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

Her resounding, capable, and decisive demeanor even made Grandmother Jia see a bit of Jia Jing in her!

Grandmother Jia couldn't help but sigh to herself: No wonder that unfilial grandson let Sanya manage the household; they're all the same kind of people!

Jia Zheng stroked his short beard and nodded approvingly.

Tan Chun's words made a lot of sense, and he agreed with them!

My third daughter is as knowledgeable and talented as any man; she's a promising talent!

Daiyu glanced deeply at Tanchun, pursed her pink lips, and a hint of relief appeared in her bright, dark eyes.

My third sister is quite insightful, and what's rare is that she's not confused about important matters! My third brother really made the right choice by entrusting her with managing the household!

Madam Wang, with a gloomy expression, silently put down Tan Chun's soft hand and instead placed it on the back of Yuan Chun's hand.

After all, the third daughter wasn't her biological child, and they weren't on the same page!

It's one thing that she didn't mention asking Jing-ge'er to help her uncle, but how come she didn't even think of her own brother when it came to something as important as the title of Dongfu!

What is that Qiang-ge'er anyway?

Does a nobody who lost both parents deserve to inherit the title of the Eastern Mansion?

A faint smile appeared on Yuan Chun's plump, fair face, and her bright, watery eyes sparkled with affection.

She glanced lightly at the expressions of the people in the hall and smiled:

"Third sister is right! Third brother is an important official of the court and the backbone of our Jia family."

"His success or failure concerns the rise and fall, the very survival of hundreds or even thousands of members of my Jia family. We cannot allow the slightest mistake!"

"The court is now in turmoil, but the Holy Emperor is determined to reform the bureaucracy, implement new policies, and revitalize the nation."

"The matter of the Eastern Palace has escalated to the point of attracting the attention of the entire court. It will not be tolerated by His Majesty, otherwise it will be detrimental to the major plans that the court will implement next."

"My third brother has always been a man of great principle and devoted to the country; he will not plead for the Eastern Mansion in this matter!"

"Also, there's something I must remind the old lady of!"

"My third brother fought bravely and risked his life in battles abroad, so that we, his relatives, could enjoy peace and prosperity in the capital, living in luxury, receiving constant rewards and honors."

"We should not bring him glory, but we must not cause him any trouble or disaster!"

"Otherwise, wouldn't we be seen as foolish people who can't distinguish right from wrong and weigh the importance of things?"

After Yuan Chun finished speaking, she glanced meaningfully at Madam Wang, who was no longer affectionately stroking her right hand.

Based on what she had learned over the past few days, she realized that her own mother was likely to become the most unstable factor in the Rongguo Mansion in the future.

Putting aside everything else, his resentment towards his third brother alone is enough to cause a lot of unnecessary trouble!

However, as her mother, Madam Wang could only offer kind words of advice and could not say anything more!

At this moment, Madam Wang was filled with frustration and resentment.

Both daughters were only thinking about the eldest son of the illegitimate family, but they didn't care about their own uncle's safety or Baoyu's future, which she really couldn't understand!

Only one's own maternal uncle and younger brother are true family. As for that illegitimate son of the eldest branch of the family, he's a heartless and treacherous person. No matter how good he is, what does he have to do with our family?

Why are you always siding with outsiders? Don't you know how to help your own people?

Has the young lady been in the palace for so long that she's become confused?

When Grandmother Jia heard what Tan Chun and Yuan Chun said, she also figured out some of the tricks of the trade.

She knew that Jia Zhen and Jia Rong were unlikely to escape this time, so she could only try to find a way to change their titles.

Grandmother Jia pondered for a moment, then glanced at Madam You, hesitated for a second, and finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Since we cannot save Zhen-ge'er and Rong-ge'er, we must not allow the title of the Eastern Mansion to be lost."

"For our noble family, the title is our lifeline; we must make plans early."

"It would be best to make arrangements with the Imperial Clan Court beforehand to find a suitable successor!"

Grandmother Jia deliberately emphasized the word "suitable," clearly implying that Jia Qiang, whom Tan Chun had just mentioned, was not suitable!

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the hall became quite subtle!

A title of nobility is a very tempting thing!

In particular, Sister Feng and Lady Wang vaguely sensed Grandmother Jia's intentions, and their expressions changed slightly!

Lady Wang glanced at Jia Zheng beside her and tentatively said:

"Baoyu is the legitimate son of the emperor, and he has always been sensible, well-behaved, intelligent, diligent, and filial to his elders. I wonder if it would be appropriate to let him inherit the title of the East Mansion?"

Although Madam Wang knew that her words were somewhat inappropriate, she couldn't help but say them, because the allure of the title was simply too great!

Now, the title in the Western Mansion is destined to be inherited by Jia Lian of the eldest son's family.

However, both Yuan Chun and Wang Ziteng, whom the second branch of the family could have relied on, have encountered misfortune, leaving only Jia Zheng, a minor fifth-rank official, as the only official left!

For the sake of the future, Lady Wang had no choice but to set her sights on the title of nobility in the Eastern Mansion.

Moreover, she saw that Grandmother Jia shared the same idea, and as long as Jia Zheng supported the proposal, it was not necessarily impossible for the matter to fail!

After Madam Wang said this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment!

To let Baoyu inherit the title of the East Mansion?! How could that be allowed!

Jia Zheng, on whom Lady Wang had placed high hopes, was the first to stand up, his face flushed, and vehemently objected:

"Outrageous! How can you speak such nonsense, Baoyu's mother?"

"A noble title is an honor bestowed by the imperial court, with a strict system of inheritance. How can Baoyu, as a member of the Western Mansion, inherit a title from the Eastern Mansion!"

Jia Zheng has a sense of shame, and now that Jia Zhen and Jia Rong are imprisoned, their fate is uncertain.

Not only could his own side not help, but they even dared to covet the title of Dongfu. How could he possibly accept this?

Furthermore, the inheritance of titles is not something you can do as you please; there is no reason for the West Mansion to inherit the East Mansion's title!

Lady Wang never expected Jia Zheng to be so inflexible and resistant to change.

Not only did she not speak up for her own son, but she was also the first to jump out and oppose him. I was so angry I could die!

It's bad enough that the daughter isn't considerate, but the husband is also a blockhead who doesn't think about anything for the family.

I and Baoyu are truly unlucky; how did we end up with such heartless people!

Grandmother Jia, looking exhausted from Jia Zheng's words, waved her hand and said:

"Alright, alright! I'm tired today too! Let's call it a day!"

"Zheng'er, go out and learn more about the situation. We'll talk about other things later!"

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia's words, Jia Zheng immediately agreed, and the others dispersed in twos and threes, each with their own thoughts!

…………

On the 18th day of the sixth month of the tenth year of the Jingsheng era, in the capital city of Lugou Bridge.

Today is the day the Northwest Army returns in triumph!

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM),

The stone lions on Lugou Bridge had just awakened from the night dew, their bluish-gray backs glistening with fine water droplets.

The wind from the west blows gently across the Yongding River, rustling the flagstones of the bridge and the willow branches on both banks.

Carrying the moisture and the fresh scent of reeds, it gently brushes against one's face.

The sky was a deep blue, like a crab shell, with a few wisps of thin clouds tinged with pale gold by the morning light.