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

Jia Zheng suddenly spoke, his tone tentative, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.

Now that his official career is going smoothly and he is being promoted step by step, he must not be dragged down by this troublemaker!

"idiot!"

Grandmother Jia and Jia She angrily rebuked him in unison, their eyes piercing him like knives.

"With the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty protecting Yi-ge'er, he won't die."

"But those two ducal mansions... we'll most likely have to pay compensation."

Grandmother Jia looked around at everyone, and her words were full of profound meaning.

The meaning couldn't be clearer—it's time to pay up.

"I'll offer two hundred thousand taels."

She spoke first, her expression grave.

"I'll also... contribute 200,000."

Jia She gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words, his heart bleeding.

That's a private savings accumulating from our ancestors, and half of it is about to evaporate in the blink of an eye!

Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian exchanged a glance, their pupils dilating in shock—two hundred thousand?! How much did they, as a couple, earn in a whole year?

"This has nothing to do with our second wife's family!"

Madam Wang suddenly jumped out and shrieked, "We won't pay for this!"

"It has nothing to do with my Ningguo Mansion!" Jia Zhen quickly added, distancing himself. "Besides, my son Rong'er is getting married soon, and expenses are like water flowing out of a pond. Where would we find the extra money to fill this hole?"

"Grandma, I still have five thousand taels in my room."

Lin Daiyu stepped forward, her voice clear and resonant, yet carrying an undeniable certainty.

"Take it and use it to compensate the Duke's mansion."

He had already made up his mind: he would write a letter tonight and send it to Yangzhou overnight to ask his father for help.

"Grandmother, I still have over a hundred taels... I'll give it to Third Brother in case he needs it."

Yingchun clutched her handkerchief, her face turning pale with anxiety.

If Third Brother can't make up for it, will he be punished by the Emperor?

"I also have ten taels here!" Shi Xiangyun shouted.

"Grandmother, I've saved up thirty taels, and I'll give it all to Third Brother Yi!" Xichun said firmly, though she was young.

Tan Chun stood silently to the side, glancing at Madam Wang's almost distorted face, but ultimately did not speak.

But deep down, she was already furious with Jia Yi.

"Hahaha!"

Jia She suddenly burst into laughter, looking at the group of girls with increasing delight.

He used to think these girls were weak and useless, but now he feels that each of them is better than a man!

"My husband and I will also donate five thousand taels!" Wang Xifeng reacted quickly, pulling Jia Lian aside to express her opinion.

In the blink of an eye, Jia Zheng and Jia Zhen stood frozen in place, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

Madam Wang was so angry that her nails dug into her palms—it was all because of that Lin Daiyu! If it weren't for her taking the lead, the second branch of the family wouldn't have been put on the hot seat!

"The second wife will contribute 100,000 taels."

Grandmother Jia spoke coldly, setting the tone for them directly.

Madam Wang tried to struggle, but Zhou Rui's wife quietly tugged at her sleeve twice from behind.

She turned around abruptly, only to meet Jia Zheng's gloomy gaze.

In that instant, she understood.

Jia Zheng was very filial. Since his mother had spoken, he wouldn't accept a single penny less than 100,000 taels.

"Then my Ningguo Mansion... will also contribute 100,000 taels."

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes in the room were fixed on Jia Zhen's face. He gritted his teeth and squeezed out those words, as if a piece of flesh had been ripped from his heart, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain.

"This little bit of silver, plus what Mother has and what Yi-ge has, probably won't be enough to fill this hole, will it?" Jia She said slowly, but his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

"There's no need to worry." Grandmother Jia sat upright at the head of the table, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, a slight smile playing on her lips. "The Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty know what's going on. How could they possibly miss such a good opportunity?"

She wasn't wrong—she guessed at least half of it correctly.

At this moment, Jia Yi was already standing in the Imperial Study.

"What a ruthless character! Two fires, and he burned down two duke's mansions!"

