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

Just as Jia Zhen was about to tear open Qin Keqing's plain clothes, a loud "bang" was heard—the heavy wooden door was kicked open from the outside, and wood chips flew everywhere!

The wooden door, perhaps due to its age and disrepair, or perhaps because the person who came was exceptionally strong, flew off and crashed directly into Jia Zhen.

Before Jia Zhen could even cry for help, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Her almond-shaped eyes, which had been filled with tears, widened, her pupils contracted, and a mixture of panic and bewilderment welled up inside her.

The despair that had just approached had not yet dissipated when the sudden change left her momentarily speechless.

The plain white thin shirt clung tightly to her body, and what was even more striking were the enormous breasts hidden beneath the thin silk inner garment.

At that moment, her heart trembled slightly with her rapid breathing, her posture captivating, making one's soul tremble and one's heart burn.

At the doorway, a figure stood against the candlelight.

He wore a moon-white brocade robe, his figure tall and slender, the hem of his robe still carrying the chill of the outside world.

The man entered the room with unhurried steps, yet he exuded an undeniable sense of oppression.

"Who...who are you?"

Qin Keqing finally regained her voice, but it was hoarse and trembling.

She instinctively took a half step back, her back tense, her eyes fixed on the person who had come, both surprised and frightened.

"Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong."

The man spoke, his voice clear and resonant like the clinking of jade stones, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

He glanced at Jia Zhen on the ground, a cold look of disgust flashing in his eyes, before turning his gaze back to Qin Keqing, his eyes filled with inquiry and a barely perceptible heat.

"This scoundrel behaved improperly, but I have stopped him for you."

Qin Keqing's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

She composed herself and carefully examined the man in front of her.

He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with an exceptionally handsome face, and his moon-white brocade robe accentuated his noble air.

For some reason, his probing gaze inexplicably reminded her of Jia Zhen's lewdness, and the slight gratitude that had just risen in her heart was instantly replaced by deeper wariness.

"Who is this young lady, and how could she be humiliated by this shameless old scoundrel?"

Shui Rong asked with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Jia Zhen on the ground before returning to Qin Keqing.

Qin Keqing had not yet recovered from her shock and wariness, and replied blankly upon hearing this:

"I am...I am the wife of Jia Rong of Ningguo Mansion. People in the East Mansion call me Madam Rong."

As she spoke, she subconsciously pulled her thin robe tighter around herself—the white robe, soaked with sweat, outlined her exquisite figure perfectly, making her look utterly alluring.

Shui Rong walked past Jia Zhen on the ground and toward the bedside.

Upon seeing this, Qin Keqing's heart leaped into her throat, and her vigilance intensified. She quickly continued:

"Thank you for your help, Your Highness. However... this is not a place for Your Highness to linger. Please leave as soon as possible to avoid... to avoid any appearance of impropriety that might cause gossip."

She was already a married woman, and now, with her clothes disheveled and alone with a man in a room, if someone saw them, even a hundred mouths wouldn't be able to explain themselves.

Just then, a soft, rustling sound suddenly came to my ears.

The jade pendants tinkled lightly, and her silk skirt rustled gently, like jade stones touching each other or spring water rippling softly.

Several women's sweet voices, mixed with laughter, came from afar, some whispering softly, others covering their mouths and giggling, lingering in the corridor.

The sound wasn't noisy, but it was strangely clear and piercing, like an icicle scraping against glass, making one's eardrums ache.

Qin Keqing's face instantly drained of color; the faint blush that had appeared just moments before, after the initial shock subsided, seemed to have been swept away by a sudden gust of cold wind.

Her whole body was so white it was almost transparent, even her lips had lost all color.

Her lips trembled slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched the inner fabric of her dress, her knuckles turning white.

An unconcealable fear welled up in his eyes, and even his breathing was trembling and labored.

On the ground, Jia Zhen lay unconscious, his body reeking of alcohol mixed with the stench of blood, a pungent and unpleasant smell.

Before her stood a strange prince, her clothes disheveled... If this scene were witnessed, the gossip would overwhelm her, and she would utterly disgrace the Ningguo Mansion.

Upon realizing this, Qin Keqing felt a chill run down her spine and straight to the top of her head, as if her limbs and bones were immersed in ice water.

The last shred of support in her heart collapsed with a crash. Her body swayed slightly, and the fear in her eyes gradually turned into despair.

With such a miserable fate, what path can I take?

The next moment, she suddenly turned around and ran towards the window.

That wasn't an impulse, but a resolute decision made when pushed to the brink.

Shui Rong's eyebrows suddenly darkened, and he made his move almost at the same time as she started to move.

He grabbed her waist and forcefully stopped her, his strength steady and restrained, without the slightest hint of frivolity.

Qin Keqing felt her body lighten, her feet lost their footing, and she was pulled back, crashing heavily into a broad and solid embrace.

