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

The curtain in front of Rongqing Hall was lifted, and Jia Jing walked in first, followed by Yuanyang and the others.

The atmosphere in the hall was very serious. Jia She and Madam Xing stared at Jia Jing with unfriendly expressions, while Wang Shanbao's wife below the hall was sobbing with tears streaming down her face, but there was a hint of smugness in the corner of her eyes.

Jia Jing seemed oblivious to everything, continuing to bow formally and respectfully to the matriarch and others seated high above him.

Then he laughed and said:

"Greetings to the Ancestor. I wonder if the Ancestor sent Sister Yuanyang to summon me because she has something to instruct me on?"

"You little beast, you still have the nerve to ask? Look at the mess you've made! You dared to injure Wang Shanbao's wife without cause! Who gave you the audacity? Kneel down right now!"

Before Grandmother Jia could speak, Jia She slammed the teacup he was holding onto the small table beside him and shouted angrily.

Jia Jing ignored Jia She and said with a faint smile, "So that's what happened! This insolent servant not only doesn't know his mistake, but he also tries to shift the blame, making false accusations first!"

Jia Jing turned his gaze to Wang Shanbao's wife and said:

"It seems the beating was too lenient! You insolent servant, under the guise of a master, have been extorting and plundering, interfering in lawsuits, and daring to ruin people's families and cause their deaths for a few fans."

"So reckless and unscrupulous, resorting to such despicable means, and now they dare to complain to our ancestors?"

"I think you don't even know how to write the word 'death'?"

Wang Shanbao's wife loudly protested, "I was doing my job for the master!"

"Oh, so working for the master means you can act without restraint? Working for the master means you can treat human life like dirt?"

"You, a mere servant, dare to instruct a prefect to violate imperial laws? Is this what the master taught you?"

"Since the time of our ancestors, the two noblemen Rong and Ning, our family has always governed itself with the principles of benevolence and forgiveness. Our forefathers were also men of great wisdom and understanding. How dare you tarnish the reputation of the Rongguo Mansion in public like this?"

"Isn't this bringing trouble upon our master? Don't you have any fear? Don't you have any respect in your heart?"

Jia Jing sneered repeatedly and questioned him sharply.

Those in the hall probably understood what was going on after hearing this.

However, I am somewhat puzzled by Jia Jing's strong-willed behavior today, which is quite different from his usual self.

Everyone had been in contact with Jia Jing before, so they naturally knew his weak nature.

Everyone was puzzled, wondering what had happened to cause this change in him.

At this moment, Grandmother Jia, who was in the hall, spoke up and asked:

"What exactly happened? Jing-ge, explain yourself clearly!"

Jia Jing glanced at Wang Shanbao's wife and said seriously, "Grandmother, this is what happened. The master asked me and this scoundrel to buy a few rare antique fans, but the owner of the fans, Shi Daizi, absolutely refused to sell them. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not take what others cherish, and I let it go since he really didn't want to. After all, there's no reason to force someone to buy or sell."

"Who would have thought that this cunning servant, in order to curry favor and flatter, actually used the master's name to inform Prefect Jia Yucun, and asked Prefect Jia to fabricate a charge of theft or default on government funds to confiscate Shi Daizi's property, using such shameless and despicable means to seize those antique fans."

"For a few fans, Shi Daizi has squandered his fortune; this is not only lawless but also tarnishes the reputation of our household!"

"If the censors and upright officials of the imperial court find out and impeach us, wouldn't we, as masters, have to take the blame for our servants?"

"So, in a moment of anger, your grandson struck this arrogant and ignorant servant?"

Jia Jing's words were forceful and made everyone in the hall understand the reason for the matter.

Everyone then realized that there was a reason for this, and they largely agreed with Jia Jing's words.

But clearly not everyone is reasonable; Jia She was now furious.

He had just told this little beast to kneel down and await his fate, but the little beast ignored him completely.

This is undoubtedly a contempt for his authority as a father!

At this moment, he still has the audacity to say that he is considering the reputation of his household. It's laughable!

"What nonsense are you spouting, you little beast? Even if Wang Shanbao's wife was wrong, you should report it to me so I can decide whether to punish her!"

"What right do you have to hit me? Do you even respect me or your mother? This family is none of your business!"

Jia She directly used his power to intimidate others, refusing to discuss whether Wang Shanbao's wife was right or wrong, and instead accused Jia Jing of overstepping his authority.

Jia Jing remained calm, having anticipated Jia She's reaction.

After all, the decline of the Jia family was due to rot from top to bottom.

In the original novel, Jia She was a man who only knew how to drink and have fun with his concubines, and he treated human life like dirt, driving Shi Daizi to ruin and death.

The mere act of selling Yingchun to Sun Shaozu, that heartless scoundrel, with five thousand taels of silver to pay off a debt led to Yingchun being tortured to death.

Golden flowers and willows, yet a year later they depart for the Yellow Springs.

He doesn't deserve to be a father, or even a human being.

There's no reasoning with something that isn't human.

A cold glint flashed in Jia Jing's eyes as he secretly made a decision.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Jia Jing said in a deep voice, "I am naturally nothing special; I am merely a descendant of the Rong Kingdom!"

"Our ancestors worked tirelessly and overcame many hardships to build the Rong and Ning mansions into their prosperous state. I simply don't want to see it ruined by a few wicked servants!"

Jia Jing was inherently at a disadvantage when facing Jia She.

A single word like "unfilial" can condemn the children of this era to eternal damnation!

Of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is having no offspring!

The phrase "without descendants" here does not mean having no offspring, but rather being inactive and disgracing one's ancestors.

For noble families like the Rongguo Mansion, the greatest filial duty is naturally to preserve and even carry forward the ancestral titles and honors.

Therefore, Jia Jing's claim about ancestral ranking is perfectly reasonable.

"Besides, this wicked servant has a history of wrongdoing. I've heard about it before, and Brother Lian should know about it too."

"She and her husband violated the laws of the imperial court by running gambling dens and lending money, and have already driven several people to their deaths. There was a man named Ye Hei and another named Huang Gou, who were driven to ruin by them, losing their wives and children, and even selling their young daughters!"

"Her wickedness didn't develop overnight. They're using the Rongguo Mansion's name to make money, while our masters take the blame?"

"This kind of unruly servant deserves to be beaten to death!"

Jia Jing's words were forceful and sharp, each word like a knife, causing everyone in the hall to change their expressions.

As for the things about Wang Shanbao's family, he had naturally inquired about them in recent days.

Not only Wang Shanbao's family, but also the Lai family, Lin family, Wu family, Shan family, and so on, he knew almost everything about them, after all, they were too blatant in their actions.

Jia She nearly fainted from Jia Jing's retort.

For so many years, he has been enjoying a life of luxury and arrogance in his mansion. If anyone disobeys him in the slightest, he will be beaten or scolded. When has anyone ever dared to speak to him like that?

What a damned beast.