With a swift blade stroke, Wang Jin’s struggles ceased. The Golden-Faced Dragon King sheathed his sword, lifted the mask from his face, revealing a middle-aged man, and was about to bow to Xiao Yu who was watching him, but was stopped by a hand.
Though the man had a full beard, Xiao Yu recognized him immediately and exclaimed in surprise: “General Dong?”
The Golden-Faced Dragon King was named Dong Chengmao. He had once been a former subordinate of the Duke of Wei, brave and skilled in battle, with numerous meritorious achievements. Before his death, the Duke of Wei had submitted a letter recommending Dong Chengmao to Emperor Tianxi. Later, during the years spanning Emperor Tianxi’s and the Young Emperor’s reigns, Dong Chengmao had always held important positions. When the Young Emperor was reported to have died accidentally and the Prince of Shun’an ascended the throne, Dong Chengmao was stripped of his position on fabricated charges of conspiracy and was escorted back to the capital in chains for trial. On the way, he was rescued by his former subordinates, and since then there had been no news of him.
Who could have imagined that the Golden-Faced Dragon King, who had been dominant in the South Seas these past few years, was the former General Dong?
Dong Chengmao was also deeply moved. After exchanging a few words, he said: “Your Majesty, I have been secretly searching for your whereabouts all these years but never received any news. Fortunately, the Young Master never gave up, and he arrived just in time this time, having made arrangements beforehand. Otherwise, Dong Chengmao would deserve a thousand deaths for failing you!”
Recalling the dangerous scene from earlier, Dong Chengmao was still fearful and wanted to apologize again, but Xiao Yu quickly stopped him. Dong Chengmao then said: “Your Majesty, Young Master, please wait here a moment. I’ll go gather everyone.” With that, he turned and hurried away.
Xiao Yu turned to Pei You’an: “Lesser Tutor, how did you know I was here?”
Pei You’an said: “The Brocade Guards’ intelligence network is extraordinary. Watching them is like having eyes and ears of our own. But they operate very secretively, and their hierarchy is strict with information kept classified. Unless superiors want subordinates to know, even inside sources might not always obtain accurate intelligence. When Wang Jin came to Quanzhou, why would he make such a fuss about having merchants report registries if he wanted to arrest people? He could have just taken everyone away directly. Moreover, he even targeted the Jin family, creating quite a commotion, which was very unlike his usual approach. I suspected he had discovered something and was deliberately baiting a trap. His action was a double-edged sword—though it successfully drew you out as he hoped, it also completely exposed his intentions, giving me an opportunity. By following his trail, I found you.”
Xiao Yu’s face and body were still dripping wet, and when a night breeze blew, he shivered.
Pei You’an immediately removed his outer robe.
“No, no, Lesser Tutor, your own health is important. I’m not cold…” Xiao Yu quickly declined.
Pei You’an smiled slightly: “It’s fine. I can withstand this bit of wind. Your clothes are wet, and you shouldn’t catch cold.” As he spoke, the robe was already draped over Xiao Yu’s shoulders, and he fastened the belt for him.
The robe was warm, seemingly still carrying his body heat. Xiao Yu gazed at Pei You’an, motionless, with tears gradually glistening in his eyes.
“…Thank you, Lesser Tutor. I was too foolish to have fallen for his trap…”
Pei You’an shook his head: “Your Majesty need not belittle yourself. Wang Jin has operated for many years with countless schemes and plots that are impossible to guard against. How could Your Majesty have imagined his cunning? Though young, Your Majesty has great wisdom. Despite being mired in difficulties, you have not forgotten your pure heart. If the Late Emperor knows this from heaven, he would surely be comforted.”
After consoling the young man, he continued: “The Prince of Shun’an is determined to eliminate the Third Prince, but the Prince is no easy target. Soon there might be a battle, with complex circumstances and uncertain outcomes. You cannot reveal yourself yet, and Quanzhou is no longer safe. Follow Uncle Dong for now, and wait for my news, alright?”
“I will follow Lesser Tutor’s arrangements in everything,” Xiao Yu immediately said, then paused and added: “Lesser Tutor will always be my Lesser Tutor, but I am no longer emperor. Please don’t call me ‘Your Majesty’ anymore; just call me Yu’er. Besides, being emperor or not matters little to me now. Lesser Tutor has not abandoned me all these years, and today you saved me again—this is the greatest loyalty you could show to my father. I do not want Lesser Tutor to put yourself in danger for my sake. Do you promise?”
Pei You’an looked at the young man, seeing him gazing up with a solemn expression and sincere eyes. Remembering how this boy would fall asleep sitting up while studying in the imperial study room when he was young, a warmth gradually rose in his heart, and he smiled with a nod.
