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

Jia Jing thought for a moment, then frowned slightly and said:

"Your Majesty will absolutely not leak any information! However, I believe it is good that Your Majesty is thoughtful and deliberate in investigating the matter."

"However, the Shanxi merchants have many eyes and ears in the court, so this matter should not be delayed for too long."

"Otherwise, if they get wind of it, they could destroy evidence, transfer goods and ill-gotten gains, and then it would be a huge loss!"

"Furthermore, according to my investigation in the Northwest, Shanxi merchants in the Northwest have been smuggling and colluding with the enemy in recent years, making profits of no less than tens of millions of taels."

"Each of them is incredibly wealthy, richer than a country. If they were to flee to another country upon hearing the news, it would be much more difficult for the court to investigate this embezzled money!"

Jia Jing deliberately emphasized "tens of millions of taels" and "a fortune of tens of millions" in order to attract Emperor Jingsheng's attention.

The imperial court is currently short of funds. If we can confiscate the assets of the Shanxi merchants, we will not have to worry about money for at least a few years!

Emperor Jingsheng's eyes flashed upon hearing this; how could he not want to immediately confiscate the property of the Shanxi merchants to replenish the national treasury?

However, as the ruler of the world, he cannot be too rude; he must consider the opinions and reputation of officials and scholars throughout the court!

While raiding homes can bring in money quickly, it's essential to have a legitimate reason for doing so, presenting irrefutable evidence and solidifying the charges before taking action. Otherwise, it can easily unsettle people!

Emperor Jingsheng pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

"I understand your wise words! I will order the Imperial City Guard to expedite the investigation and evidence collection, and we will also keep a close eye on their movements in the Northwest."

"It's good that Your Majesty understands!" Jia Jing nodded and said no more.

Emperor Jingsheng remained silent for a moment, then said:

"Regarding the reorganization of military affairs and new policies, I have just come up with some new ideas. Zijie, please offer your advice..."

…………

Dragon Head Palace.

The afternoon sun slanted in from the west, casting a dim, yellowish light through the lattice windows and the blue brick floor of the main hall of the Dragon Head Palace.

The hall was so quiet it felt almost empty, except for the wisps of incense burning in the Boshan incense burner, which rose slowly into the air, forming a thin cloud of smoke that dissipated very slowly.

The retired Emperor Zhu Zhen stood before the painting table, holding a fine brush in his hand, sketching a hibiscus on a silk scroll.

He was dressed in a moon-white casual robe, with only a bamboo hairpin in his hair. He wore no gold or jade ornaments and looked like a reclusive old Taoist priest!

But his fingers were very long with prominent knuckles, and his grip on the brush was extremely steady. He painted very slowly, first outlining the flowers, then the veins of the leaves, and finally the texture of the branches.

When he painted hibiscus, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, with a smile that conveyed a sense of immersion and self-satisfaction.

Inside the Dragon Head Palace,

Apart from the retired emperor, there was only the Prince of Yi sitting on the embroidered stool at the lower end.

After attending the victory celebration banquet held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Prince Yi went straight to the Dragon Head Palace, wanting to tell the Emperor Emeritus about what he had seen and heard that day.

However, when he arrived, the Emperor Emeritus was painting, so he could only sit there and wait for him to finish, not daring to make a sound. He knew that the Emperor Emeritus was completely absorbed in his painting and disliked being disturbed.

After finishing the last stroke, the Emperor Emeritus stepped back, tilted his head, examined the painting for a moment, and then a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He said:

"Chen'er, come and see how my hibiscus painting is!"

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Yi walked to the painting table, examined it carefully for a moment, and then smiled and praised it:

"Father's paintings of hibiscus are among the best in the entire Han Dynasty. His 'Hibiscus and Golden Pheasant' painting is famous throughout the world; who doesn't know it!"

"As for this painting, the petals are just the right size, the colors transition naturally from dark to light, and even the pink on the stamens is applied perfectly."

"Of course, the best thing about this flower is its charm."

"The enduring and abundant beauty embodied in this hibiscus, described as 'The vast clouds hang low, the leaves never fall; the dewdrops glisten, they never spill,' is a true reflection of Father Emperor's artistic pursuits and personal cultivation! It is as if crafted by divine hands, indescribably wonderful!"

The Prince of Yi's sincere praise deepened the Emperor Emeritus's smile.

