Chapter 314: A title must not be given to someone devoid of virtue!

An official career is another, more important aspect.

It's simply a choice between pursuing politics or joining the military.

It's naturally impossible for Jia Baoyu to join the military—it's too dangerous.

They can only pursue an official career; if the Jia family hadn't produced this oddball Jia Jing, they would already have been shifting from a martial to a literary development path.

Thus, serving as an official is exactly the true expectation Jia Mu once had for Jia Baoyu's official career!

However, Jia Mu has recently realized that the path of study is not easy either.

First of all, Jia Baoyu himself doesn't really like studying.

These days, whenever Jia Baoyu returns from clan school, he looks gloomy and unhappy, and has even repeatedly begged Jia Mu not to make him go back to study.

Jia Mu naturally doesn't want to see her precious grandson unhappy, so she's been thinking about finding another path for Jia Baoyu.

After much thought, Jia Mu believes nothing is more suitable than a title to let Jia Baoyu live worry-free and enjoy wealth and honor for life.

This is also why she insists on Jia Baoyu inheriting the Ning Guo Fu title—otherwise he has no other future prospects.

When Jia Mu proposed to Jia Jing that Baoyu inherit the title, everyone in the hall turned their gaze toward Jia Jing.

Lady Wang unconsciously clenched her prayer beads, wishing she could march over to Jia Jing, press his head down, and force him to agree.

With Wang Ziteng fallen and Yuan Chun returned, Lady Wang actually hopes even more than Jia Mu that her own second branch will inherit the title.

Otherwise, her second branch truly has no other recourse.

One can't wait until Jia Mu passes away a century later, leaving her second branch's family forced to move out of Rong Guo Mansion and live with the impoverished clanspeople on Ning Rong Street.

Just imagining that scene fills her with dread.

If it really comes to that, what face would she have left? She might as well die.

Jia Jing met everyone's gaze and said lightly:

"The Ning Guo Fu title must never be given to someone devoid of virtue!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Mu and Lady Wang, who had been full of expectation, suddenly changed expression.

Lady Wang's face instantly darkened like still water, she cracked a prayer bead in her hand, and seethed:

How did our own Baoyu become devoid of virtue?

This damned bastard—refusing to give the title would be bad enough, but he's slandering our Baoyu's reputation; he's simply black-hearted!

Jia Mu's face also darkened, her aged features taking on a cold edge, and she spoke angrily:

"Jing'er, you had better explain yourself clearly!"

Given Jia Jing's current standing, his words are not idle chatter.

His single remark 'devoid of virtue' could directly ruin Baoyu's reputation!

Jia Mu will certainly not allow that to happen.

If Jia Jing cannot give a reasonable excuse, Jia Mu is prepared to break with him and force him to retract those words!

Others also turned to Jia Jing, wondering what Baoyu had done to earn such harsh criticism from him!

Only Daiyu, Tan Chun, and Baichai looked thoughtful.

Jia Jing furrowed his brows, unmoved by the unpleasant expressions of Jia Mu and Lady Wang.

He glanced around, fixed his gaze on Lin Daiyu, and spoke with a hint of testing:

"Lin sister, you've always been clever; please explain why Baoyu inheriting the Dong Fu title would make him devoid of virtue."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Daiyu.

Xue Baichai also secretly clenched her handkerchief, her plump, fair face grew somewhat solemn, and the words 'always clever' kept echoing in her heart.

Daiyu lowered her gaze under the surrounding looks, feeling both shy and delighted.

Third Brother singled her out by name and praised her as always clever.

Such praise is not given to everyone; it is unique to her.

Daiyu pondered, quickly formed a thought, lifted her eyes and spoke softly:

"Third Brother probably didn't mean that Baoyu the Second is devoid of virtue, but that if Baoyu the Second inherits the title, he would become devoid of virtue."

Daiyu's words left Jia Mu and Lady Wang bewildered—what's the difference?

Xiang Yun's eyes lit up, her apple-cheeked face lit with realization, and she clapped her hands:

"Now I understand! I understand!"

"If he wants to inherit the Dong Fu title, he must be adopted into Dong Fu as a son for Jing-da-ye."

"But he is the second master's sole legitimate son; if he abandons his parents for the title, wouldn't that make him devoid of virtue?"

Xiang Yun's words left Jia Mu, Madame Xing, Lady Wang, Xue Auntie, and Feng Jie thoughtful.

As the elder matriarch of both mansions, Jia Mu actually may not be unaware of this.

But she has always harbored hope that she might find a way through connections at the Clan Office.

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and then said:

"Yun sister is right! According to the Da Han legal clan system, it is clearly stipulated: for a hereditary title with no heir, a nephew of equivalent clan seniority may inherit."

"That means if Baoyu the Second wants to lawfully inherit the Dong Fu title, the only way under clan law is to first be adopted into Dong Fu."

"Only then can he erase the stigma of being 'a son of Rong Guo Fu's second branch,' become a 'fatherless' member of Ning Guo Fu, and then inherit the title belonging to the Dong Fu line."

"Moreover, as the sole legitimate son of his maternal uncle, Baoyu the Second would be ill-advised to be adopted for the title, lest his reputation be ruined."

Daiyu's elaboration on Xiang Yun's words further explained things, while also showing her understanding of Da Han law!

Baichai gave Daiyu a deep look, her eyes profound, and silently thought:

"Little Lin's insight grows deeper; she's even begun studying the clan system—what does she intend to do?"

Jia Mu's face darkened, she refused to give up and asked Jia Jing:

"Jing'er, can you think of a way? Is it truly impossible for Baoyu to inherit the Dong Fu title?"

Jia Mu's method here naturally refers to covert manipulation.

Jia Jing smiled.

Actually, of course there is a way; in feudal times, imperial authority is always supreme; if the proper way fails, there are privileges—how could there be no way at all!

For example, as long as Ning Guo Fu dies out, and then Jing Sheng Di issues an edict for Jia Baoyu to inherit both lines, naturally there would be no need for adoption and he could inherit the title!

But doing this would be extremely difficult!

Jia Baoyu is not Jia Jing's son; how could Jia Jing possibly go to such trouble for him!

Facing Jia Mu's inquiry, Jia Jing decisively shook his head and said:

"Inheritance of titles follows strict clan laws; how could it be privately transferred!"

"The Ning Guo Fu title either passes to members of the Ning Guo Fu clan, or if a descendant of the Rong Guo Mansion wishes to inherit, it can only be a concubine's son—for example, Cong Ge'er or Huan Ge'er..."

As soon as Jia Jing said this, Jia Mu's expression instantly darkened, her countenance listless!

Meanwhile, in Tan Chun's beautiful eyes, a hint of profound meaning appeared!

When Lady Wang heard the name "Huan Ge'er", she instinctively exclaimed:

"Huan Ge'er must absolutely not inherit the title!"