Dong Chengmao quickly returned, saying: “Your Majesty, Young Master, we shouldn’t linger here. Let’s leave quickly.” Then, glancing at Wang Jin’s corpse on the ground, he asked: “Young Master, should we dispose of it properly?”
“Uncle Dong, can you guarantee to take His Majesty away tonight?” Pei You’an asked.
“Rest assured, Young Master, everything is arranged. There won’t be any problems.”
Pei You’an pondered for a moment, then said: “If I’m not mistaken, there should still be another group in Quanzhou City looking for His Majesty’s whereabouts. If they become suspicious, it won’t be easy to shake them off. Leave the corpse; there’s no need to dispose of it.”
He spoke somewhat vaguely. Dong Chengmao was first puzzled, but after thinking, he understood and laughed heartily: “The Young Master’s foresight is impressive! Using these corpses to hold those people up for a few days should be enough.”
Pei You’an smiled and led Xiao Yu away.
After walking a few steps, Xiao Yu hesitated, stopped, and said softly: “Lesser Tutor, if not for the Zhen family’s daughter saving me, I would have died long ago. Now that Wang Jin, who knew the Zhen family had sheltered me, is dead, and I’m leaving like this, will she be in danger?”
Pei You’an was slightly startled, then replied: “Don’t worry. There were two groups of Brocade Guards who came south. When Wang Jin arrived in Quanzhou, the other group had received the wrong information and went elsewhere to look for you. Wang Jin and that person have always competed openly and secretly to claim sole credit, never sharing information. Now that Wang Jin is dead, and the two Jin family workers who threw you into the sea and were secretly interrogated by him have also been beaten to death on the spot, no one else will know the inside story.”
Xiao Yu sighed in relief and finally smiled: “That’s good. I was just afraid of bringing trouble to her.”
Pei You’an turned to Dong Chengmao: “Uncle Dong, in the future, please take special care of the Zhen family’s ships at sea.”
Dong Chengmao replied: “Rest assured, Young Master. I would do that even without you telling me.”
Pei You’an gazed in the direction of Quanzhou City, then strode away. The group’s silhouettes quickly disappeared into the vast darkness of night.
Shortly after they left, Xiao Yintang arrived with several people, discovered the Brocade Guard corpses on the ground, and looked surprised. He stood to one side while his followers quickly searched the bodies. After a moment, a follower stood up and said: “Young Master, the bodies are clean. There’s nothing on them!”
As Xiao Yintang was pondering, a faint disturbance seemed to come with the wind from a distance. A subordinate assigned to keep watch hurriedly ran over and said: “Young Master, officials are coming!”
Xiao Yintang looked at the shadowy figures carrying torches already visible in the distance and frowned: “Scatter in different directions and don’t reveal your identities!”
…
The Lantern Festival was two days away. Normally, the city would be filled with people celebrating the festival, with an enchanting scene of trees adorned with lights and silver flowers illuminating the night. However, this year’s Lantern Festival was different. The authorities not only canceled the lantern fair and imposed a curfew, strictly prohibiting inns and households from sheltering those without travel permits, but also sealed off all city gates and ports leading to the open sea. Everyone leaving, whether on foot, by cart, or by ship, was subjected to rigorous searches. The city’s people were anxious, and rumors quietly spread through the streets and alleys that the Golden-Faced Dragon King’s men had entered the city, and the authorities were conducting massive searches for suspects. Anyone found without household registration or travel permits was to be arrested.
Jia Fu had been feeling on edge these past few days, and to make matters worse, there had been some trouble at home. It wasn’t a major issue, just frustrating. First, a few days ago, Grandmother had mentioned arranging another marriage for her grandson. Zhen Yaoting disagreed, causing several days of conflict. Additionally, according to the plan, at the end of the first lunar month, the Zhen family would launch their first large ship of the year to sail overseas. Yaoting desperately wanted to go along, but Grandmother and Madam Meng naturally forbade it. Because of these two issues, since after the New Year, the household had known no peace. Yesterday, Zhen Yaoting had gone to argue with Grandmother again, with no success. Fearing he would sneak onto the ship, Grandmother had him temporarily locked in his room, intending to release him after the ship departed. Unexpectedly, early in the morning, they discovered that the window had been pried open, and he had disappeared. People were sent out to search, and those who had left early were gradually returning, all reporting no sign of him. The city had been unstable these days, and the gatekeeper mentioned having seen officials patrolling nearby streets just now. Grandmother and Madam Meng were somewhat anxious, and Jia Fu was also worried.
The gatekeepers of the front, back, and side entrances all swore that they had absolutely not seen the young master leave, and the household had been thoroughly searched without finding him. Jia Fu wondered where he could have gone and suddenly thought of a place, so she hurried there.
