Luo Ying turned back with a sidelong glance. “What do you mean ‘hook up’? Little brother, I’m about to become your second sister-in-law. Watch your words—don’t be disrespectful.”
Stinky Fish was quite the talker. “There’s an order of seniority. Big brother hasn’t married yet, so it’s not Second Brother’s turn. Sister, if you patiently wait, and then someone cuts in line at the last moment, you won’t be my second sister-in-law.”
Luo Ying was very confident. “I’ll say it again—your second brother is a blockhead who doesn’t appeal to young ladies. Even if someone does cut in line, they definitely won’t be better than me.”
“You’re not a young lady?” Mo Zi smiled, happy in her heart for the two of them. “From the sound of it, you liked Water Snake first.”
Luo Ying was completely open about it. “That’s also because he was good to me first. With that cold face that never smiles, not talking much, but so steady, good to people and loyal enough. At first I found him too dark-skinned, but later I loved watching him pilot boats. Decisive in big matters yet meticulous in small ones—like a man who could be my husband.”
“Based on those few words alone—Second Sister-in-law!” Stinky Fish clasped his fists. “From now on, I entrust my second brother to you. He has a cold face but a warm heart, never bullies women or children—a good man. Your martial arts are so good, remember to show mercy when you fight.”
Luo Ying’s eyes narrowed with her smile. “Don’t worry. If we fight, it’ll be on the boat. He has the home advantage, while my martial arts are slightly better. That makes it fair.”
“Not even married yet and already talking about fighting.” Mo Zi shook her head. “Stinky Fish, I think your heart is bubbling with vinegar, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Among us three brothers, I’m the most handsome and the best talker. Second Brother doesn’t even have Big Brother’s blessed appearance. How did he become the first to marry a wife?” When Stinky Fish said this, he saw Mo Zi and Luo Ying doubled over with laughter, and immediately glared. “What do you two mean by that?”
“Nothing.” Mo Zi pushed open the door panel. She couldn’t upset her capable first mate. “You don’t need to worry either. This thing called fate comes when it comes. You still have hope of getting ahead of your big brother.”
“If Brother Mo says so, then I’m leaving this matter to you. I’m not getting any younger—urgently seeking a wife.” He grinned, half-joking, half-serious.
As the ship’s captain, also having to be responsible for the crew’s lifetime matters, Mo Zi almost forgot their circumstances, her heart full of laughter. With a boat and these people… she could make her home across the four seas.
To avoid attracting attention, using high railings and low cabins, Mo Zi looked through the square opening and saw the boat had already entered Shangdu’s inner river. Early in the morning, the waterway was clear and unobstructed. Xu Jiu’s main boat was level with hers, with spacious room on both sides. She pondered briefly, then turned and walked into the cabin.
Seeing Mo Zi, Xu Jiu immediately stood and clasped his fists. “Brother Mo, today Xu Jiu was on tenterhooks for a while, but also gained great knowledge.”
“You’re too kind.” Mo Zi returned the gesture. “Many thanks to Master Jiu for lending a hand to help. Otherwise the plan wouldn’t have succeeded.”
“Brother Mo, what are you saying? Your and Lord Yuan’s affairs are my affairs. No need for thanks.” Xu Jiu waited until Mo Zi sat down before returning to his own seat. “I know Brother Mo is busiest on the boat, but I still must ask you to help me persuade the lord.”
“What’s wrong?” Mo Zi looked toward Yuan Cheng.
Yuan Cheng smiled. “Master Jiu is one year older than me. You can call me by name directly. One who escapes with crimes dares not be an official.”
“Though I’m one year older, I deeply respect the lord and cannot be casual. How about calling you Mr. Yuan?” Unlike Mo Zi, with whom one could immediately become sworn brothers, perhaps because Yuan Cheng had entered officialdom at a young age, this rough jianghu fellow always looked up to him.
