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

These people were old men who had followed him since the beginning of the Tang Dynasty's Mo Dao (陌刀) team.

Having survived the bloody battles in the northern frontier and crossed mountains of corpses, he did not fall to the enemy lines, but instead died due to the conspiracy of his own people.

He crouched down and gently closed a soldier's open eyes with his fingertips.

"Brothers..." His voice was low and hoarse, yet every word was as firm as iron, "I, Jia Yi, hereby swear—I will make those behind the scenes pay for their blood debts in blood."

They dug the graves themselves and buried each one.

He mounted his horse, Red Hare neighed, and returned under the blood-red moon.

At the entrance of the Rongguo Mansion, servants stood in rows.

Suddenly, a man and a horse appeared, covered in blood, their cloaks fluttering in the wind, as if they had returned from hell.

"Lord...Lord Marquis?"

"Oh my god! You're injured?"

"Quickly! Summon the imperial physician! Prepare hot water! Get the medicine!"

The crowd gasped and swarmed around, their voices trembling and their steps faltering.

Jia Yi merely glanced at it indifferently, his voice eerily calm:

"No need. I'm fine."

"But some people... are about to get into trouble."

"I'm fine. Go and call Lai Da. Tell him to come to Lixiang Courtyard and wait for me immediately."

Before Jia Yi finished speaking, he had already turned and left, his back as cold as a drawn sword.

"ah--!"

As soon as Yuanyang saw him push the door open and come in, she screamed and took two steps back, knocking over the flower stand behind her.

The courtyard erupted into chaos. Several maids collapsed to the ground, trembling like leaves, covering their mouths tightly to stifle their sobs, their eyes wide with terror as they stared at the man covered in blood, who looked as if he had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

"Lord...Lord, are you injured?"

Jia Yi shook his head expressionlessly, his brows and eyes so deep they seemed to drip water.

"Hot water, quick! I want to take a bath."

Her tone wasn't harsh, yet it was suffocating. Yuanyang jolted awake, immediately snapping back to reality. She grabbed the few remaining maids and rushed towards the side courtyard: "Quick! Boil water! Scald the kettle! Don't just stand there!"

Her heart trembled, and while she was busy, she stole glances at Jia Yi's profile—it wasn't someone else's blood, and even if it was covered in blood, it hadn't hurt him in the slightest.

But the more it's like this, the scarier it becomes.

Not long after, the bathtub was carried into the side room, steaming hot. Yuanyang personally served him with a towel, but just as her fingertips touched his shoulder, she suddenly felt a gaze sweep over her, so hot that she almost let go.

Jia Yi squinted at her: This girl is quite bold, daring to get so close? If it weren't for other important matters tonight, he should really let her experience what "personal service" is like.

He subtly curled his lips, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Lai Da had already turned into a sieve outside Lixiang Courtyard.

The gatekeeper came running with a pale face, saying that the Marquis had returned covered in blood and specifically requested to see him. Lai Da was terrified – had his secret been exposed? Had all those years of withheld money, embezzled land deeds, and collusion ledgers… been revealed?

He stood in the courtyard, cold sweat streaming down his temples, his legs trembling, and even his breathing was shaky.

Just then, Jia Yi changed into a moon-white robe, walked out slowly, his hair slightly damp, and his expression was as usual.

Fallen leaves twirled down in the yard, rustling softly in the wind.

Jia Yi glanced at the fallen leaves on the ground, then looked at Lai Da—the old man's face was covered in grease and sweat, and his crotch was faintly yellowed.

He frowned, a cold smile playing on his lips: A man in his forties, scared out of his wits?

"Lai Da, where is the Prince Zhongshun's Mansion?"

In short, the question was asked casually.

Lai Da was startled and almost knelt down. When he heard that the question was not about embezzlement, he breathed a sigh of relief, his knees buckled, and he sat down with a "thud" on his trouser leg, leaving a suspicious ring of marks.

