Red Mansion: Fuyao River and Mountain

Chapter 160: The Patriarchal Law

Jinling, Chongyifang, a small courtyard with two entrances.

Mrs. Qin Ye's maiden name was Wu. The Wu family was also a wealthy family in Jinling. Although they were far less wealthy than the wealthy families like King Xue of Jinling, they were also quite wealthy.

Ever since Qin Ye was transferred to Nanjing to preside over the construction of Da Ci'en Temple, Mrs. Qin brought her two children back to Nanjing to visit her relatives and usually lived in the unused courtyard of the Wu family.

Ever since the construction of Da Ci'en Temple began, Qin Ye has been busy with the construction duties of the temple, neglecting sleep and food, and rarely returns home on weekdays.

But today he came back for the first time, and with a heart full of anger.

At this moment, Qin Ye, who was always gentle in nature, sat in the hall with a gloomy face, while Mrs. Qin stood aside with a worried look on her face.

However, Keqing, the daughter who had always been doted on by the couple, was kneeling on the ground, her pretty face flushed with shame but her expression unusually calm.

Qin Ye said sternly: "During this period of time, you often came to Qixia Mountain. I just thought you were worried about your father, but I didn't expect you to do such a shameful thing and have a secret meeting with Jia Cong.

You are already a woman to be married, and we chose the eldest son of the Ningguo Duke's family for you. There are only a few families of this status in the whole capital, but you are still not satisfied and do such a shameful thing that brings disgrace to the family!

Once this matter gets out, my Qin family's reputation will be ruined. How can we live in the capital with dignity? How can I, your father, continue to serve as an official in the court?"

Keqing looked pale. As soon as she returned home today, her father took out his lost handkerchief and revealed his secret.

That day she embroidered a handkerchief with the pattern of "winning the imperial examination" and gave it to Jia Cong. Afterwards, she felt overwhelmed with love for him, so she embroidered another identical one and carried it with her every day, as if this way she could be closer to him.

Today, she went to the Buddhist temple to see Jia Cong, but was accidentally bumped into by someone. When Jia Cong pulled her to hide, she dropped her handkerchief beside the cushion in a panic, but she didn't expect that it was picked up by her father.

"Tell me, was it Jia Cong who was attracted by your beauty and tried to seduce you? He is also an official appointed by the court, but he did such a corrupt thing. I must seek justice from Cun Zhou!"

In fact, even if it was really Jia Cong who seduced Keqing, Qin Ye would never be stupid enough to go to Jia Zheng to argue.

Wouldn't that expose the family disgrace to the public and ruin his daughter's reputation? How could she marry into the Ningguo Mansion? His plan to curry favor with her would be in vain.

He wanted to get the truth out of his daughter, and then use it as a private warning to threaten Jia Cong, so as to prevent him from ruining his daughter's marriage and failing his own plan.

Keqing did not have as deep thoughts as Qin Ye. When she heard her father say that he was going to find Jia Cong's uncle to argue, she was afraid. If the matter got out, how would she be able to stay in the Jia family in the future?

In a state of deep emotion, she blurted out, "This matter has nothing to do with Master Cong. He has no bad intentions. I just like him myself."

Qin Ye was almost mad at his daughter's words and shouted, "You are so shameless!"

He picked up the rattan ruler on the table and hit Keqing hard. Keqing trembled all over in pain, but didn't say a word.

Qin Ye hoped that his son Qin Zhong would become a successful person, so he disciplined him very strictly since he was young, and this rattan ruler was mostly used on his son.

Although Keqing was adopted by the couple, she was sensible and well-behaved since childhood and was loved by the couple very much. They never touched her from childhood to adulthood.

The matter at hand was really against etiquette, and it concerned the Qin family's reputation, his daughter's lifelong reputation, and even Qin Ye's own career prospects, so he had to take such ruthless action.

Madam Qin rushed over and protected her daughter distressedly: "Master, what are you doing? Keqing is a girl, how can she withstand this? What if she gets hurt?"

Qin Ye was furious: "You raised a good daughter, but she said such shameless words!"

"I heard what my parents said on the boat. Since they knew that the man from Ningguo Mansion was a playboy and lustful, not a good person and difficult to spend the rest of my life with, why did they want me to marry him? I don't want to!"

"What nonsense! You have been studying the Four Books for Women since you were young, and you have learned the rules. Your parents' orders and the matchmaker's words mean that you have no say in marriage matters, and you have no say in whether you are willing or not."

"Now everyone in the capital knows that you and the eldest grandson of Ningguo Mansion have already signed the three letters and six ceremonies. The etiquette is very strict. No matter you live or die, you are already the wife of Ningguo. You have to marry even if you don't want to!"

