A heart higher than heaven, a lowly station

Originally, Jia Heng had merely said that Jia Zhen should be made to yield. Yet Jia Zhen had learned something from their earlier dispute: first seize upon Jia Heng's wrongdoing, bring the weight of righteousness and propriety down upon him, and then deal with him.

But unexpectedly, You-shi, who had been silently lost in thought beside them, changed expression at his words. Raising a lovely face as radiant as spring flowers and the autumn moon, she said, "He's only a green boy who said a few provocative words. How did that become him making improper advances toward me in your telling, Master?"

In framing this as something he could hold against Jia Heng, Jia Zhen had forgotten how degrading it was to You-shi. A woman prized her reputation above all else. In Jia Zhen's mouth, it was merely verbal impropriety, but after passing through seven or eight mouths outside, who knew what it might become? People might say she had sullied her virtue and failed in her duties as a wife. They might even spew such filthy nonsense as her "keeping a younger kinsman as a lover"!

Still seething over Lady Jia's "unfair" treatment, Jia Zhen said coldly, "I have my own plans for this matter. Stay out of it!"

You-shi's face went pale, her eyes reddening as tears threatened to fall. Her beautiful, alluring face was filled with sorrow as she said, "If you spared even the slightest thought for me, Master, you could never let words that stain my innocence spread everywhere."

Her tearful protests irritated Jia Zhen, especially in front of his younger cousin Jia Lian, making him feel all the more humiliated. He flung his sleeve and said, "A woman has long hair and short understanding. What do you know?"

"I'll go ask the Old Madam to judge this." You-shi pressed her lustrous pink lips tightly together, covered her face with her sleeve, and hurried back the way they had come.

Seeing this, Jia Lian hastily called out, "Wait, Sister-in-law You..."

You-shi's angry departure only aggravated Jia Zhen. Then he spotted Jia Rong hunching his shoulders and trying to hide among the servants and older serving women, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. His fury surged, a vicious flame rushing straight to his head. "This is all your doing, you wretched beast! Get over here!!!"

Jia Rong timidly approached, his face white as frost and his eyes full of fear.

Jia Zhen swung his hand in a wide arc and slapped Jia Rong's delicate face, cursing as he struck. "Your father was humiliated, and you stood there like a corpse! You still have the nerve to stand there!"

Jia Rong cried out in pain and covered half his face with one hand. Not daring to answer back, he endured Jia Zhen's furious punches and kicks.

Jia Lian frowned deeply at the sight. He quickly ordered the servants to pull Jia Rong away, caught Jia Zhen's arm, and urged, "Cousin Zhen, calm down. Don't make yourself ill with anger."

By then, Jia Zhen had tired himself out beating him. He gave Jia Rong a cold look and snorted, his anger still unspent.

Meanwhile, You-shi hurried away in a fit of indignation, her heart overflowing with grievance. With tears trembling on her lashes, she rushed toward Lady Jia's rear courtyard. When she reached the Hanging Flower Gate at a turn in the Covered Corridor, her distracted mind left her heedless of her footing. She stumbled while descending the steps and was about to fall onto the corridor.

You-shi gave a startled cry, her lovely face draining of color. As she teetered on the verge of falling, panic spread across her flowerlike, alluring features.

"Careful."

It was Jia Heng, who had been standing with his hands behind his back at the end of the corridor, waiting for Yuanyang. He had just sent Lin Zhixiao to hurry her along and was quietly studying the Jia Family's pavilions and towers when he suddenly saw a woman falling. Without even getting a clear look at her, he swiftly reached out to catch her.

He felt something soft beneath his hand. Before he had time to think, he squeezed to gain purchase and steadied her in an instant. Just as he was about to speak, he found himself facing a beautiful, seductive face like a shower of blossoms.

"You?" Once he recognized her, Jia Heng knitted his brows, his expression still. Suddenly realizing something, he hurriedly withdrew his hand. His gaze passed over You-shi's slightly disheveled bodice as he asked casually, "Are you all right?"

You-shi lifted her eyes toward the youth, tear tracks still on her cheeks. A blush slowly rose across her face, lovely as pear blossoms washed with rain. Her timid, gentle voice trembled faintly. "...Master Heng."

Jia Heng paused, glanced at You-shi, and said evenly, "You really should watch where you're going. If you fell and scarred your face, given Jia Zhen's appetite for women, he might truly divorce you and marry someone else."

You-shi: "..."

The tingling and trembling in her body subsided slightly, but shame and anger welled up in her heart. Unfortunately, her husband had been right after all. This youth really was making improper advances toward her!

