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

The north wind swirled up snowflakes, which fell heavily on the eaves, turning the world into a pristine white.

Shui Rong sat comfortably inside the warm carriage, the brocade cushions making her feel cozy and warm. The howling wind and snow outside only made the carriage feel even more tranquil.

He tapped his fingertips lightly on his knees, his gaze peering through the gap in the carriage curtain at the swirling snow outside. Suddenly, he asked, "Zhao Zhong, is the marriage certificate between Jia Rong and Qin Shi now considered null and void?"

Zhao Zhong stood with his head bowed to the side, and upon hearing the voice, he quickly lowered his voice and replied, "Your Highness, it has already been properly cancelled. Madam Rong... oh no, Miss Qin is now nominally alone, with no further connection to the Ningguo Mansion, and without any support from the Jia family. All her expenses at Cining Temple are secretly provided by the Prince's Mansion; outsiders only assume that the temple is thriving and have not suspected anything."

As he spoke, he glanced at Shui Rong stealthily, then asked cautiously, "Your Highness is going to such lengths to take care of her, could it be that you intend to... take Miss Qin into your household?"

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong did not immediately reply. He merely curled his lips into a half-smile, his tone light yet tinged with helplessness: "It's merely out of consideration for past relationships, offering her some protection. Even if I truly intended to elevate her to the status of a concubine, my elder brother would absolutely not agree. For a woman who has been married before to enter the royal residence would be a disgrace to the royal family."

Zhao Zhong nodded in agreement and said no more. This was indeed the truth—as a member of the royal family, the Prince of Beijing's principal wife had to be married to a high-ranking official in order to consolidate his power. The Emperor had previously selected several daughters from prominent families for the Prince, but Shui Rong had politely declined them all.

During this time, the prince noticed the unusual behavior of Qin Keqing and Wang Xifeng, but he also understood that both of their feelings violated the rules of propriety and were ultimately just illusions.

As for Lin Daiyu, who was staying at the Rongguo Mansion, she was the daughter of Lin Ruhai, the Salt Commissioner. She was of suitable status and appearance, but unfortunately she was still young. The Rongguo Mansion had previously intended to arrange a marriage between Jia Tanchun and the prince, but the prince was far away in Liaodong at the time. After returning to the mansion, the matter was put aside and gradually faded away.

The horse-drawn carriage slowly made its way through the snow to the gate of Ci'an Temple.

The monks had been waiting since they heard the commotion. When the carriage stopped, they quickly stepped forward, bowed, and lifted the curtain.

Shui Rong helped Zhao Zhong out of the carriage. A few snowflakes fell on his black brocade robe. He raised his hand to brush them away. His gaze swept over the solemn temple gate. The cold wind made his clothes flutter slightly, but it did not diminish his noble air in the slightest.

"Amitabha."

The abbot of Ci'an Temple quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands together, bowed deeply, and said in an extremely respectful tone, "This old monk respectfully welcomes Your Highness. May Your Highness live a thousand years!"

"No need." Shui Rong nodded slightly, his tone calm and even. "Has the Qin family caused any trouble for the temple while they were staying here?"

The abbot quickly replied, "Your Highness is too kind. Miss Qin is gentle and kind-hearted. She spends her days praying for blessings in the Guanyin Hall. She is quiet and self-disciplined, never speaking or acting rashly, which adds to the tranquility of the temple. At this moment, she is chanting sutras and praying for Your Highness in the Guanyin Hall. Your Highness may wish to rest for a while. After she finishes her prayers, this old monk will bring her to see you."

"No need to trouble yourself, I will wait here." Shui Rong waved his hand, well aware of the temple rules, and did not insist on entering the hall to disturb them.

Before long, soft footsteps came from the direction of the Guanyin Hall.

Shui Rong looked up and saw Qin Keqing dressed in a plain white robe, the hem of which swept across the snow, making her look as elegant and otherworldly as a plum blossom under the moon.

Although her robes were loose, they could not conceal her slender figure. Her black hair was tied up with a simple silver hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down by her temples. The wind and snow had given her a touch of coolness, making her skin appear even whiter than snow and her eyes full of affection.

She looked up and saw Shui Rong, and a hint of excitement instantly welled up in her eyes. She paused slightly, then curtsied and performed a proper bow. Her voice was soft and gentle, like warm water: "This concubine greets Your Highness." Her tone was respectful, and she handled the situation perfectly, showing no sign of personal feelings. Only a hint of barely perceptible joy was hidden between her lowered eyelashes.

Seeing this, the abbot quickly and tactfully took his leave: "Your Highness and Miss Qin, please continue your conversation. This old monk will go and attend to the incense offerings." With that, he led Zhao Zhong away to a distance, leaving the two of them alone.

Shui Rong stepped forward, his gaze falling on her slightly thin Zen robe, his brows furrowing slightly.

