From the Red Mansion, you can travel through the world of martial arts

Chapter 197: Entering the Palace, Court Meeting, Impeachment
Early in the morning, before daybreak, Baochai put on her imperial makeup and prepared to go to the palace to pay homage and pay respects with Jia's mother and other people from the two mansions who had received imperial edicts.

Jia Wei was also fully dressed in a dragon robe and jade belt.

He reached out and fiddled with the kingfisher pearl crown and the imperial gown decorated with gold and jade, then looked at Baochai's pretty, bright face before nodding with satisfaction.

She is worthy of being my wife, so beautiful!

He leaned close to Baochai's ear and whispered, "Don't change your clothes even if you come back. Wear this tonight."

Baochai's face turned red, and under Jia Wei's "forcing" gaze, she could only utter a nasal sound: "Hmm."

The two walked out hand in hand. Jia Wei looked at Ding Baiying who was waiting and said, "Protect my Baochai. Don't leave her side once you enter the palace. If anyone dares to make trouble, just slap her in the face if she is not from a prince's mansion or below!"

Jia Wei's worries were not without reason. He had handled several major cases in succession and raided the homes of so many officials, both big and small. It was inevitable that some of these victims had relatives who secretly held a grudge against him. Since they could not do anything to him, they used some tricks to embarrass Baochai.

Ding Baiying raised her eyebrows and just agreed. Of course, she would definitely listen to Baochai's decision on how to act after entering the palace.

Today, the imperial edicts will go to the harem to pay respects to the Queen Mother and the Empress. Jia Wei will also go to the palace to attend the court.

On New Year's Eve, the emperor would summon officials of the fifth rank and above and nobles in the capital to a banquet in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to accept congratulations.

Generally speaking, there won't be much mundane affairs on this day, and the ministers will present congratulatory messages to seek a good omen.

Of course, since it was a court meeting, other unexpected situations might happen...

Jia Wei suddenly remembered something, and he quickly ordered: "Be careful of one person, Princess Jianning! Baochai, if she comes to you, just say a few perfunctory words to her, and don't go anywhere with her."

Baochai agreed immediately and got on a very luxurious horse with eight-treasure glazed hairpins and tassels. Jia Wei grabbed Ding Baiying and whispered to her with some concern:

"If Princess Jianning keeps pestering me, you can tell her I have a message for her, lead her to a deserted place, and slap her directly, saying 'Your Highness gave this to you as a reward.' If one is not enough, you can slap a few more. Don't worry, Princess Jianning can be beaten as you like."

Ding Baiying's face was full of astonishment. A princess of a country, the emperor's sister, could be beaten at will?
Jia Wei explained it so clearly that even a fool would know that he and Princess Jianning had a complicated relationship...

Considering Jia Wei's habits, Ding Baiying's pupils dilated slightly. She looked at Jia Wei for a few times and inexplicably admired him.

The princess of a county and the current princess are really bold!

"What are you looking at?" Jia Wei pinched her face.

If you knew that I had slept with both the real and fake queen dowagers, you would be scared to death!

"Master, I understand." Ding Baiying responded and got on the carriage.

Jia Wei thought about it and got in. Who wants to be blown by the cold wind so early in the morning when you can take a car?
When the fifth drum sounded, the carriages from the East and West Mansions filled up Ningrong Street, and then drove out of the market town and headed towards the imperial city.

It was still dark, and servants were lighting the way with lanterns, like a dragon of fire. Occasionally, when they came across a fork or a blockage, bystanders would give way when they saw the flag of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion.

Just like that, the carriage that Jia Wei was riding in suddenly stopped, and immediately an official from the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to deliver a message.

"My Lord, the road ahead has been blocked by the Five Cities Army and Horse Division. They said they want to make way for Elder Liu."

Jia Wei lifted the thick curtain and asked, "Which Lord Liu?"

"Minister of the Ministry of War, Mr. Liu Wenzheng."

Jia Wei thought about it and realized that this man was a follower of Prince Zhongshun.

