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

My fingertips traced the water-themed token, the cool, hard texture digging into my fingertips.

Shui Rong's gaze was fixed on the seal script characters in the center of the token, a hint of inexplicable wariness flickering in his eyes.

At this moment, a long-held question surfaced, fueled by the token—the Prince of Bei Jing's mansion was a prestigious and powerful family in the capital, possessing top-tier influence and favor.

Yet, in the vast royal palace, he had never seen a single member of the Shui clan, and even in his memory, he could not find a trace of any kinship with the Shui family.

Where exactly is the Shui clan located?

This thought was like a fine thorn, stuck in his heart, making him restless.

He simply got up and went straight to the Prince's library.

He rummaged through layers of ancient books and volumes, his fingertips covered in dust, turning over every scroll in the mansion that recorded the clan's origins.

Finally, in the most secluded corner of the library, I found a yellowed and brittle fragment of the Shui family genealogy. The edges were mottled from insect damage, and the pages smelled of mold from years past.

Shui Rong found a nanmu chair and sat down, carefully unrolling the book and reading it intently. His gaze followed the lines of text, and his initial doubts gradually turned into seriousness.

By the end, his brows were tightly furrowed.

The few words in the scroll were roughly the same as the note his mother had left him: his father's protection of the late emperor had led to the decline of the Shui clan.

Most of the surviving members of the Shui clan live in the Sichuan area.

The fiefdom of the Prince of Beijing was not originally located in Shu.

The first Prince of Beijing swore an oath to Emperor Taizu that he would guard the frontier for generations, so Emperor Taizu designated Yunnan as his fief.

Later, his father saved the emperor's life, and the late emperor, remembering his kindness, changed his fiefdom to Sichuan, a place known as the Land of Abundance. However, behind this favor lay a deep sense of apprehension.

To prevent the Prince of Beijing's power from growing too strong and causing a rebellion, the late emperor actually allocated the Prince of Ping'an's fiefdom to Wuchang Prefecture.

The fiefdom of the Prince of Xining was located in Hanzhong Prefecture.

Both locations are strategically vital to Sichuan, one in the east and one in the north, keeping a close watch on the region. Add to that the spies in the capital, and...

Sichuan, though seemingly prosperous, was actually completely surrounded, with every move under the surveillance of the imperial power.

Within the Shui clan, discord had already developed.

The father and several uncles had always been at odds, and the gap between the main line and the collateral line had grown wider and wider.

Unfortunately, the main lineage was dwindling in number, and by his generation, he was the only heir left.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Zong gradually seized actual power in his fiefdom of Sichuan and became the true administrator of the fiefdom.

Despite their deep-seated conflicts, the junior branch of the family dared not be too presumptuous due to the favor bestowed upon the Prince of Beijing's mansion by two emperors. Every year, they would still pay the Prince's mansion a 50/50 share of the taxes from their fiefdom.

This is against the rules.

According to the patriarchal clan system, the minor lineages should be divided in a 3:7 ratio, but the late king tacitly approved of this arrangement, and the current emperor is even more pleased with it.

Upon seeing this, Shui Rong slammed his fingertip hard on the page, tracing the words "fifty-fifty" with his fingertip, and understood in his heart.

The late king's acquiescence was due to the small number of people in the main lineage, forcing him to compromise with the minor lineages;

His Majesty's approval stems from the fact that the Shui clan's internal divisions prevent them from forming a united force, thus ensuring that the Prince of Beijing's mansion will never pose a threat.

All these calculations, going around in circles, were ultimately aimed at the Prince of Beijing's residence and the main branch of the Shui family.

The water dissolved the tattered scroll. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes briefly, his long eyelashes obscuring the cold light in his gaze. His knuckles unconsciously tapped the table, and a soft murmur escaped his lips:

"This is such a hassle."

The entanglements between the main and collateral branches, the loss of power over fiefdoms, and the layers of checks and balances on imperial power—this tangled mess is a real headache.

But there was no sign of retreat in his eyes; instead, a resolute determination arose. He slowly clenched his fist, holding the water-character token in his hand. The coolness spread through his palm, making his mind even clearer.

These minor branches of the Shui clan, these scattered fiefdoms, will ultimately be brought under their own control.

Otherwise, the Prince of Beijing's mansion would be nothing more than a hollow facade, at the mercy of others.

Once she had sorted out her thoughts, Shui Rong got up and walked to the desk in the library, spreading out the huge sheepskin map.

He dipped his fingertip in water and traced the Sichuan border on the map, then pointed to the locations of Wuchang Prefecture and Hanzhong Prefecture.

A faint smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his lips, tinged with mockery, as he whispered:

"What a pity."

The late emperor went to great lengths to arrange the three fiefdoms in a defensive formation, believing he could trap the Prince of Beijing's residence in Shu.

But he forgot that throughout history, no one who had settled in Sichuan had ever achieved great things.

The Shu region is easy to defend but difficult to attack, yet it is also easy to enter but difficult to leave. If an army were to be raised, it would be trapping itself in a deadly situation.

In his view, his elder brother's checks and balances were nothing more than superfluous.

The gaze shifted from the map to the Jiangnan region, where the name Zhejiang came into view.

