The Red Mansion

Chapter 57 Keqing, Don’t Be Afraid (Part 2)
Jiang Nian, He Yun, Meng Xiong, Peng Jizhong and others came to the Qin family.

They walked through the inner courtyard and came to the door of the west wing, only to see that the room was packed with distant relatives, men, women, young and old, including Qin Zhong. Qin Keqing and her maid Ruizhu were surrounded by this group of people.

Qin Keqing was choking with sobs as she spoke, "What do you mean by this? My father's body is still warm, and you're already forcing me to hand over my wealth. If you were to say you were from the direct lineage, it would be fine, but you're only distant relatives, rarely interacting with my father, and yet you're here to take advantage of my misfortune and rob me..."

At this point, Qin Keqing suddenly stopped talking, her eyes looking across the crowd to Jiang Nian at the door. Her tearful eyes suddenly brightened, as if she had seen her savior.

When the distant relatives saw that it was Jiang Nian and He Yun, some looked frightened, while others pretended to be calm.

Jiang Nian shouted angrily: "What are you doing?"

Qin Zhong was so frightened by the angry shout that he trembled and immediately lowered his head.

The room suddenly became silent, and no one answered Jiang Nian's question.

Jiang Nian's eyes were like blades, and he swept them coldly across. He said in a stern voice, "Master Qin has just passed away, and the funeral is not yet complete. You come here to force his daughter and rob Master Qin's wealth. This is a disregard for the law!"

A middle-aged man said in a gruff voice, "This is our Qin family's affair. Even if you've been ordered by the king to help with the funeral, you have no right to interfere in our affairs! My brother's wealth should belong to his legitimate son, Zhong'er, not the adopted daughter from Yangsheng Hall!"

Jiang Nian turned his gaze to Peng Jizhong and asked, "Is this person Qin Fan?"

Peng Jizhong nodded and said, "That's right."

Peng Jizhong has reported to Jiang Nian that it was Qin Fan who led the trouble.

Qin Fan puffed out his chest and said in a gruff voice, "I'm Zhong'er's uncle. It's only natural for me to help my nephew get back the family fortune that rightfully belongs to him! Even if you're of a noble status, you have no right to interfere!"

Jiang Nian raised the corners of his lips slightly and smiled coldly: "If Miss Qin handed over the family property to Qin Zhong, I wonder how much silver you would like to borrow from Qin Zhong?"

Qin Fan said gruffly, "This is none of your business!"

Jiang Nian turned to look at Qin Keqing: "Miss Qin, tell me the truth, how much silver did Qin Fan want to borrow from you?"

Qin Keqing hesitated for a moment, then mustered up her courage, raised her eyes, and said, "Five hundred taels."

Jiang Nian looked at Qin Zhong again and scolded him in a deep voice, "Qin Zhong, your father's funeral is not yet complete. You are so young and you don't observe the mourning properly. You were actually instigated by this distant relative Qin Fan to use you to rob your family's wealth! Do you know you are wrong?"

Qin Zhong, who had been keeping his head down, was startled by the scolding. He didn't dare to look Jiang Nian in the eye and stammered, "I...I...they asked me to come to my sister to ask for the family fortune..."

Qin Zhong was born with a delicate figure, with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, a fair complexion and red lips. She was usually timid and shy, like a girl. Now she was panic-stricken, which made her look even more like a girl.

Jiang Nian said coldly, "Okay, when the soldiers take you to the government office later, you must tell the truth. Say that it was Qin Fan who instigated you and wanted to use you to rob your family's wealth. Only then will you be safe. Do you understand?"

Qin Zhong was so frightened when he heard this that he said in a trembling voice, "I...I'm going to be arrested by the soldiers?"

Qin Keqing's expression changed with shock.

Although she was angry about Qin Zhong's behavior today, Qin Zhong was her younger brother after all, and Qin Ye's legitimate son. She couldn't bear to see Qin Zhong get into trouble.

Jiang Nian turned to He Yun and Meng Xiong and ordered, "You two stay here."

After saying this, he quickly walked out of the west wing.

Not long after, Jiang Nian returned, accompanied by Ma Peicheng and four personal guards. Ma Peicheng, dressed in military uniform, looked imposing; the four personal guards, dressed in armor, looked imposing.

All the distant relatives came out of the west wing and saw that the soldiers had indeed arrived. They were all terrified, and even Qin Fan was frightened.

Qin Zhong's face was full of horror.

Qin Keqing retreated to the window in the room and watched through the window lattice.