Ordinary officials of the Five Cities Military Division would definitely not dare to block his way. It must be the idea of ​​Qiu Liang, the commander of the Five Cities Military Division!
This move was entirely intended to sow discord between him and Prince Zhongshun.

In the eyes of everyone, he was successful at a young age and must be frivolous. How could he bear being insulted?

Qiu Liang is the grandson of Marquis Jingtian and should belong to the lineage of founding military heroes. Why would he plot against him in secret?
Jia Wei knocked on the window sill, and after a moment's hesitation, he gave the order: "Gather a banner of soldiers and horses, break through the Wucheng Bingma Division, and clear the road."

"I humbly obey my orders!"

From time to time, there were shouts and sounds of fighting coming from the front. The Wucheng Bingmasi was equivalent to a combination of the police station, fire department and other units, while the Jinyiwei were all elite. The fight between the two was a complete dimensionality reduction attack.

After just one encounter, the Five Cities Army's formation was thrown into disarray, and it seemed that even the sedan chair that Lord Liu was riding in was affected.

Amidst the chaos, the Jia family's convoy started moving again.

The sound of horse hooves clattering across the bluestone slabs. Amid the arrogant beatings and scoldings of the Jinyiwei, Jia Wei held Baochai's little hand and thought quietly.

Although this is a set, it doesn't matter.

Firstly, he is now the emperor's henchman and is in opposition to Prince Zhongshun's camp. If he is friendly with Prince Zhongshun, the emperor will become suspicious.

Secondly, Jia Wei was really upset that his way was blocked...

Qiu Liang, he remembered it.

Baochai and Ding Baiying witnessed the whole process in the car. Both women did not speak and remained quiet.

Baochai's face was not calm. After all, he was a cabinet minister, and Jia Wei's actions today must have offended him.

But not talking too much about external affairs is the most basic rule for women in the inner house nowadays. Besides, Jia Wei had clearly thought it over carefully just now, and did not make the decision on impulse.

As for Ding Baiying, she had long been accustomed to Jia Wei's arrogance and domineering!

Jia Wei didn't think much about it and took Ding Baiying's hand and played with it again.

The hand that holds a knife is still rougher than the hand that holds a needle and thread.

When they arrived at the imperial city, dawn had already broken. Jia Wei got off the carriage and knocked on the window sill.

"You guys follow the old lady, I'll go first." After saying this, Jia Wei walked straight towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

On the other side, Baochai, Lady Jia, Lady Xing, Lady Wang and others got off the carriage and, led by the palace servants, went straight to Kunning Palace.

Deep within the palace, on the white marble square in front of the Kunning Palace, rows of vermilion lanterns were hung high, illuminating the steps with a sparkling jade-like light.

Baochai was supported by Ding Baiying and followed the steps of Lady Jia. It was her first time to enter the palace, so of course she was happy, but she also knew her limits and did not look around.

At this time, Madam Wang also said, "The palace has strict rules. Don't look around. Just follow the old lady."

"Okay, aunt." Baochai replied.

Mrs. Wang originally liked Baochai, but she became Jia Wei's wife, which made her uncomfortable for a while. However, when Mrs. Wang saw that Jia Wei's official position was getting higher and higher, she also knew that she had to maintain a good relationship with Baochai.

Inside the Kunning Palace, the beautiful figures of the imperial eunuchs were reflected on the floor that had been polished to a shine by the eunuchs and palace servants.

After ascending the throne, Empress Dowager Guo sat on a brocade cloud couch, with Empress Zhou, who was newly enthroned this month, sitting beside her. In order were Concubine Wan, the palace maid Wang who was conferred the title of Concubine Gong after she became pregnant with the dragon seed, Princess Jianning and others.

According to the law, only the mother and wife of a fifth-rank official could be canonized as an imperial edict, but not all imperial edicts could enter the palace for a ceremony.

After all, even their husbands were not allowed to enter the palace during court sessions.

