After Emperor Jingxi departed, the four Ning men exchanged uneasy glances.
At this moment, Ning Erlang seemed to recall something.
He couldn’t believe it: “He, he is—”
Ning Sanlang waved his fist at him angrily: “Look at the mess you caused! You actually invited a thief through the door!”
Ning Erlang refused to believe it: “He, he is really His Majesty? He showed no trace of arrogance at all. Just a few days ago, he talked to me about going to sea; we hit it off immediately and got along so well!”
“How can he possibly be the Emperor? There was no way to tell at all!”
Fuming, Ning Sanlang lifted his leg and kicked out.
Ning Dalang, scowling, said: “What kind of ‘instant friendship’ do you have with him? You really gave him too much face! What you called ‘getting along well’ was just him deliberately lowering himself and showing humility!”
Ning Erlang asked nervously: “Then, then you hit the Emperor? Is that okay? Will he come and punish our family? What crime are we guilty of? Treason? Assassination of the Emperor?”
“Are we going to be exterminated along with nine generations?”
Ning Sanlang, however, looked indifferent: “So what if I hit him? We didn’t even know he was the Emperor. We just hit a guest who showed up at our door!”
Ning Yinhua, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke: “Enough, there’s no need to bring this up again. Anyone like that, it’s obvious they won’t rest until their goal is achieved. How could he possibly give up so easily?”
He sighed lightly: “Let nature take its course. Besides, this trip to the East Sea isn’t just about this one matter. The real reason he came must be the pirates plaguing the East Sea.”
“After all, the Emperor leaving the Imperial Capital to patrol the East Sea is a matter of state. It’s a grand operation involving the mobilization of troops!”
They had seen the Emperor clad in simple blue cloth, walking gracefully, but behind him were countless cautious guards and attendants.
When the Sacred Majesty goes on patrol or in the presence of state affairs, the scale of the operation is beyond what the sons could even imagine!
As the four brothers discussed this, suddenly they heard A wu’s voice calling from the next room: “Third Brother, Third Brother!”
Ning Sanlang was stunned at the sound.
Ning Dalang asked puzzled: “What’s wrong?”
Ning Sanlang looked guilty: “I… I locked our sister in her room just now…”
From the other side, A wu protested: “Third Brother, don’t lock me in!”
Ning Yinhua frowned and looked at Ning Sanlang.
Ning Dalang looked disgusted.
Ning Erlang stepped forward and raised his foot, kicking Ning Sanlang in the rear.
He grit his teeth: “How dare you bully A wu!”
Ning Sanlang fell face-first but dared not say a word, quickly getting up and rubbing his sore backside: “I, I’ll go unlock the door right now!”
***
When A wu heard that Ning Sanlang had hit Emperor Jingxi, she was dumbfounded and speechless for a long while.
Ning Erlang frowned: “A wu, do you think he’ll wipe out our nine generations in anger?”
Ning Dalang was also troubled: “A wu, what do you think? Isn’t this a bit improper?”
A wu took a deep breath, then looked at Ning Sanlang and asked: “Third Brother, why did you lock me up?”
Ning Sanlang muttered gloomily: “If I didn’t, you’d definitely try to stop me!”
A wu said firmly: “No way!”
She stood up, excited: “If you didn’t lock me, I’d get to see the Emperor get beaten up. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Why should I miss it?”
She looked a little regretful: “Are the bruises on his face gone yet? Probably not. Then I’d better go check on him.”
As she tried to leave, Ning Sanlang grabbed her: “Don’t go! Don’t walk into a trap!”
He added anxiously: “The Emperor said he’ll stay here for a while. I bet he’s got his eyes on you. Who knows? Maybe he’ll come to take you away tomorrow!”
A wu laughed: “What’s there to fear? If he really wants to take me, can you stop him?”
Ning Sanlang was stunned.
A wu got up and headed back to her room, but tossed over a sentence: “He definitely wouldn’t dare!”
The brothers looked at each other again, their expressions complicated.
“Definitely not dare to take her!”
What confidence!
So what gave their sister such boldness?
A wu understood perfectly well that since this man had come, he meant business.