The Zhen family compound was very large. In the northwest corner of the back garden was a workshop that her father had used in earlier years.
Jia Fu’s father had enjoyed woodworking since childhood, crafting various ship models. Zhen Yaoting had inherited this trait from his father and often followed him to play there as a child. Later, as her father became increasingly busy, rarely finding time to visit throughout the year, the place gradually became Zhen Yaoting’s sanctuary. He was also skilled at woodworking, but after her father’s death, the workshop had slowly fallen into disuse over the past few years. The doors were usually tightly closed, and even the servants rarely passed by.
Jia Fu rushed to the workshop and, standing at the door, heard the whispering sound of a plane shaving wood from inside. Her heart immediately eased. Peeping through the door crack, she indeed saw her brother bent over an old workbench, vigorously planing a piece of wood. Despite the cold weather, he wore only a single layer, having taken off his outer garment and casually tossed it aside, and appeared to be sweating profusely.
Jia Fu signaled for Tan Xiang to quickly inform the others to relieve Grandmother and Mother’s worries, while she pushed open the door and entered.
Seeing his sister arrive, Zhen Yaoting continued working without pausing, saying: “Sister, I know what you’re going to say. Go ahead and say it, I’m listening, just don’t disturb my work!”
Jia Fu had been quite angry initially, but after actually finding him here and seeing him sweating profusely, her heart gradually softened. She looked around, sighed, took out her handkerchief, and wiped his sweat, saying: “Brother, I’ve been wondering, why are you so determined to go to sea? Can you tell me?”
Zhen Yaoting didn’t respond and continued planing the wood with heavy breaths.
“Are you still thinking that Father didn’t die but is stranded somewhere he can’t return from, and you won’t give up until you’ve personally gone to look for him? Is that it?”
Zhen Yaoting’s hand paused.
Jia Fu sat on a pile of old timber nearby, hugging her knees, lost in thought.
At first, Zhen Yaoting continued planing the wood, but gradually his movements slowed, until he finally stopped completely, motionless.
The workshop was dimly lit, with a faint musty smell in the air. After being lost in thought for a moment, Jia Fu said: “Brother, you secretly miss our father, and so do I. I also hope he’s safe, but that’s impossible now. You can’t go on like this. There are some things I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time. Now that we have the chance, let me say it all! If you find it unpleasant, it’s because I’m telling the truth. Do you remember what happened when we passed Fuming Island on our way back before the New Year? I’m not saying you were entirely wrong then. That person was disrespectful to Uncle Zhang first, and you were right to protect him. But later, when that person had already left the ship, and those people behind him all looked like troublemakers, we were traveling away from home and should avoid trouble when possible. What’s wrong with suffering a little? But you insisted on making a scene. Fortunately, those people left on their own, otherwise who knows what might have happened.”
Zhen Yaoting snorted: “Sister, you’re wrong about this. That person provoked trouble first and even threw me to the ground. Is it my fault for cursing him a few times?”
Jia Fu said: “Could you have beaten him? Do you know who those people were? You may have satisfied your anger by cursing, but what if you offended someone we can’t afford to offend and brought harm to our entire family? What would you do then?”
Zhen Yaoting muttered: “What background could they have? In Quanzhou, who doesn’t show our family some respect?”
Jia Fu sneered: “So you only know a place as big as Quanzhou. When we went to the capital before the New Year, didn’t you gain any insight? No matter who they are, as long as they’re officials, we are already inferior to them. As for those with even a little power, if they want to harm us, it would be as easy as crushing an ant. Brother, I didn’t say anything before because you were protecting me. That day when you rushed in, demanding to see the Old Madam, and said those offensive things—if we hadn’t been lucky enough to meet someone as open-minded as the Old Madam, and somehow hit the mark accidentally, what if it had been someone else? Just try and see?”
Zhen Yaoting was startled.
“We need to establish ourselves first, become strong enough that others dare not and cannot touch you. A person must first be self-reliant before standing before others. In Quanzhou, when you go out and people hear your name and call you ‘master,’ it’s because of the family business left by our grandfather and father, not because of you. To put it bluntly, if something happened, who would respect just you alone? I won’t say more, just look at Sister Yu Zhu. You like her. She’s just a maid, but what can you do about it, brother? You can only sneak around to find her, and it’s lucky if you can exchange a few words. Not to mention whether Sister Yu Zhu is interested in you or not, even if she were, do you have the courage to go there openly and ask to take her away? You don’t!”
Zhen Yaoting’s face gradually turned red.
