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

Lin Ruhai paused slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, before being quickly masked by the alcohol.

He seemed drunk, his head drooping slightly, mumbling incoherently yet each word clear:

"The Jiangnan region... has been quite turbulent these past few years... Japanese pirates frequently land and plunder, causing immense suffering to the coastal prefectures and counties... and then there's the Prince of Jing'an, ever since the mysterious passing of the old Prince Zhu Yipu."

"His son succeeded him, but he only knew how to drink and make merry every day, neglecting state affairs. The entire government was in chaos, and the vast fiefdom of Yanzhou had become a disorganized mess. Alas..."

As he spoke, he tilted his head to the side and slumped onto the table, seemingly drunk and unconscious.

He swirled the wine glass in his hand, spilling a little wine onto his clothes, but he didn't seem to care.

Shui Rong looked at Lin Ruhai, who was slumped over the table, a half-smile playing on her lips, and inwardly grumbled:

The old fox is quite the actor; he only speaks three-tenths of what he means and stops short of revealing his thoughts, yet he pretends to be drunk and lazy.

But he didn't point it out. Lin Ruhai's ability to say these things had already given him a great deal of information—the Japanese pirates along the coast of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and the incompetence of Prince Jing'an. These two points were the key to his southward journey.

Especially the Prince of Jing'an, Zhu Yipu, died under suspicious circumstances. After his son succeeded him, he pretended to be crazy and spent his days drinking. There must be something fishy going on behind the scenes.

A glint of darkness flashed in Shui Rong's eyes as she ran her fingers along the rim of her wine glass, her mind already racing with calculations.

He slowly got up and personally helped Lin Ruhai. Lin Ruhai seemed to be really drunk, leaning against him and walking unsteadily.

Shui Rong instructed the servants to tidy up the flower hall, while he helped Lin Ruhai walk towards the west wing.

The west wing was indeed quiet and elegant, with green bamboo planted in the courtyard and exquisite furnishings inside, providing everything one could need, truly a top-class place to entertain guests.

Shui Rong gently helped Lin Ruhai to the bed, covered him with a brocade quilt, and instructed the servants to stand guard outside the courtyard before turning around and walking out of the courtyard.

As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he spoke softly to the shadowy figure in the corner:

"Keep a close eye on my dear father-in-law. His every word and action must be reported truthfully without the slightest oversight."

A dark figure flashed through the shadows, and with a very soft reply, it vanished without a sound, as if it had never existed.

Shui Rong stared at the empty corner of the wall, all the warmth in her eyes fading away, leaving only a deep look.

Lin Ruhai appeared to be speaking frankly today, but in reality, he was holding back at every turn.

Although he believed Lin Ruhai's sincerity as a woman, he did not trust her true nature as a cunning old fox in officialdom. One should always be wary of others.

Turning back to his study, Shui Rong was wide awake. He ordered someone to spread a map of the Jiangnan region on the table, placed it before him, and dripped water from his fingertips onto the sheepskin map, leaving a small, damp patch.

He raised his hand and placed the damp spot on the border of Yanzhou, his gaze fixed on that small area.

Yanzhou is located on the western edge of Zhejiang, bordering Hangzhou Prefecture to the north and Quzhou Prefecture to the south. Three rivers converge here. Although the land is barren and the city is not very prosperous, it is still a remote and inaccessible place.

However, it controls a vital passage in western Zhejiang, serving as the throat between Jiangsu and Zhejiang and Jiangxi and Anhui, and also as a barrier against Japanese pirates along the coast.

To outsiders, this was a poor land, but in his eyes, its military and political significance far surpassed that of the fertile lands of Jiangnan.

His fingertips traced the characters for "Yanzhou" back and forth, his fingertips brushing against the patterns on the map, and the light in his eyes grew increasingly deep.

Zhu Yipu's insistence on vying for the fiefdom of Yanzhou was actually driven by this very idea—to control the three rivers.

This meant controlling the waterways of western Zhejiang, and since the Jiangnan region was renowned for its wealth, western Zhejiang was a crucial transit point for both grain and salt transport.

By taking control of the military and political affairs of this region, one gains the confidence to control the finances of Jiangnan.

Thinking about it this way, Zhu Yipu's death was not mysterious at all; he clearly threatened someone else's interests and became a victim of power struggles.

Countless clues tangled in her mind like a jumbled mess. Shui Rong lowered her eyes slightly, a faint, cold smile curving her lips.

His trip to Jiangnan after the New Year was not a simple investigation; it was clearly stepping into a game of chess that had already been laid out, and he was both a pawn and wanted to be the one playing the game.

