“The ship’s bottom is broken!” Yan Huaishi followed behind her, running over with a pale face. His recent days hadn’t been easy. On the journey here, he’d been triumphant, but the return trip had been fraught with disasters. Ambushed in Longxi territory—the death and injury of guards was a small matter, but he’d actually lost Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi. At that time, he’d been frantic with anxiety. Fortunately, the two had been blessed with good fortune and eventually made contact again. Only after many days of being unable to eat or sleep did Yan Huaishi finally set down the heavy stone in his heart—anyone could have problems, but these two absolutely could not. Once something happened to Feng Zhiwei, given Nanhai’s current situation, the aristocratic families would inevitably be swallowed up by the local government forces backed by the Chang family.

So afterward, Yan Huaishi had been extremely careful all the way, wishing he could sleep on Feng Zhiwei’s doorstep. Now, just as they were about to reach Nanhai and he was about to temporarily breathe a sigh of relief, they encountered this!

“It seems your Nanhai’s way of welcoming imperial commissioners is quite special.” Ning Yi was helped out by Ning Cheng, quietly listening to the tsunami-like shouts not far away, a faint, cold smile on his face.

Yan Huaishi looked at the dense black mass of tens of thousands of people on shore and drew in a sharp breath. His fingers gripping the ship’s rail curled tightly—he knew Nanhai’s situation was dire, but never imagined it was dire to this degree.

Helian Zheng lay draped over the ship’s rail, vomiting while saying feebly: “Though thousands block my path, I shall go forth…”

Everyone was surprised this person could quote classics, then heard him continue with retching sounds: “Might as well mobilize a great army to slaughter them all…”

“…”

Feng Zhiwei squinted her eyes, looking toward the rear of the sea of humanity. There, Nanhai’s local government welcoming entourage and the aristocratic families’ greeting parties were squeezed to the back by the massive crowd, buffeted and swaying precariously, looking quite pitiful.

She took the spyglass from Yan Huaishi’s hand and aimed it in that direction. The circular spyglass view kept moving, sweeping over that area of officials in vermilion robes and purple sashes. Some were whispering to each other, some wore slight smiles, some glanced sideways at the large ship. The leader, a dark-faced man surrounded by guards, was actually shaded by a huge parasol, sitting steadily in the center on a grand preceptor’s chair, reading a book. Amid the surrounding tide of tens of thousands where one person spitting could drown someone, his manner was leisurely.

Feng Zhiwei’s spyglass slowly moved down and saw the rhinoceros horn belt at this person’s waist—a second-rank official, Nanhai Circuit Provincial Administration Commissioner, Zhou Xizhong.

Unlike impoverished Longxi, Nanhai Circuit, as the first to open maritime trade with the nation’s first Ship Affairs Office and customs house, had five great aristocratic families thriving within its borders. Maritime trade drove the local economy, making it quite prosperous. The people’s temperament was also relatively open-minded. “Open-minded” was the polite way to say it—to put it less kindly, they were unruly. Zhou Xizhong had managed Nanhai for many years and could suppress the powerful aristocratic families until the Yan family had no choice but to seek connections in the imperial capital. He could also discipline the unruly people to follow his commands perfectly. His capabilities were evident—absolutely incomparable to the mahjong-playing Shen Xuru.

Back when the Cabinet was discussing Nanhai affairs, Feng Zhiwei already knew this Nanhai journey wouldn’t be so simple. A Provincial Administration Commissioner who dared to and could incite all officials under him to unite against national policy, who could command tens of thousands of people to petition according to his will—capable, commanding loyalty, and bold. Such a person could not be taken lightly by anyone.

Now, he was demonstrating to Ning Yi that he couldn’t be underestimated—Ning Yi had come aggressively with the blood of 336 heads from Longxi Circuit, so he commanded tens of thousands of Nanhai people to “warmly welcome” them at the dock, completely unintimidated by Ning Yi’s might, deliberately giving him a show of force.

A group of black-robed, red-trimmed bailiffs symbolically dispersed the crowd, waving back and forth like herding ducks, actually driving the people from the five great aristocratic families led by the Yan clan, who had come sincerely to welcome them, to the very back.

Suddenly someone shouted loudly.

“Drive away the confused officials who act against reason!”

Like tinder igniting dry kindling, with a roar it immediately caught fire. Tens of thousands of people began clamoring and shouting.

“Drive away the court’s muddle-headed officials!”

“We don’t need the Ship Affairs Office!”

“Whoever backs the aristocratic families should get out of Nanhai!”

“Go back to the imperial capital!”

“Smack!” From somewhere, a vegetable was thrown, tracing a murky green arc and landing with a splash in the sea water several zhang from the large ship.

As if reminded, in an instant vegetables flew through the air above tens of thousands of people, rotten eggs danced wildly, projectiles streamed endlessly through the air, heading straight for the imperial commissioner’s official ship.

Most of the thrown objects fell into the water, but a few with good strength and high accuracy flew and hit the large ship’s hull with crackling sounds, blooming in various colors.

