Chapter 198

In the Qian Qing Gong, as soon as Jing Sheng Di's words of conferring rewards were spoken, the officials present each had their own thoughts.

Although Zhang Tingyu worried in his heart that Jia Jing's power was great and hard to control, his nature destined him not to say much, and it was also not appropriate to say much.

First, Jing Sheng Di had already defined Jia Jing's achievement as pacifying the state and securing the nation; the emperor's words are golden and jade, beyond doubt. Since it is pacifying the state, naturally an extraordinary conferment of titles is warranted.

Second, Jia Jing received his reward for achieving merit in external warfare, which is the most impeccable path of promotion for a military commander; as long as it is not excessive, adding offices and advancing ranks is only proper.

Moreover, Jing Sheng Di is currently showering Jia Jing with great favor; to step forward now and pour cold water on the proceedings would likely yield no good outcome.

Zhang Tingyu's gaze dimmed slightly, thinking he would wait a bit before speaking.

For now, after all, this is merely a preliminary discussion; later changes in the emperor's mind cannot be ruled out.

He thought that being granted the title of Marquis of the Champion's Army would be acceptable; although the name sounds impressive, it is ultimately only a first-rank marquis of the second senior grade, with no real increase in authority.

Given Jia Jing's merits, conferring this title would indeed be appropriate!

However, the position of Senior General of the Western Expedition, which is of the second senior grade, carries too much power; no matter what, it is better not to confer it lightly……

Several cabinet ministers had varying expressions, but none stood up to voice clear opposition; each merely harbored his own calculations.

Jing Sheng Di calmly observed the changes in everyone's expressions, then spoke:

"If there is nothing else, officials, you may withdraw! For today, let us discuss only up to this point!"

Afterwards, as the officials departed, the Qian Qing Gong returned to silence.

Jing Sheng Di stood before the map, pausing for a moment, his expression sombre, and drew a deep breath.

After pondering the court situation for a while, he murmured to himself:

"At present, there are vacancies for the Left and Right Grand Commandants of the Commander-in-Chief's Office and for the Grand Scholars of the Inner Cabinet; we should promptly fill them with suitable persons."

"Although the new faction is good, we also need the old faction to provide balance! Preventing any one side from becoming too dominant is a matter of principle."

Jing Sheng Di thought of several names in his mind and pondered for a moment.

He then returned to his desk and began to process the accumulated memorials.

…………

Rong Guo Mansion.

Jia Mu's small courtyard.

Outside Rong Qing Tang, the crabapple blossoms were in full bloom, their pink-white petals dotted with morning dew.

A gust of wind sent a few petals fluttering down, which happened to land in the lattice pattern of the carved window lattice.

By this time the sun had climbed rather high, yet it retained the softness peculiar to spring, not the scorching intensity of midsummer.

It filtered through the intricate intertwining-branch lotus pattern on the window lattice, casting fine light and shadow onto the hall's blue-brick floor, as if scattering a floor of broken gold.

At this moment, San Chun, Dai Chai, Shi Xiangyun and others were all in the hall, each sitting on an embroidered stool, speaking in low voices in twos and threes.

Also present were Aunt Xue, Feng Jie, Li Wan and others, their voices like warblers and swallows, adorned with pearls and kingfisher feathers.

Jia Mu sat high on the dais, her face showing a rare hint of helplessness.

Mrs. Xing and Lady Wang sat in the lower seats; Mrs. Xing ate fruit while wearing an expression of watching a show with interest.

Lady Wang, meanwhile, had a sullen countenance; after a moment, she spat out a sentence from her lips:

"No! I absolutely disagree with this!"

Her voice was loud, and her words carried a firm, unyielding tone.

The young ladies in the hall had not originally noticed this matter, but were startled by Lady Wang's voice full of anger.

Each one carefully closed her mouth, daring not to engage in wanton frolicking.

