Chapter 40: Qin Keqing, I Shall Provide for Her

The twilight deepened, casting a dim, hazy glow over the Jiang family’s dilapidated courtyard. A half-withered pear tree, swayed by the evening breeze, cast mottled shadows upon the blue-brick ground. Beds, couches, tables, chairs, stools, and food boxes were scattered about the yard, appearing uncommonly cluttered and jarring in the gloom.

Cheng Xu, having already returned from his meeting with Wang Ziteng, sat in the courtyard with Jiang Nian and Ma Peicheng, waiting in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The Mengs and He Zhong, who had been out purchasing supplies, had returned, but He Yun, who had gone to summon the Thirteenth Prince, had yet to arrive.

Just then, a resonant cry of "His Highness, Prince Zhongyi has arrived!" rang out from the gate, striking like a thunderclap and shattering the strange, tense atmosphere of the courtyard.

Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu exchanged a glance, both seeing undisguised astonishment on the other's face. They had originally been skeptical of the claim that Jiang Nian was on close terms with the Thirteenth Prince. Furthermore, even if the bond were real, they doubted that a Prince of such high status and heavy responsibilities would personally attend; they had expected him to merely send a representative. Yet, here he was, in the flesh.

Even Jiang Nian was surprised, though he quickly regained his composure, a glint of light flashing in his eyes as he stood and hurried toward the gate to greet him. Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu dared not show any negligence and scrambled to follow, their hearts pounding like drums.

Prince Zhongyi, dressed in his formal princely attire—adorned with his crown and a python-patterned robe—looked imposing. He strode through the gate, followed by He Yun and a retinue of guards in gleaming armor, radiating an intimidating presence.

"Your subordinate, Ma Peicheng, pays his respects to Your Highness." Ma Peicheng hurried forward to salute. Since it was not a formal occasion, he performed a simple greeting: standing upright, stepping forward with his left leg, steadying his knee with his left hand, letting his right hand hang, and kneeling on his right leg while keeping his gaze level.

"Your subordinate, Cheng Xu, pays his respects to Your Highness." Cheng Xu followed suit.

Prince Zhongyi, however, paid them no immediate mind, his gaze fixed solely on Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian stepped forward and bowed: "This humble commoner, Jiang Nian, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"A commoner?" Prince Zhongyi mused inwardly, then said aloud, "You may rise."

Prince Zhongyi gestured for Jiang Nian to rise, then looked down at Ma Peicheng, who remained kneeling. He sneered, "Heh, Ma Peicheng, what is the meaning of this? Leading so many soldiers to surround the home of a mere youth so tightly. I wonder what great crime this young man has committed? Has he committed murder or arson? Or is this treason?"

Ma Peicheng’s voice trembled slightly. "Your subordinate... your subordinate is merely following orders."

Prince Zhongyi let out a cold snort, his tone mocking. "True enough. You are no longer under my command, but under Wang Ziteng’s."

Ma Peicheng was so startled that he shivered and hurriedly knocked his head against the ground. "Your subordinate would never dare! I have always considered myself a man under Your Highness!"

Only then did Prince Zhongyi slightly raise his hand, signaling with an indifferent tone for Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu to rise.

Prince Zhongyi stepped into the inner courtyard. His gaze, sharp as a torch, swept across the soldiers and servants who bowed to him, glanced at the pile of items in the corner, and finally settled on Ma Peicheng. He asked in a deep voice, "Where is the body of Qin Ye?"

Ma Peicheng’s expression stiffened. Awkwardly pointing to a large burlap sack in the yard, he whispered, "Reporting to Your Highness, it is... it is there."

Prince Zhongyi frowned, gesturing for Ma Peicheng to open the sack. When it was opened, Qin Ye’s body was revealed; his pale face looked particularly striking in the twilight, as if silently accusing those responsible for his injustice.

Prince Zhongyi asked Ma Peicheng, "How did Qin Ye die?"

He Yun had already informed the Prince of the circumstances, but the Prince wished to hear the confirmation from Ma Peicheng’s own lips, as the matter was of great importance. Awed by the Prince and surrounded by witnesses, Ma Peicheng dared not lie and recounted truthfully how Qin Ye had been pushed by soldiers during a struggle and fell to his death.

Prince Zhongyi looked at Jiang Nian. "Why was Qin Ye at your place today?"

Jiang Nian stepped forward and said respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, Mr. Qin lives next door. As I was moving into this house today, I sent gifts to the Qin family, and Mr. Qin came to return the courtesy. While he was returning the gift, the soldiers suddenly burst in, intending to seize not only me but Mr. Qin as well. Feeling wronged, Mr. Qin resisted."

Prince Zhongyi turned back to Ma Peicheng. "Why arrest even Qin Ye, who lived next door?"

Cold sweat beaded on Ma Peicheng’s forehead. "Reporting to Your Highness, the order I received today was to seize everyone within this residence. Your subordinate... dared not disobey."

Prince Zhongyi snorted coldly. "What an absurd affair!" He looked again at Qin Ye’s body and sighed inwardly, "Qin Ye was nearly seventy, frail and ailing. Even if he hadn't died today, he would not have had many years left. And yet, to die so unjustly—it is truly lamentable!" He wore a solemn expression as he bowed respectfully toward the body.

The dead are to be treated with the utmost reverence. Moreover, Prince Zhongyi knew of Qin Ye. Not long ago, he had even mentioned Qin Ye to the Taishun Emperor. Since the late Jingning era, the Daqing court had been plagued by severe corruption, and honest officials were hard to find. The Taishun Emperor had vowed to govern with an iron fist and rectify the civil service, holding upright officials in high esteem. However, while Qin Ye was honest, he lacked outstanding administrative talent, and given his age and frail health, the Emperor had never promoted him.

Prince Zhongyi collected his thoughts and looked at Jiang Nian. "Who remains in the Qin household?"

Jiang Nian looked toward He Yun, signaling, "Steward He is better acquainted with this matter than I; let him report to Your Highness."

He Yun stepped forward two paces and said respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness, Mr. Qin’s first and second wives have both passed away, and he had no concubines. There is only an adopted daughter and a young legitimate son, born to his second wife. Now that Mr. Qin has suddenly passed, the family is left only with the adopted daughter, the young son, and a few servants."

Prince Zhongyi asked carefully, "How old are the adopted daughter and the son?"

He Yun replied, "The adopted daughter has just reached the age of pinning her hair, and the son is several years younger, born to Mr. Qin after he had passed his fiftieth year."

Prince Zhongyi sighed lightly. "With Qin Ye gone, the Qin family will face great hardships." He turned to Jiang Nian. "How about letting He Yun and his wife help the Qin family arrange the funeral?"

Jiang Nian bowed respectfully. "I leave it entirely to Your Highness’s command." He thought to himself, "I shall do more than just help with the funeral; if Qin Keqing pleases me, I shall take her in!"

Prince Zhongyi immediately ordered his guards to carry Qin Ye’s body to the neighboring Qin house and instructed He Yun and his wife to accompany them. He also commanded He Yun, "Tell the Qin family that I will seek justice for Qin Ye; he shall not have died in vain."

At these words, Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu both stiffened. There was one other person present who felt even more nervous: the soldier who had pushed Qin Ye to his death. He kept his head lowered, his face pale, his hands trembling.