Dream of the Red Chamber: After being exiled, I went on a killing spree in Liaodong.

When the emperor is furious, he will issue an edict and you will be kicked out in disgrace.

Jia Zheng felt a chill run down his spine and his hair stand on end from that single glance.

Brother...why are you suddenly so scary?

"Lian'er, go there." Grandmother Jia turned to Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng, her voice turning colder.

Jia Lian smiled wryly: "Grandmother, you know that my third brother is a heartless person who doesn't care about family ties. What's the point of me going up there and getting no response?"

Wang Xifeng immediately chimed in, "Yes, Grandmother, the Third Brother doesn't give our Second Branch any face anymore."

His lips were upturned, but his words were cutting.

Grandmother Jia's face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

She abruptly turned to look at the girls beside her, and hope suddenly ignited in her eyes:

"Grandmother, let's go!" Lin Daiyu said crisply, getting up first.

"Good! Good!" Grandmother Jia's face immediately lit up with a smile.

Those children have all been favored by Jia Yi; if they were to go, they might actually be able to persuade that young duke!

The girls were completely bewildered, but they still followed Lin Daiyu.

As Yingchun walked, she muttered to herself, "Sister Lin, are you really going to call Third Brother over?" Her tone was full of resistance.

Lin Daiyu blinked and smiled slyly: "Call him? No way~"

"I want to go and have fun."

"Hahaha!" The women instantly understood and covered their mouths to chuckle.

The next moment, a group of beautiful women, hand in hand, skipped and hopped straight towards the Duke of Qin's mansion, their laughter echoing all the way.

Granny Wu stood there stamping her feet, exclaiming, "What kind of behavior is this! So utterly unruly!"

The female security guard gave her a cold glance.

Granny Wu immediately fell silent, shrinking her neck and daring not to utter another sound—the once ruthless and indifferent nanny now cowered before the female guards like a mouse before a cat, not daring to utter a single word.

at the same time--

"Lord Duke, the Second Miss and the others have arrived," Yuanyang announced quickly as she entered.

"Oh? They're here?" Qin Keqing's eyes flashed, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, we've come to visit you!" The girls rushed in, filling the room with fragrance.

Jia Yi was smiling as he stepped forward when suddenly his pupils contracted, and he slapped his forehead—

Oh no! The letter Lin Ruhai asked him to deliver is still inside!

"Wait for me!" he said, and rushed into the inner room.

"Huh? Why did Third Brother run away as soon as he saw us?" The girls looked at each other, their faces full of questions.

A moment later, Jia Yi came out, panting, carrying several letters.

Lin Daiyu recognized it at a glance—it was her father's handwriting.

All eyes fell on her without prior arrangement.

"Here you are, Sister Lin. Your uncle asked me to bring this to you." Jia Yi handed it over, his tone gentle.

Lin Daiyu took the letter, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She almost couldn't wait to open it and read it word by word.

The more I looked, the redder my eyes became.

In the end, tears fell in a steady stream, like pearls from a broken string.

The girls were heartbroken and all gathered around.

Qin Keqing gently pulled her into her arms and used a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

Until she saw the letter saying that her illness had been cured by the doctor sent by Jia Yi, and that she was no longer in serious condition—

Lin Daiyu finally relaxed, as if a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

She looked up at Jia Yi with tear-filled eyes, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you... Third Brother Yi."

That one glance was filled with gratitude, reliance, and an undeniable trust.

Jia Yi smiled nonchalantly: "It's a small matter."

He paused, then said in a low voice, "My aunt treated me well back then, so this is something I should do."

At this time, the Xue family in Jinling.

"Mother, are we really moving to the capital?"

Xue Baochai clutched her handkerchief, her eyes filled with reluctance, her voice as soft as a wisp of smoke in the wind.

Every brick and tile of this house is imbued with her father's presence. She wished she could stay another day, or even just half a day.

"Move!" Aunt Xue said decisively, her brow furrowed into a sharp frown. "If you don't leave now, your brother might start treating every official in Jinling like his own father!"

Xue Pan has recently become incredibly popular.

After the Zhen family fell from power, who didn't know that the Duke of Qin was standing behind him?

For a time, the banquet continued uninterrupted, wine cups were constantly being poured, and everyone greeted each other with smiles, calling him "my dear nephew," while simultaneously handing him a pile of messes—

You need connections, influence, and access to the salt trade routes...

The Xue family can handle minor matters, but what about those dirty jobs that skirt the edge of the law?

Accepting the offer will bring trouble, while refusing it will offend people.

Aunt Xue saw it clearly: if she stayed any longer, she would be dragged into the quagmire sooner or later, and there would be no way out.

"It just so happens that my brother, Prince Teng, holds military power in the capital, and my sister, Lady Wang, is also in charge of the Jia family's reputation."

She sighed. "Go ahead, it's better than waiting here for the fire to come to you."

"...Alright then."

Xue Baochai closed her eyes, utterly speechless.

I thought my brother would have learned his lesson after the last incident, but what happened?

The more trouble they cause, the bigger the mess gets; the more they lose face, the further they lose face.

A few days later, the shop was handed over to the old manager, and the family and servants packed up and set off north in a grand procession.

Three days later.

As dawn broke, the palace gates were already bustling with carriages and horses.

Jia Yi leaned lazily against the sedan chair, wearing a black cloak, his brows and eyes cold and stern, like a knife hidden in its sheath.

I didn't want to come to this lousy court assembly, but a royal decree came from the palace last night—

Emperor Yuankang personally declared: "If you do not see me today, do not expect to see me tomorrow."

"Yi-ge'er!"

With a loud laugh, Niu Jizong strode forward, his armor clanging, his face glowing red.

"Uncle." Jia Yi looked up, a smile playing on his lips.

"You've really struck gold on this trip to Jiangnan!" Niu Jizong patted him on the shoulder, almost making him stumble. "Suppressing bandits and quelling rebellions, turning the tide overnight, even the Emperor praised you as a 'genius' three times! Tsk tsk, I've fought a lifetime of war and never had your luck!"

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding military officers all turned to look.

Some people were green with envy, while others gritted their teeth in secret.

Meanwhile, among the civil officials in the distance, a group of people had gloomy eyes, wishing they could devour him alive.

They were all backers of Yangzhou salt merchants.

The snowflake silver that used to be harvested every year has now all been wiped out.

Prince Yizhong, in particular, had a face so black it could drip ink.

More than three million taels!

That was the money he had secretly prepared for his rebellion over many years, and now Jia Yi had burned it all to ashes!

"Wait a minute," he narrowed his eyes, chuckling as he whispered, "I'll make sure you don't get your moment in the spotlight."

Just then, the palace gates burst open, and officials filed in.

In the imperial court, the six ministries took turns reporting, covering every trivial matter.

Emperor Yuankang sat upright on his dragon throne, glancing at Jia Yi without showing any emotion, and was about to speak about rewarding his merits—

"Splash!"

Thirty figures stood up in unison, their imposing aura like thunder!

The entire hall erupted in uproar!

Aren't those people from the Censorate? How come so many of them suddenly appeared?

Even the other censors were dumbfounded: They're pulling a coup and not including us? That's so unfair!!

Emperor Yuankang's brow twitched, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

This setup... is it a trap to hunt down Jia Yi?

Jia Yi stood still, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes a deep, cold pool.

The Imperial Guards sent word last night: someone is about to make a move.

He wanted to see who dared to be the first to speak.