Chapter 674: The Heavenly Demon Lord, the Earthly God of Misfortune!

Beijing Direct Administration Pavilion.

Jia Yuanchun, as the official representative of Beiqing, though ostensibly the central figure of this so-called marriage alliance, was in truth merely a facade—a veil to preserve the last shred of dignity for Beiqing in this delegation.

In every major or minor matter, Jia Yuanchun had not the slightest say.

Since arriving at the Nanjing Beijing Direct Administration Pavilion, the only thing that brought Jia Yuanchun some surprise was the chance to see her two younger sisters again: Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun.

Unfortunately, this reunion with Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun was both a joy and a deepening sorrow in Jia Yuanchun’s heart.

Jia Yuanchun, one of the rare intelligent members of the Jia family, could easily see that their family’s situation had reached its final, desperate brink.

From Luo Fu’s side, the Jia family’s servants were the very culprits who drove Luo Fu to ruin, forcing him to raise the banner of rebellion; from Beiqing’s side, the Jia family was the classic example of officials driving the people to revolt, oppressing and abusing them.

Now, with the north and south locked in standoff, the Jia family might still have some breathing room—but whether Luo Fu conquers the north or Beiqing quells the rebellion,

once the realm is reunified again, neither side will spare the Jia family.

After seeing her two sisters in the Beijing Direct Administration Pavilion, Jia Yuanchun, overcome with mixed emotions, embraced Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun and wept bitterly.

In this era of sweeping change and dynastic upheaval, the three Jia sisters, gathered together, could only drift with the tide.

If they gained Luo Fu’s favor, perhaps they might survive; if they fell out of his grace, then when the Jia family’s grand house collapsed, their best fate would be to be cast into the Imperial Entertainment Bureau—and even worse.

While they waited in anxious dread for fate’s final judgment,

an unexpected figure suddenly appeared before the three Jia sisters.

Jia Yuanchun, having not returned to the Jia mansion in so long, at first merely thought the eunuch delivering the imperial decree looked vaguely familiar.

But Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun were utterly stunned.

Even Jia Qiang beside them stared blankly, his mind empty.

They had never dreamed that when they saw Jia Lian again, he would be dressed as a eunuch, appearing as an imperial envoy.

“Lian… Second Brother Lian, Itachi… how could this be?” Jia Yingchun’s eyes widened, her gaze instantly clouded with tears.

Jia Tanchun sighed softly and lowered her eyes.

When Jia Qiang finally came to his senses, he trembled violently, like a leaf in the wind.

“Second Uncle Lian, Itachi… Itachi…”

Jia Lian gave a bitter smile. “This fate of mine is the price I pay for the family’s failure to maintain discipline.”

From heir of Rongguo Mansion and First-Rank General of Rongguo, reduced to a eunuch—such a staggering turn of fortune,

Jia Lian could only comfort himself with this excuse.

Jia Yuanchun, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, and even Jia Qiang all knew that no matter what they said to Jia Lian now, it would only be salt in his wounds.

Taking a deep breath and steadying himself, Jia Lian forced a smile. “The King’s verbal decree.”

As Jia Lian spoke, the Beiqing delegation members exchanged glances for a moment, then another man in fourth-rank official robes bowed and said, “Your humble servant receives the decree.”

Seeing this, the others quickly followed suit, bowing to Jia Lian.

Jia Lian had come to deliver Luo Fu’s verbal decree, meaning he represented the Lord of the South, King Zhao, Luo Fu, the Heavenly Emperor.

Whether delegation members or the Jia sisters, since none belonged to Luo Fu’s own system, they could only refer to themselves as foreign subjects.

“Summon Jia Yuanchun, Lady of Rongguo County, Jia Yingchun of Rongguo Mansion, and Jia Tanchun to the palace for an audience.”

The man in fourth-rank robes, head of the Beiqing delegation tasked with this so-called marriage alliance but actual peace negotiations, blinked in surprise, then asked, “May I ask, Your Imperial Envoy, did the Zhao Wang not summon us as well?”

Jia Lian shook his head. “The King’s decree mentioned only Lady Jia Yuanchun and the two… the two Jia sisters. It said nothing of Itachi.”

Frowning, the fourth-rank official hesitated, apologized to Jia Lian, then turned directly to Jia Yuanchun. “Lady, if Itachi gain an audience with the Zhao Wang, please do not forget the Ning and Rong mansions—or us.”

