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

My daughter was just made a concubine, and you turn around and impeach me? Where do you get the nerve?!

"What are they impeaching me for?!" he roared.

The servant stammered, "They say you...reside in Rongxi Hall, which is overstepping regulations and violates etiquette! Your Majesty, please punish me severely!"

"..."

Jia Zheng felt a lump in his throat and almost fainted.

"I shouldn't be staying there, but it was the old lady's arrangement!"

"Is it a crime to be filial to my mother?!"

"Besides, things have been peaceful for so many years, why bring up old grievances today of all times?!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia's eyelids twitched.

She instantly understood—she had brilliantly shifted the blame!

"Go!" she said coldly, "Bring your master here!"

His tone was gloomy and menacing.

She knew perfectly well—who else could it be but Jia She?

"yes!"

The servants took off running.

In the east courtyard, Jia She stood by the window, a smile playing on his lips.

He knew that the censor's memorial had already been submitted.

This is the moment we've been waiting for.

"Sir, the old lady requests your presence."

An announcement came from outside the door.

"Ha." Jia She sneered, "They're here."

He slowly straightened his sleeves and walked out of the courtyard with a blank expression.

He had anticipated that Grandmother Jia would come looking for him.

So what if you guessed it?

He is not afraid.

"Mother, why did you summon me here? What are your instructions?"

Upon entering Rongqing Hall, Jia She appeared completely innocent, as if a gentle breeze had swept over him, and he seemed detached from worldly affairs.

Grandmother Jia's gaze was like a knife, piercing straight at her.

"Those censors, you instigated them, didn't you?"

"Mother, what makes you say that?" Jia She spread his hands, looking completely bewildered. "I'm just an idle person; how could I possibly have such an ability?"

"Pretending!" Grandmother Jia interrupted sharply, "Do you think I can't see through your little scheme?!"

She suddenly stood up, pointing her finger directly at Jia She:

"Go now and tell those officials you hired to take back their memorials!"

"Otherwise—I won't have you as my son!"

"I really don't know anything about censors!"

Jia She sneered: I wish I didn't have a mother like you.

Seeing his mother's face darken, Jia Zheng was about to speak to ease the tension when a maid suddenly rushed in from outside the door, her steps hurried.

"Grandma, someone's here—an angel!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Grandmother Jia and Jia Zheng looked worried and fearful, but Jia She's eyes flashed with interest, and his lips curled up slightly, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

As expected, the show has begun.

The entire Rongguo Mansion rushed to the gate. Grandmother Jia recognized Xia Shouzhong at a glance, and her heart sank.

Emperor Yuankang's personal eunuch personally came to visit?

Before anyone could react, Xia Shouzhong coldly ordered, "Give Jia Zheng fifty lashes!"

"Wait, I..."

"Smack!!!"

Before he could finish speaking, the paddle slammed down on him.

Each crisp sound struck the air and also struck the hearts of everyone present.

Jia Baoyu stood aside, watching his father being pressed to the ground and whipped, and a sense of pleasure welled up in his heart.

Jia She, Madam Xing, and Jia Lian and his wife almost burst out laughing.

They all understood—the second wife's family was about to fall.

Lin Daiyu and the others looked anxious, while Grandmother Jia was already in tears.

"Eunuch Xia!" she rushed forward, "Please forgive him this time, for the sake of Her Majesty Yuan Chun!"

Trying to use Yuan Chun to intimidate others?

Xia Shouzhong didn't even lift his eyelids.

If Yuan Chun hadn't caused that trouble, why would His Majesty be so angry?

This beating was actually to vent the emperor's anger!

Emperor Yuankang personally instructed: "If you lightly hit me even once, you will be hung up at the palace gate as a warning!"

Now this old woman still dares to bring up the Imperial Concubine?

He gave Grandmother Jia a cold glance, his tone chilling: "Fifty strokes, not a single stroke less."

As the cane continued to fall, Jia Zheng had already fainted.

