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

As soon as the carriage entered Jinling, Xue Pan lifted the curtain and immediately spotted the group of familiar cronies on the street corner, playing drinking games with girls in their arms.

He was just about to peek out and shout, "Brothers! I'm back!"

Before he could even finish speaking, his head was slapped back down by a guard.

"Stay put!"

Meanwhile, the Xue family mansion was in complete chaos.

The eldest young master had been missing for a whole day, neither alive nor dead. Aunt Xue was so anxious that she fainted twice from crying. Xue Baochai stood at the door with tears in her eyes, almost wanting to personally lead people to search the streets.

"Madam! Miss! The eldest young master is back!!!"

The butler rushed in from outside like a madman, his voice deafening.

"Brother!" Xue Baochai suddenly stood up, let out a long sigh, and then muttered through gritted teeth, "This time when I come back, I'm going to give him a good scolding!"

"Mother, I'm back!"

Xue Pan strode across the threshold, his voice so loud it almost shook the dust off the beams.

Behind him followed four heavily armored guards, each with an embroidered spring knife at their waist. Their steps were perfectly synchronized, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly. He walked with his head held high and his eyebrows dancing with excitement. Even the phrase "walking with the wind" couldn't describe it—he truly arrived on cloud nine.

"Pan'er? Who are these people...?"

Aunt Xue was startled and instinctively pulled Baochai behind her, her eyes sweeping warily over the four menacing soldiers.

"Mother, don't panic, these are Third Brother Yi's personal guards." Xue Pan grinned, his smugness almost making the sky burst open. "I went to see Jia Yi today, and he personally entrusted me with this matter!"

He recounted the whole story in a clear and unfiltered manner, even mimicking the tone of his voice perfectly.

"Steward, take these gentlemen away. Serve them with the best wine and meat, don't neglect them!" Aunt Xue tried to remain calm, waving her hand to dismiss the guards, but then turned and pointed at Xue Pan's nose, scolding him:

"You bastard! You rushed in without even understanding the situation, are you trying to get our whole family involved?!"

Her temples throbbed, and she wished she could smash her head against this wretched creature and die.

"Mother, don't panic."

A clear, cool voice slowly rang out.

Xue Baochai stood by the screen, her eyes like water, yet concealing a sharp edge.

"This matter... may not necessarily be a disaster."

She approached slowly, her skirt swaying gently like a snowflake falling beside a fire: "If it were truly to suppress the White Lotus Sect, why would the Duke of Qin personally lead an army of 100,000 south? Ten or twenty thousand would have sufficed."

"The 100,000-strong army is pressing in, and it's definitely not for a few shamans performing rituals."

She paused, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Moreover, the Zhen family has been actively promoting the 'conversion of rice paddies to mulberry fields' project, frequently contacting various powerful families in Jinling. Don't you think this Duke's arrival is perfectly timed?"

Aunt Xue was stunned: "You mean... he's after the forces in Jiangnan?"

"More than that." Baochai's eyes flickered. "He's here to establish his authority, set the tone, and control the game."

"And our Xue family—" she smiled gently, "now holds a winning piece in our hands."

"Moreover," she added, her eyes flashing, "no matter what, the Duke of Qin owes us a favor. This deal is a sure win."

Aunt Xue took a deep breath and finally nodded: "Alright! Pan'er, since Third Brother Yi trusts you, you'd better get this done properly!"

"You can rest assured!" Xue Pan patted his chest loudly, as if it were a bronze bell rather than flesh.

The next few days were calm and peaceful.

But undercurrents were already brewing.

A thousand Imperial Guards quietly entered the city, changed into work clothes, and infiltrated the Xue family's shop, becoming "newly recruited waiters." Each one appeared submissive on the surface, but their eyes were sharp as eagles, fixed on the lifeline of the entire city of Jinling.

Until this day-

"Lord Duke, someone outside the camp gate is requesting an audience. He says his name is Jia Yun."

