Wu Yanle was pushed onto the deck, and the scene before him left him shocked. Two armies faced off on the water, densely packed across the river surface, separated by only a hundred zhang. Was this to be a face-to-face confrontation? He couldn’t help holding his breath.
“Young Marquis.” As soon as Mo Zi spoke, blades were placed at the necks of Wu Yanle and the others.
Elder Gao simmered with anger and cursed, “Venomous woman! Previously you and our king were deeply affectionate, but now with one turn you deny all recognition. What a waste of our respect for you.”
Mo Zi’s reputation among Song forces was extremely prominent—not only as Yuan Cheng’s wife but also as Brother Mo of the shipyard. With Elder Gao’s curse, his neck immediately drew blood, provoking rebukes from the soldiers behind.
When Mo Zi spoke, they immediately quieted. “All of Song knows the Daqiu King sent people to kill me and wanted to take two lives with one strike. Elder Gao’s meaning is—him killing me is perfectly natural and right, but me turning my back makes my heart like a viper and scorpion? If he hadn’t harmed my brothers and sisters and forced me to this point, I could have endured.” She had already hidden away in a residence as a maid.
Elder Gao was struck dumb, unable to continue his sharp-tongued tirade.
Wu Yanle looked at Mo Zi’s ice-cold expression, his heart pierced as if by knives. He had once also been her brother, but now they had drifted further and further apart, becoming life-and-death enemies. He had no choice. He was Daqiu royalty, he was also the Daqiu King’s legitimate blood brother. Even knowing his elder brother had handled this relationship wrongly, he could only silently observe, even act as accomplice. Everything—there was no turning back.
“What exactly do you want?” If there’s no turning back, just forget it all.
“Nothing much. As you can see, just having your brother come fetch you.” Children raised on deception find it very difficult to trust sincerity—she understood that.
Elder Hu laughed coldly. “That simple?”
“Just that simple.” Mo Zi pointed to the opposite side. “You want to go home, and so do we. Just like those two vanguard ships turning in a circle—your heads will stay firmly on your necks.”
Ye’er bit her lip, her body trembling slightly.
“Miss Ye’er, what are you afraid of?” Mo Zi saw signals raised from Ding Gou’s ship and glanced toward Yuan Cheng.
Yuan Cheng smiled at her and turned to give instructions to Zhang Zhen.
With him present, Mo Zi felt completely at ease and continued chatting with her former companion. “Are you afraid your king won’t rescue you?”
Ye’er immediately raised her eyes, revealing panic.
Mo Zi comforted her. “If the Young Marquis weren’t here, then you truly wouldn’t have any hope. Right now you needn’t fear. For the throne, he’s almost disowned all relatives—this is his only blood brother left. And my conditions aren’t harsh at all, perfectly suiting his wishes.”
“I don’t fear the king, but—I fear you.” Ye’er spoke the truth.
Qiu Shuang stood beside Mo Zi. Hearing this, she exchanged knowing glances with Luo Ying and said, “Mo Zi, you’ve become a demoness who kills without blinking.”
The corners of Mo Zi’s mouth curved in a bewitching smile. “If I’m a demoness, what good things could you two become?”
“They’re starting to move!” Xiao Yi flipped down from the sail. “Can just anyone become a demoness? Count me as one too.”
For a moment, the women laughed and joked together.
Ye’er suddenly understood. To her, Mo Zi had become a terrifying person, but to those people, Mo Zi was kind and genuine, just as she’d been before. Only their positions had changed. Watching them, memories of the past intertwined. Back then, she and Mo Zi had also laughed happily like this. Lowering her head, she had no right to envy.
Wu Yanle opened his eyes wide watching the ships’ movement. It wasn’t as he’d imagined—two armies passing through each other—but rather moving in an arc slowly across mid-river to one side. Daqiu’s ships did the same. This way, the two armies traced a circular trajectory, able to always maintain distance and avoid sudden attacks. When he saw that Daqiu warships also interspersed quite a few civilian vessels, he couldn’t help furrowing his brows deeply.
“Hao’er.” Yuan Cheng suddenly spoke.
Yuan Hao turned to gaze at his father.
“I told your master—when you return this time, you don’t need to go back to the mountains. Study with me.” Yuan Cheng likewise gazed at his eldest son. “In three years, take the imperial examinations. Don’t disappoint me.”
Yuan Hao bowed deeply. “Please instruct me, Father.” A formal salute.
Mo Zi thought to herself that this father and son were still competing with each other.
“Father, I don’t want to study martial arts.” Erbao seized the opportunity to make his request. “I’m very—”
“No matter how busy, you must still strengthen your body.” Yuan Cheng didn’t permit it. “Whatever kind of people you want to become in the future, you must remember to live to a hundred years.”
Sanbao spoke up, sounding old beyond his years but hitting the mark with one phrase. “This way, the bond between our family can last.”
Only Xiao Zhumei and Wubao didn’t understand, but their laughter revealed the mutual love and harmony among siblings and brothers.
Looking at the children’s small figures ahead, Mo Zi couldn’t help sighing. “Is this their world now?”
“It’s also our world.” Yuan Cheng smiled, tilting his head slightly to kiss her cheek.
She loved him, as always. Mo Zi pressed tightly against Yuan Cheng. Happiness had surrounded her most beloved and dearest people together, to accompany her for life.
―――――――――
**Epilogue:** In the fifth year after the new Great Zhou Emperor ascended the throne—also Song’s twenty-fifth year of establishment—the court was corrupt, national strength hollowed out. Encountering rare floods, an unprecedented great famine occurred with starving people everywhere. Xiao Mingrou had previously given birth to a daughter, so the emperor was still the Second Prince. He was weak and incompetent, suspicious by nature, heavily relying on eunuchs, believing slander, recalling loyal generals’ military authority, framing loyal ministers, causing the people’s hearts to turn away.
This spring, Yuan Hao declared war on Great Zhou. All along the way, he persuaded surrenders and met with surrenders. In the middle of the second year, he attacked the capital, and the Xiao clan pledged allegiance.
After Great Zhou came Daqiu. Government had always been controlled by the Empress Dowager and Duan Geshou, and the young emperor no longer had ambition. Under Song’s military and trade suppression lasting over twenty years, Daqiu’s national strength could never return to its peak period. By Song’s twenty-ninth year, Daqiu people finally couldn’t withstand Song forces’ offensive and were driven back beyond the border.
In Song’s thirtieth year, Yuan Hao was enthroned as emperor, historically called the Songyuan Emperor, ushering in a brand-new era of peace and prosperity. Like his father, he married only one wife throughout his life, devoted until old age.
(Everyone’s path continues extending, but the story ends here—)