Xiao Wei’s gaze was sharp as a blade, completely ignoring Zan Jin’s sword as he stepped closer to Mo Zi. “This is the second time you’ve told me to get lost.”
Mo Zi lowered her eyes, meeting his gaze fearlessly. “Did Young General Xiao not hear clearly what I just said? I said don’t make me tell you to get lost again—I was very politely asking you to leave the ship.”
“Don’t play these games with me.” Xiao Wei waved his hand dismissively. “Whether you’re being polite or not, you know very well in your heart. So far, I’ve shown you forbearance time and again—do you think I’m afraid of you? You’re stubborn enough, but I wonder if your employer shares your sentiment?”
Mo Zi’s willow-leaf eyebrows lifted slightly. Was he going to question Qiu Sanniang? She couldn’t help but find it amusing, her bright eyes and white teeth flashing momentarily.
“If Young General Xiao wants to ask my employer questions, be my guest.” But she didn’t press further. Xiao Er had always been too proud, holding himself too high above others, viewing her as beneath his notice—a mere commoner—which had led to him losing verbal sparring matches repeatedly. Yet he deliberately refused to face this reality squarely. Now that Qiu Sanniang had become his sister-in-law, perhaps he magnanimously let past grievances go. But now that he knew both her female identity and about Hongyu, while she still lacked freedom in her status, this wasn’t the time to thoroughly offend him.
Xiao Wei snorted coldly. Of course he would go find Qiu Sanniang, because Mo Zi was clearly determined not to tell the truth.
“General Xiao, please leave the ship.” The speaker was Chou Yu, completely unconcerned about being soaked through. Wiping his face, he said with a grin, “It’s not like you don’t know Brother Mo’s rules. On this ship, she’s in charge—why look for trouble?”
Even off this ship, she had given him plenty of trouble. What Xiao Wei truly couldn’t understand was why she could so righteously contradict him time and again, and why he himself tolerated it time and again.
“Bai Yu…?” A voice tinged with hesitation and hope, capable of softening hearts.
Wu You exclaimed in surprise, “Mochou, why did you come out? You should be lying down and resting properly.”
Mo Zi stepped back. “Young General Xiao, please.” Actually, don’t always misunderstand her sharp tongue—she was truly making an effort to be polite.
Xiao Wei stared at her for a long while before abruptly turning and returning to Wu You Pavilion’s ship.
As soon as he left, Mo Zi asked Old Guan to set sail, immediately putting ten or twenty zhang of distance between them.
Even Wang Kun, slow as he was, could tell something was wrong. He said to Fu Tian, “Boss, these two clearly knew each other before, and they have a grudge.”
“They know each other, yes, but a grudge not necessarily.” Though they appeared at daggers drawn in direct confrontation, it wasn’t the kind where enemies saw red upon meeting. Fu Tian was observing the complex expression on Xiao Wei’s face, pondering silently.
“Miss Mochou, I have always treated you with courtesy, never overstepping bounds in the slightest. I cherish your talents and consider you a kindred spirit—nothing more. Your feelings, I truly cannot accept. It’s not that you’re unworthy, but that I lack such fortune.” Xiao Wei stood at the ship’s railing unmoving, calling out across the water.
Before Mochou could speak, he turned and cupped his fists toward Fu Tian and the others. “Congratulations again on today’s great victory at Weiyang. However, this dragon boat—might I borrow it to take back to the water encampment? I’ll return it shortly.”
Fu Tian laughed heartily and nodded. “Since the Young General asks, Fu Tian naturally cannot refuse. I’ll have brothers from the gang deliver it for you.”
Xiao Wei initially wanted to say not to trouble themselves, but then thought of those strange long oars and the rowers’ techniques—his soldiers might not be able to master them right away—so he nodded in agreement.
One ship headed north, one headed south.
Wu You had the maids help the distraught, weeping Mochou into the cabin. Looking back and forth, he said, “Fu Tian, will this second son of the Xiao family harm Sister Mo Zi?”