Mrs. Qin saw that her daughter did not say a word after hearing the master's harsh words. Her face was as pale as snow, and her lips were pursed stubbornly. She did not cry or make a fuss, but she was a little scared in her heart.

She knows her daughter's temperament best. Although she behaves gently in daily life and appears docile when interacting with others, she is actually strong-willed and stubborn at heart.

The master just said that he wanted to find Jia Cunzhou to argue, but Keqing defended Jia Cong without restraint, which showed that she was deeply obsessed with that man and had already given her heart to him.

Although Jia Cong was an outstanding man, her daughter had already been engaged to someone with three letters and six ceremonies, so there was no possibility of regretting the marriage. But if she continued to force him, what would happen if she was driven to commit suicide? Mrs. Qin was anxious and repeatedly signaled to her husband to stop forcing her.

At this time, Qin Ye also came to his senses. He had raised his daughter for more than ten years and he knew her temper.

It is true that my daughter's vision is correct. Jia Cong is more than ten times better than Jia Rong. However, my daughter and Jia Rong's two families have already set a date for their wedding, and the etiquette and laws are strict, so it is impossible to change it.

Even though Qin Ye was very eager to curry favor with the emperor, he knew that Jia Cong was extremely talented and had a bright future, so he would never dare to risk the disapproval of the world.

If he really did that, under the background of strict ethics and morals, not only would he become mortal enemies with Jia Zhen of Ningguo Mansion, but his own family would also be ruined and it would be difficult for him to have a good ending.

Therefore, when it comes to Keqing's marriage, Qin Ye is extremely loyal.

Qin Ye was afraid that his daughter would not listen to what he had just said, but this matter was a taboo according to etiquette, and he was concerned about his family's reputation and future, so he must not let his daughter act on her own will.

Since my daughter cares so much about Jia Cong, I might as well start with him and let her give up the idea and wait for her marriage into Ningguo with peace of mind.

"Keqing, Jia Cong is a man of outstanding character and appearance, and is easy to be attracted to. It is understandable, and your father will not be too harsh on you."

When Keqing saw her father soften his tone and say such words, her heart began to beat faster. Could it be that her father had changed his mind?

But then he heard his father say, "You and Ningguo Jia Rong are in a marriage arranged by a scholar, and everyone in the city knows it. This matter involves the reputation of the Qin family and the Ningguo Jia family, and it is impossible to change it.

"From emotion comes the end of propriety. Your thoughts about Jia Cong are just delusions. Just forget about him."

"Even if you don't marry Jia Rong, you definitely can't marry Jia Cong!"

"The Ning and Rong families of the Jia family are descendants of the same bloodline. Jia Cong is a legitimate descendant of the Yu generation of the Jia family. He is Jia Rong's legitimate uncle.

If Jia Cong wants to marry you, it would be like an uncle taking his nephew's wife away, which is a complete violation of human ethics and will be despised by the world. He will definitely be expelled from the Jia family genealogy.

Even if he has amazing talent, he will still be disgraced, his future will be ruined, and he will never be able to turn things around in his life!"

"Since you have feelings for him, do you want him to fall into that kind of situation for you? Keqing, marriage is destined by heaven, you can't force it, and you can't hurt others and yourself."

Qin Ye's words were like a sharp blade piercing Keqing's heart. She felt dizzy, her heart was torn as if by a knife, and she was in excruciating pain. All her obsession was shattered into pieces.

When Mrs. Qin saw her daughter collapse on the ground after hearing what the master said, her originally pale face was covered with a layer of deathly gray and tears kept falling from her eyes.

She knew that the master's words broke her daughter's heart, but what else could she do? If she didn't stop her from thinking about it, it would be difficult to deal with the shameful thing her daughter did with Jia Cong.

Keqing knew that her father would do everything he could to obstruct her and persuade her, but she didn't expect him to say these words, and there was nothing wrong with these words.

The rites and laws of the clan are as strict as a mountain, but if they are crossed, everything will be destroyed.

It turns out that I was just daydreaming from the beginning to the end.

Ever since she learned about the dirty marriage on the official ship and saw Jia Cong's character and appearance, she has been unable to forget him. Every time they spent time together in Anding Temple, she was trapped in her own cocoon and fell deeply in love.

However, even though she had high hopes in her heart and was unable to let go of her feelings for him, she could not destroy him because of this.

He was successful at a young age, had outstanding talent and a bright future. If he were ruined because of this incident, what would be the difference between that and killing him.

She would rather die than see him end up like this.

　About Jia She being a member of the deposed prince's team, Keqing being the deposed prince's daughter, and so on.

　　It is common in online articles and fabrications by online Redologists.

　　As long as it is not the conclusion written by Cao Gong in the Dream of the Red Chamber,
　　It will not serve as the basis or criteria for the plot of the book.

　　It will be developed according to the story and structured according to the context of the original work.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)