When Ning Yinhua said this, the Ning brothers immediately replied, “Of course we have to go!”
All three of them were somewhat excited, hardly able to contain themselves.
To hunt down the East Sea pirates—this was a matter of utmost importance. After this battle, the situation in the East Sea would surely change. If they could take part in such an event, their lives would be fulfilled.
Moreover, this battle would inevitably involve Lu Yunjian. At that time, the brothers could finally settle their personal scores.
A wu looked at her elder brothers with some worry, even feeling a bit resentful toward Emperor Jingxi.
She said at once, “Swords and knives don’t have eyes. This upcoming East Sea naval battle is no ordinary fight—it’s against pirates armed with firearms. The Zhen’an Marquis Manor has spent years building up their fleet, outfitting their warships with Dahui’s most advanced artillery. In the chaos of battle, if something were to happen to Brother A, what would Father do? What would I do?”
Having endured a long wait before, she was determined not to see any of her brothers come to harm again.
She was afraid.
She couldn’t help but say, “But there must be many who know how to handle boats, and none of you have military training—so why do you have to go?”
At this, Ning Sanlang said, “Don’t worry, A wu. We’ll watch out for each other; nothing will happen.”
Ning Dalang also added, “Yes, we’re smart enough. Besides, we’re just guides; we won’t be fighting.”
Though they said this, A wu could clearly feel their eagerness.
She looked toward her father for help.
She didn’t want her brothers to get into trouble, and she especially didn’t want anything bad to happen to them because of her or Emperor Jingxi.
But Ning Yinhua said, “We were born by the East Sea, grew up by the East Sea. Today, these pirates ravage our coastal borders, and the people suffer greatly. Though we are merely sea merchants, the Emperor is personally leading the campaign to suppress these bandits. If we can each do our part, it will be a blessing for the people of the East Sea and won’t have been for nothing in our lives. Besides, Lu Yunjian slaughtered the villagers of my hometown—his crimes are monstrous. Today, it is only right that he pays blood for blood, and we will have avenged our fellow townsfolk!”
His gaze swept over his sons, noting their reddened eyes.
“If you are willing to accompany the Imperial Navy, I will not stop you. Even if you all die on the battlefield, I will not utter a single complaint.”
A wu understood from these words.
Her eyes grew moist, and her nose tingled with the urge to cry. She wanted to say something to stop them but could not.
The Ning brothers were thrilled, and though they tried to comfort A wu’s worries, she remained concerned.
Ning Yinhua saw her daughter’s thoughts and reassured her, “A wu, you need not worry so much about your brothers.”
A wu muttered quietly, “Who started all this? Wasn’t it Futai? What if something happens? How could I be at peace?”
Of course, she was even more angry at Emperor Jingxi—why did he have to drag her brothers into this?!
If anything happened to her brothers, she would hate him for life.
Ning Yinhua then sent his sons off.
After they left, he said to A wu, “You really don’t need to worry. Lord Futai spoke with me. This is the Emperor’s direct order. Your brothers will be right by the Emperor’s side and will obey his commands at all times.”
Hearing this, A wu suddenly understood.
Emperor Jingxi was personally leading the expedition, but given his noble status, the ship he traveled on would be heavily guarded, accompanied by countless Dragon Guards.
If her brothers were by the Emperor’s side, there would be no real danger. Instead, it was a great honor to serve under his command. If they acted as guides during the voyage to the archipelago, they might even earn meritorious deeds and gain glory and wealth.
In fact, Emperor Jingxi was directly handing a bright future to her brothers—he was elevating them.
Had this happened before, A wu wouldn’t have thought so deeply, but her thoughts were different now.
She vaguely felt that Emperor Jingxi held her father in high regard and had an unspoken hope to see what his next move would be.
Now, it seemed this move had landed squarely on her brothers.
A wu said no more.
Privately, she still didn’t want her three brothers to go, but she knew that whether for their futures, their hatred of Lu Yunjian, or the Emperor’s plan, they had to go.
Ning Yinhua said, “Of course, it’s not without risk. Two fleets clashing at sea, cannon fire everywhere—if something does happen, there’s no blaming others. We just have to accept it as bad luck.”
A wu: “…Mm, I understand.”