Jia Yi was flipping through a secret report when he heard this. He looked up and said calmly, "Let him in."

As soon as the curtain was lifted, Jia Yun practically rushed in, his face beaming with pride.

"Greetings, Your Excellency!" He bowed deeply, his voice trembling. "This humble servant... has finally found out!"

"Oh?" Jia Yi leaned back in his chair, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips. "Is there any movement from Madam Wang's side?"

"It's more than just noise!" Jia Yun pulled a yellowed account book from his bosom and presented it with both hands. "Over the years, Second Madam has been using the guise of 'adjusting land holdings' to secretly sell off the best ancestral land in Jinling and then buying inferior land at low prices to make up the difference!"

"The entire price difference went into her pocket!"

Jia Yi opened the account book and scanned it page by page, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

"It has been confirmed that 20,000 mu of prime farmland has been resold, with a market value exceeding 300,000 taels of silver." Jia Yun gritted her teeth. "What's even more hateful is that the local clansmen in Jinling, with her tacit approval, have followed suit—now, 80,000 mu of ancestral land, out of 120,000 mu, has been replaced with barren slopes and poor land!"

"She's not a housekeeper, she's a root digger!"

Jia Yi slowly closed the ledger, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly smiled.

He stood up, strode around with his hands behind his back, and a meaningful smile curved his lips.

What a great opportunity...

Bring down Madam Wang? Easy peasy.

But that's not all he wants.

He wanted to use this knife to portray himself as an impulsive, reckless, and self-satisfied "foolish duke" who was easily manipulated.

Only in this way will those wolves hiding in the shadows lower their guard and dare to jump out.

"Men!" he shouted in a deep voice, "Assemble your personal guard! Set off immediately!"

He then looked at Jia Yun: "Go to Jinling immediately and relay my order—all members of the Jia family must proceed to Ningrong Street at once; I want to question them publicly!"

That's right, there's also a Ningrong Street in Nanjing.

Back when the Great Qian Dynasty had not yet moved its capital to Shenjing, this place was right under the emperor's nose, with all six ministries and palaces reaching the clouds.

Although the former glory is gone, every brick and tile still bears the marks of its past splendor.

Today, this old street is about to be hit by a storm.

The lineage of the founding emperors is continuous, with mansions stretching as far as the eye can see, creating a magnificent and imposing sight.

"yes!"

Jia Yun's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

The Duke has finally made his move—those lawless clansmen are in for a world of trouble!

Just as the investigation into the Zhen family's crimes was in full swing, Jia Yi's personal guards suddenly assembled, their armor clanging and their horses' hooves thundering, startling Lin Ruhai so much that he trembled as he held his pen.

"Yi-ge, what happened?"

He looked up, his brow furrowing slightly.

After spending the last few days together, he had already formed his opinion of his nephew.

It's not that my mind isn't sharp, it's that I simply don't follow the usual path.

Acting entirely on impulse, regardless of the heavens falling or the earth collapsing, only seeking a moment of pleasure.

But ironically... it's precisely these kinds of people who make you most nervous.

"Uncle, please take a look at this first."

Jia Yi handed over an account book, his fingertips as cold as iron.

Lin Ruhai took the book and opened it. With just one glance, his pupils contracted sharply, and his breath caught in his throat.

"This...this..."

My hands were shaking.

So it turns out that Madam Wang really could do such a thing—steal and sell ancestral land?!

Has she gone mad?!

That's the root of the Jia family! It's the foundation that our ancestors fought and died for!

This woman is not human; she's a tiger that devours the blood and bones of her ancestors!

"Yi-ge'er!" Lin Ruhai said urgently in a low voice, "You need to consider the consequences!"

"Don't kill your people!"

"Don't worry, Uncle." Jia Yi raised the corner of his mouth, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"I won't lay a hand on them."

"But if they run into a knife's edge or fall down the stairs on their own... then they can't blame me."

As soon as the words were spoken, the wind began to rise.