Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 35: Beating Wang Ziteng and Entering the Palace to Meet the Emperor
However, the way Rongguo Mansion operates is very peculiar. It allows Dai Quan to make suggestions in front of the retired emperor.

If Emperor Yongping directly refused, the retired emperor would surely be furious.

Emperor Yongping had finally managed to get the retired emperor to stay safely in the Daming Palace. It would be unnecessary to escalate the conflict with the retired emperor because of this incident.

Emperor Yongping thought about it and came up with an idea.

"Xia Shouzhong, summon the Champion Marquis to the palace tomorrow."

"The slaves obey the order."

At night, in a villa of the Wang family in Shendu, Wang Ziteng was waiting quietly in the study.

Not long after, Jia Jue pushed open the study door and walked in.

Wang Ziteng looked at Jia Jue, who looked calm and composed, and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

I am over fifty years old and only a second-rank official, but the twenty-year-old young man in front of me is already a first-rank general.

Prince Teng stood up and bowed before speaking.

"My Lord, this matter must be carried out in secret, so I was unable to come out to greet you. I hope your Lordship will forgive me."

Jia Jue said after smiling slightly.

"No need to be so polite, Lord Wang."

After a brief greeting, the two sat down.

After taking a sip of tea, Wang Ziteng looked at Jia Jue with a complicated look and said.

"My Lord, you have caused great suffering to my Wang family. Do you know what people outside are saying about my Wang family now?"

Jia Jue said calmly.

"Master Wang, let me correct you. It wasn't me who harmed your Wang family. It was your own choices that harmed your Wang family."

"Xifeng's matter is just the beginning."

"I guarantee that as long as your Wang family does not draw a clear line between you and the Rongguo Mansion, there will be many more similar things."

Wang Ziteng sighed and said.

"Your Majesty, it's easy for you to say. Our two families have been friends for a hundred years. You are in me and I am in you. How can it be so easy?"

Jia Jue gave Wang Ziteng a meaningful look.

"Sir Wang, I'm here to discuss business with you today, not to engage in bureaucratic rhetoric."

"I come from the military, and I'm straightforward. I don't like beating around the bush."

"You know clearly what your attitude towards Rongguo Mansion is."

"Take Xifeng's marriage for example. If Lord Wang really values ​​his relationship with the Rongguo Mansion, why doesn't he marry his precious daughter there, but instead arrange for the marriage of your daughter to the legitimate son of Marquis Baoning?"

"Since I've come here, I've already proven my sincerity and attitude, yet you're still talking official language here."

"Master Wang, you should understand that I came here today to give you an opportunity."

Jia Jue's two words made Wang Ziteng break out in a cold sweat, and he quickly spoke cautiously.

"Please don't blame me, my Lord. This is just how I am used to doing things in the officialdom. I didn't mean to be perfunctory."

"But please understand me, Lord. I am truly confused about my future."

Jia Jue nodded slightly and said.

"Lord Wang, please put aside your thoughts. A frank and honest conversation like this will be more beneficial to you."

"I don't want to be long-winded, so just get straight to the point."

"Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy. After defeating the Xiongnu, the situation is already established. You are well aware of this."

"You also know what His Majesty is going to do next."

"I only want to remind you that you are an official of the Great Zhou, not a vassal of some people."

"In the Great Zhou, only His Majesty can call the wind and rain."

"Now that Xifeng has entered the Marquis's residence, and considering this relationship, I don't want to see you go down this path and end up in a miserable situation."

"Think carefully about what bargaining chips you have, and what are the things that are worthy of His Majesty's attention."

Wang Ziteng said after a moment of thought.

"My Lord, could it be that His Majesty is preparing to reorganize the Beijing camp?"

"This, this will probably cause a huge response, shocking the government and the public even more than the Jiangnan Salt Administration Case."

Jia Jue said nonchalantly, "With 120,000 troops in the capital, it's a question whether they can even perform at the same level as 60,000."

"Your Majesty can only tolerate three years, which is the limit."

"With this duke commanding the Praefectus Imperialis in the Divine Capital, you don't think that the small number of troops in the Capital Camp can cause any trouble, do you?"

"Your Majesty is the ruler of heaven and has absolute authority. It is only natural for you to reorganize the Beijing camp."

"Even if everyone in the court opposes the reorganization of the Beijing camp, can't Your Majesty do it, Lord Wang? Do you think it is possible?"

Hearing this, Wang Ziteng felt mixed emotions.

When Emperor Yongping had not yet firmly established himself on the throne, he had the courage to empty the national treasury to form the cavalry corps of the Zhenbei Army despite the pressure from all the civil and military officials in the court.

Now that Emperor Yongping has a solid foundation and is fully fledged, it goes without saying.

In addition, with a brave general like Jia Jue protecting the country, it would be a daydream for the founding fathers to resort to military rebellion, which was no different from suicide.

After thinking it over again and again, Wang Ziteng bowed and said.

"Your Majesty is right. If you wish me to do anything, please tell me. I will follow your orders."

"I just hope that the Marquis will consider Xifeng and leave the Wang family a way out."

Jia Jue nodded slightly and said.

"If Lord Wang can realize this, the Wang family will surely prosper forever."

Afterwards, Jia Jue discussed the subsequent arrangements with Wang Ziteng.

After talking about this, Wang Ziteng said solemnly.

"Please rest assured, my Lord. I will follow your orders without compromise."

Jia Jue said with a slight smile.

"Master Wang, don't be so nervous. Relax."

"As long as you follow our agreement, you will find that things will go much more smoothly and easily than you imagined."

"Lord Wang is now over fifty years old and holds the rank of Second Grade. If he can advance further, he may be able to take charge of the government and the cabinet in the future."

"It's better than staying in the Beijing camp and being a Jiedushi."

Wang Ziteng nodded and said.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Marquis, to speak a few good words for me in front of His Majesty."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

After finishing their business, the two chatted for a while.

After finishing the conversation, Jia Jue quietly left the villa and returned to the marquis' mansion.

Wang Ziteng's heart was full of hope.

The next morning, in the Qianqing Palace, Jia Jue walked into the hall with the gait of a dragon and a tiger.

When he saw Emperor Yongping, Jia Jue bowed and said.

"I have met your Majesty."

Emperor Yongping waved his hand and said with a smile.

"Come sit down, and have breakfast with me."

Jia Jue was not polite and sat opposite Emperor Yongping and the two of them started to have breakfast.

Seeing Jia Jue's great appetite, Emperor Yongping chuckled and said.

"It's good to be young. When I was your age, I also had a good appetite and was full of energy. I always felt like I had endless energy."

"Now it's a little off."

Jia Jue smiled and said.

"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, how could you have such thoughts?"

Emperor Yongping stroked his beard lightly and said.

"I am already nearly fifty years old. People say 'Long live my life', but don't even think about it. From ancient times to the present, how many people have lived to be a hundred years old?"

"How can I not be moved?"

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. How are you? Are you busy at home these days?"

(End of this chapter)