Chapter 98 Chance Encounter

Chapter 98: A Chance Encounter

A Wu was in high spirits today; they had a bountiful harvest. However, not so fortunately, while collecting fish and shrimp, A Wu jumped over a rock and accidentally sprained her ankle.

It wasn’t too painful, and she could still walk, but it would ache occasionally if she moved it the wrong way.

Ning Sanlang was extremely worried. He was pained to see his sister’s foot hurting and feared she might be uncomfortable. He also dreaded the scolding or even beating from their father and brothers upon returning home. Thus, he carried A Wu back with utmost caution and trepidation.

After being carried for a while, A Wu insisted on walking herself. Ning Sanlang had no choice but to comply, though he carefully supported her from the side.

In truth, A Wu was in an excellent mood. They had a rich haul today, carrying several fish tied with grass ropes and a bag of fresh shrimp. They could grill them tonight or make a fresh soup.

She smiled and swung the grass rope, “Third Brother, you don’t need to worry. My foot isn’t too sore. We won’t tell them when we get back!”

She turned her head and winked at him playfully, “Tell me all about how you and Ah Xia were exchanging glances in town, and I won’t mention my sprained ankle to Father and the others!”

Ning Sanlang: “….”

He huffed, blushing, “You know about that!”

A Wu laughed triumphantly, “Of course! What do you think can escape my notice? That day, Ah Xia kept stealing glances at you, her face all red!”

Ning Sanlang stuttered, “I don’t want to like her; I think she’s a bit silly.”

A Wu: “…Your standards are really high. I think she has a good personality, and she’s much smarter than you.”

Ning Sanlang: “But I just don’t like her!”

A Wu: “Then what kind of person do you like?”

As she spoke, she suddenly saw a cart by the roadside.

She was puzzled for a moment, sensing that though the cart seemed ordinary, something about it felt off.

She stopped laughing and said to Ning Sanlang, "Forget it, I won't argue with you anymore. Do as you please, but don't blame me when you can't find your wife!"

As they spoke, the two of them passed by the cart.

But at the very moment they passed, almost brushing against the cart, she suddenly had a strange feeling.

It was the sensation of being watched from the shadows, something lurking and covetous. A Wu's hair stood on end, and she stumbled slightly without noticing.

Ning Sanlang was startled and quickly supported A Wu, "A Wu, what's wrong? Did you hurt your foot? Are you injured?"

A Wu's breath nearly stopped; she couldn't move her feet.

It wasn't because of pain in her foot, but because of the carriage beside her.

Gripping the straw rope in her hand, she slowly turned her head to look.

It was a common black-painted ox cart, nothing out of the ordinary. Who would have thought that inside was someone capable of shaking the entire East Sea?

She knew he must be in that cart. Just now, through the black canopy, she had sensed his presence.

His presence was too strong, an almost irresistible covetousness.

Yet he had skillfully concealed his greedy emotions, suppressing them, transforming into a scholar in blue robes to seek her out.

Even more subtly, he was watching her from the shadows.

This intense shock made Ah Wu's heart sway like seaweed in the ocean, stirring and unsettling her, making her thoughts wander.

She took a deep breath, struggling to calm herself down.

Ning Sanlang, noticing Ah Wu's unusual expression, grew increasingly worried: "What’s wrong with Ah Wu? Does it hurt badly? Let me carry you; we should hurry to town and find a doctor?"

Ah Wu bit her lip and hurriedly replied: "Third Brother, I’m fine."

Ning Sanlang was frantic: "What’s really going on? Come, let me carry you back!"

Ah Wu: "No need."

As she spoke, someone had already descended from the ox cart, and a somewhat sharp voice rang out: "Is this lady unwell somewhere?"

Hearing this voice, Ah Wu slowly turned her head, and there she saw Futaie.

The familiar Futaie, who had walked out from the splendid and luxurious palace, now stood smiling at her on this remote and desolate seaside path.

Ah Wu was stunned for a moment, then a thousand thoughts flooded her mind.

It was Futaie, and not him, which was just as well.

In truth, if he had suddenly appeared, facing him unexpectedly, she wouldn’t have known what to say, would have panicked, and instinctively wanted to avoid him, without any idea of how to face him.

After all, when they parted, both had said everything that needed to be said, and things had escalated to that point.

Ning Sanlang, suddenly seeing Futaie, looked at him with suspicion and caution, instinctively protecting his sister.

Futaie, however, wore a kind and enthusiastic expression, saying that his family had another ox cart that could take this lady home, asking if she would like to use it, and mentioning that a friend of his was skilled in medicine and could check her pulse if needed.

A Wu opened her mouth to refuse.

Fu Tai winked and gestured exaggeratedly at A Wu: “We have another ox cart, the other one.”

A Wu looked at Fu Tai, feeling both amused and blushing.

She hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t refuse.

As for the art of medicine, it’s just a physician, definitely not needed!

Ning Sanlang was originally too lazy to deal with Fu Tai, but seeing that her sister didn’t refuse and seemed uncomfortable, she had no choice but to agree.

