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

Immediately afterwards, Wu Sheng and the others looked up abruptly, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Holy crap?!

This isn't just a promotion! This is like blasting through the clouds and riding a phoenix to the heavens!!

Then look at the meager reward of cattle, sheep, and cloth that he has...

In comparison, it's like a beggar picking beans from a bowl—so shabby it's suffocating.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Jia Yi accepted the imperial edict, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

With the title in hand, his status was completely reshuffled.

In addition, the "Brutal System" within him is firmly in place, with its buffs fully stacked.

Whether the Jia family's ship, riddled with holes, sinks or not, it doesn't matter; it won't be buried with them.

even……

His eyes turned slightly cold, and a flash of killing intent crossed his mind—

It would be better to burn this mess of the Jia family's property to the ground.

He turned to leave, his movements swift and decisive.

The eunuch who delivered the imperial decree stood still, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

You've come all this way to deliver an imperial decree, and you haven't even offered a token of appreciation?

His eyes were filled with resentment, almost as if they were spitting fire.

Jia Yi noticed the gaze, turned his head slightly, and looked bewildered: Why is this eunuch staring at me?

Wu Sheng was terrified and quickly stepped forward to save the day.

If this continues, when that eunuch goes back to the palace and spreads rumors, it will be these local officials who will suffer!

"Your Excellency has worked so hard, traveling thousands of miles to convey the Emperor's message; your efforts are truly commendable!"

He smiled and handed over a heavy money bag.

"This is a small local product from our Zhen'anbao village. It's just a small token of our appreciation, but please accept it."

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree weighed it in his hand, then beamed, "Oh my, this 'local product' is excellent! Absolutely wonderful!"

With dozens of taels of silver in his pocket, his mood instantly brightened.

"The imperial edict has been proclaimed; let's set off back to the capital now!"

Before he finished speaking, he flipped onto the carriage, flicked his whip, and sped away faster than a rabbit.

Liaodong is a godforsaken place, a place of war and chaos, where every second spent here is torture.

-

After seeing the eunuch off, Wu Sheng and the others immediately surrounded him.

"My lord! Congratulations on your promotion!"

"I hope you will continue to take care of me and offer guidance in the future!"

They were all all smiles, fawning over each other as if they wanted to lick each other's faces.

An 18-year-old third-class male?

In the entire Daqian Dynasty, there have been very few like this in nearly a hundred years!

This isn't a new star; it's a comet crashing into the heavens, shattering the sky!

"Haha, no problem, no problem."

Jia Yi laughed loudly and stood with his hands behind his back.

Who doesn't love to hear compliments? Especially when they come from the mouths of these guys who used to ignore him—it's even more satisfying.

-

Meanwhile, far away in Kyoto, Prince Teng was cornered in his study by his younger sister's dowry maid, Zhou Rui's wife, and was so worried that his head was pounding.

A letter arrived from his younger sister, its meaning clear: find a way to have Jia Yi die in Liaodong.

But now...

He rubbed his forehead and smiled wryly.

He was just personally granted the title of Third-Class Baron by the imperial court, enjoying the emperor's favor, and you want me to take action?

What is this if not treason?

Zhou Rui's wife, observing the situation, immediately stepped forward and spoke in a low voice:

"My lord, once Jia Yi dies, the eldest son's side will only have that good-for-nothing Lian Er Ye left."

"Compared to our Master Bao? He's nowhere near as good!"

"At that time, the old lady will definitely have to think about it and let our Second Master Bao inherit the title—it will be legitimate and no one will be able to say a word against it."

Wang Ziteng nodded slowly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Indeed, Grandmother Jia favored Baoyu and wanted him to inherit the title. This would be an immense benefit for Baoyu himself.

Won't all of the Jia family's connections and influence eventually fall to his side? As for relying on Jia Yi, that good-for-nothing... well, unless it snows backwards.

"Go back and tell your wife." His voice was low but carried an undeniable authority, "Jia Yi is not coming back."

What does it matter if he wrongs Jia Yi for the sake of his future?

"Yes, sir!" Zhou Rui's wife beamed and left the study with light steps, as if floating back on cotton.

Wang Ziteng sat alone in the hall, lightly tapping the table with his fingertips. After a moment, he got up and strolled to his study.

