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

Wang Xifeng's footsteps disappeared into the corridor, and the tranquility of the side room of Tianxiang Tower instantly spread, leaving only the faint sound of flickering candlelight mixed with the cold wind blowing snow outside the window.

Qin Keqing looked at the bandage wrapped around Shui Rong's left arm. The snow-white fabric made the skin on his wrist look even more lustrous. She could no longer suppress the gratitude and guilt surging in her heart.

Her knees buckled, and she knelt straight down on the cold blue brick floor, her plain white robes spreading out like falling snow.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life..."

Her voice choked with sobs, and tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, staining her clothes with damp patches.

"It is my incompetence that has forced Your Highness to stage this assassin's act, needlessly tarnishing Your Highness's reputation. I deserve to die a thousand deaths for this sin..."

She lowered her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulders, obscuring most of her face, revealing only a slender, fair neck that trembled slightly.

The plain dress clung even more tightly to her chest due to her kneeling posture, outlining a full and soft curve.

Her rapid breathing rose and fell gently, her pitiful appearance captivating and making one's heart clench.

Shui Rong was gazing at her profile, still wet with tears. Her tear-streaked face, paired with her exquisite figure under her plain clothes, was truly captivating.

Upon hearing this sobbing, he snapped out of his reverie, his eyebrows slightly raised.

The surroundings were so quiet that you could hear the soft sound of snowflakes hitting the windowpane. Then, a few very faint "whoosh" sounds swept through the darkness—the silent response of his hidden guards.

Shui Rong lightly tapped the low table beside the couch with her finger, the crisp sound breaking the somber mood in the room.

"Stand up, Madam Qin, let me see you."

The cold voice, devoid of any warmth, possessed an irresistible authority, reaching directly into Qin Keqing's ears.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she struggled to stand up, but the fear and dread of kneeling on the ground all night had made her legs weak.

She had just managed to prop herself up when her legs gave way and she fell forward uncontrollably, crashing right into Shui Rong's arms.

"Well……"

Qin Keqing gasped in surprise, her nose bumping against his firm chest.

This sudden closeness made her flustered and confused; her blood rushed to her head, and her ears turned so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

She looked up in a panic, only to meet Shui Rong's deep, dark eyes, which were churning with emotions she couldn't understand, carrying a strong sense of oppression.

She tried to struggle away, but she was too weak and could only let herself lean against him.

Feeling his steady and powerful heartbeat, her heart pounded with every breath.

Shui Rong's eyes suddenly darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He thought to himself: This Qin woman is excellent in both appearance and figure, how could that good-for-nothing Jia Rong be worthy of her?

I rescued her today on a whim, but now that she's in this situation, I feel a pang of tenderness and protectiveness towards her.

The Jia family is corrupt, and she is nothing more than a pawn to be manipulated in this deep mansion. If she could be protected under someone's wings...

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, pulled Qin Keqing up steadily with a strong pull, then turned around abruptly, his back to her, his fingertips clenching slightly to calm his emotions.

Qin Keqing stood there, her chest heaving violently.

Although I felt somewhat flustered, I also reminded myself to stay true to my duty and not to overstep any boundaries.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at Shui Rong's back anymore. She felt an awkward atmosphere in the air, and even her breathing became cautious.

A moment later, Shui Rong's voice came, with a barely perceptible hoarseness: "Qin Shi, help me change my clothes. I can't wait to get back to the main hall and let those who are waiting to see me make a fool of myself have a good look."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing quickly replied "Yes," her voice barely audible.

She composed herself, stepped forward, picked up the black sable fur coat beside her, and carefully draped it over Shui Rong's shoulders.

Her slender, fair hands, with a slightly cool touch, slid down Shui Rong's shoulders, gently adjusting her clothes and carefully tying the knot on her jade belt.

When my fingertips brushed against his skin

Qin Keqing noticed that Shui Rong's muscles tensed up instantly, and her cheeks turned even redder. She quickly regained her composure and her movements became even gentler and more delicate.

Shui Rong forced himself to remain calm, letting her tie his jade belt and straighten his clothes, but his mind was already racing:

If it weren't for maintaining a cool and aloof demeanor, I would need to clearly state my position in today's situation.

To be completed

Qin Keqing silently stepped aside, her head bowed, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her eyes, and the blush on her cheeks lingering for a long time.

Shui Rong turned around, his gaze lingering briefly on her. Seeing her shy appearance, his expression shifted slightly, and he took the lead in walking outside.

Qin Keqing followed closely behind, her skirt sweeping the ground silently, leaving only a faint scent of perfume mixed with ambergris, which dissipated in the wind and snow.

At this moment, the main hall of Ningguo Mansion had long lost any interest in banqueting, and even the air was filled with an inescapable sense of unease.

