Song Qing (Water Margin)

Song Qing is the younger brother of Song Jiang. While Song Jiang is famous in jianghu (the scofflaw community) for his chivalry, Song Qing keeps a low profile. Living in the town district of Yuncheng, being a clerk of the county's magistrate, taking care of their father at their suburban house and managing the family's properties.

After killing his mistress Yan Poxi in a fit of anger, Song Jiang sneaks back to hide in his father's house. Although sent to arrest him, Yuncheng's chief constable Zhu Tong lets Song off after finding him hiding in a pit in his house. Song decides to seek refuge in the house of the nobleman Chai Jin. He travels there with Song Qing.

Later Song Qing returns home while Song Jiang moves to the Kong Family Manor at Mount White Tiger. He subsequently shifts to Hua Rong's house at Qingfeng Fort in Qingzhou. While in Qingzhou, he sparks a battle between his bandit friends at Mount Qingfeng and the local government.

Despite having beaten the army from Qingzhou, Song Jiang, Hua Rong and the bandits of Mount Qingfeng, fearing attacks by a bigger government force, decamps to join Liangshan Marsh. On the way, Song Jiang runs into Shi Yong in an inn, who has a letter from Song Qing which says their father has passed on and urges him to rush home for the funeral. Upon reaching home, Song Jiang is shocked to find his father alive and well. In fact, Song Qing has penned the letter under the instruction of their father, who fears Song Jiang will tarnish the family's reputation by falling into bad company.

As it is not possible to keep his homecoming a secret, Song Jiang is arrested by Yuncheng's authorities for the murder of Yan Poxi. He is exiled to a prison camp in Jiangzhou (江州; present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi).