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

Shui Rong watched Wang Xifeng's sedan chair disappear at the end of the alley, the soft touch that had lingered in her arms still lingering.

His eyes darkened slightly, and he raised his hand to summon Zhao Zhong, who was waiting not far away. His tone was calm but carried an undeniable authority: "Prepare the carriage. Come with me for a stroll through the city and see what's going on in those shops."

Zhao Zhong bowed in agreement and hurried to arrange the carriages and horses. The Prince's mansion was already vast and powerful, with countless estates and residences. The revenue from these shops in the market was just a drop in the ocean for the Prince, and he had no need to rely on them to maintain his dignity.

But Zhao Zhong knew in his heart that these shops were all planned by the prince when he first came to the mansion, and many of the items displayed inside were novelties that ordinary people had never heard of, and the prince had always been very interested in them.

Before long, the carriage was ready. Shui Rong lifted the curtain and boarded the carriage, heading towards quieter alleyways and avoiding the bustling main street.

The carriage was quiet. He tapped his knees with his fingertips and pondered to himself: those sheer stockings were still in low production and in the trial stage, not yet officially on the market; perfumes and cosmetics, on the other hand, had already gained a reputation in a small circle; as for the improved farm tools, they had already been distributed to his farms for trial use, and the harvest had shown some improvement.

The most important matter is still the gunpowder issue—when he first showed his talent, he gained the emperor's trust with his insights from his time travel, and was entrusted with managing a part of the royal gunpowder depot.

At that time, the emperor looked at gunpowder and thought it was a useless substance with great destructive power but complicated operation, and that ironware was more suitable.

Although he devoted himself to improving the project after taking over, he was still unable to achieve the desired results due to limitations in raw materials and processes. This matter remained a major concern for him.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of an alley, where an elegantly decorated teahouse stood before them—the very shop that had been entrusted to Qin Ye and his son to manage.

As soon as you lift the curtain and step inside, a rich and lingering aroma of tea wafts over you, mingling with the warmth of the charcoal fire, dispelling the chill of winter.

Qin Ye was bending down to wipe the table when he caught sight of Zhao Zhong. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put down the cloth and stepped forward to kneel down. Although he did not recognize the person beside Zhao Zhong, he recognized this head steward of the Prince of Beijing's mansion. It was Zhao Zhong who had personally given him this spacious teahouse, which not only solved the livelihood difficulties of him and his son, but also freed him from relying on his daughter Qin Keqing for help, thus reducing his predicament.

He knew a little about Qin Keqing's situation in Ningguo Mansion, but he was powerless to help her. The only thing he could do was to protect this teahouse so that his daughter would have fewer worries.

"Hurry up and pay your respects to His Highness Prince Bei Jing!" Zhao Zhong stepped forward, his voice not loud but imposing.

Qin Ye was struck dumb, his body stiffening abruptly, his face drained of color, and he hurriedly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice trembling: "This humble subject, Qin Ye, was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and has failed to greet you properly. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness!"

Upon seeing this, the servants and attendants in the teahouse were so frightened that they all dropped what they were doing, knelt down in unison, and shouted, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Shui Rong raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone gentle and without any airs of a prince: "Get up, everyone. Go about your business and don't be so formal."

After everyone bowed and withdrew, he personally helped Qin Ye up, his fingertips touching the old man's thin sleeve, and said gently, "Manager Qin, there's no need for such formality. I just had some free time today and came to check on the shop's condition. There's no need to be so apprehensive."

As he spoke, he sat down at the tea table by the window, and Zhao Zhong quickly went over to pour him some hot tea.

The tea soup was clear and fragrant. Shui Rong picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and praised, "This tea is quite mellow; it must be made from carefully selected ingredients."

Qin Ye quickly bowed and stood at attention. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly replied, "Thanks to Your Highness, I personally go to the tea market every day to select new tea, without daring to slack off in the slightest. It is my blessing that Your Highness would deign to taste it."

Shui Rong put down her teacup, looked at Qin Ye with gentle eyes, and asked casually, "I heard you have a daughter and a son. Your daughter, Ke Qing, is now the matriarch of the Rong family in the Ningguo Mansion, and your son, Qin Zhong, is of school age. I wonder how the two siblings are doing lately?"

Mentioning his children, Qin Ye's face showed a complex expression, a mixture of paternal love and helplessness. He quickly bowed and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My daughter, Keqing, is doing well at the Ningguo Mansion. Master Rong and she have always been on good terms, and everyone in the manor treats her with respect. However…"

He paused, then finally sighed, "This young woman is rather gentle. The Ningguo Mansion is a large and powerful family with many rules and regulations. I'm afraid she won't speak up even if she suffers grievances on a daily basis."

Shui Rong understood that although Qin Ye was a commoner, he knew about his daughter's difficulties in the Ningguo Mansion, but he was powerless to intervene.

He nodded slightly and said gently, "Qing is gentle and acts with propriety, so she should be able to take care of herself. Besides, with the elders of Ningguo Mansion looking after her, they shouldn't make things too difficult for her. I heard the other day that Lord Jia Zhen sent her to Cining Temple to pray for blessings. It's a quiet place there, which should help her relax."

Upon hearing this, a hint of gratitude flashed in Qin Ye's eyes: "Your Highness is well-informed. That's right. My daughter has been at the temple for several days now. I wanted to take some time to visit her, but I was afraid of disturbing her quiet practice and causing trouble for Your Highness."

"It's alright."

Shui Rong waved his hand, "Cian Temple is open to worshippers. If you miss your daughter, just go and see her. There's no need to worry about anything."

After saying that, he turned to Qin Zhong, "Your son Qin Zhong seems to be a clever child. Zhao Zhong mentioned him to me before, saying that he is quite skilled in calligraphy and painting and has a calm temperament. Now, could you please have a tutor for him?"

Upon mentioning Qin Zhong, Qin Ye's expression brightened, and his tone became more confident: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Little Zhong is indeed quite sensible. We have now hired an old scholar to teach him to read and write, so he has a basic understanding of literature. Previously, thanks to Your Highness's grace, he was allowed to enter the Prince's residence to learn some household affairs from Steward Zhao. The child is extremely grateful and works diligently every day, daring not to slack off in the slightest."

Shui Rong chuckled lightly: "Qin Zhong is a good prospect, kind-hearted and ambitious. Zhao Zhong is also getting old, and the household affairs are complicated, so we need a capable young man to help him. Don't worry, I will have Zhao Zhong teach him carefully, and he will definitely find a good place for himself in the future, which will also relieve some of your burden."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ye's eyes reddened with emotion, and he hurriedly tried to kneel down to express his gratitude, but Shui Rong stopped him.

"Your Highness's kindness is beyond my ability to repay. I can only do my best to manage this teahouse and live up to Your Highness's trust!"

Shui Rong helped him sit down, her tone calm: "Your dedication to managing the shop is the best reward for me. I see that the teahouse is thriving, and the customers are all respectable people. I suppose you've put a lot of effort into it."

"It's all thanks to His Highness's protection."

Qin Ye nodded repeatedly, "Since we acquired this teahouse, my son and I have been able to live comfortably without relying on my daughter for support. With my daughter in Ningguo Prefecture, we can also have fewer worries. I am already deeply grateful."

Shui Rong chatted with Qin Ye for a few more minutes, asking about the details of the teahouse's operation and reminding him to wear more clothes as the weather gets colder and not to overwork himself.

Qin Ye was flattered and responded respectfully, his respect for the Prince of Beijing growing even stronger.

After sitting for a while, Shui Rong got up to take his leave: "It's getting late, I have to go and see other places. You go ahead with your business, no need to see me off."

Qin Ye dared not disobey and respectfully saw him off to the door, bowing repeatedly and saying, "This humble subject respectfully sees Your Highness off. Your Highness, please take care!" Only when Shui Rong's carriage disappeared at the end of the alley did he breathe a long sigh of relief, his heart filled with warmth and excitement. He felt that being able to receive such care from the prince in this life was already an immense blessing.

Shui Rong and his group continued on their way and soon arrived at an inconspicuous shop, which was his private hosiery workshop and warehouse.

