The young man seemed startled by her as well, hastily withdrawing his head behind the reef rock.
Pei You’an quickly rushed over, seeing that Jia Fu had already stood up, eyes wide open, pointing at the reef rock beside her, seemingly too frightened to speak. He looked toward the dark reef rock in the night, knowing someone was hiding behind it. His expression darkened as he slowly drew his sword.
“Elder Cousin!”
Jia Fu came to her senses and quickly grabbed Pei You’an’s sleeve.
“I recognize him! Let’s ask first—”
“Don’t—”
The young man’s voice came from behind the rock.
Accompanied by a rustling sound, his head appeared again, shouting at Pei You’an: “Tutor, it’s me, Er’er! Don’t you recognize me?”
Dong Chengmao hurried over, saw the young man, and was greatly shocked: “Young Master, why are you here? Did you follow me?”
Xiao Yu showed a slightly smug expression as he leaped out from behind the reef rock where he had been hiding, his movements as agile as a monkey. Before his feet were steady, he rushed to Pei You’an’s front, grabbing his arm: “Tutor, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. You finally came once, but you only called for Uncle Long and wouldn’t bring me along! Tutor, have you forgotten about me?”
Pei You’an looked toward Dong Chengmao.
Dong Chengmao showed an embarrassed expression: “Crown Prince…”
Seeing this, Xiao Yu quickly said: “Tutor, don’t blame Uncle Long. I learned that you had recently arrived in Quanzhou and had even eliminated a pirate leader. I guessed Uncle Long would come to see you these days, so I’ve been keeping an eye out. This evening, when I saw Uncle Long lowering a small boat from the large ship, seemingly about to go to sea alone, I hid under the small boat in advance, holding onto the cable ring, and that’s how I came along.”
After Dong Chengmao had left the large ship alone that evening, he occasionally checked his surroundings and behind him to prevent being followed, but he never imagined that Xiao Yu had hidden beneath his boat underwater, following him all the way.
“Crown Prince, it was my negligence…”
Dong Chengmao’s expression was apologetic and quite helpless.
Over these two years, Xiao Yu had changed tremendously.
Although Dong Chengmao knew that before coming to sea, he had spent several years in a difficult, wandering life in Quanzhou, he was initially still worried that the former young emperor would not be able to adapt to his own rough and risky life at sea. However, he hadn’t anticipated—and couldn’t remember exactly when it began—that this young man’s skin had darkened, his height had increased, and his temperament had greatly changed, becoming completely different from before. If he hadn’t watched him growing day by day, he truly couldn’t imagine that the strong, dark-skinned young man before him now was the same silent, taciturn youth who occasionally showed melancholy in his eyes when alone when he first arrived.
The killing intent that had gathered in Pei You’an’s eyes instantly dissipated as he gazed at the young man who had suddenly appeared before him, whose height now nearly reached his eyebrows. Gradually, he smiled, sheathed his sword, and said to Dong Chengmao: “It’s fine. It’s good that he’s here.”
Jia Fu watched from the side, extremely surprised.
Earlier, when the young man had peeked out from behind the reef rock and smiled at her, although his appearance had changed somewhat, Jia Fu felt that his eyes seemed familiar as if she had seen them somewhere before. The impression was extremely vivid. Suddenly she remembered that he seemed to be the youth she had once saved, who she later heard had jumped into the sea to commit suicide on New Year’s Eve.
He was still alive, now appearing before her like this. Jia Fu was truly too surprised, which was why she had screamed, attracting Pei You’an’s attention.
She knew that Pei You’an and the Golden-Faced Dragon King were meeting on this reef tonight, a fact that outsiders couldn’t know about. She didn’t know how this young man had suddenly appeared, but she felt he had no ill intentions. Fearing Pei You’an might kill him without questioning, she had spoken up to stop him. Unexpectedly, the situation took a swift turn—it turned out that Pei You’an not only knew this young man but seemed to have a deep relationship with him.
She suppressed her astonishment and, after some thought, voluntarily stepped back some distance.
Dong Chengmao also withdrew, leaving Pei You’an and Xiao Yu to talk.
Pei You’an examined the young man: “It’s not that your tutor didn’t want to see you, Young Master. It’s just that there was recently a Japanese pirate disturbance, which caused quite a stir. I was afraid that court spies might notice you, which is why I told Uncle Dong not to bring you tonight. I had originally planned to find another opportunity to call for you after some time when the commotion had died down. I didn’t expect you would follow along like this. There could have been dangers underwater—in the future, don’t be so rash again, remember that?”
