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

Shui Rong rode swiftly back to the Prince of Beijing's residence. As soon as he stepped through the gate, the warmth and aroma of food, along with the festive spirit of the New Year, wafted towards him.

The mansion was already brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, with large red lanterns hanging from the eaves, casting a warm glow on the blue brick floor.

The aroma of wine and meat, along with the sweet scent of pastries wafting from the kitchen, mingled together, dispelling the winter chill.

Zhao Zhongzheng was leading his servants to greet the guests in the courtyard when he saw Shui Rong return. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with a respectful yet composed tone:

"Your Highness, the banquet in the manor is fully prepared. Qin Zhong has invited all the shopkeepers and estate managers back to the flower hall, where they are all waiting. Would you like to begin the banquet immediately?"

Shui Rong loosened the jade belt of his court robe, a hint of solemnity from his time in the palace lingering between his brows, which he quickly concealed, and nodded slightly.

"Let's begin. Go up on stage as usual and say a few polite words to reassure everyone."

He paused, then added his instructions.

"I'm going to my study to write down a few important things so I don't forget them later."

"Let the managers eat and drink to their hearts' content. Except for those three jars of aged wine from the time of Emperor Taizu, take out all the wine from the cellar and let the wine lovers enjoy themselves to the fullest."

"If anyone has business or family matters to report, or encounters difficulties, they can simply go to my study to find me."

"Your servant obeys!" Zhao Zhong bowed and replied, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Shui Rong said no more and turned to walk straight to the study.

His mind was now preoccupied with the changes in the north: the mysterious goddess, the early appearance of sweet potatoes, and the ambitions of the Tatars and Oirats—none of these could be delayed.

Stepping into the study, he closed the door behind him, walked to the bookshelf, and pressed a hidden compartment. A stone wall slowly slid open, revealing a small, secret room.

Hanging in the center of the secret room was a huge map of the world, with mountains, rivers, prefectures, important towns, and tribal territories marked densely.

Shui Rong raised his hand and gently pulled a dangling cotton thread, causing the blank space at the bottom of the map to slowly unfold, revealing the area in the heart of the grassland.

He took a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote the two characters "Goddess" heavily at the center of the border between the Tatar and Oirat territories. His brushstrokes were sharp and carried a sense of solemnity.

They also labeled "sweet potato" and "potato" on the side.

He drew a large circle, the ink spreading out like a heavy stone pressing down on the map.

"Emperor Taizu went to great lengths to drive the Mongol tribes back to the grasslands, cutting off their agriculture and forcing them into nomadic life, thus rendering them unable to migrate south for a century..."

Shui Rong murmured to himself, his fingertips tracing the grasslands on the map, his eyes filled with confusion and worry.

"Only a little over a hundred years have passed, and a goddess has descended from the heavens, bringing with her crops that would not have been introduced to the Central Plains for more than ten years. How could such a bizarre thing happen in this world?"

As a time traveler, he was well aware of the constraints of time and space. Even though he had traveled to this world, he never thought he could bring objects from the future into the present.

"Even a reclusive master could not possibly conjure high-yield crops out of thin air... Just who is this goddess?"

Shui Rong was completely baffled, his brow furrowed, until a feeling of tightness rose in his chest, at which point he barely managed to suppress the turmoil in his heart and comfort himself.

"That's enough. The Great Yin has been established for a hundred years. Its army is strong and its foundation is deep. Even if the Mongol power increases, it will not be easy to shake this behemoth."

Stepping out of the secret room, faint sounds of laughter and cheerful chatter could be heard from the front yard outside the study.

Shui Rong straightened his robes and stepped out of the study. He saw that in the open space in front of the flower hall, the shopkeepers were sitting in groups of three or five, raising their cups, chatting and laughing, their faces full of joy.

Looking at this lively scene, Shui Rong's heavy heart dissipated a bit, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared on his lips—regardless of the political turmoil in the court or the dangers in the north, this moment of peace was truly precious.

He slowed his pace and walked up to the high platform in the center of the flower hall.

A sharp-eyed shopkeeper spotted him in his moon-white brocade robe, his figure tall and upright. He immediately rose, cupped his hands, and shouted, "Greetings, Your Highness! Long live the Prince!"

Upon hearing this, the other shopkeepers all rose and bowed in unison, their voices filled with reverence.

Shui Rong raised his hand and said loudly, "Please, everyone, no need for formalities. Today's banquet is simply to reward everyone for your hard work throughout the year, and it can also be considered as the Prince's Mansion wishing you all a Happy New Year in advance."

"Please sit down, eat and drink well, no need to stand on ceremony."

After everyone was seated, Shui Rong added, "The end of the year is just a few days away. After the New Year, I will set off for the south to oversee important matters."

"You will need to pay close attention to the business affairs of the Prince's Mansion in the capital, the matters concerning the estates, and the movements in various places. If there are any abnormalities, please report them to Zhao Zhong or Qin Zhong in a timely manner."

