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

Chapter 39 Official appointment
Daming Palace, side hall.

The warm sunlight of early autumn shone in through the windows and cast a shadow on the imperial desk made of redwood.

Emperor Xuanwu was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, a black gauze winged hat on his head, and holding a memorial in his hand with a frown on his face.

The hall was very empty and quiet, with several eunuchs waiting at the door farthest from the emperor.

As Dai Quan stepped into the palace, his back bent and his footsteps landed lightly on the floor tiles without making any sound.

As the saying goes, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. Although Dai Quan followed the emperor when he was in his private residence, he was still very cautious and did not dare to make the slightest mistake.

He quietly walked to the side of the imperial desk, and seeing Emperor Xuanwu reviewing memorials, he stood silently by the side.

About a quarter of an hour later, Emperor Xuanwu reached out to take the tea beside him, only to see Dai Quan standing quietly to the side.

Emperor Xuanwu picked up the tea bowl and took a sip. "What's the matter? Is Jia Wei here? Please ask him to come in."

Dai Quan quickly responded and walked out again.

Outside the palace, Jia Wei, who was left out in the cold, was in a calm state of mind. He was thinking about the deeper message of this audience.

First, he reviewed the court situation and the experience of Emperor Xuanwu coming to power.

During the reign of the previous emperor, Prince Yizhong was appointed as the crown prince for ten years, but later the old Prince Yizhong was deposed.

At this time, the most suitable candidate to succeed the throne was Prince Zhongshun, but the late emperor abdicated the throne to the young seventh prince, now Emperor Xuanwu.

Although the emperor was old and weak, he still refused to give up power. He supported the eunuch Wei Ao and controlled the government for many years.

In the eighth year of Xuanwu, the retired emperor passed away. Emperor Xuanwu, in accordance with the imperial edict, conferred the title of Prince of Ningjing on the son of Prince Yi Zhong, who had gone bad.

Jia Wei turned his perspective to Emperor Xuanwu, and suddenly felt that dangers were lurking everywhere, and one wrong step would lead him into an endless abyss.

In front of him, Wei Yan controlled the government and held great power; in the back, his elder brother Prince Zhongshun and his nephew Prince Ningjing were eyeing him covetously;

If Wei Yan could join forces with anyone, it would not be difficult to change the situation.

Not to mention that there were martial artists causing chaos within the country and sects occupying local areas; outside, the Mongolian countries were invading the border and were eyeing the Central Plains.

"No wonder the emperor went to the Jiaofang Bureau to plot. If the news leaked out, the consequences would be too serious..."

Jia Wei couldn't help but sigh, and it was not difficult for him to guess the purpose of Emperor Xuanwu summoning him.

Although he was a martial arts expert and won the title of martial arts champion, and had a bright future, these alone were not enough to catch the emperor's eye.

Or maybe Emperor Xuanwu saw more than just these. He also wanted to win over the lineage of the four kings and eight dukes who had won military honors for the founding of the country through Jia Wei...

"Mr. Jia?" Dai Quan was a little confused when he saw Jia Wei staring at the palace guards in a daze.

Jia Wei came back to his senses and said, "I saw the majesty of the imperial city and the depth of the imperial palace, and I was distracted for a moment. I hope the internal minister will forgive me."

Dai Quan smiled and didn't care. No matter how outstanding Jia Wei was, he was just a curious young man.

“It is normal for the top scholar to feel proud at a young age and to have some insights after seeing this magnificent imperial city. However, he should be polite in front of His Majesty after entering the palace. Otherwise, the eunuchs’ scolding will be minor, but His Majesty’s displeasure will be major.

"Your Majesty has summoned me. Please invite Master Jia into the palace."

After giving a brief reminder, Dai Quan led Jia Wei into the palace gate.

Jia Wei followed Dai Quan in with his head lowered. Fortunately, it was not a grand ceremony of the imperial court, so there was no need to kneel three times and kowtow nine times. Jia Wei just bowed and kowtowed.

"Student Jia Wei greets His Majesty. Long live His Majesty."

Even though he was somewhat curious about the emperor in the dragon robe, he did not look up, as looking directly into the emperor's face was a serious crime.

Emperor Xuanwu glanced at Dai Quan, who immediately understood and led all the palace servants and eunuchs out of the hall.

"You are a young man dressed in fine clothes and riding a vigorous horse. Today, the number one scholar has stolen the show. I am so envious of him."