“This is too much!” The hot-blooded young nobles from Qingming Academy had originally thought this plum assignment would receive high-level welcoming, but unexpectedly on the road they’d nearly died, and the ship hadn’t even docked yet when they encountered this show of force. Already furious beyond endurance, led by Yao Yangyu, they began rolling up sleeves and preparing arms: “My lord, lower the sampans, we’ll protect you going down and beat these damned bastards to death!”

“Your Highness.” Yan Huaishi hurriedly pulled at Ning Yi, then pulled at Feng Zhiwei. “The bow is dangerous! Must guard against someone shooting cold arrows. Better go into the cabin to take shelter!”

Ning Yi didn’t move. Feng Zhiwei didn’t move either. The two stood side by side at the rail with hands behind their backs, calmly facing the furious tide of tens of thousands of Nanhai people. The sea wind blew their long hair, black hair whipping like flags in the wind.

A bundle of dried fish smacked down at Ning Yi’s feet. Shattered fish flakes splattered on his boots. Guards rushed over, raising umbrellas to shield him, but Ning Yi coolly brushed them aside.

“Nanhai’s common people are indeed quite prosperous.” Ning Yi smiled at Feng Zhiwei beside him. “Look, someone’s even throwing dried fish. This kind of dried fish, resold in the capital, costs 500 wen per bundle.”

Feng Zhiwei nodded in deep agreement, saying: “Steam it over water, mix with fragrant oil, vinegar, garlic, and scallions—quite delicious.”

Yan Huaishi wrung his hands, pacing in circles, not understanding why these two had the mood to discuss such things in such a hostile and dangerous situation. The large ship had been broken on the bottom, whether by hidden reefs or deliberate sabotage, and would sink before long. They either had to wait for local government to send large ships to receive them, or use their own small boats to slowly ferry people away. But once they used small boats, they’d be exposed to siege by tens of thousands of people’s eggs and vegetables. How could he let Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei suffer such treatment?

Moreover, if they let Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei board small boats first to go over, after reaching shore when the masses swarmed forward, who could guarantee their safety? If they let guards go down first to set up defenses, and the large ship sank, with Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei falling into water in embarrassment before Nanhai officials and tens of thousands of people, how could they command Nanhai officials afterward?

And at this moment, Nanhai’s official side was “blocked” behind tens of thousands of people. Hoping they’d send boats to rescue was certainly impossible. This was clearly a vicious trap, deliberately intending to humiliate Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei.

Zhou Xizhong, called “Zhou the Iron Face,” was also known in Nanhai official circles as “Zhou the Hegemon”—arrogant, stubborn in character, extremely imposing. He couldn’t have suppressed the nation’s wealthiest aristocratic families for so many years otherwise. Today’s situation—he even dared to mess with imperial commissioners. To make this person submit was almost impossible.

“I’ll have my family’s large ship come receive us!” After thinking for a long while, Yan Huaishi gritted his teeth.

“Won’t work.” Feng Zhiwei vetoed it. “Nanhai’s common people are being incited by the government, saying you aristocratic families are colluding with the imperial capital’s upper levels. Now in front of tens of thousands of people, arriving and immediately using your Yan family boats would confirm the so-called collusion, adding fuel to the fire, making things even more unmanageable in the future.”

“Then what do we do?!”

Ning Yi smiled slightly and suddenly said: “Wei Zhi, I’m very interested in the steamed fish you just mentioned.”

Feng Zhiwei’s eyes glimmered as she smiled: “Only steamed fish alone is too monotonous… Brother Gu.”

Young Master Gu, who was eating walnuts, drifted over.

“We shouldn’t waste food.” Feng Zhiwei pointed at the vegetables floating on the water surface. “You see what’s edible and bring it all back.”

Young Master Gu nodded and tossed down dozens of walnuts.

The walnuts spun out and landed on the sea surface. Gu Nanyi drifted down from the rail and landed on the nearest walnut.

The walnut was tiny, bobbing up and down on the water surface. Gu Nanyi’s slender form rose and fell with it, yet remained perfectly steady. His sky-water blue robes floated like flowing clouds in the sea wind. Morning sunlight fell on his shoulders, his entire body emanating a faint aqueous radiance, like a warm jade statue. He extended his finger, and the morning light falling on his fingertip flashed brilliantly like a diamond.

When had Nanhai’s common people ever seen such a figure and bearing? For an instant, they forgot to continue their long-distance arm-throwing exercises, mouths agape, thinking they were seeing an immortal descending.

Ten thousand pairs of eyes fell on one person. For anyone else, this would make hands and feet awkward, but Young Master Gu had always regarded everyone except Feng Zhiwei as trash. Unhurried, he extended his hand, and a basket appeared in it.

A basket.

Over ten thousand common people’s mouths hung open so wide that drool fell without their knowledge—this person riding a walnut across the sea was already shocking enough, but riding a walnut while carrying a basket across the sea completely shattered the immortal image.

Well, actually, though they’d never seen an immortal crossing the sea with a basket, it seemed… also quite beautiful.

The immortal took out the divine basket and leisurely followed the walnuts floating on the sea, landing on them one by one. Wherever he passed, edible vegetables, eggs, dried fish, crabs—all were scooped into the basket.

Over ten thousand common people opened their mouths with an “Ah” sound. The dock was like a rolling thunderstorm—so it was an immortal riding walnuts, carrying a basket across the sea to collect junk!

