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

Snow fell on the cold branches, and the north wind swirled the snowflakes, making a rustling sound as they hit the eaves.

The leader, Lady You, moved with lightning speed, her embroidered blue satin shoes treading across the snow, her skirt sweeping up fine snowflakes, her chest heaving violently—a mixture of extreme anger and unfathomable fear.

She was usually gentle, but today her face was covered with frost, and her brows were furrowed into a tight knot.

How could she not know what kind of person her husband, Jia Zhen, was?

But the current situation is far more troublesome than her husband's infidelity: if what Yuanyang said is true, Jia Zhen is harassing his daughter-in-law Qin Keqing in Tianxiang Tower. Such a sordid matter is enough to make Ningguo Mansion lose face and be doomed forever.

But if the rumors are false, and Qin Keqing deliberately seduced the newly-married Prince Bei Jing in this secluded place... then the consequences would be even more unimaginable!

At that point, let alone gaining respect within the social circle, there would be absolutely no room for maneuver with the old lady, and the entire Jia family could be brought down because of this one incident.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious and afraid she became. It felt as if a huge rock was blocking her chest, and even breathing was painful and difficult.

Wang Xifeng supported You Shi's hand, but her fingertips did not exert any force.

The pomegranate-red embroidered skirt clung tightly to her figure, her waist was cinched extremely thin, and her chest curves appeared even fuller.

Her clothes swayed slightly with her steps, revealing glimpses of white skin at the neckline, and her hips were rounded and firm, exuding a graceful charm with every movement.

She stood very close to Madam You, leaning slightly forward as she spoke, her warm breath brushing against Madam You's ear, her voice soft and low, as if she were trying to soothe her:

"Good sister-in-law, don't worry and ruin your health."

Wang Xifeng spoke softly and slowly, as if to calm You Shi down, "The snow is slippery at night, and your haste to leave makes me uneasy."

Madam You gave a cold laugh, her voice trembling:

"If I don't hurry, tomorrow the whole capital will be laughing at the Jia family! Either the Ningguo Mansion's father-in-law and daughter-in-law are having an affair, or my daughter-in-law is shamelessly seducing Prince Bei Jing—either way, they could tear us apart!"

Wang Xifeng sighed softly, her tone becoming even more considerate: "Sister-in-law, your words are too harsh. Brother Zhen is always very concerned about the family's reputation; how could he do such a foolish thing on his own turf?"

"As for Rong'er's wife, she's as docile as a kitten, and she doesn't even dare to raise her voice. How could she possibly dare to provoke someone like Prince Bei Jing?"

As she spoke, she gently patted the back of Madam You's hand, her words carrying a hint of probing:

"Perhaps the servants have misjudged you. If your haste to rush over causes a misunderstanding, it will not only damage the relationship within the household, but if it reaches the ears of Prince Bei Jing, it will make us appear petty and lacking in manners."

Madam You gritted her teeth and whispered, "I wanted to think that way too, but Yuanyang saw it all clearly—Master had just left the main hall when he and Madam Qin went into Tianxiang Tower one after the other! Immediately afterward, Prince Bei Jing's entourage also went that way!"

When she mentioned the name "Qin Shi," her voice suddenly trembled. It wasn't anger, but a deep-seated humiliation and panic.

On one side is her husband, on the other is her daughter-in-law, and to make matters worse, she is involved with the most formidable Prince Bei Jing. No matter how you look at it, this is a dead end.

Taking another half step back, Li Wan maintained a perfectly appropriate distance.

The light blue cotton-padded jacket fit her perfectly, and although her waist wasn't as slender as Sister Feng's, it possessed a soft, graceful curve, full yet reserved, exuding a dignified and obedient air.

She didn't want to get involved, but she was already in the eye of the storm, so she could only softly advise:

"Sister-in-law, although Sister Feng's words are unpleasant to hear, they make some sense. Prince Bei Jing is our family's backer. Today is a banquet in the mansion. If any rumors about him are spread here, it will be detrimental to our Jia family."

Lady You did not turn around.

Li Wan still said in a low voice, "Even if we are in the right, it won't look right to outsiders if we make a scene like this at night."

"If we offend Prince Bei Jing, it will be a greater loss than gain. It would be better to calm down first, send someone to secretly investigate the situation, and then make a decision."

These words were spoken in a very measured and reasonable manner, but Madam You was no longer listening to them at that moment.

"Explore?"

She abruptly shook off Wang Xifeng's hand, her voice hoarse, "By the time we find out the truth, the rumors will have already spread throughout the capital!"

Wang Xifeng immediately stepped forward to support her, her jade-like arm tightening to steady her, her voice becoming even softer:

"Good sister-in-law, come on, let's go slowly and see clearly before we talk."

"If it is truly a misunderstanding, it is best to clear it up on the spot to avoid making a big fuss, which would not only damage the relationship within the household but also offend the Prince of Beijing's residence."

But in the shadows of the corner of the corridor, a slender figure stood quietly.

The north wind swirled up snowflakes, and the silver fox fur cloak under Lin Daiyu's arms was a gift from Prince Bei Jing sent a few days ago.

The fox fur was as white as snow, and the down was as fine and dense as flowing clouds. It was originally an extremely luxurious material, but when worn by her, it only made her figure appear even more slender and frail.

A pine-green handkerchief was loosely tied around her waist, the turquoise and silver-white contrasting like a new willow sprouting in the snow, further highlighting her unique and elegant appearance.

