Chapter 431: A Slap to Lady Wang

In the end, one cannot help feeling a lingering dread, and the Shen Guogong Mansion and the Pingyuan Marquis Mansion, which, like Rong Guo Mansion, had existed for over a hundred years, vanished like smoke, which is rather lamentable.

Jia Mu listened with her heart in her throat, her complexion changing repeatedly.

How could these three grandsons act so swiftly? Even though they have imperial orders, to raid the current ministers' and the dukes' and marquises' residences so brutally and directly seems improper, doesn't it?

The people in the hall stared at each other, trying to digest the shocking news.

Auntie Xue, Mrs. Xing and the others shivered in horror; though they are women of the household, they know who the current ministers are and who the imperial relatives are. How could such great power and prestigious high‑born families be raided by order of Brother Jia Jing?

People like Daiyu, Xiang Yun, Tan Chun and others think that cosmic justice and retribution demand a swift, thunderous response like Third Brother's, a forceful counterattack!

Jia Mu fell silent for a long while, let out a long sigh, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Brother Jia Jing is still young and acts too rashly! For a major case that involves us, even if there is evidence, one should first report to the palace before making a decision!"

"Minister Fang is no pushover; even I, a woman of the inner household, have heard of his reputation."

"He has served thirty years as an official, a leader of the Zhe Party, with disciples and former clerks spread throughout the court; the number of officials he has promoted is countless, and he enjoys great prestige in Jiangnan."

"With such a tangled web of power, this party‑leader heavyweight, Brother Jia Jing directly raided his household and imprisoned him; how could he not incur retaliation from that faction?"

Jia Zheng was stunned for a moment, suppressed a strange feeling in his heart, and said with a complicated expression:

"There's no need to worry; retaliation should not happen! Brother Jia Jing seized a ledger from the Fang residence, which records all those who regularly had dealings with him!"

"According to Minister Xia, Brother Jia Jing ordered arrests based on the ledger, sending everyone to the Censorate prison; in just a short hour, two officials of the Censorate were captured."

"In addition, more than fifty officials of various ranks from the Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Revenue, Hanlin Academy, and the Great Justice Hall were seized; the Ministries of Works, Punishments, and Personnel also captured many, and Jiangnan has already sent people over; all in all, roughly two hundred and some officials are being arrested!"

"This… this just now arrested over two hundred officials? This… how many officials are there in Shenjing City altogether? Won't this almost empty it?" Jia Mu asked in a hoarse voice, her face full of surprise.

The reason for using 'again' is that last month, the faction case and the Great Prison incident already captured over two hundred officials.

"Indeed! Arresting so many officials at once—does that conform to imperial law?" Auntie Xue could not help but speak, a look of astonishment on her fair face.

Tan Chun furrowed her elegant brows and said in a deep voice:

"Assassinating Third Brother and Minister Zhang is no small matter; Minister Zhang is a deputy of the inner cabinet, and Third Brother commands twelve troop divisions, a pillar minister whose role concerns the nation's safety and the stability of imperial authority—this already shakes the very foundation of the court."

"For a case of this magnitude, implicating over two hundred people is not even broad! In the founding emperor's era, with strict codes, a major case would implicate tens of thousands—now that truly meant a sea of heads and boundless bloodshed!"

"However, those over two hundred officials probably won't all lose their heads; once the case is clarified, punishments will vary according to guilt—death, exile, demotion, each handled accordingly!"

Jia Zheng, his face also showing a sigh, warned:

"Third Sister is right! When a major case erupts, disaster spreads to the family, afflicts relatives, rivers of blood flow—not a joke!"

"Shenjing is a tumultuous season now; even though our family has Brother Jia Jing's protection, we must be doubly cautious!"

The others felt a chill in their hearts at his words and all nodded in agreement!

Jia Mu seemed to recall something and asked in a hoarse voice:

"The second Miss of the Shen Guogong Mansion was ennobled in the palace as Consort Xian De, one of the four consorts beneath the Empress, and is said to be dearly favored by the Son of Heaven. Now that her natal family has been raided, she won't use palace intrigues or poison against Brother Jia Jing, will she?"

"Although the power of imperial concubines is limited and strictly barred from external court affairs!"

"But Jia Mu knows very well a woman's schemes; if Consort Xian De truly intends to avenge Jia Jing, her means would be countless."

"Even if she doesn't whisper slanders to the Son of Heaven during his private chambers, or sow discord, even if she cries before the Empress Dowager, the Empress and others in the harem, secretly troubling the women of the Jia household, that too is a serious problem not to be underestimated!"

Yuan Chun slightly furrowed her elegant brows; she knows Consort Xian De, as the two entered the palace together.