He mentioned Ning and Rong mansions first, then the delegation members.

Aside from Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun, and Jia Qiang, Jia Lian and Jia Yuanchun were the first to realize this was a threat.

Of the three Jia sisters, one had been ennobled by the Beiqing Emperor as Lady of Rongguo County; the other two had been sent here by the Jia family.

But the Jia family’s stronghold—the Ning and Rong mansions—still stood in the Beiqing capital.

That meant the Beiqing Emperor could strike at the Jia family at any moment.

Jia Yuanchun nodded bitterly. “My lord, rest assured.”

After leaving the Beijing Direct Administration Pavilion and boarding the royal carriage,

Jia Lian exhaled in relief and immediately asked Jia Yuanchun, “Big Sister, what… what exactly happened? Why are Itachi here with Second Sister and Third Sister? And how did Itachi become Lady of Rongguo County?”

Jia Yuanchun sighed. “This is a long story.”

Her voice abruptly caught—she didn’t know how to explain it all to Jia Lian.

After all, she had spent her life within the imperial palace, unaware of Jia family affairs, and knew next to nothing about Luo Fu’s declaration as king and his division of the realm with Beiqing.

“Second Brother Lian,” Jia Tanchun stepped in. “After Itachi sent Lin Meimei to Yangzhou, we lost all word of Itachi. Even Grandma, Father, and Elder Uncle believed Itachi had perished, so they sent Jia Qiang to escort me and Second Sister to Nanjing.”

Jia Lian frowned. “Even if I had truly perished, why send Itachi and Second Sister? Even if…”

His voice halted—a sudden flash of insight struck him.

Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun hadn’t come to Nanjing because of him—they had been sent by the family to the Zhao Wang.

The realization hit him: he felt both heartbroken and utterly powerless.

What could be done? The Jia family’s crimes were countless—on both Beiqing’s side and the Zhao Wang’s, they had become prime targets.

In Beiqing, death was certain: once the Emperor crushed Luo Fu’s rebellion, the Jia family would face extermination of nine clans.

And here, with Zhao Wang Luo Fu, there would be no better fate.

After all, the Jia family’s servants had been the ones who drove Luo Fu to ruin.

Yet compared to Beiqing, sending Jia Yingchun and Jia Tanchun to Luo Fu at least gave the Jia family a sliver of hope—a thread of survival.

Understanding the full truth, Jia Lian was flooded with an unprecedented sorrow—a feeling of a great house collapsing, powerless to stop it—so much so that his eyes grew wet.

Gazing painfully and helplessly at the three sisters before him—Jia Yuanchun, Jia Yingchun, Jia Tanchun—Jia Lian took a deep breath and said heavily, “Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister—for the sake of the Jia family, Itachi’ve suffered so much.”

One must admit: though the Ning and Rong mansions had no worthy heirs, the women of Jia Yuanchun’s generation were each more outstanding than the last.

Though their personalities and strengths differed, they were unquestionably far superior to the Jia family’s sons.

Even Jia Yingchun, mocked as “Two Stumps,” laughed at for never crying out even if pricked with a needle, fully understood why they had been sent to Nanjing.

Though Jia Yingchun had indeed been neglected and poorly trained in the Jia mansion, never forget: she loved chess. Playing chess doesn’t make one brilliant, but it certainly doesn’t make one foolish.

Had Luo Fu never appeared, Jia Yingchun would have been pawned off by Jia She for five thousand taels to Sun Shaozu. Though she was indeed abused to death within a year, at the time of her marriage—when the Jia family still held the facade of two ducal houses—Sun Shaozu merely ignored her; he didn’t yet abuse her.

At that time, Jia Yingchun would return home to weep, complaining she received none of the treatment due a lawful wife—clear proof she understood her position. But before marriage, she was neglected in the Jia household; after marriage, the Jia family had already fallen. Even if Sun Shaozu scorned her, no one in the Jia family could defend her.

Jia Tanchun needed no further explanation: the title “Perceptive Tanchun” proved it all. Though she had her own flaws, managing the entire Jia mansion alone was proof enough of her brilliance.

Jia Yuanchun, even without family backing, rose to the rank of imperial consort within the harem. Even if the current Emperor had manipulated her as part of his strategy toward noble families, being used at all was proof of her worth.

