The Qu family’s maritime business was renowned in the Minnan region. Since the founding emperor opened the sea routes, they had built their empire on the waters for generations. The Qu family’s shipbuilding craftsmanship had always far surpassed their competitors – even the imperial court had to request craftsmen from the Qu family for their shipbuilding needs.

Qu Rongying’s father had three sons and one daughter. After his death, no one expected that the previously unremarkable eldest daughter of the Qu family would participate in the power struggle and emerge victorious. Since she took charge, neither officials on the legitimate paths nor bandits on the black routes had gained any advantage over the Qu family, with not a single incident occurring to this day.

She commanded the most skilled sailors, the finest shipbuilders, and the most accurate weather forecasters – all of whom were genuinely devoted to her.

Qi Pei’s connection with her began last year during the grain delivery to Dengzhou. The Crown Prince’s chosen route was indeed the most likely path for the successful delivery of supplies, but amid the continuous downpours, it carried considerable risks. Only Qu Rongying dared to accept the mission.

Qu Rongying had initially refused Hua Taoyi, and it was only later that he managed to persuade her.

Qu Rongying was twenty-five that year, several years older than him. Her gaze toward him had always burned like fire, and he had long known her feelings.

“Does the Chief not mind my incomplete body?” Qi Pei asked.

“If I minded, I wouldn’t be expressing my feelings to you today.” Qu Rongying couldn’t help but lean closer.

Her red lips were just inches away. Unlike most ladies’ fragrant scent, she carried the damp essence of sea winds, which wasn’t unpleasant. Qi Pei didn’t retreat, their breaths intermingling as he gazed at her for who knows how long before his lips curved: “As you wish.”

He agreed, he agreed!

Qu Rongying’s heart began to race, but she quickly withdrew, straightening her posture and standing sideways to Qi Pei: “Would you sell yourself for your master?”

Qu Rongying knew whom Qi Pei served – the most noble lady in the realm. During the flooding in Dengzhou, she had secretly glimpsed her from afar and realized there could be such matchless beauty in this world.

Since childhood, she had followed her parents on ships, conducting business with merchant vessels. The Qu family being the preferred choice of officials and nobles, she had seen countless wealthy ladies and noble maidens whose beauty matched or even slightly surpassed the Crown Princess’s.

But in Qu Rongying’s eyes, having seen thousands of beauties, those women were merely empty shells. Beauty lasted only a dozen years before withering away.

The Crown Princess was different. She possessed an aura that made even Qu Rongying want to bow in reverence. This aura wasn’t because of her position as Crown Princess but radiated from her very being. Qu Rongying, having read a few books, didn’t know how to describe it.

Qi Pei lowered his long, dense eyelashes: “My master – if she desires something, nothing in this world is impossible. There’s no need for me to sell myself.”

At that moment, Qu Rongying’s heart filled with both joy and bitterness – joy that he had accepted her feelings without ulterior motives, bitterness that such a woman existed in his heart, not romantically, but leaving an indelible mark nonetheless.

Despite her typically open-minded nature, she inexplicably found herself caring deeply about this. She desperately wanted to ask him: if one day both she and the Crown Princess were in mortal danger, whom would he choose to save? As soon as this thought crossed her mind, she blurted it out.

Hearing his soft laughter after her question, Qu Rongying felt extremely embarrassed.

Qi Pei crooked his finger, and Qu Rongying leaned forward. Suddenly, Qi Pei pressed against the back of her head, pulling her close. His lips nearly touching hers, his pale pupils seemed to contain some lethal desire and danger: “If that day comes, I will save my master.”

Qu Rongying flew into a rage. She tried to break free, but Qi Pei held her firmly, not allowing her to move an inch away: “I will save my master, then join you in death.”

His life and his family’s honor were all bestowed by Shen Xihe. This debt was as heavy as Mount Tai, and he could only repay it with his life. If faced with a life-or-death choice and he chose his beloved out of selfish desires, even if he survived, he would have no right to stand in this world.

He also deeply believed that Qu Rongying wouldn’t respect such a version of himself.

But in a world without her, he wouldn’t want to live alone either.

Startled, shocked, and overwhelmed with emotion, Qu Rongying couldn’t help but suddenly dart forward, giving Qi Pei a fierce kiss. Then, like a flexible willow branch, she twisted her waist and quickly slipped from his embrace. Turning her head, she cast him a smile full of meaning: “Remember your words!”

With that, she gracefully departed, joyfully verifying the boarding personnel, checking everything, confirming all procedures, and with one command, the large ship gradually pulled away from the dock.

Setting sail in the afternoon, by nightfall they had reached the center of the river. Looking around, nothing could be seen except the endless river gleaming with rippling waves under the cold moonlight.

The cabin lights were extinguished one by one, leaving only the swaying exterior lamps. In the dead of night, sudden light footsteps broke the silence, followed by a piercing scream that shattered the tranquility, causing a string of lanterns on the deck to shake violently for a moment.

The fighting began without warning, with splashing sounds of bodies hitting water coming one after another. The massive ship had somehow stopped moving, staying perfectly still in the middle of the river. Some people fell into the river, while others climbed up from the water. Soon, the clean deck was stained red with a mixture of river water and blood.

Qi Pei and Qu Rongying remained in their respective rooms, waiting for another group to arrive as reinforcements.

Sure enough, before long, a brilliant signal flare lit up the night sky. The fighting outside intensified, and the previously motionless ship began to sway slightly. This ship had no ordinary passengers; it had been divided among those with ulterior motives.

Moments later, another clear signal sounded outside. After about a quarter-hour, small boats approached the large ship from all directions. Aboard were rows of men in tight-fitting dark clothes, their faces stern and fierce, their swords gleaming coldly in the night light.

It appeared to be two separate forces. Just as their boats neared the large ship, before they could leap aboard, Qi Pei timed it perfectly and blew his bamboo whistle.

Bubbles rose, and suddenly people emerged around the small boats. Sharp blades thrust up from beneath, some missing, others piercing feet.

The ambushers, like ghosts crawling from the river, gave no one time to react. They grabbed the small boats from front and back, pushing together – everyone aboard fell in. What awaited them was either being gutted by a sword or decapitated by a blade.

A faint pink rose from the river’s depths, growing denser until it turned blood-red, finally becoming as thick as ink that wouldn’t dissolve.

Total annihilation.

One hundred of Emperor Youning’s Divine Brave Army’s elite soldiers, one hundred of Xiao Changyan’s Shadow Guards, and approximately one hundred others – several hundred people perished in the river. They not only dyed the water red but also attracted huge river creatures to feed on their corpses, terrifying the fishermen who went out before dawn. They immediately reported to the authorities.

When the news reached the imperial court, Emperor Youning slammed his palm heavily on the table, his face unprecedentedly livid.