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

Lin Ruhai held the celadon teacup, gently pinching the rim with his fingertips, and took a small sip of tea.

He slowly set down his teacup, his brows furrowed with the refined composure unique to a scholar who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations. He spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, and every word carried the earnest consideration of a father.

"Your Highness, now that you are engaged to Daiyu, there is something I need to explain to you first."

"My daughter has been frail since childhood and always has medicine on her. She uses only the finest herbs, which is quite expensive. I hope Your Highness is aware of this."

He wasn't asking for money, but rather testing the waters—testing how much the Prince of Bei Jing valued Daiyu. If he was stingy even with this small expense, then Daiyu's future after marrying into the Prince's household was uncertain.

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong maintained a faint smile, his eyes showing no hesitation, and his tone was firm and carried the confidence of a prince:

"Rest assured, Lord Lin, although my Prince Bei Jing's mansion dares not claim to be as wealthy as a country, its medicine storehouse is quite abundant, containing all kinds of rare and precious medicinal materials from all over the world."

"Miss Daiyu's expenses are never lacking in the slightest; you need not doubt this, sir."

Lin Ruhai stroked his slightly drooping beard, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.

He then changed the subject, his expression becoming even more solemn: "Of course I trust Your Highness. However, there is another reason. My daughter grew up in Jiangnan, with only a few old servants by her side. She is used to a carefree life and dislikes the elaborate rules and regulations of the Prince's mansion."

"Furthermore, the women in the inner quarters are constantly vying for her attention and jealousy. She is physically weak and has a soft nature, so she cannot bear these conflicts."

"How does Your Highness intend to handle this matter?"

These words revealed his deepest concern: his daughter had no maternal support and was sensitive by nature; the power struggles within the inner quarters were the sharpest blades, and he had to secure a stable life for Daiyu.

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong immediately lost the faint smile on her face and sat up slightly.

He said, word by word, "Lord Lin, rest assured, the day Miss Daiyu marries into the Prince's mansion, she will be the Prince's principal wife."

"If she doesn't like the rules of the manor, she can set them herself. Anyone who goes against them will be dealt with according to the manor's rules."

"As for matters concerning the inner quarters, I dare not say that she is completely free from troubles, but I will say this: I will certainly favor her in everything."

He paused for a moment, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes, but also a hint of honesty:

"However, as Lord Lin also knows, as the head of all the princes, the concubines in my household were all given to me by various nobles and relatives. The relationships involved are far-reaching and cannot be disposed of by me alone. I hope you can understand this."

Lin Ruhai nodded slowly, his eyes showing no dissatisfaction, but rather a hint of approval.

Having spent a long time in officialdom, he understands best the feeling of being unable to control one's own destiny. For Prince Bei Jing to do this is already rare, and it's far better than those empty promises and hypocritical sentiments.

"Your Highness is being frank, and Ru Hai naturally understands the difficulties involved. She doesn't ask Your Highness to cut off her harem, she only asks Your Highness to protect her."

"That's natural," Shui Rong nodded in agreement.

Lin Ruhai looked at him, his tone softening slightly, carrying the tender concerns of a father:

"Your Highness, Daiyu lost her mother at the age of three and lacked affection from a young age. She is more sensitive than ordinary girls, and a harsh word from her may take it to heart."

"Furthermore, unlike other young ladies who only learn needlework, she studied with me from a young age, and was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as poetry and prose."

"She is more open-minded than the average woman, and may have some outdated ideas. I hope Your Highness will be more tolerant of these."

Seeing the earnestness in Lin Ruhai's eyes, Shui Rong's heart stirred slightly. He raised his hand in a gesture of respect, his tone steady, each word a promise:

"Don't worry, Lord Lin, these are all minor matters. I assure you that I will protect her nature, indulge her preferences, and never let her suffer the slightest grievance."

The weight on Lin Ruhai's heart finally lifted, and he nodded repeatedly: "With Your Highness's words, I am relieved."

Seeing that his inner turmoil had been resolved, Shui Rong's lips curled up slightly, her tone suddenly became more intimate, and her form of address subtly changed:

"Father-in-law, now that we've laid our cards on the table, I have a question for you. After you go to the palace tomorrow to report to your elder brother, will you have any free time?"

Father-in-law

Upon hearing the four words, Lin Ruhai paused slightly, then stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of satisfaction appearing in his eyes, adding a touch of warmth to the scholar's refined demeanor.

"After finishing my report, there was nothing urgent to do. I just planned to go back to the Lin residence to tidy up and clean the house so that I could bring Daiyu back for a short stay."

That's good.

Shui Rong stood up and bowed to Lin Ruhai with a sincere expression, "Father-in-law, I have a request to make."

