A wu hadn’t expected that, after leaning against the bedside, she would fall asleep just like that.
When she awoke again in a daze, she felt someone pushing her.
Startled, she looked up and saw Emperor Jingxi.
He was awake, his light tea-colored eyes bloodshot, pushing her shoulder with his hand—clearly signaling for her to leave.
A wu’s heart leapt with joy.
“Your Majesty, you’re awake! You finally woke up!”
Her shout caught the attention of the attendants and the Imperial Physician outside the door, who quickly rose to check on the situation.
Emperor Jingxi cast a cold glance at the Imperial Physician, then hoarsely said, “Take her out…”
His voice was hoarse and weak, but coming from him, it still carried an imposing authority.
A wu felt wronged and confused.
“You—”
He struggled to breathe, forcing himself to say, “Go out first…”
Futai immediately understood and stepped forward, whispering, “Your Highness, please step out for now. The Imperial Physician needs to examine His Majesty.”
A wu shot Emperor Jingxi a resentful glare before following Futai out.
Her heart was filled with questions—why was he so against her?
If she had known, she wouldn’t have come.
It was so unfair!
Futai hurriedly comforted her, “Please don’t be angry, Your Highness. His Majesty just woke up, his body is weak, and he can barely speak. He’s probably worried about having contracted miasma poison and fears infecting you, so he asked for you to leave.”
A wu frowned, “Didn’t they say the poison was already cured? Now it’s evil qi and damp poison attacking his heart, isn’t it?”
Futai replied, “Ah, His Majesty doesn’t know—he’s been unconscious the whole time, completely unaware.”
A wu snorted, “So foolish!”
Futai looked around nervously, “I heard nothing, nothing at all.”
A wu paused, then bit her lip and laughed quietly.
But no matter what, he was awake and strong enough to push her away, so she was somewhat reassured.
She decided to check on her Third Brother instead.
Compared to the Emperor’s condition, Ning Sanlang was naturally much better.
When A wu arrived, he was scooping up some fresh fish porridge.
Without hesitation, A wu lightly smacked him on the head.
Ning Sanlang jumped in surprise, then looked up and smiled, “A wu, it’s you!”
A wu snorted, “It’s all your fault!”
Ning Sanlang looked guilty as he replied, “Who could have imagined? Lu Yunjian is so vicious.”
A wu retorted, “You weren’t careful yourself, and you endangered His Majesty!”
Ning Sanlang felt wronged, “I didn’t expect it to be so serious. It’s really not that strong a poison, right?”
A wu replied, “Probably just water and soil incompatibility.”
Ning Sanlang asked, “How is he now?”
A wu sighed, “I don’t know. I think he’s only got half a life left.”
Ning Sanlang gasped, “What?”
At that moment, Ning Dalang arrived.
“She’s teasing you. His Majesty just woke up. The Imperial Physician went to see him. It should be nothing serious, but he must be carefully nursed.”
Ning Sanlang finally breathed a sigh of relief and shot A wu a glare.
“You just like to scare me!”
A wu said, “You’re the one who got His Majesty into trouble!”
Ning Sanlang snorted, sourly, “I get it, you’re all worried about His Majesty, but don’t you care about your own Duke?”
A wu gasped, “You—”
Ning Erlang quickly interrupted, “Alright, alright, stop it.”
A wu said, “You’re lively enough to swallow a whole ox, you don’t need my pity!”
Ning Dalang laughed from the side.
“True, but His Majesty is weak now and still needs someone to look after him.”
Previously, Ning Dalang had been somewhat dissatisfied with the Emperor, feeling that the man had wronged their sister.
He was uneasy about the Emperor, worried his sister would suffer.
But having followed the Emperor this time, he witnessed firsthand how the Emperor directed troops and ships with steady command.
They subtly felt the Emperor’s care for them, his promotions, and even his occasional talks on military strategy and enemy tactics.
All this made him deeply respectful.
When he heard the Emperor discuss the Eastern Sea’s defenses, maritime plans, and the court’s strategies for future voyages, his heart surged with excitement and reverence, to the point he almost wanted to kneel before him in complete submission.
This was the presence of a true emperor.
Looking out at the vast Eastern Sea and the ships in the distance, Ning Dalang wondered why he held such deep respect for this man.
Was it just because he was the Emperor?
After much thought, he concluded it was not.
Being older than his siblings, he had learned to read before their father abandoned his official career.
He had studied history and encountered island chiefs and kings among the Overseas Barbarians.
He understood that not every ruler possessed the majestic bearing of Emperor Jingxi.
So now, he was at peace with it.
