Dream of the Red Chamber: I can see the hidden labels of the beauties.

The Emperor Emeritus's resolute attitude towards the Jia family shocked Yu Hui, who clicked his tongue in surprise. After a moment's hesitation, he cautiously probed:

"Your Majesty, the Jia family... their ancestors followed the founding emperor through thick and thin, making great contributions to the establishment of this dynasty. Their titles are hereditary, and they are a family of high honor. Doing this, I'm afraid..."

The retired emperor suddenly turned his head to look west, in the direction of the current emperor, and said calmly:

"The emperor intends to consolidate military power and weaken the power of the old nobles. Even if I don't do it, the emperor will."

These words revealed a great deal of information. Yu Hui was stunned after hearing them, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes. He was speechless for a long time.

Everyone in the court and among the people knew that the retired emperor and the new emperor were only superficially harmonious, appearing to be a loving father and son, but secretly harboring their own thoughts.

It makes sense when you think about it. Two emperors reigning in the same court, there can't be two suns in the sky, and there can't be two rulers in a country. Even if they were father and son, it would be difficult for them to get along.

Moreover, the struggle for imperial power has always been marked by instances of fathers and sons killing each other, brothers fighting each other, and husbands and wives turning against each other.

However, the words spoken by the retired emperor now seem to indicate that he does not oppose the current emperor's consolidation of military power, and even shows some support for it.

Just as Yu Hui was secretly astonished and his thoughts were churning, the Emperor Emeritus suddenly asked again:

"Jia Jing... is that the one who, after the Crown Prince's incident, was so frightened that he hid outside the city and became a Taoist priest? He also has a son born of a concubine?"

Yu Hui snapped out of his daze, quickly composed himself, suppressed the chaotic thoughts, and respectfully replied:

"Your Majesty, that's right. This illegitimate son is named Jia Can. It is said that he was taken back to Ningguo Mansion by Jia Jing to be raised after he was three years old. His birth mother is unknown, and no one in the mansion knows much about him either."

The retired emperor nodded slightly, his white eyebrows furrowing thoughtfully, and said:

"Well, being a son born out of wedlock, he probably doesn't have much status in the household. He and my granddaughter are from different generations and are also of different genders. How could he possibly deliver a message to my granddaughter instead of sending a maid or servant?"

After a moment of silence, Yu Hui answered truthfully, daring not to conceal anything:

"I don't know either. However, according to Jia Can, the princess is currently in a difficult situation in the Ningguo Mansion. Her situation is worrying. Even her maids have been sent away by Jia Zhen at will and are difficult to entrust to her."

"Perhaps only Jia Can, an unnoticed illegitimate son, could relay her message without arousing Jia Zhen's suspicion."

"Furthermore, I observe that Jia Can, though young, is courageous, resourceful, and exceptionally bold. When he met me..."

As he spoke, he recounted all his behavior during his meeting with Jia Can.

From how Jia Can deliberately dropped the jade pendant to test the manager of Baoguzhai and lure him out, to how he remained calm and composed when facing him.

How can one utter such resounding words as "I would gladly face any danger, even mountains of knives and seas of fire"?

As they spoke, Yu Hui intentionally or unintentionally praised Jia Can's outstanding qualities, his words full of admiration.

The retired emperor seemed to trust Yu Hui quite a bit. After listening, he became interested, a glint of light flashing in his aged eyes. He stroked his beard and said:

"Oh? In that case, Jia Can is indeed a capable person. He is young, yet he has such courage and strategy. It is rare."

"Have someone thoroughly investigate his background, where he came from, and find out everything. Perhaps keeping him alive will be useful."

Yu Hui bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Your subject obeys!"

As he spoke, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

The retired emperor pondered for a moment, then waved his hand:

"Go ahead, and report back immediately with the results. I'll be waiting for you here!"

Yu Hui respectfully accepted the order and bowed deeply.

"Your subject obeys the decree and shall now take his leave."

After speaking, he bowed again, then turned and left quickly, his pace much faster than when he came, and soon disappeared outside the palace gate.

The retired emperor watched his figure leave, narrowing his aged eyes. The light in his narrowed eyes flickered uncertainly, as if he were thinking about something.

He stopped meditating and just stood in front of the Bagua diagram, gazing at the sky outside the hall, quietly waiting for the afterglow to return.

Seeing his reaction, the eunuchs in the hall dared not utter a sound, but stood silently to the side, and the hall fell silent once again.

About an hour later, the sunlight outside the palace gradually began to slant westward, and the shadows cast on the ground lengthened.

Yu Hui's figure appeared outside the palace gate, walking hurriedly with a solemn expression, clearly having received important news to report.

He strode into the hall and bowed in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I have received a report from my spies."

The retired emperor stood with his hands behind his back in the hall. Upon hearing this, he turned around abruptly, his old eyes fixed on the afterglow, and said in a deep voice:

"speak."

Yu Hui straightened up and respectfully reported:

"According to the spies' investigation, what Jia Can said is indeed true. The servants in Ningguo Mansion saw Jia Zhen entering and leaving the princess's boudoir more than once, and each time he sent the maids and servants far away and stayed alone."

"This matter is indeed no secret in the Ningguo Mansion. Everyone in the mansion has heard about it, but because of Jia Zhen's tyrannical power, no one dares to spread it outside, let alone step forward to stop it. However, in private, it is already common knowledge."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Emperor Emeritus slammed his hand on the table beside him. The teacups on the table jumped up, clattering and nearly falling to the ground. He was furious.

"You damned beast!"

"What are the rest of the Jia family doing? Is Jia Jing dead or blind? Do they just stand by and watch Jia Zhen commit incest, letting such a scandal run rampant in the mansion? Aren't they afraid that this family disgrace will be aired in public, making the entire Jia family a laughingstock for the whole world?"

As he spoke, the retired emperor's face turned ashen with rage, and every wrinkle on his aged face was etched with fury.

With a flick of his wide robe sleeves, he began to walk back and forth in the main hall, his steps quick and hurried, the hem of his yellow robe fluttering with his movements.

The eunuchs standing nearby were so frightened that they fell silent, their heads hanging even lower, almost holding their breath.

Yu Hui lowered his head and comforted him:

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It is of utmost importance to take care of your health. Do not let such a beast harm your body."

"According to the scouts, Jia Jing of Ningguo Mansion has long since become a Taoist priest at Xuanzhen Temple outside the city. He spends his days with elixirs and talismans, and he doesn't care about anything related to Ningguo Mansion."

"Therefore, Jia Zhen had absolute power in the Ningguo Mansion, and since he had inherited the title and was also the head of the Jia clan, he wielded immense power and could control everything."

"Therefore, everyone in the Ningguo Mansion had no choice but to obey him, and no one dared to utter a single dissent. It was precisely this unbridled behavior that emboldened Jia Zhen, making him increasingly lawless."

"According to investigations, every maid in the Ningguo Mansion with any beauty had been defiled by Jia Zhen and his son Jia Rong. In addition, the father and son kept many male prostitutes in the mansion for their own amusement. Even the handsome young men in the same clan were not spared and were all defiled by the father and son."