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

The women in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment. What was going on?

Madam Wang speculated, "Could it be that Jing-ge'er, in his panic, blurted out some vulgar and obscene words?"

Lady Wang suspected that Jia Jing's insults contained a high degree of profanity; otherwise, how could he have made someone vomit blood?

Xiangyun frowned and said, "Third Brother isn't that kind of person!"

Only Xiangyun, relying on Grandmother Jia's favor, dared to refute Lady Wang's words.

Although Tan Chun, Dai Yu, and the others knew that Madam Wang's speculation was unreliable, their status and personalities made it inappropriate for them to refute Madam Wang in public.

The sisters often corresponded with Jia Jing and knew that he was as talented in literature as he was in martial arts, and that he was not a rude person.

Tan Chun said with a worried expression:

"Perhaps Duke Zhao's health wasn't very good to begin with! Now my third brother has suffered an undeserved misfortune and has earned the infamous reputation of being cursed to death."

Grandmother Jia was also somewhat alarmed. If the Duke of Zhao was really cursed to death, then the enmity would be enormous!

At the same time, given the serious offense Jingge'er has committed, the emperor will likely not forgive him lightly.

Grandmother Jia quickly asked:

"Why is Lord Niu already off duty? And Jing-ge'er still not back? Could he have been punished by the Emperor and is being flogged in the palace?"

"Get a beating?!"

Jia Zheng hesitated for a moment, as he couldn't understand the matter either. If it weren't for Uncle Niu's explanation, he wouldn't have believed it.

Grandmother Jia angrily said:

"What's wrong with you today? You're hesitant and stammering when you speak, just like Huan-ge'er..."

This was already an extremely harsh criticism of Jia Zheng!

You should know that Jia Huan was a notorious scoundrel in the Jia family, a "high-legged chicken" who couldn't be brought into the open.

It's utterly absurd that his own father is being insulted as being the same as him.

Jia Zheng said with a somewhat helpless expression:

"It's not that my son is unwilling to speak frankly, but rather that the matter is somewhat unbelievable."

Grandmother Jia asked:

"What happened? Did the emperor strip Jing-ge'er of his marquisate again?"

Jia Zhengdao:

"No! After the Duke of Zhao fainted, His Majesty said it was because the Duke was old and frail and unwell, and didn't pay much attention to it! He then went to talk to Jing'er!"

"Just now, Jing'er's personal guard reported that His Majesty has ordered a banquet for lunch, but Jing'er will not be returning for lunch, and said there's no need to wait!"

"ah??"

Grandmother Jia looked puzzled!

The Duke of Zhao has caused such a big incident, yet instead of punishing Jing-ge, he's invited him to lunch?

Duke Zhao was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, a Duke of the State, and held the same rank as her deceased husband, Duke Rong!

Being scolded by Jing-ge'er to the point of vomiting blood and fainting is such a big deal. Not only should he be punished, but he should also give an explanation to the Duke of Zhao!

The emperor dealt with it casually, but then he invited Jingge'er to dinner?

Is this a reward for Jing-ge'er's good scolding?

What's going on here?

Or is it that his own grandson is truly favored by the emperor, even more important than the status of a duke?

For a moment, Grandmother Jia felt that she was getting old and couldn't understand these matters concerning the imperial court!

Grandmother Jia touched her forehead with a headache and remained silent for a long time.

The people in the hall fell silent for a moment, unsure of what to say!

…………

In the afternoon, as the sun was about to set, Jia Jing finally emerged from the palace.

After Emperor Jingsheng invited him to lunch, they had a heart-to-heart talk about the situation of the court and the new policies over the past two years, and he inquired in detail about the situation on the Liaodong front.

The two got along very well, and Emperor Jingsheng regarded Jia Jing as his own Marquis of Champion.

Jia Jing, on the other hand, believed that Emperor Jingsheng was a capable and ambitious ruler who was diligent in governing and reforming the government.

The two hit it off immediately.

Outside the palace, Jia Jing met up with Zhu Que and two hundred personal guards who had been waiting there, mounted his horse, and headed towards the Jia residence.

When Jia Jing returned to the capital this time, he only brought two hundred personal guards and Zhuque.

He left Qin Qiong in Liaodong, where he controlled nearly 40,000 infantry and cavalry, with the Xuanjia Army as the backbone.

These 40,000 men were all those who had fought victorious battles with him, especially the cavalry. After being trained by him and having fought many field battles with the Qing army, they were quite elite and very loyal to him.

These 40,000 troops were his base in Liaodong, and they would be of great use in the future.

As for personal guards.

According to the military nobility system of the Han Dynasty!

Military ranks in the Han Dynasty were entitled to a certain number of personal guards.

Among them, a baron may have fifty personal guards! Two halberds stand in front of the gate.

A viscount may command a hundred personal guards, and four halberds shall stand in front of his gate!

The count can have two hundred personal guards, and six halberds stand in front of his gate!

A marquis can command 500 personal guards, and eight halberds stand in front of his gate!

The duke may have eight hundred personal guards, and ten halberds stand in front of his gate!

A prince can command a thousand personal guards, and twelve halberds stand before his gate!

These two hundred men were the elite troops he selected from the Liaodong cavalry to serve as his personal guards as a first-class earl.

Of course, now that he has been promoted to marquis, he can add another three hundred men.

The cavalrymen moved slowly along the streets of Shenjing and soon arrived at Rongning Street.

At this time, Rongning Street was full of Jia family members.

Leading the group were naturally Jia Zhen and Jia Lian, followed by Jia Rong, Jia Huan, Jia Cong, Jia Qiang, Jia Lan, and other direct descendants of the Rong and Ning mansions.

In addition, young members of the Shenjing Eight Houses, such as Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Jun, Jia Chang, and Jia Ling, were also waiting there.

By this time, news of Jia Jing's ennoblement and appointment as a general had spread throughout the Jia clan!

Many people in the clan have always hoped to make a living from the Rong and Ning families.

Now that Jia Jing, a twenty-year-old who has been granted titles and honors, has returned to the mansion, with a promising future ahead of him, how could they not come to pay their respects?

Jia Lian saw a troop of cavalry entering Rongning Street from afar and immediately gave the order:

"Open the main gate quickly! Welcome the Marquis back to his residence!"

The steward and servants quickly opened the main gate of the Rongguo Mansion.

At the same time, traditional musical instruments such as the guzheng, erhu, pipa, yangqin, bamboo flute, xiao, suona, horn, diaogui, coconut fiddle, zhonghu, gaohu, and ruan were played on both sides of the street.

A servant lit the firecrackers that had been prepared on both sides of the street.

In an instant, a lively and noisy atmosphere resounded throughout Rongning Street.

When Jia Jing reached Rongning Street, he lightly pulled on the reins and slowed down.

Looking at the streets, trees, houses, and people I had spent three months in after my rebirth, I felt a sense of loss and change.

When he left the manor, he was an eighth-rank military officer. Now that he has returned, he is a second-rank Marquis in charge of 100,000 troops.

All of this happened in just two short years.

Now that I've returned to my residence, I can say that there are no longer any constraints on anyone in the entire household.

Even Grandmother Jia, the Duchess and grandmother, could not belittle herself in the slightest.

Although filial piety was an ironclad rule of the Han Dynasty, Grandmother Jia had a natural advantage in terms of social standing over Jia Jing!

But if there is anything in the world that can surpass filial piety, it must be the imperial power and righteousness.

Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher; the Ruler comes before the Parents.

With the power granted by the emperor, even filial piety had to give way.

"Whoa!"