Prince Bei Jing of the Red Chamber, starting from saving Qin Keqing

As the court session concluded, Zhu Yiheng sat upright on his throne, his gaze slowly sweeping over the dispersing officials below the steps.

Looking at those figures, some hurrying, some hesitating, some subtly exchanging glances.

A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and he nodded slightly.

This situation, where everyone has their own agenda and checks and balances each other, is exactly what he wants.

Lately, he has felt increasingly heavy-hearted, and his old shoulder and back injuries throbbed faintly when he got up in the morning.

That was a hidden danger left over from his youthful days fighting on the battlefield, and now it is recurring more and more frequently, often requiring him to take a break while reviewing memorials.

As Crown Prince Zhu Changyu grew older and his power increased, his marriage to Grand Secretary Zhang Shi'an further strengthened his position.

His ambition was no longer concealed; he secretly courted officials and cultivated his own power, showing a strong tendency to sideline him as emperor.

By using Shui Rong to arrange his engagement and wedding banquet on the same day as the Crown Prince, he intended to use Shui Rong as a pawn to counterbalance the Crown Prince's power.

Shui Rong, as the Prince of Beijing, was the head of the imperial princes and also had the support of the former Prince of Beijing, Shui Yanchen's, old subordinates.

Although he appears carefree, he is actually deep-thinking and well-established, making him the best candidate to check and balance the Crown Prince.

What he wanted was this brief balance.

During this time, he could secretly make arrangements to consolidate imperial power and ensure that the crown prince would not so easily sideline him.

Zhu Yiheng raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples, and wearily instructed the eunuch beside him:

"Step down, I need to rest for a while." The majesty in his eyes faded, leaving only an unconcealable weariness and worry.

On the other side, the court officials and members of the imperial family dispersed one after another. As soon as Shui Rong stepped out of the main hall, a familiar voice called out from behind: "Uncle."

He turned around and saw Prince Qin, Zhu Changjun, and Prince Zhao, Zhu Changming, walking side by side.

Zhu Changjun was dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, his expression remained calm, but there was a hint of solemnity between his brows;

Zhu Changming still retains some of the vibrancy of youth, but he is less playful and more reserved.

A gentle smile appeared on Shui Rong's lips as she raised her hand in a gesture of support: "What brings you two here? Is something the matter?"

Zhu Changjun stepped forward, glanced around to make sure the surrounding court officials had already gone far away, then lowered his voice and solemnly reminded them:

"Uncle, I know you are meticulous and skillful, but the Crown Prince's recent behavior has become increasingly abnormal. You must not let your guard down."

"Since the last visit of foreign envoys, the Crown Prince's temperament has changed drastically, and he has become increasingly flamboyant. This time, he deliberately arranged to get engaged on the same day as you, which is clearly a deliberate provocation and a hidden scheme."

"Furthermore, the assassin's case is still unresolved and full of doubts. You need to be extra careful and not fall into his trap."

Zhu Changjun's schemes were extremely well hidden.

His advice to Shui Rong, seemingly out of familial affection, was actually motivated by other considerations.

The Crown Prince's power is too great; if he were to suppress Shui Rong...

Next, the crown prince will turn his attention to his younger brother, who holds military power.

Only by preserving Shui Rong and maintaining a balance of power between him and the Crown Prince can we achieve this.

Only then could he reap the benefits, consolidate his position, and leave himself a way out in this treacherous court.

Zhu Changming, standing to the side, quickly echoed, a serious expression on his face:

"Yes, Uncle Wang, you must be careful!"

"Furthermore, Father Emperor has indeed entrusted the Imperial Guard to me, just as you said before."

Although young, he already understood the intricacies of court politics and could see the Crown Prince's hostility towards Shui Rong.

Shui Rong looked at the two of them, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. The smile on his lips remained gentle, but now held a deeper meaning:

"Thank you for reminding me. Don't worry, Uncle Wang knows what he's doing and won't let the Crown Prince's scheme succeed."

"As for you, Chang Jun, you mentioned earlier that you were going to Jizhou. I wonder when you'll be going?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief flashed in Zhu Changjun's eyes. He had been planning to use the trip to Jizhou as an excuse...

To avoid a direct confrontation between Shui Rong and the Crown Prince, and to prevent being drawn into their conflict, Shui Rong's question at this moment suited his purposes perfectly:

"My nephew will be setting off tomorrow to join his uncle Zhang Shixun in Jizhou to manage border military affairs. I'm afraid I won't be able to attend his wedding banquet with the Crown Prince."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he caught a glimpse of Crown Prince Zhu Changyu leading several officials from the Eastern Palace not far away.

He walked slowly toward us, his expression calm, but his eyes held a subtle scrutiny.

Zhu Changjun's heart skipped a beat, and he deliberately emphasized his words, speaking not only to Shui Rong but also to the Crown Prince who was about to arrive.

He indicated that he would leave the capital the next day and would not participate in the conflict between the two.

Zhu Changyu strode forward, his gaze sweeping over the three men. A fake smile played on his lips, and his tone, seemingly gentle, betrayed a probing intent.

"King of Qin, King of Zhao, how come you two are chatting so amiably with your uncle? I saw you huddled together when I left the hall just now, were you talking about something interesting?"

Zhu Changming spoke first, smiling as he said:

"There's nothing interesting about it. We were just talking about your engagement ceremony with Uncle Wang! You and Uncle Wang got engaged on the same day, which is double happiness for our royal family. We, your humble servants, are all happy for you!"