Xiao Yu wiped the water droplets still clinging to his face and head, giggling: “The water wasn’t cold, and besides, hasn’t Uncle Long told you that I can now hold my breath underwater for half a watch? Last time I even killed a shark by myself! But the meat was too tough, not good to eat! By the way, Tutor, did Uncle Long tell you that it was me who, while at sea with a few brothers, happened upon the gathering Japanese pirate fleet? I secretly followed them, climbed aboard their ship at midnight, and discovered the information, then hurried back to tell Uncle Long. I didn’t expect Uncle Long to be so unfair, taking his brothers to kill the pirates while holding me back on Golden Dragon Island. How could he possibly keep me down? This time, I killed many Japanese pirates. It was truly satisfying!”
Pei You’an’s eyes revealed approval as he nodded: “Young Master has indeed grown up! Very different from before! Your tutor is very pleased.”
The young man had been chattering on about his experiences, his tone carrying a hint of boasting, but upon hearing Pei You’an’s genuine praise, his handsome face couldn’t help but show some embarrassment. He stopped, changing the subject: “Tutor, it’s been so long since we parted in Quanzhou last time. How have you been these two years?”
Pei You’an smiled: “Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I am well.”
Xiao Yu also smiled: “That’s good. Tutor, I’ve been wanting to see you for a long time. This time I really couldn’t resist, so I followed on my own because I have a few words I very much want to say to you.”
Pei You’an’s expression became solemn: “Please speak, Young Master.”
“Tutor, that jade imperial seal is useless in my keeping, like a burden. I want to give it to you, and you can decide how to dispose of it.”
The young man had been smiling ever since he first jumped out from behind that reef rock, and he was still smiling now.
“I know that Third Imperial Uncle has been looking for me since his ascension to the throne. He tells the world that he’s willing to welcome me back, but I don’t know if what he says is true or false. Whether it’s true or false, I don’t want to return to that imperial palace anyway.”
Pei You’an remained silent for a moment.
The young man’s expression gradually turned serious as well.
“Tutor, don’t worry too much. When you saved Er’er two years ago, I already told you that you owe nothing to my imperial father, and even less to me. At that time, Second Imperial Uncle wouldn’t let me go and sent secret agents to hunt me down. You risked your life to find me and saved my life, which was already enough. The Second Imperial Uncle harmed me back then, and took my throne, but he ended up dying a violent death in the end. That’s Heaven’s justice manifested, and I harbor no hatred anymore. If I truly still wanted to sit back on that troublesome dragon throne, I would have come out when Third Imperial Uncle started his Wuding uprising and asked for your help. That would have been the best opportunity. Now the empire has long been stabilized, and as far as the common people are concerned, the Third Imperial Uncle is also a good emperor. What use is it for me to keep the imperial seal? Moreover, that three-year reign shouldn’t have been mine in the first place. I had two older imperial brothers above me. After they were gone, I confusedly became crown prince and later emperor. The taste of those years, I know myself. Compared to being emperor, I prefer my current life. This is my heartfelt truth! The only drawback is that I still have to hide. After much thought, I can only burden you with this troublesome object. Either destroy it or find some way to give it to him. From now on, the young emperor that people speak of is truly dead, leaving me, Xiao Yu, unrestrained, with the vast world before me and no more fetters!”
Pei You’an and the young man gazed at each other for a moment. In the end, he still didn’t say anything, only raised his hand and patted the young man’s shoulder.
Everything was understood without words.
In his eyes, his gaze was complex, but Xiao Yu seemed to have shed the burden on his shoulders, breaking into a smile: “I knew it, even if nobody else in the world understands me, you do, Tutor!”
Having said this, as if suddenly remembering something, he quickly turned his face, glancing at the petite figure standing at the other end of the reef, seemingly afraid of being overheard. He moved a bit closer, lowered his voice, and stammered: “Tutor, what a coincidence that you brought her here! Did you perhaps guess that I would come too? If she hadn’t saved me back then, I wouldn’t have survived until you found me. These past few years, when I’ve had nothing to do, I’ve dived for some good southern pearls and strung a bracelet. I brought it with me tonight, intending to ask you, if there’s a chance in the future, to pass it to her on my behalf, to express my gratitude. Unexpectedly, she’s here in person…”
As he spoke, he took out a small box tightly wrapped in the fish bladder from his body, carefully tore open the waterproof fish bladder layer, revealing the dry box carved from agarwood inside, and passed it over, saying with a pained expression: “I carved this box myself. It doesn’t look very exquisite. I’m afraid she’ll dislike it. I don’t dare to say it myself. Could you help me give it to her, Tutor?”
