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

The solemn atmosphere of the court discussions that had just taken place in the imperial study had completely dissipated, replaced by a touch of everyday life and leisure.

The refreshing scent of ambergris mingled with the sweet aroma of pastries, filling the hall. The memorials on the imperial desk were neatly moved to a corner.

A small table covered with dark blue brocade satin was placed in the hall. Scattered on the table were gilded playing cards with silver trim, a few silver ingots, and a string of copper coins.

This adds a rare touch of everyday life to this solemn and majestic imperial residence.

Zhu Yiheng gripped the playing cards in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed.

He slapped the edge of the table, feigning anger, his gaze fixed on the composed Shui Rong across from him, his tone full of an elder brother's reproach:

"Shui Rong, I refuse to believe this evil today! You defeated me when you were on the civilian side, and you still come out on top when you're on the evil side."

"You little rascal, are you cheating right under my nose?"

Shui Rong picked up the warm tea on the table, took a small sip, and smiled helplessly, tapping the table lightly with her fingertips.

"Your Majesty, you are wise. How could I possibly have such audacity? It's just that I've improved this game and played it frequently, becoming quite familiar with the rules."

He adapted the modern card game "Dou Dizhu" to court rules and renamed it "Dou Xie Evil".

With its simple rules and engaging gameplay, this card game became incredibly popular in the palace after it was introduced to the court. Even Zhu Yiheng, who was known for his diligence in governing, became a loyal fan of this card game.

Standing to the side, Lin Ruhai watched this scene with astonishment in his eyes.

Having long held important positions in Jiangnan, he had repeatedly traveled to the capital to meet the emperor, and was accustomed to seeing the emperor seated on the dragon throne, exuding majesty over the entire realm.

I never imagined that the emperor, the supreme ruler, would play cards with his younger brother in the imperial study, and even bicker like an ordinary older brother.

This unexpected friendliness gradually eased the tension between the ruler and his subjects.

It turned out that after Lin Daiyu was taken away by Empress Xu, Zhu Yiheng dismissed the unrelated eunuchs and took out this set of gilded playing cards specially made by the palace from a hidden compartment on his desk.

The plaque is carved with intertwined cloud patterns and has gold-plated edges, clearly indicating that it was exclusively for imperial use.

He smiled and waved to Lin Ruhai: "Minister Lin, the affairs of state have been settled. Since you have nothing to do, let's play a couple of rounds to relax. Don't be shy."

Lin Ruhai quickly bowed and declined, saying, "Your Majesty, I would never dare to do so, lest I be impolite and spoil Your Majesty's enjoyment."

Seeing this, Shui Rong stepped forward and smoothed things over with a smile: "Father-in-law, today there are no rulers and subjects, only family. The rules of this game are simple, I will teach you."

He picked up the cards, patiently dissected the rules, and explained the game logic between the civilians and the evil side, from the order of play to the determination of victory or defeat, explaining everything in detail.

Lin Ruhai was intelligent and perceptive, and he quickly figured out how to play.

At first, he was still hesitant and cautious, carefully considering each card he played, afraid of making a mistake.

But after a few rounds of matches, players were drawn in by the tense and novel gameplay.

The restraint on his face faded, and he would occasionally concentrate on his thoughts, carefully placing his cards, revealing a rare sense of relaxation in his eyes.

After several rounds of intense battle, the sun had risen high in the sky, and most of the loose silver on the table had gathered in front of Shui Rong.

Shui Rong understood. His elder brother, the Emperor, was always competitive, and he didn't want Lin Ruhai to think he was arrogant.

In the final round, he deliberately misjudged the situation and played a useless hand, losing all his remaining silver coins to Zhu Yiheng.

Zhu Yiheng looked at the winnings on the table, his face instantly lighting up with a smile. He pushed the playing cards aside and laughed heartily:

"Good! I have won in the end!"

He reached out and grasped Lin Ruhai's wrist, full of enthusiasm.

