Chapter 238

The reason Princess Consort Zhen Yi of Bei Jing came to the Jia household at this time was that she had received instructions from Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, to come over and smooth relations, to curry favor in advance.

Seeing that Jia Jing had won deep imperial favor, even being called by His Majesty a minister of revival, his rising momentum was like the sun at high noon.

Even Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, could not afford to take it lightly; he began conducting diplomatic outreach through the ladies.

As soon as Princess Consort Zhen Yi of Bei Jing spoke these words, the garden fell silent for a moment.

This moment was so brief that a petal on the rose trellis had not yet fallen to the ground.

Yet this moment felt long, long enough for everyone's hearts to flip over.

Immediately afterward, the garden came alive again, and everyone present showed an expression mingled with surprise and delight.

Just two months ago he was made a First‑Class Champion Marquis, and now…… he has been made a duke?

Although rumors had been circulating lately that Jia Jing would be granted a title, the court had not yet finally decided.

Even members of the Jia household heard Jia Zheng say that at court many censors and remonstrance officials were criticizing Jia Jing for holding too much military power and wielding too great authority!

Who would have thought that today…… he would actually be granted the rank of duke!

For the Jia household, this is truly great news!

After all, no matter how special the Champion Marquis is, it is still only a second‑rank marquis.

Whereas a duke is a genuine first‑rank title, the same as the founding Duke of Rong Guo, the ancestor of the Rong Guo Mansion; in short, it is merely a duke.

Sitting beside Aunt Xue, Baichai wore a honey‑colored shirt and had two tiny pearl flowers pinned in her hair.

She had originally been looking down at the round fan in her hand, the fan bearing a design of mugwort identical to that on the knee‑guard.

But upon hearing the news from Madame Zhen, she suddenly lifted her head, and joy gradually blossomed on her snow‑white pretty face.

Her clear, water‑like almond eyes slowly gained a glint of brightness, and the fingers gripping the fan whitened slightly.

A duke…… Third Brother has been promoted again!

Third Brother is only twenty‑one years old, yet he has attained the rank of first‑rank duke, truly becoming the highest military merit of the Da Han Empire.

He was also granted the right to wear a python‑robe and jade belt, attire reserved for princes; could this be a hint that Third Brother is not far from being enfeoffed as a prince?

Aunt Xue sat beside Baichai, originally sipping tea while continually glancing at Madame Zhen.

In her mind she imagined how splendid and noble her own daughter would look if she wore this princess‑consort's rosy robe.

At this moment, upon hearing Madame Zhen's words, her teacup nearly slipped from her hand, and a flush of both surprise and joy rose on her well‑maintained, pale face.

Is this the granting of a dukedom? Or is it the title of Senior Pillar of State, starting from second‑rank general?

She is by no means completely ignorant of the intricacies of court offices and titles; these days she has been hearing people from the Jia household talk about such matters.

She went back and asked around carefully, learning that Senior Pillar of State is the highest merit title of the Da Han Empire.

A grand general, moreover, can command hundreds of thousands of troops, a truly high‑rank and powerful office.

As for the dukedom, needless to say, it is a wealth and honor that can be passed down for generations—just look at the Jia household.

With such power and such nobility, our dear girl must certainly seize this rare opportunity this time.

At this moment Daiyu sat beside Jia Mu, wearing a moon‑white gauze shirt with a collar embroidered with several slender bamboo stalks.

Her pair of brows, knit yet not quite knit, lifted slightly, like a curtain lifted by the wind, and her eyes held a hint of vagueness.

Is this the granting of a dukedom?

She is one who has personally witnessed Jia Jing's step‑by‑step rise.

From that austere youth with no office or position on the day in Rong Qing Tang, from his vow "Today I set my ambition here; if I accomplish nothing I will not return home,"

to now being granted the rank of duke, a dignity even greater than the grandmother's, the hardships involved—no one knows them better than she.

Over the past three years, the Da Han Empire fought the False Qing in Liaodong and the Northern Yuan and various steppe tribes in the northwest.

Even when he returned to Shenjing, he never let up on his duties, and his time at home was extremely limited.

In his heart he held the thought: "If it benefits the state, I will not shy from fortune or misfortune."

A man like him is born to undertake great undertakings, not distracted by…… romantic entanglements.

Daiyu glanced at Baichai and Nian Shilan; her clear, misty eyes flickered with a thread of worry, and she let out a soft sigh from deep within.

I do not know what Third Brother truly thinks in his heart…… and again the question "Who will the flowers fall to?" arises.

Meanwhile, sitting opposite Daiyu, Lady Wang's face was somewhat gloomy, her hand holding the prayer beads trembling slightly—Is this the granting of a dukedom?

Didn't your own brother say that many censors and remonstrance officials at court are criticizing that youngster?

Isn't it said that even the Grand Councilors intend to suppress that youngster?

Isn't it said that the emperor may not lack misgivings and a desire for checks and balances?

The result…… is just this?

You know, the Wang family's ancestors held at most the rank of County Magistrate, yet that youngster has already become a first‑rank duke!

From now on, will there still be a place for her and Baoyu's mother in the Rong Guo Mansion?

If we wait for that youngster to return home in glory, what will we do if he bullies our Baoyu? What will we do if he meddles in the household affairs of our second branch?

Heaven is blind—must this good person who observes vegetarian vows and chants Buddha inevitably suffer oppression?

