Chapter 97 Paying a Visit

Chapter 97: A Visit

After Emperor Jingxi left, the four father and sons looked at each other in silence.

At this moment, Ning Erlang seemed to realize something, his voice trembling with disbelief: "He, he is—"

Ning Sanlang swung his fist at him: "Look at the trouble you've caused, bringing a thief into our home!"

Ning Erlang couldn't believe it: "Him, he's the Emperor? He has no airs about him at all. How could he be the Emperor? Just a few days ago, we were talking about sailing, and we hit it off right away, sharing the same temperament!"

How could he possibly be the Emperor? There was no sign of it at all!

Enraged, Ning Sanlang lifted his leg and kicked him.

Ning Dalang also scowled: "What kind of 'hit it off' did you have with him? You really think too highly of yourself!"

What they called 'hitting it off' was nothing more than the other person deliberately lowering themselves to be approachable!

Ning Erlang: "So, so you hit the Emperor? Is that allowed? Will he confiscate our property? What crime is this? Treason? Attempted assassination?"

Will our entire clan be exterminated?

Ning Sanlang, however, seemed unconcerned: "Well, I hit him, but we didn't know he was the Emperor. We just beat up an unwelcome guest!"

Ning Yinhuai, who had been silent all along, finally spoke: "Let it go, there's no need to dwell on this."

A person like that, one can tell at a glance, would never give up until he achieves his goal. How could he easily let this go?

Ning Yinhuai sighed softly: "Let things take their natural course. Besides, his visit to the East Sea wasn't just for this. The true purpose of his journey is likely the pirates in the East Sea."

After all, when the Son of Heaven leaves the imperial capital to tour the Eastern Sea, it is a matter of state, a grand affair that mobilizes a vast number of people!

The blue robe and simple attire one sees, moving gracefully, hides the trepidation of countless attendants and guards behind them.

When the imperial carriage tours, with the procession clearing the way and the entourage following, the scale of the mobilization is something my son can hardly imagine!

As the father and sons were discussing, they suddenly heard Wu's voice from the next room: "Third Brother, Third Brother!"

Ning Sanlang was taken aback upon hearing this.

Ning Dalang asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"

Ning Sanlang, feeling guilty, replied: "I, I locked my sister in her room just now..."

From the other side, Wu protested: "Third Brother, don't lock me in!"

Ning Yinhuai frowned and looked at Ning Sanlang.

Ning Dalang wore a look of disgust.

Ning Erlang stepped forward and kicked Ning Sanlang in the buttocks.

He gritted his teeth and said: "How dare you bully Wu!"

Ning Sanlang, kicked to the ground, did not dare to say anything, quickly got up, and rubbed his sore bottom: "I, I'll go unlock the door right away!"

***********

When Wu heard that Ning Sanlang had hit Emperor Jingxi, she was momentarily speechless, staring blankly for a long time.

Ning Erlang was somewhat worried: "Wu, do you think he might, in his anger, exterminate our entire clan?"

Ning Dalang also felt a headache: "Afu, what are you thinking? Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Afu took a deep breath and then looked at Ning Sanlang, asking: "Third Brother, why did you lock me up?"

Ning Sanlang replied sullenly: "If I didn't lock you up, you would definitely try to stop it!"

Afu: "I wouldn't!"

She stood up, excitedly saying: "If you hadn't locked me up, I could have seen the emperor get beaten. It's such a rare opportunity in my life; why should I miss it?"

She was quite regretful: "Has the bruise on his face faded yet? It probably hasn't. I should go check—"

As she said this, she tried to leave but was immediately pulled back by Ning Sanlang: "Don't go! Don't walk into the trap yourself!"

The emperor had said he would stay here for a while, and he was likely keeping an eye on their Afu. He might come to snatch her tomorrow!

But Afu smiled: "What's there to be afraid of? If he really tries to snatch me, can you stop him?"

Ning Sanlang was taken aback.

Afu got up and walked back to her room, but not before saying: "He definitely won't dare to snatch me!"

The brothers exchanged glances again.

Definitely, won't, dare, to, snatch!

Such confident words. What gave their sister such confidence?

Afu, of course, understood that now that this man had come, he would make his move.

A man as busy as he is would not have the leisure to wander around this remote town without an ulterior motive.

So subconsciously, she also understood that she should be prepared for his next move.

A Wu was curious about what his next step would be.

Would he bring a ship to give to her family? If so, it would be rather awkward.

Though they did need one, and it would be difficult to arrange, precisely because of this, if he were to directly send a ship, her father might not appreciate it, seeing it as an act of overbearing or using money to force the issue.

This man once tried to win her favor with gold and silver, but times have changed, and such tactics no longer work. If mishandled, he might even be driven away by her father and brothers.

Fortunately, he didn't do that, which relieved A Wu.

