Chapter 82: Imperial Audience Presses the Palace

Lord Yongjia urged, saying:

"Old Zhao! Don't be hasty! Old Hu was killed, of course it won't just end there! It's just that now we are all here; it's not too late to devise a countermeasure together before we act!"

"If you ask me, what's up with Old Hu and Old Lu? Weren't we just a few days ago discussing how to outwardly obey but secretly undermine Jia Jing's son? How did it turn into this situation?"

"I don't understand!"

"In the Ba Shang Camp, they're all our people—our elite troops and commanders need no mention, plus tens of thousands of soldiers—how did it end in total defeat, with some killed or captured?!"

Lord Nanxiong set a stern face and shouted:

"What else could it be? It must be carelessness! Now that the men are dead, why bother with this?"

"If you ask me, it's just you all keep negotiating back and forth, fussing about nothing, useless!"

"Our warriors must speak with the swords and spears in our hands! Forget all that; first we deal with Jia Jing's son!"

Lord Cheng softened his expression and said gravely:

"Jia Jing's son is no ordinary fellow! Don't underestimate him! To defeat over a hundred thousand Qing troops, he's no pushover!"

"I heard he's exceptionally brave; at first I was skeptical, thinking it was just rumors from Liaodong, exaggerated. Now it seems he truly has some skill!"

"And these times are different from before! Behind Jia Jing's son stands the present..."

"Now the military command of Ba Shang Camp is gone, and Jingying is also in the hands of the founding lineage; what can you use to fight him? Rely on our few hundred elite troops?"

Lord Nanxiong's face darkened at the words, and he said:

"We still have the Imperial Guard, Ji An Marquis commands nearly eighty thousand troops in Yulin to the northwest, Lord Liu An holds Guard Post authority in Jinling, and the southwest has two hundred thousand troops..."

"Wait, don't mention the southwest; they're not on the same page with us..."

Lord Nanxiong hadn't finished speaking when Lord Yongjia cut him off, saying:

Lord Nanxiong snorted coldly and said:

"I just can't believe those two could stand by while my Jingnan Wuxun is being oppressed by the founding Wuxun, even though we're comrades who have sold our lives together—could they really just watch with open eyes and do nothing?"

"Moreover, when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold; if we fall, can they have a good end?"

Lord Cheng sighed and said:

"Even counting everything, the Nine Borders muster several hundred thousand troops, yet we hold less than half the command authority."

"And distant water can't quench immediate thirst; moving troops into the capital on our own is a capital crime of treason, and we haven't reached that level yet."

"These days aren't like a few years ago; the current positions are getting more secure. In Liaodong, Lord Nian Gengyao and Lord Yue Zhongqi command the armies; in Shenjing, Niu Jizong, and now Jia Jing—forcing a confrontation with us brings no benefit!"

When Lord Cheng spoke, the Jingnan Wuxun present showed a slight change in expression, his demeanor becoming solemn.

Originally, the Jingnan Wuxun held command of Ba Shang Camp in Shenjing, making them invincible; even Emperor Jing Sheng had to consider them.

Moreover, with the Retired Emperor backing them, they have a legitimate standing.

Who could have known that once Ba Shang Camp's command changed hands, the situation would become so passive.

"Then what do you propose? Should we just give up so easily and let Lord Linchuan die in vain?" Lord Nanxiong asked angrily.

"Of course not!" Lord Cheng lowered his eyelids and replied coldly, resolutely.

How could it possibly be settled like that!

Lord Cheng's own son was ordered beheaded by Emperor Jing Sheng, and his sole legitimate daughter became a consort of the Retired Emperor, naturally a confidante of the Retired Emperor.

Why would he be willing to watch Emperor Jing Sheng gradually consolidate military command and prestige, while the Retired Emperor plots restoration!

Those of us loyal to the Retired Emperor also stand little chance of a good end!

I and Lord Linchuan and others have done many unsavory deeds for the Retired Emperor over the years; switching sides now is impossible!

Now Lord Linchuan is dead, but the Ba Shang command must be reclaimed during this opportunity!

And Jia Jing's son must trade life for life!

Seeing everyone look at him, Lord Cheng slowly rose and said:

"Even if Lord Linchuan and others are guilty, they should be handed over to the Three Courts for trial; how could Jia Jing's son get away with such wanton misconduct?"

"Let's go! We'll go to the Qian Qing Gong to see the Emperor! If this matter isn't given us an explanation, I, as a Jingnan Wuxun, will never be satisfied!"

Lord Cheng finished speaking and walked toward the hall's exit; Lord Nanxiong followed closely and added:

"Exactly, this matter must be answered to us! We are not those civil officials who can only bow their heads and wait to die!"

"If His Majesty shows bias and injustice, don't blame us for acting rashly! He lets Jia Jing kill people, and we can't?"

The group surged behind Lord Cheng, their momentum fierce as they headed toward the palace.

Rong Guo Mansion.

It was already after lunch; in Jia Mu's Rong Qing Hall, laughter and merriment continued.

Jia Mu, accompanied by Aunt Xue, Lady You, Wang Xifeng, and Li Wan, was handling dominoes.

Since the sky cleared after the snow, the women of the inner house had little other pastime; usually they chatted and laughed, or played dominoes while listening to opera, and Jia Mu especially loved handling the tiles.

Especially Feng Jie, with her witty banter, kept Jia Mu laughing continuously.

In this round, Feng Jie deliberately dealt a tile to Jia Mu, then pretended to be anxious to take it back, saying as she did, "I played it wrong!"

Jia Mu, still laughing, tossed the tile down and said, feigning seriousness:

"How dare you take it back! Who told you it was wrong? Put it down quickly!"

Feng Jie, acting sour, said:

"But I also need to calculate fate! I dealt it myself, so I blame the ambush!"

Jia Mu laughed:

"But you should be the one to speak with your own mouth, and ask yourself, that's the point."

Then she smiled at Aunt Xue and said:

"I'm not petty, loving to win money; it's just a lucky start."

Aunt Xue laughed, "That's not it at all; how could any muddle‑headed person say the old lady loves money?"

Feng Jie was counting money; hearing that, she quickly put the money back on the string and smiled at the crowd:

"That's enough for me. It's not about winning money, just about gaining a lucky start. I'm so petty; when I lose I count the money, so stop and put it away."

Nearby, the maids Yuan Yang and Hu Po, along with a few others, chatted with their masters while shuffling cards for several people, and also served some snacks and fruit.

Not far in the side chamber, San Chun, Daiyu, Baichai, Xiang Yun, and Bao Yu were composing couplets together, and Shi Xiangyun's shouting could be heard:

"Fine! You two go join Third Brother to recite poetry, enjoy the snow, and eat hotpot, and you didn't even invite us."

Then Baichai's calm, dignified voice came:

"We were actually going to deliver some venison and Marinated Goose Foot and Duck Delicacy to Third Brother; it happened to coincide, and Third Brother had Lin Meimei teach Xiangling poetry, so we each quickly wrote a verse—it's not that we intentionally left you out!"

Then Lin Meimei's teasing voice:

"Indeed! It's not that anyone said they wanted to imitate the ancients, to be pretentious or anything! Xiao Jiaoer, right?"

"Hee hee! I don't know anything!"

Then a burst of laughing and chatter rose.

Listening to the laughter from the side chamber, Lady Wang, seated at a small table sipping tea, slightly frowned:

"That precious maid, she's not usually like this; why does she act differently when Jia Jing is mentioned!"

Just as Rong Qing Tang displayed a scene of tranquil years, a sudden clamor erupted outside.

"The old lady's in trouble! The old lady… in trouble…"