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

傻？

Great! The sillier the better!

A master of martial arts, unparalleled in bravery, yet lacking in common sense—this is the kind of person emperors desire most!

It's obedient, easy to use, and doesn't backfire.

He's practically a perfect, indispensable advisor!

"How did he get to Liaodong?" Emperor Yuankang asked slowly.

Although Jia She was a scoundrel, he was still a "Marquis of Grace" personally bestowed by the Emperor Emeritus and had served as a study companion to the former Crown Prince. Surely he had some perspective?

"It wasn't sent there voluntarily." Xia Shouzhong shook his head with a wry smile. "It was because Jia Baoyu fell into the water, and the servants in the mansion shifted the blame, pinning all the blame on Jia Yi."

"The old lady was furious. She gave him fifty strokes of the cane and sent him directly to Liaodong to serve in the army."

He spoke it so casually, yet it made Emperor Yuankang's brow twitch.

It's Jia Baoyu again!

That "immortal boy" who was born with a jade in his mouth and caused a ruckus throughout the capital had disgusted even the royal family for several years with his family's mysterious and bizarre practices.

Now look what's happened: the real tough guys are being beaten and driven out to their deaths, while the fools are enjoying themselves at home?

Absurd! Ridiculous! And pathetic!

But his smile deepened.

The people the Jia family doesn't want, I want!

Such a fierce and ruthless general is perfect to be recruited for our own use!

"Issue the imperial decree!" Emperor Yuankang abruptly stood up. "Summon all cabinet ministers to the palace immediately for a meeting!"

The bell rang, and the Zichen Palace was brightly lit.

Before long, Grand Secretary Mark Chao led the way, followed closely by Vice Grand Secretary Wu Ci'en, and the four Grand Secretaries filed in one after another.

"Take a look at this, everyone." Emperor Yuankang slammed the memorial on the table. "Good news from Liaodong."

Mark Chao took it, glanced at it briefly, and his eyes lit up.

Zhao Lu was personally promoted by him! Over the years, Liaodong has been in chaos, and the Censorate has been targeting him every day. If it weren't for the protection of the retired emperor, he would have lost his official hat long ago.

Now there's finally hope for a turnaround!

"Your Majesty!" He stepped forward excitedly, "This great victory is truly a matter of national destiny! I implore you to reward Zhao Lu and Jia Yi handsomely to recognize their loyalty and bravery!"

Before he finished speaking, several cabinet ministers behind him already looked suspicious.

Who? Jia Yi?

Liaodong is almost lost, and they're still holding a victory celebration banquet? Is the Grand Secretary getting senile?

Wu Ci'en's heart pounded wildly—Oh no!

He originally planned to use the defeat in Liaodong to impeach Zhao Youting and seize power for himself, but who would have thought that Jia Yi would appear out of nowhere and win?!

No! We absolutely cannot let this credit be accepted!

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" he immediately interjected. "The situation in Liaodong has deteriorated to this point entirely due to the incompetence of the border generals and their mismanagement—"

"Read it first before you spout nonsense," Emperor Yuankang coldly interrupted.

Mark Chao chuckled and slowly tossed the memorial in his face.

The pages fluttered, the ink still fresh.

Wu Ci'en reached out and caught it, then looked down and her face turned deathly pale.

After reading the memorial, Wu Ci'en's teeth were chattering, and she was so angry that she almost wanted to grind her teeth to powder.

Where on earth did this Jia Yi, surnamed Jia, come from?! He took the heads of over three hundred Later Jin cavalrymen in one fell swoop, and also casually tied up more than a hundred others alive—this wasn't a battle, it was a god of slaughter descending to earth!

He flung the memorial at the ministers beside him, his fingers trembling: "Look at this for yourselves, is this the kind of work a human being could do?"

In the main hall, Emperor Yuankang's eyes burned with anger, his heart churning with turmoil.

A reward? It must be a hefty one! And it must be swift, ruthless, and impactful!

He had a shrewd plan: by appointing Jia Yi to a high-ranking position, he could establish a figurehead in the Liaodong army—as long as he served to the death, wealth and honor would be within his grasp; he could also use the Jia family's bloodline to pry open the hearts of those stoic old ministers who were the foundation of the dynasty; and even better, he could take the opportunity to plant a thorn in the side of the retired emperor.

Killing three birds with one stone, a flawless feat!

