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

"My goodness! The Rongguo Mansion is trying to be resurrected, to turn its fortunes around!"

One stone stirs up a thousand ripples. The news spread like wildfire, and in less than half an hour, the entire capital city was talking about this name—Jia Yi.

Inside the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, great news!" Xia Shouzhong practically leaped in, followed by a dusty messenger on horseback.

Emperor Yuankang was reviewing memorials when he heard this. He looked up, his brows furrowing slightly: "What is this matter, so arrogant?"

He stood up abruptly when he saw the messenger, covered in frost and still in his armor.

"Could it be... that Liaodong has won?"

"Indeed!" The soldier knelt on both knees, holding up the battle report: "A great victory at Zhen'an Fort! Guerrilla General Jia Yi led 5,000 remaining soldiers, defeated 10,000 Later Jin cavalry, and killed Daishan, the commander of the Plain Red Banner. His head has been verified and sealed, and will be escorted to the capital immediately!"

Emperor Yuankang snatched the memorial, glanced at a few lines, and suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter:

"Hahaha!! What a fine Jia Yi! Truly the backbone of our Great Qian! He has the same imposing presence as the old Duke Rong when he swept across the northern frontier!"

He paced back and forth excitedly, his eyes gleaming.

Five thousand against ten thousand, a comeback against all odds, and even the execution of the enemy's crown prince on the spot—this isn't a battle; this is legendary writing!

"Xia Shouzhong! Draft an imperial edict! Confer the title of Jia Yi—"

Before the words were finished, an aged yet resonant voice came from outside the hall:

"My son, has Jia Yi rendered meritorious service?"

The retired emperor arrived leaning on a cane, with the empress dowager following slowly behind. A female official supporting the empress dowager suddenly trembled, her fingertips shaking, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

The Empress Dowager glanced at him and smiled, but said nothing.

That person was none other than Jia Yuanchun, the eldest daughter of the Rongguo Mansion, who had entered the palace at a young age and remained silent for many years.

"Yi-ge'er..." Her lips trembled slightly, and she was almost in tears.

Jia Yi, who was ridiculed for being stupid since childhood and whose grandmother wouldn't even give him a second glance, has now become the person who upholds the honor of the entire Rongguo Mansion.

"Father is right." Emperor Yuankang couldn't hide his smile. "Jia Yi not only won, but he also personally beheaded Daishan—Nurhaci's second son, just like that, is gone!"

"Daishan..." the Emperor Emeritus murmured softly, his gaze distant.

He once fought alongside Duke Rongguo, Jia Daishan, and they were like brothers. Now, things have changed, and the Jia family has been in decline for many years, but finally someone has taken up the mantle again.

He nodded with satisfaction: "Such a great achievement should not be rewarded lightly."

Emperor Yuankang originally wanted to confer the title of Third-Class Earl of Loyalty and Bravery, but the words were about to come out when the retired emperor saw through his intentions at a glance.

"Confer upon him the title of First-Class Earl," the Emperor Emeritus said calmly. "This child is worthy of it."

The Emperor Emeritus's eyes flickered slightly when he realized that Jia Yi was Jia Daishan's grandson, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, he is a descendant of a noble family with impeccable lineage, and also a compensation for the lingering pain of the late Crown Prince's affair, so it's understandable that he's being elevated a little.

Besides—I've heard that Jia Yi isn't very bright and is slow-witted, making him easy to manipulate. What good is a higher title? He's just a sparrow in a gilded cage, unable to fly out of the royal family's grasp.

Emperor Yuankang's eyes narrowed, and he turned to look at the retired emperor, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

But only for a moment, he lowered his eyes and said gently, "Your subject obeys, Father."

Before he finished speaking, he lightly tapped the dragon table with his fingertips and subtly gave Xia Shouzhong a look.

Xia Shouzhong felt a chill run down his spine, immediately understood, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and swiftly wrote the imperial edict on the yellow silk with a wolf-hair brush. Each word was like a knife, its sharpness concealed.

The retired emperor watched coldly, a half-smile playing on his lips, but he did not speak to stop them.

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left, Dai Quan following closely behind, his footsteps silent, like a shadow disappearing into the long corridor outside the palace.

