Chapter 880

Rongguo Prefecture, Rongqing Hall.

Bao Yu either trembled in fear or spoke candidly, believing he was struggling to survive and clinging to his purity out of self-preservation—yet in truth, it was merely laziness disguised as pretense.

Ying Chun and the other sisters saw through him but scorned to speak up; Jia Mu and Lady Wang doted on him so deeply that even if they saw through him, they would never expose him.

Thus, though Bao Yu was as timid as a mouse, he inwardly believed himself uniquely enlightened; his words trembled, yet his heart harbored self-satisfied longing.

Only when Jia Zheng, in a fit of furious rage, delivered a sharp slap, did all his delusions shatter—he dared not feel grief or anger, only fear, forgetting his purity and clinging only to survival.

That slap was shockingly loud, revealing the full fury of Jia Zheng’s wrath, his strength unleashed to its utmost, so powerful it struck dread into all who heard.

Behind the screen, Shi Xiangyun pouted and rubbed her throbbing forehead, yet she did not see Bao Yu’s cheek, already instantly swollen and red.

Lady Wang’s heart cracked with pain; she rushed forward to support Bao Yu, but since her husband was disciplining their son and the old lady was present, she dared not speak.

With the old lady’s thunderous anger looming, wielding the blade and mounting the horse, there must be reason—surely the master would rein himself in…

Jia Mu, seeing Bao Yu’s swollen cheek, trembled with fright, her heart swelling with both pain and rage; she was about to rebuke her son.

But Jia Zheng, incited by Bao Yu’s reckless words, felt his chest erupt with pent-up fire, his fury surging to the crown of his head, and the words burst forth before Jia Mu could open her mouth.

Jia Zheng pointed at Bao Yu and shouted: “You shameless beast, you have no sense of heaven or earth.

Jia family has many descendants; the old lady has Cong Ge and the girls to honor her—what are you, to dare speak of filial piety here?

Without your false sentiment, would Jia family lose filial piety? You are truly shameless.

The National Academy is a public instrument of the court, a place to cultivate talent and nurture scholars—yet you have polluted it with your slick lies. Those who study there are all men who have abandoned filial piety—this is absurd and outrageous.

You ignorant, foolish beast, do you know how many purple-robed officials in the court once studied hard in the National Academy and entered officialdom through the imperial examinations?

Are all these court officials disloyal to filial piety? Hasn’t the Great Zhou always governed by filial virtue? Are all our officials unfilial?

You ignorant, rebellious monster, you’ve sunk to such madness—your words today, if they leak even slightly, will make Jia family the enemy of every official in court.

Cong Ge’s tireless study and the scholarly honor he won for our family will be destroyed by you in an instant!

Had the old lady not been here, I would not have disturbed her—yet I would have flayed you alive right now, ending this matter once and for all, and finally gaining peace.”

…

Jia Mu had intended to rebuke her son for striking her grandson so harshly, but Bao Yu’s idle words, in Jia Zheng’s eyes, were so grave.

They could turn Jia family into the enemy of every official in court—Jia Mu’s heart shuddered, and the curses on her lips vanished into silence.

Noble families, generations enjoying wealth and privilege—even if their heirs are worthless, even if they commit crimes in the marketplace, as long as it’s not a major case, it’s merely a matter of spending influence and silver.

As long as they can quiet the storm without damaging the family’s foundation, their wealth and status endure.

But if a military noble family makes enemies of civil officials, it becomes nearly impossible to resolve—carelessness invites ruin and destruction.

Now, in the Great Zhou’s era of peace, even with the remnants of the Mongols threatening the north, civil officials still govern the court—and their tongues are sharper than generals’ swords and spears.

Jia Mu had spent a lifetime as a noble lady; she understood this well.

If her son was right—that Jia family would offend every civil official—that would be a catastrophe…

…

Jia Mu cried urgently: “Bao Yu only spoke a few idle words. Even if he was wrong, you could scold him—why strike him so brutally?

He’s a young man about to marry and establish himself—how can you treat him like a child? What would people say if this got out?”

Jia Zheng’s face flushed crimson: “Old Lady, if he’d spoken ordinary idle talk, I would never have disrespected you here.

But this monster is so foolish, so ignorant and arrogant, he has no sense of right or wrong, no respect for taboos.

His nonsense just now—if even a whisper spreads—it won’t just make Jia family a laughingstock, it will bring disaster upon us.”

Jia Mu’s expression shifted slightly: “I know Bao Yu shouldn’t have slandered the National Academy, but it’s just idle talk within the inner quarters—how could it be as serious as you say?”

Jia Zheng said: “Old Lady, have you forgotten? Last time Bao Yu insulted the Retired Emperor—wasn’t that just ‘inner quarters gossip’? Yet it sparked a massive scandal.

The Imperial Clan Court sent an official letter to rebuke us—what noble family has ever suffered such humiliation?

At that time, Cong Ge was being betrothed, and the Emperor favored him greatly, and ancestral blessings still lingered—so the palace showed us some mercy.

Otherwise, Bao Yu would have been punished long ago—how could this beast have escaped so easily? He committed such a disgrace, yet still shows no warning.

Now he dares to speak foolishly in the inner quarters, twisting the filial piety of National Academy scholars.