The two walked side by side along the stone path in the temple, the snow under their feet making a soft "crunch" sound, and the wind and snow fell on the branches and rustled down.

"Are you comfortable staying here?" Shui Rong spoke first, her tone gentle. "If you find it too austere or uncomfortable, then come back to the Prince's Mansion with me. I'll set up a Buddhist shrine for you there, and we can just say to others that you're chanting scriptures and praying for me. It'll be perfectly legitimate, and no one can find fault with it. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing looked up at him, her bright almond-shaped eyes fluttering as if filled with autumn water, her eyes brimming with emotion. Yet, she still gently shook her head, her tone tinged with timidity and restraint: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but this is absolutely not possible. Wouldn't such actions tarnish Your Highness's reputation? I am but a humble willow, of lowly status; how could I possibly deserve Your Highness's trouble?"

As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, but her gaze seemed to casually sweep over Shui Rong's waist. Then, as if she had spoken out of turn, she added, her tone carrying a hint of unconscious allure, so soft it could drip water: "If...if Your Highness truly finds it unbearable, this concubine...this concubine can also help Your Highness relieve your worries."

The two of them were stunned as soon as they finished speaking.

Qin Keqing herself was startled and her expression changed slightly. She had been in a daze for a moment and her gaze had inadvertently caught sight of Shui Rong's unusual movements. She had blurted out such vulgar words and immediately blushed with embarrassment. She lowered her head and pursed her lips, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Her fingertips gripped the hem of her Zen robe tightly, and even her breathing became rapid.

Shui Rong's heart fluttered, and a rare blush appeared on her face. Avoiding her gaze, she coughed lightly and subtly changed the subject, her tone deliberately indifferent: "Just stay here and don't talk nonsense."

Qin Keqing lowered her eyes, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

She knew that although she was a virgin, she had been married once and was no longer a pure virgin. Even if her status matched, there was absolutely no way she could become a proper mistress in the Prince of Beijing's mansion.

The prince's treatment of her was already an immense favor; how could she dare to harbor any delusions? To receive such protection from the prince was already a blessing from heaven; she could only feel gratitude and dared not have the slightest thought of overstepping her bounds.

Seeing her melancholy appearance, Shui Rong understood what was going on and suddenly asked, "Do you remember how Qin Ye adopted you?"

Qin Keqing shook her head blankly, her eyes full of confusion: "I have been growing up in the Qin family since I can remember. Uncle Qin treated me like his own daughter, but he never mentioned the reason for the adoption. I don't know the reason either."

Looking at her bewildered and innocent expression, Shui Rong had already made up his mind. He slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning: "Then do you know the current Minister of War, Qin Zhongxun?"

Qin Keqing's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Shui Rong, her eyes filled with surprise: "I know. Lord Qin is an important minister in the court. There are rumors circulating that he lost his beloved daughter in his early years, but..." She stopped halfway through her sentence, as if a flash of inspiration had appeared in her mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it.

Shui Rong said no more, but turned around and took a sable coat from his attendant.

The coat had a glossy sheen, luxurious texture, and was warm to the touch; it was clearly an extremely rare and precious item.

He stepped forward and gently draped his coat over Qin Keqing's shoulders. The large robe enveloped her completely, and warmth instantly spread throughout her body.

He leaned closer, his voice low and gentle, yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Don't overthink it. I've given you the Prince's token. From now on, you can come to the Prince's residence to find me, whether there's business or not. Don't worry, I'll arrange everything for you, understand?"

Qin Keqing was still immersed in his words, staring at him blankly. Before she could react, a gentle kiss landed on her forehead. The touch was warm and fleeting, like a feather brushing against her heart, instantly stirring up a thousand waves of emotion.

She froze, her cheeks flushing bright red, even her neck turning crimson. Her once clear almond-shaped eyes were now misty with embarrassment and panic.

She subconsciously gripped the collar of her sable coat, her fingertips trembling slightly. She even forgot to regulate her breathing, lowering her head and not daring to look at Shui Rong. Her heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

That kiss, as light as falling snow, was deeply imprinted on her heart, sending a shiver down her spine.

Shui Rong, as if nothing had happened, straightened up and continued walking slowly ahead, his gaze sweeping over the snow-covered plum branches in the temple, and said in a calm tone: "The snow scene at Ci'an Temple is quite unique."

Qin Keqing stood there stunned for a long time before she came to her senses. She quickly followed, but her steps were still a little unsteady.

She secretly glanced at Shui Rong's back, her heart filled with a mixture of shyness and confusion, yet also a hidden joy that was hard to describe.

His scent still lingered on the sable coat on her shoulders, and the warmth from his forehead lingered, making even her ears burn. She could only lower her head, letting the snowflakes fall into her hair, silently following his footsteps without uttering a word. Only the sound of her heartbeat grew clearer in the silent snow.