Shui Rong suddenly remembered his elder brother's instructions—to go to Zhejiang to investigate a case after the New Year, and not to go as the governor, but to go incognito.

Thinking about this, his brows furrowed again, and he looked somewhat embarrassed. He scratched his forehead with his fingertips, secretly worrying.

He grew up in Kyoto and speaks fluent Kyoto Mandarin. Southern dialects are diverse, and the dialects from Zhejiang are particularly difficult to pronounce. He is completely unfamiliar with the slang used in the streets.

If we go there rashly like this, we might even have trouble communicating with people, let alone investigating the case.

Just as she was fretting, a figure suddenly flashed through her mind, and Shui Rong's eyebrows relaxed instantly, a faint smile spreading across her lips.

Lin Daiyu's father, Lin Ruhai, wasn't he also raised in the Jiangnan region? Moreover, he served as the salt commissioner of the Jiangnan area, so he must have been fluent in some local slang and dialect.

If they were to search for Lin Daiyu, it would be against propriety and would surely incur the displeasure of those old fogies in the Ministry of Rites.

Shui Rong gathered the scattered Shui clan records and miscellaneous notes on the table one by one. The fog in his heart about the major and minor branches of the clan dissipated, but a sense of melancholy also settled in.

He raised his hand to rub his temples, and when he looked up, he realized that the light outside the window had already faded.

The gilded animal heads on the eaves were blurred by the twilight, and the lanterns under the corridor had been lit by the servants. The warm yellow light spread across the bluestone slabs and cast dappled shadows on the ground.

Just as he was about to instruct the servants to tidy up the library, a series of light footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

With Zhao Zhong's obsequious announcement, a voice drifted in through the moon gate: "Your Majesty, Lord Lin Ruhai has arrived outside the manor and has come to request an audience."

Lin Ruhai?

Shui Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling a little surprised, but then she felt relieved.

Judging by the time, Lin Ruhai should have arrived in Beijing by now, having resigned from his post in Jiangnan, but he arrived several days earlier than expected.

At this late hour, the palace gates would have long been closed, making it inconvenient to enter the palace to report on official duties.

As for going to the Prince of Bei Jing's residence, it was also to see what his son-in-law was like.

Thinking of this, Shui Rong composed himself, brushing the dust from his robes, and said in a clear voice:

"Quickly invite Lord Lin into the mansion and lead him to the main hall for tea."

Having said that, he quickly stepped out of the library and walked along the covered corridor toward the main hall. His steps were leisurely, but he seemed more anxious than usual.

Upon reaching the steps of the main hall, one sees a person standing under the eaves.

Dressed in a dark blue brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, Lin Ruhai, though his face showed signs of travel weariness, was thin and had the refined elegance of a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and his eyes met Shui Rong's. He immediately bowed respectfully, his voice clear and his manners impeccable.

"This humble citizen, Lin Ruhai, greets His Highness Prince Bei Jing."

Seeing this, Shui Rong quickly stepped forward, raised his hand to help him up, a gentle smile on his lips, his tone kind yet respectful of a prince:

"Lord Lin, there's no need for such formalities. We're family by marriage, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. You must be tired from your journey; please come inside and let's talk."

As he spoke, he stepped aside to lead Lin Ruhai into the hall, and bowed slightly in return.

Firstly, he cherished Lin Ruhai's talent and reputation; secondly, he genuinely accepted the marriage and did not want to use his power to pressure others.

The two entered the main hall side by side, took their seats as host and guest, and a maid served them freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea.

A wisp of white steam rose from the celadon teacup, the aroma of tea clear and refreshing, filling the room with a warm and gentle fragrance that slightly soothed the weariness of the journey.

Lin Ruhai picked up his teacup, took a sip, and only after setting it down did he look up at Shui Rong, cupping his hands in greeting:

"Your Highness, please forgive me. Ru Hai has just arrived in the capital today, and it is already late. I have not yet prepared any small gifts before coming to your door. It is truly presumptuous of me."

"I am mindful of the engagement between Your Highness and my daughter, and I am also worried that I will be busy with my duties at the palace tomorrow. So I thought I would like to pay my respects first and let Your Highness know that Ru Hai has arrived in the capital safely."

Shui Rong waved his hand, his fingertips lightly tapping the rim of the teacup, his smile gentle:

"What are you saying, Lord Lin? Since we have formed a marriage alliance, we are family. There is no need for you to be so presumptuous in coming to my door."

"The journey from Jiangnan to the capital is long and arduous, and Your Excellency should return home to rest first."

His gaze fell on Lin Ruhai's thin face, noticing the slight dark circles under his eyes, and then he said...

"The manor has prepared calming herbal medicine and exquisite meals. If you do not mind, you may stay at the manor for the night to rest and recuperate."

Lin Ruhai felt a warmth in his heart. Prince Bei Jing was known for his virtue, and after meeting him today, he could see that his reputation was well-deserved. He thought that Daiyu would not be mistreated after marrying into the Prince's mansion.

He bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. It would be impolite of me to refuse. However, there is one more matter that I need to trouble Your Highness with."

"Please speak, sir." Shui Rong raised his eyes, a hint of inquiry flashing in them, but his expression remained calm.