—
The Ning brothers were high-spirited, preparing to follow the Emperor’s personal troops into battle.
Hearing this, other young men from the town also volunteered eagerly, and Ning Yinhua tried to persuade them otherwise, but they were adamant.
In the past, the Zhen’an Marquis Manor had oppressed the townsfolk and colluded with pirates, robbing them and causing the deaths of many villagers’ relatives. Now that the Emperor was personally leading a campaign to suppress the pirates, they were all willing to do their part.
In just two days, more than twenty young men from the town gathered, all volunteering to serve as guides for the Emperor’s troops.
Ye Han was naturally among them, but he did not plan to follow Emperor Jingxi. Instead, he intended to travel on the guides’ boats with the coastal villagers.
At the same time, news began to arrive in the town that Lu Yunjian had not only gathered pirates but was also colluding with the Fulangji people.
The Fulangji were the Red-Haired Barbarians, notorious for their ruthless raids and piracy on the seas, but their ships and artillery were top-notch—no one dared confront them on the water.
Ning Yinhua said nothing about this. After all, with the Emperor already leading the campaign personally, what was there to fear?
That evening, Emperor Jingxi suddenly arrived at the Ning residence in a hurried visit.
He wore a magnificent brocade robe that made the modest courtyard feel even smaller.
Ning Yinhua dared not be careless and quickly came forward to greet him.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Emperor Jingxi spoke of the East Sea Navy’s fleet about to set sail.
He said that by dawn tomorrow, envoys would come to escort the Ning brothers and the other young men from the town and that they should prepare accordingly.
It was obvious Emperor Jingxi was pressed for time.
Ning Yinhua knew that for the Emperor, this was a minor matter hardly worth his personal attention. The fact he had come in person spoke both to private feelings and to the importance he placed on the Ning family.
After their brief, brisk conversation, Emperor Jingxi took his leave.
Ning Yinhua looked at the tall, dignified man and said, “Sir Ze, would you care for a cup of tea?”
Emperor Jingxi naturally understood the subtle meaning behind the offer.
If he drank tea, someone would have to serve it—and who that server was carried a clear message.
He chuckled lightly, “Mr. Ning, your kindness is appreciated, but there’s no need. When I return and have leisure, I will surely visit you and request that cup of tea then.”
Ning Yinhua nodded in understanding and saw him out.
As Emperor Jingxi left the courtyard and reached the gate, he casually turned back, his gaze lingering unnoticed on a side chamber.
The window was closed, but a faint yellow light glowed within.
Inside was a young lady; she had already lit a lamp, though no one knew what she was doing.
This mingling of longing and speculation stirred a bittersweet ache in Emperor Jingxi’s heart.
But he restrained himself.
He always wanted to settle everything properly before facing her.
So he smoothed out these uncontrollable feelings like calming turbulent waves, then calmly confronted what needed to be faced.
Only the occasional heartbeat or an unexpected mental image caused him torment and bitterness.
Ning Yinhua, walking behind him, sensed this hesitation, saw the melancholy in his eyes as he looked toward the chamber.
He too paused.
But just then, Emperor Jingxi shifted his gaze, stepped forward, and departed.
As Emperor Jingxi left, A wu leaned against the window, watching the tall, cold, and resolute figure.
For some reason, her heart was inexplicably heavy and sour, and she felt a bit resentful toward him, thinking him rather cold and unfeeling for ignoring her.
Yet she also thought that if he saw her and spoke to her now, she wouldn’t even know what to say.
Returning home always makes one more timid; those who once spoke harshly now found themselves awkward in each other’s presence.
Moreover, there were still her father and brothers around.
She saw him speaking cordially with her father and noticed how he wanted to promote her brothers, acting with ease, grace, and composure.
She began to feel this side of him was unfamiliar—not the man who would indulge her whims.
Perhaps because the past seemed so distant, she recalled how he once held her, kissed her, the intimate moments between them, and those words that made her blush and heart race. It was hard to believe it was the same man.
He was so proper and dignified before her family—was this really the same man she had been with like that?
…Maybe men were just good at pretending.
—
That night, the Ning household was almost sleepless.
The brothers were naturally excited and couldn’t rest, starting to pack their things and pore over the nautical maps, as if they wished they could leave immediately.