The Prince of Jing'an, surnamed Zhu, has been living a life of debauchery and neglecting politics since inheriting the title. Yet he has managed to secure his fiefdom of Yanzhou. Is he really mediocre?

They must be hiding it very well, using their muddle-headed appearance to deceive others.

Shui Rong raised his hand, his fingertips glistening with water, and gently traced the course of the three rivers on the map.

From Yanzhou to Hangzhou, and then to the coastal cities of Ningbo and Taizhou, as I drew my way through the city, my plans became increasingly clear.

He suddenly raised his voice, his tone calm and authoritative, leaving no room for argument: "Zhao Zhong."

Before he could finish speaking, light footsteps came from outside the door. Zhao Zhong bowed and entered, standing respectfully before the table with his hands at his sides. "Your servant is here."

"How many secret guards are still in the manor?"

Shui Rong's gaze never left the map, his fingertips still hovering over the confluence of the three rivers in Yanzhou.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are a total of 232 secret guards in the manor, all of whom are under the command of Lords Qin Feng and Gong Ji. Each of them performs their duties diligently, and none of them are negligent."

Zhao Zhong spoke clearly and reported the numbers with perfect accuracy.

"Mmm." Shui Rong nodded, her eyes clear when she looked up.

"Pass on my order: have Qin Feng keep a close watch on the secret camp outside the city, and ensure that training does not slacken."

"After the New Year, let Gong Ji accompany me south to Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Select twenty capable people, who must be of excellent skill and intelligence. Let him choose them himself, and make sure it is done carefully."

Zhao Zhong replied, "This servant will remember."

"Select a few more meticulous individuals and send them to Sichuan."

The water-soluble fingertips moved southwest on the map, where Sichuan and Yanzhou were located opposite each other.

"First, sound out the Shui clan's minor branch and find out who actually holds the real power in their fiefdom. Investigate everything, including tax payments and clan movements, and report back to me."

"Yes."

Shui Rong seemed to suddenly remember something, her fingertips paused, and her tone softened slightly:

"The end of the year is approaching, let them enjoy the New Year first, and we can deal with everything else after the New Year."

"You are also in charge of the New Year's affairs at the Prince's residence. Make sure everything is prepared and there are no mistakes."

"This servant obeys the decree and will certainly do his best to handle the matter." Zhao Zhong bowed and slowly withdrew, his footsteps light, without disturbing the tranquility of the study.

The study returned to silence, with only the flickering candlelight casting Shui Rong's tall and upright figure on the wall, exuding a sense of solitary resolve.

He looked down at the map again. Yanzhou and Sichuan, one in the east and one in the west, one in the south and one in the north, both harbored undercurrents. He needed to make this move steadily and skillfully.

Meanwhile, in the guest room of the west wing, Lin Ruhai slowly raised his head after Shui Rong left.

The drunkenness from when he was slumped over the table had long since faded, and the drowsiness in his eyes had turned into a deep look. He raised his hand to rub his temples, his fingertips tracing the corner of his lips, revealing a complex smile.

How could he not understand the hidden meaning in Shui Rong's last question?

While seemingly asking about political news in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the real question is who the powerful figures in the region are, how much influence they wield, and the intricate web of their relationships.

This was not simply preparation for heading south; it was clearly a probe into the strengths and weaknesses of Jiangnan and an assessment of the relative power of each side.

Lin Ruhai threw off the covers and got up. He walked to the window, pushed it open halfway, and the cool moonlight shone in, falling on him and making his thin face look even more solemn.

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sparse banana tree shadows in the courtyard, his heart churning with emotion:

What does he mean by this? Could it be that he harbors designs on Jiangnan?

But then he thought about it again and realized it was absurd. He shook his head slightly and muttered to himself:

"No, no, no, how could that be? Shui Rong's friendship with the current emperor and crown prince is known throughout the capital; they are extremely close. He is also the head of all the princes, enjoying great favor. Why would he risk such a great danger as treason?"

But once doubts take root in one's heart, they are not easily eradicated.

He frowned in thought. If she really had such thoughts, what should he do?

On one hand, there was the Emperor's boundless grace and the imperial decree that could not be disobeyed; on the other hand, there was the son-in-law with whom she was about to marry, who would also be her daughter's future support.

He stood by the window, bathed in moonlight, his brows furrowed, unable to make up his mind.

After a long pause, he sighed softly, the conflict in his eyes fading slightly.

"Enough. His Majesty is so wise and insightful. If Shui Rong were to make any unusual moves, how could His Majesty not have noticed? I am merely a retired censor. Why should I concern myself with such trivial matters?"