Chapter 93: Miss You's Petition

Among kin, as brothers, we speak of watching over each other; it should never lead to mutual harm.

Of course, regarding today's matter concerning Jia Zhen, Jia Mu will not speak up to Jia Jing, causing discord among the brothers.

But now she must also convey her displeasure to Miss You, telling her to go back and advise Jia Zhen to be cautious in speech and conduct, not to be frivolous or reckless.

Therefore, Jia Mu fell silent for a moment, and the scene grew even more tranquil.

Meanwhile, Feng Jie noticed that Miss You's expression was off, showing a hint of sorrow and anxiety, not the look of someone sent by Jia Zhen to silence them.

Feng Jie's bright eyes glittered; after a pause, she was the first to speak, breaking the calm:

"What's going on? What happened to Brother Jia Zhen?"

Present were Lady Wang, Mrs. Xing, Li Wan and others, all turning to Miss You with puzzled looks.

Miss You, with a mournful face, stammered half a breath and said in a sorrowful voice:

"The master… he was beaten by the Marquis's personal soldiers… his face swollen, his teeth knocked out! And now he's being…"

"Ah!" The onlookers gasped before she could finish.

Jia Mu, unable to mind her own headache, looked up at Miss You and asked urgently:

"When did this happen? Has Brother Jia Jing returned? How is it now?"

After speaking, she sighed, patting the seat and said:

"I told him not to speak recklessly! He insisted on showing off his strength! Now look—he's getting beaten!"

"I, too, have committed too many sins in my life; my family keeps producing such troublesome descendants! If not this one causing trouble, then that one does."

"What kind of temperament does Brother Jia Jing have? He doesn't know? He's a general who has slain countless on the battlefield! To clash with him so fiercely—can we hope to win?"

Feng Jie, standing nearby, quickly stepped forward to comfort:

"Madam! Perhaps the two brothers are just playing around! Please don't be hasty! Find out what happened first before speaking!"

Jia Mu directed her inquisitive gaze toward Miss You.

Miss You lifted her delicate, sorrowful, exquisitely moving face and said in a clear voice:

"Just now, the master was speaking with Brother Rong in the mansion! The Marquis's personal soldiers, led by that so‑called middle‑ranking general, burst straight into the main hall of the house."

"They said the Marquis sent him to deliver a message to the master, who was listening respectfully! Suddenly that middle‑ranking general slapped him."

"They said… they said the Marquis gave him a slap! To warn him not to speak out of turn in the future."

"Then they dragged the master outside and slapped his face, swelling it! His mouth was torn up!"

"Now he's being held down by the Marquis's soldiers, forced to kneel in the ancestral hall! They say he should reflect for several days, learn to be cautious in speech and conduct, lest he bring disaster to the clan!"

"They also said… if the master offends again, they'll summon the patriarch, hold a clan meeting, and besides stripping his title, they'll remove his position as clan head…"

Jia Mu: "..."

Jia Mu's expression was shocked yet tinged with a smile; she felt a little relieved.

Brother Jia Zhen only took a few blows; it shouldn't be a serious injury!

Having endured the Count of Zhao coughing up blood and the Marquis of Linchuan being killed, her mental resilience has greatly increased!

But Brother Jia Jing seems too well‑informed; while I was planning to keep this matter hidden, who knew he had already finished dealing with everyone over there!

That vengeful streak hasn't changed at all!

As for what Jia Jing mentioned about Jia Zhen's title and clan‑head position, Jia Mu didn't take it seriously, thinking Jia Jing was merely threatening Jia Zhen.

Pulling this off won't be easy!

Putting aside whether Jia Jing would agree, even if he did, who in Dong Fu could inherit the title?

There, the lineage is a single line; could it go to Brother Rong?

How is that different from giving it to Brother Jia Zhen? Brother Rong has always been terrified of his father! If his father gives an order, would he dare disobey?

Alas!

Brother Jia Zhen also grew up under her watch; aside from being a bit gluttonous, he has no major faults, so let this be a lesson!

Meanwhile, Lady Wang's expression was displeased, her pale skin tinged with a cold hue.

She mainly thought of her Baoyu.

Jia Jing's reputation is now so high, and he's frivolous; even Jia Zhen, the head of Dong Fu and clan leader, has to take his beating.

If her Baoyu were to offend him in the future, could anything good come of it?

If Jia Jing were to strike Baoyu the way he struck Jia Zhen, what should be done?

Not afraid!

With me and the matriarch here, no one can bully Baoyu!

If anyone dares to bully my Baoyu, I'll file a petition to the imperial court and confront them!

But now the main branch is becoming ever more powerful! I must also think of a way!

Lady Wang glanced thoughtfully at Feng Jie, her complexion dark and unreadable!

Feng Jie's pretty face now showed a hint of annoyance; she had originally intended to secretly send Jia Jing news from today's mansion for a profit.

But before she could act, Jia Jing had already taken care of everything over there!

She had always been trying to win Jia Jing's favor, especially after seeing today that Jia Jing killed a Marquis without any repercussions.

She became even more convinced of Jia Jing's boundless prospects and resolved to actively cultivate a good relationship!

Given Jia Jing's current power, a slight endorsement of me would mean that in Rong Guo Mansion, who would dare defy me!

At this moment, Miss You had no idea of Jia Mu and the others' thoughts; she brushed away the tears on her lashes,

her jade‑like face pleadingly said to Jia Mu:

"Madam, the master is still kneeling in the ancestral hall!"

"In this cold weather, the master is injured; he asked me to beg you to appeal to the Marquis, to spare him this time!"

Jia Mu thought for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice:

"Now it's so late, the city gates are shut, Jia Jing is still over at Bashang Daying, how can I send someone to plead with Jia Zhen, and besides, I'm afraid I couldn't even make that appeal!"

Jia Mu didn't really want to get involved in this matter; although Jia Zhen is generally decent, Jia Jing is still her own grandson!

Since nothing serious has broken out now, let those men outside handle it themselves.

She is old, and being bothered by this and that all day gives her a real headache; she doesn't want to meddle in outside affairs at all.

Moreover, she feels that even if she sends someone to have Jia Jing spare Jia Zhen this time, it would probably be a futile effort.

That grandson's idea is spot on! Her old lady's words might not work either! Why bother making a disgrace!

Beside them, You, smiling apologetically, pleaded again:

"No need to go find the Marquis! Your old lady can have someone give the ancestral hall's guard a command to the Marquis's personal troops, just tell them to disperse!"

Jia Mu, hearing this, shook her head outright and said:

"That can't work! You don't understand the rules of Wu Xun's family's personal troops!"

"They only obey the commander's word; even if someone else has a high status, they still won't listen!"

Jia Mu, as the Duke of Rong's official wife, surely understands the rules of the personal troops.

That is a force of absolute loyalty belonging solely to Wu Xun, a truly reciprocal relationship where one's honor rises and falls together.

Not even if you're just Jia Jing's grandmother, let alone if the emperor himself came, you'd probably still be unable to command these people.

That's also why Wu Xun and his peers are so eager to pursue military titles, because a military title grants one's own armed force: personal troops.