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

Before the snowstorm had subsided overnight, news of the assassination attempt on Prince Bei Jing spread like wildfire throughout the Forbidden City.

Inside the Imperial Study, the bright yellow candles burned all night. The current Emperor Zhu Yiheng, dressed in casual clothes, paced back and forth with a solemn expression, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist.

The assassination of a prince right under the emperor's nose was not only a challenge to imperial power, but also disrupted the carefully maintained balance of power in the court.

He tacitly allowed Prince Zhongshun Zhang Shixun to fight against Shui Rong, intending to use the two to balance the power of various factions, but he never thought that it would cause a bloodbath.

Although Shui Rong was not his brother, he was considered half a brother because of the friendship between his mother and the late emperor in his early years. Moreover, he was known for his elegance and indifference to worldly affairs and never coveted power. How could he not be angry at such a person suffering such a misfortune?

The following morning, a bright yellow imperial edict, accompanied by a biting cold wind, was urgently delivered to the Prince of Beijing's residence.

Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, wore a prince's crown robe, with four five-clawed white pythons embroidered on the black satin surface, and the pearls adorning it gleamed warmly in the morning light.

He had a handsome face, with a hint of thinness from a long illness between his brows, yet his noble air remained undiminished.

Steward Zhao Zhong was already bowing and standing below the steps. Seeing him come out, he hurriedly stepped forward to reply:

"Your Highness, the carriages and horses are ready. This old servant has already sent someone to find Mr. Qin Ye and Mr. Qin Zhong."

Shui Rong nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard of the Prince's mansion. Among the vermilion railings and jade steps, he rarely saw any female members of the household.

Only a few wintersweet trees were in full bloom, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air, making the palace appear even more serene and luxurious.

After calming everyone in the mansion, he ordered his steward to prepare a carriage, and with two personal attendants, he drove straight to the palace.

The imperial carriage rolled over the snow and slowly entered the Meridian Gate.

As soon as I stepped into the Taihe Hall Square, I saw Zhu Yiheng personally come out to greet me. He was wearing a dragon robe, and his face was dignified but could not hide his concern.

He strode forward and grabbed Shui Rong's hand, his palm warm and firm with the strength of an emperor, his voice urgent:

"My dear brother, are you alright? I heard you were assassinated at the Jia residence yesterday, and I couldn't sleep a wink all night!"

"Your Majesty is too kind. I was lucky and only suffered some minor injuries. I am not seriously hurt."

Shui Rong bowed slightly, speaking respectfully, but his gaze subtly swept over the Emperor's back.

Several women in palace attire stood under the corridor of the Imperial Study, with the Noble Consort Jia Yuanchun at the head.

She wore a pomegranate red palace dress with gold trim, the collar and cuffs embroidered with lotus scrolls, the gold threads flowing in the morning light, making her skin appear as white as snow, like the finest mutton fat jade.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn water, and her almond-shaped eyes held the dignified composure of a woman from a noble family.

However, a trace of unyielding anxiety lingered in the corners of his eyes and brows, and his lips were tightly pressed together beneath his upturned nose, revealing his inner unease—the safety of the Jia family now rested entirely on the words of this prince.

Zhu Yiheng snorted coldly, pulled Shui Rong towards the imperial study, his tone full of impatience:

"That bunch of good-for-nothings in the Jia family! A family that made great contributions to the founding of the nation, they couldn't even protect a banquet, letting assassins in. They're utterly stupid!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"My worthy brother should have listened to me long ago and avoided associating with these rotten fools! The remnants of the old Nine Thousand Years' legacy have not yet been wiped out, yet they rely on the achievements of our ancestors, disregarding ethics and moral principles. What difference is there between them and pigs and dogs?"

Shui Rong chuckled inwardly, but his expression became even more respectful: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. However, although the Jia family has declined, they are still descendants of founding heroes, and can still somewhat appease the hearts of the old ministers. Moreover, I can share Your Majesty's burdens and keep a check on Prince Zhongshun in a timely manner."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian's eyes flashed with surprise, then he burst into laughter and patted Shui Rong on the shoulder:

"Haha, as expected of my wise brother! You truly understand my thoughts best!"

He pulled Shui Rong to a seat, waved for the palace servants to serve tea, and, glancing across the corridor, instructed Jia Yuanchun:

"Yuan Chun, you may leave now. I have state affairs to discuss with Prince Bei Jing."

Jia Yuanchun curtsied and turned to leave, her skirt sweeping across the snow, leaving behind a slender silhouette.

She knew in her heart that the Emperor's dissatisfaction with the Jia family was already evident, and the attitude of Prince Bei Jing today was the life or death line for the Jia family.

On the other side of the corridor, a woman dressed in a light purple palace gown stood quietly. It was Li Ping'er, who had recently gained the Emperor's favor. Her eyes were charming, and her gaze drifted towards the Imperial Study, a hint of inquiry hidden in her eyes.

