Chapter Summaries

Jia Heng and Feng Ziying were left behind after Prince Wei and his party lost interest in Jia Heng, and they set off to find a more suitable bow at the Feng residence. On the ride back, Feng Ziying identified the imperial party, prompting Jia Heng to ask why the nobles had not been hunting in Shanglin Park.

• Prince Wei and Prince Liang grew wary of Jia Heng's connection to the Jia Family, and their party prepared to leave.
• Princess Xianning invited Feng Ziying to stay with Jia Heng and send her regards to Old General Feng, then rode away with the others.
• Feng Ziying and Jia Heng gathered the arrows, and Feng offered him a suitable bow from his father's collection.
• Feng Ziying explained that the departing party included Prince Wei, Princess Xianning, Prince Liang, and Commandery Princess Qinghe.
• Jia Heng asked Feng Ziying why the imperial nobles were hunting outside Shanglin Park.

Jia Heng and Feng Ziying discussed the decline of martial spirit before returning to the Divine Capital and visiting Feng Tang’s residence. Feng Tang welcomed Jia Heng after learning he could draw a two-shi bow, and the chapter left them poised to build a closer connection through their shared interest in military skill.

• Jia Heng and Feng Ziying discussed Shanglin Park, the dynasty’s preference for civil affairs, and the shortage of military spirit among the young nobility.
• Feng Ziying and Jia Heng arrived at Feng Tang’s residence, where the household had been waiting anxiously for Feng Ziying’s return.
• Feng Ziying reassured Feng Tang that the princes and princess had all returned safely from their outing.
• Jia Heng introduced himself as a collateral descendant of the Duke of Ningguo, and Feng Ziying praised his fighting ability and strength with a bow.
• Feng Tang reacted warmly when Jia Heng confirmed he could draw a two-shi cavalry bow and encouraged him to improve his aim.

Jia Heng visited Feng Tang to choose a practice bow and earn the general’s advice about his conflict with Jia Zhen and the Eastern Mansion. Feng Tang approved of Jia Heng’s actions and listened as he began explaining the next part of his plan.

• Feng Tang offered Jia Heng several bows, and Jia Heng chose a one-shi-six-dou bow for practice.
• Feng Tang gave Jia Heng a two-shi Coiled Dragon Bow after demonstrating his own powerful archery.
• Over dinner, Feng Ziying praised Jia Heng’s fighting skills, prompting Feng Tang to ask about his conflict with the Eastern Mansion.
• Jia Heng explained how Jia Zhen had tried to bribe and intimidate him, and Feng Ziying appealed to Feng Tang for help.
• Feng Tang agreed that Jia Heng had been justified in punishing the vicious servants, and Jia Heng prepared to ask him about crucial points in his plan.

Jia Heng decided to confront Jia Zhen publicly over his attempt to seize Jia Heng’s marriage, after Feng Tang explained that the dispute might draw the attention of the Jia family and Jingzhao Prefecture. Jia Heng refused Jia Rong’s invitation at first, then agreed to attend Jia Zhen’s banquet at the Green and Red Pavilion, warning that Jia Zhen might regret it.

• Jia Heng told Feng Tang that he wanted to make a major uproar and strip Jia Zhen of his dignity for trying to seize his marriage.
• Feng Tang described Jingzhao prefect Xu Lu as impartial and cautioned that the dispute might reach Rongqing Hall, which confirmed Jia Heng’s resolve.
• Feng Tang reassured Feng Ziying that Jia Heng planned carefully and could handle the Jia family’s hostility.
• Jia Heng left the Feng residence and headed toward Ningrong Street, planning to visit the Qin Family and study for the imperial examinations.
• Jia Rong invited Jia Heng to a banquet arranged by Jia Zhen at the Green and Red Pavilion, and Jia Heng initially refused before agreeing to go with a warning.

Jia Zhen summoned Jia Heng to the Green and Red Pavilion, intending to persuade him to end his betrothal to the young lady of the Qin household so Jia Rong could marry her. Jia Heng refused the brothel entertainment and met Jia Zhen’s hostility as the discussion of the betrothal began.

• Jia Zhen told Jia Lian he planned to offer Jia Heng seven or eight hundred taels to break off his engagement, while threatening harsher measures if Jia Heng refused.
• Jia Rong arrived at the Green and Red Pavilion with Jia Heng, whose calm bearing made Jia Zhen uneasy.
• Jia Lian warmly greeted Jia Heng, but Jia Heng rejected the woman offered to entertain him and said young men should guard against lust.
• Jia Zhen accused Jia Heng of acting superior, while Jia Lian and Jia Rong tried to smooth over the tension.
• Jia Zhen said he had chosen the young lady of Qin Ye’s household as a bride for Jia Rong and asked Jia Heng whether he was her childhood betrothed.

Jia Heng refused Jia Zhen’s offer to buy out his marriage and beat him before drawing his sword and publicly condemning his conduct. He left the Green and Red Pavilion, while a well-dressed young man ordered Boyan to keep watch on him.

• Jia Zhen and Jia Lian offered Jia Heng silver and another marriage in exchange for giving up his arranged match, but Jia Heng told Jia Zhen to divorce You-shi instead.
• Jia Zhen attacked Jia Heng, who seized him and slapped him repeatedly before overturning the table.
• Jia Heng drew his sword and warned Jia Zhen to stop harassing him, then split the table with a single strike as Jia Rong, Jia Lian, and the servants tried to intervene.
• Jia Zhen fainted, and Jia Heng asked Jia Lian to bear witness before leaving the private room.
• A young man watching from the third floor asked Boyan to keep an eye on Jia Heng.
• Jia Heng left the pavilion, exhausted and wanting to return home for a bath and sleep.

A garbled report that Jia Zhen was dying shocked Lady Jia’s household, but the servant’s claim that his face had swollen revealed that the news had been exaggerated. Feng-jie suspected Jia Zhen had simply drunk himself unconscious, and the servant was dragged away for spreading panic.

• Lady Jia played dominoes while Baoyu and the girls composed verses, and Madam Wang urged the others to let Baoyu rest for his tutor.
• A servant shouted that Jia Zhen was beyond saving, alarming Lady Jia and leaving You-shi devastated.
• Feng-jie questioned the servant, who said Jia Zhen had fainted after being carried back from the Green and Red Pavilion and that Jia Lian was with him.
• The servant reported that Jia Zhen’s face had swollen, confusing You-shi and making the report sound absurd.
• Feng-jie explained that Jia Zhen had been drinking and likely passed out, and Lady Jia ordered the servant punished for frightening everyone.

After learning Jia Zhen had been beaten by Jia Heng over a disputed marriage, Lady Jia calmed the women and postponed confronting Jia Heng until morning. In the Eastern Mansion, Jia Zhen swore revenge while Jia Lian warned him against provoking the dangerous young man again.

• Zhao'er reported that Jia Zhen had awakened and suffered only superficial injuries from the beating.
• Xifeng and You-shi explained that Jia Zhen had tried to make Jia Heng break his childhood engagement so Jia Rong could marry the girl.
• Lady Jia grew angry at both men’s conduct but agreed to wait until morning before summoning Jia Heng.
• Xifeng and You-shi went to the Eastern Mansion while Jia Zhen lay injured and humiliated in the reception hall.
• Jia Zhen vowed to kill Jia Heng and have him punished, but Jia Lian urged him to avoid provoking the hot-tempered young man.

After Jia Heng beat Jia Zhen, the Rongguo family debated whether to report him while worrying about Yuan-chun’s prospects in the palace. Jia Heng prepared for the Old Madam’s questioning and arrived at Rongguo Mansion carrying his Precious Sword.

• You-shi and Feng-jie learned that Jia Heng had offered to dismiss You-shi in exchange for ending the engagement, provoking the fight with Jia Zhen.
• Jia Zhen demanded that Jia Heng be reported, but Jia Lian urged caution because Yuan-chun’s position in the palace made a public scandal risky.
• Jia Heng planned how to answer the Old Madam and how to reassure the Qin Family, then went to bed after writing part of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
• The next morning, Lin Zhixiao summoned Jia Heng to Rongguo Mansion to explain himself to the Old Madam.
• Jia Heng took his Precious Sword and followed Lin Zhixiao through Rongguo Mansion, where servants whispered about his fight with Jia Zhen.

Jia Heng arrived at Rongqing Hall armed with his sword while Lady Jia, Jia Zhen, and the others gathered inside. When a servant told him weapons were forbidden, Jia Heng challenged the restriction and left, refusing to enter unless Lady Jia herself forbade his sword.

• Baoyu and the young women discussed Baoyu's new tutor and Jia Heng's sword-wielding actions at the Green and Red Pavilion.
• Lin Zhixiao announced Jia Heng's arrival to Lady Jia, while Jia Zhen and You-shi waited inside to see him.
• Lady Jia summoned Jia Heng and had the breakfast dishes removed as he approached the hall.
• Lin Zhixiao's wife told Jia Heng that weapons were not allowed in Rongqing Hall.
• Jia Heng defended carrying his sword and turned to leave, saying he would return another day if Lady Jia forbade it.

Jia Heng defended himself before Lady Jia, accusing Jia Zhen of trying to seize his arranged marriage and abusing his authority as clan head. He left the family elders facing his charge that Jia Zhen was a disgrace to the Jia family.

• Yuanyang brought Jia Heng into Rongqing Hall after Lady Jia agreed to hear him.
• Jia Heng insulted Jia Zhen and explained that Jia Zhen had used Brother Rong and servants to pressure him into giving up his marriage to the Qin Family.
• Jia Lian confirmed that Jia Zhen had asked him to mediate and had offered to arrange Jia Heng’s marriage, while avoiding taking sides.
• Jia Heng argued that Jia Zhen had struck first and accused him of trying to steal his marriage, prompting Lady Jia and the others to fall silent.
• Jia Heng told Lady Jia that his late mother had wished for him to marry into the Qin Family and declared that Jia Zhen was unfit to lead the clan.

Jia Heng confronted Jia Zhen and challenged his fitness to lead the clan, while Lady Jia tried to contain their feud and protect the Jia Family’s reputation. The dispute remained unresolved as both men continued trading barbs and Lady Jia threatened to take the matter to the Empress.

• Jia Heng denounced Jia Zhen as unfit to lead the clan, and his words moved Daiyu and impressed Tanchun.
• Jia Heng invoked the Dukes of Ningguo and Rongguo, prompting Lady Jia to defend her handling of the household and then criticize Jia Zhen for obstructing Jia Heng’s marriage.
• Lady Jia learned that Ning Mansion had failed to help at Jia Heng’s mother’s funeral and rebuked Jia Zhen before urging the men to stop fighting for the clan’s reputation.
• Wang Xifeng tried to lighten the atmosphere, and Lady Jia ordered Jia Heng and Jia Zhen to accept her settlement and hold no grudge.
• Jia Heng and Jia Zhen continued accusing each other of endangering the clan, and Lady Jia threatened to report the family’s conduct to the Empress.
• Jia Lian urged Jia Heng to say less, while You-shi pulled Jia Zhen aside.

Jia Zhen and Jia Heng agreed to stop their dispute after Lady Jia warned of the danger of bringing it before the authorities. Lady Jia sent Qingwen to serve Jia Heng, while Jia Zhen left still intent on revenge.

• Lady Jia ended the quarrel between Jia Zhen and Jia Heng, and Jia Lian and the others left Rongqing Hall.
• Lady Jia explained to Feng-jie that Jia Zhen’s bride-snatching scandal could attract censors, then ordered Yuanyang to send Qingwen to serve Jia Heng.
• Jia Heng reflected that showing strength had made Lady Jia cautious and wondered why she was offering him a maid from the Lai Family.
• Yuanyang told Jia Heng that Qingwen would be sent to him, and he accepted the gift while promising to thank Lady Jia.
• Jia Zhen left with You-shi, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, and the others, declaring that the matter was not over.

Jia Zhen blamed Jia Rong and Jia Heng for the dispute, but You-shi objected to his attempt to turn Jia Heng’s words into a stain on her reputation. Jia Heng caught You-shi when she nearly fell, then met Qingwen as Yuanyang brought her and her servitude document to him.

• You-shi challenged Jia Zhen for endangering her reputation, then left to seek Lady Jia’s judgment.
• Jia Zhen struck and kicked Jia Rong until Jia Lian intervened and pulled him away.
• Jia Heng caught You-shi as she stumbled at the corridor steps and warned her to watch where she was going.
• You-shi left without continuing to Lady Jia, while Jia Heng waited for Yuanyang.
• Yuanyang introduced Qingwen to Jia Heng, and Qingwen showed her displeasure at being sent to serve him.
• Yuanyang handed Jia Heng Qingwen’s folded bond of servitude.

After Jia Heng secured the Jia family's support against Jia Zhen, he returned home and prepared to formalize his marriage to Qin Keqing. He arranged household help with money from his writing and left to buy betrothal gifts for the Qin family.

• Jia Heng thanked the Old Lady through Yuanyang and left the Jia residence with Qingwen, still wary of Jia Zhen and the Qin family's resolve.
• Jia Heng brought Qingwen to his courtyard and asked Aunt Cai to prepare a room for her.
• Jia Heng wrote a betrothal letter for Qin Keqing and planned to present it with gifts to the Qin family.
• Aunt Cai offered to handle household chores, but Jia Heng gave her ten taels to hire a trustworthy maid for rough work.
• Jia Heng explained that he had earned fifty taels selling a manuscript and set off to buy gifts for the Qin family.

Jia Heng reassured Qingwen about her new life in his household, then left to present betrothal gifts to the Qin Family. At the Qin Residence, Qin Keqing learned that Jia Heng had beaten Master Zhen because of her, deepening her troubled feelings about their engagement.

• Jia Heng asked Qingwen about her former allowance and promised to provide her one while explaining that a maid was needed before his marriage.
• Jia Heng returned to writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms and reflected on how publishing it could advance his literary reputation.
• Li Dazhu arrived, and Jia Heng left for the Qin Family with the betrothal letter after asking Qingwen to tell Aunt Cai where he had gone.
• Qingwen watched Jia Heng leave and wondered at his gentle, protective manner toward her.
• Baozhu told Qin Keqing that Jia Heng had beaten Master Zhen at the Green and Red Pavilion because of her, leaving Qin Keqing stunned.

Qin Keqing worried that Jia Heng’s impulsiveness would make their marriage disastrous, but Jia Heng delivered the betrothal letter and Qin Ye accepted him as his son-in-law. Qin Keqing overheard Jia Heng admit that he had beaten Jia Zhen after rejecting his attempt to buy out the engagement, leaving Qin Ye alarmed and uncertain how to respond.

• Qin Keqing feared Jia Heng might threaten her family if she tried to end their engagement, so she went with Baozhu and Ruizhu to hear him speak with her father.
• Jia Heng delivered the betrothal letter, and Qin Ye accepted it and welcomed him as his son-in-law.
• Qin Ye asked whether Jia Heng planned to pursue the imperial examinations and why he also practiced martial arts.
• Qin Keqing overheard Jia Heng tell Qin Ye that Jia Zhen had offered a thousand taels to buy out the marriage agreement and that Jia Heng had beaten him.
• Qin Ye rebuked Jia Heng for striking a powerful third-rank official, while Jia Heng defended himself for refusing to sell his wife for advancement.

Jia Heng reassured Qin Ye that the Eastern Mansion could not retaliate over his confrontation with Jia Zhen, but Qin Keqing questioned his past and livelihood. After struggling with her doubts, she chose to honor their marriage agreement and accept whatever fate awaited her.

• Jia Heng explained to Qin Ye that Lady Jia had settled the dispute and that Jia Zhen had little means to harm him.
• Baozhu and Ruizhu questioned Jia Heng about his livelihood and his reputation for favoring weapons and fighting.
• Qin Keqing came out from behind the curtain and admitted that she doubted Jia Heng because of his past.
• Jia Heng asked whether Qin Keqing would abandon her promise because of street gossip, then fell silent when she said she still had doubts.
• Qin Keqing decided to honor the agreement and marry Jia Heng, accepting him as her fate.
• Qin Ye awkwardly comforted Jia Heng by saying that good things came only after many trials.

Jia Heng reassured Qin Ye about his intentions and impressed him with his new position at the Imperial College and his calligraphy. After Jia Heng left, Qin Ye urged Qin Keqing to stop wavering, and she resolved to accept the marriage and judge Jia Heng by how he treated her.

• Jia Heng and Qin Ye shared lunch, and Jia Heng explained that he understood Qin Keqing's doubts about marrying him.
• Jia Heng told Qin Ye that he had been recommended as keeper of books at the Imperial College's Literary Gathering Pavilion, and Qin Ye's misgivings eased.
• Qin Ye learned Jia Heng had written the marriage proposal letter himself and praised his calligraphy.
• Jia Heng left the Qin Mansion to visit the Imperial College, and Qin Ye escorted him out.
• Qin Ye found Qin Keqing in the rear hall and rebuked Baozhu and Ruizhu for encouraging her doubts.
• Qin Keqing read Jia Heng's letter and resolved to accept her fate, as long as he treated her well.

Qin Ye and Qin Keqing reconsidered Jia Heng’s behavior and suspected he had planned the dispute at the Jia household in advance. Jia Heng reached the Imperial College with Han Hui’s recommendation and met Registrar Song about applying for a bookkeeper’s position.

• Qin Ye told Qin Keqing that Jia Heng’s handling of the dispute seemed calculated rather than impulsive.
• Qin Keqing grew flustered while wondering what Jia Heng thought of her, and Qin Ye warned Baozhu not to spread rumors about the maid he had received.
• Jia Heng arrived at the Imperial College and presented Han Hui’s recommendation to the gatekeeper.
• The gatekeeper escorted Jia Heng to the Literary Gathering Pavilion, where Song Yuan recognized him as the applicant for the bookkeeper’s position.
• Song Yuan read Han Hui’s letter of recommendation, explained why Jia Heng had come, and led him into a side room to talk.