Chapter 473

I heard that the newly established Office of Military Affairs is being overseen by Third Brother Jing, and he has issued several military orders to clear out what military colonies?

It is said that the deadline is half a month, requiring all capital-based military nobles to voluntarily report any excess military colonies and households under their names, and to proactively return them to the court; those who conceal and fail to report will have their property confiscated and titles stripped.

Now look at that—many of our founding military noble families in the capital are panicking.

Older sister, you and I both know—among us founding nobles, how much of the family estate passed down for generations can actually be clearly distinguished as ancestral property versus military colonies? We've just muddled along for decades.

Third Brother Jing's sweeping cut isn't entirely wrong; after all, he's young and a military commander, and he conducts affairs with the principle that military orders are as firm as mountain and must be obeyed.

However, governing the army and governing the state are after all different; strict military law is for winning battles, but we old friends and acquaintances, with relationships spanning generations, ought to have some decency about it. Older sister, don't you think that's reasonable?" said the Princess of Nan'an.

Upon hearing this, everyone in Rong Qing Tang looked at each other, their expressions varied.

Princess Bei Jing Zhen Shi's expression slightly paused, she pursed her lips, and temporarily chose to watch coldly from the sidelines.

Who doesn't know that the Duke of Jing Guo has always been impartial and stern; the Princess Dowager of Nan'an, relying on her status, dares to criticize state affairs at the old matriarch's birthday banquet in the Jia mansion—who knows what will happen…

Lady Niu likewise furrowed her brows; she knew about the three military orders, and her visit today was actually also meant to show her support for Third Brother Jia from the Duke of Zhen Guo's residence and the Marquis of Zhong Jing's residence.

Beside them, Tan Chun, Yuan Chun, and the others also had faces frosted with jade-like pallor; unlike Jia Mu, who knows nothing of the outside world, these young ladies are well aware of every stir in Shenjing City.

Yesterday's notice from the Office of Military Affairs had already been posted on every city gate, and the whole city was hotly discussing it; of course they knew as well.

Yesterday the military administration office's notice was already posted on every city gate, and the whole city was abuzz about it; they were of course aware of it.

At this moment, the Princess of Nan'an was speaking of "decency" and "friendships spanning generations" merely to press emotion over reason, blur right and wrong, and try to have Third Brother act with favoritism and pervert the law!

It must be said that after several rounds of instruction by Jia Jing in the Jia Mansion, the sisters inside the mansion also hold a clear principle: private feelings remain private and cannot override the nation's laws and regulations; the stance on great righteousness versus petty matters must be distinguished.

Beside Daiyu, Baichai wore the same cool expression; beneath her willow‑shaped brows, her moist apricot eyes glanced at the Princess of Nan'an, wondering what "after all, she is young" meant—was she referring to her own brother Jia Jing acting impulsively?

Jia Mu only now seemed to regain her composure, thinking that in less than a day, her own third grandson had already started causing trouble again?

Hearing the military order warning of "confiscating families and stripping titles" sounded exactly like something he could accomplish!

But what's the use of bringing this to me? Do they expect me to plead a favor for your family?

Jia Mu sighed, met the Princess of Nan'an's gaze, her complexion grew dull, she fell silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice:

"I know nothing at all about those outside matters! To be frank, I'm already old, half my body feels like it's in the earth, I'm deaf, my eyes are dim, my mind isn't sharp; I hear about outside affairs, and within a day I forget them! Telling me these things is useless!"

Jia Mu naturally wouldn't involve herself in outside affairs—has she not had enough scoldings yet?

She could only feign ignorance to decline, putting on the look of someone nearly senile, saying, "Don't bring these matters to me; even if you do, I won't remember!"

The Princess of Nan'an was taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting Jia Mu to take such an attitude!

Weren't they previously quite easy to deal with, always eager to ask about outside matters?