Was the assassination attempt on the usually indifferent Prince Bei Jing truly just an accident?

Inside the imperial study, Zhu Yiheng personally picked up a repeating crossbow from the table and handed it to Shui Rong:

"Look, my dear brother, this is a new repeating crossbow that I ordered the Ministry of Works to make. It can fire seven arrows in a row in an instant, and its power is immense."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening. "I've heard that your shops are currently developing a type of controllable gunpowder. Is that true?"

Shui Rong took the repeating crossbow, examined it carefully for a moment, then slowly shook his head, his tone tinged with melancholy:

"Your Majesty is wise, and I do indeed have this intention. However, the research and development of gunpowder is extremely difficult, and several attempts have ended in failure. To create a controllable substance is truly a long and arduous task."

He knew perfectly well that the Emperor's Embroidered Uniform Guard was everywhere in the capital, so his research and development of gunpowder could not be kept secret.

But he had already calculated that what the emperor wanted was not gunpowder itself, but his attitude that "his ambitions lay elsewhere".

As expected, upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian showed no disappointment, but instead smiled with relief:

"It's alright, this matter can't be rushed. You've never been greedy for power or position, and you've devoted yourself to studying these strange and ingenious skills, which is quite peaceful for you."

Zhu Yiheng did indeed breathe a sigh of relief.

The reason he did not distance himself from Shui Rong was because the prince was known for his "indifference to fame and fortune," which was completely different from those members of the royal family who were vying for power and profit.

As for appointing Zhang Shixun as the Prince of Zhongshun, it was merely a temporary measure.

After some of the royal titles were stripped away, the border regions needed to be guarded. Although the kings of other surnames had power, they had no hereditary right. They could be dismissed under some pretext in the future, and there was no risk of backlash.

Shui Rong placed the repeating crossbow back on the table, his tone sincere:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I only wish to live a peaceful life and share Your Majesty's burdens. As for this assassination attempt, I believe Your Majesty will surely uncover the truth and bring me justice."

"Of course!"

Zhu Yiheng said in a deep voice, "I have ordered the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Embroidered Uniform Guard to cooperate in a thorough investigation! No matter who is instigated, even if it involves princes and nobles, I will not tolerate it!"

He paused, his gaze falling on the bandage on Shui Rong's arm, his tone softening:

"My dear brother has just suffered a misfortune, and his health is of utmost importance. He should return home today to rest and recuperate."

Shui Rong rose to express his gratitude and turned to leave the imperial study.

As soon as I stepped out of the snow-covered courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, I saw Jia Yuanchun hurrying up to greet me. The hem of her palace dress swept across the remaining snow on the ground, making a soft, rustling sound.

She curtsied again, bowing deeply, her voice filled with barely concealed urgency, yet deliberately lowered:

"Your Highness, please tell me, what about my Jia family...?"

Shui Rong stopped and looked at her fingers, which were tightly gripping her palace dress, the tips of which were white from the force.

His expression remained calm and composed; he merely smiled and did not reply.

Then, his gaze passed over Jia Yuanchun and fell on the other side of the corridor.

There stood a woman dressed in a light purple palace gown embroidered with crabapple blossoms; she was none other than Li Ping'er, who had recently gained the Emperor's favor.

She possessed a captivatingly alluring face, with fair skin that had a rosy glow, long, slender eyebrows, and slightly upturned eyes that exuded a natural, seductive charm.

Her peach blossom eyes seemed to hold autumn water, and her every glance conveyed a myriad of emotions.

Her nose was small and straight, and her lips were full, painted with light rouge, making her look even more delicate.

At this moment, she was looking this way with a half-smile, her eyes holding a hint of inquiry and amusement.

Jia Yuanchun followed Shui Rong's gaze and saw him looking at Li Ping'er, and her heart skipped a beat.

She was so intelligent that she instantly understood the meaning behind Shui Rong's smile.

Shui Rong withdrew his gaze, nodded slightly to Jia Yuanchun, and spoke in a calm tone:

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Having said that, he didn't linger and turned to walk straight out of the palace gate.

As Jia Yuanchun watched his retreating figure, she felt a mix of emotions. Her anxiety subsided, replaced by a sense of understanding.

She composed herself, straightened her palace attire, and walked towards Li Ping'er under the eaves, a gentle smile appearing on her face, her voice soft:

"Sister Ping'er, it's cold today, why are you standing here?"

Li Ping'er withdrew her probing gaze, curtsied to Jia Yuanchun in return, and spoke in a voice as sweet and charming as a nightingale's song:

"Greetings, Your Highness. I was just out for some fresh air when I unexpectedly ran into you."

The two stood side by side under the eaves. The wind and snow blew, stirring up the snowflakes on the ground, but could not hide the fleeting probing and estrangement in each other's eyes.