Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 107 The Furious Emperor Yongping

Although he was nervous, as the left prime minister, Ke Zheng was not so scared that he dared not see anyone.

After adjusting his mood, Ke Zheng instructed the servant.

"Please come in."

"I obey, little one."

Not long after the servant left, he brought Zhao Pan'er to the study.

Things went smoothly. After Zhao Pan'er met Ke Zheng and showed him evidence of her engagement with Ouyang Xu, Ke Zheng quickly returned the Night Banquet Painting to Zhao Pan'er.

Zhao Pan'er said after bowing respectfully.

"Thank you, Minister Ke, for your generosity."

Ke Zheng waved his hand and said.

"Miss, you are a smart person. I am not interested in your affairs with Ouyang Xu."

"After this painting of the Night Banquet arrived at my residence, I only viewed it once, and now it is returned intact."

"Please forget what happened today, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble to you and me."

The meaning of Ke Zheng's words was obvious. He knew very well that the fact that Zhao Pan'er, a woman from Yuhang, was able to obtain the badge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and come to the Prime Minister's Residence was itself suspicious.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the emperor's personal army, and it is impossible for ordinary people to be mobilized.

This matter most likely involves the royal family, and Ke Zheng is eager to distance himself from it.

Zhao Pan'er nodded slightly after hearing this.

"Rest assured, Minister Ke. From today on, I will remain anonymous and will not show up in public. The Night Banquet Painting will be returned to its original owner. I will not bother you any more. Goodbye."

Ke Zheng said calmly.

"Goodbye, young lady. I won't see you off."

After sending Zhao Pan'er away, Ke Zheng's heart was once again shrouded in a gloom. It was truly a turbulent time.

As for Zhao Pan'er, not long after she left the Prime Minister's Mansion, the Night Banquet Picture in her hand was taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and quickly presented to the palace.

Zhao Pan'er took a carriage back to the villa of the Marquis of Guanjun's Mansion.

In the main hall of the villa, Jia Jue was leisurely drinking tea.

At this moment, Zhao Pan'er walked into the hall. After seeing Jia Jue, Zhao Pan'er immediately bowed and said.

"Pan'er greets the Marquis."

Jia Jue said after smiling slightly.

"No need to be polite, Miss Zhao, please sit down."

Zhao Pan'er nodded and sat aside nervously.

Seeing Zhao Pan'er's uneasy look, Jia Jue said calmly.

"Why, are you still worried that when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog will be cooked, and when the birds are all gone, the good bow will be hidden."

After hearing this, Zhao Paner waved her hand and said.

"My Lord, I am not..."

Jia Jue said with a chuckle.

"Well, I promised you that I would protect you, so I won't lie to you."

"The Night Banquet Map has been taken away, so you've completed your mission. Tell me, what are your plans next?"

Zhao Pan'er thought for a moment and then looked at Jia Jue and said.

"My Lord, Yuhang is my sad place. I don't want to go back. Besides, I have no relatives here."

"If the Marquis doesn't mind, could you please take me in?"

"I think I have some experience in business, so I should be able to help the Marquis manage the shop."

After hearing this, Jia Jue smiled gently and said.

"If you're willing to stay, that would be great."

"But you can't show up in public anymore."

"The two ladies in my mansion have always wanted to meet you. How about letting them help you with your advice when you return?"

Zhao Pan'er's pretty face turned red and she couldn't help feeling a little shy.

For some reason, she felt awkward at this moment, like a concubine meeting the principal wife.

"Is this appropriate?"

"What if the two ladies misunderstand?"

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"Don't worry, my two wives are both generous people. After learning about your situation, they also praised you very much."

"You can live in the Marquis' Mansion with peace of mind from now on."

Seeing Jia Jue say this, Zhao Pan'er nodded obediently and said.

"Then, then Pan'er will obey the Marquis completely."

After chatting for a few words, Jia Jue took Zhao Pan'er back to the villa.

At this point, the two of them already understood each other tacitly.

Needless to say, Zhao Pan'er is destined to be his.

In the evening, inside the Qianqing Palace, two craftsmen from the Imperial Household Department were carefully examining the Night Banquet painting in a side hall of the Qianqing Palace.

After a tedious inspection, the craftsman opened the scroll of the Night Banquet and found a rolled-up brocade inside.

The two craftsmen took out the brocade very carefully, making sure it was in its original state before presenting it to Emperor Yongping.

"Your Majesty, we have carefully examined the Night Banquet painting. Only within the scroll is there a hidden world. Please take a look."

Emperor Yongping said calmly.

"Very well, keep your mouth shut about what happened tonight. If you dare to reveal a single word, I will kill all your clans."

