Chapter 1280

"Proclaim the decree!"

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Earl of Zhongwu Jia Jue is brave and battle-hardened, has built merit in Liaodong, driven away the Japanese pirates in the north, and is honest and kind. He is hereby moved into the Ningguo branch to inherit the glory of his ancestors."

Just after the imperial decree was read, the hundred officials in the court were stunned.

The first part was correct, but where did "honest and kind" come from? Was this really Jia Jue?

Thinking of him carrying a saber to attack the Ningguo Mansion yesterday and requesting the beheading of Wang Ziteng today, everyone felt cold sweat on their foreheads. Being his relative must be very stressful!

However, after the court was dismissed, Feng Tang pulled Zhang Cheng aside and said, "Brother Jue, now that you've inherited the Ningguo Mansion's title, you must be careful of Wang Ziteng. That old brat doesn't seem like a smart thing!"

"Don't worry, Uncle. I will absolutely not give the Jia family's things to outsiders!"

Hearing Feng Tang's words, Zhang Cheng smiled.

"As long as you know. I'm just afraid the people in the Rongguo Mansion aren't clear-headed. You must remember this!"

Whispering to Zhang Cheng, Feng Tang and the others already had opinions about the Rongguo Mansion, because the Wang Ziteng incident clearly showed they were slapping everyone in the face!

If it weren't for their long friendship and knowing the people in the Rongguo Mansion were brainless and liked to engage in "moth-like" operations, they would have started cursing long ago.

Especially the Jia Baoyu incident. If it were just the Rongguo Mansion without the Four Kings, Eight Dukes, and Twelve Marquises supporting them, you'd see if the Rongguo Mansion would have burned down that night and the Jia family buried in the sea of flames!

In ancient times, you could suspect the Emperor of being stupid or say the Emperor was bad, but you could never question their obsession with power.

Born with jade in his mouth, a gentleman for the country—anyone who has read a few books knows that this is simply courting death!

After the Jia family was raided, why was Jia Baoyu left alone? It was because the Emperor was using the most disdainful attitude to kill the heart!

Because wasn't Jia Baoyu born with jade? Yet I can determine the life and death of your Jia clan, turning hands for clouds and hands for rain!

Emperor Hongde: What I give you is yours; what I don't give, you cannot snatch!

"I know, Uncle. It's a pity that I didn't succeed in beheading Wang Ziteng today and let him escape!"

Speaking to Feng Tang, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.

Because who knew that bastard Jia Yucun wouldn't play by the rules and would still follow the Jia Zheng route?

However, after today's events spread, Jia Yucun probably wouldn't be able to keep his head either.

After all, those who serve as officials in the current dynasty care most about reputation and gratitude.

If you, Jia Yucun, couldn't even save the daughter of your former benefactor, then if we promote you in the future, wouldn't you treat us the same way? Then why would we promote you? To be stabbed in the back?

So, one cannot be too much like Jia Yucun, or one will lose their life sooner or later!

"Boom!"

A thunderclap tore through the sky.

Zhang Cheng immediately shouted, "Quick, everyone stay away from Wang Ziteng! Be careful of being struck by lightning!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's sudden roar, the officials walking beside Wang Ziteng immediately fled rapidly.

Watching this group of people who even threw away their official hats, Wang Ziteng stared at Zhang Cheng with a gloomy face, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness.

Looking at Wang Ziteng, Zhang Cheng smiled and said, "Master Wang, you must be careful. If you get struck by lightning one day, don't implicate the people next to you!"

"This official thanks you for the reminder!"

Glancing at Zhang Cheng, Wang Ziteng walked forward arrogantly.

Inside the Rongguo Mansion, in the Rongxi Hall,

Upon learning that he didn't have the qualifications to inherit the title and that it had been snatched away by Zhang Cheng, Jia Rong immediately ran over to cry and complain.

Looking at Jia Rong, who was covered in tear stains, Lady Jia was filled with helplessness.