"After the New Year, my nephew needs to go south to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, he has grown up in the capital and only knows Mandarin. He is completely unfamiliar with the dialects of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, as well as the slang used in the streets and officialdom. He is afraid that he will have a hard time getting around when he arrives. He would like to ask his father-in-law to teach him a thing or two."

He added slightly, speaking naturally: "Although Miss Daiyu grew up in Jiangnan, she mostly lives a secluded life and may not know the ins and outs of the officialdom. It is my father-in-law who has lived in Jiangnan for a long time and is more knowledgeable."

That's true. Lin Ruhai had served as the Salt Commissioner of Lianghuai and had connections in both official and civilian circles in Jiangnan.

The Lin family of Suzhou was a century-old noble family, so they were naturally very familiar with the local customs, slang, and secret language of the Jiangnan region.

Lin Ruhai did not refuse and immediately agreed: "If Your Highness has given the order, I, Ruhai, will certainly do my duty. The Lin family is a prominent family in Suzhou, and I know a little about the dialects and slang of the Jiangnan region. I will definitely teach Your Highness in detail another day."

"Thank you, Father-in-law." Shui Rong was overjoyed and called him father-in-law again, which made Lin Ruhai feel very comfortable.

Seeing that Lin Ruhai looked tired, he smiled and said:

"Father-in-law, you must be tired from your long journey. I have already had the west wing prepared. It is quiet and elegant, and everything is ready. Why don't you stay at the Prince's Mansion tonight?"

The repeated calls of "Father-in-law" warmed the heart of Lin Ruhai, a traditional Confucian scholar, who, without the slightest hesitation, readily agreed.

"Since Your Highness is so kind, it would be impolite of me to refuse."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a soft "gurgling" sound suddenly rang out, as Lin Ruhai's stomach made an untimely growl.

Lin Ruhai, who always valued etiquette, blushed slightly and looked embarrassed as he bowed slightly.

Shui Rong seemed not to have heard anything, her expression calm. She stepped forward and gently took Lin Ruhai's arm, her tone gentle:

"Father-in-law, you've been traveling a long way and haven't had a proper meal yet. I apologize for not thinking of you. I'm also hungry, so why don't we go to the flower hall for some dinner?"

As she spoke, she helped Lin Ruhai walk towards the flower hall, making no mention of the earlier incident, thus relieving Lin Ruhai's embarrassment.

Upon arriving at the flower hall, one sees that the octagonal table is already laden with exquisite dishes.

The four cold dishes and eight hot dishes were a fusion of northern and southern styles, combining the refinement of Kyoto with the lightness of Jiangnan. It was clear that Shui Rong had specially instructed his servants to prepare them, showing his utmost thoughtfulness.

Lin Ruhai felt increasingly comforted as he watched.

The two sat down at separate tables, and after only a few bites, Shui Rong called out to the door, "Zhao Zhong, go and fetch that jar of newly brewed peach blossom wine from the cellar."

Zhao Zhong responded and left. Soon after, he returned carrying a wine jar with the seal intact. Once opened, a refreshing peach fragrance mixed with the mellow aroma of wine wafted out, soothing the soul.

Shui Rong personally poured Lin Ruhai a cup of wine; the liquid was clear and had a faint peach hue.

"Father-in-law, this is peach blossom wine brewed at my home. It's not very strong, but it's very fragrant and mellow. It's a rare occasion to have this gathering with you today, so let's share a cup."

Lin Ruhai was a Confucian scholar who rarely drank alcohol, and he originally intended to decline.

But unable to resist Shui Rong's enthusiastic persuasion, and tempted by the aroma of the wine, he picked up his glass and took a small sip.

As the wine enters the throat, the peach aroma is sweet and refreshing, the wine flavor is mellow and rich, with no spiciness, leaving only a lingering sweetness in the mouth, instantly arousing the craving for wine in one's heart.

"Good wine," Lin Ruhai praised, and then stopped refusing.

Seeing this, Shui Rong was secretly pleased and frequently clinked glasses with him. The conversation at the table gradually shifted from everyday matters to the customs and culture of Jiangnan and the governance of the officialdom.

Slightly tipsy, Lin Ruhai became more talkative, discussing everything from the salt administration of Lianghuai to the grain transport in Jiangnan, every word revealing insights into the political situation in the region.

Shui Rong listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with a few words that hit the nail on the head, making Lin Ruhai feel even more that this Prince Bei Jing was young and promising.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, both of them were somewhat tipsy, and their relationship was several times closer than when they first met.

Shui Rong, holding a wine glass, took the opportunity of clinking glasses to lean forward slightly, his voice extremely low, as if asking casually after drinking, but a subtle probing lurked in his eyes:

"Father-in-law, you have lived in Jiangnan for a long time. Do you know if there has been any political news in the Jiangzhe area recently? I will be prepared to go south after the New Year."