"I...I know! I know!" he stammered, kowtowing repeatedly. "My lord, spare me! I'll draw it! I'll draw it right away!"

Yuanyang had prepared paper and pen and handed them over. Lai Da's hands trembled, and he almost lay on the ground, carefully tracing the route stroke by stroke, afraid of missing even half a turn.

"Alright." Jia Yi took the drawing, not even glancing at him. "Get lost."

"Yes, yes, yes! Your Excellency, please forgive me! I'll take my leave!" Lai Da scrambled out, nearly tripping over the threshold and falling face-first into the mud as he went out the door.

The moment the other person disappeared through the door, a series of orderly footsteps thundered outside the courtyard.

The eighteen riders of Yanyun, clad in black armor and clad in iron boots, stood silently arrayed in the courtyard, their killing intent lingering.

Jia Yi sat upright at the stone table and slowly sipped his tea.

Everything is ready, except for nightfall.

Once it was completely dark, he would take these eighteen deadly demons and sneak into the Prince Zhongshun's mansion—to avenge the blood debts of those personal guards who died before his eyes and in his arms!

At this moment, Jia She, in the east wing, was embracing his newly acquired concubine, drinking and whispering sweet nothings to her. Upon hearing that "Yi-ge'er returned home covered in blood," he merely scoffed, "Children like kids, just a fight, what's the big deal?"

Inside Rongqing Hall, Grandmother Jia held Baoyu in her arms, kissing and stroking him tenderly, her heart aching: "Baoyu, were you frightened? Don't be afraid, Grandmother is here." Hearing that Jia Yi had returned, she waved her hand: "Let him be, it's normal for young people to be a little mischievous."

Wang Xifeng, on the other hand, rushed over after putting on a cloak.

As she and Ping'er stepped into Pear Fragrance Courtyard, upon seeing the eighteen towering figures within, they stumbled and vomited while leaning against the wall.

"Cough cough—"

Just moments ago, he was plotting how to swindle some silver from this "foolish marquis," but now, seeing this group of ruthless men, his stomach churned—the fifty-odd servants who were beheaded a few days ago died at the hands of this very group!

"Sister-in-law, are you pregnant?" Jia Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at the two of them gagging, his tone surprised. "Or... is Ping'er pregnant too?"

Wang Xifeng choked on her breath, and her face turned dark.

Ping'er blushed deeply, her ears turning bright red: "What nonsense are you talking about, Lord Marquis!"

"I thought you were a promising talent," Wang Xifeng gritted her teeth, "but you're just like your second brother, always talking nonsense!"

"Hahaha!" Jia Yi laughed loudly, picked up his teacup and blew on it lightly. "Alright, alright, sister-in-law, stop pretending. So, what do you want?"

Wang Xifeng composed herself and immediately put on a worried expression: "The household is almost starving, and I was thinking... as the head of the household, could you perhaps lend a hand?"

She was certain in her heart: No matter how shrewd this person is, he's still a young upstart. With a few words of coaxing, the money will be within his grasp.

To everyone's surprise, Jia Yi smiled faintly, his eyes sharp as blades:

"No money? Just let Second Aunt spit out some of what she's eaten up over the years."

As he finished speaking, the tea smoke curled upwards, and the courtyard fell silent.

Wang Xifeng's smile froze.

She suddenly realized that this "fool" in front of her might not be someone she could control at all.

Wang Xifeng was speechless for a moment.

If she could really get a single copper coin out of this old lady, would she need to smile obsequiously and act like a grandson every day?

"Alright, sister-in-law, you can go back now."

"I have important business to attend to."

Jia Yi looked up at the sky; dusk was pressing down, like an overturned iron pot. He couldn't be bothered to get entangled with this thorny "fairy princess" any longer.

Wang Xifeng was about to sneer – what kind of important business do you have!

But Ping'er grabbed him and pulled him away.