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

"The...study...over there!" The servant's teeth chattered, and his finger trembled as he pointed to the southeast corner.

With a flick of his wrist, Jia Yi sent the man flying like a broken sack, knocking over a flowerpot.

He strode straight to the study, his steps unhurried yet unsettling as he walked through the messy courtyard.

When the old women and maids saw that he wasn't coming this way, they collapsed to the ground, and some of them burst into tears—they had almost lost their souls just now!

Just as I turned the corner of the corridor, I bumped into the butler who was about to escape through the dog hole.

"Loyal...Loyal and Brave Marquis!!!"

The housekeeper forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, his legs already cramping.

Jia Yi squinted at the old man—a long brocade robe, a jade ring on his finger, clearly a trusted confidant of his master.

"Where's that old dog Luo Hong?" He kicked over a stone bench next to him, his tone as lazy as if he were asking about the weather.

No one was in the room, but the teacups were still warm, with wisps of steam rising.

"I... my Duke... no, no, no, that old dog Luo Hong... I really don't know!" The steward shook his head desperately, cold sweat streaming down his temples.

Jia Yi's lips curled into a smile, and he suddenly swung his fist—

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the red-painted pillar cracked open, splinters flew everywhere, and half of the pillar was blasted through!

He tilted his head and smiled, but his eyes were chillingly cold: "Tell me, which is harder, your head or this pillar?"

The butler's pupils dilated in shock, and he felt a sudden heat in his crotch—he urinated.

"He said he went to the Duke of Hu's mansion! It really is the Duke of Hu's mansion! If I utter even half a lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

He kowtowed repeatedly, crying and making solemn vows, fearing that he would become the second pillar in the next second.

Jia Yi clapped his hands, didn't even glance at him again, turned and left, his cloak fluttering, his steps steady.

The wind whips up the remaining clouds, the killing intent still lingers.

Next, the Duke of Hu's mansion.

Upon seeing the magnificent and imposing Duke Zhao's mansion, Jia Yi felt a surge of anger rising within him.

What a magnificent mansion of the powerful and wealthy! With its carved beams and painted rafters, and its tall and wide gates, it's a perfect example of the "I am the greatest in the world" attitude!

He sneered, and in the instant the butler's pupils constricted in shock, he raised his hand and threw three fire tinder into the room.

Flames suddenly shot up with a "whoosh," like several red venomous snakes suddenly coiling around the porch, crackling and popping, and thick smoke billowed into the sky.

"Perfect!"

Jia Yi clapped his hands, flicked his sleeves, turned and left, his back view as dashing as if he had just finished a trivial matter.

[Ding! The host has burned down the Duke of Zhao's mansion and captured 5,000 soldiers of the Qi family army!]

As soon as the notification sound in his mind finished, Jia Yi grinned, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons.

Having 20,000 Qi Family Army soldiers at my command? That feeling is exhilarating!

"Fire! Fire! Fire!"

Behind them came the steward's heart-wrenching roar, mixed with the cries of the maids and servants.

But so what?

All the able-bodied men in the Duke of Zhao's mansion had been beaten to a pulp by him; now, the only ones who could put out the fire were a group of old women carrying buckets of water. It was a drop in the ocean, utterly futile.

At a distant street corner, Jia Yi stopped and looked back. The firelight illuminated half of the night sky. He smiled and said nothing more.

Deep within the palace, Emperor Yuankang was reclining on his dragon throne, listening to the eunuchs whisper. After listening, he suddenly sat up straight, threw his head back, and laughed loudly.

"Hahaha! Jia Yi, well done! Luo Hong's old face has been completely ripped off tonight!"

The grand gate of the Duke's mansion was demolished, the plaque was smashed, and the front hall was burned down. It's a laughing stock!

I heard that Luo Hong was so scared that he ran away and scrambled to Su Xing's residence, looking like a stray dog.

"Send someone to keep an eye on it." Emperor Yuankang waved his hand casually. "Don't let the fire spread. As for the rest... let it be."