“It’s fine if you don’t succeed at studies, and Grandmother and Mother don’t force you anymore, but at least, brother, you should take up the responsibility of being the Zhen family’s only son, right? I still remember that day when our second cousin came, you rushed out saying that if your sister couldn’t get married, you would support her for a lifetime! Brother, having you protect me like this is truly my blessing. But Father is gone, Grandmother is old, and if you continue like this, how can I rely on you?”
As she spoke with emotion, Jia Fu’s eyes glistened with tears: “Brother, do you know why our family wanted to marry me to them before? Why does Mother treat them with such careful deference? It’s because Grandmother fears you won’t amount to anything and won’t be able to take over the Zhen family business in the future, so she thought of using me to gain a powerful backer for you! But their waters are too murky, and Mother couldn’t bear it, which is why she brought me back. Brother, if you truly want to protect me for a lifetime, then show yourself as the elder brother you should be. Stop daydreaming unrealistically, focus on doing well, and establish yourself and your career. Otherwise, even though Mother risked Grandmother’s reproach to reject this marriage proposal for me this time, there will be other families waiting for me next time. Because in our family, Grandmother has the final say. Do you understand, brother?”
Zhen Yaoting was stunned.
When his sister mentioned Yu Zhu earlier, he felt as if his heart was being pricked by a needle, and when she mentioned the Pei family marriage, it was like a blow to his head.
He had always thought his sister was lucky to marry into the Pei family, that she would become someone of high status, but he never imagined there was such a hidden story.
He was deeply ashamed, his head sinking lower and lower, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him. After a while, he finally raised his head and gritted his teeth: “Sister, say no more! I know I’ve been a mess! To have you exchange yourself for a backer for me, what kind of person am I, Zhen Yaoting? Don’t be sad anymore. I promise I will never let you suffer for me again!”
Previously, no matter how much his family scolded or reasoned with him, his brother would only agree superficially and then revert to his old ways. Jia Fu had never seen him show such shame as he did now, and she could feel that her brother’s response this time was completely different from before.
All beginnings are difficult, and even if he couldn’t change completely right away, as long as he was truly touched by this realization, it was a good start.
The depression that had been weighing on her heart for days finally began to lift. Jia Fu looked at the ship model he was working on and said: “Brother, finish this first and give it to me.”
Zhen Yaoting scratched his head: “I don’t make them as well as Father did. If you don’t mind, I’ll give it to you.”
Jia Fu said: “I like everything my brother gives me.”
Zhen Yaoting grinned and eagerly started planing again, saying: “The pieces are almost ready. Wait a bit, sister, putting it together will be quick.”
Jia Fu nodded, smiling as she rested her chin on her palm, watching him busily work. After a while, Zhen Yaoting couldn’t find his ink marker, so Jia Fu got up to help him look. She scanned the area and saw the marker had fallen near a pile of timber in the corner. She walked over, bent down to pick it up, and as she raised her head, inadvertently noticed a man’s black boot behind the pile of wood, with half the toe exposed.
Jia Fu was startled, her heart pounding. She steadied herself, about to pretend nothing had happened, and retreat when Zhen Yaoting came over and said: “It’s right by your feet, sister. Why aren’t you picking it up?”
Jia Fu grabbed the marker, stood up, turned around, and seized his arm, heading straight for the exit while saying: “Brother, I just remembered that Mother was very worried. I’ve been out looking for you for quite some time now. Perhaps we should go back first. You can finish the ship slowly and give it to me later…”
She then squeezed his arm hard and whispered quickly: “Don’t look back, don’t speak, come out with me!”
Zhen Yaoting was bewildered, but seeing his sister staring straight ahead with a tense expression, he opened his mouth and then closed it again.
Just as the two were about to exit the workshop, a voice came from behind: “Stop!”
Jia Fu’s scalp tingled. She grabbed Zhen Yaoting, who still didn’t understand what was happening, and began to run frantically toward the exit, about to cry out when a figure flashed from the side, blocking the doorway. A bright sword was placed in front of her.
Jia Fu immediately recognized him as the man who had confronted them on Fuming Island when asking about the ship!
Zhen Yaoting was initially stunned, then reacted, his eyes widening as he was about to speak, but the man had already stepped forward and struck the back of his neck with his palm. Before Zhen Yaoting could make a sound, he fainted and fell to the ground.
Jia Fu heard footsteps behind her and turned sharply to see Xiao Yintang emerging from behind the pile of wood, slowly walking toward her.
His gaze was cold and merciless, stopping on her face like knives as if to cut through her skin to the flesh beneath, yet his thin lips wore a gentle smile: “Don’t be afraid, young miss. Though I am not a kind man, as long as you follow my instructions, I promise not to harm a single hair on your body.”