Chapter 240: Jia Mu: Please don

Zhen hadn't had time to answer, and Tan Chun, standing nearby, explained to Jia Mu:

"Madam, the court has such a system, namely 'granting favor.'"

"It means the Son of Heaven extends an official's rank, honors, and some benefits to his parents, grandparents, or even great‑grandparents."

"However, it is usually a nominal title, insufficient to offset military merit; if the Great Master and Third Brother were jointly granted a third‑rank duke, that would be a special‑case granting, and there is precedent."

"Last year, Lord Nian of the Nian family achieved great merit in Liaodong, and the court jointly conferred a first‑rank marquis on Lord Nian and his grandfather."

After Tan Chun finished, Li, standing nearby, gave her a thoughtful glance and laughed lightly, saying:

"You, the Third Miss of this mansion, are indeed well‑informed, handling these court affairs so clearly."

"Indeed, last year Grandfather was granted a first‑rank marquis because of his second brother! That is the so‑called 'joint ennoblement of three generations', which reflects filial piety. However…"

Li's next words were left unsaid, though it sounds nice in theory.

In fact it is a method civil officials use to suppress military merit, which is no good for Nian Gengyao and Jia Jing!

Originally, Jia Jing last year routed the invading forces of False Qing; Nian Gengyao, as the commander in Liaodong, could have been granted a duke, but was only given a first‑rank marquis.

Jia Jing need not say more: a first‑rank duke became a third‑rank duke.

Seeing only a two‑rank difference, yet whether in office or title, the higher you go, the harder promotion becomes.

However, at this moment Jia Mu and the others clearly cannot contemplate the courtly scheming behind these honors.

Hearing Tan Chun and Li both say it's possible, and with Lord Nian's precedent, everyone assumes the matter will certainly succeed.

Only Lin Daiyu, Baichai, Tan Chun, and Yuan Chun frowned silently.

They are all politically informed; considering such counsel from civil officials, there must be scheming detrimental to Jia Jing.

Jia Mu could not help but burst into laughter, saying in a hoarse voice:

"This is indeed good news! Not only has Brother Jing been granted a dukedom, but the dukedom of Rong Guo Mansion has also returned!"

"When I am beneath the nine springs, I will finally have an answer for the former Rong Guo!"

When Jia Mu said that, Feng Jie could no longer hold back; a flush rose on her snow‑white face, and she blurted out:

"Madam, do you think we should send Jia Lian's second son to the northwest under Third Brother's command for training, to earn some military merit? This military title can only be inherited with merit!"

"Why not raise it while Jia Mu is pleased?"

"Madam, you also do not wish the dukedom of Rong Guo Mansion to be gained and then lost, do you?"

Lady Wang's face stretched long, clutching the Prayer Beads in her hand, retorted:

"Can Jia Lian's second son endure the battlefield? Moreover, the Great Master has little time left, and he is not by his side… does that make sense?"

"You should honestly inherit the third‑grade decree of a first‑rank general's wife!"

"To become a duchess is your grand spring‑autumn dream!"

Feng Jie: "……"

Feng Jie's arched eyebrows lifted, as if about to tear the mask off with Lady Wang.

This concerns her duchess decree, which is more important than her own fiery destiny!

However, facing the Princess and Li, Feng Jie finally held back her anger, her expression slightly darkening as she said:

"Why is Jia Lian's second son not suitable? He manages external affairs in the mansion, receives and sends guests, and has never erred!"

"He already told me he wants to follow Third Brother later… to contribute to the nation, as the saying goes, 'brothers fighting tigers together, father and son on the battlefield.'"

"With Third Brother's support, perhaps he could also… slay generals, raise banners, or earn the title 'Feng Langju Xu'!"

Wang Xifeng doesn't know many idioms; these days, having heard 'Feng Langju Xu', 'slay generals and raise banners' so often, she subconsciously uses them!

She doesn't consider whether Jia Lian actually wants to go to the front; as long as she thinks it's fine, that's enough.

Such sky‑splitting wealth is like a pie falling from heaven.

"As for the Great Master! Naturally our daughters‑in‑law will look after him; Jia Lian's second son preserving the ancestral military title is true filial piety!"

Feng Jie, imitating Jia Jing's earlier words in Rong Qing Tang, brandished an ancestral tablet to counter Lady Wang's accusation of unfilialness.

I must admit, Feng Jie does have some cleverness in what she learned.

Lady Wang: "……"

Lady Wang was about to speak, but Yuan Chun gently pulled her aside.

Considering the presence of outsiders Zhen and Li, she did not engage in a verbal clash with Feng Jie.

Yet in her mind she thought, if Jia Lian's second son truly goes to the northwest front, then swords would spare no one.

If misfortune strikes… then this dukedom might even fall onto our own Baoyu!

If, as before, the main branch only inherited a first‑rank general's noble title, she wouldn't mind much! After all, it's nominal, just a decorative title!

But if it's a top‑tier military dukedom, she cannot stay silent and must resort to some tactics to fight for it.

Beside them, Princess Zhen of the Northern Tranquil Kingdom, seated at the head, watched their expressions and argument, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes!

"What are they arguing about?"

"All this arguing leads to nothing!"

"Before I could finish speaking, I already saw a good show!"

"In such high‑born families, scheming is inevitable!"

"The Jia Mansion is like this, and the Northern Tranquil Prince's Mansion is the same…"

Jia Mu's expression also darkened slightly as she glanced at Princess Zhen and the outsiders Li and others.

She thought to herself that these two aunt‑nieces truly lack decorum, never mind the occasion, how could they have any noble bearing at a time for argument?

At this moment Jia Mu found it improper to reprimand them, and instead asked Princess Zhen:

"So, by this account, Brother Jing and his father have both been granted third‑rank dukes?"

Zhen's face carried a trace of apology, and she said slowly:

"It was my fault; I didn't have time to tell the whole story."

Although Grand Secretary Fang and his colleagues proposed the idea of additionally enfeoffing the father and son of the Champion Marquis as Third Class Dukes, His Majesty ultimately did not agree.

But rather, under the strong urging of the Prince and Grand Secretary Zhang, Qian Gang made a unilateral decision, still granting the Champion Marquis the title of First Class Duke, without any intention of additionally ennobling your family's elder master.

Lady Zhen emphasized the words "the Prince" and "strong urging", indicating that the Prince of Northern Peace had exerted considerable effort in this.

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhen's words caused Feng Jie and Mrs. Xing's smiles to gradually fade.

Lady Wang, however, slightly raised the corners of her mouth; although she was also a bit embarrassed, her joy outweighed her annoyance.

The others watching this scene found their gazes gradually turning strange!

Jia Mu's gaze also flickered for a moment; this time she did not rush to imagine, but instead turned to Lady Zhen to confirm:

"So, the final result is that Jia Jing has been made a First Class Duke?"

Don't cause any more twists and turns; she's old and can't take this kind of stimulation.

Lady Zhen nodded and said:

"That's right! His Majesty's golden words, granting the title of First Class Duke!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the pavilion showed varied expressions.

Feng Jie was completely dumbfounded, as if a cooked duck in a bowl had flown away… flown away…

If it weren't for the earlier suggestion of jointly enfeoffing them as Third Class Dukes, she would now be happy about Jia Jing being made a First Class Duke.

But why does sorrow now well up, leaving her feeling lost and disappointed…