[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber":3,"chapter-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-86":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","My Life as a Rising Force in the Red Chamber",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2310884,4515,"Chapter 86: Sharp Tongue, Swift as a Knife (Please Collect and Follow!)","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-86",86,"\u003Cp>Jia Cong’s earlier humble expression vanished entirely; his features were now icy cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced coldly at Zhang Shi, then asked Lady Wang: “Madam, may I ask who this esteemed relative is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang, seeing Jia Cong’s hostile demeanor, felt uneasy but had no choice—Grandmother Jia was still watching above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She is your Wang family’s aunt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.” Jia Cong did not turn to greet Zhang Shi; instead, he looked back at Jia Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandmother, the old servants in this household often say I resemble my mother, and they’ve also spoken ill of my late mother’s lowly origins. When I returned last time, I heard that Second Sister had received your orders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You severely punished those lowly women who dared disrespect their betters and spread gossip—restoring the household’s dignity and avenging me. I am deeply grateful for your kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong spoke these words with calm detachment, yet when he uttered “lowly women who spread gossip,” he emphasized each syllable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noblewomen in Rongqing Hall, all seasoned mistresses of the inner quarters, could not miss the veiled insult; somehow, they all felt a quiet satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This youth was not only astonishingly handsome, but his tongue was just as sharp—he could insult without ever naming names, truly satisfying. Those who’ve studied truly aren’t harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a Jia descendant; if any of our servants speak ill of you, how could I possibly let it slide? Otherwise, what would become of our household’s dignity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, Grandmother took action against them. Next time, if such wicked servants still slander, I dare not trouble you again—defaming my birth mother is an unforgivable offense!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women in the hall, all of whom had endured the agony of ten months of pregnancy, were moved by Jia Cong’s heartfelt words; many even teared up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noblewomen like Lady Chen of Baoling Marquisate and Lady Li of Zhongjing Marquisate naturally looked down on Wang Ziteng—a man with no family backing, who rose only by riding on others’ coattails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a son does not despise his mother for her lowliness; his birth mother carried him for ten months and gave him life—she is, in Jia Cong’s eyes, the noblest woman in the world!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women in the hall thought: this Zhang Shi, herself a woman, was so vulgar and cruel with her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu glanced at Zhang Shi, whose arrogance had crumbled, and unexpectedly found herself in silent accord with this grandson she had never favored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she saw Lady Wang’s eyes blazing at her; her heart chilled—thankfully, she wasn’t entirely foolish, and understood Lady Wang was sternly warning her not to cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she did, she’d be admitting she was one of those gossiping lowly women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having witnessed Zhang Shi’s behavior, Jia Cong despised her even more—you Wang family haven’t even secured your position yet, and you dare insult your benefactors? You deserve to be publicly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of these terrifying consequences, Zhang Shi’s face turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, it was said Jia Cong’s mother died in childbirth trying to bear him—she too was a pitiful woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang’s fingers tightened around her prayer beads, turning white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Spring and Autumn Annals say: “A son who does not avenge his mother is no son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Jia and Wang families were on the verge of open conflict; her younger sister would find it hard to survive in the Jia household from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jia family is a martial lineage, its valor undiminished; Jia Cong, though not yet twenty, possesses the courage of a son ready to spill blood to the fifth step!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shi, enraged that Jia Cong had dared to secretly call her a gossiping lowly woman in public, was about to erupt in a tantrum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then Jia Cong said to Jia Mu: “When I was born, my birth mother passed away early; I had no fortune to enjoy her care. Outsiders often criticized her lowly origins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband’s advancement depended entirely on the Jia family—what would become of her future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would have thought this Jia Cong was so formidable? Grandmother, though aged, was no fool—today’s spectacle was truly worth watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the debt of birth and nurture outweighs heaven itself—what does it matter if she was a courtesan? She still carried her child for ten months and suffered every pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words rang like metal and stone, carrying a chilling, bitter edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The women in the hall turned pale; Zhang Shi’s face turned deathly white—whether from rage or fear, she trembled all over, forgetting even to scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong’s words were sharp, yet no flaw could be found—servants who speak ill, if killed for it, what of it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the slave contract was in hand, it was merely a matter of compensating