The three sisters now grieved for the Jia family’s future.

Jia Tanchun took a deep breath. “Second Brother Lian, our family’s downfall came from our failure to discipline our servants, which ultimately summoned this true dragon. Once we enter the palace, no matter what fate awaits us, we will strive to secure even a sliver of hope for the Jia family. But behind palace walls, we are cut off. If the Jia family is to survive this crisis, it must tighten control over its clan members.”

Hearing Jia Tanchun strategize for the Jia family’s future,

Jia Yingchun glanced at her silently, and sighed inwardly.

Had Jia Lian not been castrated, as the Jia family’s legitimate heir and titleholder, he would have had the authority to discipline the clan. But now—he was a eunuch, and a eunuch far away in the Nanjing palace.

Their fates were now indistinguishable.

The Jia family’s fate would rest entirely on their own shoulders.

Throughout the carriage ride, Jia Lian and Jia Tanchun debated endlessly how the Jia family might survive the coming upheaval and dynastic change.

Yet throughout, Jia Yuanchun and Jia Yingchun remained silent—offering only hollow nods.

Clearly, Jia Yuanchun and Jia Yingchun understood: the Jia family’s future was no longer in their hands.

Even the lives of the Jia family’s nine clans rested on the Zhao Wang Luo Fu’s whim.

Only if the Zhao Wang Luo Fu chose mercy could the Jia family survive; otherwise, no matter how flawless their plans, in the face of overwhelming tide, they could only cry out in despair.

The Beijing Direct Administration Pavilion in Nanjing was only a few minutes’ carriage ride from the palace.

As the carriage entered the palace gates, Jia Lian immediately fell silent, lowering his voice. “Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister—Little Lin from Lady Gu’s household is greatly favored by the Zhao Wang. Not just her—even Xue’s aunt’s daughter, Consort Xue Baochai, has also enjoyed the King’s favor. When Itachi enter the palace, be sure to draw close to Little Lin and Consort Xue. And…”

He paused, as if about to say something unbearable. After a moment’s hesitation, he forced himself to speak: “And once Itachi enter the palace, never be shy. Above all, compete for favor, and hold onto it—that is your urgent priority. Otherwise, in this palace, not even the Jia family can protect Itachi—let alone yourselves.”

One sentence instantly flushed the three Jia sisters red.

But they knew Jia Lian spoke from the heart.

Though Jia Lian had indeed been castrated and reduced to a eunuch, the former Second Master Lian had once been no stranger to flirtation and dalliance—this was experience speaking.

When the carriage entered the palace grounds, soon after, according to palace protocol, Jia Lian obediently led the three Jia sisters out of the carriage and walked toward Luo Fu’s palace.

After informing the Chief Eunuch of their arrival, they could only wait patiently for Luo Fu’s summons.

Luo Fu did not keep them waiting long.

Only a few cups of tea passed before the Chief Eunuch appeared before Jia Lian and the others.

“Little Lian, the King has ordered: summon Jia Yuanchun, Jia Yingchun, and Jia Tanchun for an audience.”

Jia Lian, about to receive the decree, froze. After regaining his composure and responding, he lowered his voice. “Chief Eunuch, what about… what about this servant?”

The Chief Eunuch glanced at him coolly. “The King said he wished to see only the three young ladies.”

Jia Lian understood: since the Zhao Wang had not mentioned him, he must wait here obediently.

Since his castration, the aristocratic bearing Jia Lian once carried as a noble of Beiqing’s Rongguo Mansion had vanished before their eyes.

After enduring too many beatings, he had quickly reoriented himself.

Before anyone of higher rank in the palace, he now called himself “this servant” without hesitation.

In the past, such a thing would have been unthinkable to Jia Lian.

Learning that Luo Fu wished to see only the three sisters,

though they had prepared themselves mentally along the way,

the three sisters still could not suppress their anxiety.

They had never met Luo Fu, and from within the Beiqing capital, all they had heard of him were wildly distorted rumors.

In some rumors, Luo Fu was regarded as nothing less than a heavenly demon lord or the earthly god of misfortune.

All those descriptions of a leopard head and ringed eyes, a fearsome and monstrous visage — those were already softened portrayals of Luo Fu.

(End of Chapter)