Chapter 101: The Dilemma of Advance and Retreat

**Chapter 101: The Choice Between Advance and Retreat**

That day, A Wu was packing her things when Ning Yinhuai came over to speak with her.

A Wu kept her head lowered.

Ning Yinhuai got straight to the point: “A Wu, what are you thinking?”

A Wu: “I don’t know.”

Ning Yinhuai: “Now that the emperor has lowered himself to extend this favor and given your brothers such opportunities, his meaning is unmistakable. Once the pirate conflict is resolved, you’ll have to make a decision.”

A Wu listened, her heart aching: “I can’t bear to leave you. I’ve just come back, and I want to stay here—live like this for the rest of my life.”

But Ning Yinhuai just gazed at A Wu wordlessly.

A Wu suddenly burst into tears and collapsed into Ning Yinhuai’s embrace: “I don’t want to leave you! Father!”

Ning Yinhuai cradled his daughter, gently patting and soothing her, then sighed: “If you truly don’t want to, no one will compel you. After all, you’re my only daughter—for you, what wouldn’t I do? But I fear that deep down, you still care for him and can’t bear to leave him. You’re hesitating for various reasons, even lashing out in the moment, which might lead to regret later. That’s something I don’t want to see.”

A Wu sobbed in her father’s arms for a long time. Ning Yinhuai patiently comforted her until, after a while, she finally calmed down and laid out the whole story—how she had overheard certain things, snapped at him for the ring, was refused, then demanded the Crown Prince’s title, was refused again, leading to the ensuing conflict. Later, he tried to make amends, but then the Zhen’an Marquis’s incident happened, the empress pressured her, and in her panic, she killed the empress. With Princess De Ning’s help, she fled, and everything snowballed from there.

Ning Yinhuai listened in silence.

He knew his daughter had been wronged, but only vaguely. Now, hearing her recount everything in detail, as a father, his heart twisted like a knife. He hated himself for being too careless back then—for not being there for his late wife in her final moments and for allowing his young daughter to endure such hardships.

Silently, he cradled his daughter, gently patting and comforting her until A Wu gradually calmed down.

Then, Ning Yinhuai said: “But A Wu, your father must tell you—this is on me—on your brothers—for failing to protect you.”

A Wu was taken aback.

Ning Yinhuai: “He is the emperor, and it’s true that he should rule as a father to his people, protecting his subjects. But the world is vast, and the situation in the East Sea is complex—it wasn’t fixed in a day. If anyone should be held accountable, it should be the Zhen’an Marquis’s family or the late emperor—not him.”

A Wu: “Then what about after we met?”

Ning Yinhuai: “Before you entered the harem, he was still an emperor—diligent in governance, law-abiding, and self-disciplined. That’s the emperor I read about in the vast records and his own writings. He made an unintentional, grievous error—engaging in a forbidden liaison with his son’s concubine. To conceal it, he would have had to kill you.”

As he spoke, Ning Yinhuai’s tone was calm, but inside, he shuddered.

Having studied for many years and achieved scholarly rank, he could guess at an emperor’s thoughts. Had he not known the outcome, he would never have dared to believe his daughter could have survived such a situation.

If something had happened to her—

He sighed heavily in his heart. From that perspective, the fact that she was alive at all was already a miracle.

A Wu listened silently.

She vaguely sensed that her father was right. Much of her suffering before entering the palace—who was really to blame? Blaming him entirely didn’t seem entirely fair. If she hadn’t shared intimacy with him, she probably wouldn’t even have dared to blame him.

After all, he was the emperor, and she was merely a concubine presented to his son—one with hidden agendas at that. From his perspective, he couldn’t be entirely blamed.

The reason she resented him now was simply because she knew he cared for her, knew he would indulge her, so she dumped all her resentment on him at once.

But…

She still felt a little aggrieved and mumbled under her breath: “So what are you saying, Father? That I shouldn’t blame him?”

Ning Yinhuai patted her back affectionately: “You’re my daughter. If you’ve suffered or been wronged, the blame is mine. Were it not for your bond, there’d be no one else to blame.”

A Wu listened, and in truth, she somewhat agreed—but still struggled to come to terms with it.

Ning Yinhuai: "A Wu, your father merely wishes that in making crucial decisions, you do not sacrifice the greater good over a fleeting sense of grievance or pride, thereby losing what you rightfully deserve."

