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

While fiddling with something in front of the dressing mirror, Sister Feng muttered to herself:

"I must say, my third brother has really struck it rich this time! He's only twenty-one years old and he's already been granted the title of First-Class Duke, even younger than the two Dukes of Rongguo who were granted the title at the same age."

"According to the ladies who came today, with my third brother's momentum, it's not impossible for him to be made a prince in the future."

At this point, Sister Feng couldn't help but sigh:

"You're saying they're born of the same father, so why is there such a big difference between Lian Er and his third brother?"

"I don't expect him to be as capable as my third brother. I just want him to stay away from womanizing, but even that's hard to achieve."

"I wonder what he's doing in Ping'an Prefecture this time. He's been gone for over twenty days without a word, acting all mysterious. He's probably out there fooling around again!"

Sister Feng looked dazed, her complaint tinged with worry.

Qin Keqing nodded again, her lips curving slightly only when Fengjie mentioned Jia Jing.

The smile was faint, like a ripple on water, quickly returning to calm after a brief wave.

Feng Jie noticed her low spirits, her phoenix eyes slightly raised, and her face showed a complex expression.

She parted her lips slightly and asked:

"What's wrong? Are you worrying about those dirty things at the East Mansion again?"

Wang Xifeng had already learned from Qin Keqing that Jia Zhen wanted to commit incest.

After Jia Jing passed away, Jia Zhen, no longer restrained by his father, reverted to his old ways and repeatedly made unwanted advances towards Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing originally planned to hide back at her parents' home and wait for Jia Jing to return before asking him for help.

Unexpectedly, Jia Zhen relentlessly pursued her, repeatedly sending Jia Rong to fetch her back, causing unrest in the Qin family household.

The Qin family was originally a small and humble household, and Qin Keqing's father, Qin Ye, was in poor health and unable to support Qin Keqing.

Left with no other choice, Qin Keqing did not want to burden her family.

After much deliberation, finding nowhere to hide, she could only flee to the home of her "best friend" Feng Jie in the Rongguo Mansion for refuge.

Feng Jie originally didn't want to get involved in such filthy and disgusting matters.

Even if she and Qin Keqing had a good relationship, it was impossible for her to offend Jia Zhen, the heir to the Ningguo Mansion, for Qin Keqing's sake.

We're all adults; we're mostly calculating our own interests, not acting like selfless, upright officials.

Besides, this is a family matter of the Ningguo Mansion; one can hide from it for a while, but not forever.

She wanted to intervene but lacked the power and authority to do so.

However, just as Sister Feng was about to subtly persuade Qin Keqing to leave, she overheard Qin Keqing casually mention that she wanted to wait for Jia Jing to return to the mansion for help.

It was also said that Jia Jing already knew about this matter and had intervened in it.

After learning the details, Sister Feng immediately changed her attitude.

He not only sternly condemned Jia Zhen as a beast who disregarded human ethics, but also warned him that he would surely suffer retribution in the future.

She even put on a show of "deep friendship" and told Qin Keqing to feel at ease staying in her courtyard.

If anyone from the Eastern Prefecture dares to act recklessly here, let them see the power of Feng Lazi.

Thus, Qin Keqing moved into Feng Jie's courtyard these past few days, and the two ate and slept together, their relationship progressing further.

Upon hearing Feng Jie's question, Qin Keqing's face showed a hint of sorrow, and she replied in a low voice:

"Do you think... my third uncle will stand up for me after he comes back?"

At this moment, Sister Feng had already washed her face with the hot water in the copper basin, and then took another basin of water into the inner room to wash up.

Her voice reached Qin Keqing's ears through the curtain:

"Don't worry! Since Third Brother helped you last time, he won't abandon you this time."

"Not to mention that Third Brother is the kind of person who can't tolerate any wrongdoing, this matter concerns the reputation of the Jia family."

"If word gets out that the men of the Jia family have an affair, who would dare to marry their daughter into the Jia family in the future?"

"The reputations of girls like Tan Chun and Xi Chun will be damaged, making it difficult for them to find husbands in the future. Third Brother will not allow such a thing to happen."