Young Master Gu circled around following the walnut path, scooping all visible food into the basket. At the end, he swiftly swept across the sea in a circle, collecting all the walnuts—couldn’t waste them, they were walnuts.

The arc of his sweeping movement was beautiful. His phoenix-like form splashed pale blue water waves as it swept across the sea surface. Over ten thousand common people simultaneously sighed with dazzled fascination.

Young Master Gu was completely unaware he’d just given Nanhai’s common people a stunt performance they’d never forget until death. He only focused on completing Feng Zhiwei’s task, carrying the basket back to the large ship and presenting it to Feng Zhiwei.

Feng Zhiwei accepted it with a smile, then her mouth twitched—Young Master Gu didn’t distinguish good from bad when shopping for vegetables. He wanted anything in the water before his eyes. So in the basket were rotten vegetables, stinking shoe soles, and a pile of unfortunate jellyfish swimming in the water.

She threw the inedible items back into the sea and smiled: “Today I’ll let you taste my cooking.” She also said a few words to Gu Nanyi.

Young Master Gu stood at the rail. All the common people had long forgotten their purpose and intended actions, uniformly looking up at him.

“His Highness says, Nanhai’s common people are so prosperous indeed.” Young Master Gu dryly relayed Feng Zhiwei’s words. Though he seemed to speak quietly, when he opened his mouth, tens of thousands of people heard clearly.

Using the spyglass, Feng Zhiwei saw that in the crowd, the Provincial Administration Commissioner who had remained immovable as a mountain reading his book had finally put down the book and raised his head.

“Nanhai’s Provincial Administration Commissioner’s office recently petitioned the court, claiming Nanhai suffered disasters and grain production decreased, requesting court disaster relief.” Gu Nanyi had an excellent memory and recited without missing a word. “The imperial commissioner came here also intending to assess Nanhai’s disaster situation and, when necessary, open granaries for relief and reduce taxes. Now upon arriving at Nanhai territory, we’ve collected five jin of dried fish, ten crabs, and various dried vegetables and eggs. Clearly Nanhai’s common people have no danger of running out of grain. The disaster matter must be fabricated. Tax reduction is naturally unnecessary.”

Over ten thousand common people made another “Ah” sound and turned back to glare angrily at the government group.

Nanhai officials looked at each other. Zhou Xizhong stood up.

“His Highness says he doesn’t understand why Nanhai’s common people waste grain like this.” Gu Nanyi continued reciting. “His Highness traveled from the capital, passing through Jianghuai, Longxi, and Longnan provinces to reach Nanhai. Except for Jianghuai, the land of fish and rice, which can maintain adequate food and clothing, Longxi suffered severe drought this year. The people of all three areas suffered disasters. Longnan’s mountain floods cut roads. Seven counties’ people still lack clothing and food. Hundreds of thousands of common people cry out for sustenance. Countless refugees wander the roads. His Highness opened granaries for relief all along the way but still couldn’t completely resolve the people’s crisis. With no alternative, the imperial commissioner’s guard troops all reduced their grain rations to provide disaster relief along the way. Even His Highness no longer eats vegetables, only to save one more mouthful so one more life can be saved. Unexpectedly, today arriving at Nanhai, we’re greeted by tens of thousands of people with dried fish. This is truly too grand. His Highness, thinking of the suffering of cold and hunger in Longxi and Longnan’s common people, dares not waste. Thus he gratefully accepts the elders’ gift and uses it for cooking.”

The roaring sounds of Nanhai’s common people died down. They looked at each other, never expecting the imperial commissioner would actually collect the vegetables to eat and speak such words. Zhou Xizhong stood rigidly there, his expression grim.

“His Highness thanks the elders for their gifts and dares to ask Nanhai’s elders—as subjects of the realm together, some people wander the roads crying in hunger and cold, while others treat food lightly, trampling fish and meat into mud. Don’t you all feel this harms heaven and reason? Don’t you feel guilty in your hearts?”

The crowd stirred with some unease. When one’s self-perceived righteous principles are completely overturned, suddenly becoming an unreasonable troublemaker, everyone feels confused. Moreover, everyone has compassion. Hearing of the disasters and suffering of Longxi and Longnan’s common people, as fellow commoners they empathized. They also felt the imperial commissioner’s words were particularly special and moving—far more genuine than those previous commissioners full of official rhetoric. Most people quieted down, showing some ashamed expressions.

Helian Zheng stared wide-mouthed at Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei—Longxi and Longnan suffering disasters was fact, but yesterday didn’t one of you drink bird’s nest soup and the other gnaw turtle legs? Who stopped eating vegetables?

Han people, oh Han people… truly terrifying.

“And we ask Nanhai’s officials at all levels—reporting disasters when there are none, reporting no grain when there is grain, deceiving superiors and concealing from subordinates, disregarding heavenly majesty. Don’t you all feel you’ve failed the imperial commissioners who came from afar intending to provide relief? Don’t you feel you’ve failed His Majesty in the imperial capital who exhaustively plans for Nanhai’s disaster relief?”

Young Master Gu raised his voice for this sentence according to Feng Zhiwei’s instructions, though it was still that flat tone lacking inflection. It couldn’t achieve a shocking, overwhelming effect. Fortunately, the language itself had power. Nanhai’s government group clearly showed commotion.

