At the wharf, Xiao Wei discovered he couldn’t find the familiar ship. He remembered it was a brownish-red three-masted flat-headed cargo vessel, but after looking around he couldn’t find it. Tired and angry, he was almost breaking the wooden planks beneath his feet when he heard someone call out to him.

“Young master, can’t find your way home?” The mocking voice came from Chou Yu.

Xiao Wei looked up and saw Chou Yu sitting on the ship’s rail, so leisurely, even cracking melon seeds. Looking again at the ship before him—entirely black, three masts now five masts, flat-headed now pointed, the three-story cabin structures all painted black. If Chou Yu hadn’t called out, he would never have taken this ship for the original one.

Surprised inside but cold-faced, he said, “Lower the ladder.”

Chou Yu didn’t make it difficult. With a wave of his hand, he called two people to lower the ladder. At the same time, he whispered a couple sentences to one person, who then ran toward the main cabin.

Xiao Wei saw this and knew someone was going to report, but didn’t care. Taking two or three steps at once, with one hand he pushed off the ship’s rail and landed beautifully on the deck.

Chou Yu whistled. “Young master looks about ready to collapse from exhaustion, yet his movements are still so nimble.”

Xiao Wei was too lazy to respond to his teasing and walked past him toward the cabin.

Chou Yu blocked him. “Young master, in your disheveled state you might frighten people. Why not first wash your face and shave, eat your fill and sleep your fill, then chat with everyone.”

“Move aside!” Xiao Wei narrowed his eyes and frowned, then saw Huayi striding over.

“General Xiao.” Huayi was also a general, though one managed external affairs while the other internal. “Lord Yuan requests your presence.”

The corner of Xiao Wei’s mouth twitched. “I want to enter the cabin—why do I need his invitation?”

Chou Yu muttered, “The temperament of noble sons really is hard to take.”

Xiao Wei acted as if he hadn’t heard. “General Hua was clearly ordered by His Majesty to monitor Yuan Cheng, yet in Xiao’s view, you seem utterly loyal to him. Have you forgotten His Majesty’s trust? If so, when we return to the capital, Xiao will request His Majesty appoint someone else faithful to their duties.”

This time, it was Huayi’s turn to act as if he hadn’t heard.

Xiao Wei and Huayi walked side by side. Even outside the door they could hear joyful laughter. Entering and looking, how lively it was!

By the south window, Yang Qiao was spreading paper to paint. Miao Shi was doing needlework, and there was also a woman of stunning beauty arranging a potted plant—the three talking and laughing. Under the east window, Yuan Cheng and a man were playing chess. That man seemed to play very slowly, so much so that Yuan Cheng could even spare time to talk with Mo Zi sitting beside him. Mo Zi was propping her chin, pointing at the chessboard, laughing quite happily. Behind her were two more women facing the window, chattering softly.

It seemed like a world he couldn’t integrate into. Xiao Wei suddenly felt some regret at not waiting to come with Wei Jia and Zhong An—at least then he wouldn’t seem so alone and unsupported. Ridiculous, wasn’t it? For over twenty years, people had always clustered around him. He’d never experienced feeling weak. At this moment, though the scene before his eyes was clearly peaceful, he felt a huge force of rejection.

“General Xiao has arrived.” Huayi walked toward Yuan Cheng’s side.

All eyes looked over.

Mo Zi exclaimed and stood up. “Elder brother, you’re covered in dust from the road. The journey must have been perilous—I’m afraid you suffered quite a bit. I’ll have someone buy you some food… or would you prefer to bathe and change clothes first?” Her enthusiasm was genuine. She looked behind him. “Where’s Cousin Wei Jia?”

Yang Qiao stole glances, then Miao Shi pushed her and her face turned as red as if on fire.

Xiao Wei watched Mo Zi walk before him. Suddenly he felt the force of rejection disappear—he had already entered this circle. The fire in his heart couldn’t be released for the moment, and his tone was unexpectedly mild. “Everyone’s fine. Wei Jia is behind, clamoring about being hungry, eating meat and drinking wine at a restaurant.”

