Chapter 79: The Qin Family

At the hour of Xu, the night was cool and serene.

Jia Cong bade farewell to Qu Hongxiu and walked under the soft moonlight toward Chunhua Tower for their appointment.

As he reached the foot of Chunhua Tower, he heard faint music and singing from across the street, mingled with perfumed breezes and the chirping of birds.

Turning back, he saw a delicate, ornate pavilion draped in red and green, with lanterns hanging high and many elegantly dressed women, their faces beautiful, waving silk sleeves to welcome guests inside.

Beneath the pavilion’s lintel hung a pink plaque with vermilion characters: “Yicui Tower”—it was a brothel.

Many elegant patrons came and went at the entrance, their figures bustling, when suddenly someone bumped into Jia Cong’s shoulder, a wave of powder and perfume striking his face.

Jia Cong looked up and saw the man who had collided with him was handsome, slender, dressed in fine fur and jeweled sash.

Behind him followed a fair-haired young lord, exuding an effeminate, languid charm.

The finely dressed, crowned man spotted Jia Cong and showed surprise, even a touch of unease—but upon seeing Jia Cong’s striking looks, his eyes brightened.

These two, like Cai Xiaoyu, were fellow students Jia Cong had befriended at Qingshan Academy.

He couldn’t help asking: “Xiaoyu, is something wrong?”

Hearing the words “East Mansion” and “nephew,” Jia Cong suddenly remembered—this was Jia Rong, son of Jia Zhen of Ningguo Prefecture.

Cai Xiaoyu’s round, smiling face leaned out from the second-floor window, waving at him.

He finished speaking and hurried off with the white-robed young lord.

“Jia Rong of Ningguo Prefecture has been betrothed to the only daughter of Qin Bangye, the Director of Construction. They say the wedding will take place next year.”

“Isn’t that Uncle Cong?”

Jia Cong noticed Cai Xiaoyu still watching Jia Rong and the others disappear down the street, a mischievous grin on his face.

“Uncle Cong has been studying at the academy these past two years and never visited the East Mansion—how could you forget your own nephew?”

Jia Rong’s eyes kept scanning Jia Cong’s face as he laughed: “I’ve heard these past two years Uncle Cong has been thriving—studying at Qingshan Academy. Just the other day, someone from the West Mansion told me—”

“Ah, it’s Rong-ge’er. We haven’t seen each other in years—I didn’t recognize you at first.”

At the table, he found the other two guests had also arrived.

Qin Keqing—how could Jia Cong not know her? The woman in the Red Chamber who combined the beauty of Baochai and Daiyu, later hailed as the most beautiful woman of the Red Chamber.

Cai Xiaoyu grinned slyly: “Brother Cong, you’ve been buried in your books so long you’ve gone addled—you don’t know what joy has come to your Jia family lately?”

“Uncle Cong, I have other matters to attend to. When you return home, be sure to come to the East Mansion—I’ll host a welcome feast for you.”

Jia Cong was about to offer polite words when he heard a cold snort from behind Jia Rong; Jia Rong’s face flushed with embarrassment.

One was Cui Anzhi, son of the Vice Minister of Rites, styled Ziqian; the other was Liu Xiaoping, son of the County Magistrate of Liuhe in Jin Ling, styled Zhongwen.

Suddenly, a voice called from above: “Brother Cong, hurry up! We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Oh? What joy? I didn’t hear anything.”

“Uncle Cong has already passed two rounds of examinations—you’re about to enter the ranks and claim your title. Allow me to offer my congratulations in advance.”

Jia Cong paused, thinking for a moment, feeling a strange familiarity—but couldn’t place the name.

Cai Xiaoyu shook his head and said: “In the capital’s official circles, who doesn’t know this young Miss Qin is a beauty of heavenly grace, with a face that makes fish sink and geese fall?”

Cui Anzhi mocked: “Sounds like you’ve seen her yourself. I’ve heard the rumors too, but seeing is believing—otherwise it’s just gossip.”