“Today we’ll stay right here and finish eating the food the common people gave before disembarking.” Young Master Gu had never spoken so much in his life and was long impatient, dryly declaring to ten thousand people: “We also invite Nanhai Provincial Administration Commissioner Lord Zhou to board the ship and consume this food that cannot be wasted. The government has the duty to educate. Nanhai’s common people don’t understand the value of grain, so the imperial commissioner and Nanhai government will demonstrate through personal action. His Highness will personally lay out chopsticks, Lord Wei will personally cook, and we invite Lord Zhou to board the ship to tend the fire.”

“…”

Yan Huaishi, who had been listening intently, stumbled at the last sentence. Helian Zheng, who had just climbed up, fell back down again.

Nanhai’s common people made a collective “Ha” sound. The whirlwind caused by airflow once again swept across the dock.

Among Nanhai’s officials, they looked up stupidly, staring blankly at the Provincial Administration Commissioner at the very center, whose expression had long turned iron-blue.

Originally intending to give them a show of force, waiting until the imperial commissioners were most embarrassed before stepping forward to watch the joke, they never expected these people wouldn’t be coerced. With a few light words, they placed them in an awkward position. Moreover, the ship was about to sink and they still wouldn’t get off—smashing whatever was thrown at them and picking it up to cook. Cooking was one thing, but they also wanted Lord Zhou to tend the fire!

And you couldn’t refuse to do it—His Highness was laying out chopsticks himself. What was tending a fire?

Moreover, it was such a dignified reason. You wanted to call it harassment but couldn’t. Tens of thousands of common people were watching. They could cherish grain for the people’s sake—you couldn’t even tend a fire? You won’t go tend fire on that soon-to-sink broken ship? You don’t love the people!

Lord Zhou’s prestige and status cultivated over ten-plus years in the common people’s hearts would also dissipate completely.

Ruthless! Truly ruthless!

Zhou Xizhong’s iron-blue face never expected the imperial commissioners would pull such a move—truly turning clouds and rain with dignified bearing. By now, the one forced into a corner had long become himself. He broke this ship’s bottom, and now he had to board this broken ship. When it sank, he’d be embarrassed too. From now on, “Fire-Tending Provincial Administration Commissioner” would follow him for life.

Among the princes in the imperial capital, frontier ministers understood them somewhat. Regarding Ning Yi, Zhou Xizhong only knew Prince Chu was romantic. In recent years’ consecutive events in court, Ning Yi hadn’t directly taken the stage. The inside details—Zhou Xizhong, far away in Nanhai, wasn’t clear about them. And this Wei Zhi kid, in his view, was just a court jester who rose rapidly and gained empty fame. Precisely because he took both lightly, he dared privately incite the common people to petition and cause trouble. He never expected to immediately eat a faceful of dust.

On the large ship, Gu Nanyi issued the invitation without giving Zhou Xizhong time to consider. Pointing remotely in his direction with precision, he said: “His Highness says, if Lord Zhou has finished reading that ‘Record of Foreign Nations,’ please quickly board the ship to tend fire.”

Zhou Xizhong instinctively threw the book onto the chair. His advisors hurriedly removed the book, chair, and parasol.

“Go call the ship repair team.” Zhou Xizhong coldly ordered his left and right counselors with a grim face. “The ship will sink in half a quarter-hour. Have them deploy everyone to go underwater. Within half a quarter-hour, fix the ship for me. No matter what methods they use, at minimum guarantee the ship won’t sink within one hour. Whoever lets me fall in the water, I’ll make them lose their head!”

“Yes!”

Coldly laughing, Zhou Xizhong straightened his clothes and called out loudly: “Nanhai Provincial Administration Commissioner Zhou Xizhong, leading subordinate Nanhai officials, respectfully inquires after the Sacred One’s health and pays respects to Prince Chu!”

Nanhai’s common people made way. In the center of the crowd, Zhou Xizhong led as Nanhai officials all knelt together, prostrating remotely toward the large ship.

Yan Huaishi stepped aside and let out a long breath, nearly moved to tears for a moment—he thought today would either mean being beaten by the mob or falling into water as the ship sank. He never expected this outcome—the hegemon who dominated Nanhai and brooked no opposition, Zhou the Hegemon, had finally bowed.

Ning Yi stood remotely at the bow, hand on the rail, expression unchanged. His moon-white brocade robe was elegant as bamboo, but the brilliant gold mandala on his deep black cloak was flamboyant and bewitching, rolling and dancing like waves in the wind. He gazed over so faintly, clearly so far away, yet everyone felt his deep, cool gaze enveloped them.

“This subordinate, having received His Highness’s instruction, is ashamed beyond measure.” Zhou Xizhong continued. “Knowing my offense is not light, I request His Highness allow this subordinate to lead Nanhai’s fourth-rank and above officials to all board the official ship to tend fire.”

Feng Zhiwei, who had been sorting vegetables on deck, raised her eyebrows.

Under the eyes of all, one person boarding the ship to tend fire was too awkward. Going together to tend fire wouldn’t be as obvious and would still show government unity, turning an embarrassing matter into a harmonious official walkabout performance—quite a clever idea.

