Chapter 52: The Bustling Scene of Returning to the Mansion

The women downstairs also looked at each other, what's going on?

Lady Wang guessed, "Jia Jing wouldn't speak rashly and say something vulgar, would he?"

Lady Wang somewhat suspected that Jia Jing's scolding contained extremely harsh mother insults; otherwise, how could he scold someone into vomiting blood?

Xiang Yun frowned and spoke: "Third Brother isn't like that!"

Only Xiang Yun, relying on Jia Mu's favor, dared to oppose Lady Wang's words.

Tan Chun, Daiyu, and the others knew Lady Wang's guess was unfounded, but their status and temperament made it unsuitable to contradict her in public.

These sisters often corresponded with Jia Jing, knowing his literary talent matched his martial skill—he was no crude person.

Tan Chun, with a worried look, said:

"Perhaps the Duke of Zhao's health was already poor; now this has brought disaster upon Third Brother, giving him the infamous reputation of having scolded someone to death."

Jia Mu also felt uneasy; if the Duke of Zhao were really scolded to death, this feud would become huge!

At the same time, Jia Jing has caused such a big incident; the emperor likely won't let him off lightly.

Jia Mu hurriedly asked:

"How could Niu Boye have already left court? Jia Jing hasn't returned yet—could he have been reprimanded by the emperor and be getting beaten in the palace?"

"Getting beaten?!"

Jia Zheng hesitated again, unable to understand this matter; if Niu Boye hadn't spoken up, he wouldn't have believed it.

Jia Mu snapped:

"What's wrong with you today? Speaking haltingly is unpleasant, just like Huan'er..."

These words are already a severe criticism of Jia Zheng!

You know Jia Huan is infamous in the Jia Mansion as a 'high-legged chicken'—someone good for nothing.

To be called the same as him by my own son is utterly absurd.

Jia Zheng wore a helpless expression and said:

"It's not that my son refuses to speak plainly; the matter is simply extraordinary."

Jia Mu asked:

"What's going on? Could it be that the emperor has stripped Jia Jing of his marquisate again?"

Jia Zheng said:

"No! After the Duke of Zhao fainted, the emperor said it was due to his old age and frailty, paying it no further heed, and then summoned Jia Jing for a talk!"

"Just now, Jia Jing's personal troops reported that the emperor had bestowed a noon banquet, but Jia Jing wouldn't return to eat, so there's no need to wait!"

"Ah??"

Jia Mu wore a look of confusion!

The Duke of Zhao caused such a big incident, yet instead of punishing Jia Jing, the emperor invited him to lunch?

The Duke of Zhao is a high-ranking court official, a duke of equal rank to her late husband, the former Duke of Xianrong!

For such a major incident where Jia Jing's scolding made someone vomit blood and faint, not even a light punishment—no explanation to the Duke of Zhao's side!

Even a perfunctory handling would be tolerable, yet the emperor still wants to treat Jia Jing to a meal?

Could it be a reward for Jia Jing's good scolding?

What kind of situation is this?

Or is it truly that her grandson holds a special place in the emperor's heart, more important than a duke's rank?

Jia Mu, for a moment, felt old and unable to comprehend these court affairs!

Jia Mu rubbed her forehead, headache etched on her face, remaining silent for a long while.

Meanwhile, everyone in the hall fell silent, not knowing how to speak!

In the afternoon, not until the sun was about to set did Jia Jing finally emerge from the imperial palace.

After Emperor Jing Sheng had him stay for lunch, they spoke candidly about the court situation over the past two years, the New Policies, and he inquired in detail about the situation on the Liaodong front.

The two got along swimmingly; Emperor Jing Sheng treated Jia Jing as his champion marquis,

while Jia Jing believed Emperor Jing Sheng was diligent, reform-minded, a ruler with vision and resolve.

They felt like old friends at first sight.

Outside the palace, Jia Jing met up with Zhu Que and the two hundred personal troops who had been waiting there, mounted their horses, and rode toward the Jia Mansion.

This time, returning to the capital, Jia Jing brought only his two hundred personal troops and Zhu Que.

Qin Qiong was left by him in Liaodong, using the Xuanjia Army as its core, commanding nearly forty thousand infantry and cavalry.

These forty thousand were all veterans who had fought victorious battles under him, especially the cavalry, which after his training and numerous field engagements against Qing troops had become elite and fiercely loyal to him.

These forty thousand troops constitute his foundation in Liaodong and will still be of great use later.

As for the personal troops.

According to the Da Han Empire's military rank system!

The Da Han Empire's military rank permits a certain number of personal troops.

Among them, a baron may retain fifty personal troops, with two spears erected before the gate.

A viscount may retain one hundred personal troops, with four spears before the gate.

An earl may retain two hundred personal troops, with six spears before the gate.

A marquis may retain five hundred personal troops, with eight spears before the gate.

A duke may retain eight hundred personal troops, with ten spears before the gate.

A prince may retain one thousand personal troops, with twelve spears before the gate.

These two hundred are the elite selected from his Liaodong cavalry, serving as his first-class earl's personal troops.

Of course, now that he has been promoted to marquis, he can also increase his forces by three hundred.

The cavalry proceeded slowly along Shenjing Street, and in a moment they arrived at Rongning Street.

At this time, Rongning Street was already filled with members of the Jia clan.

Naturally leading the way were Jia Zhen and Jia Lian, followed by Jia Rong, Jia Huan, Jia Cong, Jia Qiang, Jia Lan, and other close direct-line relatives of the two Rongning mansions.

Moreover, young people of the Shenjing Eight Houses such as Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Jun, Jia Chang, and Jia Ling were also waiting here.

By this time, the news of Jia Jing's ennoblement as marquis and appointment as general had spread throughout the Jia clan, inside and out!

Many in the clan had long hoped to make a living by attaching themselves to the two Rongning mansions.

Now that Jia Jing, who was made a marquis and general at twenty, has returned to the mansion, seeing his limitless future, how could they not come to pay their respects?

Jia Lian saw a troop of cavalry entering Rongning Street from afar and immediately ordered:

"Open the central gate quickly! Welcome the marquis back to the mansion!"

The steward and the servants hurriedly opened the main gate of the Rongguo Mansion.

At the same time, traditional instruments such as guzheng, erhu, pipa, yangqin, bamboo flute, xiao, suona, horn, diao gu, coconut hu, zhonghu, gaohu, and ruan began to play along both sides of the street.

Moreover, the servants lit the firecrackers that had been prepared long ago along both sides of the street.

In an instant, the noisy, bustling sounds echoed throughout Rongning Street.

Upon reaching Rongning Street, Jia Jing lightly pulled the reins and slowed his pace.

Looking at the street, trees, buildings, and people where he had stayed for three months after his rebirth, he felt a sudden sense that things remained but people had changed.

When he left the mansion, he was a junior military officer of the eighth rank; now, upon his return, he is a second‑rank marquis of the court, commanding a hundred thousand troops.

All of this, however, took only a short two years.

Now, having returned to the mansion, he can say that there is no longer any restraint anywhere within the household.

Even Jia Mu, who is both a duchess and grandmother, cannot slight him in the slightest.

Although filial piety is the iron law of the Da Han Empire! Jia Mu has a natural advantage in status over Jia Jing!

But if there is anything in the world that can surpass filial piety, it must be the righteousness of imperial authority.

Heaven, earth, ruler, parent, teacher — the ruler comes before the parent.

With the power granted by imperial authority, even filial piety must yield.

"Whoa!"