In recent days, Sister Feng has repeatedly and carefully considered this matter, speculating on Jia Jing's intentions in interfering in Qin Keqing's affairs.

The reason she was so eager to help Qin Keqing was to please Jia Jing. Naturally, she needed to understand the ins and outs of the matter in order to "prescribe the right medicine for the illness".

In her view, there were only two reasons why Jia Jing would meddle in such sordid matters:

Firstly, all crows are black, and the men of the Jia family all have a long-standing tradition of being fond of women.

From Jia She and Jia Jing to Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, Jia Baoyu, and even Jia Zheng, not one of them was truly clean.

They're useless when it comes to doing serious business, but when it comes to these crooked and shady things, they're incredibly cunning.

Qin Keqing's beauty was undeniably outstanding, and it's possible that Jia Jing had taken a liking to his niece-in-law.

However, judging from Jia Jing's usual behavior and her subtle probing of Qin Keqing, it didn't seem like there was anything fishy going on between them.

Therefore, this possibility is not high.

Secondly, they were simply afraid that Zhen-ge'er from the East Mansion would cause trouble and ruin the Jia family's reputation.

After all, the Rong and Ning mansions are as close as family. If the East Mansion's reputation is ruined, the West Mansion will inevitably be affected as well.

This will especially affect the future marriage prospects of the unmarried daughters of the two families.

In addition, Jia Zhen was the patriarch of the Jia family, and his reputation affected the Jia family's public image.

Given how much Jia Jing values ​​his sisters and clan affairs, it's not hard to understand why he would get involved in this matter.

In Sister Feng's opinion, the latter reason is undoubtedly more likely.

Of course, whatever the reason, Jia Jing had already intervened once, which meant he did not want to see the incestuous relationship in the East Mansion happen.

Given this, there is a very high chance that he will help Qin Keqing again once he returns to the manor.

If she can play an active role in this matter, she will surely gain Jia Jing's favor, and may be able to obtain some benefits from it.

Qin Keqing's eyelashes trembled slightly upon hearing Wang Xifeng's words, and she felt somewhat reassured, but she still couldn't help asking:

"Even if my third uncle is willing to help me, it's difficult for an honest judge to settle family disputes."

"After all, Third Uncle is an outsider, so I'm afraid he can't interfere too much in this matter."

"Last time, he didn't get involved himself, but instead had Master Jing handle it. What should we do this time...?"

"Besides, he's such a busy person, how could I keep bothering him..."

Qin Keqing folded her hands on the brocade quilt, her fingers unconsciously twisting the quilt.

This was a matter of life and death, a matter of reputation and honor, so she inevitably thought about it more and felt anxious and uncertain, unlike Sister Feng who was so calm and composed.

Fengjie had already washed up and came out from behind the curtains in the inner room. She took off her outer clothes and went straight to the bed.

With a smile on her face, she climbed into Qin Keqing's bed and comforted her:

"You don't need to think so much! When my third brother was a marquis, he could beat that guy in the East Mansion with a board, make him kneel in the ancestral hall, and discipline him completely."

"Not to mention he's now a first-class duke; manipulating that person in the Eastern Palace would be a piece of cake!"

"If he really wanted to manage it, the men out there have plenty of ways to handle things!"

"I think the one who should be worried right now isn't you, but that guy in the East Mansion. When Third Brother comes back, he'll have plenty more to offer!"

Qin Keqing's bed was already warm, and as soon as Feng Jie came in, she stretched comfortably and yawned.

She was quite tired after so many things to do today, and as soon as she got into bed, her eyelids started to droop.

Qin Keqing turned her head to look at Feng Jie, tucked the quilt around her, a hint of gratitude flashing in her eyes, and forced a smile as she softly said:

"I'm so grateful to my aunt for taking me in; otherwise, I really wouldn't know where to go!"

Sister Feng pulled her into her arms, her tone returning to its usual light and calculating manner, and said with great magnanimity:

"Why are you being so polite! Your problems are my problems. We're best friends, we're all in this together, we should help each other out."