The midday meal featured crab, freshly bought today, steaming hot in a pot.
Now that autumn had arrived, the orange-yellow crab roe was especially plump.
After cracking them open and dipping slightly in ginger vinegar sauce, each bite was bursting with sweetness and freshness.
A wu hadn’t tasted anything this fresh in a long time, so naturally she ate heartily.
However, Ning Yinhua and Yehan both clearly had something on their minds.
After the meal, A wu cleaned up the dishes, with Yehan helping her.
A wu said, “I think my father has something to say to you.”
Yehan lowered his gaze to the dishes, speaking softly, “He must be trying to persuade me.”
A wu efficiently washed one of the bowls and said lightly, “Can’t you just listen to him?”
Yehan: “No.”
A wu stopped her movement and gave him a soft glare.
Yehan met her eyes.
In that moment of eye contact, A wu fell silent.
They had grown up together, so well acquainted with each other’s nature.
He wanted to kill Lu Yunjian—to avenge himself.
Since the Imperial Court was besieging Lu Yunjian, he couldn’t refuse to participate.
But for him, he was unwilling to directly accept the Emperor’s favor.
It was obvious the Emperor would care for his brother and their fellow villagers.
Yehan did not want to rely on such care; he was full of youthful valor and pride.
A wu snorted softly, “Anyway, if you die, I definitely won’t burn paper money for you!”
Yehan: “I never asked you to.”
A wu suddenly felt a bit sad, lowering her head and falling silent.
Back then, when she was desperate, the first person she thought of was Yehan.
Leaning in his arms, she felt like she was finally on the path home.
In her panic and helplessness, Yehan had once agreed to marry her properly.
At that time, she hated Emperor Jingxi intensely and feared him just as much.
She was ready to die with Yehan.
The two eloped but were caught by Emperor Jingxi.
The Emperor could have killed Yehan—he was the ruler, after all, with countless reasons to execute Yehan thoroughly—but he didn’t.
Somehow, he spared Yehan’s life.
For that alone, A wu was grateful to Emperor Jingxi, understanding that he empathized with her and cared for her feelings.
During the time she lost her memory—and even while pretending to have lost it—she had cried and made a fuss with him, and he silently tolerated it.
For an emperor to be that patient was remarkable.
Now, looking back, her old resentment gradually faded.
Moreover, before they parted, they shared a moment.
A wu knew she had truly thrown herself into it—into liking him—not for any special reason, but because she liked the man’s body, the feelings he gave her.
If not for all the complications, she could have indulged in those feelings endlessly.
After that, Yehan escorted her all the way home.
They both longed for home but never spoke of these things.
Perhaps they were both avoiding the topic.
Their journey home was interrupted by Emperor Jingxi, and both had new thoughts, no longer swearing to marry and settle down once back.
So when A wu saw Yehan again, she didn’t know what their relationship truly was.
Yehan lowered his head to look at A wu.
Seeing the dimness in her eyes, he smiled faintly and said in a light tone, “A wu, don’t think too much. As a man, I want to accomplish something, to avenge our elders and villagers, to kill the traitor. If not for special circumstances, I would have joined the Coastal Defense Garrison and fought alongside them.”
He paused, then said softly, “Actually, if you hadn’t suddenly come to me and asked me to take you away, I was ready to keep an eye on Lu Yunjian and prepared to die with him. You didn’t drag me down. This life of mine was already without hope.”
Hearing this, A wu’s nose tingled, and her eyes reddened, nearly shedding tears.
Perhaps things would always change; nothing would ever return to how it was.
Yehan sighed and raised his hand, loosely holding her, “Alright, don’t cry. Isn’t now better than before?”
A wu lowered her head, silent.
She of course wanted Yehan to live and be happy.
If at that time they had just gone home, they surely would have been together, would have married properly.
But they never made it.
After their entanglement with Emperor Jingxi, from the moment the Emperor let them leave, they could never return to the past.
Yet even now, he comforted her.
At this moment, a fleeting thought appeared in her heart: she didn’t want Emperor Jingxi, nor anything far away in the Imperial Capital.
She just wanted to stay in her hometown, wait for Yehan’s return, and remain husband and wife.
It was absurd—but not impossible.
However, Yehan seemed to sense something.
He looked at A wu and said softly, “A wu, don’t think nonsense. Since we were intercepted halfway, there’s no longer any possibility for us.”
At that time, he realized his own helplessness.
He could only survive by relying on A wu’s pity.
On his own, he could never protect her.
Even this time, it was by that man’s mercy that he survived.
But in the long days ahead, he would encounter many hardships—he truly couldn’t protect A wu.
Listening, A wu felt something sting inside—a faint pain.
Sometimes understanding something in your heart is one thing, but facing reality is always a little sorrowful.
Time truly flows on.
No matter how sweet and pure the past was, it had already gone.