Soon, Fu Tai waved his hand, and an ox cart came over. Ning Sanlang helped her sister onto the cart.

The ox cart looked ordinary from the outside, but once inside, it was evident that the interior was thoughtfully arranged, making the ride very comfortable!

Sitting in the ox cart, A Wu looked through the window again at the previous cart, only to see it slowly moving in the opposite direction.

Thinking about the intense gaze she felt earlier, a mix of emotions welled up in her heart—anticipation, anxiety, and a bit of fear and avoidance.

She then recalled how he appeared in her courtyard in a green robe and simple clothes, and her heart melted.

After all, this man was quite irresistible!

At that moment, Emperor Jingxi leaned lazily against the wooden railing of the carriage, a scroll of scripture spread across his knees, but his gaze never left A Wu, who was not far away.

The sky by the sea was always too clear and bright, making the sun glaring. Under the dazzling sunlight, she appeared translucent and fair, hopping playfully with a grass rope, like a lively white-feathered bird on the beach.

As she passed by the carriage, Emperor Jingxi even noticed that her clear, luminous cheeks were tinged with a delicate, rosy glow.

She was vibrant and innocent, full of life, passing by him with a smile on her face.

Emperor Jingxi caught a whiff of the sea's briny scent, the fresh sweetness that belonged to her, and of course, the affection and joy in her voice as she spoke to his elder brother.

After getting off at Fu Tai, he remained unmoved.

He pressed his forehead against the rough window frame of the ox cart, his amber eyes fixed on her without blinking.

Having come this far, he knew all too well that since he had come to Donghai, he would not return empty-handed.

He was determined to succeed, willing to pay any price, and had more than enough patience.

He understood this little creature’s nature all too well; she wouldn’t value something easily offered, so he could only proceed quietly and methodically.

Moreover, she must be hesitating now, so he decided to give her time, letting her think it through slowly.

As Emperor Jingxi thought this, his gaze never left the slender figure in the distance.

She climbed into the ox cart, bending slightly, her long lashes lifting, casting a fleeting glance his way before quickly withdrawing.

A slow, smiling curve formed on Emperor Jingxi’s lips.

*********

No sooner had she returned home than her several older brothers made a fuss, insisting on calling a doctor for her and formally thanking Fu Tai and the driver.

Who was Ning Yinhuai? He could tell at a glance that Fu Tai was no ordinary person and did not dare to be disrespectful.

Fu Tai, however, was unusually humble, addressing Mr. Ning with respect in his words.

Ning Yinhuai thanked him and saw him off, and A Wu accompanied them, feeling that Fu Tai was secretly glancing at her.

She shot him a glare, her eyes a silent threat.

Futai quickly averted his gaze.

This little ancestress, who would dare to provoke her!

After Futai left, the family entered the room and began to ask, "Who is this?"

Awu: "Just an ordinary kind-hearted person."

Ning Yinhuai: "This isn't an ordinary person; he's a eunuch from the palace, isn't he?"

Hearing this, Awu had no choice but to admit, "He was originally a chief clerk in the Directorate of Ceremonial, but retired due to illness. He served beside the emperor and has now returned to the Directorate of Ceremonial."

Ning Erlang and Ning Sanlang felt nothing particular about it; they didn't understand. But Ning Dalang was shocked—chief clerks in the Directorate of Ceremonial were powerful figures!

However, he soon realized that with the emperor present, the arrival of a powerful eunuch seemed quite normal.

The emperor was already addressing them as 'Eldest Brother,' 'Second Brother,' and 'Third Brother.' It made even more sense for a powerful eunuch to lower his stance to show respect.

At this point, he became increasingly aware that the emperor was clearly seeking to marry their sister, thus lowering his stance to demonstrate sincerity.

Ning Yinhuai understood this even more clearly—the attitude of this powerful eunuch was, in fact, the emperor's attitude.

Seeing how his daughter had given that powerful eunuch a glare, he could better understand that her life in the palace wasn't so bad; the eunuchs close to the emperor treated her with great care.

He also recalled the news he had heard while abroad about how the emperor doted on his Imperial Noble Consort, who had given birth to a pair of dragon-phoenix twins, leading to a general amnesty and other grand gestures.

To be fair, the emperor truly did hold his youngest daughter in high regard.

The difference in status between the two and the various past events involving my daughter have led to some issues between them, leaving my daughter with many inner conflicts.

However, Ning Yinhuai didn’t say much; instead, he instructed his son to warm up some pastries for A Wu to eat.

A Wu naturally didn’t take it seriously at first, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of fish and shrimp, insisting she would eat them later. But when dinner came, A Wu was surprised to see the osmanthus taro milk cake, completely taken aback.

Such pastries were not available locally; there were no osmanthus flowers, and the taro wasn’t like this, let alone the difficulty ordinary people faced in obtaining milk!

As for the preparation method and the floral design, they were so familiar that even if this place was far from the imperial capital, the common folk there couldn’t replicate them.

This could only be the work of the imperial kitchen, the very pastry she loved most during her pregnancy!

