Dream of the Red Chamber: After being exiled, I went on a killing spree in Liaodong.

The image of being pinned to the ground and disciplined last time was still vivid in her mind... She dared not do it again.

The King's Palace of Zhenwang.

"Come, Keqing, rest here for a while."

Jia Yi helped Qin Keqing walk slowly through the garden.

Seeing that she was slightly sweaty, he quickly led her to the pavilion to sit down.

The shadows of flowers swayed gently, and a delicate fragrance wafted on the breeze. As the two were chatting idly, Yuanyang suddenly trotted in:

"My lord, the young ladies have arrived!"

"Oh, you've finally arrived!" Qin Keqing's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up and said with a smile, "Baozhu, quickly prepare some snacks and fruits, don't neglect your sisters."

These days, those maids haven't come to visit for three or four days, and she's been thinking about them a lot.

"Third Brother! Sister-in-law!"

Xi Chun arrived before her voice came, rushing in like a whirlwind.

Ru Hua stumbled along behind, her cheeks flushed, panting so hard she could barely stand.

"Miss...please...please slow down..."

Lin Daiyu and the others looked at the master and servant couple and couldn't help but smirk.

Xi Chun flashed the invitation in her hand: "Look, it's from the Crown Prince! He's inviting us to a poetry gathering!"

"A poetry gathering?" Jia Yi raised an eyebrow. "At this time?"

He pondered for a moment, his gaze turning slightly cold.

Holding a poetry gathering at this critical juncture is no simple matter.

"They say they've invited many talented men and beautiful women, it's quite a lively affair," Lin Daiyu said softly, her tone indifferent yet revealing a hint of wariness.

Jia Yi stood up, his expression turning serious: "Daiyu, Yingchun, I'm entrusting Keqing to you."

"I have something to take care of."

"Third Brother, go without worry!" Xichun immediately stood in front of Qin Keqing, head held high and chest puffed out. "We will definitely protect Sister-in-law and Little Nephew!"

Jia Yi smiled, turned and left.

Inside the study, the candlelight flickered.

He summoned his personal guards and ordered the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to come to an audience immediately.

"What exactly is the Crown Prince's motive behind this poetry gathering?" Jia Yi asked bluntly.

The commander bowed his head and reported, "Your Highness, according to our investigation, the Crown Prince's move is intended to select a consort—using the poetry gathering as a pretext to choose a candidate for Crown Princess."

"Choosing a concubine?" Jia Yi was taken aback.

He never expected that, at this critical juncture, the Crown Prince would still have the mind to choose a wife.

For a moment, they were speechless.

"However..." Qianhu paused, lowered his voice, "The civil officials on the Emperor Emeritus's side have already sent people south to Jiangnan, seemingly with some ulterior motive, and their target is none other than the Crown Prince."

"Hmm?" Jia Yi's eyes suddenly turned cold. "They dare to touch the Crown Prince?"

absurd!

Now that Emperor Yuankang is furious, shouldn't all the officials kneel down and beg for mercy?

How dare they sabotage us behind our backs?

Xu Yuan and the others sneered inwardly: Surrender is fine, but they have to beat up his son first before slowly handing over the surrender document—that's what you call integrity! That's how they can keep their official hats!

"Should we help the Crown Prince?" the commander asked tentatively.

He genuinely wanted Jia Yi to get involved.

If we can help the Crown Prince overcome this tribulation, it will be an immense favor when the new emperor ascends the throne.

"No need."

Jia Yi shook his head slightly, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.

Trying to curry favor with the crown prince? No need.

A few years later, when the new emperor ascends the throne... no, perhaps it won't be that long—

This vast empire might have already fallen under the Jia family's name.

"Send the message to Mr. Wu."

Jia Yi said slowly, "Let him step forward and help the Crown Prince resolve this matter."

Wu Sheng has followed him for so many years, and now he is only a count, which is really unfair.

It's time to give him a chance to shine.

Why not take this opportunity to elevate Wu Sheng's rank to a higher level?

"yes!"

The commander of the Imperial Guard was shocked, his face filled with astonishment.

How could Your Highness give such an amazing credit to someone else?