A wu had matters on her mind and couldn’t sleep either, so she busied herself helping her brothers prepare their belongings.
Ning Dalang said, “A wu, you don’t need to worry about us. We know what we’re doing. You should rest; it’s getting late.”
A wu: “Alright.”
Back in her own room, she still couldn’t sleep, so she simply tidied her things somewhat at random.
When she first returned with Ye Han, she had brought a bundle containing the valuables she’d taken from the palace. But since Ye Han also carried some traveling money, these valuables were never touched.
After returning home and reuniting with her father and brothers—who made sure she didn’t have to worry about anything—the gold and silver had no real use. She had once offered them to her father, but he refused, telling her to keep them herself.
Now, looking at them, she felt indifferent—not particularly fond.
Perhaps, to her, they were more proof that the past had indeed happened.
With nothing else to do, she opened the bundle and sorted through the items.
She came across the Yusuo Tablet.
It was given to her by Lu Yunjian. At the time, she hadn’t paid much attention; it just looked like an ordinary jade tablet.
But now, holding it again, she suddenly realized something—the material seemed the same as Emperor Jingxi’s Jade Thumb Ring.
Her heart stirred. She took them both out and compared them carefully.
Sure enough, both were made of the same kind of jade! Judging by the luster and grain, they were probably carved from the same piece of jade…
A wu held the Jade Thumb Ring and the Yusuo Tablet in her hands, dumbfounded.
She tried hard to recall every clue from the past.
Lu Yunjian had shown disdain for the Imperial Son, even a hint of resentment and dissatisfaction. His words toward Emperor Jingxi also seemed somewhat disrespectful.
Lu Yunjian’s appearance seemed vaguely similar to the Imperial Son’s.
A wu also remembered the Empress’s dying threats. When she mentioned the relationship between Emperor Jingxi and Lu Yunjian, she seemed to imply something—that Emperor Jingxi harbored deep hatred for Lu Yunjian.
As these thoughts swirled, recalling countless details, a chill ran down her spine.
Since that day, after angrily killing the Empress, she had avoided thinking about these matters. But now she was beginning to calm down and reflect.
Emperor Jingxi clearly already knew everything—how would he deal with it?
His visit now must mean he had already made up his mind, or accepted the situation.
That night, A wu lay awake on her couch, unable to sleep, her thoughts drifting like clouds across the sky.
She didn’t know how long passed before she finally fell into a fitful sleep.
—
The next morning, a group of soldiers on horseback arrived at the Ning residence, accompanied by palace Dragon Guards and eunuchs.
At their head rode a general clad in red leather armor with gold plating and a phoenix-wing helmet.
The Ning brothers were instantly thrilled, knowing this must be a general.
The general introduced himself respectfully and invited the Ning brothers to accompany him.
Warhorses and silver-plated armor were distributed.
Other young men from the town also joined the group.
A wu stood on the steps, looking up as her brothers eagerly joined.
Her heart was full of mixed emotions, but she also felt this was perhaps how it was meant to be.
Ye Han said they wanted revenge, and without it, they could not be at peace. Now her brothers were going to seek revenge too. All of them could participate in this suppression campaign—it was their way to avenge their fallen elders and neighbors.
After the Ning brothers left, Ning Yinhua shut the doors, halted all business, and focused entirely on tending the sweet potato vines in the courtyard.
When idle, A wu accompanied her father, watering and fertilizing the plants.
She knew the sweet potatoes would grow large and be very useful in the future, so she took special care.
That day, Ye Han came by. He was also going to join the campaign but would not follow Emperor Jingxi. Instead, he would serve with the Coastal Defense Garrison.
A wu vaguely understood that those coastal troops took orders from the Emperor and likely would be the first to charge into battle.
So compared to her brothers, Ye Han’s journey was even more dangerous.
Seeing Ye Han arrive, A wu quickly set down her watering bucket. “Have you eaten lunch?”
Ye Han looked at her and smiled, shaking his head. “No, I wanted to eat with you all.”
A wu: “Great!”
Ning Yinhua gave Ye Han a long, deep look.
He regarded Ye Han as a son, and though he did not approve of some of Ye Han’s choices, Ye Han was stubborn, and Ning Yinhua could not change his mind.
He said, “Good, let’s eat lunch together. Afterwards, we’ll talk.”