Chapter 134: Is This Immortal Still Going to Keep Acting?

He dares not defy Uncle Jia Zhen's orders, yet always urges me not to make a scene.

Later he even dared not sleep in my room, pretended to be deaf and mute, and tacitly accepted it.

The mother-in-law must have noticed as well; she secretly told the niece-in-law several times to keep distance from the father-in-law.

Doesn't the niece-in-law wish to keep herself pure? I have begged Uncle Jia Zhen repeatedly to let it go, but Uncle Jia Zhen simply will not release.

I cannot speak much with the mother-in-law either; Uncle Jia Zhen is her husband, and she will not know whether to trust me or him…

"Have you ever thought of asking the matriarch to arbitrate?" Jia Jing frowned and asked.

Qin Keqing shook her head, her voice as low as a mosquito's:

"The matriarch is, after all, old! She cannot control Uncle Jia Zhen either."

"If Uncle Jia Zhen later turns on me, saying the niece-in-law seduced him, how could I live with myself?"

"Moreover, the niece-in-law's family has already fallen into ruin, and my father has always been in poor health; if this disgrace were to be blown up, I fear my father would die of nausea…"

Jia Jing listened quietly, his gaze fixed on Qin Keqing's face.

No wonder in the original work Qin Keqing could only submit to Jia Zhen; her husband, mother-in-law, and natal family were all unreliable, leaving her with no one to turn to.

Facing Jia Zhen, the father-in-law who reigns supreme in Ning Guo Fu, how could a woman possibly resist?

Moreover, in these times, men are granted more leniency, while women bear harsher blame.

If outsiders learned of this, they'd likely brand Qin Keqing with the filthy label of a concubine who lures.

As for Jia Zhen, people would only scold him with remarks like "a greedy cat", "men are all like that", "old and uncultivated", none of which truly wounds him, not even scratching his skin.

In fact, later the masters of Rong Guo Mansion might not have been unaware of this matter.

Feng Jie had heard Jiao Da berate someone on the spot, saying "a concubine's concubine, raising a younger brother's younger brother", and her expression changed then; she didn't seem completely ignorant.

Therefore, Qin Keqing, facing such a father-in-law, had no real choice!

If no one helped, death would be her only path.

Jia Jing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"This matter is difficult to handle! Whether we appeal to the authorities, settle it within the clan, or let you and Brother Rong separate, all would be unsuitable."

"If we appeal to the authorities, according to the Da Han Empire Law, a daughter-in-law accusing her father-in-law is an act of rebellion and filial impiety; regardless of truth, she would first be punished with fifty lashes."

"Moreover, the household cannot tolerate a daughter-in-law who openly accuses her father-in-law."

"Resolving it within the clan is also improper; Jia Zhen is the head of Ning Guo Fu and the patriarch of the Jia Family, and the clan would not allow such a scandal to spread, as it would tarnish our family's reputation!"

"And letting it reach the clan would be extremely detrimental to your reputation!"

"As for divorce, if you were to return home after separating, it would only make it easier for Jia Zhen to plot."

Qin Keqing listened to Jia Jing's words, her complexion growing pale; she knelt on the frozen winter ground, her knees already numb, but her heart was even colder.

Two clear tears began to trace her fair, round face, silently sobbing, desperate and pleading:

"Uncle! Help me! With your great power, Uncle Jia Zhen fears you the most.

"Last time you had him punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall, right? Even the matriarch had to concede a third to you; you must have a way to save me, right?"

Qin Keqing wept like a pear blossom in rain, clutching Jia Jing's hem as if it were a lifeline, begging bitterly.

Seeing this, Jia Jing helped Qin Keqing to her feet and said gravely:

"Why are you crying! I only said this matter is hard to handle, not that I won't help you."

"But I also cannot directly punish Jia Zhen! The reason I struck him last time was because he spoke disrespectfully to me; disciplining him was justified."

"However, this incident is not something to broadcast; I cannot use it as a pretext to punish him, since he is also a head of a household and the patriarch of the Jia Family, and must be considered."

Jia Jing mainly did not want to dirty his own hands with this ridiculous mess.

He, a dignified marquis and a state minister, would not wage war at home over a concubine affair; would it be proper to publicize it?

Just hearing about it makes his ears feel dirty; how could he possibly handle it himself? He would rather find an honest, suitable person to manage it!

Qin Keqing whispered, "It was the niece-in-law's momentary haste, speaking without thinking, and lacking foresight."

Jia Jing continued:

"I cannot act directly, but someone else can."

"Jia Zhen's father, Elder Jia, is now at Xuanzhen Temple outside the city, cultivating the Dao; he is Jia Zhen's father and a scholar who always cherishes his reputation."

"Now, although he is wholly intent on becoming an immortal, having abandoned his title and estate to Jia Zhen, he remains indifferent to worldly affairs."

"But he is still alive, still the Elder of Ning Guo Fu. If we inform him of this matter and have him step in to discipline Jia Zhen, that would be more appropriate!"

The Jia household tradition values a strict father producing a filial son.

Whether it's Jia Zheng toward Jia Baoyu, Jia She toward Jia Lian, or Elder Jia toward Jia Zhen.

When Elder Jia was still at home, Jia Zhen was a very obedient son before him.

After Elder Jia handed over the family estate to Jia Zhen and left to cultivate, Jia Zhen became uncontrollable, growing increasingly decadent in Dong Fu.

"Will Elder Jia intervene? Uncle Jia Zhen has been lawless in the mansion for more than a day; Elder Jia has never intervened!"

"Since Elder Jia began cultivating, he never meddles in household affairs, only receiving monthly silver from the mansion, ignoring everything else."

"Since I married in, I have never seen Elder Jia in person."

"Moreover, I heard Elder Jia's health is deteriorating; the family has already…"

The family is already secretly preparing his funeral; Qin Keqing swallowed the words, not speaking them, lest it seem a curse against elders.

Yet her expression remained hesitant; she hadn't expected Jia Jing to suggest seeking Elder Jia to resolve this.

She hadn't failed to consider this possibility.

But firstly, Elder Jia has been out of the picture for years; Qin Keqing doesn't know him well, nor his temperament, and dares not easily confront father about son.

Secondly, more crucially, Qin Keqing also fears Jia Zhen would bite her back before Elder Jia, accusing her of lacking virtue, being promiscuous, and dragging a scandal onto her head.

After all, Jia Zhen is Elder Jia's own son; the closeness and trust would surpass that of a granddaughter-in-law.

Jia Jing seemed to sense Qin Keqing's worries and said:

"Don't worry. Lord Jing cultivates the Dao, practicing tranquility and non‑action."

"If he learns that his son committed such a disgraceful act of scraping ash at home, would this 'immortal' still continue?"

Jia Jing said, pausing:

"Of course, it's improper for you to speak of this. After you return, write down the matter verbatim and hand it to the Lord; any physical evidence would be better."

"The Lord will send someone to explain clearly to Lord Jing, and will not allow Jia Zhen to twist truth and frame you."

"The Lord first gives Lord Jing a respectable face, letting him handle his family affairs himself; I believe he can understand the Lord's good intentions. Raising such a monster, he can hardly escape blame!"