Chapter 71

Feng Jie looked at the few maids and smiled at Jia Jing, saying:

"Third Brother, you really indulge them! I won't eat; there's a heap of business, and now there's no time to have a meal."

"If we eat this meal, we'll be busy until late at night!"

Daiyu is relatively closer to Wang Xifeng, and over these years she has received plenty of care from Feng Jie at the mansion.

At this moment, unable to even mind that she had just been nearly teased to tears by Wang Xifeng earlier, she asked:

"Why have you been so busy lately? Previously we still had time to eat together and chat!"

Wang Xifeng slightly parting her ruby lips, said:

"Before, the East Cross Courtyard was overseen by the Great Master and the Great Mistress; now the Great Master is gravely injured, so I have taken charge there."

"The old women and maids in the courtyard were not accustomed to it, and these days I've been rearranging staff; many matters require me to personally attend to each one."

"Otherwise, if something goes wrong, at most I'll toast you with a cup of wine; I really can't stay for long…"

Wang Xifeng said half with worry, half with joy, that these days her authority over the household has greatly increased,

not only busy with the East Cross Courtyard, but also having to spar wits and courage with Lady Wang.

Moreover, she and Jia Lian are still secretly auditing the accounts of recent years, hoping to use Jia Jing's influence to overthrow those old stewards and fully seize control of Rong Guo Mansion.

Among them, many tasks require hands‑on handling, and she dares not let any rumors spread.

Jia Jing glanced at Feng Jie; now he knows the affairs of Rong Guo Mansion like the back of his hand, so of course he knows what Feng Jie is busy with, and he smiled at Daiyu, saying:

"You needn't worry about her; she's probably enjoying herself!"

He then turned to Feng Jie with a reminder, saying:

"If covert matters are not kept secret, they become harmful! Some affairs cannot be rushed; Second Sister‑in‑law must act cautiously."

Wang Xifeng's phoenix‑like eyes showed a hint of doubt:

"What chicken? How does it become harmful?"

She has never read books or been literate, so she could not understand the meaning of that sentence.

"Pfft!" Lin Daiyu covered her belly and burst out laughing, and Baichai couldn't help but giggle.

Wang Xifeng was a little baffled and asked in doubt:

"Did I say something wrong? Everyone knows I don't understand your classical phrasing, so why make it difficult for me!"

Daiyu smiled and explained:

"Third Brother's saying that 'if covert matters are not kept secret they become harmful' comes from the 'Commentary on the Text' of the Zhou Yi: 'If a ruler is not secret, he loses his ministers; if a minister is not secret, he loses his life; if covert matters are not secret, disaster ensues; therefore the gentleman is careful to keep secrets and does not reveal them.' It means that failing to keep important matters confidential will lead to disaster!"

Lin Daiyu tried to render this sentence in a more colloquial way to make it easier for Feng Jie to understand.

Feng Jie suddenly understood and said:

"So that's what it means; why did I suddenly bring up a chicken!"

"Looks like reading some books is still good; tomorrow if I have time I'll also attend the training class organized by Third Brother, and later perhaps we can even hold a poetry gathering together…"

Wang Xifeng smiled and changed the subject, evidently to keep the surrounding old women and maids at bay.

Daiyu and Baichai, although aware that Jia Jing and Wang Xifeng might have some secret matters, are not meddlesome, so naturally they said little.

The few laughed and chatted, then Feng Jie left first, Baichai followed closely and also departed; after Daiyu gave Xiangling the key points of reading poetry, she too left slowly.

…………

On the second day after the snow, Jia Jing had a meal with the founding‑lineage war merit holders and the Wang and Shi families, getting acquainted.

Except for the founding‑lineage war merit holders who were not in the capital, everyone else, aside from a few who could barely make it, showed up!

He kept in mind those who didn't come.

For example, although Wang Ziteng of the Wang family was in the capital, he himself did not come; instead he sent his son Wang Yi to attend the banquet.

And the Marquis of Baoling, Shi Nai of the Shi family, did not come; only the Marquis of Zhongjing, Shi Ding, arrived.

At the banquet table, an initial series of consensuses were reached.

After the meal, Jia Jing held a small meeting with Niu Jizong, Feng Tang, the head of the Han family, and other war merit holders who still possessed military titles.

The banquet and conversation continued into the night, and the inner details were unknown to outsiders.

