The Red Mansion

Chapter 40 Qin Keqing, I will raise her

As dusk deepened, the Jiang family's old house was shrouded in a dim light.

A half-dead pear tree in the yard was swaying in the evening breeze, casting mottled light and shadows on the blue brick ground.

The beds, couches, tables, chairs, stools, food boxes and other items piled up in the yard looked particularly messy and abrupt in the twilight.

Cheng Xu had returned from his visit with Wang Ziteng and was sitting in the courtyard with Jiang Nian and Ma Peicheng, waiting. Each of them was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and they remained silent.

Meng and He Zhong, who had gone to buy things, had already returned, but He Yun, who had gone to invite the Thirteenth Prince, had not yet returned.

At this moment, a loud voice of "Prince Zhongyi is here" came from the gate of the house, like a thunder, breaking the strange and wonderful atmosphere in the courtyard.

Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu looked at each other and saw the unconcealable surprise on each other's faces.

They originally had some doubts about the close relationship between Jiang Nian and the Thirteenth Prince. Moreover, even if Jiang Nian was really close to the Thirteenth Prince, it would be difficult to invite the Thirteenth Prince, who was in a high position and had a lot of work to do. It was estimated that the Thirteenth Prince would send someone.

The Thirteenth Prince is here in person now!

Even Jiang Nian was a little surprised, but he reacted immediately, his eyes flashing, and he stood up and walked quickly to the gate to greet him. How could Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu dare to neglect him? They hurriedly followed behind, their hearts beating like drums.

Prince Zhongyi, dressed in his proper attire, a royal cap, and a dragon robe, looked majestic. He walked into the mansion, followed by He Yun and a group of imposing guards in distinctive armor and swords.

"Your humble servant, Ma Peicheng, pays respects to His Majesty."

Ma Peicheng hurriedly stepped forward to salute. Since it was an informal occasion, he did not kneel down to salute, but instead performed a simple greeting.

To greet someone means: straighten your posture, step forward with your left leg, support your knee with your left hand, let your right hand hang down, half-kneel on your right leg, and look straight ahead.

"I, Cheng Xu, pay my respects to His Majesty."

Cheng Xu followed closely behind and also performed the greeting ceremony.

Prince Zhongyi did not immediately pay attention to them, but instead set his eyes on Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian stepped forward and saluted: "I, Jiang Nian, pay my respects to His Majesty."

"Common people?" Prince Zhongyi pondered in his heart, and said, "Get up now."

Prince Zhongyi asked Jiang Nian to stand up first. Then he looked down at Ma Peicheng, who was still half-kneeling in front of him, and sneered, "Oh, Ma Peicheng, what are you doing? You led so many soldiers to surround the home of such a young man. I wonder what crime this young man has committed? Was it murder or arson? Or treason?"

Ma Peicheng's voice trembled a little: "Your humble servant... Your humble servant is just following orders."

Prince Zhongyi snorted coldly, his tone sarcastic: "Indeed, now you are not my disciple, but Wang Ziteng's disciple."

Ma Peicheng was so frightened that he kowtowed and said, "I dare not! I have always considered myself a disciple of the prince!"

Prince Zhongyi then raised his hand slightly and asked Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu to stand up in an indifferent tone.

Prince Zhongyi stepped into the inner courtyard, his gaze sweeping across the officers, soldiers, and servants who saluted him. He then glanced at the numerous items piled in a corner, then stopped at Ma Peicheng and asked in a deep voice, "Where is Qin Ye's body?"

Ma Peicheng's face froze. He pointed awkwardly at a large sack in the courtyard and whispered, "Your Highness, it's... over there."

Prince Zhongyi frowned and signaled Ma Peicheng to open the big sack.

After the big sack was opened, Qin Ye's body was revealed. His pale face looked particularly glaring in the twilight, as if silently accusing him of injustice.

Prince Zhongyi asked Ma Peicheng, "How did Qin Ye die?" He Yun had already told Prince Zhongyi this question before. Prince Zhongyi now wanted to get confirmation from Ma Peicheng, after all, this matter was of great importance.

Ma Peicheng was in awe of Prince Zhongyi, and with many witnesses present, he naturally did not dare to lie, so he told the truth about Qin Ye being pushed to death by officers and soldiers during resistance.

Prince Zhongyi looked at Jiang Nian and asked, "Why is Qin Ye here with you today?"

Jiang Nian stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Master Qin lives next door. I moved into this house today and gave the Qin family a gift, and Master Qin came to return the favor. While I was doing so, the soldiers suddenly burst in, intending to arrest not only me but also Master Qin. Master Qin felt wronged, so he resisted."

After hearing this, Prince Zhongyi turned to look at Ma Peicheng and asked, "Why do you want to capture Qin Ye, who lives next door?"

Ma Peicheng's forehead was covered in sweat. "Your Highness, the order I received today is to arrest everyone in this house. I... dare not disobey."

Prince Zhongyi snorted coldly: "This is really ridiculous!"

He looked at Qin Ye's corpse again and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "Qin Ye is nearly seventy years old, weak and ill. Even if he doesn't die today, he won't live for many years. However, such an unjust death is still a pity!"

He looked solemn and bowed solemnly to Qin Ye's body.

The dead are the greatest.

What's more, Prince Zhongyi knew something about Qin Ye.

Not long ago, Prince Zhongyi mentioned Qin Ye to Emperor Taishun.

This is because the Daqing court in the late Jingning period was severely corrupt and honest officials were hard to find. Emperor Taishun was determined to crack down on corruption with an iron fist, rectify the administration of officials, and highly praised honest officials.

However, although Qin Ye was honest, his ability as an official was not outstanding. In addition, he was nearly seventy years old, weak and ill, so Emperor Taishun did not promote him.

Prince Zhongyi withdrew his thoughts and looked at Jiang Nian again: "Who are the people in Qin Ye's family now?"

Jiang Nian looked at He Yun and gestured, "Butler He knows more about this matter than I do. You will report this to the prince."

He Yun took two steps forward and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Mr. Qin's first and second wives are both deceased, and he has no concubines. The family only has an adopted daughter and a young legitimate son, who was born to his second wife. Now that Mr. Qin has suddenly passed away, only his adopted daughter, legitimate son, and a few servants remain in the family."

Prince Zhongyi asked carefully, "How old is the adopted daughter? How old is the legitimate son?"

He Yun replied, "The adopted daughter is now of marriageable age, and the legitimate son is a few years younger. Master Qin was born when he was over fifty."

Prince Zhongyi sighed softly, "Once Qin Ye dies, the Qin family will be in trouble."

Prince Zhongyi said to Jiang Nian, "How about letting He Yun and his wife help the Qin family with the funeral arrangements?"

Jiang Nian quickly responded respectfully, "It's all up to you, Your Highness."

He thought to himself, "I will not only help the Qin family with the funeral arrangements, but if Qin Keqing suits my taste, I will support her!"

Prince Zhongyi immediately ordered his personal guards to carry Qin Ye's body to the Qin family next door, and asked He Yun and his wife to accompany them. He also instructed He Yun, "Tell the Qin family that I will seek justice for Qin Ye and will not let his death be in vain."

After these words were spoken, Ma Peicheng and Cheng Xu's expressions tensed.

There was another person at the scene who was even more nervous. That was the soldier who pushed Qin Ye to death. He lowered his head, his face was pale, and his hands were shaking.

(End of this chapter)