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

After bidding farewell to the Emperor and Empress, Shui Rong slowly walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and proceeded to the Meridian Gate.

The morning light was already intense, making the vermilion palace walls even more dazzling. He was thinking about two important matters: first, at tomorrow's court assembly, the emperor would issue a clear edict, designating the person in charge of thoroughly investigating the case of the missing children, since this case was related to the peace and tranquility of the capital, and the emperor had already made up his mind to investigate it thoroughly.

Secondly, there's the matter of the location and regulations for the Royal Academy. This academy is to teach the principles of physics, mathematics, and natural science, so it must find a quiet and spacious location. We also need to ask the Emperor to issue an imperial edict ordering the Ministry of Works to assist in the supervision.

This matter has far-reaching consequences. Only by thoroughly solving the case of the missing children and putting the nobles in the capital at ease will those princes and ministers be willing to send their children to the academy.

Shui Rong pondered to himself, his steps unwavering. Just as he reached the Meridian Gate, he saw a man dressed in a scarlet official robe with a jade belt around his waist, standing under a green silk canopy. His attendants on either side held ceremonial staffs and incense burners, making for a magnificent procession. Who else could it be but Prince Teng?

Shui Rong was startled. He had just heard from Wang Xifeng yesterday that Prince Teng's return to the capital was originally scheduled for around the New Year, but he did not expect him to come so early.

Prince Teng was already in his fifties, and having long held a high position and wielded military power, he naturally exuded an aura of authority. Even when he stood there without saying a word, he still conveyed the dignified and noble air of someone who had long held a high position.

"Uncle." Shui Rong hurriedly stepped forward and bowed slightly, showing perfect manners.

When Prince Teng saw him, a smile appeared on his face, and he quickly raised his hand to help him up: "Your Highness, there's no need for such formalities."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, nothing more than polite remarks about how well they were doing.

Shui Rong knew that Wang Ziteng had come to meet the emperor, so he smiled and said, "I won't delay your meeting with the emperor any longer, Uncle. Please go ahead."

"Your Highness is too kind." Prince Teng nodded and smiled, watching Shui Rong turn around before leading his entourage and striding confidently into the palace gate.

Shui Rong turned and boarded the vermilion-wheeled carriage of the Prince's residence. As soon as the curtain was lifted, she saw a person already sitting inside. The person was dressed in a royal blue robe with gold embroidery, and his face was handsome but with a cold air about him. It was none other than Prince Zhongshun, Zhang Shixun.

Shui Rong raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips: "A rare guest. I never expected that my carriage would be waiting for me personally. Is there something you wish to discuss with me?"

Zhang Shixun looked up at him, his face not exactly pale, but not livid either. Hearing this, he simply smiled faintly: "Your Highness is joking. I have come today for the case of the missing child—His Majesty has already issued an edict to thoroughly investigate this matter, and after days of investigation, I have finally made some progress."

"Oh?" Shui Rong sat down, raised his hand and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, looking at the street scene slowly receding outside the window. "There is a connection that Prince Zhongshun cannot find out? Could it be that the clues point to some troublesome matter? If it concerns the Prince Bei Jing's mansion, Prince Zhongshun may investigate, and I will have no objection."

"Your Highness is joking." Zhang Shixun shook his head, his tone becoming more serious. "I have never doubted Your Highness. Your Highness would never do such a shady and despicable thing as child trafficking." He paused, then lowered his voice, "Following the clues, I actually traced them back to Xue Pan."

"Xue Pan?"

Shui Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded. This was not surprising. That tyrant was the root of all trouble. Back then, Xiang Ling was forcibly bought by him.

But then he thought again and realized something was amiss. "The Xue family are imperial merchants, their wealth rivaling that of a nation. Why would they risk their lives for such a paltry sum?"

"Of course it wasn't Xue Pan who instigated it." Zhang Shixun's expression grew increasingly strange, as if he found it difficult to speak. "I followed Xue Pan's lead and the root cause actually led to Shuiyue Nunnery."

"Shuiyue Nunnery?" Upon hearing this, Shui Rong's pupils suddenly contracted. How could he not know this place? This nunnery, seemingly a pure Buddhist place, was actually a den of iniquity. After the Jia family fell into ruin, Shuiyue Nunnery abducted many of the Jia family's maids and servants.

He never expected that the child's disappearance would be related to this nunnery.

"It's just a nunnery," Shui Rong composed himself, raising an eyebrow at Zhang Shixun. "His Majesty has already ordered a thorough investigation. With Prince Zhongshun's abilities, plus the cooperation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, wiping out this Shuiyue Nunnery would be a piece of cake. Why hesitate so much?"

"Your Highness is unaware of this."