But that smile only lasted a moment before it was suppressed by another layer of worry in his heart.

For the past few years, the retired emperor has been confined to the Dragon Head Palace. As Emperor Jingsheng's throne becomes more and more stable and his prestige grows, his situation is predictable.

In particular, Wu Xun, who originally supported him during the Jingnan Campaign, was successively eliminated by Jia Jing, including the Marquis of Linchuan, the Duke of Cheng, the Marquis of Zhongqin, and the Marquis of Ji'an.

Apart from a portion of the Imperial Guards, he had no more trusted troops to rely on in the capital city, so his life naturally became worse day by day.

Therefore, he spent his days either drinking and making merry or composing poems and painting.

As his artistic skills improved, he had more and more children, but he also became increasingly depressed.

After admiring the hibiscus painting for a while without the pheasant as a backdrop, the Emperor Emeritus placed his brush on the brush washer, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, walked to the window, and pushed open a crack in the window.

"What's the scene like today? Does the person in the Qianqing Palace show any fear or suspicion towards Jia Jing?"

The retired emperor, with a worried expression but a hint of expectation in his eyes, asked the Prince of Yi in a deep voice.

Although the retired emperor had seven daughters and eight sons, he trusted his eldest son, Prince Yi, the most, and usually consulted with him on many matters!

The two had previously speculated about Jia Jing's triumphant return to the capital.

The retired emperor believed that Jia Jing, the newly appointed "Duke of Jing," had suddenly risen to a high position and had achieved success at a young age, which might inevitably lead to complacency, arrogance, and rudeness.

If he were to display any arrogance or disrespect in front of Emperor Jingsheng, given the emperor's cold and aloof nature, today might be the beginning of mutual suspicion between the two!

As long as there is a hidden rift between the two and mutual dissatisfaction, then our opportunity will come!

Prince Yi also deeply agreed with the Emperor Emeritus's speculation!

Therefore, carrying the Emperor Emeritus's instructions, Prince Yi made a special trip today to carefully observe the holding of the court's triumphant return ceremony, hoping to find an opportunity to break the deadlock!

As for the result, it goes without saying!

Prince Yi silently walked to the window, standing half a step behind the Emperor Emeritus, his expression solemn, and said in a low voice:

"Father, we misjudged that person in Qianqing Palace and Jia Jing..."

"Today, that person treated Jia Zijie with the utmost courtesy, welcoming him with the 'Kai Le' music, and ordering all officials to bow and the imperial guards to lower their heads."

"They even let Jia Zijie ride in the imperial carriage, with Biao Ge'er personally driving it, showing absolutely no suspicion or fear towards Jia Zijie!"

The Emperor Emeritus's hand, which was resting on the windowsill, trembled slightly. His expression gradually darkened, and he asked in disbelief, his voice dry:

"Does he really trust Jia Zijie that much? Such a capable and brave general, whose achievements overshadow the emperor, and who commands the troops of Ba Shang and the Northwest, doesn't he have any reservations or precautions?"

"Where has his usual imperial cunning gone? Where have all those methods he used to guard against me been?"

The Emperor Emeritus's voice held barely suppressed anger. He paused, then asked:

"What about Jia Zijie? Has he done anything arrogant or rebellious? He's so young, yet so naturally brave and skilled in martial arts—hasn't he become arrogant and complacent?"

Prince Yi swallowed hard, lowering his voice even further:

"Jia Zijie was extremely respectful from beginning to end. Not only was he very courteous in his etiquette, but he also refused to sit in the imperial carriage, and was only pushed up by the eunuchs!"

"A treacherous villain disguised as a loyal subject! To remain so composed despite such military achievements must mean he harbors ulterior motives and harbors grand ambitions!"

The retired emperor uttered a sharp rebuke!

Because of the deeds of Duke Cheng and others in the Jingnan Campaign, the retired emperor had a rather negative impression of Jia Jing!

Not to mention, Jia Jing had once used the excuse of cursing the Duke of Zhao to indirectly criticize him, showing disrespect to him!

Now, after hearing the Prince of Yi's report, Jia Jing has become a thoroughly treacherous minister in the Emperor Emeritus's mind.

Although he had never met Jia Jing, he secretly thought that once he was restored to the throne, he must find an opportunity to eliminate such a powerful and treacherous official, so as not to leave any hidden dangers for the successor!