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

Niu Jizong had already given a signal, and Wu Sheng immediately led the soldiers of the Loyal and Brave Camp to surround them, sealing off the area like an iron barrel, so that no one could escape.

"Dad, you've learned to set traps and swindle people now?" Niu Dahao grinned.

Niu Jizong glanced at him sideways, snorted softly, but couldn't hide his smugness in his eyes.

The spoiled brats watching from afar swallowed hard, their legs trembling.

This scene... is all too familiar.

Back then, they were all beaten to a pulp in the same way...

"Hahaha! Look at these pedants, don't they look like monkeys performing a monkey show?"

"You know what, it really does look like it! It's jumping around quite a bit!"

"It's not just similar, it is exactly what it is!"

The people clapped and laughed, and cheered throughout the venue.

Zhao Lu leaned closer to the Crown Prince again and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, are you really going to allow Marquis Jia to beat up the students?"

The crown prince glanced at him sideways, his tone icy: "Does Lord Zhao think... he'll listen to me?"

Zhao Lu hesitated.

Also.

This is a ruthless figure who even the Emperor and the Grand Secretary dare to chase after and beat.

Stop him? That's asking for trouble!

Zhao Lu had no choice but to retreat in a huff.

In a short while, all the scholars on the field collapsed to the ground, wailing and howling, each with bruised and swollen faces, half-dead.

Jia Yi clapped his hands, leaving not a speck of dust, then strode to the Crown Prince and said loudly:

"Your Highness, please do not be alarmed. All the assassins have been subdued. You can rest assured."

He raised his hand and pointed to the groaning "students" on the ground.

The crown prince looked at the mess on the ground and his lips twitched slightly: "...Uh, thank you, Lord Jia."

Crown Prince Chen Yuan's eyelids twitched suddenly, as if he had been stung by some ominous premonition.

He immediately followed up on Jia Yi's words, his tone quickening: "Lord Jia, Lord Niu, Grandfather, and Father are all waiting for us in the palace."

"Let's go to the palace first!"

In truth, he was already on edge—if this menacing figure stayed any longer, who knew what earth-shattering things he might cause next.

"yes!"

The two followed closely behind, hurrying towards the palace gates in step with the crown prince. Their robes fluttered, dust still settled, and they moved with lightning speed.

Outside the palace gates, the scholars guarding the city walls had just heard that Jia Yi had beaten all the troublemakers half to death, and some of them immediately went weak in the knees.

Who doesn't know? Getting punched by Jia Yi can break three ribs at best, and send you straight to the underworld at worst!

The previously indignant atmosphere instantly dissipated.

When Zhao Luan'an's informant saw this situation, her heart tightened: Oh no!

If this continues, people's hearts will fall apart!

He immediately jumped out of the crowd and shouted, "Everyone! The conflict outside the city earlier was because those people were too hasty and even surrounded His Highness the Crown Prince, which caused the trouble!"

"We are different! We are simply kneeling here, begging Your Majesty to uphold justice!"

"No matter how arrogant Jia Yi is, would he attack us for no reason? If he dares to lay a hand on us without cause, that's treason!"

Upon hearing this, many people's eyes lit up.

That's right! As long as you don't give him a reason, he won't dare to do anything reckless, no matter how fierce he is!

For... cough cough, for the sake of "justice," everyone sat down cross-legged and adopted a solemn and impassioned stance.

Seeing this, Zhao Lu's men secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and the corners of their mouths lifted almost imperceptibly.

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the palace.

"Well done, kid Jia!"

The Emperor Emeritus was overjoyed, his gaze fixed intently on Jia Yi, his eyes filled with admiration. "Your grandfather back then wasn't much different!"

This battle completely severed the threat that had plagued the Later Jin for more than a decade.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret report has just arrived—of Nurhaci's sons, apart from Dorgon who led the Plain White Banner to defect to the Mongol Yuan and linger on, the rest either died in battle or committed suicide to atone for their sins when the Later Jin was destroyed.

The great threat in the north that once caused rivers of blood to flow on the border of the Great Qian Dynasty has vanished into thin air!