He ground ink, picked up his brush, wrote a letter, and sent it directly to Xiong Ke, the General of Liaodong.

This man was originally promoted by Jia Daishan. He rose from an unknown soldier to the position of general. In the end, he owed a debt of gratitude to the Ning and Rong mansions.

Now that Zhao Lu, the governor of Liaodong, is about to be transferred, the situation is as chaotic as a cesspool, and the court is in an uproar but no one can be chosen to take over. Everyone with eyes to see knows that military power will definitely fall into Xiong Ke's hands in this mess.

The timing and location were both perfect.

It's a perfect opportunity to use someone else to do the dirty work.

Swords have no eyes; it's perfectly normal for one or two people to die on the battlefield. But Wang Ziteng wasn't a reckless fool; he left no trace.

The letter was not sent in his own name, but in the name of the Rongguo Mansion.

What's even more ingenious is that Jia She, the current head of the household, has so many private letters he could use to wallpaper the walls. If something goes wrong, he won't be implicated at all.

Clean and neat.

"Madam, the matter is settled." Zhou Rui's wife quietly walked to Madam Wang's side. At that moment, Madam Wang was kneeling in front of the Buddha, chanting sutras and counting prayer beads. The wisps of incense smoke could not hide the cold smile that flashed across her lips.

"Mmm," she responded softly, without even lifting her eyelids.

Outside Zhen'an Fort, yellow sand billowed the flags, and the horses' hooves had not yet set off.

Jia Yi clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Commander Wu, take care."

Looking at the young general before him, Wu Sheng was filled with mixed emotions. He had thought this was just a playboy from the capital who had come down to get some experience, but who knew that in such a short time he had led him to three victories, beheading more than a hundred people, and making his name resound at the border.

Now that he's leaving, he feels empty inside, as if his backbone has been ripped out.

"Sigh... From now on, I can only rely on myself." He muttered to himself, watching the group of figures gradually disappear into the distance and finally vanish into the dust.

Jin County, Liaodong General's Office.

In the stillness of the night, the candlelight flickered.

Xiong Ke stared at the secret message sent by the carrier pigeon in his hand, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

"Master, what's wrong?" The madam brought in tea and, noticing his unusual expression, her heart skipped a beat. "Has the Later Jin invaded our borders?"

"No." He gave a wry smile and handed over the letter. "It's from the Jia family of Shenjing—they want me to get rid of Jia Yi."

"What?!" the lady exclaimed. "Isn't Jia Yi your old Duke's grandson? He's a member of the Rongguo Mansion's own family! Why kill him? Could someone have framed him?"

Xiong Ke shook his head: "The seal, the code, the handwriting—everything matches. This letter undoubtedly came from the Rongguo Mansion."

He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply: "If the old Duke knew this in the afterlife, he would probably be so angry that he would die of anger again."

"What a pity..." he murmured, "Such a brave and decisive general was going to fall at the hands of his own people."

He had originally intended to promote Jia Yi out of consideration for their old friendship, providing him with troops and paving the way for his advancement in the army. Unexpectedly, Jia Yi's own people delivered the death warrant first.

"Master, I remember now." The lady suddenly slapped her forehead. "I heard Lady Zhao Lu mention years ago that Jia She, the first-class general of Rongguo Mansion, had a foolish son named Jia Yi."

Xiong Ke's pupils contracted, and he instantly understood.

No wonder.

In their eyes, Jia Yi was still that "idiot." Even though he was now a third-class man with outstanding military achievements, standing on the frontier like a blade drawn from its sheath, he was still an unsightly stain in the eyes of those wealthy and powerful families.

Afraid of losing face and being an eyesore, they simply decided to silence them.

Absurd! Ridiculous! Yet so real it chills you to the bone.

Xiong Ke stood up and walked towards the Liaodong map hanging on the wall, his gaze sweeping over the mountains and passes like that of a hawk.

Knuckles tap the map lightly, whispers like blades:

"Your death must look like it's fate."

"Don't blame me... it was your family that started it."

Seeing this, Mrs. Xiong Ke silently retreated to the backyard, her footsteps light, as if afraid of disturbing the undercurrent of silence.

Just then—

A soldier rushed in, his armor rustling, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead.