According to the original death deception plan, after clearing out the pirate stronghold and achieving great success, they would arrange for someone to fire a cold shot for “assassination.” Zhu Zhanji would be publicly shot, clutching his chest as he fell from a cliff into the sea. Zhu Zhanhe would throw his big cousin’s worn clothes and a shoe into the sea, artificially creating the illusion of death. Zhu Zhanji would gain his freedom, then disguise himself to go to the capital and confess his feelings to A’Lei—Zhu Zhanji was a perfectionist who believed only when he was free would he be worthy of confessing to A’Lei. Zhu Zhanji felt that by abandoning all fame and fortune, he showed enough sincerity for A’Lei to accept him. Zhu Zhanji never expected his perfectionism would nearly cost him his wife and his soldiers.
Zhu Zhanhe also discovered the ring-handled small knife belonged to Mu Chun, and couldn’t help saying: “Is it godfather who’s worried about us brothers and the Youth Army? After all, he was an instructor with the Youth Army for a year. Did he deliberately disguise himself as a merchant to secretly help us? But no matter how godfather disguises himself, he couldn’t dress up as an effeminate young man.”
The age difference was too great.
Zhu Zhanji thought there was another possibility: “Perhaps it’s not godfather himself, but he sent a trusted aide to help us.”
The two brothers’ imaginations ran wild, never guessing that A’Lei had “run away” and Mu Chun had gifted her his personal weapon.
So when the scout disguised as a ginseng merchant respectfully brought the “righteous little brother” before the two brothers, they looked at each other in disbelief, unable to believe A’Lei stood before them.
“Sister A’Lei?”
“How is it you?”
Dismissing the scout, the two brothers fired off ten questions in one breath. A’Lei felt guilty and kept her head down without answering.
How could she answer?
Say that she loved without hope and ran away to heal her wounds?
Zhu Zhanji covered Zhu Zhanhe’s mouth: “She seems frightened. Bring a pot of tea and some pastries.”
Zhu Zhanhe went to search the pirate stronghold for tea leaves and food.
Once Zhu Zhanhe left, Zhu Zhanji helped A’Lei sit down: “No rush, wait until you’ve eaten your fill before speaking slowly.”
A’Lei racked her brains to fabricate lies: “I… I worked busily for a year and finally finished making the clock to present to His Majesty. I felt… so tired, so I came out for a walk, traveling around. I never expected to encounter this group of vicious pirates right after leaving Yunjian County.”
The lies gradually became smoother. Just then Zhu Zhanhe entered carrying a pot of tea: “I couldn’t find tea leaves or pastries, just a few jars of brown sugar, so I mixed it with hot water. Sister A’Lei, drink quickly.”
With Zhu Zhanhe’s entrance, A’Lei felt less uncomfortable. Drinking the brown sugar water, her heart settled slightly: “Fortunately you appeared in time to pacify the pirate stronghold, otherwise my sister and brother-in-law would have had to pay ten thousand taels of silver to ransom me.”
Zhu Zhanji said urgently: “How long did you think you could hide your female identity? Once exposed, you as a young woman…”
Zhu Zhanji didn’t dare think deeply and changed the subject, scolding: “In future, when traveling, take official roads and stay at post stations. Don’t be playful and take such risks again.”
Seeing Zhu Zhanji believed her lies, A’Lei felt like she’d survived a disaster and nodded repeatedly: “I understand. I don’t want to encounter bandits again. In future, I’d rather take detours to ensure safety.”
Zhu Zhanji said: “I’ll send people to escort you back to the capital. After such a major incident, Palace Director Hu and godfather must be very worried. You must return home first to let them see with their own eyes that you’re unharmed.”
A’Lei quickly said: “No need. I’m going to Liujiagang to see various diplomatic missions and buy some books and clocks. I heard Liujiagang is protected by the Ming Navy—it’s a safe place.”
Fearing complications, Zhu Zhanji said: “No, you must return home first.”
A’Lei put on a stubborn face: “Why should I listen to you? Compared to Yunjian County, this place is closer to Liujiagang. Once I reach Liujiagang, I won’t take the water route anymore—I’ll slowly return to the capital by land.”
“Because—” Zhu Zhanji paused. Indeed, A’Lei had no need to follow his arrangements, and Liujiagang was truly safe.