He’s a fool, yet believes himself right—how did I raise such a disgrace? How can he still have the face to live?

Old Lady, the court nobles may be magnanimous, but civil officials in the court are entirely different.

They follow the path of sages and scriptures, upholding the Dao of loyalty, filial piety, propriety, and righteousness with absolute rigor—no deviation tolerated.

If Bao Yu’s words leak even slightly, every civil official will erupt in outrage.

If those who study in the National Academy are unfilial, who among them will bear this stain? They will swarm together to denounce Jia family for corrupting education, for raising wild, lawless heirs.

The Censorate’s censors will immediately impeach us—we will become the target of all.

How can I ever hold my head high before other noble families? How can I continue serving in office with any dignity?

If the Imperial Clan Court decides to act on words alone, they may come again. Bao Yu has repeatedly provoked outrage—if I don’t kill him, he shouldn’t live.

Not only will Jia family’s reputation be ruined, but Cong Ge is now leading troops into battle—our family’s greatest honor—yet this beast has tainted it. How can we bear it?”

…

Jia Mu, hearing Jia Zheng’s cutting words, turned pale. Thinking of the Imperial Clan Court’s visit and recalling the past, she trembled with lingering dread.

She cried: “Yuanyang, go to the door and guard it. Note every person who walks by—make them all keep their mouths shut. Whoever speaks out will not be spared!”

Yuanyang immediately agreed and hurried out to inspect and warn them; her disdain for Bao Yu deepened, and as she left, she cast him a scornful glance.

This Second Master Bao may be useless, but if he’d just quietly enjoyed his meals, it would be fine—yet he’s always convinced he’s right, spouting nonsense and causing trouble, never letting anyone rest.

Third Master builds merit outside; he tears down the family at home—truly incapable of success, only fit for failure.

Bao Yu’s cheek burned, his heart full of grievance—but hearing Jia Mu’s anxious words and seeing Yuanyang rush out, he swallowed his grievance entirely.

That time the Imperial Clan Court came to the door, his father had nearly beaten him to death in front of everyone, and he’d lain on his bed for months before he could walk again.

To endure such a disaster again—better to die now and be done with it…

Lady Wang was also stunned by Jia Zheng’s words. She had wanted to defend Bao Yu, but now dared not utter a single word.

…

Jia Mu, though pained by Bao Yu’s beating, could not help complaining: “Bao Yu, from now on, be careful what you say.

About studies, examinations, officialdom, or any controversy—don’t utter a single word. Don’t invite more trouble and make your father angry.”

Bao Yu, hearing this, felt unbearable injustice—if Jia Zheng hadn’t been there, he would have screamed and wept bitterly.

He had just been brutally beaten by his father—yet in the past, the old lady would have been heartbroken, scolding him severely.

Now even the old lady had changed—her pity and affection had dwindled, and she told him to speak less.

I spoke nothing but my true heart—yet the world is too hypocritical, too obsessed with profit; filial piety is all pretense, nothing but empty performance.

These profit-seeking officials, crawling like flies, utterly false—they do absurd, unreasonable things, yet hate to be exposed.

Once you peel back their masks, they stir up storms, accuse, impeach, use every underhanded trick—their faces are utterly repulsive.

So I was right to say the Eight-Legged Essay corrupts men—how many talented youths have become profit-seeking worms? My insight was never wrong.

No matter how the world deceives or insults me, I will never abandon this bright moon, this purity…

Bao Yu’s face burned with shame, yet in that instant he found an excuse—and his humiliation vanished, replaced once more by longing and self-satisfaction.

If Jia Zheng knew his thoughts now, he would unleash his full fury and kill this monster on the spot.

…

Jia Mu, after hearing Jia Zheng’s words, became even more convinced that Bao Yu’s plan to study outside was ill-advised.

She sighed: “Bao Yu has always lived safely at home—he knows nothing of the outside world, and he has a stubborn, foolish streak.

Not to mention his weak body, unable to endure the National Academy’s workload—his temperament is worrying too. One careless word outside would only bring more trouble.”

“In my view, the matter of studying at the National Academy should be delayed another year.”

Lady Wang, hearing this, breathed a sigh of relief. The National Academy affair had already caused so much unrest—better that Bao Yu not go.

But Jia Zheng’s face hardened: “Old Lady, precisely because this incident happened, Bao Yu must enter the Academy—otherwise, we give them grounds to speak.”

Jia Mu frowned: “I don’t understand. If he doesn’t go, how does that give them grounds? Studying is a family matter.”

Jia Zheng said: “Last time, Bao Yu spoke foolishly in his room, offending the palace nobles—all present were close kin.

Yet within two days, the Imperial Clan Court learned of it. Old Lady, you’ve lived through the world—you know there are no walls without leaks.

Even if Yuanyang guards the door and silences the servants, if you want no one to know, you must not do it yourself…”

Though Jia Zheng did not finish, Jia Mu’s face had already changed—she understood his meaning.

Among noble families, when ladies gossip, they often speak of shocking tales—sometimes mentioning the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Zhongche Office.

Rumors say these strange bureaus operate strangely, planting spies within wealthy households—though the truth is hard to verify, better to believe than to ignore…

…