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

"Those scholars block the palace gates every day, demanding that His Majesty punish you! They say you are too powerful and oppress the scholars!"

Upon hearing this, Niu Jizong was filled with remorse.

I should have stopped that kid at all costs! I would have even tied him up with rope and dragged him back to the manor!

"Yi-ge'er, it's all my fault this time!" He pounded his chest and stamped his feet. "Why couldn't I have been more ruthless and kidnapped you!"

Upon hearing this, the guards and Niu Dahao beside him widened their eyes in astonishment.

What? Jia Yi was kidnapped? Ancestor, were you having a really deep dream last night?

"Uncle, don't panic," Jia Yi grinned, his eyes shining brightly, his face full of eagerness. "They're just a bunch of clowns."

Far from being angry, he felt an indescribable excitement welling up inside him—

Hundreds of troublemaking pedantic scholars blocked the palace gate?

Isn't this a victory point delivered right to our doorstep?

How many good items can you get by beating someone up?

When Wu Sheng caught a glimpse of that look in his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

It’s over.

Those bookworms in the capital city who didn't know their own mortality have really walked right into the line of fire this time.

This guy hates being bossed around, especially by self-righteous intellectuals who put on airs. Now, they've come to him, giving him a golden opportunity to establish his authority.

"Send the order!" Jia Yi mounted his horse, his voice icy. "The entire army must accelerate, march day and night, and march back to the capital!"

"Yes!" Wu Sheng immediately accepted the order.

Niu Jizong didn't try to persuade him any further. He was in a hurry to get back and contact the Four Kings and Eight Dukes to quell the fire first.

But the scholars and censors in the capital city were already going crazy with anticipation.

Hearing that Jia Yi had crossed Shanhaiguan, everyone was as excited as if it were New Year's Day, wishing they could move their beds to camp outside the Meridian Gate. If it weren't for the Five City Garrison forcibly clearing the area every night, they could have actually set up sheds and lived under the palace walls.

More and more people gathered to condemn the protests, and the outcry almost overturned the imperial city.

But what they didn't know was that most of these people were "scholar actors" secretly selected by Zhao Lu from the Jiangnan and Shuntian Prefecture areas.

The goal is simple: to become famous!

As long as one can have their name displayed in the imperial court and have a record of it in the censorate, regardless of who they criticize, they can become famous overnight. Upon returning home, they will be regarded as "a man who dares to remonstrate," and their official career will be smooth sailing.

After learning the truth, Emperor Yuankang sneered: "These so-called upright officials are dirtier than anyone else at heart."

Ten days later.

Crown Prince Chen Yuan once again led all the officials to the outskirts of the capital to welcome the emperor.

This time, the scale is even bigger.

Besides the high-ranking officials, there was also a large swarm of buzzing "flies"—those scholars holding banners and shouting slogans.

Their eyes were bloodshot, and their necks were stretched out, just waiting for Jia Yi to show up so they could rush up and denounce him as a "traitor who has ruined the country."

The people stood on the street, glaring angrily but daring not to say a word.

They didn't understand why these people in long gowns would curse a great hero who had won a battle.

But they knew in their hearts that Lord Jia was a good man.

As soon as he returned, those arrogant and domineering playboys had to behave themselves.

"When will Third Brother arrive?"

Inside the carriage, Lin Daiyu asked softly, her fingers unconsciously twisting her handkerchief.

The sisters around her also looked north, eagerly awaiting the appearance of that figure.

Since Jia Yi went to war, the Rongguo Mansion has been like a lost soul, even the laughter has faded.

"It'll be soon," Tan Chun comforted softly, gently patting Xi Chun's head.

Not far away, the Qin family's carriage was parked quietly.

Qin Keqing held her younger brother's hand, gazing at the distant horizon, her lips slightly pursed, her eyes shining.

A short while later—

Suddenly, billowing dust rose in the distance.

Immediately afterwards, a series of deep, thunderous footsteps approached from afar, and the earth seemed to tremble.

"He's here! Lord Jia is back!" someone exclaimed.