This place is usually heavily guarded, only allowing trusted confidants to enter. Shui Rong pushed open the door and entered, while Zhao Zhong tactfully stood guard outside, preventing unauthorized personnel from approaching.

Inside the shop, various stockings were neatly stacked on the shelves, their material light and thin, their texture smooth to the touch. Shui Rong reached out and picked up a pair, her fingertips tracing the fabric. She nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, this material is getting finer and finer. I'll pick out a few pairs of the best and send them to the Prince's mansion another day."

"Yes, I've got it."

Shopkeeper Chen Sanshun bowed in response.

He was originally Shui Rong's confidant. In his early years, he followed the prince to Liaodong to fight and was loyal to him. After returning, he found the stockings novel and knew a bit about business, so he naturally became the manager of this shop and also managed all the shops under the prince's name. He was directly under Shui Rong's command in everything.

Winter has arrived, and the end of the year is approaching.

Shui Rong put down the stockings and casually instructed, "Give all the shop assistants in each shop a proper raise, and add some holiday bonuses. You should understand the nuances of this."

Chen Sanshun understood that the prince wanted to show consideration for his subordinates while also taking the opportunity to win over people's hearts. He quickly replied, "Your subordinate understands and will make proper arrangements. I will never fail Your Highness's trust."

"There's one more thing."

Shui Rong's tone was slightly somber, "The funding for those schools outside the city and the almshouse in the city must not be interrupted. This has been going on for two or three years, all for the purpose of accumulating good deeds and building a good reputation. You must keep this in mind and personally oversee it."

"Your Highness, rest assured, I personally count the supplies and silver every quarter and deliver them on time. There has never been a mistake," Chen Sanshun replied hastily.

Shui Rong said no more, took another look around the shop to check the production and quality of the stockings, and then turned and left.

After that, he casually wandered around a few shops, checked the business of the perfume shop, and inquired about the progress of the farm tool workshop's improvements. He strolled along slowly, and before he knew it, the sky gradually darkened, and lights began to appear in the streets and alleys.

As they boarded the carriage for the return journey, Shui Rong suddenly asked, "Zhao Zhong, approximately how much silver does our Prince's Mansion earn each year?"

After a moment's thought, Zhao Zhong bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the Prince's manor receives around 20,000 taels of silver annually, not including the grain and silk tributes from the estates, as well as the income from the various residences and land deeds."

"Hmm, that's enough." Shui Rong nodded, his tone indifferent.

Zhao Zhong added, "Besides, the Prince is always frugal and never extravagant, so the expenses in his residence are limited. Most of the silver he has saved over the years has been used to train secret guards and... expenses in Liaodong."

Shui Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded slowly. When the late Princess Consort was alive, she was known for her virtue and skill in managing the household, accumulating a considerable fortune for the Prince's Mansion.

Since taking over the Prince's Mansion, he has been dedicated to cultivating the image of a virtuous prince. He is unassuming in his clothing, food, housing, and transportation. He wears silk from his own weaving workshop and eats rice and noodles produced on his estate. He rarely spends extravagantly. Many of his items are either from his own shops or are gifts from powerful families in the south who want to curry favor with him, which saves him a lot of expenses.

In contrast, the Rong and Ning mansions, though seemingly prosperous, were actually already in financial straits and unable to make ends meet, a stark contrast to the abundant wealth of the Prince of Beijing's mansion.

When the carriage arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, Shui Rong alighted and rested briefly. After washing up and changing his clothes, he made up his mind. He looked at Zhao Zhong, who was waiting for orders, and instructed him, "Prepare a sedan chair for tomorrow and go to Cixi Temple."

Zhao Zhong understood that the prince was concerned about Miss Qin Keqing, so he quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, I will make the arrangements first thing tomorrow morning."

Shui Rong waved his hand, dismissing Zhao Zhong. He was left alone in the room. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting shadows on the floor. Gazing at the deep night outside, he pondered to himself: How has Qin Keqing fared since arriving at Ci'an Temple? I'll go check on her tomorrow, so I can be at ease.