Chapter 462: Bao Yu's uncle won't also have to be flayed and stuffed with grass, will he?

After a moment's thought, Jia Jing's expression was composed as he said to everyone:

"Those who lack foresight will have near-term worries! Yuan Jing's opinion is sound; at any time we must leave room for choice, letting Tian De and Bo Ren lead the attack on Luzon Island, developing the rear also for far‑future plans!"

"This matter I have decided! No need to discuss further! Soon the Ministry of Military Affairs will issue an order for you two to assist in military affairs, respectively overseeing the land and naval forces of Liangguang and also managing garrison farms; once you achieve merit, I will again memorialize the emperor to appoint you both as supreme commanders of southern military affairs."

"At this time Luzon was under Spanish colonial control! Guangdong is the Da Han Empire's region nearest to Luzon, and it also has a mature navy and coastal defense system."

"Assigning Xu Da and Chang Yuchun a Liangguang military posting, letting them drill troops, organize forces, and clear coastal defenses in the Pearl River estuary to Qiongzhou area, secretly preparing for the operation of Luzon, is undoubtedly the most suitable cover."

"And the reason Xu Da and Chang Yuchun were chosen for this!"

"It is because Xu Da possesses a steady, composed nature, a broad perspective, skill in handling complex domestic and foreign affairs, able to get along with all sorts of people and coordinate various relations."

"Historically he was not only a commander victorious in every battle, but also an outstanding military‑civilian all‑round talent and strategist, his words concise and his plans precise, orders never changed, able to share hardships with troops; wherever he went, soldiers and civilians lived in peace."

"Add to that the peerless warrior Chang Yuchun, and they are more than enough to handle any problem in the south!"

"Yes, my lord!" Xu Da and Chang Yuchun's expressions turned solemn; they immediately clasped their fists in obedience!

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"You two take my four hundred personal troops southward, with Tian De as leader. Also, when you pass through Jiangnan, there are some matters concerning the White Lotus Sect there that you need to handle; the details will be explained to you by Zhu Que shortly!"

"Since Jia Jing planned to use the White Lotus Sect as a black glove to handle some inconvenient matters, the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Jiangnan has already infiltrated it in large numbers, and some have even become leaders of the White Lotus Sect."

"Not long ago, news came back that turmoil in Jiangnan was intensifying, with local gentry secretly contacting the White Lotus Sect to rebel; Jia Jing thus had Xu Da and Chang Yuchun act on his behalf to control the situation and carry out some schemes."

……

Meanwhile, in the Rong Qing Tang of the Rong Guo Mansion,

Jia Mu leaned on the arhat bed, a half‑old ink‑blue Yin Pillow behind her, while Mandarin Duck sat sideways on the edge of the couch, tapping walnuts with a small silver hammer, peeling them one by one onto a small dish.

Amber stood behind the couch, lazily fanning herself.

The hall was scented with a faint agarwood fragrance mingled with the oscar scent drifting in from outside, sweet but not cloying, warmly enveloping everyone.

Lady Xue sat in the first chair on the lower side, wearing an autumn‑scent‑trimmed vest, her fair face piled with smiles as she chatted absentmindedly with Jia Mu while cracking seeds.

Lady Wang sat opposite Lady Xue, clutching a string of sandalwood prayer beads, her eyelids half‑lowered, her complexion somewhat unpleasant, occasionally nodding in response.

Feng Jie sat beside Tan Chun, both holding lists, discussing the seating arrangements for Jia Mu's birthday banquet tomorrow.

Feng Jie today wore a narrow‑sleeved jacket of large‑red foreign satin embroidered with gold thread and a hundred butterflies weaving through flowers, her hair done in a piled‑pearls bun, her phoenix‑triangular eyes slightly narrowed, her spirit more vigorous than before.

Only a thin layer of powder under her eyes hid a faint bluish‑black tint, the result of staying up late last night.

Daiyu leaned sideways on a beauty couch by the window, holding a volume of poetry, her feathery brows slightly furrowed, her gaze on the page yet she had not turned a page for a long time.