Bringing so many people—using numbers to bully the few? Feng Zhiwei smiled.

No one answered him. Ning Yi calmly turned around. Only Young Master Gu stood at the rail waving firewood at Zhou Xizhong—hurry and tend fire!

Someone lowered several sampans. Those Nanhai Circuit officials with brilliant plumes and caps boarded boats and rowed over. Qingming Academy students lined up in two rows waiting, using their gazes to express their infinite smugness and humiliation of Nanhai officials.

On shore, many people from the crowd had left, but many hadn’t dispersed, looking around as if waiting for something.

Officials boarded the ship. Ning Cheng waited at the cabin entrance, handing each person a bundle of firewood.

“His Highness says greetings are exempted.” Ning Cheng said. “The dried fish is steaming but the fire isn’t hot enough. Trouble all you lords to hurry.”

Zhou Xizhong gripped that bundle of firewood. Knowing Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei were deliberately humiliating him but having no choice but to accept, his dark face turned purple. Some subordinates accustomed to his usual majesty glanced at him sideways, wanting to laugh but not daring, holding it in painfully.

Yan Huaishi led them to the ship’s kitchen. This ship was an official vessel modified with Yan family funding. Though unremarkable outside, inside it was exquisite and complete. A long row of large stoves had thick mud plastered at the bottom, then double-layer metal plates laid on top, so there was no fear of damaging the deck. Yan Huaishi, with some satisfaction, bowed to Zhou Xizhong and pointed at the stove opening, smiling: “Please.”

Zhou Xizhong looked at that bare stove opening and suppressed his anger: “How is there not even a chair?”

“Lord speaks incorrectly.” Feng Zhiwei came over carrying a crab with a smile. “I heard Lord also came from humble origins. Though the superior man keeps far from the kitchen, now living in comfort, you should also know that sitting on a chair, there’s no way to tend fire.”

“Lord Wei,” a counselor bowed to her, “could you find our lord a stool? The rest of us can squat.”

Feng Zhiwei said seriously: “After the ship was rammed just now, all the stools were taken to plug holes. My sincere apologies.”

Nanhai officials were grief-stricken and speechless. After a long while, Zhou Xizhong angrily lifted his robe hem and squatted down to tend fire. Behind his rear, a long line swooshed down into squats.

Squatting to tend fire wasn’t the end. After lighting for a long time without catching, Young Master Gu’s firewood was half-wet. Thick smoke rose on all sides, choking the pile of officials into continuous coughing. Their faces turned pitch-black one by one.

With great difficulty the fire started. Ning Cheng kept running back and forth to urge: “Chopsticks are laid… is the fish steamed yet?”

“Bowls are set… why aren’t the crabs on the table yet?”

Zhou Xizhong’s dark face was smoked into an ashen face, his expression grave as water. Naturally he wouldn’t really tend fire, but he also couldn’t just leave. The poor fourth-rank and above officials below stuck out their rears doing work they’d never done in their lives while enduring their superior’s blade-like gaze.

Ning Yi was drinking tea with Nanhai Circuit’s Commander and Surveillance Commissioner in the front hall—as local Three Offices, the Commander and Provincial Administration Commissioner and Surveillance Commissioner were all frontier ministers. However, Zhou Xizhong dominated Nanhai alone. This time when Ning Yi arrived, to avoid obstruction from the Two Offices, he actually hadn’t sent people to notify them in advance. The Two Offices’ offices weren’t in Fengzhou either—they had just rushed over after receiving news.

When the Two Offices arrived and saw Zhou Xizhong tending fire on the ship, they felt truly satisfied. Commander Lü Bo said hypocritically: “We subordinates should also go tend fire.” Surveillance Commissioner Tao Shifeng, who always had a bad relationship with Zhou Xizhong, immediately laughed heartily: “Aiya, Old Zhou, you’re tending this fire wrong—the wind direction is wrong. Careful not to singe yourself!”

Zhou Xizhong responded coldly, ignoring them. Ning Yi said faintly: “Nanhai’s Three Offices working together with united strength—you two should indeed also tend fire.”

Lü Bo and Tao Shifeng’s faces stiffened. Ning Yi had already continued: “But you came late. It’s full with no space. Wait in the front hall.”

Lü Bo and Tao Shifeng smiled with eyes and brows flying, accompanying Ning Yi to drink tea in the front hall. Zhou Xizhong squatted before the stove opening. His finger bones cracked as he clenched them.

A counselor leaned close to his ear, saying lowly: “Lord, this matter…”

“The days are still long!” Zhou Xizhong said through gritted teeth. “Besides, Prince Chu will go to Minnan sooner or later. Without a prince holding the line, I’d like to see what waves this Wei Zhi can stir up in my Nanhai.”

“Smack!” A bundle of firewood suddenly falling and smacking beside his foot startled him. Looking up, he saw Young Master Gu floating straight past: “Burned!”

Feng Zhiwei stuck her head in to look. “Aiya, burned! Re-cook!”

“…”

After nearly an hour of this ordeal, this high-level meal was finally served: steamed crab, steamed dried fish, stewed eggs, stir-fried vegetables, stir-fried mixed clams, kelp-seaweed-dried shrimp soup.