Yuan Cheng neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Mr. Yuan says we should part ways here, but you haven’t left Shangdu yet. I’m not at ease. Even if you escape, the court will definitely pursue you. With me and the Leopard Gang brothers, we can kill our way through a bloody path. The Leopard Gang’s power is not what it used to be. All of Yu Zhong’s territory has come under me. From here to the Hua Zhou area, all the waterways have our gang’s boats. You’ve truly befriended Xu Jiu and helped me greatly. Please let me personally escort you to a safe place.” Xu Jiu was a man of passionate blood.
As a great man, he was quite ambitious. To consolidate his gang leader position and expand his power, he had quickly formed a marriage alliance with Fu Tian. But as a friend, he was very loyal. Mo Zi and Yuan Cheng’s escape would enrage the Son of Heaven, yet he unhesitatingly requested to help to the end.
“When Master Jiu invited me, I already guessed.” According to plan, Xu Jiu’s boats should have parted ways after providing cover for them to enter the river. But just now, seeing them traveling side by side, she understood. “What do you think?” Yuan Cheng respected Mo Zi’s opinion.
“Master Jiu’s loyalty—Mo Zi is grateful, but can only appreciate the sentiment.” She insisted on the original plan. “First, the guards at Yuan Manor will discover Yuan Cheng missing by tonight at the latest. Then, with just a little investigation, they might suspect Master Jiu. Of course, if they can’t find evidence, you absolutely cannot leave Shangdu. Second, even if Master Jiu doesn’t fear the authorities, do you think you’re still just one person? You now have two wives, one elder and one younger, and you’re about to become a father. If not for yourself, you should think of the child. Moreover, the path before us isn’t a dead end. The mountains are high and the waters long—we will definitely meet again. Third, once the authorities investigate, traveling with the boat gang will actually be more conspicuous.”
Yuan Cheng nodded slightly. “Master Jiu, the days ahead are long. In the future I will certainly need to ask you to extend a helping hand for our brotherhood. Today is not just courtesy.”
Xu Jiu looked at Mo Zi, then at Yuan Cheng. He knew listening to them was correct, yet still let out a long sigh. “The first and third points Brother Mo makes are reasonable, but I don’t agree with the second. Though Xu Jiu has established a family, I would never abandon my brothers because of it. Speaking of which, that Fu woman hasn’t done you any good deeds either. Even I was calculated into her schemes—truly my negligence as a husband. I haven’t had time to tell you yet, but a few days ago my mother-in-law suddenly arrived. Using the excuse that the proper wife has no children so a concubine cannot have them first, she insisted on aborting Eleven’s unborn child, and had my father-in-law pressure me. I know this must be reinforcements my clever and virtuous wife called in. In a fit of anger, Eleven ran to the main hall to publicize this matter. Some brothers took her side, so she simply moved into the gang headquarters, saying it’s for the baby’s safety. The saying goes that family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly, yet I’ve antagonized both sides. The vexation is endless.”
Mo Zi thought to herself that such a lively situation had long been within her expectations.
Yuan Cheng spoke. “Your wife and concubine are both heroines among women, with competitive and strong natures. However, their hearts toward Master Jiu are now true. As long as Master Jiu uses the right methods to make the two work together in harmony, Master Jiu will be like a tiger with wings.” He had met Lady Fu twice and felt she cared greatly for Xu Jiu. As for Xiang Shiyi, she was willing to bear Xu Jiu children—she should have feelings too.
“Wanting them to be harmonious sisters is harder than ascending to heaven.” Xu Jiu’s gaze flashed quickly past Mo Zi, not daring to let even a bit of regret show on his face.
“It may not be necessary to make them harmonious. Taking the opposite approach could also work.” Yuan Cheng’s words were profound.
Mo Zi’s eyes rolled. “Lady Fu was taught by her mother to be an inner household mistress, but I see Xiang Shiyi’s nature can’t endure staying at home. Moreover, with her excellent skills, having her abandon them to be a devoted wife and mother instead—wouldn’t that be wasteful? Since both want to be in charge, let each be in charge of different places. The king doesn’t see the king. If you’re more impartial, they’ll balance each other and help you both inside and out.”
