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

Once Jia Yi is convicted, the Loyal and Brave Camp will be ownerless. Then, by joining forces and applying pressure, we can take over—wouldn't that be wonderful?

However, the next instant, the palace doors were suddenly pushed open.

Emperor Yuankang led Jia Yi and Niu Jizong in slowly.

The three of them stood still, and an invisible sense of oppression spread out.

The retired emperor narrowed his eyes and slowly uttered two words:

"OK."

"You two scourges, so you were hiding here all along!"

Jia Yi roared angrily, his voice like a thunderclap, so loud that the beams of the palace seemed to tremble three times.

The retired emperor and Emperor Yuankang felt a chill run down their spines, their eyelids twitching simultaneously—Oh no!

In the next instant, Jia Yi was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, his fists whistling as he charged straight at Su Xing and Luo Hong!

"Run!!" The Emperor Emeritus roared, his voice cracking.

But no one expected that Jia Yi would dare to punch someone in front of the Zichen Palace, right under the Emperor's nose!

"Bang! Bang!"

With two muffled thuds, Su Xing and Luo Hong were sent flying through the air like two tattered sacks, crashing heavily onto the blue brick ground. They rolled several times before coming to a stop, their mouths filled with the taste of blood.

[Ding! The host has successfully triggered the hidden achievement "Dare to Fight Even Before the Emperor" by beating up Su Xing and Luo Hong in front of the Emperor Emeritus. Reward: Snack Gift Pack x1!]

As soon as the system notification appeared, Jia Yi smirked, his eyes filled with disdain: These two spineless cowards dare to challenge me?

"Brother Yi! Calm down, my lord!" Niu Jizong slid up on his knees and grabbed Jia Yi's leg tightly, his face almost touching the ground.

The burly generals guarding outside immediately understood—it was this ancestor throwing a tantrum again!

In an instant, hundreds of armored guards surged forward like a tide, their movements perfectly synchronized. They grabbed Jia Yi's arms, locked his shoulders, and pressed down on his legs, pinning him down so firmly that he couldn't even move a finger.

Niu Jizong's eyes widened: These guys... do they practice this routine every day? How come they're so skilled, it's like they've rehearsed it eight hundred times?!

Emperor Yuankang's eyes flickered slightly as he turned his head to look at the retired emperor, giving him a meaningful smile.

As expected, Father Emperor had made preparations in advance, and specially raised this group of people, just waiting to keep Jia Yi, this mad leopard, in check!

Looking at Jia Yi, who was firmly under control, the Emperor Emeritus nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

My strategic planning was worthwhile!

"My lords, are you two still holding on?" Dai Quan hurriedly stepped forward and pulled Su Xing and Luo Hong up from the ground.

"What do you think?" Su Xing gritted his teeth, his voice trembling.

That punch just now almost knocked his soul out of his body. In his dazed state, he even saw his father standing at the Bridge of Helplessness, waving to him...

It's likely that several bones are broken.

Luo Hong was in no better shape; he clutched his chest tightly with both hands, cold sweat pouring down his face.

There were at least five or four broken bones, and his breath was accompanied by bloody foam.

At this moment, the imperial physician finally rushed over, stumbling and crawling, his white beard trembling wildly.

"Quick! Quickly check if these two ministers can still be saved!" The Emperor Emeritus said urgently, his brow furrowed.

But in his heart, he was calculating: if either of these two dies, Xun Gui Group will be utterly destroyed. Then, forget about protecting Jia Yi; he himself will be branded a tyrant!

Upon hearing this, Su Xing nearly vomited blood on the spot.

What does "can it be saved?" mean?

Are we your own sons? Why are you so eager for this?

Jia Yi remained calm, knowing exactly what he was doing: I had the strength just right; at most, they would be bedridden for three months, but I would never send them away.

The imperial physician was also shrewd; he immediately understood the meaning from the Emperor Emeritus's tone.

