Chapter 83: Daiyu's Talent and Character

Jia Mu heard the words, frowned sharply! How does this sound so harsh?

Before the old woman entered Rong Qing Tang, she was stopped by the steward outside:

"What are you shouting about? Want to be flogged?"

"Jia Zhen sent me over to deliver a message: Third Uncle Jia Jing has a serious incident!"

The old woman, with an anxious expression, spoke.

In Rong Qing Tang, Jia Mu, who was frowning, heard the voices outside, stood up and asked:

"Who had the incident?"

Outside, the old woman came in and said:

"Someone from Dong Fu came to convey that Jia Zhen says the Marquis has a serious incident!"

Jia Mu's face turned pale, and she hurriedly asked:

"Didn't he just go to Bashang Daying this morning to take up his post? How could anything serious happen in such a short time?"

Feng Jie hurriedly set down the dominoes in her hand, came over and, together with Yuan Yang, helped support Jia Mu.

The others in the hall wore puzzled, uncertain expressions, not knowing what had happened to Jia Jing!

Logically, given Jia Jing's current status and his personal guards, what could go wrong?

Could it be overt or covert attacks in the official arena?

Feng Jie slightly raised her brows, her vermilion eyes full of suspicion; this newly appointed Marquis, high‑ranking and trusted by the emperor, how could anything happen?

"Madam, there's no need to worry yet; we should first find out the facts!" Feng Jie reassured Jia Mu.

Jia Mu kept urging, asking repeatedly:

"What is going on? Exactly what happened? Where is Jia Zhen's son?"

Before the old woman could reply, Jia Zhen's voice came from afar, growing nearer:

"Madam, disaster!"

In a short while, Jia Zhen arrived in Rong Qing Tang, with a faint smile, saying:

"Madam, Jia Jing has an incident! Steward Lai reported that Jia Jing killed the Marquis of Linchuan in Bashang Daying, and also got into a big fight with Marquis Zhongqin and other Jingnan Wuxun in Bashang Daying."

"Now the Duke of Cheng, Marquis of Yongjia and others have gone to the palace to appear before the emperor, making a great commotion."

"They say Jia Jing must repay blood debt with blood, life for life! Now the news has spread throughout Shenjing City! This time Jia Jing has caused a huge disaster!"

Speaking of this, Jia Zhen felt rather gratified.

That day in the ancestral hall, he was publicly scolded by Jia Jing's younger son in front of the whole clan as if training a servant; such insult he had never endured before.

He had long thought that as soon as an opportunity arose he would strike back fiercely, otherwise how could Jia Zhen keep his standing within the Jia Clan?

How could he have any face to become the head of Dong Fu!

Especially these days, the clan praised Jia Jing's younger son for his benevolence, while secretly cursing himself for being unfit to be clan head! This further inflamed Jia Zhen's anger!

"Haha!"

He just didn't expect retribution to come so quickly!

"The younger son was arrogant and reckless; this time he has angered the Jingnan line—let's see how he dies!"

At this moment, Jia Mu and the others, hearing Jia Zhen's words, were shocked and pale.

Jia Mu thought to herself: I have only just enjoyed a few days of peace!

Last time he only scolded the Duke of Zhao to the point of spitting blood; this time he actually killed a Marquis!

What sin have I committed! Heaven sends such a grandson to torment me.

"I knew he wouldn't be quiet for days; if he doesn't stir up trouble at home, he'll go cause trouble elsewhere. You'd be better off having him just beat the servants at home!"

Aunt Xue and the others were also startled.

"What? He killed a Marquis?"

Although they didn't know who the Marquis of Linchuan was, they knew a Marquis was a second‑rank official.

This is a top‑tier noble of the court; this is outrageous!

Aunt Xue silently thought that, being of imperial‑merchant background, she rarely gets a chance to see such Marquises.

Jia Jing actually killed him outright; now this must be trouble!

Lady Wang thought, indeed, he talks big but can't get things done; is the Bashang Military Governor really that easy to hold?

Having just taken office and already made such a huge blunder, it would be better to let my own brother be the Military Governor!

Lady Wang now has no goodwill toward Jia Jing at all,

First, she believes Jia Jing seized the Bashang Military Governor position from her brother.

Second, after Jia Jing returned to the mansion, he has been befriending the clan, entertaining the founding‑era Wuxun, acting repeatedly, which has greatly eroded her second branch's power in Rong Guo Mansion!

Moreover, she had originally hoped for a perfect match for Baoyu, but Aunt Xue seemed to have other thoughts and was not very cooperative.

Could my Baoyu still be inferior to Jia Jing's illegitimate son?

That is simply unreasonable!

Lady Wang said:

"I heard Baoyu's uncle say that the Marquis of Linchuan is a genuine second‑rank Martial Marquis, one level higher than Jia Jing's third‑rank Marquis!"

"Back then on the battlefield he was also a fierce warrior; now he serves as the Deputy Military Governor of Bashang Daying, a high‑ranking, powerful position trusted deeply by the palace."

"Now that he was killed by Jia Jing, the matter is unlikely to be minor…"

Aunt Xue frowned and said:

"Could it really be that Jia Jing must atone with his life? A few days ago didn't Jia Jing make the Duke of Zhao spit blood and nothing happened?"

Jia Mu sighed and explained to Aunt Xue:

"This is different! The previous time Jia Jing made the Duke of Zhao spit blood, it was only a verbal spat; on the court, you insult me twice, I insult you twice—such things are commonplace."

But killing the Prince of Linchuan is different! Someone like the Martial Marquis, a high‑ranking military achievement of the court, even the emperor would have to think twice before punishing him!

They not only control the armed forces, but also hold a death‑exempt iron certificate; you can't just say "kill" and kill them!

You should know that since the current ruler took the throne, no marquis has ever been granted death; now Jia Jing has killed the Prince of Linchuan, this matter is likely to cause a huge uproar!

Upon hearing Jia Mu's words, everyone in the hall turned grim.

Only Lady Wang and Jia Zhen kept their composure, their eyes even showing a hint of delight.

Meanwhile, in the side wing, all the young ladies of the Jia mansion wore worried looks; Baichai's snow‑white pretty face grew ever paler, carrying a touch of sorrow and anxiety as she murmured:

"How could he have killed someone! And he killed a marquis! What are we to do!"

Although Baichai understands some external official affairs, she also knows that Jia Jing's going to the main camp to reorganize the troops will inevitably mean a new official's three blazing fires.

But directly killing a marquis with real power was still somewhat beyond her expectation.

This is likely to end badly!

I don't know how Third Brother is doing now! Surely he won't really have to pay with his life!

Tan Chun's almond eyes also held a trace of solemnity, her beautiful face touched with worry, obviously also concerned about Jia Jing's situation.

Yingchun and Xiao Jiaoer were even more tearful, on the verge of crying.

As for Daiyu, her knotted brows furrowed; she felt the matter wouldn't be so simple.

As the daughter of the current top examination graduate, she actually understands court affairs better than others, though she usually doesn't show it.

Just like when Yuan Chun visited home, Yuan Chun compared everyone's poetic talent; Daiyu's line "In a prosperous age there is no hunger, why bother with farming and weaving?" shows her political acumen.

While others were writing about scenery and emotions, she praised the prosperous age from a national perspective, catering to the theme Yuan Chun wanted; Yuan Chun greatly praised her and placed her poem at the head of all.

What's more, this poem was actually written by her on behalf of Jia Baoyu.

Having talent yet knowing how to conceal one's shortcomings—that is Daiyu's talent and character.