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

"It's not just Granny Zhao in Second Sister's room, but also Granny Li in Second Brother Bao's room and the wet nurse in Second Brother Lian's room—aren't they all abusing their age and completely lacking in manners!"

"If you ask me, it's the best thing that Third Brother is going to discipline these unruly and wicked servants!"

As the ancients said, "To govern a country, one must first govern one's family."

"A large family like ours cannot be destroyed in a short time if attacked from the outside. The problem is that we will first perish within ourselves, lose our rules and disrupt the social order, and then be completely defeated."

Tan Chun, with a sharp expression, bluntly expressed her support for Jia Jing.

Jia Jing's actions just now were exactly what she wanted. If she weren't a woman, she would have long wanted to rectify the family's conduct and properly discipline those unruly servants.

Xue Baochai, standing to the side, held a brocade handkerchief in her hand, a thoughtful look flashing in her bright, clear eyes.

She knew her third brother had a strong personality, so his outburst was understandable.

But... this matter can't be related to Lin Yatou, can it?

Could it be that Lin Yatou vomited blood, which angered the Third Brother and caused him to lash out at Baoyu and the servants?

It shouldn't be!

The third brother clearly came prepared this time, and it seems he had been secretly investigating for a long time, just using this opportunity to launch his attack with a legitimate reason.

I don't know anything about the accounts of my own business. Could you please ask my third brother to help me check them?

My third brother is very busy, so it would be inappropriate to make this request rashly.

If I keep troubling my third brother, it would make me seem like I don't know my place!

Xue Baochai raised her eyes and said softly:

"I wonder what's going on with Third Brother now?"

A glint of cunning flashed in Shi Xiangyun's eyes as she suggested:

"How about we sneak over and take a look?"

Yingchun hesitated and said:

"Isn't this inappropriate? We young ladies shouldn't be showing our faces in public like this; there must be a lot of people over there right now!"

Tan Chun said in a clear voice:

"It's alright! We'll go over quietly!"

Xi Chun whispered:

"I had the young actor lead us in through the back door. We stayed in the side room, hiding behind the curtain, and watched quietly."

"Good! Fourth Sister has the best ideas. It's up to you now!" Shi Xiangyun patted Jia Xichun's hair approvingly and encouraged her.

"Hehe! Watch me!" Xichun laughed triumphantly.

"How come you've learned to 'hee hee' too!"

In no time, the three sisters, Xiangyun, Baochai, and Li Wan, each accompanied by their maids, headed towards the Jingwu Academy.

When the group arrived, Xichun had her maid call out Xiaojiao'er.

Then, led by Xiao Jiao'er, the group entered through the back door and walked into the hall in the front yard. They held their breath and quietly watched the situation in the courtyard outside.

At this moment, the Jingwu Academy was already bustling with noise, with hundreds of maids, old women, servants, stewards and other servants gathered in the courtyard.

They were all somewhat shocked, wondering what the purpose of this grand scene was, but they sensed that something big might be about to happen.

The courtyard was surrounded by nearly a hundred guards, each holding a knife and standing ramrod straight and silent, a stark contrast to the chaotic and disorderly behavior of the Jia family's servants.

Jia Jing and his mother sat on the carved rosewood chairs at the front of the courtyard, with tea beside them, their faces solemn.

Madam Wang, Madam Xing, and Sister Feng sat to the left and right of the two, each with a maidservant attending to them.

These women are all married women who have frequent contact with men while managing their households, so they don't need to avoid it.

Jia Jing, Grandmother Jia, and the others remained silent, watching the chaotic scene in the courtyard.

Once everyone had arrived, Jia Jing cleared his throat, his face indifferent, and said in a deep voice:

"Bring Lai Da and the others up here!"

The deep shout was as cold and sharp as thunder, silencing the noise in the courtyard. Even Grandmother Jia, who was standing next to Jia Jing, was startled and turned to curse the bastard for his loud voice.

Upon hearing the commotion, the guards moved swiftly and brought dozens of people, including Lai Da, Lai Er, Wu Xindeng, Shan Daliang, Zhou Rui's wife, Granny Fei, and Granny Zhao, to kneel on the ground in front of Jia Jing.

"My lord, all the men have been brought to justice! Not a single one escaped!" Zhuque reported.

Jia Jing nodded, stood up, and addressed the crowd in the courtyard in a loud voice:

"Some of you may be wondering, what's the purpose of this show of force today?"

"I've come to tell you! I've gathered you here today for only one thing: to restore order to the family and punish those corrupt, arrogant, disloyal, and wicked servants in the household."

"Some time ago, someone reported to me that the steward in my household was embezzling. I ordered people to investigate, and the results were shocking."

"My Jia family, from top to bottom, is completely rotten."

"I only just realized that although the mansion looks magnificent on the outside, it is actually empty and rotten inside."

"The accounts are in disarray, the treasury is emptying daily, duties are neglected, no achievements are made, servants are arrogant and disrespectful to their masters, and social order is completely reversed. The corruption of the social atmosphere is unbelievable!"

"If this trend continues and this evil is not eradicated, then the ruin of the family and the destruction of the household will be imminent."

"In the army, I have always upheld the law strictly. Now, seeing that the discipline in my family has fallen into disarray, I fear that this will bring disaster to my family and disgrace the honor bestowed upon me by the court. Therefore, I have no choice but to rectify the situation using military law."

"Therefore, I am here today to ask everyone to bear witness and to announce to everyone that from now on, our household will strictly enforce family rules and regulations, and govern the family with military discipline, so as to clarify duties, enforce rewards and punishments, and rectify the fundamentals!"

"Some of you are servants of my family for generations, some are born into the family, and some are relatives from collateral branches and in-laws. Your lives and fortunes are all tied to the survival of my Jia family."

"Master and servant are one; when the government prospers, all prosper; when the government declines, all suffer."

"The military and the law are now used to punish evil with an iron fist, precisely to ensure your livelihood and future, and also to preserve the legacy of our ancestors."

"Those who are loyal and diligent will have a bright future. Those who are stubborn and unrepentant will find an abyss beside them."

After Jia Jing finished speaking, the servants in the room started making noise again, each with a look of surprise and uncertainty on their faces.

Some, who usually cheated and shirked their duties, turned pale and looked anxious, while others, who usually performed their duties diligently, cheered loudly.

As for Lai Da and the others who were detained and kneeling on the ground, their faces were filled with terror, and they all looked to their respective masters for help.

"Lai Da and Lai Er, you two brothers, have been serving as the chief stewards of the two prefectures for years, and have embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver from my Jia family through corrupt means."

"You're still using the Jia family's name to lend money at exorbitant interest rates, interfere in lawsuits, break the law and violate regulations—you've committed many evil deeds. Do you know your crimes?"

Jia Jingxian coldly questioned Lai Da and Lai Er, his voice filled with sharp killing intent, and a chilling aura swept through the courtyard.

The Lai family was truly the biggest cancer in the Jia family, not only for embezzling the most money in the household.

Most importantly, this family is heartless and treacherous. After the Jia family's downfall, Jia Zheng was short of money and asked them for a loan, but they only lent him fifty taels, which was an insult to his former master.

Lai Da and Lai Er were pale and sweating profusely. Faced with Jia Jing's overwhelming pressure, they dared not open their mouths to argue with him.

Lai Da could only place his hopes on Grandmother Jia, crying out to her:

"Grandma, I'm innocent! Grandma...!"