At the third watch, the Nine Gates Commander's Residence blazed with lights.
Jia Baoyu had not slept all night, impatiently awaiting the court audience at the hour of the dragon.
He wore a plain, unpatterned pale-green robe of a ninth-rank official, a lacquered gauze official's hat, and a leather belt fitted with black horn.
"This is power!"
Jia Baoyu spread his palms and stood before the bronze mirror, utterly intoxicated.
Though he was only a ninth-rank military officer, the awed looks people gave him on the streets made him feel as though he were floating toward immortality.
Madam Wang entered with light steps. Ever since the Empress had bestowed a Third-Rank Imperial Mandate upon her, she had felt reborn. Joy filled her heart, and even the red sores on her cheeks had faded somewhat.
Smiling, she said:
"Baoyu, you can't even attend the court audience."
Only officials of seventh rank or above could stand in the Forbidden City's Court Assembly Square.
Jia Baoyu's eyes burned as he said:
"Once the audience ends, I'll wear this official robe and carry a coffin to remonstrate at the risk of death! Mother, you'll wear your third-rank ceremonial robes. Together, we'll shake the entire Divine Capital!!"
Hearing this, Wang Ziteng strode in from the corridor and solemnly instructed them:
"After the audience ends, the Empress will surely send you a remonstrance in secret. Just read what it says. You must be ready to die as you denounce that beast of the Jia Family before the High Ministers!"
"Hold the Ghost Marriage immediately tonight. The Capital Camp Troops will escort the bridal procession. Follow the Empress's orders to the letter: sacrifice Lin Daiyu, Xue Baochai, and Jia Tanchun alive, so that His Highness the Second Prince may find comfort beneath the Nine Springs."
"Neither task