The ferryman glanced at her and motioned them aboard.
Yehan helped A wu onto the boat, carefully placed his bundle at the bow, and had her sit there.
After she sat, he positioned himself between her and the ferryman, blocking the man’s view.
A wu was beautiful, and he feared ill intentions.
Thankfully, everything went smoothly.
The ferryman seemed ordinary.
But when A wu pulled out a silver ingot and offered it, the ferryman said, “That’s too much.”
A wu replied, “Take it.”
She had no smaller coins, only silver ingots.
In truth, the silver ingots weren’t many; her bundles contained gold.
The ferryman took the ingot.
As their fingers brushed, A wu suddenly felt strange—a feeling she couldn’t explain.
At that moment, the ferryman braced himself, and the small boat drifted from shore, ripples spreading across the water.
A wu stared intently at his back, suddenly realizing something.
Her scalp tingled.
Yehan asked, “What is it?”
A wu hurriedly called out, “Who are you? Do I know you?”
But the ferryman said only, “Let’s go. Someone’s coming. I have another passenger.”
Her heart dropped hard.
That slightly sharp voice immediately brought one person to mind.
She asked quickly, “Why are you here?”
But the ferryman said nothing.
His boat disappeared into the reeds.
All that remained was the sound of oars dipping into the water.
Yehan frowned, “You know him?”
A wu fixed her gaze on the man’s back.
She was almost certain it was Nie San.
Why was he here?
Yehan asked, “What’s wrong?”
A wu shook her head and said, “I don’t know. Let’s go.”
Yehan gripped A wu’s hand and stared across the river.
“Let’s go! Someone’s chasing us—hooves! We have to hurry!”
A wu nodded anxiously, “Okay, okay.”
***
As the ferryman’s boat reached the opposite bank, he saw a man waiting—a sword-bearing Fang Yue.
Fang Yue wore an official’s uniform, his sword at his waist, standing tall and imposing.
He saw the ferryman and said, “I heard you escaped, but didn’t expect to see you again.”
The ferryman was Nie San.
Nie San removed his bamboo hat and replied, “The Emperor is indeed determined.”
The Emperor personally led the Dragon Guard in pursuit of his Noble Consort but sent only the close Dragon Guard retinue.
This meant he was leaving a way out for the Noble Consort.
As long as she returned, he could protect her.
Even though she eloped with another man, the Emperor still wanted to forgive her—that was truly deliberate.
Fang Yue said, “If you chase after them now, you might redeem yourself.”
Nie San had no intention of chasing.
Instead, he wanted to block the Dragon Guards.
“Do you realize I’ve sunk this low for a woman?”
Fang Yue looked at Nie San and knew his misery.
Nie San had been castrated, made a eunuch, sent to hard labor, and now was a hunted dog, running and hiding.
Yet here he was, protecting the very woman who ruined him.
Nie San said, his voice sharp, “But I keep remembering what she said. She said I’m unworthy, that a man should never trample on a weak woman to get ahead.”
“I didn’t! I want to tell her, I didn’t!”
Fang Yue sneered, “Enough nonsense. Just die already.”
Nie San and Fang Yue had known each other since their teenage years, once serving in the same military garrison, close friends.
When Emperor Jingxi rewarded white dew tea, Fang Yue immediately thought of Nie San, wanting to share it with him.
He never imagined that tracking the young woman would lead to Nie San, and that Nie San would be ruined because of her elopement.
Fang Yue watched the woman closely for days, trying to understand, to figure things out.
He had considered helping Nie San, but if Emperor Jingxi never inquired about Noble Consort A wu, Nie San might have escaped.
One day, Fang Yue was summoned to Fengtian Hall and asked about the Noble Consort.
He knew Nie San’s fate was sealed.
He felt pity, but loyalty to the Emperor and his future were more important.
This time, he would show no mercy.
The Twelve Imperial Guards were the Emperor’s personal troops, and the Dragon Guards even closer bodyguards.
The Emperor’s capture of the Noble Consort was top secret, and Fang Yue was involved.
If he completed this mission successfully, he knew he would rise swiftly, becoming a trusted confidant.
He was proud, eager, even excited to do his best.
He drew his sword against Nie San.
Their fight was fierce, and when Nie San finally fell dead at his hands, Fang Yue stabbed twice more in rage.
Only then, exhausted, did he slowly withdraw his blade and look at Nie San’s lifeless body.
He sighed, “I can understand you, actually. Sometimes, one wrong thought leads down a dark path.”
He never gave himself that chance.
So whenever he stood guard at Fengtian Hall, watching the Noble Consort pass in the corridor, he never once glanced aside—not even a single look.
***
The road ahead was difficult, so the horse’s pace slowed.
The young man’s strong arms tightly wrapped around A wu’s waist, making her feel secure.
She leaned into his embrace and couldn’t help but share scattered memories of the past, speaking intermittently—things she could say, things she couldn’t.
Since leaving home, she had endured too much.
Though there were kind people outside, they were not her family.
Now that she was with Yehan, she wanted to tell him everything, to let him know.
She said, “He treated me badly. He lied to me. I shouldn’t have hoped for anything from someone like him.”
Yehan listened silently, knowing she meant Emperor Jingxi.
That Emperor was many years her senior, yet she had lived with him and borne his children.