Cai Xiaoyu beamed with pride: “You’re right to doubt it—I actually saw her myself. Miss Qin is close friends with my third sister.”

During the Qiqiao Festival, my third sister invited her lady friends to her courtyard, and Miss Qin was among them—I caught a glimpse of her from afar.”

Now both Cui Anzhi and Liu Xiaoping were intrigued, pressing her for details: was Miss Qin truly as beautiful as the tales claimed?

Teenagers of this age, filled with youthful longing, naturally delighted in talking of beautiful women.

“Hmm, the fame is no lie. I used to read those phrases without understanding—now I finally know what ‘makes the moon hide’ and ‘makes fish sink’ truly mean.”

“Don’t laugh at me, but that night I couldn’t sleep at all—every time I closed my eyes, I saw Miss Qin’s lovely face.”

The chubby boy sighed deeply, his eyes glazed with obsession.

Jia Cong couldn’t help smiling inwardly, yet curiosity stirred—was Qin Keqing truly as beautiful as described in the book? He’d have to see her for himself.

Cai Xiaoyu went on, indignant: “What a pity—such a fresh flower wasted on dung!”

Jia Cong laughed: “Xiaoyu, that’s unfair. My nephew Rong-ge’er is no slouch—you’re just jealous.”

Cai Xiaoyu asked with a strange expression: “Didn’t you see the white-robed young lord trailing behind Jia Rong? That’s Liu Yuer, the top male courtesan of Yicui Tower!”

Now even Cui Anzhi and Liu Xiaoping looked startled.

“I’ve always loved good food—I can’t stand the academy’s communal meals, so I come to Chunhua Tower several times a month for a treat. I’ve seen Jia Rong meet Liu Yuer at least three times.”

Every runner in this tower knows it—ask any of them if you don’t believe me.”

The fellow’s clever—he travels from East City to North City for this, clearly to avoid suspicion.”

Poor Miss Qin—such a delicate, flower-like girl, destined to marry this filthy, shameless pretender—what a tragic fate.”

Jia Cong recalled the pale, eerie white-robed young lord trailing behind Jia Rong, and the strange look Jia Rong had given him just now—a chill ran down his spine.

Love’s sky, love’s sea, illusion of love’s form—when love meets love, lust must follow. Don’t say all dissolute acts come from Rong Mansion—true corruption began in Ningguo.

Qin Keqing was a woman doomed by passion. She and Jia Rong seemed a match of talent and beauty, yet in the original book, not a single line described their marital life.

As if their relationship had nothing worth writing.

But after Qin Keqing’s death, the book devoted many lines to Jia Zhen’s bizarre, excessive grief.

He used a coffin plank reserved for emperors for Qin Keqing, and spent a fortune to buy Jia Rong the title of Dragon Guard Commander—just to elevate Qin Keqing’s status.

That was no normal action for a father-in-law and son-in-law.

Jia Rong wasn’t just a man who loved men—he was also rumored to have had improper relations with his stepmother’s younger sister, You Erjie. In short, he took anything, male or female—just thinking of it made one sick.

Qin Keqing knew nothing of his nature before marriage; once wed, she must have realized the truth. How could a daughter of an official family not be consumed by shame and rage?

That’s likely why the book barely mentions this young couple at all.

Could it be their unhappy marriage gave Jia Zhen the opening he needed?

They say the only clean things in Ningguo Prefecture are the two stone lions at the gate—the rest are all filthy. And it’s true.

Jia Cong felt some pity for Qin Keqing—but only that. He wasn’t so saintly as to rush in and rescue a beauty from her plight.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted below on the street. Cai Xiaoyu, ever impulsive and fond of spectacle, rushed to the window to look.

He saw a man running toward them, his topknot disheveled.

Behind him chased a burly giant, bare-chested and covered in black hair, holding a wine jug, cursing loudly.

“You lowly scum! How dare you touch my man? You’ve got the guts of a tiger and the heart of a leopard—I’ll settle this with you today!”

Cai Xiaoyu jumped up and shouted: “That’s Jia Rong! It’s Jia Rong!”

(End of Chapter)