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

The voice of the Princess of Nan'an had changed, becoming sharp and hoarse. As she was being dragged out, she turned her head and screamed fiercely.

But those old women were extremely nimble; in a few steps, they dragged her to the threshold, lifted the curtain, and she and her voice disappeared outside the door.

Only the hoarse cursing echoed under the eaves for a few breaths before fading into the distance and finally disappearing from sight.

The Crown Princess of Dongping was already pale with fright at the horrifying scene, and her hands and feet were ice-cold.

Before the old woman could come forward, he staggered back two steps, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word.

An old woman shoved her without any politeness, and she was dragged out like a puppet, stumbling and falling.

After Zhuque and his men left the hall, Rongqing Hall fell into an eerie silence!

At this moment, Grandmother Jia, who was sitting high on the couch, withdrew her gaze from the curtain and felt a mix of emotions.

This concubine, whose rank was even higher than his own, was thus utterly disgraced and ordered to be "carried out" by his third grandson.

It seems that such a horrifying thing has never happened before in this dynasty!

At the same time, for some unknown reason, the resentment that remained in Grandmother Jia's heart due to Jia Jing's frequent scolding seemed to vanish like smoke in an instant!

As for Madam Wang, she looked at the young man in the python robe in the hall with an expressionless and indifferent gaze, feeling a little lost, frightened and helpless!

How could they be so arrogant! They don't even respect the Empress Dowager?

Amidst her fear, she couldn't help but imagine what would happen if her own Baoyu wore this python robe. Would he be even more imposing and majestic?

Yuan Chun sighed, her plump face reflecting her admiration for her beloved Jingdi, who was always so strong and upright, unyielding and inflexible, both internally and externally.

Sister Feng stared at the handsome and aloof young man below the hall, her phoenix eyes filled with envy. She wished she could take his place and show off in front of everyone. She muttered the words "get out" under her breath.

Zhen frowned slightly, pursed her pink lips, and looked somewhat solemn. After this incident, it seemed that another storm was about to break out in the capital!

Jia Jing sat down again, remaining silent as he quietly sipped his tea, pondering the potential chain reaction this matter might trigger.

We've put enough pressure on them; now all we have to do is wait to reap the rewards!

After a long silence, the tranquility of the hall was broken by Grandmother Jia. Her face was grave as she spoke in a low voice:

"Jing-ge'er, won't things go wrong if you handle it this way? The Nan'an Prince's Mansion and the Dongping Prince's Mansion are not ordinary families."

"The Prince of Nan'an has been operating in the southeast for decades, and his old subordinates are all over the army. He once conquered Annam and fought against the pirates. He has brought out countless generals."

"I've heard that four or five out of ten officers and soldiers in the garrisons along the southeast coast were promoted by him."

"Although the Prince of Dongping was on his deathbed, his son Shen had been entrenched in the Five Military Commands for many years. His family's influence was mainly in the southwest, and it was said that his students and friends were spread throughout Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Guizhou."

"If you dismiss them from their posts today, the news will likely spread to the southeast and southwest, and things will not be peaceful."

"And then there's the Princess Consort of Nan'an, whose maiden name is Sun. She's related to the Empress Dowager and has been going to the palace to pay her respects to her for many years."

"She's a respectable person in the palace, but after suffering such humiliation in our residence today, how could she possibly let it go when she gets back?"

"If the Empress Dowager were to say a few words to His Majesty, your position in the General Affairs Office would be in serious trouble."

"Are you aware of all of this?"

Although Grandmother Jia knew that her third grandson was not an easy person, she was still afraid that he would be impulsive due to his young age, so she wanted to give him a heads-up!

Princess Zhen of Bei Jing put down her teacup, her expression becoming more serious, and said softly:

"The old lady's words are wise! According to my lord, the Prince of Nan'an appears calm and magnanimous on the surface, but in reality, he is vindictive and ruthless. Back in the day, he was notorious in the southeast for his tyranny and cruelty!"

"The Duke of Jing dismissed him from his post, and he will not easily swallow this insult."

"And then there's Mu Chen, the heir of Dongping. He has a clean-cut face and always has a smile on his lips, but over the years, the number of officials and generals he has brought down is countless."

"The Duke of Jing has dealt with both of them today and ordered them to return the farmland within three days. I'm afraid they won't let this go easily!"

These words contained not only a reminder, but also a hint of probing.

She knew that Jia Jing was not a reckless person, and since he had done this today, he must have done it intentionally!

Jia Jing nodded slightly, his expression remaining calm and composed. He glanced at Grandmother Jia and Madam Zhen, then said in a deep voice:

"The Prince of Nan'an's Mansion and the Prince of Dongping's Mansion have been operating in the military for many years, and their disciples and old friends are all over the southeast and southwest. I am well aware of these things."

Immediately, Jia Jing picked up his teacup, gently skimming the foam with the lid. His tone suddenly turned somber, carrying a seasoned, cold sternness as he said:

"But connections and power are not reasons for them to oppose the imperial court's grand plans. Even princes are punished the same as commoners for breaking the law, let alone princely families?"

"Today is merely a small warning to them. If they still do not repent, when the imperial court's wrath descends, no matter how much power or background they possess, they will all be reduced to dust!"

Upon hearing this, Zhen and the others' expressions changed, a layer of cold sweat broke out on their backs, and they were terrified!

Turned to dust!

Such a firm and clear attitude and unwavering bottom line...

Jia Jing glanced at the diverse faces in the hall, each like a blooming peach or plum tree, then turned his gaze to the plaque of Rongqing Hall. After a long while, his voice seemed to drift away as he slowly said:

"It's quite a sad story. The first Prince of Nan'an and Prince of Dongping were such heroic figures."

"When we were fighting alongside the founding emperor to conquer the world, we risked our lives, fought bloody battles, and survived countless near-death experiences. What was it all for? It was to ensure that the people had food to eat and that the world could be at peace."

"History records their achievements, and their memorial tablets are enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. They truly shared the fate of the nation and will be remembered for generations to come."

"But now, when it's passed down to their descendants, they live in luxury and extravagance. The bloodline of the heroes of yesteryear has long since turned into parasites that suck the blood of the military households."

"When the founding emperor was conquering the country, he killed corrupt officials, powerful and wicked gentry. Now, the descendants of these people have become the new powerful and wicked gentry, the new parasites."

"Occupying the government's land and drinking the blood of soldiers, yet daring to brazenly come to our door demanding 'decency'—isn't this the greatest irony?"

He paused, then, with a touch of wistfulness, pondered and said:

"...Where is the victory of the Northern Expedition now? The road is full of parasites and decay is everywhere. If one day I can fulfill my ambition to serve the country, I will sweep away all the corruption before I can be at peace!"

Jia Jing used this last sentence in a slightly modified way, which was also a prelude to the reputation he and Emperor Jingsheng might later have for indiscriminately killing meritorious officials!

This was to show that their actions against the meritorious officials like the Prince of Nan'an were not for personal gain, but were upright, well-intentioned, and for the sake of the country and its people!

As soon as these words were spoken, a sudden gust of cold wind rose outside, blowing the curtains and causing everyone in the hall to change their expressions!

Nian Shilan stared blankly at the patriotic young man, her beautiful face showing a mixture of reverence and daze!

Zhen's jade-like face paused slightly, she raised her beautiful face and stared intently, a strange light also appearing in her serene eyes.

What a noble character and ambition this Duke of Jing possesses! He truly deserves to be called a renowned...extraordinary person!