Chapter 333: Aunt Xue: If Brother Jia Jing doesn

Mrs. Niu's face was full of smiles; no matter how you look at it, these words are relatively proper.

Jia Mu heard this and showed a hint of emotion; she recalled the scene when her two nephews from her natal family served under the former Duke of Rong.

Among the two nephews, the second nephew Shi Nai was much like her eldest son Jia She, unable to endure much hardship.

He only earned a bit of military merit, then went back to inherit his family's Marquis of Baoling's military title!

But the third nephew Shi Ding's Marquis of Zhongjing title was forged on the battlefield with sword and spear, even surviving several near‑deaths; his path has indeed been arduous.

Moreover, Jia Mu knows that although the Shi family now boasts two marquises with outward splendor, inside it is far from easy.

The two nephews hold idle posts, and their household finances are not abundant; this is why she often invites Shi Xiangyun to stay long at the Jia Mansion.

Jia Mu thought for a moment, then asked in a hoarse voice:

"If Ding can become close with Brother Jia Jing, that would naturally be a good thing!"

"But as a camp commander, such a court rank is probably not something Brother Jia Jing can decide on his own, right?"

Although Jia Mu internally wishes Jia Jing could help Shi Ding as much as possible, having been reprimanded just yesterday, she harbors some reservations.

Moreover, she doubts the appointment of this camp commander—can Jia Jing truly be the decision‑maker?

As the lady of the former Duke of Rong, Jia Mu is not completely ignorant of military camp affairs.

The former Duke of Rong, Jia Daishan, once served as Military Governor of Jingying; Jia Mu knows that important posts like a camp commander in Jingying are mostly appointed directly by the court.

This is a system and a check, not a matter of the Military Governor picking whoever he likes!

Mrs. Niu chuckled lightly at the words:

"If it were an outsider, of course it wouldn't work; court titles are not for private hand‑over!"

"But Duke Jing is different; deciding who serves in the Twelve Regiment Camp is merely a matter of his casual sign‑off!"

Seeing Jia Mu frown with a hint of disbelief, Mrs. Niu continued:

"This is no nonsense! The positions of the commanders of the three borders and four towns in the northwest are extremely important; the matriarch should know that, right?"

"Now the four‑town commander positions of my brother, Marquis Zhou, Marquis Han, and Marquis Feng were all solely recommended by Duke Jing."

"The list he submitted was not rejected by the Son of Heaven at all; every name was approved!"

"Also, the two men beside Duke Jing—Marquis Zhang and Ma Guocheng—were recommended by him to become third‑rank Deputy Military Governors of the Twelve Regiment Camp, commanding nearly a hundred thousand troops, holding high rank and authority."

"Consider that Ma Guocheng was originally just a mid‑rank colonel of fourth rank in Bashang Daying, but because he aligned under Duke Jing."

"Yet in just over half a year he rose three grades; now his title is only one step away from becoming a marquis, which makes one green‑eyed with envy!"

"This man's fate is truly strange; seize one chance and he can soar skyward, living up to the old saying: one life, two fortunes, three feng shui."

By the end, Mrs. Niu couldn't help but speak with a hint of emotion.

She wondered, her husband is a distinguished marquis from a noble lineage, with exceptional strategy—how does he differ from someone like Ma Guocheng?

But it's just a twist of fate; after only a few months, when she meets Ma Guocheng, she'll probably have to call herself "your subordinate"!

Mrs. Niu's words left the people in the hall momentarily

Originally everyone thought Mrs. Niu was flattering Jia Jing to help Shi Ding secure a post,

but now, hearing her speak, many only realized belatedly

With Jia Jing's continual promotions and ennoblements over the past three years, a group of his

Over in Liaodong, Feng Ziying of the Divine Martial General's residence and Han Qi of the Jinxiang Marquis's residence, Liu Fang of the Principality of Li, and Hou Xiaokang of the Principality of Xiu, all advanced in titles and offices.

In the northwest, needless to say, this recent northwest battle granted four marquisates, and there were dozens of counts, viscounts, and barons.

Niu Jizong and Feng Tang, after countless years unable to rise beyond first‑rank earl, participated in just one northwest battle with Jia Jing, and secured a marquis!

Even Zhu Que, who serves Jia Jing like a household general, has now become a marquis, ranking among the Da Han Empire's senior martial elites.

Each of these cases, if you don't know them you wouldn't, but once you think of them you're startled.

No wonder the founding lineage's martial elites are scrambling to visit Jia Jing, and no wonder the matriarch's nephews are also seeking offices!

Getting the right person is truly crucial!

At this moment, downstairs Feng Jie rolled her vermilion eyes, and a thoughtful expression appeared on her pure white face, a flash of fervor in her eyes:

If we let our second son Lian follow the third brother to the Twelve Regiment Camp for training, wouldn't that be perfect?

It's safe, and yields military merit; as long as the third brother looks after him a bit, he may later inherit a military title.

Compared with a marquis, a second‑rank general is far from a mere notch lower!

Having the third brother as a nearby strong support, if you don't know to lean on him, you'd truly be foolish and short‑sighted!

If one's own husband is useless, a wife must think of ways; in any case, she must curry favor with the third brother!

Auntie Xue's pure white face also flashed a hint of intrigue at this moment:

If our obedient girl becomes close with Brother Jia Jing, then Pan would be Jia Jing's elder brother‑in‑law.

Such a close relationship, not helping each other would be hard to justify, right?

I don't expect Pan to become a high official; as long as he secures a title, it will benefit us for generations!

Only… I don't know how our obedient girl and Brother Jia Jing get along!

She returned so late yesterday; when asked anything she says nothing— it's driving me crazy!

Beside them, Tan Chun and Li Wan's eyes flickered; they thought of Jia Huan and Jia Lan.

With Brother Jia Jing and Uncle present, as long as the two receive even a sliver of favor, their whole life's prospects are secured!

The only one in the hall with a somewhat sorrowful expression is probably Jia Mu; her feelings are complex and hard to discern.

Because she suddenly realized that although Jia Jing leads many martial elites to rapid promotion and ennoblement, it seems he hasn't looked after his own Jia family members!

It's one thing not to support them, but since Jia Jing entered officialdom, the rest of the Jia household hasn't received good news.

Over at Rong Guo Mansion, the great master was attacked and left half‑dead; at Ning Guo Fu, Jia Jing died, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong were exiled, even the ancestral titles were lost!

One could say that aside from Jia Jing himself, the Jia family as a whole is on a downward trajectory in official circles,

only Jia Zheng's fifth‑rank official post remains; otherwise the Rong and Ning two mansions would have no officials at all!

What exactly is going on?

Could it be that the fortunes of both households have been exhausted by Jing Ge'er alone!

Jia Mu's mind was full of various guesses, and for a moment she couldn't make sense of it!