At this time, a palace maid sang: "Jia Shi from Rongguo Mansion brought the female relatives of the Jia clan to pay their respects to the emperor."

When Concubine Wan heard this, her eyes widened and she scanned the oncoming procession. She then scanned the palace maids leading the way, Jia Mu, Wang Furen and other old ladies, and finally landed on Baochai. "Is this Jia Yu's wife? She is so beautiful. I really want to stab her face with a hairpin!" Concubine Wan thought with gritted teeth.

That night, the young eunuch in her palace was taken away by the Royal Guards and has not come out since then...

Concubine Wan was vindictive and had long been thinking about taking revenge on Jia Wei.

In previous years, Concubine Wan would have been able to find a hundred excuses to punish these imperial edicts.

But recently the Empress Dowager's temperament has changed drastically and she has been severely suppressing her. Now that the Empress Dowager is sitting in Kunning Palace and receiving imperial edicts from the capital, she can only behave herself.

Concubine Wan knew that if she made a specific mistake and was caught by the empress dowager, she would definitely humiliate her in public.

Concubine Wan gritted her teeth and just kept Baochai's appearance in her heart.

Jia Mu and others came to the palace and saluted the Queen Mother, "I wish the Queen Mother a thousand years of health and good luck."

The ladies who were chatting in low voices in the hall all turned their heads to look at Lady Jia and her group.

Lady Jia, Mrs. Wang and others would come to the palace every year and they were all familiar faces, so Baochai became the focus of attention.

The reason is simple. The most popular person in Shenjing City right now is the new noble and powerful official, the first-class Marquis of Yong'an!

The ladies looked at Baochai a few more times, and all had the same thought, "She is truly a stunning beauty. No wonder."

Everyone in the capital city knew that Jia Wei married a girl from the Xue family not long after he was made a marquis. The Xue family was not well-off, so it was just because their daughter was pretty...

The Empress Dowager Guo, who had ascended to the throne, stared at everyone in the Jia family with a slightly frozen look in her eyes.

Queen Zhou, who was beside her, turned her eyes, as clear as autumn water, and passed over the two middle-aged faces of Lady Wang and Lady Xing, and fixed her gaze on Baochai's face.

Is this the wife of Jia Wei, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the commander of the Dragon Forbidden Guards, the admiral of the military affairs of the Beijing Camp, and the first-class Yong'an Marquis?
Queen Zhou thought that although they were both brides of the same age, their situations were very different...

Marquis Yong'an chose to marry her regardless of all the other noble ladies, he must have loved her very much. Looking at the marquis's wife's bright face, they must have lived in harmony and happiness after their marriage.

Although she was the queen, Concubine Wan and Concubine Gong were still eyeing her covetously.

Concubine Gong was pregnant with the emperor's child, so her status was self-evident.

Although Concubine Wan Guifei was evil, she was favored by the emperor. She only served the emperor for a few days at his sickbed. Because she was forced to marry the emperor by the empress dowager, the emperor seemed to dislike her...

Queen Zhou sighed secretly, and naturally had an idea in her mind: if possible, she would rather be a marquis' wife than a queen who rules the country!

Empress Dowager Guo also reacted and ordered the palace maids to help Jia Mu and others, and then asked, "Who is the wife of the Marquis of Yong'an?"

Baochai walked forward slowly, "Jia Xue greets the Empress Dowager."

"You are indeed kind and gentle, and have great virtues." Empress Dowager Guo nodded slowly, "I grant you a peony hairpin with gemstones. I hope you can be a good wife and let Marquis Yong'an have no worries and concentrate on government affairs."

Baochai was startled, then bowed again and said, "Jia Xue will remember the Queen Mother's words."

The person involved was stunned, and so were Lady Jia and the other ladies who were watching the show!

A reward from Empress Dowager Guo? This seems to be the first time!
But everyone thought about it and realized that Marquis Yong'an was a supporter of the emperor, so it was normal for a mother to help her son win the hearts of the people.