Jia Mu, on the other hand, let out a long sigh and spoke in a hoarse voice:

"Baoyu's mother, this matter was entrusted by Jia Jing before he left; Yuan Chun, being in the palace, is prone to become involved in imperial strife……"

"Furthermore, Yuan Chun has spent these years deep in the palace, which has caused her suffering and also separated you mother and daughter."

"Is it not also a good thing to take her out of the palace at this opportunity?"

Originally, after Jia Mu and her daughters-in-law and granddaughters had finished breakfast together, taking advantage of Lady Wang's presence, they broached the subject of bringing Yuan Chun out of the palace.

Jia Mu's intention was to have Lady Wang accompany her into the palace to see Empress Zhou, seek a favor, and take Yuan Chun out while the palace was reducing staff.

But,

Jia Mu did not expect that Lady Wang, who used to constantly mention missing her daughter, would vehemently oppose this.

Even facing this old lady, she gave no leniency at all, flatly refusing to let Yuan Chun leave the palace.

Feng Jie at the side raised her phoenix eyes, her plump face bearing a hint of amusement, her lips slightly parted as she interjected:

"The old lady is right! I've heard that the palace is a place devoid of interest; it's pitiful that the eldest daughter was sent there at such a young age."

"These years she must have endured much hardship; now that there is an opportunity to bring her out, this is a great thing."

Lady Wang gave Feng Jie a dark look, not believing that Feng Jie truly had Yuan Chun's best interests at heart.

Since the day the two of them almost tore faces apart over household authority, they have been estranged in the mansion, no longer retaining the former closeness of aunt and niece.

Their usual interactions have basically ceased, and in secret they often contend with each other.

Lady Wang's face darkened as she said:

"It is precisely because Yuan Chun has endured so much suffering over these years, having struggled through them,"

"and now we must not let her leave lightly, otherwise all those years of hardship would have been for nothing!"

Lady Wang would never agree to this.

Especially knowing that this matter was proposed by Jia Jing, she felt an instinctive aversion toward it.

She did not believe that this eldest branch's bastard son could harbor any good intentions!

And to claim fear that the eldest maiden would be drawn into imperial power struggles is sheer nonsense!

The eldest maiden has always been sensible, and in the palace she is merely a minor female historian; how could she be drawn into imperial power struggles!

It must be that bastard son fears that Yuan Chun will gain the emperor's favor, fears being overwhelmed by the second branch in the mansion, unable to act as he pleases, and thus has fabricated this excuse.

Lady Wang, after experiencing the maid Zhou Rui Jia's expulsion from the mansion, the loss of the steward's authority, and Baoyu being beaten, feels greatly lacking in inner security.

She suddenly realized that, after Jia Jing's rise, her own second branch's situation in the mansion had become extremely disadvantageous.

Facing Jia Jing's "oppression," she could not even protect her own beloved son and her trusted maid.

Moreover, she was scolded as a foolish woman, losing all face, and no one could support her.

These days she has thought it over and over, but there is no good way to salvage the second branch's situation, let alone regain control of the Rong Guo Mansion's estate.

The only two things she can rely on are hoping that her elder brother Wang Ziteng will attain the position of Minister of War and that her beloved daughter Yuan Chun will be favored and granted a title in the palace.

Wang Ziteng is her elder brother; if her brother's official career goes smoothly,

she would then naturally be able to rely on him for support, for as long as history, a married-out woman's greatest reliance is her natal family!

But she actually also understands deep down that, even if Wang Ziteng attains a high position, he might not necessarily be able to overcome that concubine-born son.

Hearing her sister-in-law say, that concubine-born son now holds ever higher rank and power, deeply trusted by the emperor.

The last time at court, he even scolded his older brother so severely that the brother couldn't lift his head, making her brother so angry he couldn't eat and even smashed several antique porcelain items.

It is likely that even if her brother successfully becomes Minister of War, it would still be difficult to suppress that concubine-born son.