The Red Mansion

Chapter 51 Keqing's Heart is Moved
Jia Zhen came here today for Qin Keqing, but left in anger.

After Jia Zhen walked out of the mourning hall, the tense atmosphere in the hall dissipated.

Jiang Nian said gently to Qin Keqing, "Miss Qin, Prince Zhongyi has cleared your father's name. Please follow me into the inner room and I will tell you the details."

Qin Keqing looked up at Jiang Nian, gratitude and curiosity flashed in her eyes, and she nodded slightly.

She specifically called her personal maid Ruizhu and the housekeeper Peng Jizhong and his wife, mainly because there were many people inside and outside the mourning hall, and it was inconvenient for her, an unmarried girl, to stay alone in the inner room with Jiang Nian.

Seeing this, Jiang Nian also called He Yun and the Meng couple to go into the inner room together.

This room was originally Qin Ye's bedroom during his lifetime, and the furnishings in the room are simple.

After everyone entered, they closed the door.

Jiang Nian stood facing the window, his expression solemn. He said to Qin Keqing, "Prince Zhongyi has reported yesterday's incident to His Majesty, who then reported it to the Supreme Emperor. Both emperors were furious and issued decrees of punishment. Wang Ziteng, the governor of the Beijing camp, was demoted to the rank of general and ordered to pay your family three thousand taels of silver to comfort Master Qin's spirit. As for the officer who pushed Master Qin to death, he was dismissed from his post."

After saying this, he took out a silver note worth three thousand taels of silver and handed it to Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing did not take the banknote immediately and looked surprised.

Ruizhu and Peng Jizhong and his wife looked at each other, unable to hide their surprise.

Peng Jizhong couldn't help but ask, "Master Jiang, has this matter alarmed the Emperor and His Majesty?"

Jiang Nian nodded slightly, his tone calm, "Although Wang Ziteng holds a high position of power, his actions have angered the Heavenly Emperor. The two Saints are very discerning and will not tolerate any leniency."

Qin Keqing was deeply shocked after hearing this. She thought to herself, "This Mr. Jiang is so close to Prince Zhongyi! Prince Zhongyi has actually alarmed the Two Saints!"

At this moment, Qin Keqing, Ruizhu, and Peng Jizhong and his wife could not help but feel awe for Jiang Nian.

Qin Keqing looked up, her eyes meeting Jiang Nian's. She bowed respectfully and said gratefully, "If it weren't for the close relationship between Master Jiang and Prince Zhongyi, my father wouldn't have been cleared so quickly. Of these three thousand taels of silver, take one thousand... take half as a token of our family's gratitude."

Jiang Nian shook his head: "I'm not short of money, and I won't ask for compensation to comfort Master Qin's spirit in heaven. You can keep it all."

Seeing his calm expression and deep eyes, Qin Keqing took the banknote from his hand without hesitation. Her hands trembled slightly as she was afraid to touch his hand, but she also wanted to touch his hand...

This is a sign of heartbeat!
……

……

Jiang Nian walked out of the mourning hall slowly and whispered to He Yun, "Send Butler Peng to the next room. I have something to discuss with him."

After saying that, he returned to the Jiang family's small house next door.

The main house of the small courtyard is only three rooms wide, with the middle room as the main hall, the room on the left as Jiang Nian's bedroom, and the room on the right as a study.

Jiang Nian walked into the study and sat down at the desk. Just as he picked up the teacup and took two sips of tea, He Yun came with Qin family's housekeeper Peng Jizhong.

Peng Jizhong is a vassal of the Qin family. His name was chosen by Qin Ye over thirty years ago. The meaning is simple and clear: his father, a servant of the Qin family, was loyal to the family, and Qin Ye hoped that his son would inherit his father's loyalty to the Qin family. Peng Jizhong has been a servant of the Qin family since birth. Now in his thirties, he has served as the Qin family's steward for many years. Over these years, he has inevitably made minor mistakes, but he has never made a major mistake. Overall, he is loyal to the Qin family.

Peng Jizhong held Jiang Nian in awe. Yesterday, he witnessed Prince Zhongyi arrive outside the Jiang residence, even inviting Jiang Nian to ride in his carriage. The scene had deeply shocked him. And just now, he had heard that the Grand Emperor and His Majesty had issued an order for punishment for yesterday's incident. In his eyes, Jiang Nian was a distinguished, unfathomable, and untouchable nobleman.

He Yun led Peng Jizhong into the study. Peng Jizhong respectfully asked Jiang Nian, "Master Jiang, what instructions do you have for me?"

Jiang Nian asked He Yun to leave, then looked at Peng Jizhong with a watery gaze and slowly said, "Prince Zhongyi ordered me to help with the Qin family's funeral, but in fact, he also wanted me to take care of the Qin family."

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

Peng Jizhong quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for your care, Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Nian continued, "Since we are taking care of the Qin family, we should take care of Mr. Qin's legitimate son and adopted daughter."

Peng Jizhong bowed again and said, "Thank you, Mr. Jiang."

Jiang Nian's eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone grew heavier. "I know that Master Qin has been an honest official his entire life. Although his family fortune isn't abundant, it still holds some. I just gave Miss Qin three thousand taels of silver as compensation. These properties of the Qin family should naturally be managed by Miss Qin. I don't want anyone to covet them, or even rob them, including you. Do you understand?"

Peng Jizhong hurriedly said, "I dare not! I dare not!"

Jiang Nian's expression became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "If anyone dares to covet the Qin family's property, whether it's a relative, a servant, or even an outsider, if there is any unusual movement, you must report it to me immediately, and I will have my own ways to deal with it!"

Peng Jizhong said, "Yes, Uncle Jiang, I understand."

Jiang Nian's expression eased slightly. "Besides, Miss Qin is an unmarried woman, already of marriageable age, and has outstanding appearance. Now that the Qin family has no man in charge, someone might have evil intentions towards Miss Qin."

At this point, his tone turned harsh again. "For example, that Master Jia Zhen just now dared to openly offend Miss Qin in front of everyone, in the mourning hall, next to Master Qin's coffin! From now on, no matter who offends Miss Qin, you must report it to me immediately. I have the means to deal with it! Do you understand?"

Peng Jizhong: “…”

He muttered to himself, "This Mr. Jiang is a bit too strict! If it's offensive for a man from outside to approach my girl, then isn't he also a man from outside... Could it be that he has taken a fancy to my girl?"

He felt that Jiang Nian was most likely attracted to Qin Keqing.

At this time, Jiang Nian took out a silver note and handed it to Peng Jizhong, saying calmly: "This is a reward for you. I hope you will remember what I just said. If you do well, you will get another reward in the future. If you do not do well, and cause the Qin family's property to be encroached upon, or Miss Qin to be offended, I will not forgive you!"

Peng Jizhong hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the banknote. He lowered his head and glanced at it. Seeing that it was worth one hundred taels, he was pleasantly surprised and said gratefully, "Thank you, Master Jiang, for the reward. I will do my best to help you."

Jiang Nian picked up the teacup, said "You go back", and sipped the fragrant tea.

Peng Jizhong bowed and took his leave. Just as he reached the Jiang family's gate, he saw a carriage slowly pull up. The curtains lifted slightly, revealing a face of a man in his thirties, still graceful and elegant, with a dignified demeanor and jeweled hair.

Peng Jizhong was not a womanizing man, but at the moment he felt that this woman might be about the same age as his wife, but her appearance and temperament were far superior to his wife's.

He paused deliberately and heard the driver say to Dong Feng, the gatekeeper of the Jiang family: "Mrs. Xue and her daughter are here to visit Mr. Jiang..."

(End of this chapter)