Her complexion seemed a bit better than yesterday, with a faint rosy glow on her cheeks, occasionally the corners of her mouth turning up slightly.

To one side, Lady Xing, Li Wan, Baichai, Yuan Chun, Yingchun, Xichun, Xiang Yun, and Xing Xiuyan sat in order on the left and right.

At this moment, Jia Mu on the upper seat said to Tan Chun:

"\"Third Miss, why hasn't Bao Yu's father come over yet? Wasn't it said he had already left court? \""

Seeing that Lady Xue, who usually liked to joke, was today restless and her seed‑cracking chatter could not reach her heart, Jia Mu knew she was worried about the outcome of Wang Ziteng's disposition.

Today at the grand court assembly the emperor should give an explanation for last night's events; Jia Mu thought of seeking Jia Zheng to ask, also to give Lady Xue a reassurance.

"\"I don't know why, but today we have many visitors—officials from Father's Ministry of Works and the Prince of Bei Jing, among others; Father can't very well shut the door on them all! \" Tan Chun said with a smile."

Since tomorrow is Jia Mu's birthday banquet, and Jia Jing yesterday said he could receive some relatives and friends, the Rong Guo Mansion has not entirely turned away guests today.

Hearing this, Feng Jie laughed and said:

"\"Surely everyone knows tomorrow is the old lady's birthday, rushing over to get a bit of her good fortune! \""

"\"You little monkey, talking nonsense—what status do the Prince of Bei Jing and his ilk have? They don't need to beg for an old woman's blessing! \" Jia Mu scolded with a laugh."

As the auspicious day draws near, the minor grudges between her and Feng Jie seem to have vanished on their own!

It must be said that Jia Mu, nearing eighty, still manages to adjust her mindset automatically; otherwise she would not have lived this long.

Lady Wang on the lower seat, seeing the two chatting easily, paused her prayer beads, her eyes showing indifference.

After a while, a maid entered the hall and reported:

"\"Grandmother, the master has come! \""

Not long after, the curtain was lifted and Jia Zheng strode in.

He was wearing court robes, evidently having just come from the morning audience and not yet changed; seeing him enter, Lady Xue and the others rose to salute. Jia Mu also sat upright, glanced at him, and asked:

"\"Zheng'er! It's been a while since court adjourned—why haven't you taken off your court robes? \""

It's nearly noon; wearing court robes could overheat our frail little treasure!

"\"I've been receiving guests and didn't have time to change! \" Jia Zheng replied."

Jia Mu had someone pour tea and fan for Jia Zheng, choosing her words carefully, then asked:

"\"How did today's court assembly go? Did the emperor say anything about how to deal with…\""

Although Jia Mu didn't finish, Jia Zheng already guessed what she meant, and he sighed deeply:

"\"At today's court assembly, the emperor flew into a rage, issued an edict: the households of the Duke of Shàn Guó and the Marquis of Ping Yuán, all principal offenders in the case, are to be sentenced to death by slicing, their clans exterminated, and their property confiscated. \""

"\"Fang Congzhe and the other implicated officials who embezzled more than one thousand taels, according to the founding ancestor's old statute… are to be flayed and stuffed with grass, hung at the western market as a warning. \""

Upon these words, the Rong Qing Tang fell silent; the faces of Lady Wang, Lady Xue, and others turned deathly pale in an instant!

Lady Xue, for a moment unable to restrain herself, hurriedly asked:

"\"This… Bao Yu's uncle won't also have to be… flayed and stuffed with grass, will he? \""

Those last few words were spoken with a trembling voice.

The Jia mansion's ladies, who had still been smiling, now all had frozen expressions, exchanging shocked and doubtful glances!

Jia Zheng shook his head and said:

"\"I don't know about this either! The emperor spoke of corruption, but Bao Yu's uncle is guilty of bribery; we'll likely have to investigate the source of the family's wealth—if it's our own silver, it won't happen, but if it's illicit money, it's likely to be difficult…\""

"\"Ah…\""

Lady Xue and Lady Wang simultaneously cried out, their eyelids flipping as their bodies went limp and they slumped to one side!