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

"I heard that the newly established Military Affairs Office, which was put in charge of Jing-ge yesterday, issued several military orders to clear out some kind of military farms?"

"They said they had half a month to require all military officers in the capital to voluntarily report any extra farmland and military households under their names and return them to the court. Anyone who concealed or failed to report such matters would have their property confiscated and their titles revoked!"

"Now things are really messed up. Many of our founding lineages in the capital are in a panic."

"Older sister, as you and I both know, how many of us, the founding nobles, can distinguish which part of our family property belongs to our ancestors and which part belongs to the military farms? We've all just muddled through for decades."

"It's not that Jing-ge'er was wrong to make that cut. After all, he's young and he's a commander. He believes in the absolute importance of military orders and strict discipline."

"However, governing an army and governing a country are different things. Strict military law is for winning battles, but we are old friends and relatives, with a friendship spanning generations. There should be some dignity involved. Don't you think so, elder sister?" said Princess Nan'an.

Upon hearing this, everyone in Rongqing Hall exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

Princess Zhen of Bei Jing paused slightly, pursed her pink lips, and chose to observe coldly for the time being.

Everyone knows that the Duke of Jing is always incorruptible and impartial. The Princess Dowager of Nan'an, relying on her status, dared to criticize the court during the old lady of the Jia family's birthday banquet. I'm afraid…

Madam Niu also frowned. She knew about the three military orders, and her purpose in coming today was to express the support of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and the Marquis of Zhongjing's Mansion to Jia Jing.

This Princess Nan'an is downplaying the issue. The military order clearly states "the encroached farmland and the privately employed military households," but in her words it becomes "the extra farmland and military households." Did you buy these extra ones with your own money?

Tan Chun, Yuan Chun, and others standing to the side also had frosty expressions on their faces. Unlike Grandmother Jia, who was completely unaware of the outside world, these young ladies were well aware of the slightest happenings in the capital!

Yesterday, notices from the military administration office were posted all over the city gates, and the whole city was talking about it. They were certainly aware of this.

At this moment, the Dowager Princess of Nan'an was talking about "decency" and "lifelong friendship" in order to use emotions to suppress reason, confuse right and wrong, and try to make her third brother bend the law for personal gain!

It must be said that after Jia Jing's several rounds of education in the Jia family, the sisters in the family also have a clear sense of principles, namely, that private feelings are private feelings and cannot be placed above the laws and regulations of the country, and that the positions of righteousness and trivial matters must be clearly distinguished!

Baochai, standing beside Daiyu, also wore a cold expression. Her almond-shaped eyes, beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, glanced at the Princess of Nan'an. What did she mean by "after all, she's young"? Was she implying that her own Jinglang acted impulsively?

Grandmother Jia finally came to her senses. In less than a day, her third grandson had started causing trouble again.

Hearing the warning in the military order that "houses will be confiscated and titles revoked," it did seem like something he was capable of doing!

But what's the point of you asking me about this? Do you expect me to plead on your behalf?

Grandmother Jia sighed, met the gaze of the Princess of Nan'an, her expression faltered, she remained silent for a moment, and then said in a hoarse voice:

"I know absolutely nothing about what's going on outside! To be honest, I'm old now, half my body is in the ground, I'm hard of hearing and eyesight, and my mind isn't very sharp either. Even if I hear about things outside, I'll forget them in less than half a day! There's no use in you telling me all this!"

Grandmother Jia naturally wouldn't concern herself with outside affairs; hadn't she learned her lesson yet?

I could only pretend to be stupid and make excuses, acting as if I was about to develop dementia, saying, "Don't try to tell me these things, I won't remember them anyway!"

The Princess Consort of Nan'an was stunned, clearly not expecting Grandmother Jia to have such an attitude!

Weren't they always easy to talk to before, always asking about things outside?

