Chapter 248

While Feng Jie was busy with something at her dressing mirror, she chattered on:

If you're talking about Third Brother, he's really made it this time! At only twenty-one he was made a first‑rank duke, younger than the two previous Dukes of Rong Guo when they received their dukedoms.

Those bearing imperial edicts who came today say that with Third Brother's momentum, being made a prince later is not impossible.

Saying this, Feng Jie couldn't help but sigh:

You say they're both sons of the same father, so how can Lian Er and Third Brother differ so much?

I don't even ask him to be as capable as Third Brother; I just wish he'd stop going out fooling around with women, but even that's too much to hope for.

I don't know what he's doing in Ping'an Prefecture; he's been gone over twenty days with no word, acting all mysterious—maybe he's just fooling around there again!

Feng Jie stared blankly, her reproach tinged with a hint of worry.

Qin Keqing nodded again, only the corners of her mouth twitching slightly when Feng Jie mentioned Jia Jing.

That smile was faint, like a breeze blowing over water—after a ripple, it quickly returned to calm.

Feng Jie noticed her low spirits, her phoenix eyes lifting slightly, her face showing a hint of a complex expression.

Her vermilion lips parted slightly as she asked:

"What's wrong? Are you worrying again about those dirty affairs in the Dong Fu?"

Wang Xifeng had already learned from Qin Keqing's mouth that Jia Zhen wanted to commit the act of 'stepping on the ashes' (illicit relations with his father's concubine).

Since Jia Jing's death, Jia Zhen has been freed from his father's restraints; his old habits have resurfaced, and he has repeatedly laid hands on Qin Keqing, intending to behave improperly.

Qin Keqing originally planned to return to her maiden home and wait for Jia Jing to come back before seeking his help.

Who would have thought Jia Zhen would pursue her relentlessly, repeatedly sending Jia Rong to fetch her back, causing turmoil in the Qin household.

The Qin family were merely modest commoners, and Qin Keqing's father, Qin Ye, was in poor health, unable to back her up.

Helpless, Qin Keqing did not want to implicate her family.

After thinking it over, with nowhere else to hide, she could only flee to the home of her "close friend" Feng Jie in the Rong Guo Mansion to take refuge.

Feng Jie originally did not want to meddle in these sordid, filthy affairs.

Even though she got along well with Qin Keqing normally, asking her to offend Jia Zhen, the heir of Ning Guo Fu, for Qin Keqing's sake was impossible.

Everyone is an adult, calculating more for their own benefit rather than acting like a selfless, upright official.

Besides, this is fundamentally an internal matter of the Ning Guo Fu; you might dodge it for a while, but you can't avoid it forever.

Even if she wanted to intervene, she would have the will but not the means, lacking any legitimate grounds.

However, just as Feng Jie was about to tactfully urge Qin Keqing to leave, she happened to hear Qin Keqing casually say she wanted to wait for Jia Jing to return to the mansion and ask for his help.

She also said that Jia Jing already knew about this matter and had once intervened.

After Feng Jie learned the details of the situation, her attitude changed immediately.

She not only sternly rebuked Jia Zhen as a beast who disregards human ethics, saying he will surely meet with retribution.

She also put on a show of deep sisterly affection, saying Qin Keqing could rest easy staying in her small courtyard.

If anyone from the Dong Fu dares to come here and act wantonly, I'll let them see just how fierce my "Phoenix Spicy" self is.

Thus, these days Qin Keqing moved into Feng Jie's small cottage, the two eating and sleeping together, their relationship growing closer.

At this moment, hearing Feng Jie's question, Qin Keqing's face bore a hint of worry as she spoke in a low voice:

"You say… when Third Uncle returns, will he stand up for me?"

At this point Feng Jie had already washed her face with the hot water in the bronze basin, then fetched a basin of water and entered the inner room's small chamber to freshen up.

Through the curtain, her voice reached Qin Keqing's ears:

"Don't worry! Since Third Brother helped you last time, he won't ignore you this time."

"Never mind that Third Brother is the type who can't tolerate even a speck of sand in his eye; just consider that this matter concerns the Jia Family's reputation abroad."

"If word gets out that the Jia Men are committing the act of 'stepping on the ashes,' who would dare to marry their daughters into the Jia Family?"

