Chapter 477: Furious Reproach of the South An Grand Consort!

For a moment, the South An Grand Consort felt her qi and blood surge upward, causing her whole body to shiver, and darkness flickered before her eyes!

Jia Mu, lying on the couch, slightly changed expression, her body trembling, pursed her lips and let out a gentle breath; her aged eyes flickered, and she stared unblinking at the South An Grand Consort's shifting demeanor.

At the same time, the words "confused and perverse" kept looping in her mind!

She quickly reasoned that these two characters should mean "stupid", right?

Indeed!

You old fool, coming to my birthday to stir up trouble, and you expect Third Grandson, that scoundrel, to deal with you!

The Dongping Crown Prince Consort beside them saw the South An Grand Consort trembling all over from Jia Jing's words, her delicate brows knit, her heavily made‑up face showing anger, and she shouted:

"Jia Jing, though you have risen in power, the Grand Consort is the widowed consort of the late Prince of South An, a current top‑tier noble; in rank she still outranks you. Do you have any sense of seniority and propriety? Such disrespect is overly presumptuous, isn't it?"

Jia Jing's expression was cold and stern as he replied indifferently:

"I possess the Emperor's personal grant to regulate all martial merits across the realm; even if the late Prince of South An still lives, he must be subject to my control, let alone a widowed consort!"

"Moreover, I bear the Emperor's Sword, acting on his behalf in military and state affairs entrusted by the throne. How dare you women speak rashly before me, gesturing and dictating court matters—aren't you courting disgrace?"

In theory, the South An Grand Consort's noble rank is indeed above Jia Jing's, and her status is lofty.

But that is only in theory; in reality, throughout the Da Han Empire, aside from the Emperor, no one truly holds a status higher than Jia Jing's!

Not to mention he is the Grand Minister of Military Affairs, wielding near‑absolute control over the empire's armies!

Even if he merely brandishes the Emperor's Sword or the Imperial Gold Medal, the South An Grand Consort and the Dongping Crown Prince Consort must kneel to speak with him!

This is why many officials secretly refer to Jia Jing as "one below ten thousand above" or a "half‑ruler"!

Truly, his power is boundless in every direction!

Thus, although reorganizing the empire's armies is perilous, Jing Sheng Di has placed all the necessary trust in him!

As Jia Jing retorted, the Dongping Crown Prince Consort's complexion shifted between pallor and flush, momentarily unsure how to rebut!

In other words, they may leverage their status within the inner palace without hindrance, but before a man of Jia Jing's overwhelming power, it is of no use!

"Fine, fine! What a steel‑faced, selfless, disavowing kin, cold‑hearted, hard‑hearted Duke of Jing!"

"Since you refuse to grant face to both of our great princely houses, there is nothing more to say!"

"But I offer this advice: you are powerful now, yet you will not remain so forever."

"Although I am a woman, I have read several histories; since antiquity, none of the powerful who offend the world have met a good end…"

The South An Grand Consort's face had lost its earlier false smile; her complexion turned iron‑blue as she said coldly.

This is an overt threat and sowing of discord, perhaps also laying the groundwork for the forthcoming prophecy!

When these words were spoken, the atmosphere in Rong Qing Tang grew a few degrees colder and more lethal; the blatant tearing of façades chilled everyone present.

What does it mean to disavow kin, be unfeeling, and have a black face and hard heart?

What does it mean that one cannot stay powerful forever?

What does it mean that none have ever met a good end?

These sentences are not only accusations; they already verge on inciting rebellion against the sovereign and are treasonous!

Tan Chun's alluring eyes turned icy as she stared at the South An Grand Consort, a genuine hatred rising in her heart!

Such cursed, coercive words that aim to crush the heart—how venomous!

Princess Consort Zhen of the Northern Tranquil Kingdom narrowed her graceful brows; the expression on her jade‑like face vanished, her lips slightly pursed, and her bright eyes closely observed Jia Jing's demeanor.

Daiyu's misty eyebrows furrowed, a rare chill of frost appearing on her porcelain skin, her heart seething with anger!

Third Brother, devoted to the nation and unswayed by personal feelings, is being viciously slandered like this…

Aunt Xue's complexion paused, as if deep in thought!

Lady Wang twirled the Prayer Beads in her hand, a hint of delight hidden in her eyes.

She thought inwardly: Well said, well said! She's practically voiced her innermost thoughts. The illegitimate son of the main house now sees his rise, yet his achievements eclipse his lord; there will surely be a day when the rabbit dies and the dog is boiled, and then…

Before Lady Wang could finish her reverie, a deep shout rang through Rong Qing Tang:

"Old Qian, shut up!"

I hadn't had a good reason to punish you before, but now that you're pushing so hard, don't blame me for being blunt!

Regarding the South An Grand Consort, Jia Jing harbored no goodwill; after all, she was the mastermind in the original story who arranged Tan Chun's marriage, sending his own daughter elsewhere while giving a Jia family maiden—what kind of benevolent intent could that be!

"You…" the South An Grand Consort stared dumbfounded, her face full of disbelief!

What woman?

Old what?

Before she could think it over, Jia Jing's deep voice said:

"Considering today is my family's matriarch's birthday, I have already shown you some courtesy, yet you remain obstinate, leeching on age, clamoring with your tongue, showing disrespect, and are utterly presumptuous!"

"You keep saying that I am unfeeling and will not meet a good end; then I must ask: what kind of 'humaneness' do you speak of?"

"Is it the 'humaneness' that lets the court continue to tolerate your princely houses' seizure of military lands, forced conscription of soldiers, drinking soldiers' blood, and living off empty rations? Or is it the 'humaneness' that lets His Majesty watch millions of soldier families starve, border troops go without grain, Guard Posts become shells, all while you preserve your families' prestige by standing by?"

"If that is the 'humaneness' you speak of, let me state clearly that I do not recognize it, nor need I; for I have Heaven's justice and a conscience in my heart!"

Saying this, Jia Jing's gaze swept the surroundings, a hint of emotion in his eyes, and his voice deepened as he continued:

"You who reside within the inner palace, do you understand the sovereign's suffering? Do you know how many days and nights His Majesty has bled his heart to reorganize the troops? Since I returned to the capital, each audience with the Emperor has centered on the hardships of soldier households and the plight of the border passes."

"The Emperor has often said that if the nation can be enriched and the army strengthened, he would gladly tighten his own garments and work day and night without cease. The Son of Heaven does so, yet your princely houses indulge in silk and jade, wealth filling your halls, while neglecting to repay the sovereign's grace or care for the soldiers and people."

"Instead, for personal gain you disregard the court's grand plan, obstruct virtuous policies, and have long forgotten the court, the sovereign, and the countless soldiers and civilians you oppress!"

"What face do you have to call yourselves founders of the realm? When you descend to the underworld, what face will you present before the ancestors who fought alongside the Great Ancestor to conquer the world?"

His gaze suddenly turned icy, his tone suddenly elevated:

"As for your earlier claim that offending the world precludes a good end, that is utterly absurd! I was chosen by His Majesty from obscurity in a time of crisis; having pledged my life to the nation, I no longer count personal fame or reputation."

"To aid the sovereign in forging an unprecedented great achievement, for the rise and fall of the state, and for the soldiers and civilians whose very bones you gnaw!"

"Even if ten thousand point at me, ten thousand curse me, my name stinks for ten thousand years, even if I meet no good end, even if I become enemy of the world and be shattered to pieces, what fear have I?"

Come, men!