Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

Inside Rongqing Hall, the invisible pressure grew heavier and heavier, causing Wang Xifeng's body to go limp and her face to grow paler and paler, making it difficult for the people around her to breathe.

"Back then, my second aunt tried to seize the command of the Tiger Guard from my family. Now, you are using the name of the manor to interfere in the family affairs of the local military officer. For a few pieces of gold and silver, you actually drove him to his death."

"If the local military officer hadn't complained to me, I would still be in the dark."

Jia Tang glanced coldly at the terrified Lady Wang, then turned to Wang Xifeng and said, "I've let your aunt's matter rest for now because of Brother Xianzhu, Baoyu, and Lan'er. But what about you? Where did you get the audacity to cross my line? Do you Wang family really think I won't slaughter your entire household?"

The people around knew they were in trouble as soon as Jia Tang brought up the old story. Then, when they heard about the foolish thing Wang Xifeng had done, their eyes went black and their hearts were filled with anger. Finally, upon hearing this, Jia She and his brother were so shocked that they stood up and hurriedly began to comfort Jia Tang.

"Oh dear, no, no, please calm down."

"Cough, not yet... not yet."

Jia Tang looked at Uncle She suspiciously. You mean it's not the right time yet?

Lady Wang hurriedly came to Jia Mu's side, trembling, and lowered her eyes, not daring to look at Jia Tang. Although Lady Xing felt happy, she also felt a wave of fear.

How dare this girl be so bold as to interfere with the military? You could have targeted the merchants, or even the civil officials.

Wang Xifeng, her pretty face streaked with tears, sobbed, "I never knew it would be like this. I only heard that the garrison commander's son was using his power to coerce the Zhang family's daughter, so I just sent a message through the mansion."

As she spoke, she grew angry, abruptly standing up and choking back tears as she shouted, "Gold and silver? This once glamorous Duke's mansion is now riddled with holes, short of money everywhere. Looking at the account books gives me a real headache, and yet we still have to maintain the mansion's facade. Nothing can be short of money. Otherwise, do you think I, your humble servant, would want to stand up for these awful things?"

Upon hearing this, Jia He's eyes widened in anger. He raised his palm, and golden energy surged forth, ready to strike down on Wang Xifeng's pretty face.

"You bastard, who do you think you are? You're asking for it!"

Knowing she had said the wrong thing, Wang Xifeng hurriedly knelt down and trembled as she lay on Grandmother Jia's lap.

"Alright, Dad, this down-on-her-luck girl has no sense of propriety when she speaks, don't take it to heart."

Seeing this, Grandmother Jia quickly protected Feng'er, slapping her twice angrily. She couldn't help but sigh and complain, "You silly girl, why didn't you tell me when the manor was short of money? You even took it upon yourself to interfere in the affairs of the local military officers!"

Jia She stroked his beard slightly, a hint of shame flashing in his eyes, and pondered, "I still have some silver in my room, so I'll use it to replenish the treasury."

Jia Zheng's face flushed red, and he was somewhat at a loss. Firstly, he was always generous and lavish towards scholars and literati who sought his help; secondly, he had no income and relied entirely on the family's support besides his salary.

Now that this has happened, he feels ashamed to face the world.

Jia Tang snorted coldly: "I have a salt transport chamber of commerce in the south, and the government gives 30% of the shares to the family. It's no problem for us to get 200,000 to 300,000 taels of profit every year."

Since Jia Tang's major purge at the beginning of the year, three new merchant guilds have emerged in Yangzhou: the Xie, Du, and Tian families. Together with the Ma family, they are known as the four major salt merchants of Yangzhou, and their influence has grown considerably.

Riding on Jia Tang's powerful influence, the Ma family's business guild has grown rapidly in the past six months, becoming arguably the largest salt merchant.

"This is the second time I've dealt with women from the Wang family. I'm only refraining from harming you because of Uncle She and Uncle Zheng. From now on, the Ning and Rong families will have no further dealings with any marriage alliances between them for the next two or three generations!"

"If there is a next time, the Wang family, relatives of the Rong family by marriage, will be exterminated, their ancestral hall destroyed, and not a single chicken or dog spared."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wang, who had her head bowed, showed a fluctuating expression, with a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

But Wang Ziteng has just suffered a defeat, so she lacks confidence.

Wait a minute, wait until some second-tier cultivators also emerge from my Wang family, then...

Upon hearing that there would be silver every year, Wang Xifeng stopped crying and became fearless. With red eyes, she laughed and said confidently, "Brother Tiger, don't worry. If I ever get involved in military affairs again, you can kill your sister-in-law."

"That would be best."

Jia Tang snorted coldly and led his group away.

Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Jia Tang and the Tiger Guards leave.

Yuanyang hurriedly stepped forward, pulled Wang Xifeng up, and helped her to sit down to the side.

Grandmother Jia breathed a sigh of relief and scolded, "You shameless scoundrel, what kind of audacity did you have to dare to interfere in the military's affairs? In any other place, you wouldn't even know how you died."

"Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law knows she was wrong. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against someone from a humble family like mine."

"Now you're being all smooth talker again. Why didn't you apologize to him just now?"

"I'm afraid I'll lose my life if I confess."

Grandmother Jia angrily slapped Wang Xifeng, then looked up at her two sons and said, "It's alright, you two can go now."

Jia She shook his head, gestured to Madam Xing, and then sighed, "You and the second son go first. I have something to tell Feng'er."

The group thought to themselves that they really needed to give them some pointers, because if it happened again, things might get out of control.

After Jia Zheng rose and bowed to the two women in turn, he led Lady Wang to the study to prepare to sell some antiques and calligraphy to supplement the family income. Lady Xing, on the other hand, returned to her room as if she had just watched a good show.

Seeing that they had walked away, Jia She ignored his daughter-in-law, took out a secret report from his pocket, and handed it to his mother.

The old lady took it with a puzzled look, and after looking at it for a while, her expression suddenly changed. After dismissing Yuanyang, she hurriedly asked Jia She, "Is that really so?"

Upon seeing Jia She nod with a gloomy expression, Grandmother Jia collapsed onto the couch, muttering, "It's all over, Master, I'm so sorry, the direct line of She'er's family is now extinct."

Wang Xifeng, who had just taken a sip of tea, was struck dumb upon hearing this. The teacup fell to the ground, and she stared blankly at the two of them.

Jia She pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Mother, there are only two ways now. First, change the family genealogy to elevate Cong'er to the status of the legitimate son."

"No, if this starts, there will be no shortage of brothers fighting each other, and the whole world will laugh at us. A son born out of wedlock can only be a son born out of wedlock, while the legitimate heir is the true heir."

Seeing this, Jia She remained calm and slowly said, "Then let's take advantage of this good-for-nothing still being in the manor and find someone to conceive with."

Grandmother Jia sighed, "I knew you were so proud. Who in the direct line of the household could possibly meet your standards? We can't possibly look for someone from outside..."

As she spoke, she thought of Hu'er, who had just gone out, and immediately sat up straight, frowning as she looked at her eldest son.

After seeing him nod slightly, Grandmother Jia leaned back, staring at Jia She with a deep gaze, and after a long while spoke: "You should know my heart."

"Rest assured, if this matter is successful, this child will only inherit my title and will be my grandson, Jia She. He will not be involved in any matters over there."