Chapter 337

Xie Shi's words made Feng Jie, standing nearby, raise her phoenix eyes, the lovely young woman's face full of speechlessness.

Our own Lian Er, as the older brother of the third younger brother, still can only inherit a noble title.

You, this roundabout relative separated by several layers, have quite a beautiful idea!

As for the Central Military Officer mentioned by Xie Shi, what position is that?

Since it concerns Jia Jing's position, most of the Jia Family have deliberately learned about it.

According to the military structure of the Twelve Regiment Camp.

The supreme commander is naturally Jia Jing, the Military Governor overseeing military affairs of the Twelve Regiment Camp, responsible for the highest military decisions.

He oversees all affairs of the twelve regiments, commanding troop movements, issuing orders, appointing and dismissing senior officers, directly answerable to Emperor Jing Sheng, holding the rank of senior second grade.

Below him are the Deputy Military Governor and the Central Military Officer, both of rank third grade.

The Deputy Military Governor is the assistant to the Military Governor, each commanding tens of thousands of troops, assisting in overall military affairs, holding the rank of regular third grade.

In peacetime they respectively oversee training and deployment of the battalions; in wartime they receive orders to act independently.

Routine administrative matters are first sorted out by the deputy, with important items submitted to the Military Governor for decision.

It should be noted that the two Deputy Military Governors have seniority distinctions, with Zhu Que on the left and Ma Guocheng on the right, Zhu Que being the senior.

The Central Military Officer ranks above the various regiment commanders, responsible for transmitting orders, commanding personal troops, coordinating the regiments, etc., serving as the chief of staff to the commander-in-chief.

The commander-in-chief may delegate daily command duties to the Central Military Officer, who coordinates the regiments' actions, holding the rank of junior third grade.

Below them are the commanders of the twelve regiments, divided into four Vigorous, four Mighty, and four Brave regiments; the regiment commander is the chief official of one regiment, responsible for daily training, defense, combat, etc., within the regiment.

In other words, the Central Military Officer that Shi Nai seeks is a key, important post in the Twelve Regiment Camp that ranks higher than a regiment commander.

Yet in seeking such an important post, he himself does not come, but sends his wife to deliver the message, and even says it's no big deal!

Xie Shi's words left the people in the hall somewhat laughing and crying, opening her mouth like a lion—could she be treating imperial titles as child's play?

Niu Shi, standing nearby, had endured for a while but could no longer hold back, and with a half-smile said to Xie Shi:

"His second uncle truly has ambition and vision, immediately picking the Central Military Officer, a position with prospects! This post is no small matter!"

"Our own father, so capable and battle-hardened, dares only to aspire to a regiment commander's post."

"His second uncle, who knows where his confidence comes from, actually opens his mouth asking for the Central Military Officer."

Xie Shi completely missed the sarcasm in Niu Shi's words, her eyes brightening as she spoke firmly:

"Oh? This post isn't small?"

"It's quite big!" Niu Shi nodded and said.

Xie Shi gave a few strange humming laughs, then said delightedly:

"I'm not really clear on the ins and outs of this official rank; it's all what my father told me, which I've noted down."

"But I reckon, since my father has taken a liking to it, this post must indeed be profitable, with ample gains!"

In Xie Shi's mind, having prospects directly turned into making money!

Niu Shi, hearing this, almost laughed out loud and quickly lowered her head.

Daiyu listened to their conversation; the frost on her face had completely faded, her clear, dark eyes full of teasing.

She tugged at the small hand of Xiang Yun, who hid behind her with an obviously embarrassed and cautious demeanor, giving her a look as if to say, 'Is your aunt always like this?'

Xiang Yun's apple-shaped face bore a blush as she raised her eyes to Daiyu and lightly nodded.

And Baichai, looking at Xie Shi, saw her smooth, snow‑like jade complexion lose its chill.

She could now be certain that Xie Shi had not just intentionally said that Jing Lang was a powerful minister.