Relieved as she was, A Wu was also surprised at why she felt relieved. Was she afraid he would offend her father and brothers?

Holding the jade ring, A Wu reflected deeply.

She knew very well that even if he had come here to deal with the pirates in the East Sea, he didn't have to come in person...

Having accompanied him for so long, she knew best the piles of memorials on his desk, each one significant. The rebellion of the Duke of Donghai could be handled from the capital, commanding troops and making decisions from afar. There was no need for him to travel all the way to this desolate place.

She was aware of how far he had gone for her, and there was no need to pretend otherwise.

In fact, that this man had humbled himself and lowered his stance, she wasn't unwilling to consider it.

Of course, past events couldn't just be swept under the rug; he needed to explain himself, as she still harbored resentment.

Moreover, having just reunited with her father and brothers, she couldn't bear to part ways and never see them again.

After much deliberation, Afu found herself in a quandary. She realized she was quite greedy, wanting both the handsome young man in the green robe and white scarf, and her father and brother. Ideally, she wouldn’t want to lack wealth and honor, and of course, she needed to regain her former dignity.

In the end, she patted her forehead, exclaiming, "Oh dear, I’m too greedy!"

**************

Over the next few days, the Ning brothers occasionally tried to probe Afu for information. They asked about the emperor’s age and appearance, how he had treated her in the past, the prince’s age and character, and even about the pair of children she had given birth to in the palace.

Since returning home, Afu had forgotten most of what had happened before, as if it were all just a dream. She had almost forgotten about her two children. Now, with Emperor Jingxi’s appearance and her brother’s inquiries, some memories inevitably resurfaced, adding a different kind of sentiment.

Ning Yinhuai, however, was displeased and scolded his sons, "You nag on and on, pestering Afu with questions. What kind of decorum is this?"

He then ordered Afu, "Don’t pay them any mind."

The Ning brothers immediately dispersed like birds and beasts.

At this time, Ye Han was also staying in the town, aware that the emperor had followed but said little.

He understood that the emperor would not give up easily. He had personally arranged for him to bring Afu back to their hometown, clearly with a backup plan. Now, by having the crown prince oversee the state affairs and leading the imperial army to the East Sea himself, it was evident that it was all for Afu.

Indeed, at this point, he began to consider what would truly make Afu happy and how far the emperor would go before the Ning family and he could feel secure enough to entrust Afu to him.

Amidst everyone’s anxious thoughts, one day Emperor Jingxi specially sent a visiting card.

The language in the card was respectful and formal, addressing Ning Yinhuai as "Sir" while referring to himself by name, a gesture of humility that, for someone of his status, was already a significant lowering of his stance.

The card mentioned that he had a calligraphy scroll of the "Luo Shen Fu" written by Zhao Mengfu, though its authenticity was unknown, and he wished to visit Ning Yinhuai to have it appraised.

Ning Yinhuai read the card and remained silent for a long while.

Afu, who knew her father somewhat, understood immediately. She thought to herself that this old man was truly cunning.

He was well aware that any move on his part would inevitably cast a shadow of wielding power to pressure others, causing discomfort within the family. Therefore, he had procured some kind of invitation, but the key was not to present it directly to you. The authenticity was uncertain, so your appraisal was needed.

Appraisal means we all take a look, discuss it, and ask for your help in identifying it.

Such an approach could be seen as giving ample face to one's father, showing that they value your talent and seek your appreciation and identification.

For a scholar-merchant who has studied for many years, there is nothing more tempting than this. Clearly, Father was already swayed.

Ah Wu said, "Then invite him over!"

At her words, the four Ning family members all looked at her, their gazes... indescribably complex.

Ah Wu: "If he comes, I won't see him! I'll go out to play!"

Ning Sanlang agreed, "I'll take you out to play, let them entertain this person at home!"

He referred to Emperor Jingxi as "this person," "that person."

Ning Yinhuai pondered for a moment and then consented.

After all, this person had come to this remote town, and everyone knew why. Avoiding him would be futile; with such courteous manners, they couldn't afford to be impolite.

So Ning Yinhuai wrote a reply, carefully considering how to address him. Everyone saw through but didn't speak of Emperor Jingxi's identity, yet the respect due must still be shown.

Ah Wu: "Then write his courtesy name, which is Zhi'an."

At her words, the four Ning family members' gazes once again focused on her.

Ah Wu: "It's just Zhi'an..."

Ning Yinhuai actually knew. After more than ten years of education, how could he not know the current emperor's courtesy name? It was just that hearing his daughter say it so casually made him somewhat uncomfortable.

He is the Son of Heaven, someone all scholars must avoid referring to directly...

He cleared his throat and said, "Then we should use his courtesy name."

Ning Sanlang muttered, "What kind of courtesy name is this? It doesn't sound good at all!"