Neither of them could return to those days.
***
Ning Yinhua brewed tea, and Yehan drank it with him.
The weather was chilly now, and the two watched falling leaves outside, sipping hot tea as they spoke casually, covering many topics.
When the subject of Emperor Jingxi came up, Yehan seemed to have accepted it: “Uncle, I once said I wanted to marry A wu—that was the truth. If she married me, I would protect her for life. But now that man has come, I will never mention it again. I will treat A wu as my own little sister.”
He lowered his head with a smile, “I accept it wholeheartedly. There’s nothing more to say.”
Ning Yinhua gazed at Yehan through the steam rising from the tea, a hint of melancholy in his stern face.
Yehan explained, “I had already fallen into his hands. He could have had me torn apart, but he spared my life and let me return. I’ve always wondered why he did this. Why spare A wu and me? And now he’s come looking again.”
Ning Yinhua understood but said nothing.
Yehan continued, “He wants to fulfill A wu’s dream, wants her to return home, to give her closure. Because he knows if A wu can’t go home, she’ll never find a home in her life.”
Without a home, A wu has no heart, no compassion, and won’t love anyone.
She would remain forever that fifteen-year-old girl waiting by the Eastern Sea for her father and brothers’ return.
Ning Yinhua, silent until now, finally spoke, “Yehan, if judging the man alone, he is indeed a rare great man. His age doesn’t matter; that’s not important. Though older, he carries a magnificent demeanor and deep cultivation, with a heart full of wisdom. Without age and experience, he couldn’t have such depth. If I were to entrust my daughter to such a man, I would feel more at ease. One can imagine my daughter being cherished and cared for, instead of caught in petty quarrels between young spouses.”
Yehan: “Uncle, do you have concerns?”
Ning Yinhua frowned, “This man is perfect in every way except one—his status is too noble. We are humble folk, mere fishermen from the Eastern Sea. If A wu follows a man like that, if anything happens in the future, I would be powerless and unable to protect her.”
But now, at this moment, they were already trapped in the Emperor’s net.
Yehan reassured, “Uncle, you worry too much. In my view, the Emperor and A wu have been through much. Given A wu’s past behavior, she should have died a hundred times over by ordinary standards, but the Emperor has always been lenient with her. He even came to the Eastern Sea in disguise, treating you with respect as a senior. The Emperor has put in so much effort; how could he easily change his heart?”
“The Emperor has always favored A wu and cared for her. Now that she has given birth to the Longfeng Twins, with heirs by her side, I believe she will have a place in the Imperial Court.”
Ning Yinhua pondered for a long time, “You make a fair point. But after drifting for three years, I have returned home, burdened by guilt over my daughter’s past sufferings. I wish to compensate and love her with all my strength. Yet the Emperor has come after her, and I cannot always be by her side, which makes me hesitate.”
Yehan understood his thoughts, “Uncle, even if we are commoners, so what? If A wu suffers, we will fight to the death to protect her. The Emperor has already humbled himself and come to the Eastern Sea. Though he is here for the pirates, ultimately, it’s for A wu. There’s nothing more to say.”
Ning Yinhua looked deeply at Yehan.
He understood Yehan’s heart.
Yehan had liked A wu since childhood and always treated her well.
They had been betrothed, and if nothing had happened, they would have been a harmonious couple.
But fate had other plans.
He frowned slightly and asked, “Do you know the details about A wu and Lu Yunjian?”
Yehan roughly explained.
Ning Yinhua nodded slightly.
Yehan looked at Ning Yinhua in confusion.
Ning Yinhua said, “This is A wu’s past. We’ll see how the Emperor, as a sovereign, handles it.”
Yehan then understood—Emperor Jingxi’s handling of this matter was also his limit of tolerance toward A wu.
Ning Yinhua’s gaze returned to Yehan, “What are your plans now?”
Yehan: “I have no plans. After the bandits are eliminated, I will consider.”
Ning Yinhua was silent for a long moment before saying, “Yehan, I have watched you grow up.”
Yehan’s eyes reddened, “Uncle…”
Ning Yinhua: “I once thought you would be my son-in-law. Entrusting A wu to you made me feel assured. That’s why I took the others to trade at that time.”
Yehan bit his jaw in guilt, “I failed to protect her.”
Ning Yinhua raised his hand and lightly patted Yehan’s back, “Don’t blame yourself. It’s fate. Who could have predicted all that happened afterward? We can’t go back, and you and A wu lost your chance.”
He looked at Yehan. “The villagers are gone. Your parents and relatives are gone. I consider you my son.”
Yehan’s eyes filled with tears, “Uncle…”
Ning Yinhua: “You are an adult now. Whatever you choose to do, I won’t stop you. But I want to tell you, your deceased parents want you to live well. Don’t be reckless. Revenge must come, but living is far more important.”
