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

Now he's alive!

Emperor Yuankang surveyed his assembled officials and slowly spoke: "The position of Military Governor of the Capital Garrison is vacant. My esteemed ministers, who is qualified to fill this post?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Wu Ci'en stepped forward, his face beaming with smiles: "Your Majesty, Marquis Jia Yi, the Loyal and Brave, has rendered outstanding military service and is renowned throughout Liaodong. He is truly the best candidate!"

Upon hearing this, the four kings and eight dukes were immediately invigorated, and a spark of hope ignited in their hearts—

Is the emperor going to promote us? Could it be that our chance to turn things around has arrived?!

"No!"

With a sharp shout, Mark Chao stepped forward, his gaze piercing Jia Yi like a knife.

"Your Majesty, while the Marquis of Zhongyong is indeed a young and talented man, the Capital Garrison is the foundation of the nation. How can we entrust it to a—fool!"

"boom--"

One sentence caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Countless gazes turned to Jia Yi.

The man stood in the hall, his expression indifferent, his eyes cold and clear, showing no sign of being foolish or stupid.

But unfortunately, everyone knows that he is a notorious "fool".

The air was still, even the wind had stopped.

An invisible game has just begun.

"What?"

"How dare you call me an idiot!"

Jia Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he cursed under his breath: Damn it!

Since you've already called me an "idiot," then I'm going to put on a really crazy show for you today—let's see who can outsmart whom!

"stop!"

"Yi-ge, calm down! Don't get carried away!"

Seeing Jia Yi's eyes turn cold and he's about to charge forward with murderous intent, Niu Jizong was so frightened that he lunged forward and grabbed Jia Yi's waist tightly.

But how could that be stopped? Niu Jizong was carried away and hung on Jia Yi like a pendant, staggering as he was dragged toward Zhao Youting.

[Ding! The host's furious pursuit of Grand Secretary Zhao Youting has triggered a divine reward—10,000 White-Spear Soldiers, now in storage!]

Jia Yi's pupils suddenly brightened, and his heart skipped a beat.

A huge profit!!!

"Quickly! Stop the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor!"

"Don't let him hurt the Grand Secretary!"

Emperor Yuankang exclaimed in surprise, his voice booming, but he couldn't hide the barely suppressed glee on his face.

While verbally defending Mark Chao, he secretly wished Jia Yi would kick the old fox's skull open!

Xia Shouzhong's eye twitched, and he subtly gave a wink to the eunuch beside him.

Don't let the big, imposing general outside come in and cause trouble—this is a good show to watch.

Emperor Yuankang glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and nodded slightly.

Xia Shouzhong was overjoyed and almost burst out laughing.

"Yes, yes, yes! Stop him... Oh no, I mean stop Marquis Zhongyong!" Wu Ci'en hurriedly changed his words, almost revealing his little scheme.

Zhao Youting's group immediately surrounded him, pretending to block him.

But it was clear to everyone that not only did they not stop him, they actually pushed their own accomplices out, creating a direct path for Jia Yi to reach Huanglong.

Mark Chao turned pale and ran away.

He circled the pillar with such skill that the dignified Prime Minister staged a "frenzied escape" in the Golden Hall, leaving all the civil and military officials in the hall dumbfounded.

The main hall instantly transformed into a bustling marketplace, with chickens flying and dogs barking, creating utter chaos.

"The Emperor Emeritus has arrived!"

Just as Jia Yi's fingertips were about to grip the back of Zhao Youting's collar, a loud shout rang out from outside the hall.

A thousand Embroidered-Clad Guards, clad in black armor, with swords drawn and arrows nocked, surged into the hall like a tidal wave.

Zhao Youting, as if seeing a savior, scrambled over, his voice trembling, "Your Majesty, save me! Help me!!!"

"What are you doing?"

"Is this a sacred imperial site, or a bustling marketplace?"

The retired emperor glared angrily at his most trusted minister, who was disheveled and in a sorry state. He felt a lump in his throat and almost fainted.

If we had been any later, this old minister would probably have met his end here!

Upon seeing this, Jia Yi immediately stopped, his eyes shifting from violent to blank, like a dazed young man who had just come to his senses.

