Nothing More Than Studying and Practicing Martial Arts

Qin Mansion

The beauty in courtly robes looked dazed, worry rising in her eyes beneath curved lashes. She pressed her lips together without a word.

In an instant, all manner of thoughts surged through her heart, bitterness and sorrow entwining until they became a single self-pitying lament... Why was her life so wretched?

If she asked her father to break off this engagement, would Jia Heng come and make trouble too? He had even dared to beat the head of the Jia family in the Eastern Mansion. What if he gave her father a pounding...

At the thought of her elderly father suffering such an ordeal, Qin Keqing's heart sank, and her cheeks, once lovely as flowers, turned frost-white.

Baozhu sighed. "This Master Heng is far too impulsive, getting into fights at the slightest provocation. If he goes around picking fights every day after the marriage, how could that possibly do?"

Ruizhu added, "We should tell the master as soon as possible and have this engagement broken off."

"No, we mustn't," Qin Keqing blurted out, her voice trembling with anxious urgency.

Ruizhu and Baozhu both turned to their young mistress, their eyes filled with surprise.

Qin Keqing shook her head gently. "Since Jia Heng is so fond of fighting that he even dared to strike the head of the Jia Family, what would we do if he turned vicious and came to the Qin Family's door looking for trouble?"

Ruizhu raised her brows and said spiritedly, "Then we'll report him to the authorities! However fierce he is, would he dare act that way toward the constables? Our master is a fifth-rank court official, after all!"

Qin Keqing let out a wistful sigh and frowned. "That may be so, but if he simply keeps coming to our door to cause trouble like some street thug, the authorities might not be able to do much about it."

Just then, while mistress and maids were at their wits' end over breaking off the engagement, Nanny Wu called from outside, "Miss, Master Heng is here."

The three of them, who had been "conspiring at the tops of their voices," all jumped at Nanny Wu's call. As she spoke, Nanny Wu lifted the curtain, came around the screen, and entered the room with a smile. "Miss, Master Heng has come to deliver the betrothal letter. The master is receiving him in the front hall."

Over the past two days, Qin Keqing had only asked Baozhu and Ruizhu to send people to inquire about Jia Heng, without telling Nanny Wu. Thus, Nanny Wu did not yet know that her young mistress had changed her mind again.

Qin Keqing pressed her cherry-red lips together, considered for a moment, then said softly, "Baozhu, Ruizhu, come with me to take a look."

If possible, she still wanted to meet Jia Heng and ask how he expected to establish a family and a career when he was so reckless and prone to brawling. If she could shame him into withdrawing from the engagement...

"Miss, you haven't married him yet. That simply isn't proper. Once the Three Letters and Six Rites are completed, it will only be another ten days or so." Assuming Qin Keqing was eager to see the young gentleman of the Jia Family, Nanny Wu teased her with a smile on her aged face.

Yet Qin Keqing felt none of the bashfulness such teasing might usually provoke, only utter misery in her heart. "Our families arranged this marriage when we were children, so the marriage agreement was settled long ago. Besides, I met him last time. If we merely exchange a few questions and answers, with Father and the maids present, there's no harm in it."

Last time, she had failed to keep her composure and been deceived by Jia Heng's outward appearance. This time, it would be best to question him herself in her father's presence.

Nanny Wu thought it over and felt that this did seem reasonable.

Of course, this also had something to do with the Qin Family being a modest household, whose rules were not as strict as those of dukes and marquises.

Meanwhile, Jia Heng followed Qin Ye into the reception hall. They took their seats as host and guest, and a servant brought fragrant tea.

Qin Ye accepted the betrothal letter Jia Heng handed him, opened it, and read it carefully. After a moment, he stroked his beard, nodded, and smiled. "My worthy nephew, now that an auspicious date has been chosen, we can proceed with the Six Rites."

Qin Ye apparently still knew nothing of Jia Zhen's beating at the Green and Red Pavilion the previous day. As director of the Imperial Provisioning Office under the Ministry of Works, he was one of the ministry's old workhorses, diligent and conscientious but somewhat cut off from the latest news.

Seeing Qin Ye accept the marriage letter and the betrothal formalities concluded, Jia Heng inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Cupping his hands, he said, "I must trouble you to oversee the wedding ceremonies and rites, Uncle."

Qin Ye smiled. "My worthy nephew, I already understand your family circumstances. Now that the betrothal letter has been delivered, you may change how you address me."

Over the past few days, he had turned the matter over in his mind and decided that, since his daughter Keqing liked Jia Heng, he might as well bring this happy union to fruition. Moreover, the young man was handsome and dignified, courteous in his conduct, and possessed a composed bearing in his dealings with others. Perhaps he would amount to something; he was no mere peddler or porter, no cart driver or seller of drinks.