He could tell the man had liked her and once loved her, granting her the title of Imperial Noble Consort and doting on their son and daughter.
She cared too, or she wouldn’t be so heartbroken.
He held her close and comforted her, “A wu, that’s all in the past. When we get home, we’ll live well.”
They were fishermen, often at sea, familiar with storms.
But if they survived, all would be well.
A wu wiped her tears and said, “I know. I just hate myself for hoping for him. He wasn’t worth it.”
She turned and wrapped her arms around Yehan’s waist, pressing her face against his.
“Brother, A wu won’t care about them anymore. They’re all dogs. I’ll just pretend I was bitten by dogs. From now on, A wu wants to be with you. A wu wants to be your wife.”
Her soft body pressed tightly against Yehan, and he felt his blood surge with pain and guilt.
His strong face brushed her tender skin as he whispered hoarsely, “I won’t let you suffer like that anymore. We’ll marry, and I’ll treat you well.”
A wu said, “Okay. I want to go through the marriage ceremony. They never married me properly, and I’ve never been married.”
Thinking of this, she suddenly grew sad.
Yehan soothed her gently, “It’s their fault, pigs and dogs. When we return, we’ll have a proper wedding. I’ll make you my bride.”
Hearing this, A wu thought of the children she bore for the Emperor.
She felt some sadness but only briefly.
She had given birth to them in the imperial family, which was enough for them.
Their fortunes were their own.
She was destined to be apart.
So she resolutely said, “Yes, we’ll have a proper wedding when we get back!”
Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the air, followed by the agonized neighing of horses.
Yehan’s alertness kicked in immediately.
He scooped up A wu, leapt agilely, and rolled upon landing.
The sudden tumble left A wu dizzy, but when she looked up, she saw a horse had been struck by an arrow in its belly, yet still alive, wildly bucking and running madly.
Luckily, Yehan reacted quickly!
He stared intensely ahead but told A wu, “They’ve caught up. Hide behind me.”
A wu trembled and quickly hid behind him, peering ahead.
Someone was concealed behind a tree.
Yehan’s voice was low and hoarse.
“It’s the Dragon Guards. They’re here. We have to run!”
He pulled A wu to run.
Dragon Guards…
A wu suddenly burst into tears, realizing all their plans were but illusions.
How could they possibly escape?
Her heart sank into despair.
Crying, she said, “Brother, you go ahead. Don’t worry about me.”
Yehan snapped, “Shut up! I’m carrying you. Move!”
A wu stuffed the bundle into Yehan’s hand.
“You take this. If you find my father or brother, give it to them. If not, keep it yourself. Run. You still have a chance. I don’t want you to die!”
Yehan glared at her fiercely, veins bulging on his forehead.
“How could I abandon you? How could I leave you here to die alone?”
A wu said, “I have my ways. I might not die. I’ll find a way!”
Yehan ignored her and forcefully lifted her onto his back.
“Let’s go. If we die, we die together. If they catch us, I’ll take you down with me.”
A wu had no choice and clung tightly to his shoulder.
“Alright, then let’s die together.”
At that moment, a voice came from ahead, “The net is closing. You think you can run?”
A wu looked up and saw Fang Yue.
Yehan’s sharp eyes fixed coldly on Fang Yue.
Fang Yue was calm, holding a sword dripping with blood—whose blood, no one knew.
A wu rested on Yehan’s shoulder, weakly pleading, “Commander Fang, please spare us. I have lots of valuables. I can give them to you.”
Fang Yue gripped his sword and lowered his head slightly, raising an eyebrow as he stared at the young man carrying the beautiful woman.
Tears streamed down her face as she clung to Yehan.
They were clearly very close.
Fang Yue said expressionlessly, “Noble Consort, you’re too naïve. You really think silver will sway me? Not even Nie San would be tempted by money.”
A wu fell silent, realizing Fang Yue’s capture meant wealth and glory for him.
Letting them go would mean death.
A future without hope.
Yehan set A wu down and said, “You go first. I’ll deal with him.”
Fang Yue was twenty-eight years old and had served ten years in the imperial court.
He had seen countless rises and falls.
Yehan was only nineteen, a sturdy youth from the seaside, but Fang Yue could tell his martial skill was no match—amateurish at best.
Also, he was young and inexperienced.
Fang Yue sighed, “You can’t escape. You’re just throwing your life away.”
Yehan tilted his head and clenched his jaw, glaring fiercely.
“I’m not afraid of the Emperor’s lackey!”
Fang Yue sneered, “Come then.”
Yehan gripped his long staff and stared at Fang Yue but said to A wu, “I’ll hold him off. You run!”
A wu did not move.
She knew she couldn’t escape.
Fang Yue’s arrival meant other Dragon Guards were nearby.
A weak woman like her stood no chance.
Better to die together than be caught alone.
Just then, the thunder of many hooves echoed.
A wu suddenly remembered that sound—it was the same she had heard once before.
That time, she was locked in a horse carriage when Emperor Jingxi descended like a thunderbolt.
She slowly looked up and saw a group galloping forward.
The wind howled fiercely.
The leader wore a purple robe and jade crown, his flowing garments showing power and sharpness, unstoppable.
It was Emperor Jingxi!
Through the swirling dust, his sharp gaze locked onto her, eyes as sharp as blades, ready to strike her down on the spot.
A wu’s legs suddenly went weak.
She had no strength left.