Lin Ruhai Was in Mortal Danger
"..."
Jia Zheng showed no pleasure at Jia Lian's flattery. If anything, his expression grew even darker.
Before Jia Lian could continue buttering him up, he impatiently waved a hand and warned him sternly:
"Enough!"
"This matter ends here. Don't let it happen again!"
"If there's a next time, I won't go easy on you, let alone Xue Pan!"
"I don't care how you carry on outside in your daily life, but if you drag official business into it and damage the family's reputation or my standing as an official, don't blame me, your second uncle, for showing no mercy!"
Jia Zheng was, after all, the only person in the Jia family who currently held real power. His elder brother, Jia She, had inherited the honorary title of Duke Rong and held the rank of First-Class General, while the hereditary title of Duke Ning in the eastern residence was also merely an empty honor, with no corresponding authority. Their power and influence were nowhere near his own, as an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Works.
In other words, at present, Jia Zheng alone was gritting his teeth and keeping up appearances for both the Ning and Rong households and the entire Jia family. There was no question how important he was to them.
What made matters worse was that he had not earned his position through the proper Celestial Examination. He had first been granted the title of Secretary by the Heavenly Emperor, then promoted to Assistant Director in the Ministry of Works. Men of his background were naturally excluded and looked down upon by the aristocratic immortals who had risen through the Celestial Examinations. If he became embroiled in any scandal, even an unpleasant rumor, everything could be over for him.
So