Mo Zi breathed a sigh of relief, truly not wanting to hear of more people sacrificing themselves. “That’s good. Now that you’ve returned, we’ll set out tonight. For now you should eat well, sleep well, and restore your energy. Whether the road ahead will be smooth is still very hard to say.”

“Set out tonight? Which way?” Xiao Wei asked. “The Feng Zhou route is no longer passable.”

“From this inland river going west is the Habu Boluo River. Cross the river and we’ll directly enter our Great Zhou’s waters.” Mo Zi answered with a smile.

“What!” Xiao Wei couldn’t believe his ears. “You want to travel on the river surface where Daqiu’s warships and military defenses are strongest, with just this one ship of ours?”

Mo Zi’s eyelashes fluttered. “Mm-hmm.”

Xiao Wei looked at Yuan Cheng. “You agree too?”

Yuan Cheng placed a piece, making eye contact with him, in a completely indulgent tone. “On the ship she’s the biggest. What can I do?”

The man playing chess with Yuan Cheng, namely Jin Yin, said, “Don’t worry. Since my Mo San’er came up with this idea, she must have some confidence. At worst, we’ll all take a trip to the Dragon Palace.”

Mo Zi looked at those two irresponsible people. “Who said Feng Zhou was absolutely not an option? Since we can’t go through Yuling, we can only force our way through. At least once we’re halfway across the river, it’s Great Zhou’s waters.”

Xiao Wei saw the three talking and laughing breezily, treating life and death so lightly, and his shocked heartbeat unknowingly slowed down. Calmly speaking, they possessed things he had to admire and had to learn.

Yuan Cheng saw him calm down and raised his eyebrows. “On this expedition, the general has truly become much more composed. Whether cooperating with Yuan to rescue people or in adaptability, you’ve greatly surpassed your former self. Truly cause for celebration.” He had clearly come to give him trouble, yet ultimately put the main business first. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Were they helping Great Zhou temper such a war general? Better pick a fight.

If someone else had said this, Xiao Wei might have endured it, but it was the Yuan Cheng he found most objectionable saying it. Moreover, the tone was completely serious, yet in his ears was unmistakable sarcasm. He replied impolitely, “Since you’re not sincere, better not say a word at all. Wasting your own breath, and I won’t be comfortable hearing it.”

Jin Yin laughed heartily. “General Xiao speaks well. My boss never says anything truly sincere. I also get angry about this, yet some people quite like it.” He glanced toward Mo Zi.

“Who are you?” This man who looked almost pretty—Xiao Wei had no good feelings toward him either.

Mo Zi saw Jin Yin’s wounded pride and couldn’t help laughing aloud. “He’s the Second Prince of Yuling, Chu Yu, whom we rescued with great difficulty. Elder brother, you should hurry and wash up. I’ll have someone send food to your cabin. Oh, I’ve moved everyone’s quarters to the lower deck.”

At this moment, Zhong An ran in.

“Mr. Zhong An comes at just the right time. Quickly take him to learn the layout.” Time was pressing.

Zhong An pulled Xiao Wei out.

“Mo San’er, why do you call him elder brother? It sounds awkward.” Jin Yin picked at his ear.

“I’m following the Emperor’s decree. As long as we’re not on Great Zhou soil, we’re pretending to be husband and wife, siblings.” Persist to the end and victory is assured.

“Besides, don’t you think his manner is just like an elder brother? Managing this, managing that, managing everything. Once his face goes stern, it’s that air of ‘everyone must listen to me,’ yet he’s encountered the most disobedient group of people. If I were him, I’d definitely have gray hair already.”

Yuan Cheng laughed so hard his hand shook and he placed a piece wrong.

Jin Yin clamored about swallowing up his vast territory.

That night, the ship left port. It was only a two-hour water journey to the river mouth, and there were already naval garrisons distributed there.