Jiang Nian raised his finger and pointed at Qin Fan, saying to Ma Peicheng, "Commander Ma, this man is Qin Fan. He was the one who took the lead in instigating Qin Zhong to rob Master Qin's wealth."

Ma Peicheng stared at Qin Fan with a glare of lightning and shouted, "I am the Lieutenant Commander of the Left Battalion of the Patrol. Come, arrest Qin Fan!"

Four personal soldiers immediately stepped forward and captured Qin Fan.

"Let me go! I... I am Qin Ye's younger brother. I don't want to rob Qin Ye's wealth..."

Qin Fan screamed in terror, but he dared not resist arrest. Qin Fan's wife was also present. She was timid and pale with fear. She dared not even say a word, let alone resist.

Jiang Nian glanced coldly at the other distant relatives: "You are all accomplices, instigated by Qin Fan. Select two people to go to the yamen with Lord Ma to record your confessions and testify against Qin Fan's crime of instigation. Only in this way can you avoid being implicated!"

The distant relatives looked at each other, and no one was willing to step forward.

Seeing this, Jiang Nian pointed at a middle-aged woman and a young man - the two of them looked frightened and were probably timid.

Jiang Nian said coldly: "You, and you, follow Lord Ma to the yamen to testify against Qin Fan's crime!"

The middle-aged woman and the young man were so frightened that their legs went weak and they dared not move forward.

Seeing this, Ma Peicheng shouted sternly, "Catch them both!"

The personal guards stepped forward again and captured the two men.

Jiang Nian looked at Qin Zhong and said in a deep voice, "Qin Zhong, you will also go to the government office to record your testimony."

Qin Zhong was trembling all over.

Qin Keqing, hiding behind the window of the west wing, was anxious and wanted to go out to plead for Qin Zhong. However, there were both strangers and soldiers outside, so she could not show her face. She could only suppress her anxiety and watch silently.

Ma Peicheng waved his hand, and four personal soldiers escorted Qin Fan, three distant relatives and Qin Zhong, and the group went straight to the patrol camp office.

Jiang Nian walked towards the west wing, and the other distant relatives stepped back and made way when they saw him.

Jiang Nian ordered He Yun and Meng Xiong to guard the door while he walked into the room.

Ruizhu, the maid who was staying in the room with Qin Keqing, tactfully avoided the room door.

Only then did Jiang Nian take a closer look at Qin Keqing's boudoir.

The west wing was elegantly furnished. A carved dressing table sat by the window, a bronze mirror on top, and boxes of rouge and powder beside it. In the corner stood a rosewood bookcase filled with books. Inside the room was an embroidered bed, covered with a brocade quilt embroidered with plum blossoms.

Jiang Nian looked around and sighed inwardly, "It really is the boudoir of an unmarried girl from an official family. Elegant!"

He walked slowly up to Qin Keqing, his eyes gentle, and said softly, "Keqing, don't be afraid."

Qin Keqing was stunned for a moment and stared at Jiang Nian blankly, thinking she had misheard.

Jiang Nian whispered again, "Keqing, don't be afraid. I'm here, so you can rest assured. Your family's wealth will not fall into the hands of others, and no one can bully you."

Qin Keqing heard it clearly this time. Jiang Nian actually called her nickname affectionately!
Her heart suddenly started beating like a drum, and she was so embarrassed that she didn't dare to look directly at Jiang Nian. She felt a burning sensation in her ears, and even her neck was faintly flushed.

Qin Keqing suppressed her shame and bowed to Jiang Nianying: "Thank you, Master Jiang."

Then, she looked up at Jiang Nian and asked worriedly, "Will my brother come back safely?"

Jiang Nian said, "Qin Zhong is only going to the government office to record his testimony. He will be back safely. You don't have to worry."

Qin Keqing nodded and asked, "Will Qin Fan be punished?"

Jiang Nian smiled playfully: "Of course."

He had already pinned all the blame for today's incident on Qin Fan, accusing him of being the ringleader and instigator of the Qin family's property robbery. Such a minor case could be handled by the Zuoying patrol, without the need for transfer to other yamen. Jiang Nian had already informed Ma Peicheng that Qin Fan would be facing a long prison sentence.

As for other distant relatives, after this incident, they probably wouldn't dare to bother Qin Keqing anymore.

Jiang Nian warned Qin Keqing, "Guard your wealth well. If anyone dares to harass you again, send someone to call me immediately. I will support you."

Qin Keqing nodded gently, her heart still pounding. She whispered, "Master Jiang, I have so much kindness to offer you. I have no way of repaying you..."

Jiang Nian thought to himself, "How can I not repay you with my own body?"

(End of this chapter)