Chapter 25

Although a fourth‑grade Colonel is not considered a high official for her, Jia Jing's imperial favor is truly rare.

For an ordinary fourth‑grade official, would the emperor's chief eunuch Xia Shouzhong personally come to read the edict?

For a martial‑merit family, the emperor's favor is truly vital.

What Jia Mu never expected was that, at over seventy years old and holding the rank of first‑grade Duchess of State, she could still bask in her grandson's glory.

The imperial edict praised her for flawless maternal instruction and proper guidance of her grandson, and also bestowed clothing and palace delicacies.

Although she could obtain these things herself, how could what the emperor bestows be the same as what she buys?

Behind the gifts lies the emperor's recognition and appreciation.

When she wears this clothing and eats this food, is it an ordinary flavor?

This is the honor of the Jia mansion!

Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and Wang Xifeng, Lady Li, and others knelt nearby, their hearts equally shocked.

They never imagined Jia Jing would be enfeoffed as a fourth‑grade Colonel and a first‑rank viscount, especially since Jia Mu had just said in Rongqing Hall that at most a fifth‑grade official would be granted!

Of course they did not mean to mock Jia Mu for guessing wrong; it was simply beyond expectation.

With only ten‑plus thousand troops he actually beheaded thirty thousand enemies—how extraordinarily brave!

Jia Mu trembled as she received the edict from Xia Shouzhong's hands, rose to her feet, and gave thanks again.

At that moment Jia Lian also slipped a red envelope to Xia Shouzhong; handling such external courtesies was his responsibility, and he was adept at it.

Xia Shouzhong naturally would not refuse, for Jia Jing now enjoys the emperor's favor, and he too wishes to maintain good relations with the Jia household.

Only after taking the money does one count as one's own; otherwise, ordinary families' offerings might not even catch his eye.

Seeing Xia Shouzhong's warm attitude, Jia Mu took the opportunity to ask:

"Grand Secretary, how did the emperor bestow such great favor this time? My grandson is barely twenty, yet he has been promoted to fourth‑grade Colonel—this truly makes this old woman tremble!"

"Madam, there is no need to be alarmed! Your grandson has repeatedly earned merit on the Liaodong battlefield, and the emperor has long taken notice!"

"This time he outright defeated the Qing army's fifty thousand troops, beheaded their commander Fei Yanggu on the field, slaughtered countless foes, and brought the emperor great delight!"

"The deliberation on this merit was conducted jointly by several Grand Secretaries, Niu Boye, and Duke Zhao, among others; Duke Zhao merely proposed a one‑grade promotion, but Niu Boye argued firmly, and with the remonstrances of Grand Councilor Zhang and others, the final award was settled as such."

"Your grandson is indeed extraordinarily heroic; the emperor holds great expectations for your household—madam, you should be aware of this!"

Xia Shouzhong told Jia Mu about yesterday's discussion of the ennoblement in the Qianqing Palace, pointing out Niu Jizong's assistance and Duke Zhao's obstruction.

This move also aims to tightly unite the founding lineage around Emperor Jing Sheng, creating a counterbalance to the Jingnan martial‑merit line.

As for the final remark, it was fraught with meaning, especially as he glanced over at Jia She nearby.

Jia Mu fell into contemplation.

Xia Shouzhong lingered no longer, drank a cup of tea, and left!

After the Jia household delivered the edict to the ancestral shrine, everyone went about their own affairs.

…………

In the afternoon.

After eating at the Li Xiang Courtyard, Aunt Xue recalled seeing the Jia household receive the imperial edict that day; the display of power and wealth sparked a thought in her mind.

She brought along Tongxi and a few maidservants, strolling to aid digestion, and arrived at her sister Lady Wang's courtyard.

Meanwhile, Baichai went to play chess and chat casually with Daiyu, San Chun, and the others.

Early autumn in the capital already carried a chill, but Lady Wang's room had a maid burning charcoal, so it was naturally warm.

Lady Wang wore only a drab‑yellow everyday robe as she sat and chatted with Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue opened her mouth and said:

"Today is the first time I have witnessed such a solemn proclamation of an imperial edict; this whole ceremony and display is truly beyond the stature of a humble household."

"Young Master Jing, at his tender age, has been made a fourth‑grade high official and granted a hereditary noble title—truly a youth of great accomplishment!"

Aunt Xue's eyes held a hint of envy, yet her face bore a gentle smile.

After the patriarch of the Xue family passed away, they have not received an imperial edict for many years.

Even when she was a maiden in the Wang household, she rarely saw an inner court eunuch personally come to read an edict.

Lady Wang heard Aunt Xue mention Jia Jing and slightly furrowed her brow.

She bore no ill will toward Jia Jing; on the contrary, because Jia Jing was at odds with Jia She and Madame Xing, she enjoyed watching the main branch's drama.

Anyway, even if Jia Jing's official career prospers, it would not harm the interests of her second branch,

although the main and second branches share the Rongguo mansion, they are essentially already separated.

Each side basically goes its own way, with no major conflict, and Jia She does not venture into the eastern annex.

The property within the Rongguo mansion was left by the old duke, and though it has not yet been divided,

but once Jia Mu passes away and the estate is clearly divided, they will no longer live together as they do now.

As for the claim that the second branch covets the mansion and the main branch's title, that is merely a joke.

Titles and mansions are state‑granted fief properties, subject to strict inheritance rules; they cannot be divided merely by private whim.

Lady Wang never contemplated contending with the main branch for title inheritance or the mansion; her reliance has always been on the imperial princess Yuan Chun and her natal brother Wang Ziteng.

The dispute with the main branch mainly concerns wanting a larger share of the property left by the old duke and Jia Mu, to leave a firmer foundation for Jia Baoyu.

Thus, Jia Jing and Lady Wang have no direct conflict of interest.

Lady Wang then laughed and said:

"Yes, Young Master Jing is a capable fellow! He used to keep a low profile, never expecting such fortune."

"Those two from the main branch have mistreated Young Master Jing since childhood; once he returns, there will be plenty of excitement over there!"

"I heard Father say that Baoyu's uncle sent people to Liaodong on business, but Jing drove them back, and the two sides have been on bad terms!"

Lady Wang wore the air of someone watching another family's drama.

At this moment Aunt Xue did not wish to discuss that; she picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip, and spoke again.

「I haven't had much contact with Baoyu's eldest uncle, but his eldest aunt really has… how to put it? She's somewhat like a petty trader. 」

Xue Yima and Mrs. Xing have interacted several times; indeed I feel that Mrs. Xing pays too much attention to gold and silver wealth, and is rather superficial.

Lady Wang nodded:

「After all, they come from a humble family, their vision is shallow. His eldest uncle is actually the same type of person; last time, over a few ancient fans, he almost caused a death. 」

Lady Wang chuckled and told Xue Yima about an incident from two years ago at Rong Qing Tang: how Jia Jing had beaten someone from Wang Shanbao's household, and how Jia She and Mrs. Xing had then confronted Jia Jing……

Hearing this, Xue Yima was stunned; she hadn't expected that Jia Jing's enlistment had such a background.

They paused,

Xue Yima sighed:

「With parents like that, Jing Ge'er still manages to stand out—it only makes him more precious! 」

「If my Pan Er had even half his talent, I'd burn incense and pray to the Buddha! 」

Speaking, she shifted her tone and casually asked:

「Right! I heard Jing Ge'er is only twenty and still unmarried, correct? 」