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

Sister Feng smiled and chimed in:

"Grandma has been waiting for you to come home for lunch all day, and since you didn't come back, she was worried about you and couldn't eat much!"

A few good-natured chuckles immediately filled the room.

Jia Jing didn't say much, but simply sat down on a chair to the side, straightened his posture, and said:

"I returned a little late because I was in the palace discussing matters."

Grandmother Jia hurriedly said:

"Business is important, waiting at home is a minor matter! Let's start the meal, today is a good day for the whole family to have a lively meal together."

"We can talk about the rest after dinner. Aunt Lao has been waiting for us for a long time, so let's get the banquet started!"

Aunt Xue, who was standing to the side, was looking at Jia Jing with a smile, and she liked him more and more the more she looked at him.

I originally thought this young man was a military general and would be rather rugged-looking, but I didn't expect him to be so handsome, even more so than the other young masters of the Jia family.

In particular, his dignified and solemn demeanor was something that even young masters like Baoyu could hardly match.

He is powerful and handsome, making him a perfect candidate for son-in-law.

Aunt Xue was like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, and the more she looked, the more she fell in love with him.

Upon hearing Grandmother Jia mention him, he quickly smiled politely and said:

"What's the point of waiting a while? Today, the Marquis is returning to his residence, and I'm just here to share in the joy."

Then he turned to Jia Jing and said:

"Lord Marquis, please visit my Pear Fragrance Courtyard when you have time. My good-for-nothing son of mine has always admired your abilities and has mentioned you at home several times, hoping to meet you!"

Jia Jing replied in a deep voice:

"I'll definitely visit my aunt when I have time!"

Soon, the women brought out the utensils, and the atmosphere in the hall reached a climax.

The maids and servants set up the table and arranged the seating, and the kitchen staff quickly brought in dishes one after another.

Jia Jing naturally did not dine with Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and others. He was not Jia Baoyu, who, despite his age, still liked to snuggle in Grandmother Jia's arms.

He went to the outer hall and drank and dined with Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and others.

Everyone came to toast him, their faces beaming with smiles and their mouths full of compliments.

After the first round of drinks was finished, Yuanyang, who was inside, came to offer a toast on behalf of Grandmother Jia, and Jia Jing drank it with a light laugh.

Then came Li Wan, Feng Jie, and others.

After two rounds of drinking and dinner, and after seeing off the Ningguo Mansion group and Aunt Xue and the others, nearly an hour and a half had passed.

It was completely dark by then, and red lanterns were hung everywhere in the Jia mansion for illumination.

Rongqing Hall was left with only the masters of the Rongguo Mansion, including Grandmother Jia, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Sister Feng, and the three sisters.

Jia Jing drank a cup of fragrant tea brought to him by Yuanyang to sober up, and now it was time for his family to speak.

Grandmother Jia smiled and spoke first:

"Jing-ge'er, you've been away for two years, fighting several battles. You haven't suffered any injuries, have you?"

Jia Jing said in a deep voice:

"Thanks to the blessings of Lords Lai Rong and Ning, we escaped unscathed. While fighting outside is dangerous, it's mostly open warfare. But within the capital, there are both open and covert attacks, so we must be much more vigilant."

Grandmother Jia was momentarily stunned, feeling that her third grandson's words were implied, as if he were referring to her.

Jia Jing glanced at everyone in the hall, clearly intending to end this joyous family atmosphere.

Since returning to the mansion, under the arrangement of Grandmother Jia, there has been laughter and joy everywhere.

The servants showed him respect, and his brothers and elders fawned over him, as if he had suddenly been surrounded by good people, as if they were all his own.

But he never forgot his purpose; he didn't come home to enjoy family bliss, and he didn't have that kind of affection for Grandmother Jia.

He returned to reorganize the family, eliminate corruption, and rebuild its traditions, so that the Jia family would become his own, rather than a political burden.

Although he could feel the sincerity of Emperor Jingsheng after his interaction with him today, and that the emperor was truly open and honest with him.