The warmth of the hall had not yet dissipated when Emperor Yuankang strolled to the Empress Dowager's side, his tone light and cheerful as he chatted about recent palace affairs. Though it seemed like casual conversation, every word he uttered was actually quite thoughtful.

"Does Mother know? Jia Yi wasn't forced to join the army..."

He paused, then his smile deepened. "He volunteered to go to Liaodong."

In short, it was like a stone thrown into a deep pool.

Jia Yuanchun stood in the corner, her fingertips trembling suddenly, almost making her shrink into a ball. She lowered her head, wishing she could bury her face in her chest, her ear tips burning hot.

The Empress Dowager merely smiled slightly, her gaze both meaningful and cold as water.

A moment later, she got up from her seat and stepped out of the imperial study. Sunlight fell on her shoulders, and she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Jia Yuanchun.

"Your younger brother has been granted the title of Earl, but the family is still unaware, isn't they?" Her tone was calm, yet carried an air of undeniable favor. "Why don't you leave the palace and personally deliver the good news?"

He paused, then added, "It would also be good for him to see his parents."

These words sound warm and kind, but they actually contain a hidden meaning.

The Empress Dowager had always intended to push Jia Yuanchun to serve Emperor Yuankang in bed, but in the early years, the Jia family was weak and their social status was not worthy of the emperor's, so she hesitated to do so for fear of tarnishing the emperor's reputation.

Now, Jia Yi has emerged out of nowhere, with outstanding military achievements and two noble families, drastically changing the situation.

It's time to play this card.

Jia Yuanchun trembled, her knees buckled, and she knelt down with a thud, her voice choked with emotion: "Thank you so much for your great kindness, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, and she hurriedly raised her sleeve to wipe them away.

Since entering the palace, she had been trapped within these palace walls day after day, and she had long thought that she would never have a chance to rise above her circumstances.

Unexpectedly, she managed to gain this sliver of freedom thanks to her brother, whom she had never met.

Suppressing her excitement, she lifted her skirt, turned and strode away, her embroidered shoes stepping on the blue bricks with a gust of wind, as if even her back was bathed in light.

---

Rongguo Mansion.

"Grandma! This is wonderful news—!"

Lai Da ran wildly, his face flushed, panting as if he had just been pulled out of the river, his throat cracking.

At noon, the bowls and chopsticks had just been set out in the dining hall in the backyard, and the maids and servants were eating around Grandmother Jia.

Just as Wang Xifeng was about to bring the soup bowl to Grandmother Jia, Lai Da lifted the curtain and rushed in, almost knocking over the octagonal table.

Tan Chun, Xi Chun, and Lin Daiyu all looked up at the same time, their eyes shining like stars.

These girls are confined to the garden all day, and they are extremely eager for things outside.

Yingchun put down her chopsticks and asked softly, "Has a new opera troupe come to the capital?"

Jia Baoyu's eyes lit up, and he asked impatiently, "Did Master close down the clan school?"

He looked on with anticipation, as if he could throw down his book and cuddle his sisters in the garden, reciting poetry and making merry the next second.

Everyone: ...

Grandmother Jia took a sip of tea without even lifting her eyelids.

Madam Wang's lips twitched, thinking to herself: If your father really had that kind of guts, I would have been burning incense in gratitude long ago.

"Second Master Bao," Lai grinned, his yellow teeth gleaming, "it's not about the clan school—it's about Third Master Yi! Third Master Yi has done another great service in Liaodong!"

With a loud "boom," the entire dining room erupted in chaos.

Wang Xifeng's hand trembled, and the soup spoon fell into the bowl with a "clang," splashing a splatter of oil.

She didn't even bother wiping herself, grabbing Lai's sleeve and demanding, "What great achievement? Tell me quickly!"

When she married into the family, Jia Yi had already gone to the border and she had never even met him. She'd only heard that he was mentally challenged, yet now he'd achieved one feat after another?

This plot is even more outrageous than a storybook!

"Second Madam, don't worry!" Lai Da caught his breath and straightened his chest. "I've found out—Third Master Yi led five thousand soldiers to fight against ten thousand Later Jin cavalry!"