The play should be kept to a minimum.

"Father, please calm down," Emperor Yuankang quickly said. "This matter... cannot be entirely blamed on Marquis Zhongyong."

"It was Chief Minister Zhao who first made hurtful remarks, calling him a fool. As you know, Yi'er's mind... has some problems."

As soon as he finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Jia Yi.

My heart pounded: If I had said something wrong, would this idiot have beaten me up too?

The retired emperor glared at Jia Yi, then gave Zhao Youting a fierce look.

What an idiot! Why did you provoke a ruthless person who's pretending to be stupid? Now you've completely lost face!

Mark Chao was on the verge of tears.

Little did he know that a single sentence could detonate this madman's bomb.

What I never expected was that Emperor Yuankang and Wu Ci'en had conspired to use him to get rid of me—it was utterly despicable and shameless!

"Enough." The Emperor Emeritus waved his hand, setting the tone, "This matter ends here."

His gaze swept over Jia Yi, and he felt a little relieved: thankfully, Niu Jizong had kept him calm.

If Niu Jizong heard this, he would be completely confused—when did I ever persuade him? I'm still hanging in the sky!

The retired emperor and Emperor Yuankang ascended the throne, and the officials fell silent and returned to their places, barely restoring order.

"Just now the Grand Secretary said that the Marquis of Zhongyong is unfit to serve as the Military Governor of the Capital Garrison?" The Emperor Emeritus spoke slowly, but his tone left no room for doubt. "I think what he said is absolutely right."

Emperor Yuankang's fingertips suddenly twitched, and his fist clenched so tightly under his dragon robe that it cracked.

It's happening again...

Even after retiring for many years, he still wields power like a knife, refusing to let go of even a hair!

The Emperor Emeritus took in his subtle expression and coughed lightly:

"However—the Loyal and Brave Camp currently has 20,000 troops, which are elite and usable."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "Perhaps... you should stay."

Emperor Yuankang's breath hitched, and his heart almost stopped beating.

These 20,000 soldiers are his only source of confidence in the capital!

Jia Yi stood below the steps, arms crossed, a slight smile playing on his lips, looking completely indifferent.

You want to move? Come on.

He is not afraid.

The Tang Dynasty's Mo Dao Battalion gleamed like snow, the Xuanjia Iron Cavalry exuded murderous intent, and the Mongol heavy cavalry pounded the ground like thunder—all were sharp blades in Jia Yi's hand, bestowed by the system, and recognized only by his command.

As for the other recruited local soldiers? Hmph, they're just useless cowards, easily blown away by the wind and washed away by water, not worth mentioning at all.

"The Loyal and Brave Camp has been expanded to 50,000 men."

"Jia Yi will still be in command."

"The 60,000 troops of the Beijing Garrison were divided among the Duke of Hu, Su Xing, and the Duke of Zhao, Luo Hong."

As soon as he finished speaking, a subtle undercurrent stirred within the hall.

The two dukes, Hu and Zhao, were personally appointed by the retired emperor and are now the only two remaining senior officials of the Taikang lineage. Their status is highly respected and deeply rooted.

"Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

Jia Yi and the two noblemen stepped forward together and bowed to express their gratitude.

Emperor Yuankang couldn't suppress his smile; his eyes were practically blooming with laughter.

The ministers below the hall stared intently, their eyes burning with envy—a first-class marquis, commanding 50,000 elite troops!

In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, there is only one like this, and there is no other like it!

But just when this momentum was at its peak—

"Remove Prince Teng from all official positions, immediately!"

The retired emperor coldly issued the order and then turned and left.

The entire hall fell silent suddenly, the air seeming to freeze.

Just as Emperor Yuankang was signaling Xia Shouzhong to leave the court, a figure suddenly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

It's Zhao Lu.

Emperor Yuankang's brow twitched, and his expression instantly darkened.

Why did you have to say it all of a sudden, when you were already here?

Do you really think I'm an easy target?

"allow."

With a single, cold word, the emperor rose to leave.

Zhao Lu, however, remained calm and announced loudly, "Your Majesty, the thirteen armories of the capital garrison have been in disrepair for many years and urgently need repair!"