Ning Yinhuai replied, "To hold the great image, the world will come. Coming without harm, peace and tranquility will prevail."

Afu said, "Yes, this phrase comes from the Tao Te Ching, meaning to uphold the great virtue of the Dao, thus people from all over the world will follow."

Her interpretation made the four men look at her simultaneously.

Afu was taken aback, "Did I say something wrong?"

Ning Sanlang felt a mix of emotions, "Afu has indeed become quite learned."

Afu recalled the past, when she was forced to read books by the old emperor, who would teach her personally, holding her in his arms, and making her do all sorts of things...

She blushed and murmured, "There are rules in the palace; everyone has to study after entering. I was once an imperial concubine, of course I can read!"

Ning Dalang, recalling Afu's previous words, finally understood, "So you learned mathematics in the palace as well?"

Afu nodded, "Yes, he insisted I learn it!"

He...

The few men naturally understood that this "he" referred to the emperor.

Ning Yinhuai asked casually, "The matter of trade with the overseas countries, was that also something the emperor mentioned to you?"

Faced with her father's question, Awu felt somewhat guilty and her eyes darted around, "… Yes, he just mentioned it in passing. He said he was going to search for you overseas, so he brought it up."

Ning Yinhuai fell silent. Reflecting now, the officials who did not make things difficult for them after they landed, including those state officials who had informed them early and asked them to wait, were all part of the emperor's arrangement.

The emperor knew they had returned and that they had become wealthy, which is why he had Ye Han bring Awu back to reunite with her family.

This man held supreme power and never once thought of letting go. Now, he had traveled thousands of miles incognito, humbly lowering himself and showing respect as a junior before him.

At this moment, the Ning brothers, recalling these events, remained silent for a while.

They sensed that their sister seemed unchanged, yet had truly changed. Once standing beside the pinnacle of Great Hui's power, her horizons, knowledge, and thoughts were different from before.

After a long pause, Ning Yinhuai said, "Let's reply to the letter first."

***********

After Ning Yinhuai replied to the letter, Emperor Jingxi paid a visit. Early that morning, Awu had gone out early with Third Brother Ning to catch fish and play with shrimp nearby.

When Emperor Jingxi arrived, he brought gifts, nothing particularly expensive, just ordinary fruits to show his goodwill. Ning Yinhuai understood that the emperor had a good sense of propriety.

The Ning family had naturally swept and prepared the hall, treating their guest with utmost hospitality.

The last time Third Brother Ning had struck Emperor Jingxi, fortunately, there was no trace of it now, and neither party mentioned the incident.

As for the letter, it was indeed written by Zhao Ziang, likely in memory of his deceased wife. The brushstrokes were free and easy, the wrist movements fluid, displaying a style reminiscent of the Wei and Jin dynasties. Ning Yinhuai marveled at it, "It is truly the pinnacle of small regular script!"

After this appreciation, both parties naturally gained a greater admiration for each other. Their conversation gradually turned to the Eastern Sea Fleet and the pirate threat, as well as the strategies for overseas voyages and trade.

At first, Ning Yinhuai was somewhat reserved and a bit stiff, but under Emperor Jingxi's patient guidance, he began to speak about his aspirations, his youthful strategies, and his thoughts and reflections from his travels abroad over the past few years.

After a deep conversation, they found that some of their ideas coincided.

Emperor Jingxi mentioned the current shipbuilding in his country. The House of Zhen'an had dominated the Eastern Sea for many years and had accumulated considerable knowledge in shipbuilding and long-distance navigation. However, after Lu Yunjian of the House of Zhen'an defected, some of the most crucial documents disappeared.

Ning Yinhuai also had thoughts on this: "The House of Zhen'an's years of accumulated nautical charts and sailing logs are indeed very helpful. However, to be frank, their ships, while dominant in the Eastern Sea, fall short when it comes to long-distance voyages."

Hearing this, Emperor Jingxi sincerely said, "I humbly request your guidance, sir."

Ning Yinhuai did not presume to be superior; he first bowed before speaking at length.

It turned out that he had been sailing for many years and had carefully observed that foreign ships were indeed superior to Great Hui's ships. However, if Great Hui simply copied these designs, they would not perform well in the Eastern Sea.

As for Great Hui's ships in the Eastern Sea, they were not suitable for long-distance voyages either.

Emperor Jingxi asked, "Why is that?"

Ning Yinhuai replied, "From my observations over several years, I believe this has to do with the wind."

Emperor Jingxi frowned, then understood: "The ocean currents and winds in our Eastern Sea are quite different from those in foreign lands. If we simply copy foreign ship designs, there will inevitably be shortcomings."

Ning Yinhuai agreed, "Yes."

He then detailed the importance of durability, stability, and adaptability to different waters and climates in shipbuilding.