"Your Majesty," Zhao Youting said slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Zhao Lu has made invaluable contributions. In my opinion, it would be better to transfer him back to the capital and entrust him with important responsibilities."

He paused, then added, "As for Jia Yi... a third-class baron, plus a fourth-rank guerrilla general, is more than enough to reward his merits."

This sounds fair, but it's actually a double-edged sword.

Mark Chao had no intention of letting Zhao Lu continue to hold military power in Liaodong. As for Jia Yi, that "meritorious official" who rose through the ranks by unorthodox means, he was merely a pawn to be used in a power struggle.

Emperor Yuankang's eyes flashed, and he immediately understood.

A nod is as gentle as a willow branch in a breeze.

In the past, when he wanted to be granted a title, the retired emperor would always send Dai Quan to interfere, using sarcastic remarks to suppress him. But this time is different—even Mark Chao has stepped forward to pave the way for him. Would the old man really turn against a descendant from another family for the sake of someone outside the imperial family?

As expected, when the news reached the ears of the retired emperor, the reclusive old man simply said, "I know," and that was the end of it.

No one came to cause trouble, no one came to stop them, not even a eunuch was sent out to argue.

Wu Ci'en stood at the corner of the hall, her heart clenching and her feet pounding.

The opportunity was right in front of him, but it was snatched away by Mark Chao's casual remark!

Emperor Yuankang glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and sighed inwardly: "I'm sorry to have wronged you, Lord Wu. But for now, I need to hold onto my power. The position of Grand Secretary... I'll think about it another time."

Rather than supporting a confidant to the top, he needed a sharp blade that could cut through the old forces—and Jia Yi was that blade, freshly quenched with blood and still fearless.

"Xia Shouzhong," Emperor Yuankang's lips curled up, "draft an edict to summon him."

"This servant obeys the decree!" Xia Shouzhong bowed and retreated, his steps as swift as an eagle swooping down on a rabbit.

As for the Rongguo Mansion? He didn't even lift an eyelid.

Who doesn't know that the Rongguo Mansion and Dai Quan are in cahoots? Right now, their master is secretly vying for power with the retired emperor, so how could he have the time to please a bunch of disgraced relatives?

---

Ningrong Street, with its deep, vermilion gates and courtyards.

Rongqing Hall was filled with laughter and chatter, maids bustling about, and young ladies sitting and laughing. Baoyu was playing a game of guessing flower fortunes with Daiyu when suddenly a thunderclap sounded outside the door:

"Mother! What a joyous occasion!"

Jia Zheng practically rushed in, his face flushed as if he were drunk, his breathing rapid, as if he had just run ten miles down the street.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Jia Baoyu, who should have been studying at the clan school, suddenly shuddered and reflexively rushed into Grandmother Jia's arms, his little face turning pale.

"You wretched child! Still loitering here at a time like this!" Jia Zheng's eyes widened in anger, his chest heaving. "Look at Yi-ge'er! He single-handedly killed three hundred enemies and captured over a hundred! Now the imperial decree has been issued, bestowing upon him the title of Third-Class Baron and a Fourth-Rank Military Officer! And what do you do? All you do all day is pester your sisters, eat melon seeds, and whisper sweet nothings!"

Madam Xing sat on the side, observing coldly, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

The "Spiritual Jade" that's usually so highly regarded, is this all it's worth? It'll fall over in the wind, it'll cry at the slightest insult, you've completely disgraced the Jia family.

Daiyu, Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun exchanged glances, their eyes filled with heartache and worry. Every time the master came, Baoyu was sure to suffer.

"Enough!" Grandmother Jia slammed her hand on the armrest, her voice not loud, but it silenced the entire room. "If you want to establish your authority, there are plenty of places outside! What are you trying to do by showing off in front of me?"

She hugged her trembling grandson tightly, patted his back gently, and said softly, "My darling, don't be afraid. Your grandmother is here. No one can lay a finger on you."

In short, Jia Zheng's burning anger subsided.

He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and swallowed the rest of the reprimand back down, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he had swallowed a piece of burning coal.

After a moment, he caught his breath and remembered the important matter: "Mother, I've come to report good news—Yi-ge'er has performed a great feat, and His Majesty has personally bestowed upon him a noble title and official position. The Rongguo Mansion... is about to turn its fortunes around!"

He hadn't believed it when Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, personally sent him a letter.

Now that the imperial edict is about to arrive, the entire family will be blessed with glory—this wave of immense wealth and honor has finally fallen upon the Jia family!