Having said his piece, Jia Heng paid You-shi no further attention. Much as he wanted to make Jia Zhen end up a cuckold himself after trying to cuckold another man, he still lacked the strength to protect himself. It was hardly wise to grow fresh branches from an already tangled affair.

He had already promised Lady Jia: if others did not offend him, he would not offend them.

Of course, there was another line after that: if others offended him, he would show them no mercy.

You-shi's lovely eyes flickered, and she fell silent for a moment. Seeing the youth turn away to look into the distance, with no intention of pestering her, she felt an inexplicable, indescribable emotion rise within her. She pressed her pink lips together, said nothing more, lowered her head, and turned to leave with a troubled heart.

Strange as it was, moments ago she had felt so wronged that she wanted Lady Jia to judge the matter. Now... she no longer wanted to go.

Leaving aside You-shi's troubled departure, Jia Heng waited for about a quarter of an hour before seeing Yuanyang at the far end of the Covered Corridor by the Hanging Flower Gate. Behind her came a maid carrying a bundle, wearing an emerald-green vest with piped edges, her pinned-up hair tied with a red cord.

Though the maid was only twelve or thirteen, her slender figure already showed a graceful poise. She had sloping shoulders, a water-snake waist, fine, narrow brows like willow leaves veiled in mist, a delicate nose, and a cherry mouth. Her slightly thin lips, tinted with rose-red rouge, were thrust out in a thoroughly disgruntled pout.

She had originally come from Lai Mama's household and been sent to serve in the Old Madam's rooms. Yet instead of attending a proper master of the Rong Mansion, she was now being dispatched to serve some Master Heng?

Where had this Master Heng come from?

Qingwen made up her mind: once she reached Master Heng's place, she would make him send her back within two days.

Qingwen was Daiyu's shadow; Xiren was Baochai's counterpart.

A moon in a clear sky was seldom found; bright clouds scattered all too easily. A heart higher than heaven, a lowly station; her charm and cleverness bred resentment...

Jia Heng looked over at Qingwen, whose brows and eyes betrayed a sullen sense of injustice, and began to gain some understanding of that prophetic verse.

With Qingwen's firecracker temper, she's probably brimming with resentment right now, planning to stir up trouble so I'll send her back to the Jia Family.

As he was considering this, Yuanyang approached with Qingwen, smiling gently. "Master Heng, this is the maid the Old Madam mentioned. Her name is Qingwen. She's nimble-handed and thoughtful, someone who knows when you're cold or warm."

Jia Heng nodded, resting his hand on the Precious Sword at his waist as he regarded Qingwen with a composed gaze.

Looking at her up close, he found that Qingwen truly deserved her place at the head of the second supplementary register of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling in Dream of the Red Chamber. She had a melon-seed face, foxlike eyes, and slender willow-leaf brows. Though barely in her early teens, an alluring grace already lingered at the corners of her brows and eyes.

Under the youth's scrutiny, Qingwen gave a cold snort and turned her head aside.

A trace of awkwardness appeared on Yuanyang's delicately pretty face. She smiled and said, "Master Heng, Qingwen has a fiery temper, but her needlework is second to none."

Jia Heng said, "Clearly, the Old Madam put thought into this."

Yuanyang asked in surprise, "What do you mean, Master Heng?"

Jia Heng smiled faintly. "She knew I might not care for an obedient, clinging maid, so she specially chose a fierce, valiant little girl like this."

Unable to contain her amusement, Yuanyang covered her mouth and laughed. "You do know how to joke, Master Heng."

She had thought this Master Heng was stern, unyielding, and incapable of joking. She had not expected him to make fun of himself.

Only, even his smile was rather too cool, making him difficult to approach.

Qingwen, however, stole a glance at Jia Heng. Earlier, she had been too busy venting her anger and indulging her temper. Now that she looked closely, she noticed his finely handsome face and quiet, reserved expression. With one hand resting lightly on the Precious Sword at his waist, he stood tall and straight, exuding a compelling martial presence.

As though noticing her gaze, he looked over. Qingwen's heart gave a sudden jolt. His eyes seemed so sharp that she dared not meet them, yet an inexplicable stubbornness rose within her. She pursed her lips and glared back at him.

Jia Heng found this amusing. He withdrew his appraising gaze, his expression indifferent.

Then Yuanyang stepped closer and handed him a folded document, smiling. "Master Heng, keep this safe."

It was plainly Qingwen's Servant Contract.