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

"Of course." Hua Tuo stroked his beard and stood up. "I will personally prepare the medicine. It will take seven days to completely eliminate the poison."

After saying this, he turned and left, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, like a celestial being.

Jia Yi stared at Lin Ruhai, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Was Aunt's death... also related to this poison? Was it the work of those salt merchants?"

Lin Ruhai froze, then nodded subconsciously.

The next second, he suddenly looked up and stared intently at Jia Yi.

Something is wrong!

This was said clearly and logically, with keen insight—

What kind of "idiot" would ask such a question?

"Yi-ge'er, you...you're out of your mind..." He opened his mouth, but stopped midway through his sentence.

In an instant, everything became clear.

installed!

This child has been pretending to be crazy!

No wonder the retired emperor dared to put him in command of a large army, allowing him to penetrate deep into the wealthy Jiangnan region; no wonder Emperor Yuankang turned a blind eye...

The wisest people are those who know how to conceal their strength; playing dumb to outwit their opponents is the key to survival!

Jia Yi noticed the change in his expression and understood.

You don't believe me? I'll make you believe me completely in a moment.

The original owner of this body was indeed stupid, but I am not.

Explain? The more you try to explain, the worse it gets; it's better to remain silent.

Just then, I heard hurried footsteps outside.

A guard rushed in, panting, "My lord, there's a young man outside demanding to see you, saying he's a relative!"

"A relative? A little kid?" Jia Yi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh right!" the guard exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "He said his name is Xue Pan!"

"Heh." Jia Yi's lips curled up slightly. "So it's this 'old man' who's here."

"Let him in."

A moment later, a commotion erupted outside the door:

"Third Brother Yi! Third Brother Yi!!!"

Immediately afterward, a burly young man with a face full of scars barged in. His eyes darted around, and his muscular body was wrapped in an extravagant brocade robe, making him look like a nouveau riche who had just arrived in the city.

Xue Pan's gaze swept over Lin Ruhai, then locked onto Jia Yi in an instant. He grinned, revealing two rows of large white teeth:

"Third Brother Yi! I've missed you so much!"

That simple-minded charm is immediately apparent.

Lin Ruhai looked at the man and couldn't help but ask, "This is...?"

Jia Yi smiled faintly, his tone tinged with disdain: "My stupid second aunt's precious nephew, Xue Pan."

Jia Yi spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

Lin Ruhai almost lost his composure, a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

Stupid second aunt? This boy is too outspoken!

However, upon further reflection, he vaguely guessed the other party's identity—Xue Pan, a descendant of the Ziwei Attendant!

Lin Ruhai narrowed his eyes, secretly sizing up the burly, fleshy young master in front of him, while quickly calculating in his mind: This Xue Pan might be a knife to the Zhen family's lifeline.

Although the Xue family is no longer what it used to be, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse. They have been rooted in Jinling for decades, with a deep and intricate network of connections and numerous informants. In some matters, it is much easier for them to handle things directly than for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to openly seize power.

"hey-hey……"

Xue Panqian chuckled twice, looking embarrassed.

It's really embarrassing to have your aunt criticized like that in front of you.

"Alright, stop beating around the bush." ​​Jia Yi raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you want from me?"

He thought to himself: Could it be that my appearance has messed up the timeline, and Feng Yuan was killed by you more than a year earlier?

"No, no!" Xue Pan quickly waved his hands, his face so sincere it could melt your heart. "I heard that Third Brother Yi was here, so I rushed over to see for myself! Who wouldn't want to see the famous Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

He flattered her so succinctly and without batting an eye.

Jia Yi chuckled lightly but didn't respond.

"Third Brother Yi, are you done with your work?" Xue Pan leaned closer, his eyes shining. "How about I take you for a stroll along the Qinhuai River? That place is full of romance and beautiful women; it'll make you forget all about the court's troubles!"

When the Qinhuai River was mentioned, his eyes lit up and he almost drooled.

"No time!" Jia Yi's face darkened, and his eyes pierced through her like knives.

The moment we met, you wanted to drag me to brothels? Do you think I'm here to visit brothels?

Just as he was about to wave for his personal guards to throw the guy away, a sudden idea flashed into his mind—

and many more!

The Xue family... the Xue family!

If we use their businesses as cover, we can plant the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Nanjing without anyone noticing! Those old foxes in Jiangnan won't even realize it!

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Jia Yi immediately put on a smiling face, as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Pan'er," he said gently, yet with a hint of seduction, "have things not been so good for your Xue family since your father passed away?"

Xue Pan's playful smile vanished instantly, his head drooping, and he finally looked somewhat human.

"Yes..." His voice lowered a few decibels, "After Father left, all those wolves pounced on us to steal our business, and even three of the salt transport routes were blocked. My mother... spent every night under the lamp calculating accounts, her brow never unfurrowed."

Although he was a reckless and unruly person, he wholeheartedly protected his mother, Aunt Xue, and his younger sister, Baochai.

Jia Yi nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Now, I'm giving you a chance," he said slowly, "to bring your Xue family back to the top of Jinling."

"Will you do it or not?"

Lin Ruhai, who was listening nearby, was shocked and couldn't help but glance at Jia Yi—the two of them had the same idea!

"Damn it!" Xue Pan blurted out, decisively.

Anyone else would have rolled their eyes and walked away on the spot. But this was Jia Yi, his own cousin and a close advisor to the emperor; he would never betray his own people.

"Brother Yi, what should I do?" He immediately got into the zone, looking very serious.

"I will send someone to 'seek refuge' at your Xue family's shop," Jia Yi said calmly. "From now on, whenever someone in Jinling City seeks to cooperate with you on business, especially those involving fields, grain, mulberry trees, or waterways—you must arrange for my people to take over all of them."

He knew in his heart that converting rice paddies to mulberry fields was far beyond the Zhen family's capabilities. Various factions in Jinling must have already secretly colluded. Only by using the Xue family's name could his secret agents infiltrate the core undetected.

"That's...that's it?" Xue Pan's eyes widened. "I don't have to do anything else?"

This is too easy! Just like the last time they audited the accounts, they can just sit there and drink tea?

"With a brain like yours, how could I entrust such an important matter to you?" Jia Yi sneered. "As long as you play dumb and do as I say, I will personally recommend you for merit before the Emperor after the matter is accomplished, guaranteeing you a sinecure of the third rank, plus a bunch of gold and silver."

"Okay!" Xue Pan's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed.

What he really wanted to do right now was to rush up and punch Jia Yi.

Back when he first started learning, his teacher praised him as a prodigy who "knows two characters a day, unparalleled in the world"! In the entire Great Qian Dynasty, who could compare?

"Alright, get lost." Jia Yi waved his hand, too lazy to even look at him again.

The guards stepped forward, helped the "prodigy" young master into the carriage, and escorted him back to the city.