My only fear is that this won't blow up enough!

This was merely a delaying tactic. Otherwise, there was no telling whether an enraged Jia Zhen would come charging over with the Ningguo Mansion's household retainers.

Feng Tang considered this. "But a delaying tactic can only work for a time. The Eastern Mansion will come looking for trouble with you sooner or later."

Jia Heng continued, "To be frank, Uncle, I originally intended to ask the old lady at Rongguo Mansion to uphold justice. I've always heard that she pities the poor and protects the weak. If she intervened, Jia Zhen probably wouldn't dare act recklessly. But after thinking it over, I doubt that plan would work..."

"She spends her twilight years deep within those grand walls, enjoying wealth and comfort, doting on her grandchildren. Who would dare bring this matter to her ears and disturb her peace?" Feng Tang plainly knew the Jia Family's circumstances well. Even this casual remark struck at the heart of the matter.

Jia Heng nodded. "That is precisely why it won't work."

Aunt Cai had said she knew Yuanyang, but would Yuanyang dare take this matter to the Jia Family's Old Ancestress, who cared only for her pleasures and enjoying her honored position?

So that plan was out of the question.

Feng Tang's expression grew somewhat grave as well. "Things have come to this, young Jia. You must make other plans."

Jia Heng said solemnly, "I've already reached something of a decision."

Feng Tang fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Young Jia, do you intend to make a great uproar over this?"

Jia Heng's face remained calm, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes. "My only fear is that this won't blow up enough!"

"Since I've already begun, I might as well go all the way! An insolent servant bullied his master, and I gave him a light punishment. Since my clansman has cast aside all decency to seize my marriage, I'll strip him of his dignity!"

At that moment, the faint candlelight fell across the young boy's thin, stern face, lending its contours a knife-edged sharpness. His gaze was harder still to meet.

Feng Tang was moved by his words. He had thought this boy mature and steady beyond his years. Who would have expected such fierce spirit?

Though the tiger cub was young, he could already devour an ox!

But what was too rigid was easily broken...

This ran somewhat counter to the veteran general's habitually grave and cautious approach. Yet on second thought, Feng Tang reflected that the Great Han had mature, steady generals everywhere. What it lacked was precisely young heroes like Wei Huo!

Jia Heng's expression was dark, his gaze sharp. Right now, he meant to give Jia Zhen's dignity a vicious blow!

But he's the clan head. No-this is neither a festival nor a holiday. What damn use is his title as clan head!

He did not rely on the clan for support, so desperately trying to raise the Jia Family's opinion of him meant little. Besides, he and Jia Zhen belonged to the same generation.

For an older clansman to disregard the bonds of familial duty and use his power to bully a younger cousin from a collateral branch over his son's marriage-what sort of shameless conduct was that?

In this era, being a clan head was no easy task either. If he could not secure his clansmen's welfare or show affection to the distant branches, no amount of argument could change the fact that he had failed his ancestors!

Did the ancestors pass the noble title down to you so you could mistreat your clansmen?

Could this affect my prospects in the imperial examinations and an official career? Don't scholars place the greatest weight on seniority and rank?

When elders in a clan are unkind, have there ever been too few scholars who cry out against injustice and fight with everything they have?

Besides, I'm a distant relative almost beyond the five degrees of mourning, a fellow clansman of the jade generation. If I can stomach being bullied like this, what can't I stomach!

After beating Lai Sheng that morning, he had sorted through the matter this way and found his reasoning watertight, without a single snag.

Of course, the one thing he had to do was... avoid seriously injuring anyone.

There was also the worry of the authorities intervening, or the Old Madam of Rongguo Mansion summoning him for a reprimand!

He had his own plans for the latter.

As for the former, Jia Heng asked, "Uncle, what sort of man is Jingzhao's parent official?"

"Parent official" meant the local magistrate—the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture.

Feng Tang pondered briefly, turning Jia Heng's intention over in his mind. Understanding dawned, and he smiled. "The current prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture is Lord Xu Lu. He is upright, judges impartially, and does not flatter the powerful. The emperor also holds him in high regard... But in my opinion, it shouldn't reach that point. At most, it will go as far as Rongqing Hall."

There was something else he could not conveniently say: the capital was a place of paramount importance, with the Embroidered Guards lurking everywhere. Something like this might well reach the emperor's ears.

The reigning emperor was disciplined and restrained, and placed the greatest importance on a family's moral conduct. A daughter of the Jia Family had entered the palace only last year. How could they dare let this reach the authorities? Most likely, they would hide the broken arm inside their sleeve.

Whichever way one looked at it, the present Jia Family had truly fallen far from its former glory. Even when its younger descendants committed wrongdoing, their methods were too shabby to bear scrutiny.

At these words, the last trace of doubt in Jia Heng's heart vanished.

If he asked Yuanyang to carry a message directly, she would most likely refuse. Besides, Lady Jia had always dealt with this sort of sordid clan squabble by muddling through, her attitude being that nothing should interfere with her pleasures.

Even when Yuanyang faced Jia She's attempt to force her into marriage in the future, she had to threaten suicide and send both mansions into an uproar before Lady Jia tearfully aired her grievances and issued stern threats.

Would she interfere with the men outside for an outsider like him?

But once he gave Jia Zhen a string of slaps, things would be different. Lady Jia's position as the Jia Family's most senior member would then come into play.