"Minister Lin, it's getting late. Let Shui Rong clean up the mess. Today, you and Shui Rong are coming to the palace. I have already prepared a family banquet. Let's move to the warm pavilion of Qianqing Palace for our meal."

Lin Ruhai was flattered and immediately bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

Zhu Yiheng turned and instructed the head eunuch: "Go quickly to Zhongcui Palace and invite Her Majesty the Empress and Miss Lin."

"Further onwards, to the East Palace, the Southern Three Palaces, and the Wenhua Hall, the Crown Prince, the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Zhao, and several other princes were summoned."

"Tell me that today Shui Rong and Minister Lin are coming to the palace. I have prepared a family banquet. The main seat in the warm pavilion is for men, and the side room is for women. Everyone should observe proper etiquette and come immediately."

"Your servant obeys!"

The head eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then hurriedly withdrew.

His Majesty has many children. The King of Chu has already gone to his fiefdom to take up his post. Although the King of Qin and the King of Zhao have been enfeoffed as kings, they are still young and have stayed in the capital to study at the royal academy.

The seventh and ninth princes were still young and were studying in the three southern palaces. Neither of them had left the palace to establish their own residences.

The group moved to the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

The fire in the heated room was burning brightly, and the warmth, along with the fragrance of plum blossoms, wafted over, completely dispelling the chill outside.

The windows on all four sides were covered with snow-white silk, and several pots of blooming wintersweet and daffodils were placed on the windowsills, their sparse shadows casting oblique shadows and wafting fragrance.

In the center of the warm pavilion was a men's seat, with a large round rosewood table covered with a bright yellow tablecloth with dragon patterns, and official hat chairs on both sides;

A carved and gilded screen separates the area on the east side, creating a side room for the women's seating. The round table is covered with a moon-white tablecloth embroidered with phoenix patterns, and the chairs are all exquisite rose chairs.

This arrangement allows one to maintain a distance from the chairman while still being able to faintly hear laughter and conversation through the screen, thus balancing formality with the warmth of a family dinner.

The eunuchs filed in and set out the dishes in the main hall and side rooms, strictly adhering to the regulations for palace banquets, blending the flavors of Jiangnan with the exquisite delicacies of aristocratic families.

Before long, Empress Xu, holding Lin Daiyu's hand, took the lead and entered the side room of the warm pavilion.

Daiyu had already removed her heavy court robes as a prospective princess and changed into a light pink silk dress, her hair adorned only with a mutton-fat magnolia hairpin given to her by the Empress.

Her veil had long been removed, revealing her clear and beautiful features, and her slender figure like a tender willow in the wind.

She followed closely beside the Empress, her brows furrowed with a touch of shyness befitting a young lady from a noble family. She lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully towards the Chairman.

Only then did he follow the Empress to the side room and take his seat.

The Ninth Prince should have been seated in the men's section, but because of his young age, the Empress kept him in the side room to look after him, and he sat obediently next to Daiyu.

"Your Majesty, I, along with Miss Lin and the Seventh Prince, pay our respects."

Empress Xu's gentle voice came from the side room. Though separated by a screen, her manners were impeccable, yet she did not appear distant.

No need for formalities.

Zhu Yiheng smiled and raised his hand, "Is the heater in the side room enough? If it's too cold, have the eunuch add another one."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The warmth is just right."

Empress Xu smiled and agreed, then turned to serve Daiyu a spoonful of crab roe tofu, and said softly.

"Sister Lin, please don't stand on ceremony. We're all family here today. Just try this crab roe tofu made by the imperial chef. It's incredibly fresh and tender."

Daiyu quickly nodded her thanks, holding the silver spoon between her fingers as she ate in small bites, her initial restraint gradually fading.

At that moment, steady footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

The crown prince, dressed in a black brocade robe and wearing a jade crown, entered first, followed closely by the King of Qin and the King of Zhao. The three of them bowed in greeting.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise, everyone, and take your seats."

