Jia Fu’s first reaction was to refuse.
She wanted to go with him, wherever he went.
But Pei You’an’s tone, though gentle as always and seemingly consultative, carried a clear message to Jia Fu—his words implied that he had already decided, and she only needed to follow his arrangement, like an order.
Jia Fu habitually liked to act coquettishly before him, deliberately or unconsciously, because she knew it worked on him; he would yield to her coquetry.
But she also knew clearly that coquetry wouldn’t work every time.
Like this time. Her intuition told her that he would not change his mind.
Jia Fu stared at him blankly, saying nothing.
“His Majesty is summoning me back most likely for an assignment. If I take you back to the capital and then have to leave again in a few days, leaving you alone in the capital, how would that compare to staying with your family?”
He drew her into his embrace: “Fuer, be good. After some time, I’ll come to fetch you.”
The Emperor’s summons was urgent; Pei You’an had to depart the next day.
That night, he took Jia Fu to explain the situation to Madam Meng. Zhen Yaoting was also present. Learning that Pei You’an would leave for the capital the next day and temporarily leave Jia Fu at home, they were both surprised and astonished.
Madam Meng had originally thought that her son-in-law would stay for at least half a year on this visit, but unexpectedly, before even a month had passed, he had to hastily depart again. The imperial command was hard to defy, so she could only let him go. She hurriedly went out, personally directing the servants to pack his travel necessities for the next day.
Pei You’an told Jia Fu to return to their room first, then called Zhen Yaoting out, dismissed everyone around them, and asked about his plans.
Zhen Yaoting had always been constrained in his presence. Hearing his question, he stammered: “Now that the imperial court has banned sea travel, all ships have been docked, and we’ve suffered significant losses recently. At present, I have no other ideas. I’m not successful in my studies, and I don’t know much else, so I can only wait for the court to lift the sea ban…”
In the past half year, Grandmother Hu’s health had deteriorated, and he had felt the weight on his shoulders. He had put in considerable effort, working with Manager Zhang, just starting to get the hang of things, only to encounter this situation. Having said this, he felt utterly useless, his face slightly flushed.
Pei You’an said: “If I’m not mistaken, this sea ban is unlikely to be lifted quickly. After I return to the capital, I’ll send some funds over in due time. Manager Zhang is steady in his work; have him accompany you to buy suitable farmlands and estates. If you truly cannot continue your business, you can at least be a landowner in the future, ensuring a worry-free life for the rest of your days. After I leave, I’ll entrust A’Fu to your care, Elder Brother. I thank you in advance.”
Zhen Yaoting was both surprised and excited: “Master Pei, please rest assured! A’Fu is my sister; if you have matters to attend to, she can stay at home for as long as needed. Be it a year or half, or even a lifetime, I will take good care of her! As for land and estates, how could I accept money from you to buy them? Although our family has suffered some losses this time, our foundation is still intact. It’s just one more mouth to feed with my sister. Even if the court bans sea travel for ten years, it wouldn’t come to Master Pei sending money to buy land and property for our family!”
Pei You’an smiled: “It’s fine. What’s mine is A’Fu’s; there’s no distinction. Taking good care of her on my behalf while I’m away is all I wish for.”
Zhen Yaoting promised repeatedly.
The prefectural officials were also well-informed; by that evening, they had successively learned that Pei You’an had been urgently summoned by the Emperor and would leave Quanzhou the next day. That night, they came to the Zhen residence one after another to bid farewell, inevitably bringing gifts. Fearing Pei You’an wouldn’t accept, they secretly entrusted them to the Zhen family. Madam Meng firmly remembered Jia Fu’s instructions; how could she accept gifts without permission? She told her son and Manager Zhang to receive the guests politely and return all the gifts intact.
By the time Pei You’an had finished entertaining guests and could finally return to his room, the second watch of the night had already sounded. The room was brightly lit with silver candles. Jia Fu, having bathed, wore a light dress like flowing water, her black hair falling over her shoulders, sitting alone at the dressing table, slowly combing her hair. Hearing his footsteps enter, she put down the comb and rose to greet him, but Pei You’an had already walked behind her, picking up the comb to help her continue detangling her newly dried long hair. His movements were gentle and meticulous, without pulling her scalp.
Jia Fu suppressed the sorrow of parting in her heart, looking at the tall man standing behind her in the mirror, and smiled: “Master Pei is also quite skilled at combing hair. I’m curious, is there anything Master Pei cannot do?”
The weather was getting warmer. After combing, Pei You’an gathered her ice-cool, silky long hair atop her head, securing it with a hairpin. He slightly bent over behind her shoulder, examining the lotus-like delicate face reflected in the mirror: “Of course, there are things I cannot do. For instance, childbirth—even if I wanted to learn, I couldn’t.”
He spoke with utter seriousness, his tone even carrying a hint of regret. Jia Fu was stunned and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. At first, she just held her stomach, but eventually she laughed so hard she could hardly sit steady, collapsing onto the dressing table, repeatedly exclaiming “Aiyou, aiyou.”
Pei You’an stood beside her, watching her laugh, a smile on his lips.