Jia Wei quickly bowed and said, "It is all thanks to your majesty's grace that you have chosen me as the top martial arts student. I will remember your majesty's great kindness." Jia Wei guessed that Emperor Xuanwu wanted to win him over. But it would be better to take the initiative to approach him than to be won over by others.

Now that the emperor is weak and powerless, Jia Wei has taken the initiative to join his gang. Isn't that a timely help? Shouldn't he be grateful?

Emperor Xuanwu was very satisfied with his answer, and said in a deep voice: "Raise your head."

Jia Wei's heart moved, and he slowly raised his head to look at the imperial desk, and saw the "Young Master Huang" whom he had seen in the Nuanxiang Pavilion of the Jiaofang Bureau that day, wearing a dragon robe and sitting on the throne.

Emperor Xuanwu was also a man of dignified appearance, and the young emperor had even more majesty.

It's time to show your acting skills!
Jia Wei pretended to be absent-minded for a moment, then changed his eyes several times within a second. He lowered his head and then quickly raised it again, his eyes dodging.

Emperor Xuanwu seemed very satisfied with Jia Wei's reaction. A smile appeared on his face, showing a youthful spirit.

"Master Jia, I heard that Miss Miao Jin invited you in that day... It's a pity that your good plan was ruined by the people from the East Factory."

Jia Wei was puzzled. Although the two of them knew each other now, shouldn't the normal reaction be to keep it to themselves and let the matter go?

The emperor's entry into the Jiaofangsi was definitely a scandal that could be recorded in history books. If those upright officials in the court knew about it, they would definitely flood the Daming Palace with saliva.

Also, didn’t people from the East Factory come to arrest Chen Jinnan that day?
In your eyes, the Emperor, the people of the Eastern Depot are more hateful than traitors?

Jia Wei guessed that Emperor Xuanwu was planning to reveal his true intentions and make the matter clear so that he would take sides and not sit on the fence.

Jia Wei did not respond to this taboo, but bowed and said, "I am terrified."

Emperor Xuanwu was silent for a moment, holding his teacup and drinking. Suddenly, he came straight to the point and asked, "Jia Wei, what do you think of the East Factory?"

Jia Wei said: "The East Factory is notorious for its overbearing and arbitrary behavior. The people have long been complaining about it."

Emperor Xuanwu pondered again and asked, "What do you think of Wei Ao?"

"Wei Yan disrupted the government, formed a clique to attack dissidents, and committed many evil deeds. This is known to everyone in the world!"

Isn't it just scolding people? Jia Wei is quite good at it.

"How dare you!" Emperor Xuanwu said, "Mr. Chang is devoted to the public and loyal to the state. How can you speak nonsense about him? Never say such things again!"

Damn you!
Jia Wei cursed inwardly. He cupped his hands and said, "I will remember your Majesty's words."

The emperor's tone was stiff and indifferent, and he seemed really angry, but Jia Wei was naturally not stupid enough to believe how good his relationship with Wei Ao was.

Emperor Xuanwu changed the subject and said, "Now that you have won the first place in the imperial examination, what are your ambitions?"

"I am a warrior. Now that the nine borders are in turmoil, my ambition is naturally to defend my country and wipe out the Tartars..."

Jia Wei said a lot of empty words, and finally added what the emperor wanted to hear: "I will follow your Majesty's lead..."

After that, the question and answer session continued. Since Jia Wei knew what Emperor Xuanwu was thinking, he tried to please him. Emperor Xuanwu became more fond of this young top scholar, so much so that he conferred an official title and made a wish to him on the spot without waiting for the Ministry of War to appoint him the next day.

Emperor Xuanwu appointed Jia Wei as "the first-class imperial guard of the Forbidden City, Dragon Guard Commander".

Dragon Guard was a real position, a good job of the fifth rank with a salary of silver. The fifth rank should be equivalent to Cloud Cavalry, with an annual salary of 85 taels of silver and 80 hu of rice.

If Jia Wei had not intervened, Jia Rong would have been able to buy this official position through Dai Quan for one thousand taels of silver.

The first-class Dragon Guard is of the third rank, so his treatment and status are naturally higher.

According to the convention of the imperial court, the top military scholar was awarded the rank of third-rank lieutenant general and the rank of first-class dragon guard to serve the emperor. It was normal to be one level lower.

Jia Wei was quite satisfied.

"So Duolong will be my immediate superior from now on? It should be easy to work under him, right?"

(End of this chapter)