Ning Yi sat upright at the head seat, nobly and gracefully gesturing slightly: “Please.”

To avoid people noticing his eyes weren’t convenient, small dishes were set before him with all dishes placed together. Others only thought this was an imperial custom and naturally had no thoughts.

When he started eating, everyone followed suit with chopsticks. Zhou Xizhong, having been busy for so long, was also hungry. Thinking His Highness surely wouldn’t dare poison him on this ship, he picked up a piece of dried fish.

Just after one bite, he suddenly felt something wrong. Looking up, he saw Feng Zhiwei across from him not raising chopsticks but slowly drinking tea while holding a cup, smiling at him. That smile was very gentle, but no matter how you looked at it, it seemed to harbor ill intentions.

Zhou Xizhong said in surprise: “Lord Wei isn’t eating?”

“This subordinate has some stomach troubles. I can look at but not eat this seafood.” Feng Zhiwei smiled warmly. “Please, please.”

Zhou Xizhong grunted and ate two more bites when suddenly “crunch.”

In this kind of setting, eating was very careful and meticulous, with no sound at all. This one sound thus seemed particularly clear. Everyone stopped their chopsticks and looked toward him.

Zhou Xizhong sat frozen there. His dark face slowly turned purple, then he covered his cheek full of rotten teeth.

Only then did Feng Zhiwei use a “whisper” everyone could hear to “bite ears” with Gu Nanyi: “Hey, that dried fish earlier—did you wash it?”

Young Master Gu answered loudly: “Scooped from seawater.”

The implication—that was also water. Why wash it?

“…”

The poor Provincial Administration Commissioner couldn’t continue eating after sand ground his teeth. The poor Nanhai officials, having been busy so long, also couldn’t eat. The equally hungry Commander and Surveillance Commissioner laughed with satisfaction—seeing the Southern Hegemon repeatedly suffer setbacks was truly delightful…

The meal ended hastily. The ship was barely repaired and navigated to shore. Everyone disembarked. On shore, the crowd was still half its original size.

Yan Huaishi looked at the still densely packed crowd and showed a worried expression, saying to Feng Zhiwei: “It looks like today’s visitors weren’t just incited by Zhou Xizhong. There may also be the Chang family’s handiwork. This is somewhat troublesome. With so many people, if someone shoots a cold arrow from the crowd, we couldn’t even find the culprit.”

“This crowd must be passed through.” Feng Zhiwei said. “There are still many people watching. If we have Zhou Xizhong forcibly disperse them now, his people only need to play tricks and it will erupt again. Then it will be even more unmanageable… Send people to protect His Highness no matter what.”

She looked back at Ning Yi with some worry, thinking she didn’t know if there was any way to handle his eyes. According to Ning Cheng’s meaning, they probably had to wait until reaching Minnan before possibly finding a way to resolve it.

She didn’t know Ning Yi’s thoughts. This person always concealed emotions very well. However, Ning Yi’s eye injury—she bore some responsibility. This journey’s safety could absolutely not have any more errors.

When disembarking, guards went down first, setting up defenses at the dock. Then Nanhai’s Three Office officials led the way in front. Ning Cheng and Feng Zhiwei flanked Ning Yi on left and right. Qingming Academy students formed the outer ring. Another layer of attendants was arranged in an even more outer ring—heavy layers like iron barrels surrounding them.

Feng Zhiwei requested Helian Zheng and Gu Nanyi to walk before and behind the student formation, repeatedly entreating them to protect this batch of students—these were all second-generation nobles from the imperial capital. Any one of them had formidable status. No mistakes could be made.

Ning Yi listened to the sounds around him, quietly squeezing Feng Zhiwei’s fingers, laughing lowly: “Rare to see you so concerned for me.”

Feng Zhiwei said very seriously: “Sharing worries and labors for His Highness is this subordinate’s duty.”

Ning Yi smiled, suddenly leaning close to her ear, saying softly: “This Prince actually hopes more to hear you say—attending to the Prince’s pillow and mat, this humble concubine’s duty.”

Feng Zhiwei had been walking somewhat tensely, needing to watch the crowd and watch her own formation. Hearing this person still had the mood to tease at this time, her anger rose. Smiling like a flower, she said: “Is that so? This humble concubine wishes the Prince can fulfill this heart’s desire in the next life.”

Just as she was halfway through speaking, she suddenly stopped. An old woman somewhere in the crowd, unable to stand steady, stumbled directly toward the formation. An attendant walking on the outer ring hurriedly reached out to push. The old woman toppled with one push, rolling away with a tumble. The basket she was carrying rolled right past the attendants’ feet straight toward Ning Yi’s direction in the crowd.

In that instant, Feng Zhiwei saw the cloth and miscellaneous items on top of the basket scatter, revealing inside black pellets!

Fire bombs!

The basket rolled toward her and Ning Yi’s direction. An attendant raised his leg to kick. Feng Zhiwei shouted: “Don’t—”

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

A tremendous explosion roared. Smoke and clouds spread, exploding right in the center of attendants and the dense crowd.

Blood and flesh splattered!

Screams and cries erupted!