The hem of her long, trailing cloak was occasionally lifted by the north wind, revealing a glimpse of the green satin toes of her shoes, embroidered with a few pale white plum blossoms. Her elegant and graceful appearance perfectly matched her usual preference for a refined and serene style.

"This place is filthy and vulgar."

Her voice was extremely soft, as if afraid of soiling her tongue, with a hint of sarcasm at the end.

"Such a spectacle is an eyesore."

After saying that, she nodded slightly, gesturing to Zijuan beside her.

The two figures moved gracefully, stepping on the bluestone slabs under the corridor, and quietly disappeared behind the hanging bamboo curtain.

-

The group followed Madam You to the front of the building, where they saw four men dressed in black standing guard at each of the four corners.

The long sword at his waist was drawn half an inch from its sheath; its cold gleam reflected in the snow, so sharp it hurt the eyes.

Such a scene startled several grandmothers, including Madam You and Wang Xifeng, so much that their faces turned pale and they dared not even breathe.

As the mistress of the Ningguo Mansion, Lady You, though her heart was pounding, suppressed her panic and lifted her skirt to rush into the building.

Li Wan pulled her back, her voice trembling, "Sister-in-law, be careful, this situation is not good..."

Madam You shook her head and stepped across the threshold with a stiff upper lip.

The scene inside the building was even more horrifying—the rosewood tables and chairs in the main hall were overturned, official kiln vases were shattered on the floor, and brocade curtains were torn to shreds by sharp blades, revealing the devastation of a battle.

A servant in black stepped forward, his face stern and his voice like cold iron:

"His Highness Prince Bei Jing arrived here because he was drunk on a snowy night and wanted to find some peace and quiet to clear his mind, but unexpectedly he was ambushed by assassins."

"The Jia family has some nerve! They actually dared to assassinate a prince on their own territory!"

With a "thump," Madam You was so frightened that her legs went weak and she fell to the ground, her whole body trembling like a leaf.

Assassinating a prince is a heinous crime punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire family. How could a few women possibly bear such a responsibility?

Li Wan, usually so composed, was flustered at this moment. She hurriedly stepped forward with a forced smile, but her voice trembled uncontrollably:

Your Highness, please calm your anger! It must be a misunderstanding! My Jia family and the Prince of Bei Jing's family have always been on good terms, as close as family. How could we dare to do such a treasonous thing?

Just then, a clear, crisp voice came from the next side room, each word like an ice bead falling onto a jade plate: "Come here."

It was the voice of Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong.

Those two words were chillingly cold, startling everyone so much that their hearts clenched and their breath caught in their throats.

The group looked at each other in silence, and could only move cautiously into the side room.

Upon entering the room, everyone was stunned.

Qin Keqing, dressed in a plain white robe, stood with her head bowed beside Prince Bei Jing, her slender hands holding a bandage, carefully bandaging the wound on his left arm.

Her hair was slightly loose, and although her face showed timidity, her movements were gentle, and her eyes revealed an indescribable gentleness.

Prince Bei Jing leaned back on the soft couch, his black outer robe gone, leaving him only in a moon-white inner garment.

Although her face was pale, she still maintained a dignified demeanor.

Madam You composed herself, forced herself to step forward and curtsy, her voice trembling with tears:

"Your Highness, where is my master... Zhen-ge'er now?"

Shui Rong slowly shook his head, his brows furrowed with regret:

"Master Zhen protected Madam Qin, shielding her from the assassins. She has been taken to the clinic for treatment."

Upon hearing this, a weight was lifted from Madam You's heart—at least the rumors of "incest between father-in-law and daughter-in-law" had a chance to be refuted.

She hurriedly curtsied and apologized, saying, "Your Highness is magnanimous. Please allow me to go to the clinic to visit Zhen-ge'er first. Rong'er's wife will take care of Your Highness here and will do her best."

She deliberately emphasized her identity as "Rong'er's daughter-in-law" both to express her stance and to distance herself from Prince Bei Jing.

Shui Rong nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Qin Keqing, his tone softening somewhat:

"Go ahead. Qin is meticulous; it's good that she's here."

Lady You felt as if she had been granted a pardon and hurriedly led her people away.

Seeing this, Li Wan and the other grandmothers also took their leave, leaving only Wang Xifeng standing there.

She looked up at Shui Rong, then glanced at the bandages on Qin Keqing's hand, and suddenly smiled:

"Your Highness is blessed with good fortune and has turned misfortune into good luck. However, Tianxiang Tower has always been a forbidden area of ​​the Ningguo Mansion, so it is truly strange that such a thing happened today."

Shui Rong looked up at her, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"As expected of Feng Lazi, you speak your mind. I also find this matter suspicious. Since the assassin dared to carry out the assassination here, it must have been premeditated. We'll find out once Master Zhen wakes up and ask him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing's hand trembled slightly, and the bandage loosened a bit.

She quickly lowered her head and whispered, "Your Highness, please forgive me, it was my mistake."

Shui Rong patted the back of her hand gently, saying, "It's alright. You're already easily frightened; how could I possibly blame you?"

Those intimate gestures, when seen by Wang Xifeng, made her sneer inwardly—this Qin Keqing was probably really trying to use this matter to curry favor with Prince Bei Jing.

She slowly curtsied: "In that case, I will take my leave. Your Highness, please rest assured and recover. I, Rong'er, will take good care of you."

Having said that, he turned and left.