Before he could finish speaking, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard rushed in and knelt down to report urgently.

Upon hearing this, the retired emperor's face remained as calm as a still well, as if the burning was not of a trusted minister's residence, but of a dilapidated hut.

Dai Quan watched with a pounding heart—the Duke of Zhao is your man! Are you just going to tolerate this?

But the retired emperor simply said, "Keep an eye on Jia Yi, and don't worry about anything else. Just make sure the fire doesn't spread to the neighboring houses."

In his eyes, as long as Luo Hong was still breathing, this matter was not a big deal.

On the other side, Niu Jizong, fully armed and gleaming in his armor, led a troop of personal guards on horseback, galloping straight towards the Duke of Zhao's mansion.

The sound of horses' hooves shook the street.

Upon reaching the gate, he reined in his horse and stopped. The sight before him nearly made him fall off.

Where is the main gate?

Where's the plaque?

The floor was covered in shards, as if someone had smashed it with a hammer. Even the door god portraits were covered in black ash and hung on half the wall.

He kicked open the side door and rushed in—good heavens!

The guards lay sprawled on the ground, bruised and battered, groaning incessantly. The fire in the courtyard was still burning, the embers crackling and popping.

Niu Jizong's lips twitched: Yi-ge'er, what on earth did you do that deserves everyone's wrath?

"Uncle Niu! What...what are you going to do?"

The butler, trembling, came forward carrying a bucket of water. Upon seeing the scene, he was so frightened that the bucket fell to the ground with a clatter.

Just now a menacing figure appeared, and now another one in full armor has arrived!

Is this an attempt to wipe out the entire family?

"Cough cough..."

Niu Jizong coughed twice, trying to appear calm, but his eyes were frighteningly cold.

"Speak! Where are the Marquis of Zhongyong and your Duke?"

His heart was pounding – if that madman Jia Yi really beat up Luo Hong, that would be a huge disaster!

"You...you've also come to cause trouble for my Duke?" The steward's voice trembled as he looked at the group of murderous guards, his legs shaking.

Just how many ruthless figures has my Duke offended?

"Enough with the nonsense!" Niu Jizong shouted, and the guards behind him immediately stepped forward and grabbed the steward.

At this point, the butler lost all interest and immediately started spilling the beans:

"My lord, the Duke... went to the Duke of Hu's residence!"

"Walk!"

Niu Jizong mounted his horse, cracked his iron whip, and the group vanished like a whirlwind.

All that remained were the wailing servants and the burnt-down roof beams.

At this moment, there wasn't a single man left in the entire Duke Zhao's mansion who could stand and speak.

Meanwhile, Su Xing and Luo Hong hurriedly returned to the Duke of Hu's mansion.

The first thing the two did upon entering was to close and lock the door, and then deploy their troops!

The guards, all clad in armor and armed with weapons, stood densely packed at the entrance, swords drawn and arrows nocked, as if guarding against an invading enemy army.

Immediately afterward, a messenger on horseback sent an urgent dispatch directly to the Five Cities Military Command, and another was sent by express courier to the Imperial Palace.

"Damn it! Why didn't I just go straight to the palace?!"

Luo Hong slapped his thigh, regretting it so much he felt like his guts were turning green.

How safe is it to enter the palace? With the Emperor Emeritus backing you up, you can also turn around and bite Jia Yi!

What's with hiding here with Su Xing now? It's utterly pathetic!

He glared at Su Xing fiercely: It was all your bad ideas!

Su Xing met that resentful gaze, and a million curses ran through his mind.

But how could he dare to argue now?

I just want to silently pray: Jia Yi, please don't come looking for me... I have no grudge against you!

pity--

Fate never goes as planned.

A moment later, a clear yet chilling shout came from outside the door:

"Brother Su! Open the door! I've come to see you!"

Upon hearing this, Su Xing's face turned deathly pale.

It’s over.

Jia Yi has arrived.