Chapter 51: Keqing's Heart is Stirred

Jia Zhen came today for Qin Keqing, but left in high irritation.

To begin, once Jia Zhen stepped out of the mourning hall, the tense atmosphere inside dissipated.

Jiang Nian said gently to Qin Keqing, "Miss Qin, the Prince of Zhongyi has cleared your late father's name. Please accompany me to the inner room, and I shall explain the details to you."

Qin Keqing raised her eyes to look at Jiang Nian, a flash of gratitude and curiosity crossing her gaze, and nodded lightly.

She deliberately called for her personal maid Ruizhu and the steward Peng Jizhong along with his wife. Mainly because there were many people both inside and outside the mourning hall, and as an unmarried young lady, it was truly inconvenient for her to remain alone with Jiang Nian in the inner room.

Seeing this, Jiang Nian also asked Heyun and Master and Madam Meng to step into the inner room together.

The inner room was originally Qin Ye's bedchamber during his lifetime, and the furnishings within were simple.

After everyone entered, the door was closed.

Jiang Nian stood facing the window lattice with a stern expression and said to Qin Keqing, "Yesterday's affair was reported by the Prince of Zhongyi to the Emperor, and the Emperor in turn informed the Retired Emperor. Both sovereigns were incensed and issued decrees for punishment. Wang Ziteng, the Commander of the Capital Garrison, has been demoted to Regional Commander and must compensate your household with three thousand liang of silver to comfort the spirit of Master Qin in heaven. As for the imperial soldier who shoved Master Qin and caused his death, he has been stripped of his office."

With that, he took out a stack of silver notes amounting to three thousand liang and handed them to Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing did not take the notes immediately, her expression filled with astonishment.

Ruizhu and Peng Jizhong and his wife exchanged glances, unable to conceal their shock either.

Peng Jizhong could not help blurting out, "Elder Brother Jiang, did this matter actually alarm the Retired Emperor and the reigning Emperor?"

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Although Wang Ziteng holds a high and mighty position, his actions have provoked the wrath of the heavens. The two sovereigns discern all things with absolute clarity; naturally, they will not let this go unpunished."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing felt a wave of overwhelming shock within her heart, thinking to herself: "This Elder Brother Jiang before me is actually on such close terms with the Prince of Zhongyi! And through him, the Prince of Zhongyi actually moved the two sovereigns!"

At this moment, Qin Keqing, Ruizhu, and Peng Jizhong and his wife could not help but look upon Jiang Nian with profound awe and reverence.

Qin Keqing raised her head, her gaze meeting Jiang Nian's eyes. She executed a deep and respectful bow, expressing her gratitude: "Had it not been for Elder Brother Jiang's close ties with the Prince of Zhongyi, my father would never have had his name cleared so swiftly. Of these three thousand liang, please take one thousand... take half, as a modest token of our family's gratitude."

Jiang Nian shook his head: "I am not in need of money, nor would I ever take compensation meant to comfort Master Qin's spirit in heaven. Keep all of it."

Qin Keqing saw that his expression remained serene and his gaze profound. Without further hesitation, she accepted the silver notes from his hands. During this moment, her delicate fingers trembled slightly, fearing she might brush against his hand, yet in her heart, she harbored a faint, secret desire to touch his hand...

This was truly the sign of a budding affection!

...

...

Jiang Nian slowly walked out of the mourning hall and gave a low instruction to Heyun: "Tell Steward Peng to come to the side courtyard; I have matters to discuss with him."

With that, he returned to the small Jiang residence next door.

The main building of the small residence was only three bays wide. The central bay served as the main hall, the room to the left was Jiang Nian's bedchamber, and the room to the right was used as a study.

Jiang Nian stepped into the study and sat down beside the desk. Just as he picked up his teacup and took a couple of sips, Heyun led the Qin family steward, Peng Jizhong, into the room.

Peng Jizhong was a hereditary servant born into the Qin family, and his name had been given to him by Qin Ye over thirty years ago. The meaning was simple and clear: his father, serving as a bondsman to the Qin family, had been utterly loyal, and Qin Ye hoped he would inherit his father's loyalty to the household.

Peng Jizhong had been a servant of the Qin family since birth. Now in his thirties, he had served as the family steward for many years. Over all this time, minor dishonesties were perhaps inevitable, but he had never committed any grave offenses. On the whole, he could be considered loyal to the Qin family.

