Jia Huan closed his umbrella and stepped over the threshold.
His face was expressionless.
"Kneel."
In an instant, Rongxi Hall fell utterly silent. Everyone was aghast.
Looking at the sky-blue Flying Fish Uniform, Jia Zheng's gaze grew unfocused. Though he had guessed his son would earn promotion through his achievements, seeing the once-wayward boy become a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard with his own eyes sent emotions surging through his chest.
Wang Ziteng flew into a rage almost instantly, thundering:
"Do you know what you're saying? You dare order a junior fourth-rank court official to kneel?"
Jia Huan sneered.
"He should be grateful I haven't come home these past few days. Otherwise, he would already be dead in the Imperial Prison!"
He walked up to Jia Yucun and spoke with deliberate emphasis.
"I risked my life working for the court, yet someone actually had my mother's imperial title demoted on the charge of being 'coarse and ill-mannered.'"
"If I uncover any shady dealings of yours, you can look forward to torture in the Imperial Prison!"
With that, he turned to leave.
Wang Ziteng slammed the table and sprang to his feet, roaring:
"How dare you abuse your authority for private ends?"
Jia Huan replied calmly:
"I act under imperial power to root out treacherous villains at court. What private ends?"
Thud-
A soft sound rang out.
Jia Yucun had dropped to his knees.
A man could endure humiliation for the sake of his career. The moment Jia Huan became a Deputy Thousand-Household Commander, he gained the authority to investigate him directly. Jia Yucun feared losing his official hat, but feared the darkness and despair of the Imperial Prison even more.
Jia Huan stopped and said coldly:
"Kneel to my mother!"
Boom!
Jia Yucun looked as though lightning