Chapter 294

After Jia Mu finished speaking, her face again bore a kind and gentle smile as she instructed Tan Chun and Feng Jie:

"Third Miss, Feng Miss, have someone inquire when Young Master Jing will return to the mansion?"

"Everything that should be prepared in the mansion must be ready; make it lively and proper, so we don't let him come back and find fault with our arrangements!"

Tan Chun nodded upon hearing that.

Feng Jie's beautiful face flashed with flowing glances as she laughed coquettishly:

"Grandmother, rest assured! Everything that needed preparation has already been prepared, and I've already sent people to wait at the palace gate."

"However, a few days ago Third Brother sent word back, saying not to mobilize the mansion or make a big fuss."

"Today let's hold a banquet in your Rong Qing Hall, have the whole household celebrate together, and have the troupe perform a few of their special pieces to liven things up—what do you think?"

Jia Mu's face froze upon hearing that, then she nodded and said in a hoarse voice:

"If that's the case, then do as he says! He's currently attending the victory banquet in the palace; when he returns it'll likely be late, and indeed it's not proper to tire him out too late!"

…………

Inside the Imperial City.

It was already past noon, and the victory banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony had ended,

the sounds of wind and percussion still buzzed in the ears, and the lingering warmth of the scattered cups and bowls remained on the fingertips.

Jia Jing followed the guiding eunuch through gate after gate, with sunlight slanting in from the west,

dyeing the vermilion palace walls a somber dark red, while a breeze slipped through the palace lanes, bringing a rare hint of coolness.

The door to the western warm chamber of the Qian Qing Palace was half-closed; the attendant eunuch stood outside, bowed, and then retreated to the corridor.

Jia Jing pushed the door open, his boots striking the gold‑brick floor with a muffled sound.

The warm chamber was not large; a huge map hung on the north wall, and on the east and west sides stood two sandalwood bookcases, stacked full of memorials and documents.

Worth noting, the west wall also bore a poem personally written by Emperor Jing Sheng in his own hand—precisely the one composed by Jia Jing!

On the imperial desk lay several memorials, the ink still wet,

in the corner rested a celadon teacup, the tea liquor a bright green, steam curling upward—clearly just brewed.

Emperor Jing Sheng sat on the dragon throne behind the imperial desk, having taken off his ceremonial robes of the grand audience and donned a stone‑green everyday robe.

To avoid making the ministers feel restrained, after rewarding the meritorious officials, Emperor Jing Sheng drank only a few cups at the victory banquet before returning to the Qian Qing Palace.

At this moment Jia Jing's coming here was also because, after the banquet dispersed, Emperor Jing Sheng summoned someone to retain him—clearly for a private audience.

Seeing Jia Jing enter, Emperor Jing Sheng set down his vermilion brush, leaned back in his chair, pointed to the embroidered stool opposite, and said in a warm tone:

"Zi Jie, please sit—don't stand on ceremony!"

After bowing, Jia Jing sat on the embroidered stool; a eunuch entered to change the tea, then withdrew softly.

The door was gently closed, leaving only the sovereign and his subject in the warm chamber,

outside the window the cicadas chirped sporadically, which at this afternoon hour was not annoying.

Emperor Jing Sheng looked at the handsome youth opposite, his expression softening, and said:

"Zi Jie, you can hold your liquor! The attendants said you drank plenty at the banquet earlier, yet now you remain clear‑headed and composed, showing no sign of drunkenness!"

Jia Jing had indeed drunk quite a bit just now, although, given his status, no one forced him to drink.

Yet, facing the successive congratulations and flattery from civil and military officials, he did not refuse; mostly he just took a sip out of courtesy.

Although each cup was small, the accumulated amount was not insignificant!

Of course, with his current non‑human constitution, being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk is merely ordinary.

Jia Jing cupped his hands and said:

"Drinking easily leads to mistakes; I, in fact, do not particularly like it!"

Emperor Jing Sheng smiled, did not continue the topic, turned instead to pick up a memorial from the imperial desk, flipped through it, and said:

"I summoned you this time concerning the matter of Jia Zhen!"

"You know about the mutiny in the Jingying; it arose because the hereditary third‑rank Valiant General of Ning Guo Fu, Jia Zhen, was corrupt."

"The Three Judicial Offices have already concluded the case; Jia Zhen admits his crimes without reservation, the evidence is solid!"

"The case has had a vile impact, causing the deaths of more than ten senior officials in the court, unsettling the Jingying, and drawing the attention of all above and below."