She froze.

The man's cool aura wafted towards her, mixed with a faint scent of ambergris, and his warm body temperature seeped through her clothes, making her mind uneasy.

In that instant, she felt as if her bones had gone limp, unable to muster even the slightest strength to break free, and could only helplessly lie against his chest.

All the grievances, fears, and humiliations that had been weighing on my heart all came rushing back at this moment.

"Your Highness...why stop me..."

Her voice was choked with sobs, soft and delicate, yet filled with an indescribable sorrow.

"Such a commotion will surely alarm the household sooner or later. Once people arrive, their opinions will be overwhelming. How much of my innocence can a woman like me possibly prove with my words?"

She tilted her head back slightly, tears rolling down her cheeks and wetting the stray strands of hair at her temples. Her eyes were filled with guilt and fear.

"More importantly, if my humble appearance and unclean surroundings were to tarnish Your Highness's reputation and damage Your Highness's status, I would be guilty even if I were to die a thousand deaths..."

Her voice trailed off, almost choked with sobs, so delicate it made one's heart clench.

Shui Rong looked down at the woman in his arms who was sobbing uncontrollably.

In the candlelight, her disheveled black hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few damp strands clinging to her smooth forehead, adding to her pitiful appearance.

Her plain white clothes were soaked through with tears, clinging tightly to her body and making her shapely figure even more clearly visible.

Her bare, snow-white feet were small and delicate, with round, pearl-like toes, which were now curled up against the cold ground, glowing with a faint pink hue.

Upon hearing her words expressing concern about her reputation and status, Shui Rong felt a strange stirring in her heart.

The flutter that had arisen from her beauty now carried a touch of genuine pity and curiosity.

Just then, faint footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by the whispers of the maids, indicating that someone had come looking for them.

Shui Rong's eyes darkened as she forcefully suppressed the surging thoughts in her heart.

He knew very well that if he hesitated even slightly at this moment, even with his noble status, he would inevitably give others ammunition to criticize him.

This situation runs counter to his usual principle of being cautious and patient.

Having made up his mind, his expression returned to calm. His fingertips tightened slightly as he steadied the trembling woman in his arms, and he said in a deep voice:

"I have my own way of handling this, young lady, there is no need to be alarmed."

The night snow had not yet stopped, and fine snow pressed against the eaves. The lamplight under the eaves swayed precariously in the wind.

……

The main hall of Ningguo Prefecture.

The night snow had not yet stopped, and fine snow pressed against the eaves. The lamplight under the eaves swayed precariously in the wind.

Prince Zhongshun, Zhang Shixun, dressed in a black python robe, toyed with a wine cup in his right hand, a faint smile playing on his lips, and suddenly interrupted the singing and dancing in the hall.

"Madam Jia,"

His tone was flippant, with a hint of deliberate sarcasm, as he glanced at everyone at the table.

"I just saw Brother Shui Rong leave his seat, saying he was going to sober up. I've heard that your esteemed residence's Tianxiang Tower is a secluded and quiet place, a good place to rest. Could it be that he went there?"

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze.

Everyone knows that although Tianxiang Tower is not an explicitly forbidden place, few people go there. Moreover, there is a banquet in the mansion today. If Prince Bei Jing were to go to such a secluded place in private, it would easily arouse people's imagination.

The fact that King Chungshun pointed it out so deliberately added a touch of ambiguity and probing.

Grandmother Jia narrowed her eyes, completely ignoring the difficulty in his words. When she slowly opened her eyes, her face was already adorned with her usual kind and gentle smile.

"Madam You," she said in a flat tone, revealing neither joy nor anger, "take Feng'er and go see if Prince Shui Rong is too drunk and has chosen the wrong place to rest. Go and invite him back to sit down."

Lady You felt a chill run down her spine and instantly understood Grandmother Jia's intention. She quickly nodded in agreement, then called over two capable maids, grabbed Wang Xifeng's hand, and hurried away.

Upon seeing this, King Chungshun simply shook his head and made no further reaction.

This is, after all, the Jia family mansion. I can make things difficult once, but I absolutely cannot make things difficult twice, otherwise I'll be considered ignorant.

A large group of people headed towards Tianxiang Tower, and the once bustling hall suddenly became somewhat quiet.

Grandmother Jia raised her eyes and glanced indifferently at Jia Lian beside her.

Jia Lian understood immediately, quickly stood up, and tried to smooth things over with a smile:

"Please don't panic, everyone. It's just an invitation for Prince Bei Jing to return for a banquet. Come, continue the music! Attendants, quickly pour wine for the gentlemen and ladies!"

Although the banquet continued with difficulty, everyone present had their own thoughts, and their eyes kept glancing towards the main hall entrance. They had no interest in listening to the opera or drinking wine at all.