"Look! That's his army!"

The crowd stirred, and everyone stood on tiptoe to look.

On the horizon, an army slowly advanced like a black tide.

The armored vehicles stood imposingly, their blades gleaming in the sunlight, and the battle flags fluttered in the wind.

Every pair of eyes was soaked in blood, and every step they took carried the aura of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

That was a truly ruthless army that had crawled out of piles of corpses!

The scholars, who had been eager to rush up and hurl insults, instantly fell silent.

The slogans that were just shouted so loudly are now stuck in his throat, and he can't utter a single word.

Forget about rushing forward, many people's legs were already trembling, and some even quietly took several steps back.

Faced with this mighty lion that had just returned victorious after slaying its enemy chieftain and drinking its blood, they realized—

I am nothing more than a speck of dust in the wind.

Among the officials, Zhao Lu stared intently at the group of dumbfounded scholars, his anger rising.

I'm so anxious I'm practically smoking!

"Damn it! Why did I have to be so slow at this time!"

He gritted his teeth, almost jumping up to curse.

Crown Prince Chen Yuan stood frozen in place, his face ashen.

As the person standing at the very front, the oppressive feeling he experienced just now almost crushed him.

If he hadn't pinched her thigh hard at the last second, he probably would have collapsed to the ground, utterly humiliated.

"Your subject is Jia Yi."

"Your subject is Niu Jizong."

The two quickly stepped forward and bowed with their hands clasped in greeting.

"Lord Jia, Lord Niu, please rise quickly."

The crown prince forced himself to remain calm and raised his hand in a gesture of support.

Just then—

The scholars, who had been stunned, finally came to their senses and, like a swarm of bees that had been disturbed, rushed towards Jia Yi in a flash!

"Jia Yi! You have gone so far as to exterminate the Later Jin; how utterly wicked you are!"

"Hmph! How could the dignified Marquis of the Great Qian Dynasty be so violent and heartless?"

"Your behavior is a disgrace to all scholars!"

Spittle flew everywhere, and the crowd was filled with indignation.

They formed a circle, pointing at Jia Yi and beating him vehemently, completely ignoring the fact that the Crown Prince was still present, his face ashen.

"Third Brother! How dare these people insult you like that!" Yingchun clenched her fists, her eyes reddening.

"That's right! They're all bad people! Scoundrels!" Xi Chun was so anxious she almost cried.

All the sisters were extremely worried, their eyes fixed on Jia Yi.

Meanwhile, in the distance, those spoiled brats who had been beaten to a pulp by Jia Yi were now laughing with their arms crossed.

"Hehe, now it's Jia the Fool's turn to suffer, isn't it?"

But the next second—

Jia Yi's lips curled up, and he suddenly laughed.

The Crown Prince is still here, and you all dare to surround him and act wildly?

What a golden opportunity!

"You audacious traitor! How dare you attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince—strike him!!!"

He roared, his voice echoing across the surrounding area.

The entire room fell silent.

Who? Who attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince?

Niu Jizong was stunned at first, then overjoyed:

Good heavens! Yi-ge'er has finally figured it out!!!

Before he finished speaking, Jia Yi was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, his fists whistling as he lunged at the nearest scholar.

[Ding! Host has launched an attack on thousands of scholars, securing 10 cases of cola!]

A system notification sounded.

Jia Yi's face darkened.

Is this all the reward I got? Ten cases of Coke? Are you trying to fob me off? Thumbs down!

His anger intensified!

His fists flew, unstoppable—

"puff!"

With a single punch, the man soared into the air, tracing a graceful arc before crashing into the crowd, thus beginning his "aerial sightseeing."

They fly away one by one, and float away the next one after being touched.

In an instant, the scholars who had been shouting incessantly entered the "flying experience camp," and the whole place was filled with figures tumbling through the air.

"Run—!" someone finally realized what was happening and screamed.

Good heavens! I forgot he was Jia the Fool!

He's also a combat prodigy who can make the Imperial Guards cry!

It's too late.