Having sailed for many years, these points were familiar to him. Emperor Jingxi, who had been paying attention to long-distance navigation and shipbuilding for years, naturally understood some of these principles. Their deep conversation greatly enlightened Emperor Jingxi.

As they delved deeper into conversation, Ning Yinhuai grew increasingly admiring of the emperor he had revered since his youth, while Emperor Jingxi sighed, “The maritime bandit case of old involved many, and now it seems that countless pillars of society were unjustly buried. This is a failure of the court and a fault of the emperor.”

These words made Ning Yinhuai feel somewhat ashamed.

In his early twenties, he too had been full of vigor and ambition, but after years of hard study, he met with setbacks. Who would have thought that in a daze, he was already in his forties, and only because of his daughter did he have the chance to meet the emperor and engage in profound discussions.

He then said, “I, Ning, am shallow in talent and learning, and in my youth, I was implicated in a scandal. It is shameful to speak of it.”

Both men were erudite, one having governed the court for many years, the other having traveled extensively abroad. They were both steady in temperament and adept at human relations. When they touched upon past events, they only mentioned them briefly and did not dwell on them, continuing instead to discuss various observations and experiences.

When Ning Yinhuai mentioned sweet potatoes and their characteristics, Emperor Jingxi’s eyes lit up, and he asked with great interest.

As an emperor who had interacted with envoys from various countries, he had heard of sweet potatoes and knew they were remarkable. However, the Portuguese, who dominated the South Seas, regarded sweet potatoes as precious and strictly controlled them, refusing any opportunity for the people of Great Hui to obtain them.

He had also made secret attempts, but to no avail. He never imagined that Ning Yinhuai would possess such a plant.

They then went to the courtyard to inspect, and saw the sweet potato seedlings swaying in the breeze under the sunlight.

Emperor Jingxi lifted the hem of his robe and squatted beside the seedbed, gently touching the vines and examining them carefully. He said, “In my studies, I read that this plant can serve as food, with smaller ones like arms and larger ones like fists. If we could cultivate this, it would be a blessing for Great Hui, benefiting our state and future generations.”

Ning Yinhuai listened, feeling quite excited. After all, although sweet potatoes were grown in Luzon, the people of Great Hui were largely unaware of them, and he had not dared to mention them lightly. He never expected Emperor Jingxi to value them so highly!

He immediately responded, “After I cultivate it, if the sweet potatoes grow well and you are interested, I will gift you some seedlings.”

Emperor Jingxi replied, “Then I shall await good news.”

As he spoke, he lightly traced the moist soil beside the seedlings with his fingers, saying, “They are well watered.”

Ning Yinhuai smiled and said, “My daughter waters and weeds diligently, hoping they will grow quickly—”

He paused mid-sentence, then said lightly, "I only hope this thing can grow as well as the sweet potatoes from Nanyang."

Emperor Jingxi listened to Ning Yinhuai’s words and his gaze fell again on the sweet potato seedlings, noticing that they were still slightly damp.

She had watered them.

After standing up, Emperor Jingxi gently wiped his fingers, which were stained with soil, with a handkerchief, a tender smile spreading across his eyes.

As they spoke, it was almost noon. Emperor Jingxi glanced at the sun and prepared to take his leave.

The Ning family naturally had no intention of inviting him to stay for dinner, and Emperor Jingxi, proceeding step by step, did not wish to be too abrupt.

Ning Yinhuai stood to see him off. As they walked to the veranda, Emperor Jingxi suddenly turned back as he ascended the steps.

His gaze swept over A Wu’s room, lingering long and affectionately.

Ning Yinhuai sensed it and his expression faltered slightly.

Emperor Jingxi slowly withdrew his gaze, lowering his thin eyelids, and spoke softly, "Mr. Ning, the pastries I brought today were freshly made by my household cook this morning. The osmanthus and taro used are from the capital, ensuring their original flavor. She used to love them. Steam them when she returns home. If you wait until tomorrow, they won’t be fresh enough."

Ning Yinhuai looked at him.

Emperor Jingxi smiled warmly, "Mr. Ning, please stay. I shall take my leave."

Ning Yinhuai watched Emperor Jingxi depart, his tall and graceful figure leaving him in silent contemplation.

He lowered his head, recalling Emperor Jingxi’s words just now.

This composed and steady emperor, when speaking of his daughter, had a gentle and soft tone, his gaze lingering and affectionate, the tenderness and concern almost impossible to hide, tinged with a hint of melancholy.

For someone who wielded power and strategy, such a moment of tenderness was almost unbelievable.

Since he arrived, he had not mentioned A Wu once, even when Ning Yinhuai inadvertently brought her up, he did not respond. He only talked about calligraphy, the East Sea, trade, and voyages around the world.

Now, just before leaving, he had unexpectedly let his guard down in a moment of unguarded emotion.

Ning Yinhuai sighed deeply in his heart.