He was also growing old. His only son, Qin Zhong, was shy and delicate. With someone like Jia Heng to uphold the household in the outside world, they would have someone to look after them in the future.

At these words, Jia Heng's expression paused briefly. He rose and bowed deeply, saying solemnly, "Your son-in-law pays his respects, Father-in-law."

Qin Ye rose, stepped forward to help him up, and held his arm with a smile. "My worthy son-in-law, I have only this one daughter, and she has been pampered since childhood. Once she marries into your household, my worthy nephew, you must be patient with her."

Jia Heng repeatedly assured him there was no need to say such a thing, and father- and son-in-law sat down again.

Qin Ye then asked, "My worthy son-in-law, what have you been occupied with these past two days?"

Jia Heng said, "Father-in-law, nothing more than studying and practicing martial arts."

At this, Qin Ye lifted his aged face and asked in surprise, "My worthy nephew, if you are studying, do you intend to enter official service through the imperial examinations? But why practice martial arts as well?"

As he understood it, warriors still stood somewhat below scholars. The imperial examinations were the proper route to office and distinction, without the need to gamble one's life on the battlefield for wealth and honor as military officers did.

Had he himself come through the regular examination system, he would not have spent half his life languishing before barely reaching his present fifth-rank post in the Ministry of Works.

Jia Heng said, "I do indeed intend to earn a degree through the imperial examinations. But one ought to understand at least something of a gentleman's six arts. Besides, practicing martial arts strengthens the body and keeps illness at bay."

He could hardly say, I see an age of chaos approaching, with barbarian invaders ravaging the borders and bandits rising everywhere within. With martial skills, at the very least I can preserve peace in my homeland; at best, I can raise an army and follow the examples of Chen Sheng, Wu Guang, Liu Bang, and Xiang Yu.

And then be hauled out...

Stroking his beard, Qin Ye smiled approvingly. "My worthy nephew, your argument is indeed sound. Our dynasty has held its seat in Guanzhong for a hundred years, and nowadays civil officials are esteemed while military men are looked down upon. Scholars of the Hanlin Academy enjoy far greater prestige than those of military origin, and they have a much easier time wielding influence and securing promotion within officialdom."

Jia Heng sighed inwardly. If even Qin Ye, a member of the Chen Han establishment, held such views, one could well imagine how thoroughly the preference for civil over military affairs permeated Chen Han from top to bottom.

Still, this was a common phenomenon once any dynasty reached its middle years. Had a certain dynasty in later times been any different?

Qin Ye spoke a little more, then seemed to hesitate before asking, "My worthy son-in-law, there haven't been any developments on the Jia Family's side lately, have there?"

While the two were talking, Qin Keqing and her maids Baozhu and Ruizhu had already reached the beaded curtain. Hearing her father's words from the reception hall, she was startled.

How... had he already begun calling him his worthy son-in-law?

Then she heard her father ask hesitantly, "The Eastern Mansion hasn't... been troubling you lately, has it, my worthy son-in-law?"

Qin Keqing immediately focused on listening and heard the young man say, "I was just about to tell you, Father-in-law. Jia Zhen of the Eastern Mansion invited me to the Green and Red Pavilion last night and tried to buy out the marriage agreement for a thousand taels of fine silver. In my anger, I gave him a beating. This morning, I reported it to the Old Madam, and Madam Jia has spoken, putting a complete end to Jia Zhen's hopes."

Having finished, Jia Heng looked at his father-in-law Qin Ye's expression. Suddenly, his gaze shifted slightly: from the corner of his eye, he had caught a glimpse of a skirt behind the beaded curtain.

Qin Keqing, or a maid?

There was naturally no need to conceal a conflict like this with Jia Zhen. Besides... it could not be concealed anyway.

Rather than wait for Qin Ye to learn about it from someone else, slap his thigh, cry that all was lost, and fall into a panic, it was better to bring it up himself and ease some of his doubts.

Sure enough, Qin Ye blanched in alarm. "My worthy son-in-law, how could you be so rash? How could you strike someone? The master of the Eastern Mansion is a third-rank General of Awe-inspiring Valor appointed by the court..."

Jia Heng waited until Qin Ye, his face deathly pale, had digested this "terrible news."

Only then did Jia Heng speak. "They cast all decency aside and offered a thousand taels of silver, wanting me to sell my wife for advancement. Did you expect me to swallow my anger and suffer in silence, Father-in-law?"

Qin Ye looked at the young man with a bitter smile and sighed. "But... but you still shouldn't have struck him..."