"An assassin dares to target both Prince Bei Jing and Master Zhen simultaneously!"

The news exploded like a thunderbolt among the crowd, turning everyone pale and whispering in fear.

It should be noted that this banquet was originally intended to entertain Jia Zhen. Now, halfway through the banquet, both Prince Bei Jing, who was going to sober up, and Jia Zhen, the main character of the banquet, were assassinated. How could such a commotion not make people's hearts jump?

Jia She's face was filled with anxiety; his usual rough and unrestrained manner was completely gone. He paced back and forth, his steps hurried, muttering to himself:

"What should we do! Prince Bei Jing is a man of great importance; if anything were to happen to him, our Jia family would be devastated! Master Zhen is the host of the banquet; if something were to happen to him, how would we possibly handle the situation?"

Grandmother Jia sat upright in the main seat, trying to appear calm, but her fingers were clenching the silk handkerchief in her hand so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She glanced at the anxious crowd at the table and said in a deep voice, "What's the panic? Prince Bei Jing is a lucky man, and Master Zhen is also blessed. They will surely turn misfortune into good fortune."

Even so, her mind was in turmoil—the fact that the two of them were assassinated at the same time was no accident. Could it be that the Emperor was dissatisfied with the Jia family's dealings with Prince Bei Jing and had sent people from the Eastern and Western Depots to suppress them?

The moment the thought crossed her mind, it sent chills down her spine.

As for Prince Zhongshun Zhang Shixun

He remained seated, his slender fingers toying with the jade-colored wine cup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before turning into deep inquiry.

All he knew was that Shui Rong went to Tianxiang Tower after leaving the table, intending to make things difficult for him, but he never expected that it would lead to such a serious assassination attempt.

He thought to himself: If it wasn't the Western Depot that did this, then which force would dare to act like this? Could it be the Eastern Depot, or someone else trying to disrupt the situation in the capital?

Just then, a steady footstep sounded at the door.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Shui Rong, dressed in a black sable fur coat, standing tall and straight like a pine tree. Although his face was still pale, he could not hide his dignified demeanor as he slowly walked in.

Qin Keqing followed closely behind, dressed in plain clothes, her hair slightly loose, her cheeks still flushed, and the outline of her chest appeared even more delicate and beautiful against the backdrop of her plain clothes.

"Prince Bei Jing!"

"The Prince has returned safely!"

Everyone at the banquet rose to their feet, their faces filled with astonishment and relief. Jia She quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, and said with a smile, "Your Highness is unharmed! This is truly a great joy! I was so worried when I heard about the assassin!"

Prince Zhongshun also put down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over Shui Rong, especially noticing the bandage on his left arm. He then glanced at Qin Keqing, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Brother Shui Rong, this assassination attempt has certainly impressed me. The Jia family's territory is indeed full of hidden talents."

Shui Rong glanced indifferently at everyone, but before she could speak, the sound of tinkling jade pendants came from the side door.

Wang Xifeng helped Li Wan in; Li Wan was dressed in a pomegranate-red embroidered jacket with gold trim, which accentuated her voluptuous figure.

Her neckline was slightly open, revealing a glimpse of snow-white skin.

The pair of breasts on her chest almost burst the fabric, swaying up and down with each step she took, making them quite eye-catching.

Her waist was cinched to a slender waist, making her figure appear even more voluptuous and graceful.

Every move she made exuded a flamboyant and romantic charm.

She had always disliked Qin Keqing's affected, demure demeanor as she clung to Prince Bei Jing.

Seeing this, he felt even more displeased. Although he had a smile on his face, his tone carried a hint of sarcastic resentment.

Just then, Shui Rong turned around and looked at him, his tone carrying a hint of feigned regret and concern:

"Miss Feng is back. I wonder how Master Zhen's injuries are? Alas, it's a pity I arrived a little late, otherwise I could have spared Master Zhen some suffering."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xifeng's smile turned colder. As she curtsied, she deliberately puffed out her chest, accentuating her alluring curves. Her voice was clear yet sharp:

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Thanks to Your Highness, my master Zhen only suffered some minor injuries and is not seriously hurt. It is Your Highness who has troubled me by getting injured for the sake of my household."

These words, though seemingly a thank you, actually implied that he was making a mountain out of a molehill. Li Wan, who was listening nearby, was alarmed and quietly tugged at Wang Xifeng's sleeve, signaling her not to be presumptuous.

Wang Xifeng pretended not to notice, raising her eyes to look at Shui Rong with a hint of provocation in them. Her full breasts rose and fell slightly with her breath, making them even more eye-catching.

Shui Rong's eyes darkened slightly, but she did not become angry. Instead, she smiled faintly.

"It's good that Master Zhen is alright, as he's been blessed with good fortune. Now that everyone is here, why don't we take a seat and have a few more drinks to warm ourselves up?"