"Even Tan Chun and Xichun's reputations would suffer, making it hard for them to find husbands later, and Third Brother would not allow such a thing to happen."

These past days, Feng Jie has repeatedly and carefully considered this matter, speculating on Jia Jing's intentions in intervening in Qin Keqing's affair.

Her reason for being so eager to help Qin Keqing is to curry favor with Jia Jing; naturally she needs to figure out the ins and outs in order to "prescribe the right remedy".

In her view, Jia Jing's ability to manage such sordid affairs boils down to two reasons:

First, as the saying goes, all crows are black under heaven; the Jia Mansion's men are generationally inclined toward lust for women.

From Jia She and Jia Jing to Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, Jia Baoyu, and even Jia Zheng, not one of them is truly pure.

When handling proper business they're useless, but when faced with these crooked ways, each is a sharper‑than‑the‑other schemer.

And Qin Keqing's looks are undeniably outstanding; perhaps Jia Jing has taken a fancy to this niece‑in‑law, who knows.

However, judging from Jia Jing's usual conduct and her indirect probes about Qin Keqing, it doesn't seem like they have an affair.

So that possibility is not high.

Second, it's simply that he fears Dong Fu's Jia Rong's reckless behavior will ruin the Jia Family's reputation.

After all, the Rong and Ning mansions are as close as one family; if the Dong Fu's reputation suffers badly, the Xi Fu cannot escape being affected.

Especially the unmarried young ladies of both mansions will be affected in their future marriages.

Furthermore, Jia Zhen is the clan head of the Jia Family; his reputation concerns the entire Jia Family's external image.

Given how much Jia Jing values his sisters and family affairs, it's not hard to understand why he would intervene in this matter.

In Feng Jie's view, the latter reason is undoubtedly more likely.

Of course, regardless of the motive, Jia Jing has already intervened once, which shows he does not want to see the Dong Fu's 'stepping on the ashes' affair happen.

In that case, once he returns to the mansion, the likelihood of him helping Qin Keqing again is very high.

And as long as she can play an active role in this matter, she will surely win Jia Jing's favor, and perhaps thereby gain some benefits.

Qin Keqing, hearing Wang Xifeng's words, felt her eyelashes tremble slightly; her heart steadied a bit, but she couldn't help asking:

"Even if Third Uncle is willing to help me, an upright official finds it hard to settle family matters."

Third uncle is ultimately an outsider; he probably shouldn't interfere too much in this matter.

Last time he simply didn't intervene himself, but had Lord Jing come forward. This time, what should we do...

Besides, he's always a busy person; I feel bad constantly bothering him.

Qin Keqing folded her hands on the brocade quilt, her fingers unconsciously twisting the blanket.

This is a major matter concerning her life, death, and reputation; she inevitably thinks more, worries about gains and losses, lacking Feng Jie's easy composure.

Feng Jie had already washed up, came out from behind the inner curtains, promptly removed her outer garment, and went straight onto the bed.

She wore a smile as she crawled into Qin Keqing's blankets, comforting:

You don't need to think so much! When Third Younger Brother was a marquis, he could even give the Dong Fu gentleman a beating, make him kneel in the ancestral hall, and settle him properly.

Besides, he's now a first-class duke; handling the Dong Fu gentleman is a piece of cake!

As long as he truly wants to manage it, there are plenty of methods among the outside gentlemen!

I think, what should be worried about now isn't you, but the Dong Fu gentleman. When Third Younger Brother returns, he'll have plenty of good things coming his way!

Qin Keqing's blankets were already warm; Feng Jie, upon entering, stretched comfortably and yawned.

Today with so many affairs, she is indeed a bit tired; upon entering the blankets, her eyelids began to feel heavy.

Qin Keqing turned her head to look at Feng Jie, smoothed the blanket corner for her, a flash of gratitude in her eyes, and forced a smile as she spoke softly.

This time, thanks to Aunt's affection and willingness to take me in, otherwise I truly wouldn't know where to go!

Feng Jie held her in her arms, her tone returning to that lighthearted, slightly calculating manner, and she said magnanimously:

Why say such polite words! Your affairs are my affairs; we are good sisters, we should help each other without distinction.