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

After Jia Jing exchanged a few words with Jia Zheng and others, other members of the Jia clan came forward to greet Jia Jing.

Their faces were plastered with smiles, but those smiles concealed cunning, flattery, obsequiousness, and scheming.

Of course, there are also a few who are genuinely happy!

Jia Jing glanced at the Jia family members and frowned inwardly.

Compared to the last time he returned home after being granted a title, when many members of the Jia family were in dire straits, the Jia family members were clearly living quite well now.

There were almost no people who were pale and thin or dressed in rags; on the contrary, there were many who were dressed in fine clothes, adorned with gold and jade, and looked very respectable!

Of course, Jia Jing did not think there was anything wrong with the Jia family members living well. He had intended to help them by uniting the clan a few months ago.

However, the period of care he provided was still short, and for the able-bodied men of the clan, it was merely an opportunity to become managers.

If they suddenly become rich, there's probably something fishy going on!

If it's just about being greedy for money, that's fine, but if it's about taking advantage of his power to run rampant and bully others, then that's not acceptable!

Jia Jing pondered to himself, paying particular attention to a few of the more conspicuous members of the clan!

Jia Qin, Jia Rui, Jia Qiang...

These people were not only dressed in luxurious clothes and made up, but their behavior was also somewhat dissolute and uncouth.

Besides these people, several other clansmen who were calm and composed and behaved in a proper manner also left an impression on Jia Jing, such as Jia Yun.

Jia Jing chatted briefly with his clansmen, subtly assessing the situation and gaining a general understanding of what was going on.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Jia Jing finished greeting the clansmen and Jia Daishan who had come to welcome him, and saw them off, agreeing to host a banquet for the entire clan in a few days.

After the crowd in front of the Rongguo Mansion dispersed, Jia Jing instructed Zhuque, who was standing to the side:

"Zhuque, you take your personal guards and settle down in the East Palace. I'll go there later!"

"Remember to thoroughly search the area inside and out to ensure safety, and give any irrelevant people some money to send them away!"

Before Zhuque could respond, Jia Zheng, who was standing to the side, was taken aback. He assumed Jia Jing was unaware of the situation in the East Mansion and spoke up:

"Jing-ge'er, Zhen-ge'er has committed a crime and has been arrested and imprisoned by imperial decree. The East Mansion has already been sealed off by the court!"

Jia Jing's expression darkened slightly, and he said:

"I know about this! His Majesty has already told me the whole story!"

"Jia Zhen and Jia Rong have been corrupt and lawless, and His Majesty has already sentenced them according to the law!"

"Among them, the title of Ningguo Mansion was revoked, and Jia Zhen and Jia Rong were exiled to Qiongzhou to serve in the army! As for the East Mansion, His Majesty has granted it to me as a separate residence!"

Jia Jing gave Jia Zheng a brief explanation!

"This..." Jia Zheng's expression was a mixture of joy and worry upon hearing this!

The good news was that Jia Zhen had saved his life and was not sentenced to death!

Based on the information he had gathered in recent days, the three judicial authorities had sentenced Jia Zhen to death with reprieve.

The fact that he survived is naturally because Jia Jing pleaded for his life.

It is evident that although Jing-ge'er dislikes Zhen-ge'er, he still cherishes some clan ties in his heart!

What worries them most is that the Ningguo Mansion's title has been lost! This ironclad inheritance, which could be passed down for generations, has truly been stripped away by the imperial court!

Of course, Jia Zheng was mentally prepared for this, but he was worried about whether the old lady in the family could accept this "bolt from the blue"!

He knew that the old lady had been nagging these past few days about how she must preserve the ancestral title!

Perhaps it could be said that if Jia Zhen had to choose between his life and his title, the old lady would probably value the title more!

but,

The fact that the Ningguo Mansion was bestowed upon Jingge'er is also good news. The old lady should feel somewhat relieved to hear this!

Just as Jia Zheng's expression shifted and he was deep in thought, Zhuque, upon hearing Jia Jing's instructions, quickly sprang into action.

