Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Just as Jia Yun was about to leave Lan Yue Xuan, he saw Feng Ziying hurriedly lift the curtain and enter from the outside.

With a hint of apology on his face for failing to fulfill his duty as host, he glanced around and went straight to Jia Yun.

"Yun-ge'er! I'm so sorry!" Feng Ziying grabbed Jia Yun's arm, his tone sincere. "There were some urgent matters at home, and my father called me in for questioning for quite a while, leaving you here alone for so long! Has anyone been so blind as to come looking for trouble?"

Seeing his sincerity, Jia Yun's displeasure at being neglected vanished.

He replied with a smile, "Brother Feng, you flatter me. I have benefited greatly from observing the demeanor of all of you outstanding individuals. There is no trouble at all."

At this moment, Wu Sangui also strolled over and chimed in, "Brother Feng, the Brother Jia you introduced is indeed a man of great talent."

He turned his gaze to Jia Yun, only managing a wry smile and a shake of his head: "Although Yun-ge'er's unarmed combat skills are still lacking, his spear technique is so solid and his strength so formidable. Given time, he will surely become a rare and formidable general on the battlefield! It's just a pity, a real pity, that his ambitions lie elsewhere."

Wu Sangui's final sigh was directed at Feng Ziying, and his tone was full of regret.

Upon hearing this, Feng Ziying's face lit up instantly. He patted Jia Yun on the shoulder with pride and said loudly to Wu Sangui and the surrounding crowd who were listening intently, "How about that? I told you long ago, Brother Yun has real skills! He can use his pen to bring peace to the world and his horse to conquer it! When have my eyes, Feng Ziying's, ever been wrong?"

He was clearly speaking intentionally to those who might have previously underestimated Jia Yun. The young man in fine clothes, upon hearing this, turned pale and wished he could disappear into the ground.

Ignoring everyone else, Feng Ziying grabbed Jia Yun and said, "Come on, Yun-ge'er! My father is in the garden too; he was just asking about you. Uncle Wu and several other uncles are here too; I'll take you to see them!"

Jia Yun's heart stirred slightly. Feng Ziying's father, Feng Tang, was a Divine Martial General, a powerful figure in the Han army.

Although we met briefly at the Rongguo Mansion last time, we didn't have a proper conversation. If I could gain his favor, it would be of great benefit.

He immediately nodded: "With Uncle Feng here, it is only right for this junior to pay my respects."

Feng Ziying was overjoyed and called out to Wu Sangui. The three of them then left Lanyue Pavilion together, passed through several winding corridors, and arrived at a more spacious and elegant warm pavilion.

The furnishings here are not as opulent as those at Lan Yue Xuan, but rather more rustic and dignified, with the air filled with the fragrance of fine sandalwood and crisp tea. Several middle-aged men, some dressed in military uniforms and others in scholar's robes, are sitting around, sipping tea and talking in hushed tones.

Feng Ziying went in first, bowing respectfully: "Father, Uncle Wu, and all my uncles, I have brought Jia Yun with me."

Jia Yun followed closely behind, his gaze sweeping quickly across the room. He saw that sitting in the main seat was Feng Tang, whose face was refined yet imposing. Below him was a middle-aged general whose face bore a striking resemblance to Wu Sangui, with a sharp and dignified expression. This must be Wu Xiang, the General of Liaodong.

The others all possessed extraordinary bearing, yet he did not recognize a single one of them.

Jia Yun dared not be negligent, stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Junior Jia Yun greets Uncle Feng and all the esteemed officials."

Feng Tang put down his teacup and gestured with his right hand: "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise and speak."

He scrutinized Jia Yun from head to toe, his admiration growing stronger: "Just now I heard the commotion outside, saying that someone was wielding a ten-pound ironwood spear and fighting my nephew San Gui for over twenty rounds to a draw. I was wondering whose hero it was, and it turns out it's you, lad. Not bad, truly not bad! Last time at your esteemed residence, I saw how composed you were, and I knew you were no ordinary person. I never expected you to have such a foundation in martial arts. Rare indeed!"

Feng Tang, clearly intending to mentor him, smiled and said to everyone present, "Gentlemen, this child is the one I mentioned to you last time. His writing is solid and insightful. Now it seems he truly excels in both literature and martial arts. Yun-ge, come, come, let me introduce you. These gentlemen are…"

Before he could finish speaking, Jia Yun stepped forward and bowed deeply to everyone present with a smile: "Uncle Feng, please wait a moment. As for the names of all of you gentlemen, this junior... may I presume to guess?"

"Oh?" Feng Tang raised an eyebrow in surprise, exchanged a meaningful glance with Wu Xiang, and then smiled and stroked his beard to observe the situation.

Jia Yun turned his gaze to the middle-aged official with a round face and dignified demeanor, and said respectfully, "This gentleman has an imposing presence, and his brows reveal the plans for the nation and its people. He must be Minister Wang, who is in charge of the nation's finances and expenditures."

Vice Minister Wang was the very man who had spoken up for Jia Yun in the Rongguo Mansion. Seeing that Jia Yun "recognized" him, he clapped his hands and laughed heartily: "What a clever lad! You're truly a thoughtful person! It wasn't for nothing that I said a few good words for you back then!"

