Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

On the fourth day of the second month of the sixth year of the Changwu reign of the Great Zhao Dynasty,

Xie Jing and Jiang Zining escorted the valuables from Yangzhou back to the capital, with Jia Lian and Jia Yucun, who was carrying Lin Ruhai's letter of introduction, traveling along the same route.

Jia Tang set up a large camp outside Yangzhou City, where he drilled his soldiers daily, trained his troops, and waited for an opportunity.

He commanded two battalions of over six thousand soldiers. One battalion was the Liaodong Iron Cavalry, composed entirely of cavalrymen from the second and third territories. They wore iron armor, rode warhorses, and charged swiftly and were unstoppable.

The Second Battalion was the Jiangnan Infantry Battalion, skilled in both land and water combat, and consisted mainly of infantry from the second and third territories.

These infantrymen were brave and veteran soldiers recruited by Zhao Mingshan. After being integrated, they were all assigned to Jia Tang's battalion, which meant that he got a good deal.

After all, the area inside the pass is different from the area outside the pass. There are fewer battles, and even the occasional bandits and pirates are not enough to fill the Jiangnan camp.

Three days later, following a letter from Shaoxing, Jia Tang and Lin Ruhai accompanied Lin Daiyu on a trip to Shanyin in Shaoxing Prefecture, where they met the renowned physician Zhang Jingyue. After examining her through observation, listening, questioning, and palpation, Physician Zhang looked somewhat surprised: "Is the body entirely composed of Yin meridians?"

The human body has twelve meridians, divided into six Yin and six Yang.

Doctor Zhang looked at Jia Tang and the other two, pondered for a moment, and said, "Lord, Lord Lin, the lady of your household has a peculiar constitution. Her meridians are purely Yin and lack Yang, resulting in deficiency of both Qi and blood, and she is weak and prone to illness. My medical skills are shallow, and I am powerless to change the nature of her meridians. However, she can come here once a year to receive acupuncture and moxibustion with strong medicine, which will surely ensure her well-being for a year."

"If you want to cure her completely, it would be best to let her cultivate the pure Yin method. I expect she will be exceptionally talented and a martial arts prodigy. Once the noble lady embarks on the path to immortality and tempers her internal organs to open her meridians, the stubborn disease will be easily resolved."

Lin Ruhai was overjoyed: "Is this really true?"

The doctor looked displeased: "If Lord Lin doesn't believe me, what are you doing here?"

"Ahem~"

With a soft cough from Jia Tang, Doctor Zhang finally managed to regain his composure and patiently explained in detail again.

After receiving acupuncture and moxibustion for half a day, a prescription for conditioning their bodies was given, and the three of them returned to Yangzhou City.

After returning, Jia Tang waited for the secret realm to open, spending his days either training his soldiers or cultivating with Lin Daiyu.

Every now and then, Daiyu would play the zither, and Jia Tang would practice martial arts, enjoying themselves immensely.

···

February 18th, Lin residence

Lin Daiyu was practicing the Eight Pieces of Brocade in the courtyard. She had been practicing for almost half a month now, and with the help of the prescription given by Zhang Jingyue, her complexion had become rosier and her appetite had increased.

Now, when she practices Baduanjin (Eight Pieces of Brocade), her sleeves flutter and her posture is graceful, truly captivating.

The only regret in the film and television drama is that the tears were exhausted and the soul candle was extinguished.

Jia Tang stared straight ahead at the beautiful woman before him, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Lin Daiyu's face was already flushed. This person had been staring at her blankly since he came in, and now he was laughing. She was truly overwhelmed with shyness.

Xueyan, who was standing nearby, quickly went over and called out, "Master Yu, Master Yu, please stop looking. Miss is blushing."

"You little brat, I'll tear your mouth apart!"

Lin Dai blushed and pouted, grabbing Xueyan's round, fair cheek.

Xueyan blinked her eyes, looking aggrieved and confused, which made Chunxian cover her mouth and chuckle.

Jia Tang laughed and said, "Alright, sister, spare her."

Lin Daiyu retorted sarcastically, "Oh, Lord Jia, you've got quite the airs of an official. You're even protecting my maid."

Jia Tang casually remarked, "Isn't your maid my...?"

