Mo Zi was speechless for a long while, then sighed. “I’ve discovered Heaven is truly unfair to me. As long as it’s valuable good things, including silver, they can’t stay in my hands for long. Do you know how much money, how much effort, how much material and manpower I spent on this ship?”

Yuan Cheng smiled faintly. “I know.”

“You don’t know.” Mo Zi shook her head. “I feared the Emperor’s suspicion, so I only reported five thousand taels of silver to the Supervision Bureau. Even so, the Grand Eunuch hesitated when stamping it. In fact, just the glass panels in the secret cabin alone, adding them all up, cost three to four thousand taels, not counting the ebony protection, great crossbows, catapults…”

“Mo Zi.” Yuan Cheng interrupted her. “Let’s burn it.”

“Yes, what else can we do if we don’t burn it?” Mo Zi’s mind was clear. “There’s a traitor by Xiao Wei’s side, so all the weapons on this ship are exposed. If Wu Chengwan is even slightly clever, he’ll use this to claim credit or take it for himself. We must burn it, and burn it cleanly, leaving not a speck of ash. I’m just complaining a bit. After burning it, then what?”

“I’ll return to the capital first. Leave things here to you—don’t say anything to the others. You can have Wei Jia send a message to Xiao Wei. Their ship has the future Crown Princess, so they definitely can’t go fast. You just wait here for him a few days, then return to the capital together after meeting up. This way, I have time to make arrangements, and you also have time to handle some other matters.” When Yuan Cheng suggested burning the ship, he already had a plan.

“Handle other matters?” Mo Zi’s eyes rolled in a circle. “You really know quite a lot.”

“What should be acknowledged has been acknowledged, what should be done has been done—it’s time to think about your poor second brother. If we drag it out too long, I’m afraid he’ll use every means possible.” Yuan Cheng’s words still had underlying meaning.

Mo Zi still understood. She froze. “So soon?”

“Before those people in Great Zhou know to use you as a hostage, how long do you guess we have?” Yuan Cheng asked in return.

“I actually quite like Lord Huang.” Mo Zi smiled, not without regret. “The days in Great Zhou were truly the most peaceful, most relaxed, and most pleasant period.”

“This is our good fortune.” Yuan Cheng said, his expression gentle, his gaze gentle. “In a short life, we neither missed the last glorious prosperity nor failed to personally experience a war.”

“Chaotic times—you seem very happy to experience them.” What kind of logic was that?

“For others it may be disaster, but for us it’s worth celebrating. My past, your past, will all be completely obliterated in these chaotic times. After the war, no one will mention again that I was a corrupt official or you were a country’s queen, and we can write our own future ourselves.” Yuan Cheng’s tone wasn’t impassioned, but it was so confident.

Mo Zi looked at him, her breathing rising and falling because of his few short sentences, feeling endless longing. Her past could be viciously attacked by many people until it was riddled with holes—even she herself didn’t consider it glorious. Chaotic times indeed could provide an opportunity for people to forget and be reborn. Who cares about past sorrows, joys, anger, or curses—circumstances create situations. Anyone can randomly become a hero. Having experienced a great calamity, those who survive will all live seriously.

“If we have even better luck, we can also participate in the arrival of a truly prosperous and peaceful era, though we may have to wait until our hair turns white.” She was as confident as he was.

“That would be good fortune in old age.” Yuan Cheng’s eyes held deep laughter.

Yuan Cheng left as soon as he said he would. In less than half an hour, people and horses were assembled and left the dock.

Mo Zi called over Chou Yu and the others, assigning tasks for dismantling and burning the ship. “Parts that won’t burn must be dismantled until the original form can’t be recognized. Parts that will burn must be ensured to burn completely. Old Guan and Shui She are responsible for dismantling. Fei Xia and Chou Yu are responsible for pouring oil.”

Chou Yu wrinkled his face. “Brother Mo, building one ship and destroying one ship—when can I become a real ship captain, not temporary?”

