him was not as grand as that of the emperor, but it contained the imperial flag for the emperor's procession, which was an imperial flag that only the emperor could use!
Jia Yucun guessed correctly; Emperor Yankang, the filial son, had arrived and was sitting in the Dowager Empress's carriage, talking with Zhen Yingjia.
The wedding procession was planned in advance. The procession started from the palace, followed Chongwenmen Street, then Gulou Street, and then Deshengmen Street to the west of the city. By the time they arrived at the Prince Beijing Mansion, it was just getting dark, which was the perfect time for the wedding ceremony.
Riding a tall horse, Shui Rong, dressed in his wedding attire, beamed with joy. He had not only married a beautiful wife but also gained the powerful backing of the Dowager Empress. The Emperor was also trying to win him over. He was extremely pleased with himself and kept bowing to the onlookers on the street.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the direction of Andingmen Street.
"Who dares to be so bold?"
Jia Yucun looked up and was startled.
A lieutenant general led four imperial guards galloping in, their faces covered in dust and their clothes tattered, clearly having just returned from the battlefield.
"Urgent dispatch!" the lieutenant shouted, rushing straight over.
Even if it were the Crown Prince's wedding, the express courier would have to make way immediately.
Shui Rong cursed under his breath, then realized, could it be that the Beijing garrison had been defeated? His eyes were fixed on the bundle on the vice general's back, full of anticipation.
Upon hearing that there was an urgent message, the Dowager Empress's enormous carriage slowly came to a stop. Dai Quan stepped out of the carriage and loudly proclaimed, "His Majesty the Emperor is here!"
There was a moment of silence, then an uproar broke out.
No one expected that the emperor would personally escort the second daughter of the Zhen family to her wedding. Such an honor was something even royal princesses had never received; it was truly an immense favor.
Just then, the warhorse beneath the lieutenant let out a mournful neigh, foamed at the mouth, its front legs buckled, and it collapsed forward.
The lieutenant was violently thrown to the ground, his face covered in blood. He struggled to his feet, carrying a bundle soaked in sweat, and staggered towards the carriage: "Eight hundred li urgent dispatch... eight..."
Dai Quan jumped off the carriage and quickly stepped forward to support the swaying deputy general.
The lieutenant recognized the newcomer and his voice trembled with tears: "The Grand Chancellor..."
Dai Quan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly took the bundle.
Unexpectedly, the lieutenant knelt down with a thud and crawled to the side of the carriage on his hands and feet.
Before anyone could react, the lieutenant swiftly drew his sword and slashed it across his neck. Amid gasps of alarm, he collapsed to the ground, his crimson blood quickly spreading and staining the street red.
Four muffled groans followed in succession. Dai Quan hurriedly turned his head and saw that the four imperial guards accompanying him had also committed suicide one after another.
Dai Quan felt a buzzing in his head. He looked down at the bundle in his hand and thought to himself: This is no ordinary urgent message, it's a deadly messenger!
Not daring to delay, Dai Quan hurriedly climbed onto the carriage and crawled inside.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the carriage, and no one dared to breathe loudly.
"Your Majesty!" Dai Quan's panicked cry suddenly rang out from inside the carriage, followed by the Dowager Consort's trembling voice: "Return to the palace immediately!"
Shui Rong was in a good position to see what was happening inside the carriage. He was both excited and curious. What had happened that could make the emperor so angry that he vomited blood on the spot?