This dukedom ought to have been granted to our own Baoyu!

Lady Wang's gaze fell upon Yuan Chun, who stood beside Jia Mu, plump and lovely, her face lit with joy, as she wondered whether there was any way to reverse the decline of her second branch.

Mrs. Xing, standing beside Lady Wang, watched her lost‑and‑forlorn appearance and could not help feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Since her own son came to power, her greatest pleasure has been to watch her sister‑in‑law's downcast demeanor time and again.

You know, Lady Wang used to maintain the dignified airs of a matriarch, never giving this sister‑in‑law of humble origins a glance.

Moreover, she would occasionally make fun of her, and even when there was nothing else to do she would constantly utter a few sarcastic remarks.

Now the tides of fortune have turned, and at last it is her turn to behold Lady Wang's "unseemly state."

Thinking of this, Mrs. Xing again recalled that her niece Xing Xiuyan had already arrived at the mansion, though today she had gone to visit the Miaoyu master in the family shrine and is not present here.

These years her niece has indeed grown tall and graceful; when Jing'er returns, we should still create some opportunity for the two to draw closer.

Jia Jing is getting older, and the patriarch doesn't have much time left; it's estimated that the marriage will be arranged within the next two years.

Jia Jing

If we wait until the patriarch passes away, the three-year mourning period would absolutely prohibit marriage, and after three years Jia Jing would be too old.

Again, the term "elder master" should be excluded, and the nickname refers to Jia Jing.

I heard that the grandmother feels the same way. The grandmother doesn't care whom Jia Jing marries, but the marriage must be arranged as soon as possible.

Jia Mu, Jia Jing

Upon thinking this, Mrs. Xing's heart stirred slightly.

Mrs. Xing

In the scene, Jia Mu's laughter rang out first, a bright and resonant laughter echoing.

Jia Mu: Jia Mu.

She was indeed pleased in her heart; Jia Jing was ennobled as a duke, and the Jia family once again welcomed their own duke.

Jia Jing: Jia Jing. Duke: title. Jia Family: Jia Family (glossary). "Duke" as an honorific? It's a title; we should include Duke as a rank/title. "Duke" honorific is also Duke. We'll include Duke as title.

Rather than merely having the nominal status of a duke's mansion and lineage, the actual holder of the title was only a nominal first-rank general.

Duke's mansion: title. Family rank: not needed. First-rank General: title. Nominal title: we will include First-rank General as rank.

From now on, the Jia family will have one mansion with two dukes, one lineage with three dukes—how illustrious!

Jia Family: Jia Family. Duke: title. (Repeats.)

Even if she were immediately allowed to see the former duke and the Jia family's ancestors, she could face them without shame.

Former Duke: title. Jia Family: Jia Family. Ancestors: not a title. We will include Former Duke as title.

Immediately came Lady Li's congratulatory voice;

【93】 Jia Jing

"Congratulations, grandmother; your grandson has been ennobled as a duke—this truly brings honor to the family and is a great joy for the flourishing lineage!"

Grandmother: Jia Mu. Grandson: Jia Jing. Duke: title.

Jia Mu took out the talking points she had summarized these days and said with a smile:

Jia Mu: Jia Mu.

"It's all thanks to heavenly grace! Double joy, double joy!"

No names.

Lady Li's expression stalled; "What double joy? This isn't our family's happy event!"

Lady Li: exclude as a generic form of address.

After all, the grandmother is old; her joy has made her a bit muddled!

Grandmother: Jia Mu.

Lady Li was not surprised by the news of Jia Jing's ennoblement as a duke, though she was pleased.

李氏: exclude. 賈璟: Jia Jing. 封公: being ennobled as duke? "封公" is to be made a duke. Not a title itself.

First, she already knew from her husband that Jia Jing's promotion in rank was inevitable.

Jia Jing

Second, such a great family actually values more the imperial favor and the actual power they hold.

No names.

Although the duke's title can bring wealth for generations, it is the foundation of the family's military merit.

Duke's title/rank: we will include Duke as title.

However, the special title of Champion Marquis, the "king among marquises," is not much different from a duke!

Champion Marquis: title. Duke: title.

Furthermore, it is said that the civil officials intend to collectively suppress Jia Jing's rank this time, likely resulting in only a third-rank duke, with no major change.

Civil officials: generic term. Jia Jing: Jia Jing. Third-rank duke: title. We will include Third-rank duke as title.

Feng Jie beside her laughed and took up the conversation:

Feng Jie: Feng Jie (glossary).

"Today is a good day! Not only is it the aunt's birthday, but also the princess consort, Madam Nian, and Miss Nian have come to the mansion."

Aunt: generic term. Princess consort: title. Madam Nian: generic form of address (Mrs. Nian) – exclude per instruction. Miss Nian: generic form of address (Miss Nian) – exclude. However, we still need to consider them as characters? The instruction says to exclude generic forms of address (not ranks), so we exclude them. Princess consort is a title; we will include Princess consort as title.

Now I've also heard the news of my third brother's promotion and ennoblement; no wonder I woke up hearing magpies chirping on the eaves—it must be announcing good news!

Third younger brother: generic term (not a name). Promotion and ennoblement: generic term. Magpie: beast. We will include Magpie as beast.

Feng Jie, as usual, showed her skill, praising five people in one sentence!