The Princess of the Crown Prince of Dongping, standing nearby, flashed her eyes and said:

"Madam, on the occasion of your birthday today, there are some matters that ought not to be spoken, but our families have centuries of friendship, and we cannot keep silent. These days, the Jia family's reputation in Shenjing City is quite poor!"

Jia Mu frowned, her complexion shifted slightly, and said:

"What about the reputation?"

In fact, she probably also knew that Jia Jing had offended many people outside, and officials were privately cursing him.

She just hoped it wouldn't implicate her own son Zheng'er and Baoyu, would it?

The Princess of the Crown Prince of Dongping said:

"Outside, they say that the Pingyuan Marquisate and the Shan State Duke's household were confiscated, the entire clan exterminated, the women sent into slavery—the outcome was terribly tragic!"

"Although their families participated in the ambush that killed Brother Jing, that was a fault, the incident was originally caused by Brother Jing himself."

"If it weren't for him, at the Twelfth Regiment Camp, having a disagreement and then killing Uncle Shi of the Shi family and Uncle Jiang of the Jiang family, which led to Consort Xian De being cast into the cold palace, none of the subsequent events would have occurred!"

"Outside they say your Brother Jing is capable, indeed formidable in battle, but he is cold‑blooded, ruthless, and disavows even his own kin."

"They also say that the Jia family originally rose because the Four Kings and Eight Dukes stood together like branches of the same tree, yet now a Duke of Jing appears and becomes the first to turn his own family against itself."

"The Pingyuan Marquisate and the Shan State Duke's household are families that, generations ago, served the old Duke Rong, contributing both labor and hardship without merit; now they are being used as a display of power, with accusations that your family is climbing by stepping on the corpses of old acquaintances, staining your official hat with the blood of former allies!"

After speaking for a while, she paused and added:

"These are all rumors circulating outside; I'm merely relaying them to the madam..."

The Princess of Nan'an took over the conversation, her face showing a few hints of sincere concern, and said:

"Your sister‑in‑law's words are all true! To be frank, Brother Jing originally had great prospects, his military merits were outstanding, and the founding lineage all hoped to share in his glory, but who could have expected him to be so ungracious..."

"At my age, this is the first time I've seen such a decisive young man; the youth is indeed fearsome—truly, the youth is fearsome!"

"But sister, your grandson has offended many people outside; lately many officials are grinding their teeth in secret, hating him."

"As elders, we ought to give him a word of advice: young man, you have many years ahead; loyalty and bravery are important, but you must not become overly arrogant—don't you agree?"

Both of them, in and out of their words, coordinated, so their remarks contained not only criticism but also sarcasm and threat!

This is also the strategy of the Nan'an Prince's Mansion and the Dongping Prince's Mansion: using the inner families of the two great princely houses, on one hand to test the Jia Mansion's attitude, feel out the situation, and on the other hand to apply pressure, first courtesy then force, to see if a breach can be opened from within the Jia Mansion.

After all, a mutiny is something that, unless absolutely necessary, no one is willing to risk.

Zhen observed all this from the side, a hint of amusement flashing beneath her willow‑shaped eyebrows.

The two great princely houses were now in a hurry!

If it were not a matter of their own interests, they would not be so loquacious here!

The Duke of Jing's current sweep of the colonization lands strikes at the lifeblood of most of Shenjing's martial heroes!

In the end, it's because those people have committed too many illegal and chaotic acts in the past, fearing the court's investigation!

Unlike our own princely house, which, though it holds some colonized lands, has only a very few, and engages in no plundering; when we retreat, we simply retreat, causing no real harm.

Beside them, Tan Chun, Yuan Chun, Baichai and others wore even colder expressions; the Princess of Nan'an and the Princess of the Crown Prince of Dongping were merely chewing over their tongues, outwardly spouting a set of arguments while actually using rumors to slander Third Brother!

The only person present who showed any sign of delight was probably Lady Wang, who thought to herself, indeed, outsiders' eyes are the sharpest!

That eldest illegitimate son is precisely the one who is unfilial, cold‑blooded, and overbearing!

At last someone stepped forward to speak a word of justice!