Although that woman's looks are not lacking, she is extremely petty, adept at feigning innocence and playing the naïve!

Back then she was first recognized and promoted by the Empress, even rumors of good news spread, yet that woman harbored much jealousy, slander, and even plots to trap her!

Thinking of this, a shade of worry appeared in Yuan Chun's eyes!

She will tell Brother Jia Jing about this when he returns, so he can be on guard!

Baichai's almond eyes also showed worry; women understand women best, and the power of palace intrigue has always been formidable.

Jia Zheng's expression grew solemn as he said:

"There is no such thing as Consort Xian De! According to Minister Xia, on the day Shi Guangzhu was slain by Brother Jia Jing, she went before the Son of Heaven to lodge a complaint, claiming that Brother Jia Jing's military authority was excessive, that he was eliminating dissent, and might have treasonous intentions."

"He was then mercilessly ordered by the Son of Heaven to be sent to the cold palace; this decree was not publicly announced, so many in the outer court are still unaware of the news!"

"Alas… this is why the Shi family harbors a deep hatred for Brother Jia Jing; it is the main reason they participated in his assassination today."

"Shi Guangzhu's death is a minor matter, but a consort who had painstakingly risen to power was stripped of her title because of it; that is the great vengeance that severs their family's roots!"

"Nevertheless, one can imagine that now the Shen Guogong Mansion has committed such a grave crime; Consort Xian De will likely meet a fate of… white silk and poisoned wine!"

With those words, everyone in the hall inhaled a sharp gasp of cold air!

What level of honor does an imperial consort possess?

It can be said she is among the very few women, second only to the Empress Dowager and Empress, the most honored.

Even Jia Mu, the most esteemed noble lady of the Jia household, must be trembling and kneel in reverence before such a figure!

Yet it was only because she uttered a bad word about Jia Jing before the Son of Heaven that she was cast into the cold palace!

This is hard to believe…

If one says that the women of the inner household present earlier perhaps still did not fully grasp Jia Jing's external status and prestige.

After this matter was mentioned, they no longer were unclear!

"Truly… no one can provoke!"

Even Jia Mu's worries lightened for a moment; previously she was troubled because Jia Jing roamed unchecked outside, attracting more enemies, but now she suddenly felt she had been worrying needlessly!

Compared with those ministers and officials, our family seems not inferior; we are not entirely unable to fight back!

Then she suddenly came to her senses; such an attitude is unacceptable—one tiger cannot fend off a pack of wolves, and we must not drift away with our three grandsons into the heavens!

"The Shen Guogong Mansion is finished; even an imperial consort of such prestige cannot escape entanglement?" Feng Jie arched an eyebrow, glanced at Lady Wang, and said pointedly:

"It shows that when a natal family falls into trouble, a married daughter cannot remain untouched!"

"Second Madam just now said she feared Brother Jia Jing might have an accident and the whole household would suffer, urging early marriage arrangements for the children as a fallback; isn't that baseless talk!"

Feng Jie felt rather proud inside, having just employed a newly learned idiom!

Lady Wang's complexion turned pale in an instant: "……"

At this moment, bringing up the marriage matter in front of Jia Zheng—isn't that just putting eye drops on her?

Damn Feng Jie……

Sure enough, upon hearing Feng Jie's words, Jia Zheng stared at Lady Wang, brows furrowed, and asked in a low voice:

"What marriage matter? What accident happened to Jing Ge'er?"

Lady Wang wouldn't be stirring up trouble in the mansion again, would she?

He was punished by Jing Ge'er just last month—doesn't he learn his lesson?

Jia Mu sighed and said:

"It was just now that Bao Yu's maternal aunt said……"

"I forbid it! But Bao Yu's mother means that Jing Ge'er is too dangerous out there, so to be safe, she wants to settle the marriages of the eldest and third girls, to give them a way out."

"But the third girl said, Jing Ge'er had said he would personally arrange their marriages!"

Jia Mu briefly explained the whole matter, not mentioning Bao Yu, and emphasized that she herself forbade it!

Lady Wang's face turned even paler, clutching the prayer beads in her hand; the old lady, seeing that the short‑lived eldest branch's son had great power, grew frightened and shoved all the blame onto me at once!

Damn……

"Pa!"

Before Lady Wang could make sense of it, she felt a sting on her cheek, staggered, almost fell to the ground, and several gold hairpins fell from her head.

It turned out that, in his rage, Jia Zheng raised his hand and slapped Lady Wang!

"Ignorant foolish woman! Acting recklessly! Stirring up wind and rain! Afraid the world isn't chaotic enough!"

His stern shout echoed through Rong Qing Tang, making everyone in the hall tremble!