Fu Tian pondered, then smiled slightly. “Wu You, I thought you would have noticed by now—that Young General might be the one who could make Brother Mo yield.”
Wu You hadn’t heard any of the conversation between the two on the Yongfu clearly earlier, only felt the atmosphere was poor. Unexpectedly hearing Fu Tian say this, she was greatly surprised. Lowering her eyes to think carefully, she shook her head repeatedly. “No, I can’t see even the slightest trace of romantic feelings from Sister Mo Zi toward him. Not only can’t I see it, I’ve even jokingly asked her about it. However, Xiao Wei toward Mo Zi does seem somewhat strange. So if anyone yields, it would be Xiao Wei.”
“How could a man yield to a woman?” Fu Tian was a typical male chauvinist.
“I originally thought it couldn’t happen, but having met Mo Zi, I believe it can.” After Wu You finished speaking, she left Fu Tian behind and went inside.
Wang Kun spoke bluntly: “Boss, what’s going on with sister-in-law lately? She’s been hot and cold toward you.”
Fu Tian smiled bitterly. “I don’t know if her growing so close to Brother Mo is a good thing or a bad thing.”
Wang Kun didn’t understand, scratched his head with a face full of question marks, and simply looked around. Suddenly pointing in a direction, he shouted loudly, “Boss, ships from the Qing Gang and Jing Gang are coming!”
Fu Tian looked closely—two swift boats flying the flags of the Qing Gang and Jing Gang were cutting through white waves toward them.
“It’s Feng Shi from the Qing Gang and Yu Zhong from the Jing Gang.” After seeing clearly, Wang Kun wrinkled his nose. “Neither are any good. To become gang leader, Feng Shi supposedly committed plenty of evil deeds. That one surnamed Yu has always been ruthless and merciless. These two together definitely means nothing good.”
Although the Boat Alliance was established by the five major boat gangs, their relationship was limited to cooperation and mutual assistance without interference in each gang’s internal affairs, so even Fu Tian, who made Longshen yield, was powerless.
Feng Shi and Yu Zhong boarded the ship, and the four exchanged pleasantries.
Feng Shi—the sinister-looking young man who had called out praise after Mochou’s performance, demanding she play another piece—raised his voice. “Madam Wu You, I just saw Miss Mochou accidentally fall into the water. I’m very worried—is Miss Mochou alright?”
Wu You was comforting the ceaselessly weeping Mochou when she heard clearly. Without showing herself, separated by the beaded curtain, she replied, “Mochou was somewhat frightened but physically unharmed.”
Feng Shi quickly said that was good to hear.
Yu Zhong laughed. “Madam Wu You, since ancient times beauties match with heroes. I’ll act as matchmaker for Miss Mochou and my Brother Feng—how about it?”
At these words, everyone on the ship stared at him.
Mochou forgot to wipe her tears. Lowering her eyes, her eyelashes trembled lightly as her hands gradually clenched into fists.
Wu You didn’t notice Mochou’s change and called outward, “I appreciate Gang Leader Yu’s good intentions, but Mochou is still young—I can’t bear to let her marry yet.”
Yu Zhong’s laugh took on a somewhat sinister tone. “Madam Wu You, those words aren’t right. Miss Mochou is in the bloom of her eighteenth year, and she’s a virtuous woman who sells her art, not her body. If she doesn’t marry now, should she wait until after being bedded by a thousand men? My Brother Feng is handsome, the external grandson of the Qing Gang leader, with family background and age all perfectly suited. He’s utterly devoted to Miss Mochou—since seeing her, he can’t eat or sleep, begging me to arrange this match. Such a perfect pairing of talent and beauty—Madam Wu You should fulfill this wish.”
Feng Shi’s narrow eyes glanced lewdly toward the cabin. “Madam Wu You, Feng Shi sincerely wishes to take Miss Mochou as an equal wife. Madam can name the redemption price—I won’t argue.”