Pei You’an was startled.
Xiao Yu didn’t care about the consequences, forcibly placing the box in Pei You’an’s hand after he finished speaking, then turned his head to look at that figure again: “Tutor, I don’t even know her name yet. Do you know?”
After asking, he must have felt embarrassed, as his face reddened slightly. Fortunately, his skin was dark, and it was nighttime, so it wasn’t very visible.
Pei You’an finally came to his senses, following the young man’s gaze toward the petite figure standing in the moonlight, then looked down, examining the object that had been forcibly placed in his hand. After a slight hesitation, he said: “She is… my wife now. Thinking that Uncle Dong would come here tonight, I brought her along.”
The young man was stunned at first, then suddenly reacted, hurriedly extending his hand to snatch back the box: “Tutor, I didn’t know! Please don’t be upset. I won’t give it, I won’t!”
Pei You’an’s expression had already returned to normal. He looked again at the figure who was still completely unaware of what had transpired, thought for a moment, and smiled: “It’s fine. Her name is Jia Fu. I’ll take you over, and you can thank her in person and give her the bracelet. She will surely appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
Xiao Yu, originally red-faced and blushing, looked at the smiling gaze directed at him by the man opposite, and finally gradually composed himself, nodding.
Jia Fu was waiting there, saw Pei You’an bringing the young man toward her, and went to meet them.
Pei You’an smiled: “Fuer, you saved him before, but I never told you, he is actually an old acquaintance of mine, named Yu. He has always remembered how you saved him and wanted to personally thank you.”
Xiao Yu expressed his thanks and presented the gift.
Jia Fu opened the box to find a strand of pearls inside. Hearing from Pei You’an that Xiao Yu had made it himself, she was very moved and immediately put it on her wrist.
“It’s very beautiful. I like it very much. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Young Master.”
Jia Fu smiled.
Xiao Yu knew that since childhood, his tutor’s body had never been like that of ordinary people. For years, he had been burdened with worries and alone. Now he finally had a woman to care for him. Her eyes were gentle, and standing together with his tutor under the moonlight, the two looked so compatible.
The young man gazed at the couple opposite him, and gradually, the last trace of awkwardness in his heart disappeared, naturally giving rise to admiration. But his face was still a bit hot as he said softly: “I’m glad Teacher’s Wife doesn’t dislike it. Teacher’s Wife can call me Er’er from now on.”
Pei You’an left the two to continue their conversation and came to Dong Chengmao’s side, stopping.
Although Dong Chengmao didn’t know what Xiao Yu had said to him earlier, after spending these two years together, how could he not have some sense of what the young emperor was thinking? Seeing Pei You’an watching Xiao Yu’s figure with a solemn expression, he lowered his voice: “Crown Prince, in the past I constantly thought about how to help the Young Master return to the capital. Now I gradually understand—that different emperors have different ministers. After the turmoil of Shun’an, the old ministers of the Tianxi reign have withered away. Today’s emperor was in Wuding, preparing his troops and horses. Heroes from all over the empire flocked to him. When he ascended the throne and became emperor, it was the people’s hearts that turned to him. Even if we had supported the Young Emperor’s restoration at that time, our wishes would likely have been in vain. Not only would we have failed to accomplish anything, but we would have also brought deadly trouble to the Young Master. Although there is regret now, it may also be Heaven’s will. Since the Young Master has no intention of seizing the throne and is far from the court, please rest assured, Crown Prince. From now on, I will represent the Crown Prince in taking good care of the Young Master.”
Pei You’an gazed at the pitch-black sea in the distance, lost in thought for a moment, then said: “A wind rises from the smallest blade of grass. Within the court, the emperor’s heart is hard to fathom, and variables are unpredictable. I probably cannot stay here for long either. Uncle Dong, remember my earlier words, you must not be careless.”
Dong Chengmao respectfully acknowledged.
Pei You’an turned his head to look at Jia Fu and Xiao Yu’s figures not far away, seeing that the two seemed to have become familiar with each other. He didn’t know what Xiao Yu had said, but Jia Fu let out a few light laughs.
He watched and did not immediately go over, until Jia Fu turned her head, seemingly looking for him. Only then did he smile at her and walk over.