He opened his mouth, but in the end didn't dare to ask any more questions, and lowered his head to leave.

The next day.

The Grand Assembly begins!

Dressed in his court robes, Jia Yi entered the hall with solemnity. The moment he stepped into the Golden Palace, all the officials' eyes swept over him.

The Ministry of War was in an uproar.

Today is the day to finalize the list of rewards for quelling the rebellion of Shui Rong in Shandong. The original plan was to reward him with some land, gold and silver, and give Jia Yi's future child a nominal title of First-Class General, which would be the most they could offer.

As soon as the memorial was submitted to the imperial study, it was immediately rejected by Emperor Yuankang.

It also came with a thunderous remark—

Jia Yi is hereby granted the title of Prince of the First Rank!

The entire Ministry of War fell silent; even breathing became lighter.

No one could believe their ears.

At this moment, all the civil and military officials saw the group from the Ministry of War staring at Jia Yi with green eyes, and they couldn't help but feel uneasy:

Just how much benefit did Jia Yi gain?

Until Xia Shouzhong held the imperial edict and read it aloud—

"Jia Yi is hereby appointed King of Qin, granted an iron certificate and a red inscription, with the title of King to be hereditary!"

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, an uproar broke out!

The King of Qin?!

A prince with the title "Qin"!

That was the name of the first unified dynasty!

Throughout history, those who could use "Qin" as their fiefdom name were either the emperor's own brothers or direct descendants of the imperial family!

And now it's ended up in the body of someone with a different surname?!

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness."

Jia Yi himself was also dumbfounded.

He had expected a hefty reward, but he never imagined it would be such a nuclear-level honor.

"Your Majesty! This conferment is excessive!"

Several imperial censors jumped out, their faces flushed.

In their eyes, such an honor was against etiquette and too presumptuous!

"Pass?"

Jia Yi sneered, his voice crashing down like thunder:

"I led my army to quell the million-strong rebel army of Shui Rong, saving millions of people in Shandong from the flames of war! When Prince Yizhong plotted rebellion, I protected the Emperor Emeritus and His Majesty from peril! Aren't these two achievements enough to warrant the title of Prince?!"

The roar seemed to shake the beams and pillars of the main hall.

The censors' legs went weak, and they knelt down with a thud, their faces ashen.

The entire court of officials was filled with envy.

Each of these items alone is enough to brag about for a lifetime.

This guy has both!

Emperor Yuankang sat on the dragon throne, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of approval.

Looking closely, every single one of the great achievements this young man has made for the Great Qian Dynasty has shaken the world.

The Later Jin dynasty was destroyed in Liaodong, the Zhen family was wiped out in Jiangnan, and the White Lotus Rebellion was quelled.

He trampled the Mongol Yuan court on the grasslands, suppressed the great flood in Shandong, and turned the tide during the palace coup!

Every single one of these events deserves to be etched in history!

"This matter needs no further discussion!"

Emperor Yuankang rose, his voice commanding the entire audience:

"The achievements of the King of Qin are witnessed by Heaven and Earth, and known to all the people! Anyone who dares to speak ill of him will be considered to be slandering him!"

"Court adjourned!"

He flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

But at that moment, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Upon hearing the news, the Emperor Emeritus, who had just regained consciousness, instantly turned ashen-faced.

Was Jia Yi enfeoffed as the King of Qin?

The kid who cut off his hand actually became a prince of the current dynasty?!

Although the situation was critical at the time, that stab could be considered a life-saving act...

But my hands... they're really gone!

I haven't even settled accounts with him yet, and my son is already praising him to the skies?!

"No!"

The retired emperor gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with cold light:

"If I'm not happy, no one will have peace!"

"Dai Quan! Where the hell have you been hiding?!"

A roar shook the windowpanes, making them vibrate.

"Your Majesty! Your servant is here! Coming!"

Dai Quan stumbled in, his face deathly pale.

That day, I shielded the Emperor Emeritus from a knife wound, and my injuries hadn't fully healed; I was even unsteady on my feet when I walked.

"Bring me pen and ink!"

The retired emperor sneered:

"Draft an imperial edict for me, and get the new emperor busy!"

"Yes……"