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

Hearing Grandmother Jia place all the blame on him, Jia She felt both bitter and resentful, as well as frustrated and helpless. His lips trembled a few times, and he wanted to say something in rebuttal, but in the end, he didn't utter a sound.

If things fail, he will have to bear all the consequences, as Grandmother Jia had warned him beforehand.

At the time, he didn't take it seriously, thinking that Grandmother Jia was overthinking things. But now it seems that every word she said has come true. Now he can only lower his head and remain silent, letting his emotions surge within him.

Hearing these words from Grandmother Jia, Jia Can felt that she was being too hypocritical and couldn't believe that she knew nothing about the matter.

Although Jia She was impulsive, he was not entirely brainless. Without Grandmother Jia's tacit approval or even hints, how could he have dared to so recklessly propose adopting Baoyu and seizing the East Mansion?

It's just that the winds have shifted, causing a great uproar in the city and arousing suspicion in the court. As a result, Grandmother Jia had no choice but to step forward and distance herself from the situation, placing all the blame on Jia She.

This behavior makes it seem as if she is a great person who has always been on the side of justice.

However, Jia Can also realized that Grandmother Jia must have anticipated this situation, so she hurriedly came to salvage the situation.

Not only could she take the opportunity to severely suppress Jia She, but she could also let outsiders see that she was a virtuous, noble, and righteous old lady with strict family discipline and no favoritism.

In this way, the situation was kept under control and prevented from getting completely out of control. When outsiders heard about it, they would only praise her for handling the situation properly and promptly. She was truly worthy of being the Duchess of the First Rank, decisive, responsible, and fair.

Jia Can sneered inwardly. Although his mother's plan was shrewd, it was bound to fail, because she could never have imagined that he could directly report the matter to the Emperor Emeritus.

Now that things have escalated to this point, it seems far too simplistic for Grandmother Jia to think she can simply end things so easily, pushing everything onto Jia She and walking away unscathed, turning a major issue into a minor one and a minor one into nothing.

Sure enough, just as Grandmother Jia was asking Jia She to hand over the Ningguo Mansion's token to Jia Can in person, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A maidservant, looking flustered, rushed in to report:

"Reporting to the old lady, an eunuch has arrived outside, saying he is here on the Emperor's orders to convey the imperial decree. He requests that the eldest master and the second master, Can, come out to receive the decree!"

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia, who had been sitting steadily, suddenly changed her expression, stood up abruptly, and stared at the maid with disbelief on her face:

"What? Is it really true?"

The maid nodded repeatedly and said urgently:

"Madam, it's absolutely true. That eunuch is already waiting in the side hall. He said it's an imperial decree that can't be delayed. Please, Master and Second Master Can, go out and receive the decree immediately."

After the maid confirmed it again, Grandmother Jia's heart sank and her old face turned slightly pale. She didn't need to think too much to guess what the imperial edict was about.

At this moment, the emperor's decree must be for the matter of the Eastern Palace.

Grandmother Jia never expected that this matter would alarm the Emperor. In her estimation, this was, after all, just a family matter of the Jia family. Even if outsiders discussed and criticized it, it would only be a topic of conversation over tea and dinner, and it was not something that could be discussed openly.

The emperor is high above and busy with countless affairs of state; how could he possibly know about such a trivial matter?

Even if someone reports it to the emperor, he might not take it to heart and at most just laugh it off.

But as it turned out, the imperial edict actually arrived, and it arrived so quickly.

Grandmother Jia's old face turned from white to red, as if she had been slapped twice on the spot. Her expression was extremely ugly, her lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't speak for a long time.

This meticulously planned grand finale was interrupted by this sudden imperial edict before it could be fully performed.

She thought she had everything under control, but little did she know that the game was no longer in her hands.

After a long while, Grandmother Jia suddenly looked at Jia She, her face stern, and rebuked him:

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go out with Can-ge'er to receive the imperial decree!"

Startled awake by the rebuke, Jia She's lips twitched violently, and his hands and feet began to feel cold. He felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

At this moment, he was no less shocked than Grandmother Jia, and he also did not expect that Emperor Jing'an would find out about this.

In his mind, Emperor Jing'an would never have bothered with such a trivial matter, but now the imperial edict had arrived.

He was filled with fear and his mind was buzzing. He had personally experienced a catastrophe of imperial power. In the face of imperial power, no matter what your status was or how smart and capable you were, you would be crushed into dust and not even a trace would remain.

He still shudders when he recalls that bloody battle from back then.

And this time, it happened again.

Jia She's legs went weak, and his steps became unsteady, staggering and almost unable to stand.

Seeing this, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If she had known the consequences would be so serious, she should have stopped him more strictly in the first place.

But now was not the time for regrets. He hurriedly instructed the two maids beside him to quickly step forward and help Jia She, so as not to keep the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict waiting for too long.

Otherwise, they would inevitably be accused of disrespecting the imperial edict, which would only make matters worse.

When Jia Can learned of the imperial edict, his eyes lit up slightly, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. He bowed slightly to Grandmother Jia to take his leave and walked out first. His steps were light and his clothes fluttered, which was in stark contrast to Jia She, who needed to be supported to walk behind him.

In a side hall of the outer courtyard.

Xia Shouzhong was sitting at the head of the table, drinking tea. Two eunuchs stood beside him, holding teacups and slowly sipping their tea, looking relaxed.

After Jia Can entered, he politely bowed to Xia Shouzhong:

"I am Jia Can from Ningguo Prefecture. Greetings, Your Excellency."

Upon hearing that he was Jia Can, Xia Shouzhong put down his teacup and gave him a thorough look.

The young man before them was handsome, tall and elegant, and possessed a refined and composed demeanor. Although he was dressed in mourning clothes, he could not conceal his unique temperament.

Xia Shouzhong was surprised. He sent people to inquire and found out that Jia Can lived worse than a servant in Ningguo Mansion. He was timid, fearful, and submissive. He stayed at home all day and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

But the person in front of him was completely different from the pitiful illegitimate son in the rumors.

He silently noted down Jia Can's various behaviors, then put on a polite smile and waved his hand:

"Young Master Jia, there's no need for such formalities. I'm merely acting under orders."

As he spoke, he glanced behind Jia Can, and seeing that there was no one else there, he pressed on with the question:

Why is Jia She, the eldest master of the Rongguo Mansion, nowhere to be seen?

Jia Can replied neither humbly nor arrogantly:

"Replying to Your Excellency, Master She is just behind us and will be out soon. We apologize for keeping you waiting."

After saying this, he immediately turned around and ordered the servants in the hall to set up an incense table and make preparations for receiving the imperial decree.

The servants dared not be negligent and hurriedly brought over an incense table, laid out yellow silk, and set up the incense burner to show their reverence for imperial power.

Just as the incense table was set up, Jia She finally arrived. He was supported by two maids on either side as he walked in, his steps faltering and his face full of sorrow, looking like an old man on his deathbed.

She almost tripped after entering, but luckily the maid steadied her and she didn't fall in public, though it was still quite an embarrassing sight.

Seeing this, Xia Shouzhong slightly pursed his lips, stood up, straightened his clothes, took the imperial edict from the eunuch behind him, held it with both hands, his face solemn, and said in a loud voice:

"Jia She of the Rongguo Mansion and Jia Can of the Ningguo Mansion, receive the imperial decree!"