Emperor Yuankang stared at him, laughing and scolding at the same time, but he couldn't suppress a hint of amazement in his eyes.

Jia Yi grinned, his ability to play dumb was on full display at this moment.

[Ding! The host has set fire to the residences of the Duke of Hu and the Duke of Zhao, triggering the hidden achievement: Wrath of the Heavens! Reward: 20,000 Qi Family Army soldiers, 1 General Recruitment Card!]

The system notification suddenly sounded, and Jia Yi's heart skipped a beat.

It turns out that the reason they didn't make a move when they burned down the Hu residence was because they were waiting for this big gift!

A military commander summoning card? His eyes flickered slightly as he couldn't help but wonder—which legendary god of death could it summon?

"Your Majesty, Lord Niu requests an audience."

A notification came from outside the door. A moment later, Niu Jizong strode in, his face covered in cigarette ash, his clothes and armor still scorched.

He had just returned with the Embroidered Uniform Guards after putting out the fire.

"Come in." Emperor Yuankang gestured with his hand, his tone surprisingly friendly.

Ever since Jia Yi stirred up the court, Niu Jizong has quietly sided with the emperor. Now he is personally stepping in to put out the fire—ostensibly to save the day, but in reality, he is ordered to search for evidence to see if he can find anything shady in the ashes.

"The fire is under control, Your Majesty." Niu Jizong reported with his hands clasped, his tone filled with regret. "The two Duke's mansions... except for one stable in each of them which miraculously survived, all the other buildings and pavilions have been reduced to ashes."

Emperor Yuankang's eyelids twitched: "All gone?"

He secretly glanced at Jia Yi, thinking to himself: This kid is too ruthless, isn't he? He didn't even leave him a beam?

"Your Majesty," Jia Yi spread his hands, looking completely innocent, "I just randomly pointed to a few places... Perhaps they've committed too many evil deeds in their daily lives, and Heaven couldn't stand it anymore, so it used my hand to punish them."

He said it lightly, but he was secretly overjoyed.

This fire burned down the house, but it also established authority.

From now on, anyone who dares to stab you in the back should think twice before deciding whether they can withstand me flipping the table!

Just then, Dai Quan hurried over, bowed, and said, "The Emperor Emeritus has summoned Your Majesty, Lord Jia, and Lord Niu to come immediately."

When he looked at Jia Yi, his eyes couldn't hide his admiration, as if he were looking at a demon who had just emerged from flames.

—At this moment, Duke Su Xing and Duke Luo Hong are crying and wailing in front of the Emperor Emeritus.

"Let's go." Emperor Yuankang stood up, flicked his sleeves, and led the two out.

Inside the Taiji Hall, the sound of weeping shook the heavens.

"Your Majesty! You must do justice for this old minister!" Su Xing knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face. "My life's savings, my ancestral home, all burned to the ground! My family is gone!"

"Exactly!" Luo Hong shouted immediately afterward, "Jia Yi dared to set fire to the capital! This is utterly lawless and audacious! I beg the Emperor Emeritus to severely punish this scoundrel as a warning to others!"

The two of them went back and forth, wishing they could nail Jia Yi to the pillar of shame, condemn him to all the world's wrath, and condemn him to eternal damnation.

The retired emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

He hadn't expected the fire to be so fierce; the two magnificent mansions were reduced to just two lonely stables, a silent mockery of the entire court.

He couldn't help but wonder: What about the servants? Were they all dead? Was no one putting out the fire?

But if you actually ask... you're likely to hear an even more absurd answer:

—It's not that we don't want to help, it's just that Jia Yi is too scary! Anyone who gets close is so frightened that their legs go weak, who would dare to lay a hand on him?

"My two beloved ministers, rise." The Emperor Emeritus finally spoke, his voice steady but unable to conceal a trace of weariness. "I will give you an explanation."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Su Xing and Luo Hong exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with ecstasy.

There is a play!