Dream of the Red Chamber: Start by gaining Zhao Yun's martial prowess, and be ennobled in a sin

"He dared not disobey Grandpa Zhen's orders, but he always advised me not to make a fuss."

"Later, he didn't even dare to sleep in my room, pretending to be deaf and dumb, and tacitly accepting it."

"My mother-in-law must have noticed it too; she told her niece-in-law several times in secret to keep her distance from her father-in-law."

"My niece-in-law wants to remain chaste, and I have begged Uncle Zhen to let her go many times, but he simply won't let go."

"I can't say too much to my mother-in-law. Uncle Zhen is her husband, and she doesn't know whether she'll believe me or him in the end..."

"Have you thought about asking the old lady for help?" Jia Jing frowned and asked.

Qin Keqing shook her head, her voice barely audible:

"The old lady is getting on in years! She can't control Uncle Zhen anymore."

"What if Uncle Zhen turns around and accuses my niece-in-law of seducing me? How am I supposed to face anyone then?"

"Besides, my nephew's wife's family has already fallen on hard times, and my father's health has always been poor. If this scandal is blown out of proportion, I'm afraid my father will vomit to death..."

Jia Jing listened quietly, his gaze fixed on Qin Keqing's face.

No wonder Qin Keqing could only submit to Jia Zhen in the original novel; her husband, mother-in-law, and family were all unreliable, and she had no one to turn to.

How could a woman like her resist Jia Zhen, the father-in-law who reigned supreme in the Ningguo Mansion?

Moreover, in this world, men are generally more lenient, while women are generally more harsh.

If others knew about this, they would probably just slap the dirty label of incest on Qin Keqing.

As for Jia Zhen, all that's said is a gluttonous cat, that all men are like this, and that he's an old scoundrel—nothing that really hurts him or even scratches his skin.

In fact, the masters of Rongguo Mansion later on may not have been unaware of this matter.

Fengjie had heard Jiao Da curse her to her face, saying, "Those who commit incest commit incest, and those who keep their husbands' younger brothers keep their husbands' younger brothers." Her expression changed at that moment, and she didn't seem to be completely unaware of it.

Therefore, Qin Keqing had little choice in the face of such a father-in-law!

Without help, she would only face death.

Jia Jing remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"This matter is difficult to handle! Whether we take it to the government or the clan, or suggest that you and Rong-ge divorce, none of these options are appropriate."

"If the matter is brought to the authorities, according to the Great Han Law, a daughter-in-law suing her father-in-law is considered disobedient and unfilial. Regardless of the truth of the matter, she will be punished with fifty strokes of the cane."

"Furthermore, the household will absolutely not tolerate a daughter-in-law who reports her father-in-law."

"It's also inappropriate for the clan to handle this. Jia Zhen is the head of the Ningguo Mansion and the head of the Jia family. The clan won't allow such a scandal to be publicized, as it would damage the reputation of our Jia family!"

"And if this gets into the clan, it will be extremely detrimental to your reputation!"

"As for divorce, if you divorce and go home, it will probably make it easier for Jia Zhen to plot against you."

As Qin Keqing listened to Jia Jing's words, her face gradually turned pale. She knelt on the frozen winter ground, her knees already numb, but what was even colder was her heart.

Two clear tears began to stream down her fair, round face as she sobbed silently, pleading desperately:

"Uncle! Please help me! You're so capable, Grandpa Zhen is most afraid of you."

"Didn't you make him kneel in the ancestral hall as punishment last time? Even the old lady in the manor gives you some leeway. You must have a way to save me, right?"

Qin Keqing wept bitterly, her face streaked with tears, clutching Jia Jing's clothes as if grasping at a straw, pleading desperately.

Seeing this, Jia Jing helped Qin Keqing up and said in a deep voice:

"Why are you crying! I only said this matter is difficult to handle, not that I wouldn't help you."

"But I can't just have someone teach Jia Zhen a lesson directly! The reason I hit him last time was because he spoke disrespectfully to me, so it was reasonable for me to teach him a lesson."

"But this matter is not good to publicize, so I can't use it as an excuse to punish him. After all, he is the head of a prefecture and the head of the Jia family. We have to consider his feelings to some extent."

Jia Jing mainly didn't want to get his hands dirty over this ridiculous mess.

How could it be acceptable for a nobleman and a high-ranking official to make such a fuss about incestuous affairs at home?

He found the whole thing disgusting and couldn't bear to hear about it. How could he possibly handle it himself? He'd rather find an honest, reliable person to take care of it!

Qin Keqing said in a low voice, "It was my niece-in-law who was in a hurry and spoke without thinking."

Jia Jing continued:

"I can't do it myself, but someone can."

"Jia Zhen's father, Master Jing, is currently practicing Taoism at the Xuanzhen Temple outside the city. He is Jia Zhen's father and comes from a scholarly background, and he has always cherished his reputation."

"Now he is obsessed with becoming an immortal, and has abandoned his title and family business to Jia Zhen, and doesn't care about them at all."

"But he's not dead yet; he's still the patriarch of the Ningguo Mansion. It would be more appropriate to inform him of this matter and have him teach Jia Zhen a lesson!"

The Jia family tradition emphasizes that strict fathers produce filial sons.

Whether it's Jia Zheng's relationship with Jia Baoyu, Jia She's relationship with Jia Lian, or Jia Jing's relationship with Jia Zhen.

When Jia Jing was still at home, Jia Zhen was a very obedient son in front of him.

It wasn't until Jia Jing handed over the family business to Jia Zhen and went out to become a Taoist priest that Jia Zhen became increasingly unruly and lawless in the East Mansion, with no one able to control him.

"This...would Master Jing care about this? Master Zhen has been running rampant in the manor for quite some time now, and Master Jing has never intervened!"

"Ever since my grandfather began practicing Taoism, he has never concerned himself with the mundane affairs of the household. He only has the family send him some money every month, and he doesn't concern himself with anything else."

"I haven't seen my grandfather twice since I married into this family."

"And I heard that Grandpa's health isn't very good either, and the family is already..."

The family was already secretly preparing for her funeral. Qin Keqing swallowed these words and didn't say them aloud, otherwise it would be considered a curse on her elders.

However, she still looked somewhat hesitant; she hadn't expected Jia Jing to suggest finding Jia Jing to resolve the matter.

It's not that she hadn't thought about it.

However, Jia Jing had not been involved in affairs for many years, and Qin Keqing was not familiar with him, did not understand his temperament, and dared not easily report him to her father.

Secondly, and more importantly, Qin Keqing was also afraid that Jia Zhen would turn around and accuse her of being immoral and promiscuous in front of Jia Jing, which would put her in a difficult position.

After all, Jia Zhen was Jia Jing's own son, and in terms of the closeness of their relationship and the degree of trust, he would surpass her, his granddaughter-in-law.

Jia Jing seemed to have guessed Qin Keqing's worries and said:

"Don't worry. Grandpa Jing cultivates Taoism, cultivating tranquility and non-action."

"If he found out that his son had committed such a disgraceful act of incest at home, would he still be able to maintain his 'god-like' status?"

Jia Jing paused here:

"Of course, it's not appropriate for you to discuss this matter. After you return, write down the details of this matter and submit them to me. If there is any physical evidence, that would be even better."

"I will send someone to explain things to Master Jing. I will not tolerate Jia Zhen distorting the truth and framing you."

"I will first give Master Jing some face and let him handle his own family affairs. I believe he will understand my good intentions. He is also to blame for raising such a wretched child!"