Seeing the two were about to argue again, observer Zhu Zhanhe interjected: “Sister A’Lei, the night before we brothers led the Youth Army to suppress the pirates, you invited us for tea—you knew about it. Logically, you should know the island battle was commanded by us two. Why did you avoid us without even greeting us, leaving with the merchant convoy?”
A’Lei wanted to sew Zhu Zhanhe’s mouth shut: No one thinks you’re mute if you don’t speak!
Zhu Zhanji suddenly saw the light. Concern had clouded his judgment—he’d only focused on whether A’Lei was injured or frightened, ignoring this most important question.
It made no sense. Childhood friends facing life and death—shouldn’t they greet each other, meet, check if the other was injured, show concern?
How could she act like a stranger, leaving without a word?
Zhu Zhanji’s gaze gradually sharpened, making A’Lei increasingly guilty: “I… I just… seeing so many corpses, I was frightened. My mind went blank—I only wanted to quickly leave this place.”
Zhu Zhanji stared at her steadily without responding or offering comfort.
Obviously this answer hadn’t convinced him.
A’Lei continued fabricating: “And also, I felt… you must be very busy, since this is your maiden campaign—”
“Not mine, his maiden campaign.” Zhu Zhanji pointed at Zhu Zhanhe. “His first expedition. I accompanied His Majesty on northern campaigns at age nine—you even got that wrong.”
A’Lei stubbornly said: “Yes, I’m still in shock now, sometimes lucid, sometimes confused. I didn’t sleep all last night. Occasionally when I blink and close my eyes, I see that ginseng merchant seizing the sword and beheading the pirate—so terrifying. A headless corpse can still maintain a standing posture, pausing a full ten seconds before falling. Learning from this experience, I’ll never take merchant ships to sea again.”
Seeing her pale lips, hands crossed and tightly pressed to her chest, fingers restlessly fidgeting—looking thoroughly frightened (guilty from lying)—Zhu Zhanji stopped pressing and said:
“Rest here first. Don’t look outside the window. Zhu Zhanhe and I have urgent matters to handle. The female bodyguard with you will come keep you company.”
A’Lei refused to stay: “No, I can’t remain in this pirate stronghold for another moment. I’m scared. I’d rather follow the merchant ship to Liujiagang dock.”
She harbored “improper thoughts” about Zhu Zhanji, and now he’d saved her and protected her in every way. A’Lei was at the age of first love, precisely when she was impulsive. If she continued staying here, what if she couldn’t control herself?
She had to leave.
On the isolated island, sporadic sounds and explosions could be heard from time to time—this was the Youth Army cleaning the battlefield, clearing out pirates hidden in caves or tunnels.
First they used fire attacks, smoking and burning to force the pirates out, then opened fire.
If pirates preferred to die from smoke or fire rather than emerge, they’d collapse the cave entrances or tunnels to eliminate hidden dangers.
This place was indeed less safe than Liujiagang.
Just then another explosion sounded. A’Lei deliberately curled up in a ball, looking weak, pitiful, and helpless: “I want to leave here. This place offers no peace or rest.”
Zhu Zhanji’s heart softened. After thinking, he said: “Fine, go to Liujiagang first, but once you’re there, don’t go anywhere. You just wait—”
Wait for me to die first.
Zhu Zhanji said: “Wait for Palace Director Hu to send someone to fetch you before returning to the capital. Those bodyguards around you are from civilian backgrounds after all, self-taught—not as reliable as the military. I don’t trust them to escort you.”
As long as she could leave here, she’d agree to anything.
A’Lei nodded: “Good, I’ll listen to you and won’t leave Liujiagang.”
Just then military reports kept coming from outside. Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanhe hurriedly departed, and the female bodyguard disguised as a wet nurse came to escort A’Lei back to the ship.
Just after boarding, A’Lei breathed a sigh of relief.
The sailors were about to remove the boarding planks when suddenly a red firework exploded from a nearby mountaintop, and someone roared: “Assassin! Protect His Highness!”
Disaster! Who was assassinated? Was it Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanhe? How badly were they injured? Could their lives be in danger?
A’Lei’s heart was in chaos: “Wait!”
A’Lei ran across the plank to the dock, leaped onto a horse, and galloped toward the mountaintop where the firework had appeared.