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

Outside the hanging flower gate of the Prince of Beijing's mansion, the cold wind swirled the remaining snow and lashed against the base of the palace walls, making a soft, mournful sound.

Zhu Changming stepped out of the mansion gate, then paused, instinctively glancing back at the vermilion gate and the armored soldiers standing solemnly beside it.

A complex emotion flashed in her eyes, and she leaned closer to Zhu Changjun, her voice low and tinged with urgency and probing:

"Brother, are we... really not going to report what happened today to Father?"

"Uncle Wang's blatant display of ambition—those two books, those words—are naked evidence of treason!"

Zhu Changjun raised his hand and gently rubbed his younger brother's hair, his fingertips carrying a hint of solemnity.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping over the passersby outside the Prince's mansion. Confirming that no one was watching, he slowly spoke, his voice filled with helplessness and clarity:

"How are you going to report this? Take these two 'tampered books' to Father Emperor?"

He pointed to the "Commodity Economics" book and the military training manual that the two men were carrying, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"Today's events were a miscalculation on my part; I underestimated Uncle Wang."

"From the moment we stepped into the Prince's mansion alone, we were already at a disadvantage, with no room for resistance whatsoever."

He paused, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes, and his voice grew even deeper:

"As for reporting him, brother, I advise you to give up that idea as soon as possible."

"We both know that with Uncle Wang's methods, we have no way to resist, and as he said, we only have one life."

"Moreover, Uncle Wang dares to play his cards so openly, making no attempt to hide his ambition. Do you think that's all he has to rely on?"

"He must be hiding an even more powerful trump card, but he just hasn't revealed it yet."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changming nodded solemnly and replied, "Your Majesty is right. I was just asking casually."

Yet, deep within his eyes, a profound sense of adoration quietly rose, a light so well hidden that only he himself knew it.

The world generally believed that Prince Zhao, Zhu Changming, coveted the throne and was maneuvering with the Crown Prince and Prince Qin.

But only he himself knew that he had little enthusiasm for that supreme dragon throne.

From a young age, he admired the strong—he admired his elder brother Zhu Changjun, who had always protected him, and he admired his father's majesty.

But only today did he truly witness what a real strongman is.

Shui Rong was audacious enough to speak frankly about his schemes in front of the prince;

His frankness and straightforwardness were unlike those of others who were hypocritical and evasive.

His composure and confidence meant that even with the power of life and death in his hands, he was willing to let his brothers go.

Putting himself in Shui Rong's shoes, if he knew someone had discovered his secrets and ambitions, he would definitely eliminate them completely and leave no future trouble.

But Shui Rong did the opposite, providing them with a ladder to climb while also subtly intimidating them. This control earned his deepest admiration.

Zhu Changjun, standing to the side, felt no admiration for his younger brother; instead, he was filled with indescribable fear and anxiety.

He looked down at the training manual in his arms, his fingertips turning white from the pressure, his desire for power growing stronger.

Today's confrontation at the Prince's mansion made him clearly realize that, in the face of absolute power and cunning...

His so-called "disguise" and "scheming" were nothing but self-deception, and he had no power to resist whatsoever—how ironic this was for someone who always prided himself on his abilities!

He was now eager to go to Jizhou.

The military power of the border troops in Jizhou was the only straw he could grasp to counter the Crown Prince and escape his sense of powerlessness.

Only by holding military power could he gain a foothold in the treacherous court and stop being manipulated by others.

The two brothers, each lost in their own thoughts, walked silently through the remaining snow back to their respective homes.

The secrets they heard and the ambitions they glimpsed at the Prince of Beijing's residence today were carefully hidden in their hearts, becoming an unspoken secret that no one dared to mention easily again.

Meanwhile, in the study of the Prince of Beijing's mansion, Shui Rong was bending over in front of a huge map, his fingertips dipped in water, repeatedly drawing on the map.

The contents of the map were already etched into his mind, yet he still repeatedly stroked it, unwilling to stop.

"King Zhao...Crown Prince..."

Shui Rong murmured softly, her fingertips hovering over the location of the capital city, her eyes filled with worry.

"Can Chang Ming alone truly form a check and balance against the Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince has the support of the Xu family of Liaodong, whose power is deeply rooted, while the Prince of Zhao is still young and his maternal clan is weak. Even with the support of the Commodity Economy, it will be difficult for him to rise to power in a short period of time.

If the Prince of Zhao cannot withstand the Crown Prince's suppression and the balance of power in the capital collapses, then after he goes south, he will be caught between enemies on both sides.

"It seems we still need to prepare for both possibilities."

Shui Rong slowly straightened up, turning his gaze to the direction of Jiangnan on the map, and murmured to himself.

"The Jia family, the Jia family, what choice will you ultimately make? Will you go with the flow, using my power to consolidate your own position, or will you cling to your old aristocratic pride, remain on the sidelines, and ultimately become discarded pawns?"

Compared to the uncertainties in Beijing, Shui Rong was not too worried about heading south to Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

He had already mastered the Jiangzhe dialect and gang slang that Lin Ruhai had taught him, so even when he went deep into the city, he could deal with things calmly without revealing his identity.

But he also knew that the South was ultimately not as bright and stable as the North.

The north was under pressure from border wars and was directly controlled by the capital, where the laws were relatively strict, which actually made them, as members of the imperial family, feel safer.

But the situation in the South was different. Ever since the Prince of Jing'an died mysteriously in his fiefdom of Yanzhou...

The situation in the south became increasingly complex and unpredictable, with local warlords carving up the country, officials colluding with each other, and江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) forces deeply entrenched.

All the princes and dukes who came before him avoided the south, fearing that they would bring trouble upon themselves.

Although his elder brother had already issued an edict temporarily entrusting him with the military command of the three provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hubei, he dared not let his guard down.

The waters in the south are too deep. The former subordinates of Prince Jing'an, the power of local gentry, and even potential rebels are all hidden dangers that he needs to deal with. Necessary preparations cannot be neglected.

"Daiyu..."

Shui Rong's fingertips landed on Suzhou, a calculating glint in her eyes.

"Taking you south isn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision."

Suddenly, a eunuch dressed in a blue round-necked robe rushed from the corridor, his steps hurried but deliberately light.

Upon reaching the study door, he first bowed to steady his breathing, then gently pushed the door open and entered.

He leaned close to Shui Rong, lowered his voice, and reported, his tone carrying a barely perceptible respect:

"Your Highness, Eunuch Li from the palace has arrived. He doesn't seem to be in a hurry and is now waiting for you to summon him in the main hall."

"Eunuch Li?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Shui Rong's eyes, but she quickly concealed it, her expression returning to its usual calm and composure. "I understand. Lead the way."

Eunuch Li is a close attendant of His Majesty and does not usually leave the palace easily. His visit this time must be to convey His Majesty's will.

Before long, Shui Rong stepped into the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Eunuch Li was dressed in a dark-patterned eunuch's robe and wore a black turban.

He sat upright on a pearwood chair to one side, holding a whisk in his hand, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest. His expression was calm, just as the eunuch had said, showing no sign of urgency.

He glanced up and saw Shui Rong come in, then quickly stood up, a familiar smile spreading across his face.

He strode forward, bowed deeply to Shui Rong, and said in a high-pitched but respectful voice, "This servant, Li Fuquan, pays respects to His Highness Prince Bei Jing!"

Shui Rong raised his hand in a gesture of support, his tone gentle: "Please rise, Eunuch Li. We are old acquaintances; why are you suddenly being so polite today?"

He had dealt with Li Fuquan for many years and knew that this eunuch, though seemingly easygoing, was actually very insightful and held considerable influence around the emperor. He was someone who could not be offended.

"Oh dear, my little prince, please don't flatter this humble servant!"

Eunuch Li straightened up, smiled, waved his hand, flicked his whisk, and stepped aside.

"This servant is here today by His Majesty's decree; how dare I break the rules?"

Having said that, he cleared his throat, his expression suddenly becoming solemn. He took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his robes, unfolded it, and proclaimed in a loud voice...

"By imperial decree, Prince Shui Rong of Beijing is to be summoned to the palace immediately to accompany the foreign guests. This is the imperial decree!"

Shui Rong bowed respectfully and received the imperial decree: "Your subject, Shui Rong, receives the decree and will act accordingly."

After Shui Rong stood up, Eunuch Li put away the imperial edict, his smile returning, and leaned closer to whisper:

"Young Prince, you have no idea how happy His Majesty is today!"

"Right now, he's chatting with envoys from various countries in the main hall, and when they got to the envoy from Jiaozhi..."

"I suddenly remembered that you have never met these foreign guests, so I specially sent me to summon you to the palace so that the envoys can see the majesty of our Great Yin Dynasty's royal family."

Shui Rong nodded slowly, already understanding.

His Majesty's move was not only to make him appear in public and demonstrate the dignity of the imperial family, but it was also likely a test—after all, he had just accepted the mission to go south to investigate a case.

Furthermore, given that he holds military power in three provinces, His Majesty will inevitably use the occasion of foreign guests to observe his demeanor and attitude.

He reached into his sleeve and took out a stack of pre-prepared silver notes.

With a flick of her fingertips, she smoothly slipped the item into Eunuch Li's pocket, her movements fluid and natural, her tone remaining calm: "Thank you for making this trip, sir. You must have had a long journey."

Eunuch Li felt the thickness of the silver note with his fingertips, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, but he made no sound of it.

He simply adjusted his robes without making a sound, bowed to Shui Rong, and said:

"Your Highness is too kind. It is all I should do. It is getting late. Your Highness should prepare quickly, change into your court robes and come to the palace with me. Do not keep His Majesty and the envoys waiting."

"Of course." Shui Rong nodded and gestured for him to enter. "Please wait a moment, Eunuch Li. I will change into my court robes and be back in a short while."

"This servant will wait for Your Highness in the main hall."

Eunuch Li smiled and agreed, then sat back down in his chair, casually placing his whisk on the ground. His expression remained calm, as if the secret social interaction had never happened.