Chapter 463: Jia Mu: Jia Jing Has… Been Promoted Again?

Lady Wang and Aunt Xue were supported by Yuan Chun and Baichai; both turned pale, tears in their eyes, and were on the verge of fainting on the spot!

Wang Ziteng was their elder brother, the pride of their natal family; after hearing yesterday that he had been imprisoned they already felt uneasy, and today they heard such a thunderbolt on a clear day!

Whether he was greedy or corrupt, as younger sisters they could not be completely unaware, or rather, how many of those who took bribes were not bribed!

Jia Mu's expression also changed abruptly, a look of terror in her eyes, and in a hoarse voice she asked:

"Did they arrest those one or two hundred people yesterday, and intend to skin them all… and punish them with such a severe execution?"

The phrase "skin and strip" Jia Mu could not bring herself to utter; just thinking of it made her scalp tingle!

Jia Zheng, his face solemn, nodded and said:

"Even if not all, probably ten to nine out of ten!"

"This…" Jia Mu's expression froze, her heart jolted!

She could not understand how it suddenly escalated to such a terrifying level; in her nearly eighty years of memory, she had rarely seen the palace punish court officials so brutally!

Feng Jie, Yuan Chun, Tan Chun and the others also showed shifting expressions, their demeanor solemn.

After all, Wang Ziteng was their uncle and maternal uncle; if it were merely removal from office or flogging and exile, they would, though unwilling, be somewhat able to accept it, for official life is fickle and fortunes unpredictable!

But hearing that he might have to endure such a torture, they could not help but feel compassion and unwillingness!

Baichai also let out a faint sigh, a layer of worry shading her snow‑white face.

Jia Zheng explained:

"Bao Yu's uncle this time is also out of luck, just as His Majesty is about to reform the bureaucracy!"

"In fact, many court officials today warned that skinning and stripping harms the heavens, and that those who complied should be punished lightly, but His Majesty ignored them, and even more than ten of the honest remonstrators were imprisoned…"

Jia Zheng let out a faint sigh, essentially recounting what had happened at the morning court.

The listeners' faces turned uncertain and startled; though they did not understand many details, they sensed the danger within.

Jia Mu, in a hoarse voice, sighed:

"Today the court session again seized more than ten officials; though they deserved it, it shows that the court has been truly turbulent lately!"

"By the way, regarding Bao Yu's uncle's matter, does Jia Jing have any comment…"

When Jia Mu mentioned Jia Jing, Aunt Xue and the others fixed their gazes on Jia Zheng, waiting silently for his words.

Now, if any turning point is to be hoped for, it seems only Jia Jing's ability to intercede can help.

Jia Zheng said:

"After the court session, Jia Jing went to present a private memorial to the Son of Heaven, and to this day I have never seen his face!"

"However, I guess he is now busy with the major affairs of the General Administration of Military Affairs, and has no time for other matters!"

Saying this, Jia Zheng's expression brightened slightly; during the morning court, Jia Jing was suddenly appointed as Minister of the General Administration of Military Affairs, something he had not anticipated at all!

"What office?" Jia Mu asked hesitantly.

After all, as the senior noble of Jia Mansion, she instantly caught the fresh term from Jia Zheng's mouth.

Jia Zheng's cheeks flushed slightly, a hint of excitement in his voice as he said:

"The General Administration of Military Affairs! It is a new department established today by His Majesty, overseeing the Ministry of War and the Five Military Governor's Office, managing all military and governmental affairs of the court."

"Jia Jing was appointed Minister of the General Administration of Military Affairs, heading that office, and was additionally granted the rank of Second‑Grade Positive‑Class Cavalry Grand General!"

With that sentence, everyone was instantly stunned!

Immediately, it was as if a warm breeze of joyous celebration swept through the entire Rong Qing Tang, dispelling the gloom over Wang Ziteng's affair, and the sisters of Jia Mansion in the hall flushed with happiness.

"It's only been so short, and… he's been promoted again?" Jia Mu's face was shocked, her hoarse voice asking repeatedly in disbelief.

The court's turmoil is so perilous; those officials are beheaded, imprisoned, the dynasty cannot be secured, so why does it fall to our own third grandson, who is being promoted again?

This seems rather illogical!

And this Minister of the General Administration of Military Affairs—how it sounds, the power seems boundless, overseeing all military and governmental affairs; isn't this essentially the Grand Marshal of the world's armies?

At this moment, Feng Jie, who had been listening to Jia Zheng and Jia Mu's conversation, also narrowed her eyes; her pure white face shifted from sorrow to joy. Even though she had long known he was extraordinary, his sudden promotion still left her inexplicably shocked!

She recalled the old lady once said that a Second‑Grade Positive‑Class Grand General seems to be the highest rank a military officer can attain!

Is the third brother already at the pinnacle at such a young age?

At this moment, Daiyu clutched her poetry collection, her lacquered bright eyes slightly dazed, her heart filled with both surprise and joy.

Her focus differed from Feng Jie's; she knew that the so‑called Second‑Grade Positive‑Class Cavalry Grand General was merely a one‑grade promotion,

what truly mattered was the actual post of Minister of the General Administration of Military Affairs, overseeing the Five Military Governor's Office and the Ministry of War, managing all military affairs of the realm—what a weight of authority!

Even… even saying 'one below the ruler, above ten thousand', would not be an exaggeration!

And the purple magpie behind Daiyu also showed a hint of joy, looking at her own lady, feeling proud.

She had seen last night that the Prince of the State held her lady's hand, and at the courtyard gate even gave her a hug,

Their relationship had already surpassed normal sibling affection; she guessed the Prince of the State would become her future brother‑in‑law, sharing honor and disgrace together…

Not only Daiyu and her servants were delighted; at this moment, Baichai's worry seemed to vanish entirely,

her pear‑like white face showed an almost imperceptible joy, and her watery apricot eyes gazed off‑dreamily, like ripples on a heart‑lake.

Her own brother Jia Jing, however, was a rare extraordinary man; even the Son of Heaven in the palace placed utmost trust in him, granting such authority to oversee all military and governmental affairs—what divine favor could allow such delegation!

At this time, Jia Zheng, hearing Jia Mu's question—or perhaps her shocked mutter—replied with a hint of sigh:

"Indeed! Jia Jing is now the only Second‑Grade Grand General in the Da Han Empire; in terms of office, all current military officials are beneath him, subject to his control. His status and authority are especially surpassing those of the former Rong Ning's second ancestor."

By the end, his voice, stirred by emotion, clearly trembled.

The second Lord of Rong Ning of a previous generation had also been granted the rank of Second‑Grade Grand General, but never possessed authority over the realm's armies!

Moreover, he never at such a young age was ennobled as a general, becoming truly the Da Han's foremost martial merit!

In terms of peerage, authority, military merit, or anything else, Jia Jing has wholly surpassed his ancestors!

Jia Mu's expression turned a bit complex as she smiled and said:

"Jia Jing truly is commendable! Yet now his position has reached its peak; any further ascent, whether in rank or office, would be as hard as scaling the heavens!"