Xu Jiu suddenly understood, saying it was wonderful.
Yuan Cheng lifted his tea in a gesture of seeing the guest out. “Master Jiu now owes us two another favor. Debts of gratitude are hardest to repay. You must be prepared.”
Xu Jiu returned to his own boat, watching their boat turn into the Ya River. After a long while, he gave the order to return to the dock.
Leng Liu had also just returned from taking boats to worship the dragon gods and asked him, “Didn’t you say you’d escort them further? Why did you come back?”
Xu Jiu ordered the gang members to bring horses. He wanted to go to Wu You’s residence to report their safety. As he spoke, “They insisted I not follow, fearing it would bring us trouble.”
Leng Liu also mounted a horse to go together. “Don’t worry. They’re doing great things—there will definitely be times in the future when they need our help. Have the branches in various places secretly protect them and find out clearly where they’ll settle. As long as we can communicate at any time, that’s enough.”
Xu Jiu nodded, called out, and the horses galloped away.
At Xiao Manor.
Lu Ju was staring blankly at the clouds on the horizon when she suddenly heard that Qiu Sanniang wanted to get up. She hurriedly rallied her spirits and led the young maids inside to attend to her. “Why isn’t Madam sleeping longer today?”
Ever since becoming pregnant, Qiu Sanniang often slept until the sun was high in the sky.
“I don’t know why, but I couldn’t sleep anymore.” After Qiu Sanniang finished speaking, she glared at Lu Ju. “Didn’t I say you don’t need to attend to me? You’re no longer my maid. If you don’t want to go to Deer Horn Alley to be a young lady and be served by others, then stay here as my sister and be called Second Miss.”
Lu Ju smiled bitterly. “Madam, Lu Ju was born with a maid’s fate. Being served by others makes me uncomfortable all over. Please let me follow you for life.” The tall and upright figure in her heart had already faded, but the wound she’d received was still bleeding. She accepted her fate—wasn’t that acceptable?
Qiu Sanniang rinsed her mouth and washed her face, dismissed the maids, and said, “The day before yesterday when I saw Mo Zi, she said everyone else was fine, but you—she couldn’t set her mind at ease about you. She said fate is truly heaven-ordained. You thought you’d met the one, but in the end you couldn’t marry him. It’s not that your fate is bad, but that man isn’t your good match. If you give up and stop looking, in the future you’ll miss your true destined person. She asked me to tell you—being sad for a while is fine, but if you become dispirited, she’ll scold you. Not yet twenty years old—if a person lives to a hundred, there are still over eighty years left. How many people will you meet, how many things will you encounter? How can you stop here?”
Lu Ju cried and laughed at the same time. “How many people can live to a hundred? Besides, perfectly fine, why is Mo Zi saying she can’t set her mind at ease, as if we’ll never see each other again? She has so many things of her own to deal with, yet still thinks of me. She’s making me cry for no reason.”
Hong Mei ran in. “Madam, someone from Wu You’s residence sent a birth announcement letter, saying a big fat son was born.”
Qiu Sanniang’s face lit up with joy. She opened the letter and read, but her brow furrowed.
Even Lu Ju noticed, so she asked, “Such a good thing as having a son—why is Madam frowning?”
Qiu Sanniang pushed open the window and, after confirming no one was outside, said to the two, “Mo Zi has left.”
Hong Mei was startled. “What does Madam mean?”
“I know leaving is good for her. She’s always liked going out, even more restless than me. But knowing is one thing—when she’s really gone, I feel she’s heartless. What would be wrong with marrying Xiao Wei? We two could be sisters-in-law, all the sisters living nearby, visiting often—how fun that would be.” Qiu Sanniang bit her lip. When she spoke again, her mind was made up. “Lu Ju, tomorrow you’ll move out of the manor. Deer Horn Alley or Wangqiu Tower—take your pick.”
There is no banquet in the world that doesn’t end. Those who leave should leave early. No one should delay anyone else.