A wu was gradually becoming familiar with this man named Yong Tianze.
She also came to know that he was an official from the Imperial Capital, who had come to the Eastern Sea this time to inspect the local naval defenses and supervise the construction of sea vessels, among other things.
He was knowledgeable and well-experienced—A wu was almost enchanted by him.
With her father and elder brother still out at sea and not yet returned, her mother, knowing that A wu had met such a man outside, kept warning her not to take advantage of others, telling her to be reserved and cautious, and never to simply follow someone onto a boat.
Yong Tianze said he would formally visit their home, but added that he would wait until A wu’s father returned.
A wu didn’t think these things mattered much.
She could feel that Yong Tianze’s gaze upon her was too gentle, full of deep affection that nearly overflowed.
She couldn’t believe he was a bad person.
Moreover, he truly treated her exceptionally well.
When she was on his ship, he personally helped her change into soft satin shoes.
Those hands of his were so elegant and beautiful, yet he didn’t mind her sandy feet at all.
He held her hand, teaching her to play the zither, explaining the rhythms and melodies, and then brought out books to read together.
A wu had never met a man like this before.
She felt he was like the sea—gentle and attentive, yet profound.
He used his experience and wisdom to teach her hand in hand, guiding her to see things she had never seen before.
He had endless patience for her; sometimes when she acted spoiled or stubborn, he never got angry, just looked at her with tolerant eyes.
He even took her to stroll around the Cinnabar Street Market, to look at all sorts of strange trinkets—frankincense, rose dew, exquisite and ornate pendants, and glittering jewels and jade, though of course A wu never accepted them.
Some things were simply too precious—of course, she couldn’t take them!
She looked into Emperor Jingxi’s eyes and earnestly told him, “My mother said, I can’t just take things from others.”
When the man heard this, his gaze grew silent and serious.
Seeing him like that, A wu emphasized again, “My mother said, some bad men will trick young ladies, especially pretty ones like me.”
The man pressed his lips into a pleased curve and asked curiously, “Why would a bad man want to trick a pretty young lady like you?”
A wu replied, “Maybe because he thinks I’m pretty, and wants me to marry him and be his wife.”
Emperor Jingxi let out a low laugh at her words.
This man was too noble and steady, yet when he laughed, his voice was warm and mellow, so pleasing to the ear it tingled.
A wu’s cheeks grew hot, and her heart pounded wildly.
She lowered her head, gaze falling on her own toes.
She wore woven grass shoes, revealing white, clean toes, now gently scraping at her shoes.
Blushing red from face to ears, she thought, if she could marry him and be his wife, even if she were tricked, it would still be wonderful!
Which young lady wouldn’t want to be tricked by a man like him?
If word got out, there would surely be others vying for him.
Emperor Jingxi led her to sample some street snacks—various delicious seafood, mantis shrimp, steamed prawns, fresh stir-fried crab, and of course, crab roe buns.
Emperor Jingxi watched the little A wu in front of him clutching a crab roe bun, her cheeks puffed out as she ate, and couldn’t help but recall his previous life.
He had already spent fifteen years in this world; thinking back, from the time he arrived in this world, A wu happened to be born, so the two of them were only ten years apart.
He didn’t know if it was some twist of fate or the heavens deliberately weaving confusion—he, as the ruler of Great Hui, had exhausted every effort, yet searched for her for seven years before finally finding her.
Perhaps it was destined in the dark; in any case, the long wait and search had tempered his heart, making him realize that no matter what, as long as she was there, all was well.
When only a thin layer of the crab roe bun remained, the little lady’s rosy lips were stained with a bit of color.
Emperor Jingxi smiled and took out a snowy-white handkerchief, patiently wiping her mouth.
A wu was a little surprised, but calmly accepted it.
She knew the man before her was extremely loving and tolerant toward her—whatever she did, he would never get angry.
She grinned, pursing her lips and pointing at the other side: “Here too, wipe here.”
Emperor Jingxi: “Alright.”
He gently held her slim shoulders, finished wiping her mouth, then smoothed a few stray hairs at her cheek.
At fifteen, she was as young as a sapling just growing by the sea, graceful and upright, leaves fresh and green, so pure that even her stray hairs seemed lively.
He thought to himself, he could be patient and wait—let her spend more time with her family, fully enjoy her youthful unmarried days, and in a few years, they could take the next step.
Of course, he would be by her side, letting her enjoy the best things under heaven, quietly giving her the best.
At that moment, A wu was also gazing at the man before her.
Under the sunlight, his eyes were deep, his nose straight, his jawline smooth and defined, with a sharp Adam’s apple.
He was truly handsome, with a proud and noble beauty, as if he had stepped out from a painting, utterly different from the fishermen and sea merchants she usually saw.