"According to the memorial submitted by the Three Judicial Offices, Jia Zhen fails to cultivate virtue, is corrupt and incompetent, his wicked deeds are evident—he is unworthy of being a successor of Ning Guo!"

"Zi Jie, what do you think I should do with Jia Zhen and his son Jia Rong?"

Emperor Jing Sheng's eyes held an inquisitive look; although he knew Jia Jing had disciplined Jia Zhen, he likely harbored no fondness for the man.

"But Jia Zhen is ultimately the head of the Jia clan and the hereditary noble of Ning Guo Fu; before making a decision, Emperor Jing Sheng still wished to ask Jia Jing's opinion."

"This is also a sign of respect for Jia Jing, not wishing to put him in a difficult position."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"Although I and Jia Zhen belong to the same clan, state law comes first, familial ties second."

"Now that Your Majesty wishes to rectify the military officials, we must not let one person ruin the nation's statutes; please judge impartially!"

"Although the Three Judicial Offices have already settled Jia Zhen's case, that does not mean Emperor Jing Sheng cannot alter the final punishment."

"For military officials, the penalty can be light or heavy; it largely depends on Emperor Jing Sheng's intention."

"Upon hearing Jia Jing's reply, Emperor Jing Sheng's eyes flashed with a hint of relief, and he said in a deep voice:"

"If we follow the court's statutes, Jia Zhen deserves to be stripped of his title and executed; his son Jia Rong, though not the principal offender, also participated in much wickedness and, by law, merits exile."

"The Three Judicial Offices' opinion to me is that Jia Zhen should be sentenced to death after a reprieve, stripped of his rank, and Jia Rong exiled three thousand li—to make the punishment clear to all!"

Jia Jing's expression slightly startled upon hearing that!

"A death sentence after reprieve, exile of three thousand li, and stripping of rank—this judgment is truly not light!"

"Actually, given Jia Zhen's status as the hereditary noble of Ning Guo Fu, his crime is not among the Ten Abominations or great treason; his rank could offset the guilt, so such a heavy sentence is unnecessary!"

Jia Jing speculated that the Three Judicial Offices' imposition of such a severe penalty might well be influenced by his own involvement!

After all, those civil officials have always been wary of his great power; they wanted to impeach him, but Jing Sheng Di suppressed it, so now this pent-up anger naturally poured onto Jia Zhen!

Who let Jia Zhen be both the Jia Clan chief and his elder clan brother?

It is even estimated that some civil officials are already waiting for him to plead for Jia Zhen before the palace, so they can file an impeachment against him for bending the law for personal gain!

The methods of civil officials have always been like this—killing people while destroying their hearts, mostly schemes that cannot see the light of day!

However, this matter concerning Jia Zhen was originally stirred up single-handedly by Jia Jing; how could he possibly complain that the court's punishment is too harsh!

Jia Jing darkened his face and spoke in a solemn voice:

"Jia Zhen and Jia Rong both deserve their punishment; I have previously warned them to speak and act cautiously, but they clearly did not take my words to heart!"

"Now that they have caused a great disturbance, what can I do about it? Your Majesty, you need not consider me; just handle it as you see fit!"

"This also presents a good opportunity to use the severe punishment of Jia Zhen and Jia Rong to set a benchmark for the court's future rectification of military officials!"

After Jia Jing finished speaking, his face inevitably bore a hint of sorrow, and his tone seemed rather reluctant.

In this era, there is a saying that relatives cover up for each other!

Even if Jia Jing dislikes Jia Zhen in his heart, outwardly he cannot ignore his affairs and remain indifferent; otherwise people would inevitably think him overly heartless.

Seeing that Jia Jing truly had not the slightest bias, Jing Sheng Di, though reluctant, still thought of the court's rectification of military officials, and thus felt more reassured in his heart.

He thought for a moment and said:

"Your loyal public heart, how could I make you face difficulty!"

"If we really punish Jia Zhen and his son so severely, you would likely earn the reputation of being unkind to your kin!"

"When you return home, you will likely find it hard to face your grandmother and the rest of the relatives."

Jia Jing's expression stalled; he had not expected that his performance would actually give Jing Sheng Di the intention to let Jia Zhen off, so he hurriedly said:

"Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety are hard to have both; since I have chosen to be loyal to Your Majesty and the court, how could there be any talk of difficulty!"

"Your Majesty, you must prioritize the greater good; you must not ruin the court's laws because of me alone, causing criticism from all quarters, otherwise I would truly have nowhere to hide!"