Following Feng Shi’s words, Yu Zhong said, “Madam Wu You, don’t rush to refuse. Why not hear Miss Mochou’s thoughts? Last time when she and my brother met, from what I observed, she seemed to have a very favorable impression.”
Wu You had heard from Wang Kun about Feng Shi’s character. Even if he promised Mochou the status of equal wife, she was unwilling. She was just thinking about how to refuse while avoiding offense.
Who knew Mochou would speak in her hoarse, tear-roughened voice before Wu You could, “I thank Young Master Feng Shi for this sentiment. As long as Young Master Feng Shi can give Madam ten thousand taels for my redemption, Mochou is willing to marry.”
Wu You’s heart, which had been unsettled all day, plummeted to the depths at these words. She cried out urgently, “Mochou, don’t be foolish!”
Feng Shi had come prepared. He immediately pulled bank notes worth ten thousand taels from his robes and stuffed them into a stunned maid’s hands. “Madam Wu You, accept this silver and Miss Mochou becomes my person. In three days, I’ll come to Wu You Pavilion with an eight-bearer palanquin to fetch my bride. Farewell!”
Yu Zhong kept saying congratulations, but also left quickly, probably fearing someone would renege.
Fu Tian and Wang Kun couldn’t really say anything about such matters. Watching the two boats come and go quickly, they heard from behind the beaded curtain Wu You’s voice, trembling with fury.
“Mochou, do you know what kind of person you’ve chosen? That Feng Shi only covets your beauty—where is any genuine sincerity? And his principal wife—do you know what kind of person she is? Though you have no father or mother, I’ve always considered you family. You could redeem yourself, I could provide dowry, even if you wanted to stay at Wu You Pavilion your whole life, I could support you. Why debase yourself? Why?”
Simply heartbreaking.
“Madam, he doesn’t want me. Marrying anyone is the same. Debasing myself? Yes, debased. Let him feel pain for me—then this life won’t have been lived in vain—” Mochou’s voice was utterly without hope.
Slap—
That was the sound of a furious slap.
Waaah—
That was a wail of despair.
Mo Zi had no idea such an absurd thing had happened after she left. At that moment, she was facing questions from Min Song, Wei Qing, and others about Xiao Wei, stubbornly refusing to give anything away.
Once the ship entered Hongyu, she quickly dismissed the curious ones and immediately rushed to Qiu Sanniang’s side, wanting to give her mental preparation.
Walking to the north gate of Yuan Mansion, reaching the wall, she discovered there was no ladder. Only then did she remember it had been burned for firewood. She couldn’t help stamping her feet in frustration, though before she could voice blame toward Yuan Cheng, she was cut off.
“Miss, what’s wrong?” A Hao asked.
Mo Zi turned her head, having forgotten the two following behind—very unaccustomed to it. “Is your qinggong good enough to take me over the wall?”
A Yue said nothing, simply took hold of Mo Zi’s arm, gathered her qi, pushed off, scaled the wall and jumped down with ease.
“You two find somewhere to hide.” Mo Zi had no time to celebrate acquiring two very practical skilled fighters and hurried toward the bamboo grove. After a few steps she looked back—the base of the wall was already empty.
The sun neared dusk, slanting rays illuminating the tightly closed doors of Mozi Residence, somehow conveying a sense of desolation.
Mo Zi stepped forward to knock. After a long time with no response, she thought Xiao San really had moved Qiu Sanniang away. Feeling somewhat anxious and at a loss, she began struggling over whether to seek refuge next door or continue standing guard.
The indenture contract was still in Qiu Sanniang’s hands. Although she currently let Mo Zi roam freely, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t suddenly transform back into the shrewd merchant who enjoyed matching wits with her. If she sought refuge with the neighbor without informing her, Mo Zi might have the ability to handle any difficulties, but she didn’t have time to waste. Continuing to stand guard—both Xiao Er and Xiao San were troublesome, but when there were matters outside, this was actually a good hiding place.
While struggling with this dilemma, she heard a cautious voice—
“Who is it?”