"Splash him to wake him up."

The imperial guards brought over a basin of murky, dirty water, which had been used to wash countless filths, and slapped it onto Jia Zheng's face.

"Cough cough cough—!"

The stench was so strong that he was jolted awake. Before he could even process what was happening, the paddle came down again.

After fifty lashes, Jia Zheng was left barely breathing, his face was bluish-purple, and his breathing was weak.

Grandmother Jia supported him with trembling hands, her heart aching as if it were being torn apart.

Xia Shouzhong then slowly spoke: "I've come here today for the matter of Rongxi Hall."

Jia She's ears perked up, and he couldn't help but smile.

"His Majesty has decreed that Jia Zheng must immediately move out of Rongxi Hall."

"Also, send a message to the matriarch—the succession of a title is not something a woman like you can interfere with. Don't bring shame upon yourself."

Every word is like a knife, every sentence is barbed.

Grandmother Jia's face turned pale and then red, filled with shame and indignation.

She never expected that Emperor Yuankang would show no mercy whatsoever.

She was Jia Daishan's widow and Jia Yi's maternal grandmother!

How could someone of such status be publicly reprimanded by a eunuch?

But who cares about these things nowadays?

Jia She stared at her, his smile deepening.

Aren't you determined to pass on the Rongguo Mansion's title to Baoyu?

Now, let's see how you handle this!

"I...understand," Grandmother Jia whispered through gritted teeth, the voice almost squeezed out from between her teeth.

"Then please make the arrangements as soon as possible, Madam." Xia Shouzhong stood up with a flick of his sleeve. "Otherwise, next time—it won't be as simple as fifty strokes of the cane."

Having said that, he turned and left, his robes billowing in the wind, leaving no room for retreat.

"Quickly! Carry your master inside!" Grandmother Jia finally snapped out of her daze and shouted hoarsely, "Summon the imperial physician! Go and fetch him immediately!"

"We can't ask them," Jia She said calmly, but his tone was like ice shards hitting the ground. "This is a personal order from His Majesty; which imperial physician would dare to accept it?"

Everyone fell silent.

Indeed—who would dare to save someone who has been ordered to be severely beaten by the emperor?

"Hey you, go and fetch me the best doctor in the capital."

"Hurry up."

Jia She's eyes darkened, and he gave a meaningful look to his trusted confidant.

"Yes, sir!"

Faithfully understand God's teachings—slow down, hold back the time.

The others carried Jia Zheng cautiously, inching him step by step into the house.

Inside the Prince of Qin's residence.

"Your Highness, let's go to the Rongguo Mansion!" Qin Keqing said, arm in arm with Xue Baochai, as they walked up to Jia Yi.

"What's wrong?" Jia Yi didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Missing those little girls? I'll send someone to pick them up," she said with a smile.

"You shouldn't go," Jia Yi said indifferently. He wouldn't bother setting foot in the Rongguo Mansion, a place teeming with all sorts of people, unless there was something wrong with it.

"No, Second Uncle was just given fifty lashes by a eunuch sent from the palace!" Qin Keqing hurriedly said.

"what?"

Jia Yi was stunned, his face clearly saying, "Are you kidding me?"

Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure rushed over—it was a member of the Imperial Guard—and whispered a few words in his ear.

The truth has come to light.

It turned out that his adoptive father had secretly instructed the censor to take action, with the aim of gaining control of Rongxi Hall.

"Alright, let's go." Jia Yi suddenly became interested.

I've been so bored lately, and now that this thing has happened at the Rongguo Mansion, I might as well watch the show and relieve my boredom.

Thus, Jia Yi and his family marched in a grand procession towards the Rongguo Mansion.

Upon entering, one sees Jia Zheng lying on a soft couch, his face ashen and his breath weak, as if he had just been pulled out of a coffin.

Jia Yi's eyes flashed, and a cold smile quietly appeared on his lips.

Ha, this hypocrite has been thoroughly beaten!