Jia Yun then looked at the general with a cold face and sharp, hawk-like eyes. After a moment's thought, he said, "This general has a restrained aura of menace, sits upright like a pine tree, and has unusually large knuckles. He must be a veteran of many battles, drawing a strong bow and drinking strong liquor. Judging from his eyebrows, he bears a striking resemblance to Brother Wu... I dare to speculate that you must be General Wu Xiang, who commands respect throughout Liaodong!"

A hint of surprise flashed across Wu Xiang's eyes, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Jia Yun then accurately mentioned two other people he had met once at the Rongguo Mansion and who had affirmed his official status. The two men stroked their beards and smiled, nodding repeatedly, feeling quite proud.

However, there were still two unfamiliar faces at the table. Similarly, Jia Yun accurately stated their surnames and official titles.

One of the eunuchs, with a fair complexion and a slightly effeminate air, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Eh? My dear nephew, since you recognize them, you must have seen them before. But we've never met you before, so how did you know our identities?"

This man was a chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, surnamed Zhao. Although he did not pass the imperial examination, he wielded considerable power.

Another middle-aged man, dressed in ordinary brocade robes but with the air of a high-ranking official, also looked at Jia Yun with great interest, waiting for his answer.

This man is the newly appointed Prefect of Shenjing, surnamed Chen, who is visiting in plain clothes today.

Jia Yun calmly cupped his hands again, a perfectly measured smile on his face, and replied composedly, "Reporting to Steward Zhao and Prefect Zhou, this junior does not possess the ability to foresee the future. It's just that... it's just that this junior's ears are slightly more sensitive than ordinary people's."

"A keen ear?" Steward Zhao became increasingly curious, his narrow eyes squinting.

"Indeed," Jia Yun explained. "While I was waiting outside the warm pavilion to be announced, I vaguely heard the esteemed officials inside talking loudly. Uncle Feng's voice was loud and clear. He mentioned 'Vice Minister Wang' and 'General Wu,' and also the titles 'Eunuch Zhao of the Imperial Household Department' and 'Lord Zhou of the Capital.' My memory is not bad, so I silently memorized them. Just now, after entering, I observed everyone's demeanor and seating arrangements, and confirmed the names I heard. Only then did I dare to speak. It was truly a clever trick, and I ask for your forgiveness."

His words were impeccable, explaining why he could "recognize" everyone while also appearing incredibly honest and without any arrogance.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Zhou couldn't help but smile, but then pressed on, "I see. However, just by hearing the name and observing the seating arrangement and demeanor, you are so certain. Aren't you afraid of mistaking someone for someone else and becoming a laughingstock?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Yun's smile became even more composed, displaying a youthful shrewdness and confidence. He replied loudly, "Prefect Zhou, you are wise. This junior... is indeed quite confident and dares not admit any mistake."

"Oh? How so?"

"Facial features." Jia Yun's gaze slowly swept over everyone, beginning his skillful flattery, which was described as "observant and meticulous."

"Take General Wu for example. I saw that his eyebrows were like knives, but he had an imposing aura that didn't need to be angry. Wherever his gaze fell, there was the faint sound of clashing swords and galloping horses. This was a chilling aura that had been forged in a sea of ​​blood and corpses, which was impossible for others to imitate."

"Vice Minister Wang had a face as round as the full moon, and his words concerned the national economy and the people's livelihood. This was the dignified demeanor of someone who was in charge of the budget, knew the abundance or scarcity of the harvest, and cared about the common people."

"Steward Zhao's voice... is clear and refined, and his demeanor is measured and disciplined. Clearly, having spent many years in the Forbidden City, the rules of the imperial family have become ingrained in his very being."

"And you, Prefect Zhou, have a natural air of sagacity between your brows, yet you remain composed and dignified, which is the natural authority of a people-friendly official who is busy with countless affairs and in charge of criminal and financial matters in the capital."

"Esteemed gentlemen, each possesses a unique and dignified presence, and each radiates an unparalleled brilliance. Though I am dull-witted, how could I possibly... how could I possibly mistake them?"

Jia Yun's flattery was somewhat unreasonable.

Although these reasons sound somewhat far-fetched, they were spoken with such sincerity by a young man, making them all the more pleasant to hear.

"Hahaha!" Feng Tang was the first to clap his hands and laugh, pointing at Jia Yun and saying to the crowd, "How about that? I told you this kid was a shrewd fellow, didn't I? This whole 'fearless nonsense' is utter rubbish! Yet, you somehow find some truth in what he says!"

Vice Minister Wang laughed so hard he almost fell over, pointing at Jia Yun and saying, "Slippery! What a slippery one!"

Wu Xiang's usual cold expression melted away, and a rare, obvious smile appeared on his face.

Steward Zhao and Prefect Zhou exchanged a knowing smile, clearly amused by Jia Yun's witty and clever retort. Far from being offended, they found the young man's quick thinking and genuinely interesting.

Standing beside Feng Ziying, Wu Sangui watched as Jia Yun, in a short time, used his quick wit and eloquence to make all the elders in the room, some of whom were of high rank and some of stern temperament, smile and create a harmonious atmosphere.

He felt a chill run down his spine once more: "This boy's cunning and scheming are simply... terrifying. If he's a friend, great fortune; if he's an enemy..."