Jia Fu gradually laughed until tears came, then tried to stop laughing, but the tears wouldn’t cease. A teardrop rolled down from her eye socket. She angrily hit him once, turned her head, and raised her hand to messily wipe away the tears, complaining: “You’re so bad, deliberately making me laugh until I cry…”
Pei You’an bent down, lifted her entire person from the stool, carried her to the bed, and set her down. Jia Fu immediately grabbed his sleeve, forcibly pulling him to lie down with her. Pei You’an lay beside her, and she rolled over, rolling into his arms, extending her arms to embrace him.
She held him tightly, burying her face in his chest, trying hard to hold back, not wanting him to see her tears again, but they wouldn’t obey, silently rolling down from her eyes one by one.
“Don’t cry. After some time, I’ll come to fetch you.”
He said by her ear.
Jia Fu still wanted to cry. At first, the tears fell one by one, but later they gushed forth, soaking a patch of his clothes.
Pei You’an initially kept comforting her, but later lowered his face to her, kissing her mouth, along with the tears covering her face.
Jia Fu closed her eyes, tears still continuously flowing, but because she was forcibly holding back, her whole body hiccupped, her body jerking in his arms.
Pei You’an kissed her. The delicate pointed chin, the slender jade neck, the pure white body like congealed jade fresh from bathing, and then gradually downward, he did not stop.
Jia Fu felt her legs being gently opened by him, tenderly yet firmly holding her down, allowing no retreat or avoidance.
A subtle fragrance gradually filled the curtained bed. The pearl curtains were lightly stirred by the night breeze from the southern window, rippling like water waves.
The girl with a tear-stained face of sorrow in the lotus-curtained bed seemed to have lost all strength in her body, only her toes tightly curled. As if falling into a misty abyss, as if floating on clouds, lying on the pillow, not knowing where she was, eyes closed in a daze, confused and disoriented. By the end, her body was left only with fine trembling, like a water lotus in a lotus pond without support in the wind, scattering red dress fragrance as it swayed, dew moistening the flowers and moon.
The girl in his arms finally stopped her sorrowful crying, extremely tired, curled up at his side, closing her eyes and falling into a deep sleep, her lotus-like tender face still carrying a residual blush.
Pei You’an held her, motionless, staying awake until dawn.
…
Thus, Pei You’an left Quanzhou early the next day, embarking on his journey back to the capital.
Unlike several months ago when he had traveled south by boat with Jia Fu, this northbound journey was taken on the faster postal route. Traveling day and night, hurrying all the way, in less than half a month, he arrived at the capital city that day. By the time he arrived, it was already nightfall. He directly submitted a report to the palace, then waited outside the palace gate. Without waiting long, he was summoned in.
Xiao Lie received him in the Imperial Study.
The second watch of the night had already passed. Pei You’an entered to see the hall brightly lit. Xiao Lie, dressed in casual attire, sat behind his desk, which was piled with memorials and reports. Li Yuangui and several eunuchs stood in attendance. Hearing Pei You’an’s footsteps entering, Xiao Lie put down the vermilion imperial brush in his hand and raised his face.
The candlelight revealed a few red streaks in his eyes and a slight weariness on his face. After Pei You’an completed his kowtow, he smiled and told him to rise.
Pei You’an stood up, and Xiao Lie asked about his journey, remarking on his hardships, and then inquired about the matter of quelling the Japanese pirates in Pinghai, Quanzhou. Pei You’an reported once, and Xiao Lie’s face showed anger as he pointed at several memorials on his desk: “Gao Huaiyuan, as a provincial governor, is merely occupying the position without fulfilling his duties, causing Our coastal people to suffer from the raids of Japanese pirates. Where is the face of the imperial court!”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Although the trouble of Japanese pirates has persisted for a long time, if the court increases coastal defenses and appoints capable people as commanders in various places, the Japanese pirates would be mere clowns, not worth fearing.”
“We have precisely this intention. That Li Zhong whom you recommended in your report—We have read his memorial, which is clear and logical, a man with a broad vision. Tomorrow, We will send his memorial to the Ministry of War, instructing them to discuss this matter.”
“Your Majesty is enlightened. If the Japanese troubles can be eliminated and the sea ban lifted, it would truly be a blessing for the coastal people of the southeast.”
Xiao Lie looked at Pei You’an, his expression softening slightly: “We know that the Zhen family’s fleet travels the seas year-round, and this sea ban by the court must affect their livelihood, but this is a matter of national policy. While you were there, did you hear the people complain about Us?”
Pei You’an’s tone was respectful: “To report to Your Majesty, this measure by the court is also for preventive purposes. The people have long hated the Japanese pirates. As long as the court is determined to eliminate them, when the seas are calm and the rivers clear, the sea ban will naturally be lifted. How could the people be dissatisfied?”
Xiao Lie nodded, praised him a few more times for supervising the capture of the great bandit in eastern Guangdong, and finally looked at Li Yuangui. Li Yuangui then led the eunuchs to withdraw, closing the hall doors.
Only Xiao Lie and Pei You’an remained in the hall. The candlelight cast their shadows on the wall, black and looming.
