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

Madam Zhen glanced at the laughing and joking crowd and said expressionlessly:

"Not the Duke of Jin, but the Duke of Jing! The 'Jing' in the current reign title, Jingsheng."

"His Majesty has decreed that the title of Duke of Champion should be based on the reign title, to demonstrate the unity between the ruler and his subjects."

"They even say that the Marquis of Champion is a minister who revived the Han Dynasty, a precious gem of the Han! His status should be honored by using his reign title!"

After speaking, Lady Zhen sighed. "What Duke of Jin? How can he be as noble as Duke of Jing?"

What kind of trust and respect is it to use the reign title as the title of a subject?

This connects the fate of the Han Dynasty with its subjects!

Would an ordinary prince receive this treatment?

Yuan Chun, Tan Chun, Xiang Yun, Dai Yu: ? ? ?

Duke of Jing?

Titles were bestowed based on the reign title?

First-class Duke of Jing?

It's no wonder they misunderstood; who could have imagined such an unprecedented title?

The people in the pavilion looked at each other, feeling for a moment that their brains weren't quite working.

…………

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight as clear as water.

The May wind, soft as silk, blew from the northeast corner of the capital city, brushing against the layers of green tiles and eaves of the Rongguo Mansion, making the copper bells hanging from the eaves ring softly.

The moonlight shone on the roof ridge, like a thin layer of frost.

Inside and outside the mansion, lights shone brightly.

The main gate of Rongguo Mansion was wide open, no longer sealed with halberds. Two large vermilion lanterns hung high above the gate, the three characters "Rongguo Mansion" on them shining brightly in the candlelight.

More than a dozen horses were tied to the hitching post in front of the gate, and sedan chairs lined up from the gate all the way to the street corner.

The sedan chair carriers squatted at the base of the wall, cracking melon seeds, chatting, and waiting for their respective masters.

The gatehouse was piled high with visiting cards and gifts. Lin Zhixiao, accompanied by several servants, went in and out constantly, his feet barely touching the ground, his forehead covered in sweat, but his smile never stopped.

All of this was because shortly after Zhen arrived in the afternoon, the imperial edict bestowing honors upon Jia Jing had already reached the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Jing was officially conferred the title of First-Class Duke of Jing, Second-Rank General of the Army, and Pillar of the State by Emperor Jingsheng, and was granted the privilege of wearing a python robe and jade belt.

Along with the imperial edict came countless gifts of gold and silver items from within the palace.

The Jia family was thus plunged into jubilation!

Tan Chun instructed Feng Jie to allocate silver from the mansion's treasury to reward the servants, maids, and old women in the mansion.

He then instructed the household kitchen to prepare a banquet to entertain the relatives, friends, and guests who came to celebrate.

After the imperial edict was issued, needless to say, the three major families of Shi, Wang, and Xue, including Shi Ding and Shi Nai, personally came to offer their congratulations with their wives and children.

Wang Ziteng's wife, Zhu, also came with her sons, Wang Yi and Wang Li.

Then most of the founding line of martial arts heroes came to visit, especially the wife of Niu Jizong from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and the wives of the generals of Shenwu and the marquises of Jinxiang, who all sent generous gifts.

In addition, colleagues from the Nian family, the Yue family, Wu Xun of the Ba Shang camp, and Jia Zheng of the Ministry of Works all found excuses to come and offer their congratulations.

The male guests were received by Jia Zheng, while the women of the household were received by Grandmother Jia and Madam Xing, among others.

Princess Bei Jing and Li Shi and others did not leave until evening. Grandmother Jia and Princess Bei Jing, Zhen Shi, had a good chat about family matters in Jinling.

He also thanked Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, for his support of Jia Jing during the court discussion.

The moon was setting in the west.

The lights in Rongxi Hall and Rongqing Hall were still on, the opera was still being performed, and some guests were still toasting each other.

Daiyu's Courtyard.

The bamboo stalks in the courtyard rustled in the night wind, and the lights under the eaves were still on, but the candles had already burned down to almost nothing.

The light was dim and warm, bathing the entire courtyard in an amber glow.

Inside the room, Daiyu was reclining on a small couch in front of her desk, wearing a moon-white nightgown, her hair loose, held up only by a jade hairpin.