After seeing off Niu Jizong and the others, Jia Jing had Xiaohong summon Zhu Que.

The front hall of the Jingwu Yuan courtyard,

Jia Jing, dressed in a bull‑fighting outfit, sat on the upper throne; Zhu Que, clad in a qilin robe, sat below.

Jia Jing lifted the tea cup, took a sip to sober up, and asked:

"How have the matters been handled these past days?"

Zhu Que composed himself, folded his hands, and said:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has already dispatched some members out of the capital for development; over in Liaodong, eight hundred elite cavalry have been transferred, all personally selected by General Qin."

"Additionally, a portion of the craftsmen and the tools and finished products they make are gradually being moved to Shenjing."

After Jia Jing was ennobled, his personal troop quota increased by three hundred, so personnel were drawn from Liaodong.

Moreover, Shenjing also needs manpower; at Ba Shang Daying, our own people must be placed, otherwise military control would be unstable.

The Jia family here also needs defensive manpower; now that Shenjing is rife with hidden currents, danger is inevitable.

Jia Jing gave a slight nod and said:

"Hmm, just handle those as you see fit! Today I've already made contact with the founding‑lineage war merit holders; I plan to go to Ba Shang Daying tomorrow. How is your investigation into the intelligence and evidence concerning Ba Shang and the Jingnan war merit holders?"

Zhu Que said in a deep voice:

"Except for the Duke of Yingguo, Fu De, the Marquis of Runan, Mei Zu, the Marquis of Liu'an, Wang Zhi, and the Ji An Marquis, Lu Heng, who are not in the capital, the in‑capital Marquis of Linchuan, Hu Mei, Marquis of Yongjia, Zhu Zu, Marquis of Nanxiong, Zhao Yong, and Marquis of Zhongqin, Lu Ju, have been essentially investigated, and a portion of the relevant evidence has been obtained."

Hearing this, Jia Jing felt a slight relief, and at the same time could not help but marvel at the strength of the Jingnan Wuxun.

Today, having met the founding‑lineage war merit holders, the highest military title aside from the Prince of Beijing, himself, and the Shi and Feng families, was Niu Jizong's First Earl.

The Four Kings, Eight Dukes, and Twelve Marquises now have only a handful of military titles left; although they still hold considerable military power, the number of titles is more than halved compared to the founding era.

The Retired Emperor's defeat caused heavy losses among the heads and elite descendants of the founding lineage's war merit families, resulting in the current lack of successors in the founding lineage.

As for the Jingnan lineage! Among the Four Dukes and Eight Marquises, only three dukes and seven marquises remain.

Although the Duke of Cao was stripped of his title, the heirs of the Marquis of Jiangxia only inherited the rank of second‑rank general, but the other dukes and marquises still hold their titles and military authority.

The remaining three dukes of the Jingnan lineage are the Duke of Cheng, the Duke of Ying, and the Duke of Zhao.

Although the Duke of Zhao has been rescued, he knows he has lost the emperor's favor, has already submitted a memorial to resign his post as Commander of the Five Armies, and after being scolded so harshly by Jia Jing, he really has no face to remain in the court.

The Duke of Cheng has recently been reinstated and has taken over the Duke of Zhao's post as Right Commander of the Five Armies.

Duke Ying Fu De and Marquis of Runnan Mei Zu guard the southwest border, commanding twenty thousand troops, but they are the only two among the Jingnan war merit leaders who are not particularly close to the Retired Emperor.

Marquis of Liu'an Wang Zhi is in Jinling, overseeing the local guard post.

Ji An Marquis Lu Heng is stationed in the northwest frontier, commanding the strategic stronghold of Elm Forest, with nearly eighty thousand troops under his command.

The remaining marquises—Marquis of Linchuan Hu Mei, Marquis of Yongjia Zhu Zu, Marquis of Nanxiong Zhao Yong, and Marquis of Zhongqin Lu Ju, together with some earls, viscounts, and barons from the Jingnan war merit, are stationed in Shenjing to serve in office.

Among the four marquises, the Marquis of Linchuan Hu Mei and the Marquis of Zhongqin Lu Ju serve as deputy commanders of Bashang Daying; originally they were assistants aiding the Duke of Cheng in overseeing Bashang Daying.

The Marquis of Nanxiong Zhao Yong and the Marquis of Yongjia Zhu Zu serve as unit commanders in the Feathered Forest Army of the palace.