Zhu Changjun echoed this at the opportune moment, his tone respectful yet distant:

"Yes, Your Highness, we are filled with envy. You are both favored by His Majesty and able to marry the people you love. Your Highness and your uncle are both winners in life."

His words, seemingly flattering, were actually a deliberate attempt to avoid sensitive topics and prevent the crown prince from testing him.

Zhu Changyu smiled, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Changjun before finally settling on Shui Rong. His tone shifted, carrying a subtle hint of sarcasm and probing:

"Uncle Wang, speaking of which, your marriage to Miss Lin is quite unexpected. You actually want to get engaged to her."

"Lin Ruhai is just a minor salt inspector, and the Lin family is not a powerful clan that holds sway over the court. I really didn't expect that someone of my status would fall for the daughter of an inspector."

His words were clearly intended to belittle Daiyu and Shui Rong's marriage.

Before Zhu Changyu could finish speaking, Shui Rong gently raised her hand, interrupting him. Her face still held a gentle smile, her tone languid, conveying an air of unambitiousness.

"Your Highness is too kind. Your uncle has never had any great ambitions. I do not seek to wield power over the court, nor do I seek to be remembered in history."

"I only wish to find a beautiful wife I love, to stay in the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion, and to live out the rest of my life in comfort."

"Miss Lin is elegant, gentle, and exceptionally talented; she is exactly what I've been looking for, and that's enough."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changyu's eyes flashed with disdain, but he quickly feigned regret:

"Haha, Uncle Wang's ambition is rather shallow, but as long as Uncle Wang is happy, that's all that matters."

In the midst of his banter, his tone shifted abruptly, his gaze sharpening, his voice carrying a barely perceptible probing:

"Oh, by the way, Uncle Wang, I've recently heard that my men have been sending frequent messages..."

"It's said that Uncle Wang has been spending a lot of time with his two younger brothers, Chang Jun and Chang Ming, and they meet every day. Uncle Wang, what is your intention in doing this?"

His words went straight to the heart of the matter, clearly indicating his suspicion that Shui Rong was secretly courting the Kings of Qin and Zhao to cultivate his own power, and that he feared that Shui Rong's alliance with the two princes would threaten his position as heir apparent.

Shui Rong's smile remained unchanged as she spoke naturally:

"Your Highness is overthinking it. You brothers and I grew up together since childhood, and our friendship is already very deep."

"Now that we are engaged on the same day, I am overjoyed. I often get together with Chang Jun and Chang Ming to chat and talk. It is just ordinary friendship, and I have no other intentions."

His words were watertight, defusing Zhu Changyu's probing without leaving any leverage, leaving Zhu Changyu with no way to refute him.

A hint of resentment flashed in Zhu Changyu's eyes, but he didn't press the matter further, simply laughing it off to cover his embarrassment.

"I see. I was overthinking it. You two continue your conversation. I still need to report to my father, so I won't disturb you any longer."

"Wait, Your Highness."

Shui Rong suddenly spoke, stepping forward to block Zhu Changyu's path. His smile remained gentle, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, please wait. I have something I would like to discuss with you."

"Regarding the assassination attempt in the main hall, after I killed the assassin, I discovered some clues that involve a wide range of people. I wonder if Your Highness would do me the honor of hearing me explain in detail?"

These words struck Zhu Changyu like a thunderbolt.

The assassination case was secretly orchestrated by him, with the aim of testing Shui Rong's power. If Shui Rong were to uncover any clues that implicate him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhu Changyu's eyes narrowed instantly, his fingers tightened unconsciously, and his aura instantly turned colder.

But this panic was only momentary; he quickly masked it, replaced it with a fake smile, and said in a calm tone:

"Uncle Wang is joking. Death is the greatest loss. The assassin has been brought to justice. Let's close this case here. There's no need to investigate further, lest we waste resources and cause panic in the court and among the people."

He was eager to close the case in order to cover up his connection with the assassin's case and prevent Shui Rong from continuing the investigation, fearing that Shui Rong would discover the truth and ruin his important plans.

Shui Rong looked at his feigned composure, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. She was already certain that the assassination case was related to the Crown Prince.

He didn't press further, but instead followed up on Zhu Changyu's words, his tone remaining gentle:

"Since Your Highness has said so, then I will not pursue this further."

"It's getting late, and I need to return to the Prince's residence to check on the preparations for the engagement. So I won't chat with Your Highness any longer and will take my leave now."

After saying this, he bowed slightly and then turned to leave, not giving Zhu Changyu any further chance to test him.

His plan was to stop short of revealing the truth, thus making Zhu Changyu wary and aware that he possessed clues about the assassination case.

Not rushing to break off relations, leaving room for maneuver, and buying time for their subsequent investigation.

Seeing the Crown Prince and Shui Rong leave one after the other, a look of seriousness flashed in Zhu Changjun's eyes. He knew that there must be a great secret hidden behind the assassination case.

The contest between the Crown Prince and Shui Rong has only just begun.

He raised his hand and patted Zhu Changming on the shoulder, saying solemnly:

"Brother Ming, with you here with Uncle Wang, I need to go back and prepare the items for my journey north to Jizhou tomorrow, so I'll take my leave now."

"Remember Uncle Wang's instructions: be careful with your words and actions, manage the Imperial Guards well, and lest you cause trouble."

Having said that, he turned and left, his steps hurried, his mind preoccupied with military affairs in Jizhou.

He also secretly considered the situation in the court and only wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible, and make plans after the situation became clear.