"Your Highness, I obey your command! I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

The shopkeepers below echoed in unison, and a few of the quick-witted ones immediately stood up, cupped their hands in greeting, and smiled:

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Your Highness is embarking on a journey to the south on the Emperor's orders. This is a sign of His Majesty's high regard for you and the nation's reliance on you. We wish Your Highness a safe journey and a successful return!"

These shopkeepers were all shrewd individuals who had spent many years navigating the world of martial arts and the marketplace. They naturally understood that a prince would never be sent to such a wealthy and complex region as the south to oversee important matters unless he was deeply trusted—this clearly indicated that the power of the Prince of Beijing was quietly expanding.

Shui Rong was fully aware of this, but simply nodded slightly and said nothing more: "Thank you all for your kind words. Please enjoy your drinks."

Having said that, he stepped down from the platform, found a quiet corner to sit down, and placed a pot of warm wine and several small dishes on the table.

Beside me stood a blooming red plum tree, snowflakes gently falling on its petals, creating a serene and elegant scene.

Shui Rong poured himself a drink, watching the lively scene before him, enjoying this moment of solitude and leisure. The fatigue of the past few days gradually dissipated in the aroma of wine and plum blossoms.

But this leisurely time did not last long. A light footstep came from the gate of the Prince's Mansion, breaking the tranquility of the corner.

A handsome young man dressed in a soft blue python robe walked in with a dignified air, holding a plain folding fan and a cheerful smile on his face.

Seeing this, the gatekeeper not only did not stop him, but bowed and watched as the young man walked straight toward the table where Shui Rong was—the person who came was none other than Prince Zhao, Zhu Changming, who had just left the palace that morning.

"Uncle Wang, why are you drinking alone here all by yourself?"

Zhu Changming walked to the table, his voice gentle yet slightly mischievous, "The banquets in the palace are so lively, with fine wine and beautiful women all around, isn't that enough for you to enjoy?"

Shui Rong looked up at him, a hint of a smile in her eyes, and pointed to the chair opposite her:

"What brings you here? And what's with the cold weather? What are you trying to impress by fanning yourself with a fan?"

"Furthermore, instead of helping the Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin entertain the foreign guests, you sneaked into my residence. I'm afraid you have ulterior motives?"

As he spoke, he reached out and snatched the folding fan from Zhu Changming's hand. Although there were no words or paintings on the fan, it was made of superior material, warm to the touch. Shui Rong weighed it in his hand and joked.

"It's a fine fan, but it's a waste that it's in the hands of a show-off like you."

Zhu Changming wasn't annoyed. He sat down casually, glanced at Shui Rong's robes, and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"Uncle Wang, how dare you say that to me? You always wear either moon white or dark blue; you don't have any other colors in your wardrobe, do you? I'm just curious, why don't you like brighter colors at all?"

Shui Rong poured himself a glass of wine, took a small sip, and spoke with a hint of self-deprecation:

"Me? What color can I wear? Like the old Prince of Dongping in his bright yellow python robe?"

"I'm afraid that before I even put it on, your brother and the crown prince will have already had my head taken off and used as a sacrifice to our ancestors."

Zhu Changming chuckled, picked up the wine pot on the table, poured himself a cup like Shui Rong, and said:

"The old prince is highly senior, having served three emperors. He distinguished himself in quelling the rebellion in the southwest and guarding the northern frontier, which is why Father Emperor specially granted him permission to wear the bright yellow python robe. What other person has that kind of good fortune?"

Shui Rong looked up at him, a hint of probing flashing in her eyes:

"What, not going to fawn over Prince Ping'an anymore? I just scolded you this morning, and now you're coming over again? Haven't you had enough of being scolded?"

Zhu Changming picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, the smile on his face faded slightly, but his eyes became clearer, and his tone carried a hint of certainty:

"Uncle, after returning to the palace, I thought about it for a long time, and I still feel that you were trying to scare me and my brother this morning."

He looked directly into Shui Rong's eyes and said without fear.

"I don't believe you didn't gamble with this move—you gambled that my brother and I wouldn't report you."

"After all, you hold our brothers' weaknesses in your hands, and you also have the power to check the Crown Prince. We have no reason to be your enemy."

"Besides, there are only a few days left until the New Year. Once you set off for the south after the New Year, who can force you to return to Beijing, or when you return?"

Upon hearing this, Shui Rong suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter hearty, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

He picked up the wine pot and refilled Zhu Changming's cup, his tone ambiguous:

"Ming'er, drinking and talking nonsense like this is a capital offense. You're young, but you're quite quick-witted."

Seeing his evasive manner, Zhu Changming smiled knowingly, took a sip of wine, and spoke casually, as if it were just a casual remark, yet every word was precise:

"I must say, Uncle Wang, the wine in your residence is truly excellent. By the way, I heard that you also hold Qin Keqing, the young lady from Cining Temple, in high regard?"

"I wonder if Minister Qin is aware that this whole affair was orchestrated by you?"