The Crown Princess of Dongping, standing to the side, blinked and said:

"Grandma, today is your birthday, and there are some things we shouldn't say, but our families have been friends for over a hundred years, so we can't keep quiet. Your family's reputation in the capital isn't good these days!"

Grandmother Jia frowned, her expression changing slightly, and said:

"What about your reputation?"

They probably knew that Jia Jing had offended too many people outside, and that officials were cursing him in private.

But, will it implicate my own Zheng'er and Baoyu?

The Crown Princess of Dongping said:

"Everyone outside says that the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion and the Shanguo Duke's mansion were raided, the entire family was wiped out, and the women were even sent to be enslaved. Their fate was too tragic!"

"Although their family was somewhat at fault for participating in the attack on Jing-ge'er, this whole thing was originally caused by Jing-ge'er."

"If he hadn't killed Uncle Shi and Uncle Jiang in the Twelfth Regiment without a word, leading to Consort Xiande being banished to the Cold Palace, none of this would have happened!"

"Everyone outside says that your Jing-ge is capable, and he is indeed good at fighting, but he is cold-blooded, ruthless, and doesn't care about his own family."

"Your Jia family only rose to prominence because of the close ties between the four kings and eight dukes. Now that the Duke of Jing has emerged, you're the first to turn against your own family."

"The Marquis of Pingyuan's mansion and the Duke of Shanguo's mansion both served the old Duke Ronguo for generations. Even if they didn't achieve great things, they certainly worked hard. Now, they're using your heads to establish their authority, saying that your family is climbing up the ladder by stepping on the corpses of old friends and staining your official hats with the blood of former acquaintances!"

He paused and added:

"These are just rumors circulating outside; I'm just relaying them to the old lady..."

The Dowager Princess of Nan'an took over the conversation, her face showing a sincere expression, and said:

"What Chen's daughter-in-law said is all true! To be honest, Jing'er in our family had become very successful, with outstanding military achievements. The entire founding family was hoping to benefit from his success, but who knew he would be so ruthless..."

"In all my years, this is the first time I've seen such a spirited young man. He's truly a force to be reckoned with!"

"But dear sister, your grandson has offended quite a few people outside. Lately, many officials have been secretly grinding their teeth and hating him."

"As elders, we should give him a word of advice: Young man, you have a long life ahead of you. Loyalty and courage are important, but you can't be too impetuous, don't you think?"

The two of them were working together, and their words contained not only accusations but also sarcasm and threats!

This was also the strategy of the Nan'an Prince's Mansion and the Dongping Prince's Mansion. They used the women of the two princes' mansions to probe the Jia family's attitude and get a feel for their situation, while simultaneously applying pressure. They tried to gain an advantage by first being polite and then resorting to force, hoping to find a way to break through the Jia family from within.

After all, no one would be willing to take the risk of a mutiny unless absolutely necessary!

As she watched all this unfold, a hint of amusement flashed beneath her delicate, willow-leaf eyebrows.

The two royal palaces are in a panic!

If it weren't for matters of personal interest, why would I be so long-winded!

Duke Jing's recent reform of the military farms has struck at the very lifeline of most of the military officers in the capital!

Ultimately, it's because these people have done too many illegal and disorderly things in the past, and they're afraid of being investigated by the imperial court!

Unlike their own royal residence, although they occupied some farmland, it was only a very small amount, and there was no forceful seizure or plunder. They simply returned it, which was not a big deal at all!

Tan Chun, Yuan Chun, Bao Chai and the others standing to the side had even colder expressions. The Princess Dowager of Nan'an and the Princess Consort of Dongping were just gossiping and spouting nonsense. They were talking a lot of nonsense, but they were just spreading rumors to slander their third brother!

The only one present who seemed pleased was probably Madam Wang. She thought to herself, "Indeed, outsiders have the best eyes!"

That eldest son of a concubine is ruthless, cold-blooded, arrogant, and domineering!

Finally, someone has stood up and spoken a fair word!