A man so busy with state affairs wouldn’t come to this remote little town for no reason.
He must have a purpose.
Subconsciously, she also knew it was time to prepare for what was coming.
She was curious how he would proceed next.
Would he perhaps bring ships to give to their family?
If that happened, it would be awkward.
Though their family needed such things, that would be difficult.
And if he simply handed over a ship, her father might not be pleased.
It would seem like bullying with power or throwing money around.
This man had once tried to win her favor with gold and treasures, but times had changed.
That trick no longer worked.
If handled badly, her father and brothers might even chase him away.
Fortunately, he didn’t do that next, which was a relief to A wu.
But then she surprised herself by feeling relieved.
Was she worried he had angered her family?
Clutching her jade finger ring, she reflected.
She knew well—even if he came here to deal with the East Sea pirates, he didn’t have to come in person…
Having served as his attendant for so long, she understood the pile of memorials on his desk; none were trivial matters.
The treason at Zhen’an Marquis Manor could have been handled from the Imperial Capital by deploying troops remotely.
There was no need to come all this way to such a barren place.
She was clear about what he had done for her and saw no need to pretend ignorance.
Actually, this man’s act of lowering himself and showing humility made her willing to consider things.
Of course, the past was not so easily forgiven.
He had to give a reasonable explanation, and she still harbored resentment.
Besides, she had just reunited with her father and brothers.
She could never bear to part with them and disappear from their lives forever.
After weighing everything, A wu felt conflicted.
She realized she was greedy—wanting the handsome man in the blue robe and white kerchief, wanting her family, not wanting to lose wealth and honor, and above all, wanting to settle old scores.
At last, she tapped her forehead with a hand: “Ah, I’m just too greedy!”
***
In the days that followed, the Ning brothers occasionally tried to probe A wu for information, asking about the Emperor’s age and appearance, how he treated her in the past, the Crown Princess’s age, and even about the pair of children she had borne in the palace.
Since returning home, A wu had almost forgotten most of the past as if it were a dream.
She had nearly forgotten the two children as well.
But with Emperor Jingxi’s arrival and the brothers’ questioning, some memories resurfaced, stirring different emotions.
Ning Yinhua, however, was displeased and scolded the sons: “You blabber on every day, pestering A wu with questions. What kind of conduct is this?”
Then he ordered A wu: “Don’t answer them.”
At this, the brothers quickly dispersed like frightened birds.
Yehan was also staying in the town and, upon hearing the Emperor had come, said nothing.
He naturally understood the Emperor wouldn’t easily give up.
Since His Majesty personally arranged for Yehan to bring A wu back to her hometown and now led the campaign himself to the East Sea, it was clear the Emperor’s trip was for A wu’s sake.
By now, Yehan had begun to wonder: what would make A wu truly happy?
How far would the Emperor go before the Ning family and he could finally rest assured and entrust her into his care?
As everyone brooded over their own thoughts, one day Emperor Jingxi sent a formal invitation.
The invitation was respectfully worded and highly courteous, addressing Ning Yinhua as “Sir” while referring to himself by his given name—a humble gesture, considering his status.
It mentioned a Kaishu calligraphy copy of the “Calligraphy of Lushenfu,” written by Zhao Ziang, though its authenticity was uncertain.
The Emperor wished to visit Ning Yinhua’s manor to have it appraised.
Ning Yinhua read the invitation and pondered silently for a long time.
A wu, familiar with her father, immediately understood his crafty mind.
He knew that if he used overt power, it would seem like oppression and only annoy them.
So instead, he brought a famous calligraphy piece—not as a gift, but asking for appraisal.
“Appraisal” meant they would examine it together, discuss it, and request his expert opinion.
This wording showed great respect for her father’s talent.
The Emperor wanted him to appreciate and authenticate the piece.
For a learned scholar and merchant, nothing was more tempting.
Clearly, her father was already intrigued.
A wu said: “Then invite him over!”
At her words, the four Ning men all looked at her, their expressions… too complicated to describe.
A wu added: “If he comes, I won’t see him! I’ll go out and play!”
Ning Sanlang agreed: “Third Brother will take you out to play, and you let them entertain ‘that person’ at home!”