In the reception hall-
Qin Ye sighed again and again, worry etched on his face. It was not merely that Jia Heng had beaten someone; he also feared retaliation from the Eastern Mansion.
Jia Heng chuckled. "There is no need to worry, Father-in-law. Though a gentleman uses words rather than fists, often enough, only after you use your fists will others agree to use words with you... Vile though Jia Zhen is, the old madam is a reasonable woman. Now that she has judged the matter, Jia Zhen has temporarily lowered his banners and stilled his drums. He will not trouble you again. As for retaliation later, have you forgotten that your son-in-law is also surnamed Jia? In trying to steal a kinsman's marriage, they have forfeited all claim to reason and righteousness. I thought everything through before acting."
Having finished, Jia Heng picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.
He had not yet reached a position where he could declare, Why should I ever have to explain my actions to the likes of you? He still needed to make his reasoning clear-not only to Qin Ye, but also to Qin Keqing, who was listening in.
Simply being stubborn and conceited, disdaining explanations and leaving others to guess his thoughts, would only breed needless complications.
Neither Qin Ye nor Qin Keqing knew him well. It was only natural that they should harbor doubts.
But whereas he had shown Lady Jia firmness, neither servile nor overbearing, with Qin Ye and Qin Keqing he needed the patience of someone who could lift a heavy weight as though it were light.
If even he lost his composure and acted as though a formidable enemy were upon him, how could Qin Ye and Qin Keqing possibly trust him?
Hearing the young man speak so calmly and confidently, Qin Ye sighed, though he felt somewhat relieved. The young man's words ran somewhat counter to his own cautious temperament, and he even felt a faint twinge of regret about the marriage. But he had already called him his "worthy son-in-law." If he tried to go back on it now, where could he hide his old face?
Yet to watch his own daughter marry into such a situation...
Enough, enough. So long as Keqing likes him. Though worry still showed on Qin Ye's face, this was all he could tell himself.
Just then, the bead curtain rattled. With light, graceful steps, a girl in an emerald silk skirt appeared a short distance away, looking fresh and lovely. "Master Heng, what if the Eastern Mansion comes looking for trouble and revenge one day? What would you do then? Go over and beat them again?"
Qin Ye raised his eyes to the maid Baozhu and frowned. "Where is your mistress? Who told you to ask that?"
In truth, he knew without asking that his daughter was just behind the bead curtain.
A grown daughter cannot be kept at home...
Qin Ye sighed inwardly, mistakenly thinking that his daughter was worried Jia Heng had offended Ningguo Mansion and now faced an uncertain future.
Jia Heng said, "Since the old madam has already settled this matter, the Eastern Mansion cannot possibly use it against me. As for anything else, perhaps you are unaware, miss, but I do not ordinarily visit the Eastern Mansion. Even if Jia Zhen wishes to harm me, he has no means of doing so."
At this, the bead curtain rattled again, and Ruizhu asked from behind it, "Then, Master Heng, since you do not regularly visit the Eastern Mansion, how do you ordinarily earn your living?"
Qin Ye frowned as well, sensing that something was amiss.
Instead of answering, Jia Heng looked toward the bead curtain. "Would Miss Qin come out so we may speak?"
Ruizhu said, "Men and women must observe proper distance. How could she meet you so casually?"
Qin Ye's expression changed as realization dawned. Could my daughter also have doubts about this Jia Heng?
Yet he remembered that when Jia Heng had visited last time, his daughter had entertained no such thoughts. Why had things changed?
Jia Heng fell silent for a moment, then said, "As a scholar, I write manuscripts to make a living for the time being. In the future, I shall naturally take the proper path of the imperial examinations."
Qin Ye's lips moved, but he stopped short of speaking. Though he could not fathom his daughter's intentions, Keqing had always had a mind of her own since childhood. Perhaps she had other considerations.
Baozhu gave a soft laugh, a hint of scrutiny in her almond-shaped eyes. Almost teasingly, she said, "All we have heard is that Young Master Jia is particularly fond of brandishing swords and spears. Who would have thought you would keep calling yourself a scholar?"
Over the past few days, she had made inquiries into Master Heng's past. Though there was no trail of wicked deeds, he had hardly been striving to better himself either.
Jia Heng did not argue with her. His expression remained indifferent; he merely frowned and asked, "Does Miss Qin think so too?"
