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

Wang Ziteng then squeezed into the group of nobles who had once been "favored" by him.

Those people greeted us with smiles on their faces, but in their hearts they were cursing us to the core:

"Fine, you've really put Jia Yi in the spotlight today. Just wait and see, you'll get what's coming to you later."

"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived! His Majesty has arrived!"

Not long after they took their seats, bells and drums sounded in unison, and Emperor Yuankang and the retired emperor made their joint entrance.

"Greetings to the Retired Emperor! Greetings to Your Majesty!"

All the civil and military officials in the hall knelt down in unison.

No need for formalities.

The Emperor Emeritus raised his hand slightly, but his gaze was fixed on one person. "Jia Yi, step forward and let me see you."

Niu Jizong's heart tightened suddenly, his eyes fixed on Jia Yi, his mind racing:

Don't cause trouble! Absolutely do not cause trouble!

"The Retired Emperor".

Jia Yi clasped his hands in a salute, his movements swift and decisive, showing no sign of fear.

"So alike, so very alike..."

The retired emperor stared at it for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Exactly like your grandfather!"

This child is handsome and tall, with a striking and heroic air about him. He's a perfect match for my granddaughter.

"Do you read military books on a regular basis?"

The retired emperor suddenly spoke up and asked.

"Why bother reading that stuff?"

Jia Yi curled his lip in disdain, "When decent people fight, who memorizes military strategy? They rely on their fists and their lives!"

The room erupted in uproar.

No one expected that the retired emperor would seriously ask such a question as "Is he a fool?"

Isn't this like casting pearls before swine?

"So what do you do when you're not fighting?"

The retired emperor was not offended; on the contrary, he became even more interested.

Emperor Yuankang's eyes twitched, and he instantly understood his father's intention—

He's choosing a son-in-law!

To be precise, they were choosing a husband for Qin Keqing, the daughter of the former crown prince!

Should he marry his granddaughter to Jia Yi?

Emperor Yuankang's gaze fell on Jia Yi, scrutinizing him closely.

This kid... well, he hasn't exactly disgraced the family.

"Train, eat, sleep."

Jia Yi answered truthfully, "When I'm free, I spar with my personal guards to stretch my muscles."

He always felt that the Emperor Emeritus was looking at him strangely, as if he wanted to strip him naked from head to toe and study him thoroughly.

"That--"

The Emperor Emeritus suddenly smiled, his voice gentle yet authoritative, "I will bestow upon you a wife, how about it?"

"not good!"

Jia Yi's heart sank, and his eyelids twitched suddenly.

He's determined to curry favor with Emperor Yuankang, how could he be so easily swayed by a single sentence from an old man like you who's retired to the inner palace?

[Ding! The host refused the Emperor Emeritus's arranged marriage, triggering an extraordinary event and obtaining a Power Fruit x1!]

Niu Jizong almost stumbled and fell to the ground.

If you're going to refuse, just refuse, but can you not be so blunt? At least say something like "Please allow me to reconsider"! This is just throwing your temper at me!

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, waiting to see how this first-class earl would be taken down on the spot—how dare you defy the Emperor Emeritus's decree? Are you tired of living?

"It's settled then." The Emperor Emeritus seemed not to have heard the harsh "no," a slight smile playing on his lips as he casually added, "I will issue the decree later."

He didn't come to discuss anything; he came to give a notification.

"Wait, I—"

Before he could finish speaking, Niu Jizong rushed forward, almost lunging at him.

"Your humble servant receives the imperial decree on behalf of Jia Yi!" His voice even changed tone.

If Jia Yi speaks again, someone else will have to collect the body tonight!

"Very well." The Emperor Emeritus nodded in satisfaction, slowly rising to his feet. "I'm tired too, I'll head back to the palace now."

After arranging the marriage of the late Crown Prince's daughter, he didn't even bother to hold a long banquet. Compared to these trembling ministers, he preferred to go back and admire the newly trained dancers.

The officials in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment, yet couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Who was so lucky to be betrothed to Jia Yi by the Emperor Emeritus himself?

Yes, it was good luck!

