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

Jia Zhen had been exposed to things in the military camp over the years, so he was quite familiar with them.

He knew that as long as Wang Ziteng, the Vice Minister of War in charge of reorganization, was willing to help, it wouldn't be difficult to get some military merits for Jia Rong.

When the time comes, we will reorganize the Beijing garrison, clean up the troops, investigate ghost employees, investigate corruption, and investigate dereliction of duty. Which of these will not be outstanding military achievements?

Upon hearing this, Jia Rong's eyes lit up, his expression filled with joy, and he immediately knelt down, proclaiming loudly:

"Thank you so much, sir! I am deeply grateful for your thoughtful planning and assistance, and I don't know how to repay you..."

Jia Zhen picked up his wine cup, took another sip, and waved his hand, saying:

Get up!

Then, with a deep look in his sunken eyes, he asked, seemingly casually:

"By the way! Rong-ge'er, where's your wife? I haven't seen her these past few days!"

Jia Rong froze, and the smile on her face froze for a moment.

Jia Zhen had been bedridden for so long, and he thought that Qin Shi had given up on him, but he never expected...

Does this mean I'm destined to wear this green headscarf?

At this time, the term "green turban" had already begun to be used among the common people of the Han Dynasty to satirize men whose wives were having extramarital affairs.

Lang Ying's "Seven Categories of Drafts" records: "Nowadays, people in Wu (Suzhou) call a man's wife who has committed adultery a 'green turban'."

Jia Rong slowly stood up, his expression becoming somewhat somber. He lowered his eyes and spoke cautiously:

"Reporting to Master, Madam Qin...she went to the Xuanzhen Temple!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhen's face instantly darkened. Qin Keqing's behavior gave him a bad feeling. His brows furrowed, and he said angrily:

"Xuanzhen Temple? What would we be doing there?"

Could it be that he's going to complain about himself?

His father suddenly returned home last time, and he still hasn't figured out why.

I wonder who leaked the news to his father. Could it be that Qin himself went to his father's place?

Does she have the guts?

Jia Zhen felt a sense of unease and suspicion.

Jia Rong trembled at Jia Zhen's questioning and whispered:

"Grandfather is unwell, and Madam Qin said she wanted to visit him!"

As a granddaughter-in-law, visiting her dying great-grandfather is a matter of filial piety, and there's nothing wrong with it!

The hall fell silent for a moment.

A loud cracking sound rang out.

Jia Zhen slammed the rhinoceros horn cup on the table down at Jia Rong's feet, splashing the finest liquor all over the floor.

"What are you looking at? What are you looking at? Is a Taoist temple a place a woman like her should be going?"

Jia Rong was startled again and shrank back, not daring to speak.

Jia Zhen sternly ordered:

"Go and bring her back right now, or you'll be in big trouble! I'm not fully recovered yet, so have her come to my room to serve me as soon as she gets back."

Jia Zhen's eyes were filled with undisguised desire, and his tone was full of impatience.

Jia Jing is about to die, and this time no one can stop him!

Jia Rong's face turned slightly pale. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't.

With Jia Zhen's promise of a bright future preceding it, and this subsequent warning, the situation has become even more complex.

He simply couldn't refuse!

He was well aware of Jia Zhen's thoughts, but he dared not speak up to stop him or plead with him.

He knew that if he couldn't get what Jia Zhen wanted, not only would his promised future be ruined, but he would also get a severe beating!

From now on, he can forget about living a peaceful life in the Ningguo Mansion!

Jia Zhen was the absolute ruler of Ningguo Mansion; everything in Ningguo Mansion belonged to him.

No one dares to refuse him whatever he wants! Not even... his daughter-in-law.

Jia Rong lowered his head and stammered:

"Son...son will go...to pick her up right now."

Jia Zhen glanced at Jia Rong and suddenly sneered:

"You're unwilling?"

Jia Rong's expression hardened, and he hurriedly said:

"No! Son... I'll do anything to please you, Master. I just hope you won't forget what you said earlier..."

Jia Rong knew that Qin Keqing's matter was beyond hindrance, so he could only think about securing the official position and benefits promised by Jia Zhen.

He comforted himself, thinking that as long as he had power, why would he be afraid of not having beautiful women in the future?

As for the Qin family, there was nothing he could do to protect them; they could only pray for good fortune!

Because of Jia Zhen, his relationship with Qin Shi was not deep.

Jia Zhen narrowed his cloudy old eyes, and upon hearing this, a smile appeared on his face. He said:

"Don't worry! You're my only son. In the future, the Ningguo Mansion's property and titles will all be yours, let alone a mere sixth-rank official."

"If you do a good job, the master will reward you handsomely!"

Jia Zhen had no intention of hiding his thoughts from Jia Rong; he knew that his plot against Qin Shi was no longer a secret in the Ningguo Mansion.

He wasn't afraid of others finding out and gossiping. What wealthy family doesn't have some dirty secrets?

People even say the Tang and Han dynasties are corrupt and stinking! But didn't the Tang emperors also have incestuous relationships with their own daughters-in-law? What's this little thing compared to that?

After hearing Jia Zhen's words, Jia Rong also made up his mind to abandon Qin Shi and replied:

"yes!"

Just as Jia Rong was about to leave, the curtain was lifted again.

Then Madam You walked in. She was wearing a light purple jacket with a blue satin vest over it, and her face showed a hint of caution.

After entering, he glanced at Jia Zhen, then at Jia Rong, who had his head bowed, and said in a low voice:

"Master, news just came from the west that... that the eldest son has once again rendered meritorious service in the northwest."

"Her Majesty the Empress has sent headdresses, jewelry, and brocades to the old lady and several young ladies of the West Mansion!"

Yu's words were tinged with caution; she didn't utter a single word that reflected her own subjective opinions.

She knew that Jia Zhen still harbored resentment towards Jia Jing, and didn't even dare to say Jia Jing's name, only referring to him as the woman from the eldest son's family.

Sure enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Jia Zhen's face darkened instantly.

Seeing that his expression was not right, Madam You comforted him:

"Please calm down, sir. You've only just recovered a little; getting angry will only harm your health!"

"Am I angry?" Jia Zhen asked, his face ashen and his old eyes wide with hatred.

"Water overflows when it's full, and the moon wanes when it's full! I don't believe he can keep winning forever."

"Don't be too smug. Just wait and see. One day, I'll teach this illegitimate son a lesson."

Jia Zhen picked up the wine pot, took a big gulp, and stared at the bare old plum tree outside the window, a sinister glint in his eyes.

Both Lady You and Jia Rong lowered their heads, not daring to say anything, but their eyes flashed with disdain.

They obediently knelt in the ancestral hall for so many days, pitifully begging for help everywhere!

Now you're making threats behind my back, that's all you've got!

The wind has picked up again outside the window!

The withered branches of the old plum tree swayed in the wind, making a creaking sound as if they were about to be destroyed by the pressure, as if foreshadowing the end of the Ningguo Mansion.

…………

On the 22nd day of the second lunar month, spring arrives exceptionally late on the grasslands beyond the Great Wall.

At the foot of Wolf Mountain, where the Northern Yuan royal court is located, the remaining snow has long since melted away, leaving only a vast expanse of withered yellow in the sky and earth.

The grasslands get little rain, and these past few days have been overcast and cold with sunny skies.

The biting spring chill, accompanied by a north wind, swept in from the depths of the grassland, flattening the withered grass and chilling clothes to the bone.

As night fell, the clouds obscured the stars and moon, plunging the world into chaos—a perfect time for a dark and windy night.