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

Just as he was about to turn into a dried-up corpse—

On the tenth day at dusk, dust billowed on the horizon, and banners obscured the sun!

One hundred thousand armored soldiers trampled through the sky, surging in like a black tide!

Anze rushed to the gate and, gazing at the fluttering banner bearing the character "Qin," almost knelt down and kowtowed.

"My ancestors! You've finally come!! The lives of my entire battalion, numbering one hundred thousand, are all in your hands!!"

With dark circles under his eyes, Anze pointed his finger at the well-organized army on the training ground, his voice cracking.

Something's not right!

"His Majesty told me personally that the Jiangnan camp had 120,000 elite troops, so how come... there are 20,000 missing now?"

Jia Yi slowly turned his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, coldly fixed on his face.

"Duke of Qin," Anze grinned, nonchalantly, "it's just that he embezzled the salaries of 20,000 people, those who know, know."

"Oh—" Jia Yi drawled, nodding, his expression dazed as if he truly believed it.

Anze felt a sense of relief, and a slight smile appeared on his lips—

Fortunately, this fool Jia was sensible enough to know the shady dealings in the military—who wouldn't try to skim some profits?

But the next instant, Jia Yi's face turned ashen, and his voice boomed coldly:

"Guards! Seize Marquis Yongyi and tie him up!"

The air suddenly froze.

Three days ago, Emperor Yuankang secretly issued an edict: On the way south, find an opportunity to eliminate him, or fabricate charges against him and escort him back to the capital. His life or death is in your hands.

An Ze's face instantly turned ashen: "Jia Yi! What the hell do you mean? Don't push your luck!"

He grinned maliciously, puffing out his chest: "You have 100,000? I have 100,000 too! If I can't beat you, I'll fight back with my life and chop off 20,000 or 30,000 of your heads, and I'll accept it! What will you use to explain to the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty then?!"

He looked up and sneered, his eyes full of mockery.

Let's see what you can do to me!

"Your Excellency, please calm down. My master was just speaking in anger. Don't take it seriously! I'll go and persuade him right away!"

The lieutenant was sweating profusely and hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.

They all knew that Jia Yi was not someone to be trifled with. He was a demon who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

"kill."

Jia Yi uttered only one word.

The wind rises, and the shadows move.

The eighteen riders of Yanyun dashed out like ghosts, their swords not yet sheathed, and blood already splattered!

"puff--!"

A flash of cold light pierced the sky, so fast that its trajectory was invisible.

The brave and resolute Marquis Anze, blood gushing from his neck, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, dying with his eyes wide open.

[Ding! Host has slain Marquis Anze, the Valiant and Resolute, and has been awarded a thousand elite Imperial Guards!]

A system notification sounded in his mind, and a smile flashed across Jia Yi's eyes.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard? Brilliant!

From then on, the prosperous Jiangnan region was at my disposal.

"My lord—!!!"

"Avenge the Marquis!! Kill them—!"

The personal guards surged forward like boiling water, grabbing their weapons.

The eighteen riders of Yanyun didn't even bother to raise their eyes; their blades spun lightly as they continued their march.

The blade flashed again, and heads rolled on the ground.

Dozens of guards lay dead on the spot, not even having a chance to scream.

There was complete silence all around.

The soldiers of the Jiangnan Grand Camp swallowed hard, their Adam's apples bobbing in unison.

My God... Is this a human or a demon descended to earth?

The elite guards charged like mowing grass, one cut at a time, swift and decisive!

"From this day forward, you are under my command."

Jia Yi's gaze swept across the entire room, his voice not loud, yet it sent chills down everyone's spine.

"yes!"

The response was thunderous, and no one dared to disobey.

The news spread like wildfire, engulfing Nanjing overnight.

"Holy crap! Jia Yi really killed Marquis Yongyi?!"

"I heard they didn't bring their imperial sword? That's incredibly reckless!"

"Reckless? I think he's a madman and a powerful minister; anyone who touches him is doomed!"

Officials of all ranks were trembling with fear. They had originally planned to host a banquet to welcome the guests, but now all the banquets were canceled and the gates were tightly shut.