Although Jia Yi often has mental lapses and acts like a brute—he is still a first-class earl! In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there are no more than twenty people who have been granted the titles of marquis or earl! To be able to marry into the Jia family as their principal wife is a blessing that could only be obtained if one's ancestral graves were emitting black smoke and the ancestral hall was on fire!

No, it should be that our ancestors collectively rose from the dead to celebrate their victory!

……

"Since the Emperor Emeritus has already bestowed a marriage upon Jia Yi," Emperor Yuankang suddenly smiled, his eyes flashing slightly, "then why don't I add to the joy and make it a double celebration?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Shouzhong immediately presented the imperial edict that had been prepared beforehand, its yellow silk trailing to the ground and its gold threads gleaming.

"Jia Yi, step forward to receive your appointment."

Everyone knelt down in unison.

"Your subject, Jia Yi, receives the imperial decree." He stepped forward, his figure as straight as a blade.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Jia Yi, the First-Class Earl of Loyalty and Bravery, whose divine might terrified the enemy and whose courage was unparalleled—during the fierce battle in Liaodong, he slew three chieftains, Nurhaci, Mangultai, and Duze, turning the tide of battle with a lone army, his meritorious service to the nation. He is hereby promoted to the rank of First-Class Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, bestowed with ten thousand taels of gold, and granted a Marquis's mansion of the standard of a Duke of Jian Guo. So be it!"

"My lord, please accept the imperial decree." Xia Shouzhong smiled as if a spring breeze was blowing.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Jia Yi accepted the imperial edict with both hands, his voice booming so loudly it seemed to shake the roof beams.

"Jia Yi," Emperor Yuankang stared at him, his smile deepening, "I place great hopes on you; do not fail to live up to this favor."

"Your Majesty, rest assured!" Jia Yi slammed his fist on his chest, his voice booming like thunder. "From now on, whoever you command to chop down, I will do it! Even if you were to point at the Emperor Emeritus and say, 'That old man is an eyesore,' I would draw my sword and charge without a word!"

The air froze instantly.

[Ding! The host has openly made monstrous remarks, triggering a limit operation. Reward: Power Fruit x1!]

The entire audience, both civil and military, nearly suffered a stroke.

Several officials from the Censorate who were preparing to impeach the officials found their tongues stuck in their mouths and swallowed their memorials back down.

Those nobles who secretly bribed the Rongguo Mansion and planned to frame the Jia family for accepting bribes turned as green as pickled vegetables that had been left to sit for three days.

Niu Jizong broke out in a cold sweat, his mind screaming: This guy isn't pretending to be stupid, he's really insane! I'd better stay away from him from now on, or I don't even know how I'll end up on my deathbed!

Just then, Dai Quan arrived in haste, holding another bright yellow imperial edict in his hands.

"Lord Jia, His Majesty has said that this marriage decree need not be read aloud." He lowered his voice, "It can be given to Lord Niu to take back to the Rongguo Mansion."

The retired emperor was afraid. He was afraid that if Jia Yi said "I won't marry him," he would tear up the imperial decree bestowing the marriage upon him and throw it in his face.

"Understood! Understood!" Niu Jizong quickly took it, holding it more steadily than a son. "Don't worry, Steward Dai, I've got it covered!"

At that moment, he truly felt that the Emperor Emeritus was wise, powerful, and insightful.

If this imperial edict falls into Jia Yi's hands, who knows if it will be used to wipe his own ass?

Jia Yi's eyes twitched as he looked at Niu Jizong's expression, as if he were holding a sacred object.

I'm just pretending to be stupid, not actually brain-dead! The imperial decree has been issued, why would I refuse the marriage? Do you want to see my head fall off?

The banquet, which resembled a trap, finally ended as Niu Jizong chewed with trepidation.

"call--"

The moment he stepped out of the palace gate, Niu Jizong looked up and let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had crawled back from the brink of death.

"Brother Yi, I'm leaving now. You can go back by yourself." He chuckled awkwardly, but his feet had already quietly moved backward.

He paused, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Uncle," Jia Yi narrowed his eyes, his tone indifferent, "Speak plainly if you have something to say, don't be so hesitant."

"Yi-ge'er, the grand court assembly in three days... could you, could you, lend Uncle a hand?"

Niu Jizong stared at Jia Yi, his eyes filled with a desperate hope.