Mo Zi stood at the bow feeling the wind, listening to the water flow, her heart very peaceful.

“You must be the Dragon God’s daughter.” A voice, not too serious.

“Perhaps.” Mo Zi smiled and turned to look at him. “Young Master isn’t golden anymore, yet I miss when you were gleaming with gold.”

The corner of Jin Yin’s mouth curved with alluring beauty. “Don’t mention you—sometimes even I want to wear gold and silver again. Disguised for so long, it became my true nature. Suddenly peeling it off feels uncomfortable. Like him—a suit of black clothing probably can’t be changed either.”

“No matter.” Mo Zi wrinkled her nose. “All in black, he already has enough tricks. If he wore every color, wouldn’t he dazzle everyone’s eyes? Let it be like this—at least he’ll be somewhat more restrained.”

Jin Yin completely agreed. “True. If he wore every color, even if I turned into a golden lump I couldn’t suppress his glory.”

Mo Zi laughed again. “Jin Yin, even if you become emperor, I hope you’ll always talk like this. Wonderfully interesting.”

But Jin Yin didn’t laugh. “Emperor? If I became emperor and talked like this, everyone would think I was going to chop off Yuan Cheng’s head.”

“Not necessarily. It depends on your judgment in selecting ministers.” Mo Zi wasn’t pessimistic. There were emperors like Wu Yan, and also like Jin Yin.

Jin Yin’s eyes brightened. “My third little sister, if I truly become emperor, I’ll appoint you as a national scholar and enfeoff you as the first female prime minister. How about that?”

“National scholar? Prime minister?” Mo Zi shook her head. “No thanks. It sounds like being queen—a troublesome job. You let Yuan Cheng do it.”

“The Great Zhou Emperor told me he still wants to enfeoff you as a female national scholar.” Yuan Cheng arrived. “As for me, if Young Master Jin isn’t afraid I’ll embezzle the entire nation’s wealth, I can reluctantly serve as this prime minister.”

A smile appeared on Jin Yin’s face, but his mouth showed no mercy. “I knew you wouldn’t do anything good. So you saved my life wanting me to give you the opportunity to embezzle silver.”

Not far ahead, starry lights suddenly appeared. All three saw them and their expressions turned serious simultaneously.

“They’re here.” Having said this, Mo Zi glanced at Jin Yin.

Jin Yin’s gaze was profound, his expression cold and stern, yet he said, “Greedy death, I’m afraid.”

Yuan Cheng’s face was like jade, his eyes unfathomable. “Don’t you love silver? Once you become emperor, an entire nation will be yours. Silver, land, beautiful women, beautiful men…”

Mo Zi covered her mouth laughing. This one was coaxing a child.

Jin Yin indeed turned his head, his phoenix eyes flashing green. “Bullshit! I’m already a beautiful man—what do I need beautiful men for?!”

So it was for this reason he cursed for the first time ever. Mo Zi nodded, expressing understanding. No helping it—narcissuses on both sides.

“Young Master Jin is overthinking. Right now you’re just a fugitive prince of Yuling, still far from the title of emperor. Who knows—perhaps you won’t be able to restore your nation in your lifetime. Or perhaps you’ll soon be captured and lose your life. Worrying now is premature.” Though cursed at, Yuan Cheng remained unmoved, saying whatever he wanted.

Vicious! Mo Zi saw Jin Yin’s expression growing worse the more he was “comforted” and hurried to play the youngest child’s role of smoothing things over. “Yuan Cheng means don’t think too much. You go take a look first. If you don’t like it, continue being your Young Master Jin. We’ll definitely help you.”

But this time Yuan Cheng wouldn’t let Mo Zi gloss over things. “Your Jin Yin Bank has already closed its doors. Your whole family has already met their end. The mess they created—only you can clean it up legitimately. There’s no retreat. Even if you’re afraid, you must go. Even if you’ll die, you must go.”