A Wu listened in silence.

Ning Yinhuai: "As for the Crown Prince’s position, A Wu, how would you feel if he were to override all dissent now and install the Second Prince as Crown Prince at any cost?"

A Wu hesitated for a moment.

Looking back now, she realized her earlier outburst—crying and demanding it—had been a moment of panic. If she truly wished to secure the Crown Prince’s title for the Second Prince, that was not the way to go about it. So Fu Tai had been right.

But at the time, she had barely passed months since childbirth, had met Ye Han, received word of her homeland’s tragedy, and endured one blow after another. In heartbreak, she had lost all composure.

After leaving the imperial capital and parting from the Jingxi Emperor, she stopped thinking about it altogether.

Now, hearing her father bring it up again, she realized that if the Second Prince were made Crown Prince at this point, she would be unable to rest easy.

After all, bypassing the elder prince—who was already grown—and forcing all court officials to focus on a child still in swaddling clothes?

If anything were to happen to the child, or if he fell short in any way, not only would she face censure, but even the Jingxi Emperor would suffer immense scrutiny.

There was also another question: if the Crown Prince were deposed, what fate would await him?

If executed, how could she bear it? If the Emperor were to shed his own blood, wouldn’t she feel heartbroken as well?

And if spared, no matter where he was placed, unrest among the court would be inevitable. Some ministers might even incite the deposed Crown Prince to plot against the throne in the future.

Ning Yinhuai: "A Wu, the Crown Prince’s position is a matter of enduring consequence, not something that can be decided overnight. The current Crown Prince has long held his place and is seventeen years older than the Second Prince. To rashly depose and replace him would plunge the court into chaos. One misstep could brand you a traitor for eternity. The court tides are treacherous—even if the Emperor favors you, he cannot court infamy for personal desire."

A Wu knew her father was right. She lowered her head.

Seeing the tears in his daughter’s eyes, Ning Yinhuai said, "A Wu, perhaps what I’m telling you today seems too cruel. Do you think your father has been blinded by wealth and power, taking others’ side and pressuring you instead?"

A Wu sniffled and muttered, "A Wu would never think that..."

No matter what, she believed her father had her best interests at heart. She even realized he was right.

It was just that she was swayed by fragile emotions—acting irrationally, feeling resentful, unfairly blaming him outright. But her father would not.

He was weighing the stakes with a far calmer mind.

Ning Yinhuai: "So, I have laid it all before you clearly. You must decide for yourself whether to press forward or withdraw."

A Wu wiped her tears. "What happens if I press forward? What if I withdraw?"

Ning Yinhuai: "If you withdraw, once the Emperor returns victorious, I will make the case to keep you in the East Sea."

A Wu looked doubtful. "Is that possible?"

Ning Yinhuai: "If we stake our claim, why not? But afterward, you will never marry—you will live out your days under our roof."

In truth, ever since the Emperor’s secret visit to the East Sea, Ning Yinhuai had known that Ye Han and his daughter had no path forward.

A Wu could either return with the Jingxi Emperor or remain here, under the protection of her kin.

That man might appear pliant and accommodating, but his concessions were merely a means to win her over. Having studied for decades and deeply examined the Emperor’s statecraft, Ning Yinhuai understood the ruler’s temperament well. A man like him would never easily let go.

The reason he offered the option of withdrawal now was because he believed they could gamble—betting on the Emperor’s residual tenderness, scruples, and remorse toward his daughter.

So now Ning Yinhuai said this to his daughter.

A Wu fell silent for a moment after hearing her father’s words. “But if I go forward, what then?”

Ning Yinhuai replied, “If you go forward, I’ll make sure you get justice. I’ll do everything I can to plan for you. In fifteen years, we’ll fight to make the second prince the Crown Prince.”

A Wu’s heart trembled. She looked at her father. “Father…”

Ning Yinhuai gazed at his daughter and spoke gently, “But during these fifteen years, you mustn’t say a word—about any of it—to anyone. You must keep your head down, hide your talents, and wait for the right moment. Then, when the time comes, you’ll make your move—one swift strike.”

A Wu listened to her father’s words, lost in thought. She didn’t know that barely half a year earlier, the Duke of Yingguo had given the Crown Princess the same advice—to bide her time.

