Chapter 133

Besides Jia Zhen's affair, what other matter would need Qin Keqing to wait here for herself for a long time, and still look like she fears others finding out?

Jia Jing withdrew his gaze, stared intently, and spoke in a low voice:

Come with me!

After saying that, Jia Jing walked toward the nearby artificial hills, which were the leftover work of the stone-stacking artisans when Rong Guo Mansion was built; the rocks are rugged, and the shady side never sees sunlight year-round.

Jia Jing pushed aside the withered vines and stepped into a small open space surrounded by rocks.

Qin Keqing followed closely behind, ordering Rui Zhu and Bao Zhu to stay where they were, and she alone followed Jia Jing into the secluded spot isolated by rocks.

Just as they entered, they saw no one around.

Qin Keqing immediately knelt on the ground, grabbed Jia Jing's cuffs with both hands, lifted her face, and pleaded in a soft, sorrowful voice:

Uncle, niece-in-law begs you to save my life!

Jia Jing lowered his eyes to look at Qin Keqing kneeling on the ground, his face showing no expression at all, and he asked lightly:

What's going on? Tell me in detail!

This… Qin Keqing's expression stalled; she wanted to speak but stopped.

Although she had already imagined many times at home what to say when she met Jia Jing—how to speak so that her uncle would help her, and how to speak to show that this matter was not her fault—

But now that she actually saw Jia Jing, especially his stern and solemn expression, she momentarily didn't know how to begin.

After all, saying that her father-in-law wanted to have an affair with her is hard to say and unpleasant to hear, especially for a woman to speak.

Qin Keqing pondered for a moment; ultimately reason overcame shyness, she bit her red lips, and slowly spoke:

There are some shameful inner-household matters; a niece-in-law ought not to confide in such a man who stands tall between heaven and earth like her uncle.

But the niece-in-law is also truly forced by Jia Zhen to have no choice, with nowhere to turn; besides her uncle, she doesn't know whom else to appeal to.

Saying this, Qin Keqing paused, glanced at Jia Jing's face, which remained expressionless.

Qin Keqing thought over those foul words of Jia Zhen in her mind, finally stopped hiding, gathered her courage, and spoke bluntly:

Jia Zhen… Jia Zhen harbors ill intentions toward the niece-in-law.

Having said that, Qin Keqing's expression eased a little, and she continued:

Since the niece-in-law married into Dong Fu, Jia Zhen's attitude toward her has always been off.

He often, under the pretext of being her father-in-law, orders her to go to his room to attend to him, during which he frequently says rude things to her and behaves improperly.

Once, when the niece-in-law was bathing in her room, he even tried to force his way in; fortunately Bao Zhu and Rui Zhu desperately blocked him, otherwise…

On the third day of last month, Jia Zhen's health slightly improved, and he took advantage of his drunkenness to burst into the niece-in-law's room.

He said: "Rong'er is not worthy of me; you'd better follow him, and thereafter in Dong Fu you will never be mistreated; if you refuse, thereafter there will be no place for me in Dong Fu."

After saying that, he undressed, intending to act on his ill intentions; fortunately, the Marquis had previously reprimanded him, his body had not fully recovered, and the niece-in-law seized the moment to escape.

These days, the niece-in-law has been hiding east and west, either returning to her parents' home or coming to Xi Fu, denying him any chance to do evil!

But he presses ever more urgently, disregarding reputation, coming to my room every day, finding any excuse to order the niece-in-law to go to his room to attend to him.

The niece-in-law is also truly forced, with no alternative! How could a father-in-law and daughter-in-law… If he succeeds, what face would the niece-in-law have left to live in this world!

But Jia Zhen in Dong Fu has always been decisive, with no one daring to defy his wishes; what can the niece-in-law do?

After much thought, there really is no one to turn to; left with no choice, she came to beg her uncle for help.

Qin Keqing's nails dug into her palms, she closed her eyes, and heavily pressed her head to the ground, pleading:

Please, uncle, save my life; in my next life I will bind grass and carry a ring to repay your kindness.

Jia Jing listened quietly as she finished speaking; regarding what Qin Keqing said, he knew part of it and did not know the rest.

Based on Qin Keqing's account and the Embroidered Uniform Guard's report, Qin Keqing appears to have been forced by Jia Zhen, not to have colluded with her.

After all, even with Jia Zhen's great authority in Dong Fu, he would not let Qin Keqing live a respectable life, forcing her to abandon her son to cling to the old man and commit a shameful act.

However, Qin Keqing's verdict in the original text is quite interesting:

Love of heaven, love of the sea, an illusory love of the body; when love meets, it must preside over lewdness. Careless words, unworthy ones all emerge gloriously; the beginning of the provocation truly rests in Ning.

The term meaning "lewd" here is not a good word; it carries a sense of lacking feminine virtue.

Also, regarding the phrase "Speaking recklessly, the unworthy all emerge in glory; this is the beginning of provocation.", what exactly does "the beginning of the provocation" refer to?

Is the downfall of the Jia Mansion also related to Qin Keqing's death?

Later generations hold differing opinions on this.

Some interpret it as indicating that Qin Keqing's background is not simple.

Not only was she adopted by the Qin family, but after death she was placed in the coffin of the late Prince Yizhong; the funeral was exceedingly mournful and honorable, all showing that Qin Keqing's status was extraordinary.

There is also a view that it reflects hidden matters of the former Ming and former Qing.

Jia Jing is still not very clear about the hidden facts, but based on the gathered intelligence,

The incident of Jia Zhen and Qin Keqing's scraping‑ash was prompted repeatedly by Jia Zhen, which also led to Qin Keqing's subsequent death.

Nevertheless, whether or not there is any so‑called beginning of provocation or any hidden matter, Jia Jing will not allow such a threat to the Jia family's safety to occur.

In any case, even if the scraping‑ash incident holds no secrets, its spread would severely tarnish the Jia family's reputation.

Xichun is the lady of Ning Guo Fu; with such a brother involved in the scraping‑ash affair, what would others think of her?

In the original text, even the outsider Liu Xianglian knows that only the two lion statues at Ning Guo Fu's gate are clean.

It is evident that Ning Guo Fu's reputation is already infamous; such a tarnishing of the Jia family's name is intolerable to Jia Jing, who seeks to govern the family with military law.

Jia Jing thought of this, and a flash of ruthlessness passed through his eyes.

Jia Zhen had already warned him to be cautious in speech and action; after being beaten he still wasn't honest, so he fears he can no longer be retained.

At present, though it is not easy to have the Embroidered Uniform Guard act directly, a suitable opportunity must be found to eliminate this tumor.

When Qin Keqing saw Jia Jing silent for a moment, her heart uneasy, she lifted her head and called softly:

"Uncle..."

Jia Jing raised his eyebrows and asked in a deep voice:

"Hmm! I already know about this; when did Jia Zhen start it?"

Qin Keqing lowered her head:

"Since my niece-in-law married into Dong Fu, I've already felt something was off; he was far too enthusiastic toward my niece-in-law…"

"At first my niece-in-law thought perhaps it was just her own illusion, but who could have known that he would become increasingly rude later."

Jia Jing continued to ask:

"Who all knows about this?"

Qin Keqing thought Jia Jing didn't believe her, and hurriedly explained:

"My maids Baozhu and Ruizhu both know about this, as does Rong Ge'er; I told him about Zhen Daye's rudeness toward me, and he also once bumped into Zhen Daye pulling my hand…"

Qin Keqing said this, her face tinged with anger, her eyes full of despondence, and said:

"Rong Ge'er isn't a man!"