He first sent Xuanwu, who was left behind at the Jia mansion, to serve Jia Jing, and then he himself led his personal guards to the Ningguo mansion.

At this moment, only Jia Jing and Jia Zheng, along with Xuanwu and a group of Rongguo Mansion servants, remained at the entrance of Rongguo Mansion!

Jia Jing's expression hardened, and he said to Jia Zheng:

"Second Uncle, you go to Rongqing Hall first! I'll go to the east wing to see Father, and then I'll go to Rongqing Hall to see the Old Madam!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng regained his senses for a moment, hesitated, and then said in a low voice:

"Jing-ge'er, go now! Your father... I'm afraid he won't last much longer!"

Jia She's body really couldn't hold on much longer!

When he was attacked by the White Lotus Sect and seriously injured into a coma, the imperial physicians diagnosed that he had less than a year to live!

Even though Jia Jing later asked Wu Qian, a renowned physician from the Imperial Medical Academy, and many other renowned doctors to administer acupuncture and medication to save him, it only extended his life by a few months!

Now, it is completely exhausted and on its last legs, only kept alive by precious medicinal herbs!

Jia Jing's expression visibly sombered as he slowly said:

"I have already sent someone to the south to invite the renowned physician Ye Tianshi to the capital for a consultation with Imperial Physician Wu, Physician Zhang, and Physician Yu!"

"No matter the cost, I will stay with my father a little longer..."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zheng's eyes reddened slightly, and he said with emotion:

"Jing-ge'er is loyal to the court and filial to his family; he is truly a model for the descendants of our Jia clan!"

"If Baoyu and Huan-ge'er had even half of your ability and filial piety, I could close my eyes and die with a smile on my face!"

At this moment, Jia Zheng felt a rare pang of jealousy towards his elder brother Jia She, whom he had previously looked down upon.

He boasted that in terms of virtue and ability, he was no less than his elder brother Jia She!

Not to mention, he was a hundred times better than Jia She in terms of caring for and educating the younger generation!

The elder brother, Jia She, always beat and scolded his sons, so severely that it was somewhat humiliating and harsh.

Even his legitimate son, Jia Lian, was frequently scolded and beaten by him until his head bled.

Not to mention Jia Jing and Jia Cong, those two illegitimate sons, they were "bastards" and "little beasts" who would be beaten to death at the slightest disagreement!

Despite all this, the elder brother's son is so filial and successful!

At this moment, Jia Zheng even began to wonder if he had been too lenient with Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, and the others, and hadn't been too lenient in his punishment!

The old saying goes that filial piety comes from the rod and spoil the child; perhaps I should be a little more ruthless!

Just as Jia Zheng was thinking of preparing more big sticks for the courtyard, Jia Jing had already led Xuanwu to Jia She's courtyard.

Jia Jing was well aware that Jia She's days were numbered. His return to the capital was also intended to stay at the mansion to "fulfill his filial duties" and to send Jia She off happily.

This serves two purposes: firstly, it solidifies his reputation as a filial son; secondly, it allows him to bide his time, conceal his true intentions, cool down his overheated reputation, and further accumulate resources.

Walking towards Jia She's courtyard, Jia Jing, reflecting on what he had just seen, thoughtfully asked Xuanwu:

"How are the young and strong men of the clan doing these days, in the fields and shops? Are any clansmen abusing their power by acting lawlessly outside, taking advantage of my name?"

When Jia Jing returned to his mansion after being ennobled last year, in order to unite the clan, in addition to reorganizing the clan school and subsidizing the elderly and children, he arranged for the young and strong members of the clan to be trained to work as managers in the estates and shops under his name!

While the intention was good, it was clear that it inevitably bred some parasites and wicked people!

However, the discovery of this matter was timely. With the Ningguo Mansion stripped of its title and Jia Zhen exiled, he was the obvious choice to become the new patriarch of the Jia clan.

This is a perfect opportunity to clean up the clan, weeding out the bad and keeping the good!