Zhang Shixun gave a bitter laugh, lowering his voice even further, "The people involved behind this Shuiyue Nunnery are no ordinary people. I have investigated thoroughly and found that many high-ranking officials in the capital, some... some with peculiar hobbies, all use this Shuiyue Nunnery as a middleman to buy those children."

"If this matter is thoroughly investigated according to the imperial edict, it will likely implicate many members of the imperial family and nobles. The commotion would be too great, and I would find it difficult to decide how to report back to His Majesty in a short time."

Shui Rong fell silent upon hearing this. How could he not understand Zhang Shixun's concerns? Which of those high-ranking officials wasn't deeply entrenched, where a single move could have far-reaching consequences? But since the Emperor had already issued an edict for a thorough investigation, he intended to investigate to the very end and show no leniency.

After a long pause, Shui Rong raised his eyes, a sharp glint in them: "There is no need to hesitate about this matter. His Majesty has already issued a strict order. You only need to present the facts of your investigation to the Emperor in detail, and then use the power of the court to push for a thorough investigation. This will not only be in accordance with His Majesty's wishes, but also be perfectly legitimate."

Zhang Shixun frowned: "Does Your Highness mean that I should reveal all the people involved? If so, it will likely cause a huge uproar."

"No."

Shui Rong shook his head, his tone resolute, "Although you and I have never gotten along, in this matter, we are both acting in accordance with the Emperor's will. Think about it, Minister of War Qin Zhong lost his beloved daughter in his early years and hates human traffickers to the core; he will definitely give his full support to thoroughly investigate in accordance with the imperial decree."

"Grand Secretary Zhang is a confidant of the Emperor and will certainly carry out His Majesty's decrees; as for the Ministers of Works and Revenue, they have always been on good terms with you and will also lend you a hand."

He looked at Zhang Shixun and said, word by word, "Furthermore, His Majesty will bring up this case at tomorrow's court assembly. If you present the facts of your investigation at this time and earnestly request His Majesty's decree to grant you full authority to conduct a thorough investigation, I will second and support it."

"By joining forces, we can both comply with the Emperor's will and deter those involved. Why not?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shixun's eyes flashed with a sharp light. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Good! Since Your Highness says so, I will act accordingly! Since His Majesty has ordered a thorough investigation, I dare to report the truth without any reason to back down."

"That's the demeanor of Prince Zhongshun." Shui Rong smiled and gestured for him to enter. "Would you like to come back to my residence with me for a cup of tea, and then carefully review the words I've prepared for the Emperor's report?"

"No need." Zhang Shixun stood up, lifted the carriage curtain and was about to get out. "I must go to the palace immediately to meet the Emperor and take this opportunity to explain the truth so that His Majesty can make a decision as soon as possible."

Before the words were even finished, the person had already landed steadily on the ground.

As Shui Rong watched his departing figure on horseback, the smile on her lips gradually faded, and her eyes became as deep and unfathomable as a pool.

The entanglements behind Shuiyue Nunnery are probably more complicated than he imagined, but with the Emperor's decree for a thorough investigation and his collaboration with Zhang Shixun, the truth will eventually come to light.

The carriage moved slowly through the streets and alleys. Shui Rong lightly tapped her knee with her fingertips, then suddenly frowned—she had forgotten an important matter while discussing matters with Zhang Shixun. Every time Wang Xifeng came to the Prince of Beijing's residence for medical consultations, she used a pharmacy in the capital as a front. In the past, she thought it was safe and secure, but now the case of the missing children involved many people, and human nature was unpredictable. If the pharmacy made a mistake and revealed the Prince's whereabouts or even his secrets, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking of this, he raised his eyes, raised his hand and gently tapped on the curtain of the carriage. His voice was cold and calm, without the slightest hesitation: "After you get back, immediately conduct a thorough investigation of the pharmacy that Second Madam Lian frequents. Carefully examine whether there are any oversights or errors. If there is even the slightest problem, just kill her."

The guards driving the carriage were secret guards from the Prince of Bei Jing's residence. Upon hearing this, they did not hesitate for a moment and replied in a deep voice, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Um."

Shui Rong nodded slightly, withdrew her hand, leaned back on the soft cushion of the carriage, and a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

The people around us all regard feudal ethics as the standard, and they often use rules and titles to bind people. But how much filth and depravity is hidden under these ethics?

Have you not seen how Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, took his brother's wife, Lady Yang, as his concubine after ascending the throne? Have you not seen how Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, forcibly took Li Yu's wife, Xiao Zhouhou? So-called etiquette and morality are nothing but a facade for those in power to decorate their image, and also a shackle to bind ordinary people.

Having been immersed in the infighting within the imperial clan since childhood, and possessing the perspective of someone who has traveled from another era, he has always disdained these so-called rules and regulations.

For him, the most important thing was to secure the Prince's residence, fulfill the tasks entrusted to him by the Emperor, and protect the people he cared about. All other formalities were insignificant.