"Pah, what nonsense are you spouting? Which one is yours? You shameless filthy thing."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu scolded him playfully, then turned and ran away with her two maids, her fair ears blushing red with embarrassment.

Seeing this, Jia Tang patted his mouth lightly. Influenced by his memories, he would occasionally blurt out all the casual remarks from his previous life, which would make him a laughing stock in the present.

"Ahem, Yu Yin, you need to be more careful with your words in the future."

Lin Ruhai, who had just arrived, overheard their conversation as soon as he entered the courtyard.

Although her daughter's words were improper and unbecoming of a young lady, it was understandable given her momentary urgency.

This kid, on the other hand, has no self-control when it comes to his mouth; he says whatever comes to mind.

Jia Tang smiled sheepishly, not expecting to have been overheard. Despite his guilty conscience, he was still indignant and teased, "Uncle, eavesdropping is ungentlemanly. You should take this as a warning."

"Hey, you little rascal."

Lin Ru smiled helplessly, then her expression turned somewhat sad: "Seeing Yu'er's complexion improve day by day truly makes me overjoyed."

"Unfortunately, your aunt won't be able to see it."

Jia Tang comforted him, saying, "Whether we can see it or not, it's still a good thing."

"Uncle, don't be too sad, live in the present."

Lin Ruhai sighed, looked at the courtyard, stroked his beard, and remained silent.

···

Meanwhile, as the long convoy drove from Tongzhou Wharf to Xianjing, the atmosphere in the capital was also inflamed by those with ulterior motives, and memorials demanding the severe punishment of Jia Tang and his two companions were flying to the cabinet like snowflakes.

Xu Mansion.

The civil officials of Lianghuai gathered, with Xu Fangxing, the Minister of Rites of Dazhao, sitting at the head of the table. Below him were Lü Guanliang, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; Fang Qilin, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue; Liu Hua, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; Wang Mo, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief; Xu Fanghua, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies; Li Wenjian, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review; and some left and right censors and officials from the Six Ministries, who took their seats in turn.

Wang Mo spoke first, his anger blazing: "That brat Jia Tang has committed countless atrocities in our ancestral land. There's no one he wouldn't dare kill, not even the governor's office of Lianghuai, the canal transport office, the salt administration office, and various prefectural offices, or even the local garrison. As a result, the people are filled with fear, and the country is on the verge of collapse."

Liu Hua continued, "That brat Jia Tang disregarded the law and privately punished several high-ranking officials of the fourth rank. This vile behavior must not be allowed to continue."

The others echoed their sentiments, and for a time, opinions were divided, with many responding to each call.

Fang Qilin pondered for a moment and said, "Jia Tang has been wantonly killing people, privately disposing of officials appointed by the court, and failing to order the sealing off of Yangzhou Prefecture. He has truly disregarded the law of the country. We must rid the country of this scourge."

Lu Guanliang remained noncommittal upon hearing this: "It's appropriate to make some changes. Jia Tang is the fourth-generation leader of the founding line. It's not good for him to have too smooth sailing. We still need to work on him for the court."

"Jade that is not carved cannot become a useful object."

Seeing this, Xu Fangxing sighed and comforted him, "I understand your thoughts, but Wu Yingbo went south on imperial orders. What he did may have been a bit extreme, but it was still an act of loyalty to the country."

"Oh dear, Grand Minister of State, we understand that you have good intentions and are concerned about the country, but think about it, can someone who slaughters the people of Jiangnan after just one trip south be a loyal subject of the dynasty?" Liu Hua stood up and refuted with certainty.

"This...this..."

Xu Fangxing's expression froze for a moment, a thoughtful look appearing between his brows.

Upon seeing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Lü Guanliang's eyes. He shook his head and said in an unquestionable manner, "Brother Xu is already quite old. There's no need for him to concern himself with such trivial matters. We will submit a memorial first, and then impeach him at the court assembly."

Seeing this, the group exchanged glances, and ignoring Xu Fangxing's darkening expression, bowed in unison: "Yes!"

After the tune was set and everyone discussed it further, they all left together.

A moment later, Xu Fangxing sat upright at the head of the table with a gloomy expression. After watching Lü Guanliang leave with his men, a faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.