But in politics, one cannot let personal feelings dictate one's actions, much less completely trust the promises made by those in power at one time.

Jia Jing's goal has never changed; the core objective remains promotion and rewards. The system is the foundation of his livelihood.

Another key aspect is to continuously consolidate military power. Only those military leaders with power have a strong backbone and their words carry weight.

With Qin Qiong and the Xuanjia Army in Liaodong, he can control a portion of the military power there.

Next is the control of the 200,000 troops of the Ba Shang Camp and the Jing Camp. Only if we can hold these in our hands can we truly be at ease.

Of course, he didn't mean to rebel against Emperor Jingsheng. If Emperor Jingsheng continued to trust him, he might well become a loyal minister and general to assist Emperor Jingsheng.

He fully supported Emperor Jingsheng's policies and ideas on reform, strengthening the country and enriching the people, and purifying the bureaucracy.

"When poor, one should cultivate one's own virtue; when successful, one should benefit all under heaven" was also his motto.

However, times change. If Emperor Jingsheng changes his mind or abandons him after using him, he is not a blindly loyal person.

In short, he was not used to having his fate in the hands of others.

Grandmother Jia smiled again and asked in a kind tone:

"Did His Majesty say what arrangements he would make for you upon your return to the capital? Would you stay in the capital to take up a post, or would you return to the border after some time?"

Grandmother Jia's words were actually a test to see if there would be any repercussions for Jia Jing's anger that caused the Duke of Zhao to vomit blood.

If this matter displeases the emperor, he will certainly not assign Jia Jing a good position.

If the emperor continues to favor them, he will naturally appoint them to important positions and make them his confidants.

Others also looked at Jia Jing, such as Lady Wang and Sister Feng.

If Jia Jing were to leave again after a while, the household would still be managed by them, just like before.

If Jia Jing were to take up a post in the capital, the power structure of the Rongguo Mansion would inevitably change.

With a second-rank marquis residing in the mansion, and possessing such a strong character, it's as if they have another "Grandmother Jia" above them; no one can ignore his feelings and opinions.

Tan Chun, Dai Yu, and the others also kept a close eye on Jia Jing. They didn't want their third brother to go out to fight again so soon after returning to the mansion, and they wouldn't see him for several years.

"His Majesty has appointed me as the military governor of Ba Shang Camp. The imperial edict should be issued in the next couple of days, and I expect to be staying in Shenjing for some time to come," Jia Jing said frankly.

"What?! The military governor of Ba Shang Camp?"

Grandmother Jia looked shocked.

This was something she hadn't expected at all.

Firstly, Jia Jing had just offended the Duke of Zhao, and the Ba Shang camp had always been controlled by the military merits of the Jingnan Camp. How could it be handed over to Jia Jing, the descendant of the founding military merits?

Secondly, Jia Jing was only a third-rank official, while the military governor of Ba Shang was a third-rank official, so there was a difference of one rank between them!

She felt that even if Jia Jing stayed in the capital, he could at most become a commander in the Beijing Garrison or a commander in the Imperial Guard, which would be considered quite good!

I never expected the emperor to trust him so much!

Entrusting the 100,000 troops of the Ba Shang camp to Jia Jing is a truly high-ranking and powerful position!

If it were just the title of Marquis, she believed she could still keep Jia Jing in check to some extent!

But such power is not something an old lady from the inner quarters can control!

Once she understood this, Grandmother Jia knew that her worries of the past few days had become a reality, and that the carefree days of the past were probably gone forever!

Madam Wang, standing to the side, had a glint in her eye, her fair face filled with resentment.

The military governor of Ba Shang Camp?

This is a position that even his older brother, Wang Ziteng, couldn't obtain, yet it was taken by a mere boy like Jing-ge!

Could it be that Jia Jing, a young man who served in the border region for two years, is more knowledgeable about military affairs and more capable than his older brother who has been in officialdom for many years?

That's absolutely impossible!

Could the emperor have become incompetent?