Xiao Lie walked slowly across the floor with his hands behind his back, seeming deep in thought, yet saying nothing. In the vast study, there was profound silence, with only the dull sounds of his footsteps on the floor, heavy to the ear.
He walked back, stopping in front of Pei You’an, suddenly turned around, and said: “You’an, let Me ask you, on this trip to Quanzhou, besides the matters reported to Me, do you have anything else to tell Me?”
After he finished speaking, he stared at Pei You’an, the candlelight dancing in his eyes, his gaze flickering slightly.
Pei You’an met his gaze for a moment, then said: “There is indeed one matter, which was inconvenient to state in the memorial, so I thought to report it to Your Majesty in person upon my return.”
“Speak.”
“To report to Your Majesty, regarding the resistance against the Japanese pirates, I suspect there is something the local officials’ memorials have not mentioned. What Your Majesty may not know is that in this raid by the Japanese pirates, the reason they could be promptly repelled, protecting the people of Quanzhou and Pinghai, besides the official army, the Golden-Faced Dragon King also contributed significantly.”
Xiao Lie remained silent.
Pei You’an continued: “This Golden-Faced Dragon King has been mentioned intermittently in the memorials of local coastal officials over the years, and Your Majesty should be aware. In the officials’ memorials, this person is described as a sea pirate, but the truth is not so. The coastal people respect him greatly, as many have received his protection while at sea. But this is not what I wish to report today. What I wish to report is this person’s true identity—he is General Dong Chengmao from the Tianxi dynasty.”
Xiao Lie’s expression remained unchanged, showing not a hint of surprise, and merely murmured as if to himself: “A general from the Tianxi court, harmed by the treacherous King of Shun’an, resulting in his wandering the rivers and seas, reduced to a bandit. It’s truly a pity!”
Pei You’an knelt, kowtowing to Xiao Lie who stood with his hands behind his back: “I am guilty.”
Xiao Lie slowly turned his head, looking at Pei You’an kneeling on the ground: “What guilt do you have?”
“In response to Your Majesty, General Dong was once an old subordinate in my father’s army. You’an has known the Golden-Faced Dragon King’s identity for several years, but previously considered it of no severe consequence, hence concealed it without reporting. To be honest with Your Majesty, during this trip to Quanzhou, by chance, I also met with General Dong.”
Xiao Lie observed him for a moment, nodded, and smiled: “It’s fine, you may rise. That Dong Chengmao, I also know some of his past. Presumably, he became disillusioned with the court, which is why he concealed his identity and took to the seas. With his actions, he is indeed a true man. I don’t blame you.”
He paused, his tone slightly casual, as if speaking offhandedly: “You’an, besides this, did you have any other gains on your journey south?”
Pei You’an, kneeling on the ground, his body straight, met the Emperor’s gaze for a moment, then kowtowed again: “To report to Your Majesty, besides this, I indeed have one more matter I wish to inform Your Majesty about.”
“What is it?”
“I have news of the former Young Emperor Yu.”
Pei You’an’s voice was steady as he said this. The air in the study seemed to freeze instantly with these words.
Pei You’an slowly straightened up, meeting the gaze of the middle-aged man opposite him, and spoke frankly: “As Your Majesty knows, Yu’er and I had a teacher-student relationship in the past. Over these years, I have been searching for his whereabouts, and heaven has not disappointed the persistent; this time I was finally granted my wish. Your Majesty has proclaimed to the world that if the Young Emperor is still alive, You would welcome him back to the capital. Yu’er has entrusted me to convey to Your Majesty that he is extremely grateful and fearful. The Young Emperor has already died; now there remains only an ordinary young man from the common people, whose heart yearns for freedom, roaming the northern seas in the morning and southern mountains in the evening. He wishes to return the Shouzhang Imperial Seal to the ancestral temple as a token of his support for Your Majesty’s reign.”
After Pei You’an finished speaking, the study again fell into silence.
Xiao Lie stared at Pei You’an, his facial muscles twitching slightly, his figure solemn. After a long while, his expression gradually softened, and he sighed: “You’an, these words of yours truly make Me ashamed. Since he is still alive, if he truly does not wish to return to the palace, he could at least be a contented prince, living a life of wealth and nobility, which is surely better than wandering in the wilderness, uncertain of tomorrow. You have a teacher-student relationship with him; if he is not comfortable meeting Me, you can convey My message on My behalf.”
Pei You’an said: “Your Majesty, although Yu is still just a young man, his character is quite resolute. Having made up his mind, any more words from me would be useless. Besides, Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne was the will of Heaven. Yu’s willingness to surrender the seal and support you is merely following Heaven’s mandate. I beseech Your Majesty to fulfill that young man’s wishes, and also to fulfill the teacher-student relationship between us!”
Pei You’an’s words were extremely earnest. After finishing, he kowtowed to the ground again, remaining kneeling for a long time.
Xiao Lie stepped forward quickly, personally helping him up from the ground, gazing at his face, his eyes gradually showing tenderness. He nodded: “You’an, I understand your intention, and I am deeply moved. You must be tired from rushing back all this way. Go and rest now.”