His contributions to the nation are unparalleled and have resonated throughout history!

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus! Marquis Zhongyong should be granted the title of Duke for his meritorious service in this battle!"

"He deserves a promotion! The title of Duke is truly well-deserved!"

"Such merit in conquering a nation, if not bestowed with the title of Duke, how can we win the hearts of the soldiers and generals across the land?!"

The old ministers of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes lineage rose to their feet, their voices rising like a tidal wave.

Although the nobles of the Taikang lineage usually disliked them, when it came to military merits, they all shut up like clay sculptures—rules could not be broken, and merits had to be acknowledged.

The civil officials, however, split into two factions.

Wu Ci'en's faction applauded and cheered, supporting him to the end. After all, Jia Yi was Emperor Yuan Kang's man; they were all in the same boat. If he ascended to heaven, everyone could benefit from his good fortune.

But Mark Chao's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor Emeritus... Marquis Zhongyong is still young."

"Exactly, if there's nowhere left to seal off, wouldn't that be trapping ourselves?"

Ever since Jia Yi chased him all over the street with a stick, they never dared to say anything like "this person is stupid" again—life was more important!

Wu Ci'en sneered and interrupted directly: "The Marquis of Zhongyong defeated a Jin army of 300,000 with a smaller force!"

His voice suddenly rose: "And he even destroyed a country while he was at it!"

The whole hall fell silent.

"A war that destroys a nation doesn't grant the title of Duke—then may I ask you all, when will we be qualified to be granted the title of Duke?!"

These words were like a knife drawn from its sheath, leaving Mark Chao's faction speechless.

In an instant, all the meritorious officials stepped forward again and asked for credit in unison.

Only Su Xing and Luo Hong remained unmoved, their faces ashen. If it weren't for the need to maintain proper decorum in the imperial court and the fear of breaking ancestral rules, they would have loved to jump out and shout "No!"

There was another person whose eyes almost spit fire—King Zhongshun.

Today, because of Jia Yi's triumphant return, the Emperor Emeritus has granted him special permission to attend court and observe the ceremony.

As a result, he became the only person in the entire room who wished he could tear him to pieces.

Jia Yi seemed to sense something and glanced around casually.

Upon seeing Su Xing and Luo Hong, his expression remained calm and composed.

But when his gaze fell on King Chungshun, the corners of his lips suddenly turned up, and he smiled brightly.

The Prince of Zhongshun is now like a completely different person—his face is as white as if he's applied powder, his beard is shaved clean, and even his aura exudes a feminine and eerie scent, making him seem like a reincarnation of a favored concubine in the deep palace.

Jia Yi was increasingly amused by his appearance.

The Emperor Emeritus slammed his hand on the imperial desk, his voice echoing throughout the hall: "Jia Yi's merits are sufficient to earn him the title of Duke! My mind is made up!"

Zhao Youting's faction immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.

At the same time, Emperor Yuankang gave him a wink.

Xia Shouzhong understood immediately and presented the imperial edict that had been prepared beforehand.

The bright yellow scroll unfolds, its gold threads gleaming.

Emperor Yuankang smiled and said, "Jia Yi, the Emperor Emeritus and I have reached an agreement—you are hereby granted the title of Second-Class Duke of Qin!"

Because the first unified dynasty was Qin, the character "Qin" has carried supreme honor since ancient times, symbolizing the majesty of opening up the world.

No one expected that Jia Yi would actually be granted the title of Duke of Qin!

In an instant, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

The ministers' eyes nearly bled as they stared intently at the figure standing in the center of the hall, smiling and expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor Emeritus, thank you, Your Majesty."

Jia Yi bowed with his hands clasped, his brows showing no sign of fear, only a calm composure like a gentle spring breeze.

Niu Jizong stood to the side, his mouth stretched to his ears, his face full of pride.

This young man is even more ruthless than his grandfather was back then! The old Duke struggled his whole life to earn only a third-class marquisate, but this kid became a Duke in the blink of an eye, with the character "Qin" on his head. He's practically climbing the dragon vein to get ahead!

Among the officials, Prince Teng's face was ashen, and his eyes were practically spitting fire.