“Chou Yu, learn to observe quietly and wait, and opportunities will appear. Now is not yet the time.” At this moment Mo Zi was the ship captain, issuing orders with no room for discussion. “Begin. Tonight we’ll have fireworks—no need to find excuses. Shui She, dig out the glass panels for me. Those things are small and can be hidden away.”

Ding Gou hadn’t mocked her in a long time but seized the opportunity. “It’s not that the things are small, but that you feel bad about the silver.”

Mo Zi’s eyes flashed. “That’s right—several thousand taels of silver. Since you’re so generous, shall I deduct it from your share?”

Everyone laughed and dispersed to work. Old Guan and the three Chou Yu brothers had been with Mo Zi for a long time and were all skilled at dismantling. Moreover, this ship had been designed with easy dismantling in mind for several parts, especially the secret cabin. First they smashed all the underwater rudders, then destroyed everything in the secret cabin, chiseled off the bottom planks, and separated them into pieces. At the same time, they set fire to the giant crossbows and catapults.

When the fire reached the canvas sails, Wei Jia returned with the group who’d been touring the night market. Seeing the great fire and the faces blackened by smoke standing on shore, everyone stood frozen like wooden chickens, not knowing what to say.

“How could… this happen?” Yang Qiao bit her lip, almost crying. She’d developed deep feelings for this ship. Throughout the journey, it was like the most reliable companion. She’d even overcome seasickness and enjoyed the cradle-like sleep Mo Zi had described.

“We suspect a stray spark jumped in through the small window on the ship’s side. Since it was an unmanned cabin and most people had gone ashore, by the time we discovered it, it was already too late.” Mo Zi explained, covered in sweat. She wiped her face with her sleeve, leaving a black streak. This appearance could be taken as having escaped in haste, though the truth was the thick smoke was caused by pouring too much oil.

Wei Jia asked urgently, “Where is Lord Yuan? He and General Hua stayed on the ship. Are they alright?”

“They’re fine. The great fortune in this misfortune is that no one was injured. Also thanks to them, who helped us rescue quite a few valuable things. He said since things have come to this, the Emperor’s matters are urgent, so he left this mess to me. He and General Hua returned to the capital first to see the Emperor. I was thinking, rather than finding a new caravan to travel overland, why not have you send someone to notify Xiao Wei to come to Wencheng and meet up with us to return together. First, Lord Yuan goes to see the Emperor first, so we don’t need to rush. Second, we have many womenfolk and need to be cautious.” Mo Zi acted according to plan.

Wei Jia had put some thought into it and felt Mo Zi’s words made sense. “Good, I’ll immediately send someone to pass the message to Bai Yu. For now, let’s find a good inn to rest and regroup.” He busily took charge, ordering this person and instructing that one, not doubting the cause of the fire in the slightest.

Mo Zi nudged Yang Qiao, trying to cheer her up. “Don’t be sad—the pair of mandarin ducks you embroidered are still here.”

Yang Qiao blinked. “Are you comforting me or embarrassing me? You didn’t mention whether my books were rescued, but that pair of things that even I who embroidered them can’t tell what kind of birds they are, which I wish I could burn myself—you say they’re still here.”

Miao Shi was beside them. “Is this finding joy in suffering? Listening to you two talk, I can’t even cry anymore.”

Dou Lu glanced at Mo Zi without speaking. She wasn’t stupid, and being the person who knew her sister’s cleverness best, she could detect oddities from subtle details others couldn’t see.

Mo Zi smiled and said to the Su family mother and daughter, “Young Master Su accompanied Lord Yuan ahead to the capital. You two should follow me.”

“…Brother can disembark?” Su Qin was a very introverted woman who spoke softly and gently.

Miao Shi answered for Mo Zi. “Miss Su, what you’re saying—the ship has burned up completely. How could there be any reason not to disembark?”