After a moment of contemplation, she looked at her father again. “Father, does that mean you’ll come with me to the capital?”

She remembered the Jingxi Emperor’s promise to grant official positions to her father and brothers.

Ning Yinhuai shook his head. “No. I have to stay here.”

A Wu’s heart sank.

Ning Yinhuai looked at her with affection. “Silly girl, I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. But I won’t serve as an official in court—not only me, but none of your brothers will either. Great Hui has never trusted the families of imperial consorts. Our Ning family must not break this rule.”

A Wu hesitated. “Then—”

Ning Yinhuai continued, “For three years, I traveled the world, seeing things I’d never imagined. These days, maritime trade is booming, and commerce with Western nations is frequent. Portugal has taken over the South Seas, and England eyes Britain with ambition. Great Hui may have mighty armies and endless land, but beyond this continent, on the vast ocean, everything is just beginning. I believe if Great Hui is to rise even higher, we must open sea routes to foreign lands, build long-distance ships, dominate the South Seas, bypass Malacca, and reach all the way to the Caribbean.”

A Wu was stunned.

She remembered the maps she’d seen in the Jingxi Emperor’s study that night—one of them was titled *The Complete Map of the Myriad Countries of the World*. It was a square map, but the depiction of the world was oval-shaped. There were faint outlines of places like England, Brazil, and Scandinavia. The Jingxi Emperor had pointed them out to her, his voice tinged with unusual interest.

Was her father voicing the Jingxi Emperor’s own fears?

Ning Yinhuai said, “A Wu, whatever you choose, your father and brothers have our own path—we won’t waste this life. But your decision will shape what we must do. Whatever happens, if your father and brothers can open new sea routes for Great Hui, establish trade, travel the world, and spread our nation’s glory—isn’t that worth more than bowing to court politics? And this will also be your future strength.”

As she listened, tears streamed down A Wu’s face. She couldn’t help it—she buried her face in her father’s chest. “Father…”

She’d once blamed them for leaving her behind. But now, she finally understood—and let go.

Ning Yinhuai held his daughter gently, comforting her.

After a long while, A Wu finally stopped crying and whispered, “Then, Father… do you think I should go forward or step back?”

At his daughter’s pleading tone, Ning Yinhuai’s heart ached.

He knew how unpredictable life could be. He knew the little girl he once held in his arms was now a married woman. As a father, his heart was full of mixed emotions—the Jingxi Emperor was someone he had once deeply admired, a ruler he had studied for years hoping to meet, yet also a man of his own generation.

How had his naive little girl gotten mixed up with such a calculating man?

Still, he pushed aside his feelings and said softly, “That’s for you to decide. I can’t choose for you.”

A Wu was quiet for a moment. In truth, she was lost.

In the stillness of night, she often thought of the two children in the palace. She still loved the Jingxi Emperor—he had done so much for her. How could she not be moved by a man who, despite holding absolute power, would lower himself to treat her with tenderness and patience?

And even setting that aside, his looks and manner alone were enough to captivate anyone.

Yet too many obstacles stood between them—their past conflicts between emperor and heir, her history with Lu Yunjian, their age difference, and the inevitable imbalance caused by their different statuses and experiences.

Now, what should she choose? Could she ever make peace with herself? And if she returned, what future awaited her?

After a long silence, A Wu murmured softly, "Father, if I go back… what are my child's chances?"

Ning Yinhuai replied, "A Wu, when you asked him, he didn’t answer because he himself didn’t know. In previous dynasties, there were emperors who changed the heir apparent for the sake of a favored consort, only to throw the court into chaos. As much as he cherishes you, he is also the Emperor of Great Hui. He must consider the stability of the realm and the welfare of the people. He dares not make you even the slightest promise."

In this regard, Ning Yinhuai understood the Jingxi Emperor—a man steeped in state affairs for over a decade, whose every decision carried the weight of the empire. He indulged, yet he restrained himself.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "So today, when you ask me, I must tell you as well—I don’t know. Nothing is certain. We do what we can and leave the rest to heaven."

A Wu dropped her gaze, saying nothing.

"There’s no need to rush," Ning Yinhuai said gently. "You can take your time to think."

He looked out the window toward the distant sea and added quietly, "Besides, we must also wait."

Wait to see what the Emperor will sacrifice to make amends.