"I dare not wait, I dare not wait."

The two craftsmen trembled with fear.

Emperor Yongping waved his hand and said.

"Alright, all of you go down. Xia Shouzhong, go guard the palace gate. No one is allowed to come in without my order."

"The slaves obey the order."

After everyone in the Qianqing Palace left the hall, Emperor Yongping hesitated for a moment, then picked up the brocade and began to read it.

After reading the words on the brocade, Emperor Yongping's whole body trembled involuntarily. He was extremely angry.

After a long time, Emperor Yongping tried his best to control his emotions and calm down. Then he picked up the brocade, lit it next to the candle, and threw it on the ground.

As the brocade burned, Emperor Yongping's eyes became more determined.

Afterwards, Emperor Yongping continued to review memorials as if nothing had happened, as if everything was as calm as usual.

Time flies, and two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

During these two days, Jia Zhen was extremely depressed. He knew that he had been completely abandoned by the founding fathers and had become a discarded child.

The case concerning Jia Zhen at the Ministry of Justice was also progressing quickly.

The evidence that Jia Zhen framed Qin Ye was conclusive and irrefutable, leaving Jia Zhen no room for excuses.

As for forcing Zhang Hua to break off the engagement and forcibly taking You Erjie, to be honest, this was really unfair to Jia Zhen.

The reason You Erjie was with Jia Zhen was partly because she was living under someone else's roof, but also partly because she was greedy for fame and fortune. Overall, it cannot be considered forced.

You Erjie's fiancé Zhang Hua was a scoundrel who indulged in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. Because he was idle and did not work, he was kicked out of the house by his own father.

When Jia Zhen asked Zhang Hua and You Erjie to cancel their engagement and gave Zhang Hua twenty taels of silver, Zhang Hua happily agreed.

It's just that when the wall falls, everyone pushes it. The founding fathers didn't even give the Ministry of Justice a heads-up, but Jia Jue was paying attention to this case from beginning to end. Jia Jue's personal soldiers almost lived in the Ministry of Justice to supervise the case.

Under such circumstances, the Ministry of Justice naturally did a favor and directly sentenced Jia Zhen to death for forcing marriage and seizing a commoner girl.

After the Ministry of Justice made a closing report to Emperor Yongping, Emperor Yongping also issued an imperial decree, directly depriving the Ningguo Mansion of its title and taking back the Ningguo Mansion.

Jia Zhen was sentenced to exile in Lingnan, and his family members were made slaves of the government.

Thus, Ningguo Mansion, one of the eight founding nobles, completely withdrew from the historical stage of the Great Zhou Dynasty. This news undoubtedly sent a heavy signal to a group of nobles, making them realize that the decline of the founding heroes was inevitable, and the era of Emperor Yongping's rule had finally arrived.

The desolation of Ningguo Mansion made Rongguo Mansion feel a sense of grief.

However, the Rongguo Mansion did not remain sad for long, because the big fat sheep Xue family, whom the Rongguo Mansion had been waiting for, finally arrived in the capital.

The Rongguo Mansion took this very seriously. Mrs. Wang went to the dock in person to pick up her sister, Mrs. Xue Wang, and her niece, Mrs. Xue Baochai.

In the evening, Rongguo Mansion prepared a sumptuous dinner to entertain Xue Wang and her daughter.

However, faced with such delicacies, Mrs. Xue Wang was obviously not interested in eating. She tried several times to find an opportunity to communicate directly with Mrs. Wang about the matter of her son Xue Pan, but was always brushed off by Mrs. Wang with a few words.

Mrs. Xue Wang had no choice but to continue the banquet.

While everyone in Rongguo Mansion was harboring their own ulterior motives, Jia Jue was chatting with Qin Keqing in the Guanjun Marquis's Mansion.

Because they had less contact with each other, Qin Keqing was inevitably a little restrained around Jia Jue.

Seeing this, Jia Jue smiled calmly and said.

"You still look a little nervous. It seems you haven't adapted well enough to life in the Marquis' Mansion."

Qin Keqing said after lowering her head coquettishly.

"The Marquis's Mansion is so rich and noble, Ke'er never dared to hope for it before. I am sorry to have made you laugh at me, Lord Marquis."

Jia Jue patted Qin Keqing's hand gently and said.

"The rules in the mansion are not that strict, there is no need to be so formal."

"By the way, Lord Qin has already left the Ministry of Works' villa."

"I made some arrangements and bought a small courtyard with three entrances for them and their son in East City."

"South City is still a bit chaotic after all. It's not as peaceful as East City."

"I'll send someone to take you home later so you can reunite as a family."

"The government will send someone to discuss with your father when you will be admitted into the Marquis' Mansion."