“Young Master Su now works for Lord Yuan. Madam Su and Miss Su need not consider yourselves prisoners anymore.” Mo Zi reassured the two again.

Setting aside how Mo Zi settled things on her end, let’s turn to Yuan Cheng’s side.

Riding fast with whip and spur, traveling day and night under stars and moon, he was actually faster than the water route. Two days later he entered the capital. Yuan Cheng couldn’t immediately go see the Emperor because there was an important witness he needed to personally question, so he returned to his mansion. Just as he was about to instruct Ming Nian to bring that nanny to the study, Aunt Jiao barged in.

“You’ve finally returned.” She said coldly.

“You’re still here?” He asked coldly.

“Cheng’er, what kind of attitude is this? Even if I’m from a collateral branch of the Yuan family, I’m still your elder. Moreover, the Yuan family now only has you and me left—what distinction between direct and collateral lines remains?” Aunt Jiao finally couldn’t hold back and lectured him.

“If only I alone remain, naturally there’s no need to distinguish who’s direct and who’s collateral.” Yuan Cheng waved his hand, having Ming Nian leave.

“You!” Aunt Jiao trembled with anger. “Fine, even if you won’t respect me as an elder, let me ask on behalf of all those deceased Yuan family elders—are you going to take revenge or not?”

Yuan Cheng casually flipped through a book, not meeting Aunt Jiao’s eyes. “I thought you were angry about Miss Qiu Shuang’s matter.”

It was better not to mention this—once mentioned, Aunt Jiao grew even angrier. “I know you’re infatuated with that girl surnamed Song. Apart from her status, she is indeed capable and outstanding, and will be helpful to your future. As long as she’s willing to be a concubine, I’ll go along with you. Qiu Shuang also said she doesn’t mind. I watched this child grow up—her character is beyond reproach. Moreover, she doesn’t even mind the Yuan family’s criminal record and is willing to condescend to marry down—”

“Yuan family criminal record? Condescend to marry down?” The more Yuan Cheng smiled, the colder his expression became. “Back then, even if the Nande Princess wanted to marry me, I didn’t want her. Is the daughter of Southern Hua Sword Sect more precious than a princess? In Nande, though not many people know I bear a criminal record, there are quite a few.”

Aunt Jiao was stunned.

“I’m giving you one night. Tomorrow morning, take your martial niece and leave the Yuan mansion. Otherwise don’t blame me for not showing clan sentiment.” He said it very clearly—just clan members, nothing more.

“Cheng’er.” Aunt Jiao’s face became extremely ugly. “I absolutely cannot watch you casually marry some unclear woman and bring her home. If you don’t like Qiu Shuang, that’s fine—I’ll help you find another family’s daughter.”

Yuan Cheng smiled. “Who do you think you are?”

Aunt Jiao’s face turned iron-blue. “I can not only decide your marriage, but I also want you to immediately find an opportunity to kill the Emperor, instead of letting him deceive you into searching for some real culprit. Who framed you is already irrelevant—it was the old Emperor who decreed the killing of your grandfather, your father, and the entire Yuan family. A father’s debts are repaid by the son—this is natural justice.”

“Oh? Can decide?” Yuan Cheng’s eyes deepened to ink, a trace of cold severity hanging at his lips, all gentleness withdrawn.

“Of course I can decide, because I am your—” Aunt Jiao urgently wanted to reveal.

“I—advise you.” Yuan Cheng’s words were like ice. “Think clearly before speaking. After all these years, those who knew are all in their graves. If you say it, I’ll treat you as a madwoman talking nonsense. If you keep it in your heart, you can still be Yuan Jiao Niang, living obediently, and I can support you in your old age.”

“You… you… know? How… is this possible?” Aunt Jiao couldn’t believe it.

Yuan Cheng’s entire body emanated coldness, his gaze compelling. “A five-year-old child already remembers people, Aunt.”

Bang—the window suddenly flew open outward. A strong wind scattered the papers on the desk, sending them flying all over the floor.