"It's time. It's time to come."
After arranging Xichun's matters, Jia Fou stood up and looked out of the hall as he spoke in a meaningful tone.
Grandmother Jia and Madam Wang both felt that it was a little strange. Why was the fierce, overbearing, and aggressive Jia Cui suddenly so quiet?
In the next moment.
A servant rushed into Rong Qing Hall with a panicked expression and shouted,"Old Lady."
"An imperial edict has arrived. Master She invites you to bring your womenfolk to the Rongxi Hall to kneel and welcome them.”
What was that?
Hearing this, everyone in the hall could no longer remain calm.
Grandmother Jia could not care less and quickly called the Rong Family's daughters-in-law and sisters to Rongxi Hall.
No one paid any attention to Jia Cong, who was still standing in the hall.
.....
A moment later.
Rongguo Mansion Main Hall, Rongxi Hall.
Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Cong, Jia Huan, and Jia Rong stood in a row. Each of them had an extremely solemn expression.
The gate of the Rong Mansion opened. A line of soldiers in brocade stood on both sides. A few eunuchs stood in front of the hall. The leader was the Prime Minister of the Great Ming Palace, Dai Quan.
At this moment, with the sound of footsteps, Grandmother Jia and the others also arrived in front of the hall. Everyone knelt down and waited for the imperial edict.
"By the will of the heavens, the emperor has issued an edict saying: Now that the Tartars have invaded the border, you should be loyal to the country!”
"I have specially ordered all the noble families to send a son to lead three thousand troops to the border.”
"All the subordinates will be provided with armor, horses, and rations by the nobles themselves.”
"The emperor's grace is vast and mighty. The two houses of the Jia family only need to send one person.”
Dai Quan raised the imperial edict with both hands and faced the Jia family as he read it aloud.
As soon as he finished speaking.
The expressions of Jia She and the others changed drastically.
"What is it? Sending a Di son to fight at the border? How can this be?"
"No, absolutely not!"
"I'm not going to the border, I don't want to die!”
For a moment, everyone in the Jia family was in an uproar.
According to the imperial edict, the Jia family and the two mansions needed a legitimate son. The current legitimate sons of the Rong Mansion were Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, and Jia Baoyu, while the current legitimate sons of the Ningguo Mansion were Jia Zhen, Jia Wei, and Jia Rong.
Jia She, Jia Zheng, and Jia Zhen were all old, so they naturally could not fight.
Then, the only possibilities were Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu, Jia Rong, and Jia Wei.
Jia Baoyu was only eleven years old, and Jia Mei was sixteen years old, but he didn't have much of a presence.
Almost everyone thought that the candidate would be Jia Lian or Jia Rong.
Therefore, Wang Xifeng and Qin Keqing were the most alarmed, their faces pale.
"Duke She, Duke Zheng."
"This decree was personally drafted by the Retired Emperor and His Majesty, and cannot be disobeyed.”
"The four eight dukes and twelve marquises are all like this. Please don't make things difficult for me and quickly arrange for someone to receive this edict.”
Taking a deep look at Jia She and Jia Zheng, the Great Ming Palace's Internal Minister Dai Quan said in a deep voice.
"This…"
Jia She and Jia Zheng also felt that it was very troublesome.
Regardless of whether it was Jia Lian or Jia Rong, they were both Di sons of the Jia family.
After this battle, it didn't matter who survived. Who would be willing to die?
"Father!"
Jia Lian and Jia Rong begged Jia She and Jia Zhen bitterly, hoping that they could escape this nightmare.
However, Jia She was helpless. Jia Zhen, on the other hand, wished that Jia Rong would die on the battlefield so that he could 'care' for his daughter-in-law, Qin Keqing.
"The Jia family is not dead yet, and they can still be loyal to the country!”
A loud voice came from afar, breaking the atmosphere.
Everyone turned to look. A seven-foot-tall, valiant youth wearing a black brocade robe with golden borders strode out.
If it wasn't the Di son of the Ningguo Manor, who could it be?
Lin Daiyu and Jia Xichun couldn't help but feel nervous.
As expected, Jia Fu went straight to the Great Ming Palace's Internal Minister Dai Quan. His expression did not change and his heart did not beat faster. He took the imperial edict and said loudly,"The Jia family's Ningguo Manor Di son, Jia Wei, receives the decree to thank you.”
"Alright."
Dai Quan did not expect that the Jia Clan would have such a person hidden, and could not help but take a few more glances at Jia Meng.
Only then did he turn around and leave with a few eunuchs. The group of soldiers left one after another.
At this moment, in the Rongxi Hall of the Rongguo Manor, Jia She and the others looked at Jia Xiong, who had suddenly appeared to receive the edict, with puzzled expressions on their faces.
"Second Uncle?"
Jia Rong had a vague impression of Jia Meng.
The two of them were about the same age. Jia Rong was only six years older than Jia Xu, and they had played together when they were young.
But later, for some reason, Jia Fou locked himself in the east courtyard and did not go out. Gradually, he disappeared.
"Second brother, why are you here?"
Although Jia Zhen didn't pay much attention to the matters of the Ningguo Manor, she was no stranger to Jia Cong, who had the same mother.
The two of them looked somewhat similar, so he could recognize them.
"If I hadn't come out, I'm afraid that you would've all planned to put on a show of crying for your parents.”
"Uncle She, Uncle Zheng, Big Brother, since we're all here today, let's discuss and decide on the expedition.”
As he spoke, Jia Xiong bowed slightly towards Jia She and Jia Zheng, nodded his head and said indifferently.
"That's how it should be!"
Jia She and Jia Zheng looked at each other and responded in unison.
If it wasn't for Jia Xiong receiving the imperial edict, then their disciples, Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu, would have suffered.
Regardless of whether they wanted this friendship or not, they had to remember it under the Rong Mansion.
Although Jia Zhen did not say anything, she did not object either.
"I have received the imperial edict, so you can rest assured.”
"It's just that His Majesty has requested that you recruit 3,000 people, and the expenses will need to be discussed between the two Manors.”
"I don't want to trouble you two. Ningguo Manor and Rongguo Manor will each pay fifty thousand taels, so a total of one hundred thousand taels of silver will do.”
"What do you all think?"
"Yes!"
Before Jia She and Jia Zheng could reply, Grandmother Jia had already agreed.
The old lady had always been the head of the Rong Mansion.
"Second brother, this…"
Jia Zhen seemed to want to bargain, perhaps fifty thousand taels made his heart ache.
However, Jia Fu only said one sentence,""Could it be that Big Brother Zhen wants to defy the imperial edict?"
Jia Zhen immediately nodded without saying anything.
Whether it was Jia Lian or Jia Rong, both of them had a good impression of Jia Meng.
Unfortunately, Jia Fu didn't give them a chance to strike up a conversation. He only glanced at Xichun and Lin Daiyu, then turned around and left Rongguo Manor. He returned to the east courtyard of Ningguo Manor. He still had some preparations to make as the war was approaching.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]