The young maid's teasing did not anger him. Anyone who heard about his predecessor's conduct would be left with an enormous question mark.
That was only human nature.
Jia Heng said, "Miss Qin, your declaration the other day that you would honor your promise rang clear and firm, and your words still echo in my ears. Will you now change your mind on the strength of street gossip?"
"I..." Qin Keqing could finally remain inside no longer. She lifted the curtain and stepped out, dressed in a pale red silk skirt, her dark hair cloudlike. Her face possessed a beauty that could topple kingdoms, and her eyes were wistful as she gazed at the young man opposite her. When their eyes met, she felt his calm, cool gaze suddenly sharpen. For a moment she froze, then lowered her eyes.
Though she had stolen several glances at him before, this was the first time their eyes had met.
Qin Ye sighed and called, "Keqing..."
"Father." Qin Keqing bowed her lovely head, pressed her crimson lips together, and called softly. Then she walked to her father's side, took his arm, and looked at Jia Heng. In a clear voice, she said, "It is not that I have changed my mind. I merely harbor doubts about your past..."
Jia Heng fell silent.
For now, this was as far as his explanations could go.
Was he supposed to set a three-year pledge, promising to marry Qin Keqing once he had passed the provincial examinations and earned scholarly distinction?
Even if he were absolutely certain he could accomplish that, he would not make such a promise.
It would be no different from saying, "Once I have become an official and made a success of my career, I will come back to marry you." He had never approved of such reasoning.
As the saying went, if you took no part in my poverty and hardship, why should I share my wealth and honors with you?
He could understand Qin Keqing forming prejudices against him after hearing what others said, without first coming to know him properly.
After all, in an age of blind matches and marriages entered without a voice, marital tragedies were all too easy to bring about. It was indeed necessary to make inquiries.
But he had principles of his own as well.
Watching this scene, Qin Ye could plainly feel his daughter's inner struggle. He wanted to speak, but held back.
They had already accepted the marriage document. Just moments ago, they had been calling each other worthy son-in-law and father-in-law. If they reversed themselves now, where could he hide his old face?
This was what came of having no mistress of the household. In a matter as important as marriage, their considerations were incomplete and their handling ill-judged, one mistake following another.
From Qin Keqing stepping forward at the outset to uphold the promise without first making inquiries into Jia Heng's character, to Qin Ye now being unable to swallow his pride and his daughter finding it difficult to voice a refusal-all of it stemmed from this.
Of course, Qin Ye and his daughter were also kind by nature, honest and easily taken advantage of. They could have simply behaved like those characters in operas who despised the poor and fawned over the rich: childhood betrothal, marriage document-what of it? They could turn their backs, deny everything, rip the document in two, and say, "What can you do to me?"
Meanwhile, Qin Keqing's beautiful face was melancholy, her lips pressed together in silence. She recalled the young man's angry beating of the Jia family patriarch, and his explanations to her father just now. In one, he was a reckless fighter, eager for violence; in the other, he was courteous in manner and meticulous in thought.
Qin Keqing's expression shifted as she gazed at the young man in blue. She felt as though a veil of mist surrounded him and his quiet bearing, truth and falsehood mingling until she could not see him clearly.
With a wistful sigh, she gently closed her eyes. That stern face, betraying neither joy nor anger, faintly appeared before her. After a moment, she walked with light, measured steps to the bead curtain and bowed her lovely head. A glimmer of moisture shone in her bright eyes as she said, "Young Master Jia, since matters have come to this, I shall honor the agreement and marry you. Whether you are good or bad, worthy or foolish, it is my fate in any case."
This was already the second time Qin Keqing had spoken of fate. The first time, it had been an earnest utterance born of a maiden's shy emotion upon suddenly learning of her marriage. This time, however, there was a genuine sense of resignation.
Whether you are good or bad, worthy or foolish, true or false, I shall simply accept my fate.
If you are not a worthy husband, only three feet of white silk await-a beauty ill-fated.
"Miss..." Baozhu blurted out, her face pale.
What a fine opportunity this was! If her mistress rejected Master Heng here, in front of her father, she could choose another worthy husband. How could she resign herself to fate? Could a girl simply surrender to fate in something as important as marriage?
Qin Ye merely sighed, his face growing awkward. Facing Jia Heng, whose expression still betrayed neither joy nor anger, he said, as though comforting himself as much as Jia Heng, "Worthy son-in-law, good things come only after many trials. Good things come only after many trials..."
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