The moment the fire bomb exploded and smoke rose, Feng Zhiwei turned and embraced Ning Yi. She felt Ning Yi also simultaneously embraced toward her. Then someone else lunged to embrace them both. The tremendous blast wave made standing impossible. The three fell to the ground together, rolling chaotically in the billowing black smoke. All around, crying and screaming sounds were confused. Thousands of common people, shocked by the explosion, scattered in all directions with a roar. In the sky-covering darkness, everyone stumbled and crawled, squeezing and colliding with each other. Those scattered fire pellets were continuously stepped on and detonated, producing thunderous continuous explosions. Thus another wave of smoke, blood, flesh, crowding, fleeing, and wailing… In an instant, the peaceful dock became a human hell.

Feng Zhiwei didn’t know how long she rolled or how far. People’s bodies kept falling on her, spraying blood. People fleeing in panic kept stepping on her. She had no time to think and couldn’t climb up. She could only grip Ning Yi tightly while Ning Yi held her in return, bit by bit covering her body with his own. She didn’t know when, but at the moment they fell, she had embraced him, yet it had become him protecting her.

Too many people on the dock created unparalleled explosion damage. In this apocalyptic chaos, everyone was like beasts sealed in a jar, madly running and colliding, using human lives as grinding stones. No one could stand straight. No one could protect anyone well. In such a short stretch of road, they were both stepped on many times. The person above them attempted again and again to lift them up but was knocked down again and again by explosion blast waves and the tide of humanity. Finally, he could only also cover his body over them, trying hard to raise his head, finding a direction amid the blinding smoke and countless legs, protecting them as he rolled and crawled all the way there.

In the sky-dark chaos and complete confusion, Feng Zhiwei vaguely heard Gu Nanyi’s voice: “Wei!”

This was the address Feng Zhiwei and Gu Nanyi had agreed upon for her. This “Wei” was homophonous with “Wei,” so no matter the setting, this call wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

Feng Zhiwei’s heart leaped with joy—Young Master Gu was alright! She tried hard to straighten her throat and shout: “I’m here!” However, all around everyone was screaming wildly. Thousands of people’s screams rolled like a tide. Without Gu Nanyi’s incomparable powerful internal force, even shouting her throat raw, Gu Nanyi couldn’t possibly hear her.

At this moment, she felt her body jolt and fall into a low depression, no longer rolling. The people around also decreased. Slowly climbing up to look, this was a ship repair area below the dock with a sloped ramp for dragging ships. It had already left the dock’s range.

Only then did she feel aching all over, her joints seeming to split apart. Looking back at Ning Yi, he was also quite disheveled—his hand was bruised purple and swollen high, his face also scraped—yet he sat calmly, reaching out to touch her as if wanting to confirm whether she was injured. Feng Zhiwei breathed out: “Thanks to Ning Cheng protecting us. Must hurry to find the others too. Don’t know how badly they’re injured…”

Ning Yi shook his head. “Not Ning Cheng.”

Feng Zhiwei froze, only then hearing someone below them say feebly: “Provost, it’s me…”

Feng Zhiwei looked down with an “Eh”—surprisingly it was the number one second-generation noble, the Yao family’s wastrel son Yao Yangyu.

“Sorry, sorry.” Feng Zhiwei hurriedly helped him up. Yao Yangyu was even more disheveled than them, covered in blood marks and footprints.

When the explosion started, he was walking right beside Feng Zhiwei. This kid reacted quickly—hearing the sound, he lunged over and kept protecting them as they rolled here.

Feng Zhiwei was surprised Ning Cheng wasn’t there. Ning Yi had already said faintly: “When the explosion started, I shoved him toward the students’ direction.”

Feng Zhiwei immediately understood his meaning—the explosion started among the attendants. Next to them were students. Besides attendants, they were the most dangerous. So Ning Yi pushed Ning Cheng out to save students first.

Thinking further, Feng Zhiwei’s heart suddenly stirred. The students were ones she brought to Nanhai. She bore full responsibility for students—it had nothing to do with Ning Yi. At this critical moment, disregarding himself, he had his most martially skilled first guard save students first. It was for her sake, wasn’t it?

And Ning Cheng, as a guard, protecting his master was primary. He was willing to be pushed out by Ning Yi and save students first also because he knew Ning Yi’s thoughts?

Such thoughts turned carefully. Her face remained expressionless. She averted her gaze and climbed up the slope. The explosions gradually ceased. Smoke dispersed. All over the ground lay countless corpses, along with severed limbs and kicked-off shoes. Some injured common people moaned painfully in pools of blood—a scene of human hell.

Feng Zhiwei stared blankly, her eyes moistening. She said lowly: “Don’t know how many casualties…”

Her gaze suddenly focused. She saw in the un-dispersed smoke what seemed to be some figures moving back and forth, actions agile, as if searching for something. Then she heard Ning Yi behind her say sharply: “Who!”

In that instant, she turned without thinking and shoved toward Ning Yi’s direction. At the same time she pushed, she felt Ning Yi also extremely accurately shoved her. Their mutual actions caused both to involuntarily lean back and topple. Immediately a sword light swept past with bloody color—slash!—passing between them!

