Chapter 478

In Rong Qing Tang,

With Jia Jing's sharp shout, Zhu Que, who had been waiting outside, led more than a dozen sturdy maidservants from Dong Fu into the hall without glancing sideways.

Seeing this formation, everyone in the hall exchanged glances, all turning pale.

What is this? Could it be that the Jingguo Gong intends to interrogate the Nan'an Tai Fei and the Dongping Shizi Fei?

"I am here!" Zhu Que replied with clasped hands.

Jia Jing rose to his feet; the imperial sword at his waist under his dark python robe was gripped by a pair of long, sturdy, knuckle‑distinct hands. The youth's brows were stern, his cheeks frosty, his eyes full of righteous vigor.

At this moment, his silent authority made everyone in the hall catch their breath!

The Jia household members were fine, accustomed to Jia Jing's occasional outbursts inside the mansion and clan, but Zhen Shi, Li Shi, Nian Shi Lan, You Er Jie, You San Jie, and others felt their hearts jolt, their faces changing.

"Convey my order: the Nan'an Jun Wang and the Dongping Jun Wang Shizi, as top martial meritorious officials of the Da Han Empire, who have long received the state's favor, yet lax in household management, improper in conduct, unable to discern right from wrong, forgetting their ancestors and discarding the classics."

"At a time when the state is reorganizing its forces, training in martial arts, and seeking revival and strength, they do not think to repay the sovereign's grace or set an example for all martial officials; instead they take the lead in resisting military orders, causing chaos, disturbing the populace, obstructing the clearing of garrisons, and, out of selfish interest, attempt to ruin the court's policies."

"Immediately remove the Nan'an Jun Wang from the post of Right Deputy Commander of the Five Military Governor's Office, and remove the Dongping Jun Wang Shizi from the post of Assistant Secretary of the Five Military Governor's Office; order them to return to their mansions and reflect in seclusion."

"Within three days, have both mansions compile a full register of all military garrison lands they have illegally occupied, report it, and return it voluntarily; anyone who conceals or delays will have their property confiscated and titles stripped, with no leniency. Do not say I did not warn you!"

Jia Jing's command rang out like a sudden thunderclap, instantly startling everyone in the hall, their hearts shaken!

Without any room for negotiation, they outright moved to strip the heads of the two princely mansions of their offices and order them to reflect in seclusion—such forcefulness...

Bei Jing Wang Fei Zhen Shi furrowed her willow-leaf brows; the composure on her cheeks vanished completely, her bright eyes fixed on the youth, her heart suddenly trembling!

The Nan'an Jun Wang held the position of Right Deputy Commander of the Five Military Governor's Office, already the pinnacle for a military official, even higher than his own lord; yet he never expected to be stripped of it just like that!

Jia Mu's face lost its amused smile; her aged features stiffened slightly, her eyes filled with uncertainty, and a murmur rose in her heart!

She had only wanted her grandson to give a good scolding to the Nan'an Tai Fei and the Dongping Shizi Fei, two foolish women, and drive them away.

She did not expect that her grandson would develop such a temper; over a disagreement, he would go so far as to deal with the Nan'an Jun Wang and the Dongping Shizi as well.

After all, they are two great princely mansions! Is such a massive show of force really appropriate?

Lady Wang's face showed a hint of disbelief; she marveled inwardly, thinking, 'Could this eldest branch's bastard son have grown arrogant, daring to treat even the lord with such contempt?'

And yet they speak of confiscating homes and stripping titles—what right does a mere Gong have to ransack the lord's residence?

Xue Yima's fair face froze for a moment as she furtively glanced at her own obedient daughter Baichai, thinking:

"Jing'er's authority feels boundless! Who else could he not punish? Fortunately, no one in our household has offended his taboos!"

Baichai, however, kept a calm expression, her pear‑blossom‑white face unaltered, reflecting: 'The sole Minister of Military Affairs who commands the armed forces is hardly an ordinary post!'

"Yes, my lord!" Zhu Que shouted, clasping his fists in obedience!

At this moment, the Nan'an Tai Fei was filled with shock and anger; having lived over seventy years, she had never seen such arrogance.

To her face they took away her son's office and even said they would strip her mansion of its title!

Her mansion's title was granted by the Taizu Emperor to last as long as the state—can you simply say you will take it away?

"How presumptuous!" the Nan'an Tai Fei sprang up, striking the ground heavily with her dragon‑head cane, emitting a dull thud.

Her well‑maintained old face was now ashen, veins at her temples faintly pulsing; her voice trembled with extreme anger as she demanded:

"My son Ming'er is a present‑day Jun Wang, of the highest rank, hereditary and immutable, granted by the Taizu Emperor to endure as long as the state!"

"You, a mere minister of the Ministry of Military Affairs, without an imperial edict, what authority do you have to depose a current Jun Wang and speak of confiscating homes and stripping titles? This is usurpation! This is monopolizing power! This is deceiving the sovereign!"

She drew a breath, her chest heaving, her eyes like knives boring into Jia Jing; her voice rose sharply, filled with a reckless, all‑or‑nothing fury as she cried:

"If you dare act recklessly today, I will go beat the Drum of Appeal, kneel at the Ancestral Temple, and file a petition to the throne! I will personally ask the Emperor and the Retired Emperor whether the realm of the Da Han still observes the rule of law."

"Do the civil and military officials of the whole court still recognize the rules set by the Taizu Emperor? I simply do not believe that you, Jia Jing, can cover the sky with one hand and silence the murmurs of the world."

The Nan'an Tai Fei's fierce tone and expression left no doubt about her sincerity!

Everyone in the hall watched this clash with fear and astonishment; to be precise, most eyes were fixed on the calm‑countenanced Jia Jing.

"You want an imperial edict?" Jia Jing's face turned stern as he drew from his bosom the vermilion‑gold imperial medal and held it high.

Candlelight played on the medal, its golden sheen shifting, causing everyone in the hall to lower their heads, unwilling to meet its glare.

The youth's voice, heavy and resonant like iron, each word weighing a thousand jin, echoed in the Rong Qing Tang:

"This is the emperor's bestowed gold medal; he who holds it is as if the emperor himself were present. I act by heavenly mandate—my words are not an edict, yet they surpass an edict."

"Never mind merely removing his office as Nan'an Jun Wang; if he dares to defy orders and obstruct state affairs, I will personally lead troops to his mansion and behead him—this authority lies within the gold medal, allowing no objection."

He withdrew the medal, his gaze like a blade sweeping over the Nan'an Tai Fei's bloodless face; he saw no need to waste words on the two inner‑court women, his lips parting to utter three words, cold as the bitter wind of the ninth winter scraping ice, and he said:

"Throw them out!"

The Nan'an Tai Fei still wanted to say more, but several sturdy maidservants lunged at her like wolves, roughly seizing her arms so she could not move an inch.

Having never experienced such treatment, the Nan'an Tai Fei stared blankly for a moment, then struggled to break free,

but her body, pampered for decades, could not break free of these robust women who had been trained in the Xuanwu regimen at Dong Fu.

"Clang!"

The dragon‑head cane lay on the ground, and an old woman kicked it into the corner of the wall.

Princess Dowager of Nanan was hoisted and staggered outward, the red‑gold and jade phoenix hairpin on her head tilted, a few strands of graying hair fell beside her ear.

The crimson‑purple embroidered robe with clustered flower patterns was torn and crumpled in the struggle; it bore no trace of the dignified, splendid, imposing appearance it had when it first entered the hall.

"Jia Jing, child, wait…"

"I will go lodge an imperial petition…"

"Senior Prince, open your eyes and look…"