They were terrified that if they said something wrong, they would lose their heads without even knowing how.

Zhen Yingjia sat in the mansion, his brows furrowed, his heart filled with gloom.

This time, the imperial court sent Jia Yi south... I always felt that it was aimed at the Zhen family.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it."

He stood up, sighed softly, and turned to leave.

Seeing this, everyone took their leave, and the atmosphere inside the room was so oppressive that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.

Meanwhile, in the backyard of the Xue residence.

Xue Pan's eyes darted around, and with a few words he dismissed the maids and servants, he tiptoed to the dog hole he had discovered earlier in the corner of the wall.

Without saying a word, he crawled on the ground, covered in dust, and ran off towards the Jiangnan camp.

Meanwhile, Jia Yi had already cleaned up the battlefield and was standing with his hands behind his back, waiting for someone.

Lin Ruhai.

Whenever I think of him, the image of that gentle and dignified woman—Jia Min—comes to mind.

The original owner's memories surged: she treated her like her own child, showing concern and tenderness.

Jia Yi sighed softly.

"What a pity I transmigrated here... Otherwise, I could have protected her for him."

A breeze rustled the corner of the tent, and the setting sun shone like blood.

Jia Yi shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness flashing across his brows.

Fate... it's truly an inescapable fate.

Lin Ruhai's health probably won't last many more years. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and he remembered the divine physician he had summoned earlier—Hua Tuo.

Since we've come across this, why not give it a try?

If this life can truly be saved, it would be a fitting reward for Jia Min's kindness back then.

"Lord Duke, Lord Lin has arrived."

Before he could finish speaking, a figure flashed by at the door.

Speaking of Cao Cao, Cao Cao will arrive.

Lin Ruhai stood in front of the hall, his body thin and bluish, like an old tree root that had been drained of its energy and spirit, about to fall over with a gust of wind.

"Uncle!"

Jia Yi suddenly stood up, his gaze darkening.

Where is even a trace of the former third-ranked scholar's spirit in this man? He's just a dead man clinging to life, refusing to collapse.

He sneered inwardly: No wonder he passed away in just a few years. It's a miracle he's still alive in this condition.

"Yi-ge'er..." Lin Ruhai looked at him, his voice trembling slightly, "You've grown so much."

His gaze fell on Jia Yi, and his heart skipped a beat.

Is this really the same silly, clueless child who couldn't even speak clearly back then?

The person before me stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with eyes as clear as knives, and every move he made exuded an aura that could not be underestimated.

"Yes," Jia Yi said in a low voice, his tone heavy, "If only Aunt were still here...how wonderful that would be."

The air went still for a moment.

Then, Jia Yi changed the subject: "Uncle, you look extremely unwell, it's probably not just from overwork."

He strode forward, his tone confident: "I happen to have brought a top-notch doctor with me; let him take a look at you."

"This child!" Lin Ruhai shook his head with a wry smile, but did not refuse and sat down.

It's hard to refuse his filial piety, so why go against his wishes?

Before long, Jia Yi led one person into the main hall.

The man had white hair and beard, a straight back, and eyes that held a thousand medical principles and ten thousand medicinal properties—it was Hua Tuo!

"Come, Uncle, stretch out your hand."

Jia Yi gave a soft signal, and Hua Tuo stepped forward to take the patient's pulse. The moment his fingertips touched the wrist, his brows furrowed suddenly.

"This poison is insidious and has been lurking in the internal organs for a long time."

He spoke slowly, his voice as cold as iron: "A slow-acting poison, eroding life day by day. If it drags on for another three months, even a god cannot save it."

The room fell silent.

Jia Yi's pupils contracted.

Lin Ruhai trembled violently, his face turning deathly pale.

"I... am poisoned?"

He muttered to himself, his mind churning.

Over the years, he only thought his illness stemmed from longing for his wife, leading to heartbreak and physical decline. He never imagined—that someone had secretly poisoned him!

Who is it? A salt merchant? Or... one of those people in the imperial court?

"Can it be cured?" Jia Yi asked in a deep voice.