But for someone like her to seek an official post is undoubtedly a foolish daydream!

Xue Yima also glanced at Xie Shi, her expression shifting.

She had originally thought that, as the matriarch of an imperial merchant family, she already valued money highly enough.

Who would have imagined that this dignified second‑grade marchioness would be so greedy for profit, opening her mouth to grab money and closing it to speak of gains, completely disregarding decorum, as if she had fallen into a money‑filled pit!

No wonder Yun the maid has to stay up late doing needlework in her household—it's practically too mercantile!

By now, Jia Mu had been angered by Xie Shi to the point of a slight headache.

If it weren't for saving face for the Shi family, she really would have wanted to splash a bowl of tea on Xie Shi's face to wake her up!

What beautiful dream are you having in broad daylight without having slept enough!

After a long silence, Jia Mu calmed herself, lifted her teacup, took a sip, suppressed the fire in her heart, and spoke in a low, expressionless voice:

"Xie Shi! Since Nai Lang has the spirit to serve in the military, I have no objection!"

"But what I, an old woman, say doesn't count; just let Nai Lang go talk to Jing Lang!"

"Hmph! Let that troublesome wretch deal with this foolish seed! Scolding people is something that wretch excels at!"

"With my third grandson's stubborn nature, even I, a reasonable and understanding good grandmother, can be scolded as an old fool; what good could those two foolish eggs possibly get then?"

Jia Mu knows without thinking that, if Xie Shi had said these words in front of Jia Jing,

"she would not be scolded bloody; this old lady would dare to eat her own surname!"

Hearing this, Xie Shi offered an apologetic smile and said:

"What are you saying, old lady! You are the venerable matriarch of both households, the paternal grandmother of Jing Lang!"

"Filial piety outweighs heaven! As long as you speak, Jing Lang would dare not say a single word of refusal!"

Jia Mu was so angry she laughed, took a deep breath, gave two hums, and said:

"Hehe... you have plenty of affairs at your manor; why not just go back first? Don't keep me, this old woman, company joking and delay the proper business of the household!"

Seeing that Jia Mu did not agree, Xie Shi's eyes flashed, her expression turning serious as she lowered her voice to 'remind':

"Old lady, we juniors, no matter how useless, would never fail to observe propriety."

"We won't let you speak in vain; if this succeeds, we will certainly show filial respect to you!"

Xie Shi rubbed her fingers together, the meaning quite clear.

Jia Mu's vision went black, and she almost fell off the sitting couch—does she think she's asking for a favor?

Jia Mu felt a bit desperate; there was no point in arguing with such a muddle‑headed person, and she gestured helplessly, saying:

"Take these words to Jia Jing! He'll be pleased to see you so courteous."

"I can't say that Jin, Neng and the others should also become camp commanders!"

Xie didn't realize Jia Mu was speaking sarcastically; after thinking seriously, she asked in doubt:

"Jin, Neng can also become camp commanders? Does that conform to the imperial system?"

"I heard that Zhen from Dong Fu was selling offices in Jingying and was almost beheaded; will Jia Jing's actions cause trouble? Don't let it drag us in…"

Jia Mu clutched her forehead, feeling throbbing pain in her brain: "Ouch…"

…………

Meanwhile, on the other side, Jia Jing changed clothes and entered the main hall of the front courtyard.

The hall was five bays wide; the door pillars were entirely black lacquer, and the couplet hanging on the pillars had black background with gold characters, each as large as a ladle.

The threshold was extremely high, about half a foot; one could not pass without lifting the leg high.

On both sides inside the door were pairs of signs reading "Silence" and "Avoidance", black lacquer with white characters, leaning against the wall.

A plaque hung from the beam, written by the Imperial Ancestor; the gold characters glowed even in the dimness.

The hall had no screen; from the doorway one could see straight to the back wall, where a painting titled "Rising Sun in the East" hung, depicting a sunrise over the sea, its momentum majestic.