Peng Jizhong held Jiang Nian in absolute awe and reverence. Yesterday, outside the gates of the Jiang residence, he had witnessed the Prince of Zhongyi arrive in person and even invite Jiang Nian to ride with him in the same carriage. That scene had left him deeply shaken. And just moments ago, he had heard that the Retired Emperor and the Emperor had issued punitive decrees regarding yesterday's incident. In his eyes, Jiang Nian had already become a noble young master of illustrious status, unfathomable depth, and one whom he must never offend.

Heyun led Peng Jizhong into the study, and Peng Jizhong bowed respectfully, asking Jiang Nian, "What are Elder Brother Jiang's instructions for calling this humble one?"

Jiang Nian motioned for Heyun to withdraw, then fixed his limpid, water-clear gaze upon Peng Jizhong, speaking slowly: "The Prince of Zhongyi ordered me to assist in managing the Qin family's funeral arrangements, but in truth, he also intended for me to look after the Qin family."

He paused deliberately, as if observing Peng Jizhong's reaction.

Peng Jizhong hurriedly bowed and said, "Many thanks to Elder Brother Jiang for your benevolent care."

Jiang Nian continued: "Since I am looking after the Qin family, naturally I must look after Master Qin's legitimate son and adopted daughter."

Peng Jizhong bowed once more: "We are deeply indebted to Elder Brother Jiang's trouble."

Jiang Nian's gaze narrowed slightly, his tone growing heavier: "I know that Master Qin was an upright and incorruptible official throughout his life. Though his estate is not lavish, there is still some wealth to speak of, and just now I handed over another three thousand liang of compensation to Miss Qin. The wealth of the Qin family naturally belongs under Miss Qin's control. I do not wish to see anyone coveting it, let alone trying to seize it, and that includes you. Do you understand?"

Peng Jizhong hastily replied, "This humble one would not dare! This humble one would never dare!"

Jiang Nian turned stern, his voice dropping: "If anyone dares to covet the Qin family's property—be they relatives, servants, or outsiders—the moment there is any suspicious movement, you must report it to me immediately, and I have my own methods to deal with them!"

Peng Jizhong answered, "Understood, Elder Brother Jiang. This humble one understands."

Jiang Nian's expression softened slightly: "Furthermore, Miss Qin is an unmarried young lady, having reached the age of fifteen, and is possessed of exceptional beauty. Now that the Qin family lacks a master of the house, there may be those who harbor evil intentions toward Miss Qin."

At this point, his tone turned sharp once more: "For instance, that Elder Brother Jia Zhen just now actually dared, in full view of the public, within the mourning hall itself and right beside Master Qin's coffin, to openly offend Miss Qin! In the future, no matter who it may be, should anyone dare to offend Miss Qin, you must likewise report it to me at once, and I have methods to deal with them as well! Do you understand?"

Peng Jizhong: "..."

He muttered inwardly to himself: "This Elder Brother Jiang is being excessively strict with his interference! If coming close to our young lady as an external man counts as an offense, isn't he an external man himself... Could it be that he has taken a fancy to our young lady?"

He felt that Jiang Nian had most likely set his sights on Qin Keqing.

At that moment, Jiang Nian produced a silver note and handed it to Peng Jizhong, saying indifferently: "This is a reward for you, in the hope that you will keep my words firmly in mind. If you handle things well, there will be further rewards in the future; if you handle things poorly, leading to the Qin family's wealth being plundered or Miss Qin being insulted, I will not spare you!"

Peng Jizhong hesitated slightly, reached out to take the silver note, and glanced down to see it was worth one hundred liang. A surge of pleasant surprise filled him, and he gratefully said, "Thank you, Elder Brother Jiang, for your bounty. This humble one will surely devote all his strength to the task."

Jiang Nian picked up his teacup, uttered the words, "You may return," and took a light sip of the fragrant tea.

Peng Jizhong bowed and took his leave. Just as he reached the outer gates of the Jiang residence, he suddenly saw a carriage slowly pull to a halt. The carriage curtain was gently lifted, revealing the face of a woman in her thirties who still retained her charm, wearing a dignified expression and adorned with pearls and emeralds.

Peng Jizhong was not a man given to licentiousness, yet at that moment, he thought that this matron was perhaps around the same age as his wife, while her grace and bearing far surpassed her.

He deliberately paused and heard the coachman say to Dong Feng, the gatekeeper boy of the Jiang residence: "The matriarch and young miss of the Xue family have come to pay a visit to Elder Brother Jiang..."