with grain and silver; it was common for noble families to kill their servants, punished at most with a reprimand from the Clan Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But was Jia Cong truly speaking of killing servants? No—he was publicly piercing her heart, equating Wang Zhang Shi with a wicked, lowly slave, and returning her insult with equal venom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Mu’s heart turned cold at these words, recalling how Jia Cong once broke Wang Shanbao’s wife’s legs—that foolish woman had long since been beheaded, her bones long turned to dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This grandson, though fond of books, showed none of the softness or foolishness of scholars; once he took a grudge, his heart was ruthless. Why had that foolish woman of the Wang family provoked him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this troublemaker would not swallow his anger and would surely seek revenge, Jia Mu worried the situation might spiral out of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She cast several glances at Lady Wang—after all, this was a Wang family’s doing; if not her to clean up the mess, then who?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, Jia Cong pressed further, advancing step by step, and asked Zhang Shi in a stern voice: “Your household’s wicked servants have spread so many such idle words—what do you mean, Aunt Wang, when you say I resemble my mother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He first accused the household servants of spreading such gossip, then asked Zhang Shi what she meant by saying it—thus directly equating her with the Jia household’s slaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this wrong? Didn’t the Wang family rise only by marrying into the Jia family, siphoning off generations of their legacy, and seizing the position of Nine Provinces Commander? What difference was there between them and parasitic slaves?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people in the hall were all seasoned in worldly affairs—they could not miss the sharp mockery and sarcasm in Jia Cong’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shi’s face flushed and paled in turns; she had come to crush a soft target, only to punch a board of nails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was blunt-minded and lacked Jia Cong’s quick wit; seeing Lady Wang’s stern expression, she dared not cause a scene, yet could not think of a proper retort—her eyes grew red with frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rongqing Hall turned as cold as the depths of winter, sending chills up every spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Chen of Baoling Marquisate, Lady Li of Zhongjing Marquisate, and others sat stunned—this Jia Cong was too formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his birth mother was insulted, he showed not the slightest mercy, striking back like a blade and dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he clung tightly to the moral high ground, leaving no opening for criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At such a young age, he already possessed such courage and skill—what would he become when he grew older?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong knew Zhang Shi dared insult him in public only because she believed him low-born—she sought to trample him to elevate Bao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past two years, he had devoted himself to study at Qingshan Academy, passed the imperial examinations consecutively, and then cleared the county and prefectural tests, causing a great stir in the Jia household.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guo Zhi, the driver who fetched him, said Jia Zheng had grown increasingly strict in disciplining Bao Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Wang, who doted on her son, naturally resented this—she could not bear any Jia youth overshadowing Bao Yu. Though she never spoke of it to Jia Zheng, she must have already blamed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shi, as Lady Wang’s sister-in-law, likely knew some of her thoughts—otherwise, she would not have acted this way today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Cong could not tell whether Zhang Shi had been instigated by Lady Wang or had acted on her own initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it did not matter—when someone slaps you, you do not offer your other cheek; you must strike back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no longer the illegitimate son struggling to survive in the Eastern Courtyard two years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past two years, he had studied day and night, secured his place at Qingshan Academy, aimed to win the academy examination, and secretly partnered with Qu Hongxiu in the perfume business, securing financial backing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these resources, even without the Jia household, he had more than enough means to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he upheld filial piety and propriety on the surface, leaving no opening for criticism, he had nothing to fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, she was merely a distant relative—a foolish woman. He saw clearly that Zhang Shi dared not tear the veil in front of Jia Mu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because when he returned last time, Jia Zheng had mentioned Wang Ziteng was maneuvering for the position of Nine Provinces Commander, and the Jia family’s role in it was significant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this critical juncture, the Wang family relied heavily on the Jia household—they would never risk their face over such trivial matters. Even if Zhang Shi was foolish, Lady Wang present would never allow such a thing to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, if he did not strike while the iron was hot, soon even cats and dogs would climb onto his head and act with impunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1616,"2026-06-20T12:19:54.434Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","377b9514ec308c6a1a54ed71069859a79e472ac141af870c0c70a2f9e381513b","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-87","my-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-chapter-85",920,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmy-life-as-a-rising-force-in-the-red-chamber-cover.jpg"]