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

As Tan Chun spoke, she took a small floral cloth bag from the maid beside her and placed it on the round table. It was heavy inside, and looked to contain at least forty or fifty taels of silver.

Jia Jing, seeing Tan Chun's unyielding expression, smiled and said:

"You don't earn much each month, how are you going to manage giving me so much all at once?"

He knew perfectly well that Tan Chun, Xi Chun, and Ying Chun each received only two taels of silver per month.

Although you might receive a little during holidays, it's not much.

Furthermore, Tan Chun had a mistress named Zhao who frequently asked her for money, while Ying Chun even dared to steal her silver and jewelry from her wet nurse.

They certainly don't have much money on them.

Tan Chun, upon hearing this, said with a mixture of amusement and helplessness:

"We don't spend much money in the mansion. The food, clothing, daily necessities, and accessories are all paid for with public funds."

"If we really need to be in an emergency, we can ask Sister Lin! She'll help us out."

Jia Jing laughed and said:

"I almost forgot that Lin Daiyu was also quite wealthy!"

Lin Daiyu was favored by Grandmother Jia and had a father, Lin Ruhai, who was a salt commissioner, so she was never short of money.

"snort!"

Lin Daiyu wrinkled her nose and gave a soft snort, clearly dissatisfied with the title of "little rich woman."

She also took a small silver bag from Zijuan's hand and placed it on the table.

Yingchun, who was standing to the side, not only took out a small floral cloth bag, but also took a coat and shoes from Siqi's hands, and gently instructed her:

"These are the clothes and shoes I made for you a while ago. The weather's starting to get cooler, so take them and wear them!"

"Take good care of yourself while you're out there, get along well with your colleagues, and don't act impulsively! I've heard those Tartar soldiers are ruthless, so don't be the first to charge into battle if things get really bad."

Jia Jing was somewhat moved to see how much effort his biological sister had put into it.

Yingchun is weak-willed, so it's really not easy for her to withstand Jia She's pressure and deliver these things to him.

Jia Jing took the things, nodded, and said, "Don't worry, little sister, I can take good care of myself!"

"If anything goes wrong at home in the future, just send a letter to tell me, and your brother will stand up for you when he returns!"

Yingchun didn't respond, taking it as words of comfort, and went to wipe away her tears.

Xichun and Xiaojiao'er were about the same age, only four or five years old.

At this moment, he also placed a small floral cloth bag on the table and said:

"Third brother, you must come back soon! Little Jiao'er says you can tell stories, and I want to hear you tell a story too!"

"Okay! I'll tell you when Third Brother gets back," Jia Jing said with a smile.

Finally, even the minor character took a small piece of silver from his sleeve and put it into Jia Jing's hand, saying:

"Third Master, this is all I have! You must remember to come back and see me!"

Jia Jing was both amused and exasperated. He wanted to return the silver to the young actress, but she refused to take it back.

He could only say to Tan Chun and Lin Daiyu, "From now on, please take good care of this little girl for me!"

"I know it's not easy for you in the inner quarters either. These scoundrels in the mansion can't distinguish between superiors and inferiors, and they've been fooling you a lot!"

"I don't have time to argue with them now. When I get back, I'll have a good talk with them!"

Tan Chun and Lin Daiyu smiled and agreed, but they didn't expect Jia Jing to come back and change anything!

How could a noble household not have its share of troubles? And the root of the problem is not the servants. The master has failed to shoulder his responsibilities, so how can we blame the servants for their disrespect?

After a few jokes,

Unexpectedly, Ping'er, at Wang Xifeng's behest, delivered fifty taels of silver as part of the ceremony.

In the end, amidst the reluctant gazes of everyone, Jia Jing shouldered his bag and left the Rongguo Duke's Mansion.

…………

A few days later.

The capital city, the imperial palace.

Qianqing Palace.

At this moment, roars echoed from the power center of the Han Dynasty, home to hundreds of millions of subjects.

"What is Li Long good for? His 30,000 elite border troops were utterly defeated by the Tartars and even lost Yongning Fort."

"He caused the brutal slaughter of our soldiers and civilians by the Tartars! And yet he still had the nerve to fold his face and beg for forgiveness. Why didn't he just die on the battlefield!"

Emperor Jingsheng's face turned ashen. He slammed the memorial in his hand heavily onto the table in front of him and shouted angrily.

"He has not only failed me, he has failed the millions of subjects of the Han Dynasty! How can he still have the face to live on in this world!"

"Before the battle, he was full of confidence, acting as if victory was assured. He demanded soldiers, provisions, and power—I gave him everything!"

"Now, after just one battle, you've suffered heavy losses, lost cities and territory, and you still have the nerve to say 'Ten thousand Tartars are invincible'? You're utterly incompetent!"

Emperor Jingsheng swept all the memorials on his desk to the ground again, his face flushed red, clearly furious.

"I heard that Duke Cao believed the words of the Taoist priest at the front line. The Taoist priest claimed that he could use the Taoist 'Six Jia Method' to form a large formation with 9,900 people, which could capture the Qing army commander alive and defeat the enemy."

"Therefore, they opened the city gates wide and sent out 9,900 soldiers and Taoist priests together, only to be utterly defeated by the Qing army!"

"The city gates were breached, and countless soldiers of the 30,000-strong army were killed or captured. Yongning Fort was also massacred by the Tartar commander Aisin Gioro Yinzhi. Most of the 50,000 people in the city were killed, and only the Duke of Cao escaped in a sorry state with a few hundred guards."

Xia Shouzhong, the eunuch in charge of the six palaces, was also trembling with fear. He lowered his head and reported the military intelligence he had obtained from the Imperial City Guard one by one, not daring to conceal anything!

"Damn it! Damn it! Absolutely damn it..."

"Is Li Long an idiot? He actually believes this nonsense!"

"Didn't they boast that the military officials who fought during the Jingnan Rebellion were more capable than those who founded the dynasty?"

"I think he's not stupid, he's wicked! Has he been bribed by the Qing army long ago? At this critical moment for the nation, all the demons and monsters have shown their true colors!"

"Sooner or later, I will wipe out these incompetent, disloyal scoundrels!"

"Imperial decree! Cao Guogong Li Long shall be immediately stripped of all titles and official positions, and sent back to the capital. No trial is necessary; he shall be directly taken to Caishikou for execution! The entire Li family shall be imprisoned and exiled to Lingnan! No pardon will be granted!"

Emperor Jingsheng slammed his fist on the table in front of him, a fierce glint in his eyes, and angrily ordered Xia Shouzhong.

"this……"

Upon hearing this, Xia Shouzhong did not immediately accept the order; instead, he hesitated and seemed about to speak.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Jingsheng's eyes flashed with a cold light, not directed at Xia Shouzhong.

Instead, he turned towards the Dragon Head Palace outside the hall and sneered:

"What! My dear brother is restless again, trying to win people over with feigned kindness and righteousness?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Shouzhong hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Today, the Li family members have already entered the palace to meet the Emperor Emeritus and the Empress Dowager. The Emperor Emeritus then summoned Duke Zhao, Duke Cheng, and other military heroes who had contributed to the pacification of the country, saying that although Duke Cao was defeated, he was also wholeheartedly devoted to the country, but his abilities were insufficient, and his crime did not warrant death..."

"Right now, all the military heroes who fought in the Jingnan Rebellion are out there trying to plead for the Duke of Cao!"

"Hehe..." Emperor Jingsheng laughed in anger.