Yehan lowered his head, voice choking, “I understand, Uncle.”
***
This time, the battle between the Eastern Sea Navy and the pirates was fierce, with cannon fire ringing out across the waves.
Lu Yunjian was driven into a dead end.
He had not only colluded with the local Japanese pirates in this sea area but also allied with the distant Frangqi Red-Haired Barbarians, promising them rewards.
The Frangqi pirates were unaware of Lu Yunjian’s true background and were deceived into aiding the traitor.
Emperor Jingxi had considered whether to first send envoys to persuade the Frangqi pirates—pressuring them with the power of the Great Hui—or to simply annihilate them outright.
Ultimately, the Emperor decided: the Frangqi had already occupied several islands in the South Seas, firmly establishing themselves as sea overlords, harboring ambitions but never daring to offend Great Hui waters.
Now that they had feigned ignorance and aided Lu Yunjian, they would be dealt a crushing blow to teach them a lesson.
If victorious, the Great Hui would assert dominance before these Red-Haired Barbarians, gaining advantageous positions in distant ocean navigation and trade, strengthening future negotiations.
With this in mind, Emperor Jingxi personally commanded the troops, consulting with local naval generals before finalizing the battle plan.
At dawn on that day, the Imperial Navy approached Miluowan off the southern coast of Luzhou, where Lu Yunjian and the Frangqi ships were anchored.
Upon spotting the Imperial Navy, the pirate ships scattered, centering their formation around the Frangqi vessels.
The Emperor dispatched Guo Yunqi, commander of the Coastal Defense Station, leading fifty warships as the vanguard.
Taking advantage of the wind, they attacked from three directions.
The main forces were ordered to strike directly at the Frangqi warships, while support vessels pursued Lu Yunjian’s pirate ships.
During the battle, the Imperial Navy unleashed the fire-sea tactic unknown to these barbarians.
Fire ships rapidly approached the enemy, setting their vessels ablaze upon collision.
The Frangqi pirates were thrown into chaos, and the Imperial Navy followed up with volleys of arrows.
Two main Frangqi warships caught fire early on.
Despite desperate efforts, the flames could not be extinguished, and both ships burned.
Four more ships were hit by cannon fire during exchanges with the Imperial Navy and sank.
Seeing the tide turn, Lu Yunjian fled into the archipelago and escaped quickly.
The Ning brothers and local villagers eagerly joined the support vessels to pursue Lu Yunjian.
At dusk that day, beneath the fluttering battle banners, Emperor Jingxi stood on a ship deck dressed in resplendent armor, watching the distant horizon through a spyglass.
The autumn wind blew sharply over the Eastern Sea; waves roiled endlessly, and circling seabirds occasionally cried out.
The Emperor was pleased with the battle.
This engagement involved 200 Imperial warships—120 sea vessels and 80 fire ships.
They captured three Frangqi pirate leaders, three officers, and about two hundred crew members.
Additionally, they killed 132 Frangqi pirates and eliminated over a thousand remaining bandits loyal to the Zhen’an Marquis Manor.
After this victory, the Great Hui Navy’s reputation spread across the South Seas islands, and the Frangqi dared no longer act rashly before them.
Emperor Jingxi handed the spyglass to his deputy and inquired about the Ning brothers’ situation.
Though the Ning brothers accompanied his ship and were under his protection, their performance was impressive.
They were skilled swimmers, expert in ship handling, and proficient in martial arts—truly men of both wisdom and courage.
They had even volunteered to pursue Lu Yunjian.
Hearing this praise from the naval captain, Emperor Jingxi was naturally pleased.
“A wu is excellent, and so is her brother.”
At this thought, his expression momentarily faltered.
He realized that when thinking of A wu and her brother, even his tone softened, almost like hers.
As he considered this, he asked, “The Luzhou archipelago is dense with islands, terrain complicated, and known for venomous insects and poisonous fish?”
His deputy respectfully answered, “Yes. That’s why, in this pursuit of Lu Yunjian, we have already prepared masks and fish-skin gloves as protection.”
Emperor Jingxi nodded, “The Zhen’an Marquis Manor has operated here for a hundred years. Lu Yunjian knows the terrain like the back of his hand. He’s now cornered and desperate—he’s bound to act recklessly. We must be cautious.”
He added, “Ning brothers, be extra careful. Don’t make any mistakes.”
The deputy hesitated respectfully, “Your Majesty, I know the brothers’ status is noble. We have assigned men, but those brothers—”
He sighed helplessly, “They are fierce warriors, intent only on killing enemies. When they see bandits, they are eager to leap into battle, impossible to restrain.”
Emperor Jingxi: “Then let them be. Just make sure they have proper protection.”
The deputy, sensing the usually cold and aloof emperor’s gentle and pleased smile, was secretly astonished.
Who were these brothers that the Emperor valued so highly?