Zhu Yiheng nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze falling on the Crown Prince, and instructed, "There's no need to be overly formal at today's family banquet. Have a good chat with your younger brothers, your uncles, and Minister Lin."

The Crown Prince straightened up and expressed his gratitude according to etiquette, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the screen on the east side—where the Empress and Daiyu had just exchanged greetings.

He vaguely heard Daiyu's delicate voice, and at that moment he subconsciously looked up and glanced quickly at the side room through the carved gaps in the screen.

That glance was extremely fast, but it was fleeting.

He happened to catch a glimpse of Daiyu eating with her eyes downcast; her skin was as white as snow, and her delicate figure exuded a charming and pitiful air.

He was slightly startled and subconsciously withdrew his gaze, his expression remaining dignified and composed. He bowed and took his seat, the whole process taking only a moment, without even the King of Qin beside him noticing.

But this fleeting glance did not escape Shui Rong's eyes.

Ever since Daiyu entered the side room, Shui Rong had been keeping a close eye on the direction of the screen, fearing that she might be impolite or mistreated since she was new to the palace.

The Crown Prince's fleeting gaze, though subtle and restrained, carried an unusual intensity and fell precisely into his eyes.

Shui Rong paused slightly as he picked up the teacup, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim. A barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He then regained his gentle expression, as if he had not seen anything.

He looked up at the main table, where Zhu Yiheng and Lin Ruhai were chatting idly about the salt administration and people's lives in Jiangnan, laughing and talking.

Empress Xu was chatting and laughing with Daiyu while serving dishes in the side room. Her voice was gentle and soft. Neither the Emperor nor the Empress noticed the Crown Prince's fleeting loss of composure.

Lin Ruhai sat beside Shui Rong, focused on answering the emperor's questions, completely unaware of the crown prince's unusual behavior, and even less aware of the turmoil in Shui Rong's heart.

After the King of Qin and the King of Zhao took their seats, they chatted and laughed in hushed tones with the Ninth Prince (who had just been summoned back to the men's seats from the side room by the eunuchs), discussing the recent lessons at the royal academy. The atmosphere at the table became increasingly harmonious.

Zhu Yiheng picked up the wine pot, personally poured Lin Ruhai a cup of warm jujube wine, and laughed loudly:

"Minister Lin, you must be tired from your journey. Today, at this family banquet, there is no distinction between ruler and subject. Please enjoy yourselves and drink to your heart's content."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Lin Ruhai quickly stood up, accepted the wine cup with both hands, and bowed to express his gratitude.

In the side room, Empress Xu held Daiyu's hand and gently instructed her:

"When attending banquets in the palace in the future, female guests should sit in the side seats. Remember not to move freely to the main seat. When bowing to others, simply indicate your presence through the screen. Do not be impolite."

Daiyu nodded quickly: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. I will remember them."

The Empress smiled and added another piece of auspicious cake to her plate: "Silly child, why are you being so polite with your older sister?"

Inside the warm pavilion, the aromas of wine, food, and plum blossoms mingled together. The male relatives of the chairman chatted about politics and the people's sentiments, while the female relatives in the side rooms reminisced about their private lives, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

The Crown Prince sat at the table, seemingly focused on his conversation with his father and uncle, occasionally responding to his younger brothers' jokes, but deep down he was still thinking about that fleeting glimpse of a figure from earlier.

He suppressed the strange flutter in his heart, but the more he restrained himself, the clearer that delicate and beautiful figure became in his mind, lingering there.

The family dinner proceeded in a warm and affectionate atmosphere, with laughter and conversation mingling both inside and outside the screen, creating a cozy and welcoming ambiance.

Unbeknownst to anyone, that fleeting glance had already planted a seed of vigilance in Shui Rong's heart and left an inappropriate ripple in the Crown Prince's mind.