They could argue right and wrong then!

The moment the thought of striking someone arose, heaven and earth suddenly seemed boundless.

As for earning the Jia Family's enmity, Jia Heng could only laugh inwardly. Even if he eagerly fawned over them, would they let him inherit their noble title?

With his course settled, all doubts left Jia Heng's heart. He drank several cups of wine at Feng Tang's home, and before he knew it, night had fallen and the evening lamps were being lit. He then took his leisurely leave of the Feng residence.

Once Jia Heng had left, Feng Ziying asked, "Father, if Brother Heng earns the Jia family's enmity, won't something happen to him?"

Feng Tang's face was ruddy from the wine. He smiled and waved a hand. "It won't matter. This young Jia plans before he acts. His mind is as clear as a mirror. He'll know how far to go."

In truth, he was rather pleased to see it.

From what he knew of the emperor's temperament, if the boy did not fall out with the Jia Family, but instead remained in perfect harmony with them, united from top to bottom, then no matter how brave a young warrior or how gifted a commander he became, could the emperor employ him? Would he dare?

Even when employing Wang Ziteng, the emperor had weighed the matter again and again, wavering before finally deciding to divide the Jia Family's strength and use it to restrain the fierce generals of the frontier garrisons.

As for this boy, he was not yet sixteen, could draw a two-stone bow, thought meticulously, and spoke with breadth and vision. His future was limitless.

Feng Ziying could not quite work out the subtleties involved, but after thinking it over, he could see nothing wrong with it either.

Jia Heng did not ask anyone from the Feng residence to see him home. He walked straight out, leading his horse slowly toward Ningrong Street.

By then, night lay dark around him. Lanterns shone at the gates of the houses beside the road, lighting the way ahead.

Though he had drunk roughly half a catty of wine, the alcohol in this era was of limited strength. Coupled with his body's unusual constitution, it had instead warmed his blood and meridians, leaving him pleasantly exhilarated and his thoughts more nimble than ever.

He had met quite a few people over the course of the day. It had been far busier and more fulfilling than those first several days after arriving in this world.

Above all, he had won Feng Tang's favor.

Tomorrow, I'll visit the Qin Family first, then go to the Literary Gathering Pavilion at the Imperial College to find that clerk, Song. I must study for the imperial examinations, practice martial arts, riding, and archery, and gain official standing as soon as possible.

Thinking over these matters, Jia Heng reached Willow Lane. From a distance, he saw a procession of lanterns coming toward him, and once again Jia Rong's handsome face appeared.

"Uncle Heng..." Jia Rong stepped forward, speaking with an ingratiating smile.

Jia Heng narrowed his eyes. Perhaps because he had been drinking, he barked, "What have you come for now?"

Can't Jia Zhen give it a rest? Is he rushing over to get what's coming to him?

What he did not know was that, with Jia Zhen's lustful nature, the man could not even sleep soundly until he had Qin Keqing tucked into his sleeve. Moreover, an idle young gentleman like him spent all day pursuing pleasure, with no serious business to occupy him. With desire blazing in his heart, of course he had set himself to hounding Jia Heng.

A flicker of fear appeared on Jia Rong's handsome, fair face. Forcing a smile, he said, "Have you only just returned, Uncle Heng? My father has arranged a banquet at the Green and Red Pavilion to entertain you properly."

Jia Heng said, "I'm tired today. I can't go. We'll talk tomorrow."

Jia Rong's face fell. "Uncle Heng, how am I supposed to report back?"

"How you report back is your own business!" Jia Heng pushed open the half-closed door and led his horse inside.

Seeing that Jia Heng's tone was not particularly harsh, Jia Rong plucked up his courage and stepped forward, pleading, "You know my father's temper, Uncle Heng. After you showed your might today and beat Lai Sheng, he was furious beyond words. If Second Uncle Lian and Aunt hadn't stopped him, he was even talking about reporting you to Jingzhao Prefecture."

Jia Heng gave a cold laugh. "I know your father's temper! Do you know mine? Brother Rong, if I hadn't taken that blow from a club for you the other day, would you be standing here babbling? Brother Rong, has a dog eaten your fucking conscience?"

Under this scolding, Jia Rong's face grew awkward. "Your nephew was in the wrong. I offer my apologies, Uncle Heng. Once this matter is over, whatever happens, I'll bring generous gifts to thank you."

Jia Heng led the horse into the courtyard and tethered it beneath the pomegranate tree. Jia Rong stood sideways beside him, continuing to offer coaxing words.

"Uncle Heng, you know what sort of fellow I am. Do you think I'm that eager to marry? I never had any intention of stealing your bride. I haven't even met that Qin Family girl!" Seeing Jia Heng's "milder" attitude, Jia Rong grew bolder and bolder, reaching for his arm as he spoke.

Jia Rong's clinging pestering made Jia Heng's stomach churn. Beneath the eaves, a swaying lantern cast rings of orange candlelight over a face half bright and half shadowed. A mocking laugh sounded. "The Green and Red Pavilion, is it? Fine, I'll go! Only, once I'm there, Elder Brother Zhen had better not regret it."

For the moment, Jia Rong failed to notice anything unusual in Jia Heng's tone. Delighted that he had agreed, he poured out endless thanks, of which there was no need to speak further.