Because could she stop Emperor Hongde and the Retired Emperor? Obviously not, because what they wanted was for Zhang Cheng to occupy the moral high ground!

The Retired Emperor wanted to keep Zhang Cheng, hoping to save some face in the future so Emperor Hongde wouldn't be too ruthless.

But Emperor Hongde wanted Zhang Cheng to seize the Jia family's military power to serve him in the future.

So, let alone Lady Jia, even if the two Dukes of Rong and Ning climbed out of their graves, if they couldn't beat Zhang Cheng, they would be nailed back into their coffins!

"Brother Rong, don't worry, your uncle won't mistreat you!" Looking at Jia Rong, what could Lady Jia say? She was most afraid of facing Zhang Cheng now.

Because he not only didn't give her face, but didn't even take her seriously at all.

If it weren't for the fact that beating an old person in ancient times would ruin one's reputation, Zhang Cheng might have just slapped her like Yi Zhonghai!

Without this Old Ancestor in the Rong and Ning mansions, at least half of the trouble would be gone!

Still having fun all day long—if they kept having fun, the Jia family would be moved into their graves!

But this didn't affect Zhang Mouren. After all, he had inherited the Ningguo Mansion, and he would at most help the sisters in the mansion when the time came. As for Jia Zheng and Jia She, Zhang Cheng could only say: pray for yourselves. Guilty will be punished, innocent will be exiled.

A few days later, inside the Ningguo Mansion,

Zhang Cheng sat firmly in his chair, holding a cup of hot tea.

"Greetings, Uncle!"

Bowing politely, the reticent Lady You looked at the heroic and extraordinary Zhang Cheng before her.

"Sister-in-law, no need for formalities. I am not a cruel person. My business with Jia Zhen has nothing to do with you. Your monthly allowances will be doubled, but don't worry about the affairs of the mansion. When my mother arrives, you can just enjoy yourselves every day!"

Speaking to Lady You and Jia Zhen's concubines, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

"Thank you, Uncle, for your magnanimity!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Lady You was most afraid of being driven out, because for someone like her, once driven out, there would truly be no way to survive.

As for why Lady You was timid, it was because she came from a humble family, and Jia Zhen was no good—did she dare to say anything?

"Brother Rong, Brother Qiang, you should go to the Divine Pivot Camp for training, do you understand?"

Speaking indifferently, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but smile.

"Uncle, aren't you asking for our lives? If we go there, can we even come back alive!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with fear, Jia Rong immediately knelt on the ground, because how could he not know the hardships of the military!

"If I wanted your lives, would I have waited until now? My Jin Ling Jia family could survive the battlefield; if you can't survive in the military, I think you're looking for death!"

Looking at Jia Rong, Zhang Cheng's eyes flashed with cold light.

Looking at Zhang Cheng with fear, Jia Qiang hurriedly pulled Jia Rong and said, "Uncle, we are willing to go, willing to go!"

Seeing Jia Qiang so sensible, Zhang Cheng said with satisfaction, "That's right. How can the descendants of the Jia family be like trash all day long? Brother Wei, go and arrange it!"

"Yes, Uncle!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Jia Wei immediately laughed and stepped forward, saying, "Don't worry, Brother will take good care of you!"

"By the way, where is Lai Er? Where did that dog thing go! Bring him to me!"

Putting down his teacup, Zhang Cheng became serious.

Not long after, when Lai Er was brought over, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes and said, "I heard that on this Ning-Rong Long Street, many of my Jia clan members call you and Lai Da 'Grandpa Lai'!"

"No, no, that's not the case!"

Suddenly hearing Zhang Cheng's words, Lai Er hurriedly denied it, cold sweat breaking out on his face.

Looking at Lai Er, Zhang Cheng leaned forward and said, "You bastard, a servant of servants, you actually dared to let the descendants of the master call you 'Grandpa,' and you're even worthy of being called 'Grandpa'!"

Backhanding the teacup onto Lai Er's head, Zhang Cheng scolded, "Break his spine and raid his house. I want this stray dog to understand who the real master is!"

(End of this chapter)