She always felt he belonged in an underwater palace, splendid and magnificent, filled with jewels and jade.
Besides, he was even smiling at her, his light tea-colored eyes as clear as amber, so beautiful it made her heart tremble.
Emperor Jingxi lifted his eyelids, sensing her burning gaze.
Naturally, he easily caught her pure, undisguised affection.
Her fondness for his looks.
Emperor Jingxi had always known this little thing liked beautiful things.
He, at twenty-five, was still ten years older than her, but that also meant he could easily overcome all obstacles and protect her better.
He wanted A wu in this life to experience no pain, endure no grievances, to always act as she wished.
Whatever she wanted, he could give her.
Thinking of this, he smiled with a gentle curve at his lips, gazing at her: “What are you looking at?”
A wu immediately blushed furiously.
She was still young, with no experience in romance—how could she withstand such a handsome man smiling so tenderly at her!
Her heart was thumping wildly.
Emperor Jingxi, however, didn’t let her off: “Hm?”
A wu parted her lips and murmured dazedly, “You’re so handsome, I want to bite you.”
As soon as she said it, she hurriedly covered her mouth!
What was she saying!!
Emperor Jingxi never expected her to say that—fifteen-year-old A wu, so direct?
He lowered his eyes and chuckled, even feeling a bit embarrassed himself.
He truly hadn’t thought it would happen so soon, but this little lady already had such bold ambitions.
A wu’s face was as red as if painted with rouge.
She looked at him cautiously, then grumbled in frustration, “Maybe I’m just hungry.”
But then her gaze swept to the pile of shrimp shells and crab shells beside her—most of it was hers?
She could only amend, “I ate too much, made myself silly.”
So silly!
Oh!
Emperor Jingxi’s eyes were filled with laughter: “Then I’ll take you for a walk to help digest.”
A wu, however, was still flustered, even turning her shame into anger.
She bit her lip, studying his handsome face, and suddenly noticed a faint blush at the corner of his eyes.
She was surprised, then slowly savored the moment, her heart drunk and dazzled.
Did he blush because she praised his looks and said such things?
Emperor Jingxi saw her staring motionless and arched an eyebrow with a smile: “What is it?”
As he spoke, the wind rose.
The sea breeze lifted A wu’s hair, and a strand brushed across Emperor Jingxi’s face.
He seemed to catch a faint, sweet fragrance and felt his heart itch lightly, as if tickled by a feather, even his throat tingling.
He pressed his lips, watching A wu.
The sunlight was dazzling, her fluttering hair dusted with gold, her sweet face tinted by the scattered light—a splendid dream.
In that instant, something struck the most fragile spot in Emperor Jingxi’s heart, sweetness and sorrow mingling in his chest.
Perhaps this was fate, which brought him to this world, made him experience despair and pain, sweetness and fulfillment, and made him realize just how important she was.
Lost in thought, he subconsciously raised his hand to brush away the hair, but just as his fingertips touched it, the strand disappeared.
His vision suddenly cleared, and he saw A wu.
Under the sunlight, she mischievously arched an eyebrow and smiled.
Emperor Jingxi’s heart overflowed with endless tenderness.
After searching for her a thousand times in dreams, suddenly, she was right before him, like a ray of bright light!
He thought, in this life, even just looking at her like this, he would be content.
Immersed in that sweetness, he lowered his gaze, reached out to hold her hand, intertwining their fingers.
Then he chuckled, “Shall I take you somewhere fun?”
A wu tilted her head, “Where?”
Emperor Jingxi, “On the ship.”
A wu, “Hm?”
***
A wu never expected that Emperor Jingxi would actually lead her to a warship.
‘A warship!’
She was amazed.
What surprised her even more was how those naval officers treated him with utmost respect, standing in formation at the sides, not daring even to raise their eyes.
She looked at Emperor Jingxi in puzzlement.
But Emperor Jingxi only smiled without a word, showing her the various features of the treasured ship—the four decks, what kind of cannons were installed, how many troops it could carry, how long it could sail.
Because of her father and brother, A wu had some interest in these things, and eagerly examined everything.
In the end, Emperor Jingxi took her to the highest deck.
Standing there, she gazed into the distance.
He turned his head, smiling at her: “The view is good here.”
The wind lifted A wu’s hair as she gazed far out, where the sea and sky met, endless blue waves, white-capped surges.
If only she knew more poetry, she could express the emotions in her chest—but sadly, A wu never liked reading.
All she could do was raise her hand in excitement, feeling the wind slip through her fingers, and laugh, “It’s beautiful! So beautiful!”
Her laughter was carried away by the wind, scattered among the snowy waves.