She couldn’t believe it, looking at Ning Yinhuai, “Father, this?”

Ning Yinhuai replied calmly, “Eat it.”

A Wu was puzzled, “This, this, how is it possible? Where did it come from?”

Even if the emperor sent it, how could one obtain milk, osmanthus, taro, and imperial chefs? If it was made in the capital and brought here, it would surely have gone bad over such a long journey!

Seeing his daughter’s reaction, Ning Yinhuai understood. She loved it and often ate it before.

His daughter had always been pampered and spoiled, with the family never wanting her to lack anything.

But this place was remote, and what his daughter could enjoy here was far inferior to the splendor of the imperial capital, let alone what that man who ruled the world could provide.

The once innocent and spoiled little girl had experienced much outside, had a husband, had been pregnant, and had even been cherished by a man of supreme power, who gave her fine clothes and rich experiences, and taught her with great care.

That man didn’t throw his immense wealth in their faces, but started subtly, providing rare calligraphy scrolls and osmanthus taro milk cakes that seemed ordinary but required immense effort to create.

Ning Yinhuai even felt that if things continued to drag on, the man had enough patience to keep it up indefinitely.

So he relayed Emperor Jingxi’s words verbatim: “He brought these when he left, saying they were ingredients and chefs from the imperial capital, freshly made this morning. He said to warm them up when you return, and not to leave them until tomorrow when they won’t be fresh.”

Upon hearing this, Afu stammered, blushing slightly, and finally muttered, “Am I really that greedy? Not at all!”

The four father-son members, hearing her words and seeing the bashful annoyance in her eyes, understood to some extent.

Ning Sanlang hesitated for a moment before leaning in, “Is it good?”

Afu: “Of course it’s good. The milk cake has added cow’s milk.”

She took a bite, and it was delicious, fragrant, soft, and sweet, just like the one she had before!

Ning Sanlang: “Good Afu, let your third brother have a taste.”

Afu tilted her head and sized him up, then directly stuffed it into his mouth, “Only one for you!”

After that, she held the plate and distributed it to the other family members.

Back in her room, Afu thought about everything that had happened today, feeling somewhat restless, or perhaps... captivated?

She had to admit that upon returning home and reclaiming what belonged to her, her heart had settled, allowing her to think more calmly about the relationship between them.

Could she let go of everything that had happened in the past?

Thinking too much, she found herself caressing the jade finger ring in her arms at night, imagining the man’s gaze and thoughts as he looked at her, her heart wandering and her mind drifting.

How she wished he wasn’t an emperor, and could simply throw him a thousand coins…

Thinking of this, A Wu let out a helpless whimper and quickly covered her burning face with her hand, trying not to think further.

What A Wu didn’t expect was that the man disappeared for several days, only sending fresh pastries every day.

Though the pastries were delicious, A Wu still felt a heavy weight in her chest, thinking how meaningless this man was.

A man, hiding like a coward! Pah!

But on this day, during lunch, Ning Yinhuai suddenly said, “The war in the East Sea is about to begin.”

A Wu, hearing this, looked at her father in surprise.

The Ning brothers were also taken aback, quickly asking, “Who are they fighting? The pirates? Lu Yunjian?”

Ning Yinhuai replied, “The former Marquis Zhen’an and his followers have turned to banditry, roaming between Luning and other areas. Recently, they have been frequently raiding coastal regions, causing unbearable disturbances. Therefore, the emperor has decided to lead the troops and naval ships personally, surrounding the key points of the Luning islands, forcing the enemy ships into a corner, cutting off their water supply, and waiting for the right moment to launch a coordinated attack from land and sea.”

A Wu: “Lead the troops personally?”

She had guessed that Emperor Jingxi had come to the East Sea to personally execute Lu Yunjian and quell the pirate unrest. She thought he would stay in the main camp, directing the battle from afar. But now, hearing her father’s words, it seemed he intended to lead the troops himself?

This could be dangerous!

A Wu then remembered that the Crown Prince was currently overseeing the capital. What did he mean by this? If something happened to him, the Crown Prince would ascend the throne. What about her son? Her daughter?

A Wu suddenly felt angry, what was this man thinking!

Ning Yinhuai gave his daughter a deep look, naturally noticing the worry on her face.

He sighed softly in his heart and continued, “When you were out yesterday, Mr. Futa came to visit and mentioned something. Think about it.”

A Wu and the Ning brothers were taken aback: "What?"

It was then that Ning Yinhuai mentioned that the pirates were now hiding in Luning, where the islands were scattered like stars and the terrain was complex, requiring excellent swimmers familiar with the local waters to serve as guides.

Upon hearing this, the Ning brothers suddenly realized something and exchanged excited glances.

Lu Yunjian had massacred their entire village and abducted their sister; they hated him with a vengeance.

They knew well that as ordinary fishermen, they would never have the chance to personally kill Lu Yunjian or avenge their sister, but now that the emperor was launching a campaign against the pirates, if they could serve as guides, it would be a way to contribute to his downfall!

Seeing his sons’ eagerness, Ning Yinhuai understood and said, "If you want to, you can go."