Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

The backyard of Rongxi Hall, the small courtyard of Madam Wang.

With the year-end approaching, there were many affairs to attend to at the mansion. After visiting Grandmother Jia's courtyard to offer her greetings, Lady Wang returned to her own courtyard to handle household matters.

They might arrange for someone to deliver New Year's gifts to relatives and friends, or receive the stewards, maids, and wives from other households who come to deliver New Year's gifts.

Unless the person is of very high status, she would greet them herself; Grandmother Jia didn't want to bother with that.

At this moment, Madam Wang was meeting with Zhu, the wife of Prince Teng. The two sisters-in-law were drinking tea and chatting, while several maids and servants attended to them.

Lady Wang saw that Madam Zhu was wearing a dark red mink coat with a black embroidered jacket over it, with silver trim on the collar and cuffs, making her look dignified and noble.

Wearing a velvet crown adorned with pearls and a jade hairpin in her hair, the overall look exudes elegance.

He chuckled lightly and said:

"My sister-in-law looks a few years younger than me, and her outfit today is elegant and suits her perfectly!"

Zhu Shi, pleased by Madam Wang's praise, glanced at Madam Wang's attire and smiled, saying:

"I'm over forty, I don't care about these things like a young girl. You, on the other hand, are dressed rather simply. I have a few new outfits with me, I'll have someone bring them to you later."

Lady Wang wore a peach-red silk jacket with a hundred children design and silver fur trim, a light green embroidered cotton skirt with gold trim, and a blue satin jacket with gray fur trim over it.

As an elder in the household, she always dressed in a practical and kind manner, avoiding the frivolousness of a young girl.

These days, with all the comings and goings, I've been dressed more luxuriously than usual, but my complexion doesn't look too good.

Madam Wang didn't continue the conversation, but instead asked with a light laugh:

"Sister-in-law, did you receive the New Year's gifts I asked Zhou Rui's wife to deliver to your residence yesterday?"

"How is my brother doing these days? Is he content with his position in the Ministry of War? I've been busy with family matters lately and haven't seen him for a while!"

Madam Wang has recently started to take charge of the household herself, mainly because she is secretly competing with the eldest son's family.

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhu sighed, picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and shook her head, saying:

"I received the New Year's gift! It must have been hard for you to go to all that trouble. Your brother has been quite troubled these past few days at the Ministry of War by your son, Jing-ge!"

"The two of them were arguing fiercely over military rations and pay. Your son was being unreasonable, insisting that the Ministry of War allocate the full amount of rations and pay, not a single penny less."

"The Ministry of War has always kept a small portion of its allocated provisions and salaries, which is then distributed among officials at all levels. With him doing this, how is your brother going to explain this to his colleagues in the Ministry of War!"

"They all thought our two families were related, and that your brother was just trying to take more than his share for his own family!"

"Your brother has only been working at the Ministry of War for a short time, and this has already happened. It has left a bad impression on his superiors and colleagues. Won't he be talked about behind his back in the ministry from now on?"

"This incident has made him feel bad for the past two months, and he's been wearing a sullen face all the time."

"And a few days ago, when he came back from the Ba Shang camp, he smashed several of the antique vases in the house, saying that your Jing-ge'er had scolded him in front of the Emperor for not understanding military affairs!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's face darkened. Jia Jing's treatment of Wang Ziteng was undoubtedly a disrespect to her.

She said coldly:

"My brother is a third-rank official, serving as the Vice Minister of War. He has also been the military governor of the capital garrison and patrolled the border. He is extremely knowledgeable about military affairs. What gives that illegitimate son the right to criticize him for not understanding military matters?"

"He's only been an official for a few years, how dare he be so arrogant and rude?"

Lady Wang already disliked Jia Jing, and now she disliked him even more, her words filled with resentment.

Madam Zhu's expression turned somber. Sensing the displeasure in Madam Wang's tone, she echoed:

"Who says otherwise! By all accounts, your brother is that illegitimate son's elder, yet he dares to be so insolent! Truly, a child who has gained power becomes arrogant!"

"But what can you do? He's currently the emperor's favorite! Your brother can only back down and not bother with him for now!"

"However, your brother said that the illegitimate son is young but doesn't know how to restrain himself and leaves no room for leniency in his behavior."

"What appears to be a booming success may not actually be a good thing. Sooner or later, it will likely be brought down and come to a bad end."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang's expression softened slightly, and she chuckled softly:

"I think so too! He's always cursing this Duke and killing that Marquis outside; he doesn't seem like a blessed man!"

"Now, relying on the emperor's favor and the legacy of the Jia family ancestors, they can act lawlessly for a time!"

"But can the Emperor continue to favor him like this? I just hope that one day his troubles will end, and that it won't implicate me and Baoyu!"

Zhu smiled and said:

"No way! You're from the second branch of the family, there's a clear line between you and their side! Besides, as long as your brother is still alive, nothing will happen to you!"

"But your brother is having a hard time now too, sigh..."

At this point in Zhu's speech, Yu Rong paused, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Seeing this, Madam Wang hurriedly asked:

"Sister-in-law, if you have something to say, what's there to hide among us family?"

Zhu began by saying:

"That's right! Didn't the Emperor take your brother and the others to inspect the Jingying and Bashang garrisons a while ago?"

"Your brother told me that the emperor was very dissatisfied with the state of the Beijing garrison's reorganization. After returning to the palace, he severely criticized Lord Niu, the military governor of the Beijing garrison."

"He was said to only care about the camaraderie among the founding military officers and not to prioritize the national interest. He was relieved of his post as military governor and told to focus on his duties in the Five Military Commands."

"The emperor seems to be looking for another capable minister to reorganize the Beijing garrison. He even spoke with your brother afterward, asking for his opinion on the reorganization of the Beijing garrison."

"Your brother thinks the emperor might want him to reorganize the capital garrison. Now that the Minister of War is nearing retirement age, your brother and another Vice Minister of War both have the opportunity to advance further."

"If you can successfully reorganize the Beijing Garrison and make a name for yourself, your brother's chances of rising to power will be much greater..."

Upon hearing Zhu's words, Madam Wang's eyes lit up, a hint of joy flashing across her fair face, and she smiled:

"If my brother can become the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, then he won't be far from entering the cabinet, and he might even rise to the highest ranks of officialdom. That would be a truly wonderful thing!"

"Even if it's just the Minister of War, that's still a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court, a step above the eldest son of the illegitimate family, who is only a third-class official of the second rank!"

But after a moment, Madam Wang said with concern:

"This reorganization of the Capital Garrison is no simple matter! That illegitimate son of the eldest branch of the family killed a marquis during his reorganization of the Ba Shang Garrison and offended everyone from the Jingnan Military Commission!"

"The entire Beijing Garrison is composed of military veterans from the founding lineage. Would they really agree to reorganize the army?"

Lady Wang had specifically inquired about the situation at the Ba Shang camp, not out of concern for Jia Jing, but because knowing the enemy and knowing yourself is the key to victory.