Suddenly, Empress Zhou also smiled and said, "I met the wife of the Marquis of Yong'an and we hit it off right away. I'll give her two pieces of Shu brocade from the palace as a reward."

Jia Wei is a close minister to the emperor. If we win him over, the emperor will definitely be happy.

Moreover, Queen Zhou heard that Concubine Wan and Jia Wei seemed to have a conflict...

As the saying goes, the enemy of your enemy is your friend.

Baochai had no choice but to thank him again.

Everyone in the hall was shocked and amazed at how much the emperor favored Jia Wei. Some people who had originally thought of causing trouble for the wife of Marquis Yong'an also gave up the idea.

Can't afford to offend!

Concubine Wan was already gritting her teeth, feeling uncomfortable all over. She glanced at Empress Zhou, feeling even more disgusted!
Seeing this, Concubine Gong also had the idea, but she quickly gave it up. With her rank, she was not worthy of being wooed in public...

The female relatives of the Jia clan and other imperial edicts went to rest aside, and the old Nan'an Concubine and others came forward to chat with them, while Empress Dowager Guo and others continued to receive the imperial edicts.

Jianning, who had been silent the whole time, rolled his eyes, glanced down a few times, and quietly slipped away from the side...

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was brightly lit, with brocade curtains and embroidered screens, and the figures of civil and military officials were bustling about.

The emperor had been absent from court for many days due to illness, which had caused rumors to spread, so today Emperor Xuanwu took a red pill and forced himself to sit in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Emperor Xuanwu was dressed in a bright yellow robe and a crown with twelve tassels on his head. His face was radiant without a trace of illness.

On the left and right, eunuchs stood respectfully, and the Embroidered Uniform Guards were lined up as a guard of honor, which made the emperor even more majestic.

But Jia Wei raised his eyebrows. The ministers were too far away to see clearly, but he had very strong eyesight and could see that Emperor Xuanwu had applied powder on his face, and it was stuck...

According to convention, the Hanlin Academy would first present a congratulatory message to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.

The Hanlin Academy is full of talented people. The congratulatory letters they wrote were written in gorgeous words. Even Jia Wei, who couldn't understand them, felt impressed!

"Here comes the congratulatory message! Here comes the congratulatory message!"

"Your Majesty, the whole world is celebrating. I have sent Zhao Zongxian, the Imperial Commissioner of Lianghuai Salt Administration, to present this congratulatory letter."

After Emperor Xuanwu finished reading it, his face was full of smiles, and the other ministers also said in unison: "We congratulate Your Majesty!"

There was a peaceful atmosphere between the emperor and his ministers in the hall. Emperor Xuanwu sat on a high seat, looking down at all the ministers, feeling a sense of heroism in his heart.

After he recovers from his illness and sorts out government affairs for a few years, the Han Dynasty will surely become prosperous and strong in his leadership!
With such fantasy, Emperor Xuanwu felt that his breathing was smoother, his mind was clearer, and it seemed that his symptoms had improved a little.

Suddenly, he saw a minister walk out of the queue, his face solemn, holding up his tablet, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I have something to report!"

Xuanwu felt a little uneasy. This didn't look like a congratulatory letter...

He knew this person, the Censor Yan Peiwei.

It's Chinese New Year, are you going to speak out against the emperor? Who ordered this?
Xuanwu frowned and said in a deep voice, "Approved."

Yan Peiwei then said in a stern voice: "Your Majesty, I want to impeach the commander of the Embroidered Guards, the First-Class Marquis of Yong'an Jia Wei!"

All the ministers were shocked. Everyone knew that Jia Wei was the emperor's confidant. This meant a big move!
Jia Wei was also stunned. This was like eating a melon and then eating it himself...

Yan Peiwei?
Jia Wei recalled such a person.

His son Yan Junbin once played tea in the Nuanxiang Pavilion of the Jiaofang Bureau with Jia Wei, Su Can, the emperor, etc.

(End of this chapter)