After examining them, he immediately cupped his hands and announced loudly, "Your Majesty! The two dukes are not in mortal danger; they only have multiple fractures and can recover with rest. Their injuries fall under the category of minor injuries!"

Upon hearing this, both the retired emperor and Emperor Yuankang breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is what you call a minor injury?" Su Xing's eyes were bloodshot, and he wished he could pounce on him and take another punch.

Luo Hong didn't say anything, but instead closed his eyes.

At this moment, he realized that his status in front of this supreme ruler was probably not even as high as Jia Yi's little finger.

He silently swore in his heart: Prince Yizhong, from now on, I'll follow you! I'll even accept rebellion!

"Jia Yi, you've really gone too far," the Emperor Emeritus finally spoke slowly, his tone seemingly stern but actually carrying a hint of coaxing. "Even if your two ministers are truly at fault, you should at least follow the rules. How could you treat them so roughly?"

Upon hearing this, Su Xing's mouth gaped open wide enough to fit a fist.

Were we wrong?

My house was burned down! I was beaten! And he was the one who started hitting me as soon as he walked in the door!

In the end, it turned out that we were the ones who were wrong?

Was it our fault for not kneeling down beforehand, making it easier for him to hit us?

"Jia Yi," Emperor Yuankang said, his face darkening as he feigned a reprimand, "you assaulted two dukes and burned down their mansions... I hereby punish you by making you accompany each of them... 100,000 taels of silver, how about that?"

The air froze as soon as the words were spoken.

Luo Hong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, his pupils contracting violently.

One hundred thousand taels? Just such a casual remark?

That's a loss of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver! And there wasn't even a hint of accountability?!

At that moment, he had only one thought: to leave the palace immediately, head straight to the Prince Yizhong's residence, and submit his pledge of allegiance overnight!

"Cough cough cough—" Luo Hong coughed violently, each cough sounding like he was spitting blood.

Emperor Yuankang was so fed up with hearing this that he finally lost his temper and slammed his fist on the imperial desk: "Do as the retired emperor says!"

Luo Hong and Su Xing's legs went weak the moment they stepped out of the palace gates. This wasn't a political discussion; it was like being led to the execution ground!

"Two Dukes," Emperor Yuankang said before his words had even finished, "there happens to be an empty princely residence in the capital. You may stay here for a while."

"I have ordered the Ministry of Works to begin construction immediately to repair your new residence."

Although he spoke politely, what he actually took was the private treasury he had originally reserved for the Crown Prince—the Prince's Mansion, which had not yet been put into use, was forcibly moved out.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Su Xing and Luo Hong bowed and thanked him, but a layer of cold sweat seeped out on their backs.

The retired emperor sat high above, his eyes flashing slightly, a rare hint of satisfaction in them.

This emperor's son has finally developed some imperial skills.

But the next moment, Su Xing abruptly looked up, his voice trembling like tearing silk: "But Your Majesty! The Emperor Emeritus! My personal collection of over a million taels of silver has been completely destroyed—who should compensate for this loss?!"

His gaze was like a knife, piercing straight at Jia Yi.

The entire room fell silent.

The meaning couldn't be clearer: If I can't beat you, I'll extort you to death!

Upon hearing "one million taels," Luo Hong's eyelids twitched violently.

"The Duke of Hu's mansion is so wealthy?" he sneered. "My Rongguo mansion, with its century-old foundation, has accumulated only two or three hundred thousand taels of silver. You've only been established for a little over a decade, yet your wealth has multiplied several times over?"

"Could it be that this wealth was accumulated by drinking the blood and gnawing on the bones of the common people?"

Jia Yi stood in the center of the hall, a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery.

Is Su Xing out of his mind?

The retired emperor's face was ashen, and Emperor Yuankang's eyes also turned cold.

How could a duke, who squandered money like water for over a decade, still manage to save millions in wealth?

Not receiving a salary without working? Nobody believes that!

Three words exploded in their minds—receiving a salary without working!