She was holding a book in her hands, the one Jia Jing had given her, "Lu Xuan Gong's Memorials," the pages of which were already worn and frayed.

Several pages still had tea stains on them, which Xiangyun had accidentally spilled a few days ago, and it had bothered her for days.

She can almost recite the contents of the book by heart, but she still likes to hold it and read it before going to bed at night.

Zijuan sat on the embroidered stool by the couch, holding a round fan in her hand, and fanned her slowly and steadily.

"Young lady, you seem rather unhappy? Today is the auspicious day of the Marquis's investiture as a duke; why didn't you stay with the old lady a little longer?"

Zijuan asked Daiyu softly, seemingly lost in thought.

Daiyu did not respond, but stared blankly at the book in her hands, as if she were engrossed in it.

Zijuan waited a while, and how could she not know what Daiyu was thinking? She immediately said softly:

"Young lady, you've just recovered from your illness, you mustn't let your mind wander!"

After nearly half a year of acupuncture and medication, Daiyu's illness has been cured.

The Imperial Physician Wu Qian personally came to the Jia family mansion to take her pulse and said that her pulse was normal and that she only needed to take care of herself in the future.

Daiyu gave a faint "hmm," paused in her hand turning the pages of the book, but still did not respond.

Zijuan glanced at Daiyu and lowered her voice, saying:

"Young lady, you're probably annoyed by all these suitors coming to your door today!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her jade-like face softening with a melancholy expression, and she said wistfully:

"What right do I have to be bothered by them! Today it's Miss Nian, tomorrow it's Miss Zhen, the day after it's Miss Jia, and then there's Miss Bao, Miss Bei."

"With so many girls having their eyes on him, I'm afraid he's already forgotten about me, a cousin from a distant region!"

Zijuan smiled upon hearing this, stood up, added some hot water to Daiyu's cup, and teased:

"I've often heard people talk about the 'laments of a woman confined to her chambers,' but I didn't quite understand it before. Today, I finally get it!"

Daiyu pouted and gave a soft hum.

Zijuan straightened her expression and comforted her:

"Why should you think so much, young lady? The Duke's status and position are rising higher and higher every day."

"It's normal for so many people to come and propose marriage since he hasn't gotten married yet, but the Duke is busy with military affairs in the Northwest and hasn't paid any attention to them."

"Young lady, aren't you just creating trouble for yourself by worrying about something that doesn't even exist?"

"Besides, the Duke's campaigns abroad are not easy either. If you, young lady, do not understand, then it is your fault!"

Upon hearing this, Daiyu paused, stunned for a moment, before replying:

"You always side with Third Brother; I don't even know if you're my maid or his!"

Zijuan smiled and said:

"I am naturally the young lady's maid. I am just advising her not to be anxious and not to panic."

"Miss Nian hasn't even seen the Duke yet, and Miss Zhen is nowhere to be found!"

"As for Miss Bao, I think she's the one who should be anxious."

"Now that the Duke's status is rising higher and higher, and the gap between our families' social standing is widening, it's virtually impossible for her to compete with the young lady!"

"But the young lady is different. Her family has been noble families for generations, and her husband is a distinguished civil official. Moreover, the young lady and the Duke met when they were both still in humble beginnings..."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu's expression faltered for a moment.

She closed the book, and moonlight streamed in through the window, falling on her face and making her already fair complexion almost transparent.

She said softly:

"What do you mean by 'we met when we were both nobody'! Back then, my third brother lived in the east wing; he was just an unwanted illegitimate son."

"His maternal uncle was very strict with him, and his aunt didn't care much about him either. He was just like... Cong-ge and Huan-ge, an inconspicuous person."

"We rarely see each other except during holidays."

"Back then, my third brother was unassuming and unassuming, and he was probably still quietly studying literature and martial arts, accumulating strength."

"The first time I saw him show his talent was more than two years ago at Rongqing Hall. Unbeknownst to me, he has gradually reached this point."

"As the ancients said, 'If one does not cry out, one will astound the world when one does; if one does not fly, one will soar to the heavens when one does.' That's probably exactly the kind of person they were describing!"

Daiyu's expression was complicated. If only she had discovered her third brother's "hiding his talents and biding his time" earlier.

Perhaps... perhaps there would be no more stories about Miss Bao and Miss Nian now!