Chapter 92: What? You want to expel me, the clan head?

At this moment,

Zhu Que's cold shout finally rang out slowly, causing Jia Rong, Lai Sheng and the others in the hall to tremble.

The usurper of the title in Ning Guo Fu,

Third‑rank Mighty General,

the clan head of the Jia Mansion's Shenjing Eight Houses,

and yet he was slapped across the mouth right there inside the mansion!

Jia Zhen let out a painful grunt, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, feeling his teeth loosened by the slap and his head spinning!

At that moment,

Jia Zhen could no longer restrain the fury in his heart, feeling a surge of humiliation and anger rise within him.

He was afraid that Jia Jing would take revenge on him, but he did not expect the retaliation to come so quickly and fiercely.

Even Jia Jing's son did not act personally; he only sent his subordinates and personal guards back, yet dared to slap him inside the main hall of Ning Guo Fu!

How dare he?

The people of Ning Guo Fu in the hall merely stared blankly, forgetting for a moment to help the fallen Jia Zhen.

Jia Rong watched the scene, her face flushing red, feeling great delight, wishing she herself could use a sword sheath to strike the one who slapped Jia Zhen.

Zhu Que was beaten, scolded and insulted by Jia Zhen, even unable to protect his daughter‑in‑law; Zhu Que had long wanted to strike back fiercely.

How gratifying!

This old tyrant who roamed the mansion unchecked finally has someone to deal with him!

Jia Rong felt a shiver run through her body, as if electrified; as long as she could give his old man a beating, she would gladly become a personal guard for Jia Jing!

Jia Zhen covered his swollen, red face, slowly rose from the ground, his eyes flashing with hatred and anger as he glared at Zhu Que,

and shouted:

"You damn scoundrel! How dare you strike me? I am the master of Ning Guo Fu, a third‑rank general of the court, and you are a lowborn illegitimate son..."

"Bang!"

Before Jia Zhen could finish speaking, another crisp sound rang through the hall, and Jia Zhen fell to the ground again, his other cheek visibly swelling with red.

"For speaking disrespectfully to the Lord, drag him down and beat his mouth to ruin!"

Zhu Que's expression remained cold as he issued a sharp command.

A personal guard stepped forward, seized Jia Zhen's arm, and dragged him outside to be slapped across the mouth.

Jia Zhen, after being slapped, saw stars, tried to break free, but his arm felt as if clamped by two iron tongs, unable to escape.

"You little brute! Steward Lai, are you deaf or blind? Go report to the authorities! Report…"

"Go to Shuntian Office, go to the Zong Ren Office; I don't believe no one can handle these soldier thugs! They openly beat people; that's illegal…"

Jia Zhen's face twisted into a snarling hue as he roared at Jia Rong, Lai Sheng and the others of Ning Guo Fu, his swollen face and blood at the mouth making him look like a demon!

But Jia Rong and the others dared not move; the personal guards each held their sword handles, staring coldly at them!

It seemed that if anyone dared to move even a bit, they would be dismembered on the spot.

Even Jia Zhen, the head of Ning Guo Fu, was beaten like this; how could they dare to test the law with their own bodies!

Besides, what use is reporting to the authorities?

Today the Marquis of Linchuan was killed, Jingnan Wuxun rushed to the palace to force a coup, and the one from Xi Fu remained completely unharmed; besides, you are merely a titular, powerless empty‑ranked general.

Going to report would be like casting oneself into a net!

Moreover, these are merely family squabbles between two brothers, usually settled by an internal clan meeting; how could the court intervene!

Therefore, Jia Rong, Lai Sheng and the others dare not even move, let alone report; they keep their heads down, acting as if they heard nothing.

Zhu Que then said to Jia Zhen in a cold voice:

"You spread rumors and cause trouble throughout the mansion! Speak disrespectfully! Insult the Lord! Interfere with the clan affairs set by the Lord, act recklessly, unaware of life or death!"

"This time, it's just a small lesson for you."

"The Lord said you must speak cautiously and act prudently, lest you bring disaster upon the Jia family!"

"If you dare offend again, the Lord will summon the elder, convene the clan, hold a clan meeting, and besides stripping you of your title, expel you from the Jia Clan!"

"Drag him down and beat him mercilessly! Afterward lock him in the ancestral hall on his knees, so he may reflect for several days!"

Zhu Que's words left Jia Zhen's mind blank, and he stood stunned!

What the heck?

If you dare offend again, you will hold a clan meeting, summon your own father, and besides taking away your title, you will also expel me, the clan head??

Jia Zhen's anger burned with a hint of fear; indeed, Zhu Que's words truly frightened him!

If Jia Jing truly summons his own father and writes to the Zong Ren Office to replace him as the title‑holder of Ning Guo Fu, it is not certain it would be accomplished.

Given Jia Jing's current power and his father's consent, the Zong Ren Office might agree to this.

If he truly loses his title, his position as clan head would naturally vanish!

How could that be possible?

Without the title‑holder and clan head status, what right would he have to continue enjoying endless privileges in Ning Guo Fu? How could he still pressure the Qin clan?

Jia Zhen's expression flickered indecisively, unsure how to retort!

But the personal guards cared not for his thoughts; two of them dragged him out of the hall like a dead dog,

Then a burst of "Clatter" crisp sounds and Jia Zhen's continual screams rang out, sending Jia Rong and the others into terror.

Rong Guo Fu.

Tonight Rong Guo Fu lacked its usual laughter and merriment, because Jia Mu's headache illness, frightened by what Jia Zhen said during the day, has not recovered.

Later, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian and others gathered news that Jia Jing was unharmed and had even been granted the rank of Assistant Minister of War by the emperor.

On the contrary, Lord Linchuan and his followers had their homes raided and were executed, and even Duke Cheng, a top war hero, was imprisoned and charged.

But Jia Mu's mood and her migraine had not improved; she thought that Jia Jing had offended so many people at once outside, and although this time he was unharmed, having so many enemies in the officialdom meant future troubles were inevitable.

Having suffered such a huge loss this time, could Jingnan Wuxun ever forgive Jia Jing? Could he ever forgive Rong Guo Mansion?

With this, the entire Jia Family was likely perched on the brink of a storm, and any slight carelessness could bring disaster.

Therefore, even after learning that Jia Jing was safe, Jia Mu still harbored a considerable amount of worry.

And with Jia Mu in a bad mood, none of the maids, housekeepers, or women of the household dared to laugh loudly.

When Yu Shi, pale‑faced, arrived at Rong Qing Tang to report the news, she saw this bleak scene.

Whether master or the housekeepers and maids, everyone held their breath and stayed silent, daring not to gasp.

"Old lady, Jia Zhen…"

Yu Shi, with her strikingly beautiful, mature and charming face, wore a hint of anxiety and worry as she stepped forward to salute Jia Mu, her voice rather mournful.

A housekeeper brought a chair over, but Yu Shi showed no intention of sitting, merely looking at Jia Mu as tears welled in her eyes.

Jia Mu glanced at her but said nothing.

But she guessed: perhaps Jia Zhen, upon learning at Dong Fu that Jia Jing was unharmed, feared Jia Jing might retaliate for his nonsense today, and sent Yu Shi to silence them.

Jia Mu was displeased with Jia Zhen's actions today.

Even though Jia Jing had once rebuked him at a clan meeting, that was only a minor matter; how could that breed resentment and even a wish for his misfortune?

In the clan, one's honor is shared, one's loss is shared; this shows a failure to discern priorities.