A faint cry of pain. Feng Zhiwei said nothing more—her soft sword left her waist. Ning Yi’s hand, listening to wind to determine position, also went straight for the assassin’s waist. A muffled sound—striking first though acting later—that person was hit into a stumble, rolled twice on the ground, leaped up and fled like a wolf.

The two couldn’t give chase. They could only hatefully watch that person flee. Feng Zhiwei bit her lip angrily: “Vicious enough! To kill us, not hesitating to explode among 5,000 people, killing and injuring countless innocents. Still not satisfied—taking advantage of the chaos to kill again!”

She turned back and saw Yao Yangyu clutching his arm, a blood mark faintly visible. He was injured just now when the assassin appeared and he attempted to block. Feng Zhiwei hurriedly stepped forward to help him bandage, feeling quite ashamed—when the assassin came, she only remembered to save Ning Yi first, leaving this unfortunate lifesaver on the side. Truly very heartless.

Yao Yangyu didn’t mind, smiling: “Having Provost personally bandage me—getting injured once more would be worth it.”

Ning Yi had originally felt some guilt. Hearing this sentence, his expression darkened. Feng Zhiwei looked at him with mixed feelings, thinking this person sometimes had a very small heart.

In the distance, a figure rose from the faint black smoke, carrying two people, constantly looking around in mid-air. Feng Zhiwei recognized that form as Gu Nanyi. Immediately overjoyed, she waved: “I’m here!”

Gu Nanyi raised his head, loosened his hands—bang!—the two unfortunate students he’d rescued fell to the ground. Gu Nanyi had already drifted over.

As soon as he arrived, he pulled Feng Zhiwei from Ning Yi’s arms and felt her over carefully from head to toe to confirm she was alright. Feng Zhiwei helplessly let him touch, knowing Young Master Gu, who disliked touching people, was very insistent about this matter. Not agreeing would have severe consequences.

After confirming no major problems, Young Master Gu finally released his hands, suddenly saying: “No tree.”

Feng Zhiwei froze before remembering their previous conversation. Apparently he’d firmly remembered and was thinking about finding trees when separated from Feng Zhiwei just now. But around this dock was bare—where were trees?

“It’s fine.” She smiled. “I’m here.”

Walking all the way through the dock like a hell of countless dead and injured, they took stock of their people. Yan Huaishi had still been on the ship arranging follow-up matters when the explosion happened and hadn’t come down—he was the luckiest one. Attendants died over ten. Students were injured four. Fortunately, Feng Zhiwei had arranged properly. When chaos erupted, Helian Zheng, Gu Nanyi, and Ning Cheng—three great experts—each swiftly acted to guarantee the students’ safety in the most dangerous explosion center.

The students were all sincerely grateful. At this chaotic time when everyone was fleeing for their lives, Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi hadn’t first looked after themselves but primarily protected them. This sentiment was truly rare.

When the fire pellets exploded, the distance from Nanhai officials wasn’t far either. Now the officials were still shaken, slumped on the ground unable to rise. A counselor had his arm blown off, lying on the ground screaming continuously. Zhou Xizhong sat amid a ground full of guards, his face deathly pale, inhuman in color.

All around, faint black smoke curled. Blood covered the ground. The dock was littered with countless shoes—some would never be worn by their owners again. The scattered common people who escaped with their lives gradually gathered, searching everywhere for their separated relatives. Sometimes while searching, a heart-rending wail of grief would erupt.

The dock plaza was filled with sorrowful sounds. Figures moved all around in desolation. Zhou Xizhong sat dazed, numbly watching all this. Subordinates came trying to help him up but were shoved away viciously.

Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi both looked in his direction—this person was arrogant and stubborn, willful and self-opinionated, but in rumors he greatly loved the people and had a clean official reputation. Otherwise, he couldn’t have won such devotion from Nanhai’s elders. Now because of his selfish intent to harass the imperial commissioners, organizing tens of thousands at the dock to petition, this upheaval was deliberately magnified by others, killing and injuring countless. At this moment, his state of mind must be indescribable.

Ning Yi suddenly looked toward Feng Zhiwei’s direction. Without needing eye contact, Feng Zhiwei also understood his meaning—now was the best opportunity to take down Zhou Xizhong. Using failure to maintain security leading to major casualties as grounds, order him suspended pending investigation. Nanhai officials looked to him as their leader. Pulling out this thorn, after Ning Yi left, Feng Zhiwei would have far fewer obstacles acting in Nanhai.

However, after a long while, Feng Zhiwei shook her head.

She turned, looking at the dock covered in blood, looking at the attendants dead and injured in countless numbers, looking at the students drenched in blood, looking at the common people with sorrowful gazes. In her usually gentle, misty eyes, a cold bloody color suddenly surged.

That bloody color leaped like firelight in her pupils. That layer of eternally unfading fog-like moisture seemed covered with a blood film.

Throughout her life she was accustomed to smiling at everything, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be enraged.

If gentle, conciliatory momentum couldn’t break through this cold iron barrier, then she didn’t fear using iron-blooded force to destroy it!

“Slash.”

The black soft sword sprang open, a stream of flowing light splitting the bluestone ground. The crack ran deep, like an oath sealed after lips pressed tight.

“Nanhai’s Chang Clan! Wait for me!”