"Take advantage of this time to spend time with your family."

Qin Keqing looked at Jia Jue with emotion and said.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis, Ke'er, Ke'er really, really can't repay you."

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"Well, giving yourself to me is the greatest reward."

"You will be my concubine from now on. I will treat your family well as well as I love them."

"Okay, the carriage has been arranged. You can pack your belongings and go."

Qin Keqing nodded obediently, feeling warm in her heart for Jia Jue's thoughtfulness.

In Qin Keqing's view, she was just a bargaining chip for the Guanjun Marquis' Mansion to attack the Ningguo Mansion.

Even if I enter the Marquis of Guanjun's Mansion afterwards, the Marquis will not care much about me.

Although Qin Keqing was very confident about her appearance, both the two ladies in the Marquis's Mansion and the Marquis' other concubine, Wang Xifeng, were extremely beautiful, and none of them was inferior to her. In terms of family background, she was even more incomparable.

Qin Keqing was already prepared to be a resentful woman in the boudoir, but she didn't expect that the Marquis would be so considerate. He didn't treat her as a plaything, but instead devoted himself to her and took care of her family. How could Qin Keqing not be moved?

Qin Keqing's eyes were full of autumn water at this time, and she spoke very gently.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis, for being so kind to Ke'er's family. After Ke'er officially enters the Marquis' Mansion, I will definitely serve my husband and my sisters well."

Jia Jue said after a light laugh.

"As long as you have this intention."

After the two chatted for a few more words, the maid packed Qin Keqing's luggage, and then Qin Keqing and the maid left the marquis's mansion and went to the house that Jia Jue had just bought for the Qin family.

After Qin Keqing left, Jia Jue leisurely went to Wang Xifeng's courtyard.

At this time, Wang Xifeng was having dinner. When she saw Jia Jue coming, Wang Xifeng said with surprise.

"Why are you here, husband? Have you had dinner yet?"

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"I haven't eaten yet, so I'm planning to come to your place for a meal."

Wang Xifeng said with a coquettish tone after hearing this.

"Hate it! My husband always makes fun of me. Ping'er, go get the bowls and chopsticks for the Marquis."

"Yes."

Qiao Ping'er, who was standing by, immediately went to get the dishes and chopsticks.

Soon, Jia Jue and Wang Xifeng started eating together.

Wang Xifeng said with a smile after pouring a glass of wine for Jia Jue.

"My husband has sent Miss Qin away."

Jia Jue nodded slightly and said.

"Send them away. Jia Zhen's case is closed, and Lord Qin no longer needs to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice in investigating the case. Let them reunite for a while."

"By the way, wait a few days and discuss it with Minglan. Even though it's a concubine, you still have to go through the proper ceremony."

Wang Xifeng said sourly after hearing this.

"Ah, it's really better to be a newcomer. Unlike me, I entered the Marquis' Mansion without knowing what was going on."

Jia Jue then put his arms around Wang Xifeng's slender waist and said.

"Why, you're sore again."

Wang Xifeng said shyly after hearing this.

"Oh, my lord, the maids are still watching."

Ping'er, who was standing by, waved her hand upon seeing this, and then left with the maids.

Seeing that the side hall had become quiet, Wang Xifeng was taken into Jia Jue's arms. She said with a rosy face and a hint of resentment.

"Hate it, my husband only knows how to bully me."

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"Look at you, still looking up old almanacs. Honestly, you really should thank me."

After hearing this, Wang Xifeng gave Jia Jue a charming look and said.

"Thank you, husband for what? Thank you, husband, for snatching me away."

Jia Jue nodded and said confidently.

"Of course. Think about it, if I hadn't snatched you away, you would have to marry that loser Jia Lian."

"If you marry Jia Lian, it won't be long before Jia Lian violates military regulations in the Beijing camp and is executed by my military law."

"If that were the case, you would be a widow now."

"Then you can still be as moist and charming as you are now."

Hearing this, Wang Xifeng couldn't help but roll her eyes and said.

"This is the first time I've heard someone talk about robbing a decent woman so confidently."

Jia Jue said with a chuckle.

"Okay, okay, the more you talk, the more sour it gets."

"Come on, smell it and it won't be sour anymore."

After saying this, Jia Jue kissed Wang Xifeng's beautiful red lips.

After the two of them were intimate for a while, Wang Xifeng grabbed Jia Jue's mischievous big hand and said while suppressing her excitement.

"Husband, wait, the meal is not finished yet."

Jia Jue picked up Wang Xifeng and said.

"Why are you still eating? Let me eat you first."

Then Jia Jue carried Wang Xifeng into the bedroom. Soon, the room was filled with primitive rhythms.

(End of this chapter)