When the Emperor came to their home in disguise, was slapped by his third younger brother but remained unfazed, his heart and intentions toward their sister were clear.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, A wu said, “Enough. I don’t think he needs anyone to care for him. I’m here to keep Third Brother company and take care of him!”
She grabbed Ning Sanlang’s arm, “Third Brother, what do you want to eat? A wu will make it for you!”
Ning Sanlang was stunned but sensed something was off.
***
That evening, Futai specifically came to fetch A wu, saying His Majesty’s condition had improved and it was time for dinner.
He sighed heavily, full of concern, “The attendants around His Majesty are too rough, not gentle at all. His Majesty’s body is weak now and needs more nourishment, but no one dares to advise him. It’s better if you go over and persuade him.”
A wu replied, “I’m rough-handed too; I’m not good at persuading.”
Futai sighed helplessly, “Please, Your Highness, at least go. His Majesty just recovered from a serious illness. It’s not easy for him.”
A wu said, “I need to stay with my Third Brother!”
Ning Sanlang quickly interjected, “I don’t need your company. You should go.”
A wu shot him a glare.
Futai smiled and suggested, “Why not go together?”
The gentlemen from the noble families naturally declined, and Ning Sanlang shook his head quickly as well.
In the end, A wu went with Futai to Emperor Jingxi’s side.
She gave Futai a warning look.
“Don’t push me out again, or I won’t speak to him!”
Seeing her pouty, delicate face, Futai laughed, “I won’t, I won’t. The Imperial Physician explained clearly. His Majesty fainted not because of miasma poison—that’s long gone and no longer contagious. He was just worried and felt safe now.”
He muttered beside her, “Your Highness, His Majesty worries about you and fears dragging you down. He truly holds you dear.”
A wu puffed her cheeks unhappily.
“You’re always defending him.”
Futai quickly said, “I’m not defending him out of bias; I’m doing it for your sake! I care about you so much, it’s like I’m ripping my heart out!”
A wu said, “Enough. Stop, my head hurts just hearing this.”
Though she said that, she secretly liked it.
She knew Futai was on her side and treated her well.
Futai chuckled, “Alright, alright. I’ll be quiet now.”
The two fell silent as they walked through the Coastal Defense Station.
The buildings here were old.
The roads paved with sea stones felt damp, and moss grew thick in the cracks.
It was late autumn, almost winter, and the sea breeze rustled the vine leaves with sounds like waves.
A wu recalled what Emperor Jingxi had said before—that after taking the throne just a few years ago, he had allocated funds to the Eastern Sea Coastal Defense Station, building dikes and fortifications.
So these buildings must have been constructed with the Emperor’s funding.
Curious, she looked toward the nearby fortress perched against the sea cliff.
It stood majestic and solemn, weathered by years of sea wind and salt, exuding a mysterious coastal aura.
On the fortress stood tall sea defense captains, holding long spears, gazing out toward the sea.
Watching this scene, a profound surge of emotion rose within A wu’s chest, swelling so strongly that each step she took became solemn and measured.
At this moment, she had to admit that everything from her past had left its mark on her heart.
Held in the arms of that man, reading classics and histories, immersed day and night, she was no longer the ordinary fisherwoman she once was.
As the fierce naval battle raged across the Eastern Sea, her thoughts were no longer on the fish or the porridge, but on the world, the voyages, and the vast sea stretching thirty thousand miles.
At that thought, her footsteps halted.
She clearly realized she could never go back.
Time flowed forward—she could have the love of her father and brothers, could recapture the carefree days of youth—but carried along by that man, having witnessed the empire’s grandeur and the arrival of foreign envoys, all these had left their marks on her.
She even had a strange thought: when intertwined with that man, when he had infused a part of himself into her body, he had changed her completely.
A towering tree had grown within her heart.
Lost in this hazy reverie, A wu stepped into the room.
Because she had come in a rush before, she hadn’t noticed much.
Now she saw the furnishings were simple, like most bedrooms at the Coastal Defense Station, but slightly larger.
It was clear that, due to the Emperor’s presence, some finer furniture had been temporarily arranged, but it was still far from the grandeur of the Imperial Palace, rather humble.
Yet this modest room was filled with brilliance because of that man’s presence.
Through the half-drawn brocade curtain, A wu saw the man, seemingly just bathed, dressed in soft, snowy white brocade robes.
His jet-black hair still bore a hint of dampness, lazily falling over his shoulder.
His long legs were casually crossed, his eyes half-closed as he leaned against the bolster pillow.
He still looked a bit ill, but without his usual imperial sternness, he seemed to have gained a pale, delicate kind of handsomeness.
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