Wish You All the Best - Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Jiafu changed into men's clothing and pinned her hair up at the crown. Once she had tidied herself up, she ran out and stopped before him, spinning around in a circle: "Big Cousin, is this alright?"
Pei You'an was leaning against the dressing table. He beckoned for her to come closer, then turned, took a man's hair accessory of his own from the jewelry box, and inserted it into her hair. He scrutinized her for a moment and smiled. Under the dim moonlight, she had become a small attendant accompanying him.
A carriage was parked outside the door, with Yang Yun in simple dark clothing and a small cap, waiting while holding the reins. Pei You'an did not bring other attendants; he lightly lifted Jiafu into the carriage, followed her in, and they exited the South City Gate. They traveled to a cluster of erythrina trees near the coastal garrison, where Commander Li and several of his lieutenants were already waiting on horseback.
Civil officials traveling usually preferred riding in carriages, as it was both more comfortable and signaled their status. Although Pei You'an had led troops in military campaigns and had recently brought the great pirates who had plagued Guangdong and Fujian for years to justice, in Commander Li's eyes, he remained the very model of a civil official—the brilliant young prodigy who had topped the imperial examinations. Seeing him arrive by carriage, he was not surprised in the least. He hurriedly stepped forward to welcome him.
Pei You'an exited the carriage and switched to horseback. He was escorted away by the group, leaving Yang Yun to hold the whip and lean against the front of the carriage, appearing drowsy as he waited for his master's return.
The moonlight was pale and blue, spilling over the erythrina trees like a curtain of water. The trees sifted the light into mottled shadows, shrouding the carriage in between.
Earlier on the road, Pei You'an had told Jiafu that he needed to perform a night patrol of the coastal defenses with Commander Li and the others, and asked her to wait for him in the carriage.
Jiafu sat in the dim shadow of the trees inside the carriage, listening to the crashing of the waves not far away, waiting quietly.
The moon rose higher. By the middle of the Hai hour, Jiafu heard the sound of hoofbeats outside; Pei You'an had returned.
Commander Li’s family was not in Quanzhou; he stayed at the garrison that night to draft a report on the coastal defenses and wanted to personally escort Pei You'an back to the city. Pei You'an declined, telling him to stay behind.
Commander Li had spent half a month with him and knew that this young official, despite his high rank and strategic brilliance, strictly enforced supervision, involved himself in every detail, and was frugal and diligent. He did not like the tedious, flowery formalities common in official circles, so the commander did not dare to insist. He led his men to stop far away, watching Pei You'an board the carriage. As the carriage left the erythrina grove and headed toward the city gate, gradually disappearing into the night, he then dismissed his men and hurried back into the garrison.
Jiafu’s small hand was held by the man beside her. She held her breath, standing behind a towering, upright erythrina tree. Their figures were hidden in the shadows cast by the dense canopy. After the carriage departed and the commander’s men had gradually dispersed, she looked up at him.
He lowered his head slightly, the shadows of the trees casting an alluring darkness over him.
"I am going to see an old friend."
He tightened his grip on her hand, whispered in a low voice, and then led her as they turned around.
Jiafu's heart began to beat faster. She took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and nervousness as if she were about to embark on an adventure with him, and followed his lead.
Led by him, she walked silently through the erythrina grove, stepped onto a rock-strewn beach whitened by moonlight, and finally turned into a remote sea cove.
Beside the reef, a fishing sampan was moored, the hull swaying gently with the waves lapping against the shore.
Pei You'an picked up Jiafu, waded through the shallows where the water reached his thighs, and arrived beside the small boat. He set Jiafu inside and then climbed aboard himself.
Using an oar to push off the reef and maneuvering the sampan out of the cove, he sat at the stern, took up the oars, and rowed out.
At this time, the tide was slowly receding, carrying the small boat on the sea's surface, parting the waves as it moved forward.
The night was calm and windless. The silver moon was reflected on the pitch-black sea in the distance, its light dancing in dots. As the boat traveled upon it, it felt like drifting across a piece of black obsidian inlaid with shimmering stars.
Jiafu sat at the bow, facing Pei You'an. Sometimes they would watch him row at a leisurely pace and share a smile; sometimes she would lean over the side, reaching into the sea, letting the cool water flow through her fingers. At other times, she would face the sea breeze and look into the distance, seeing the starry night meet the water, the whole boat filled with clear dreams. She couldn't help but have a sudden, whimsical thought: regardless of where this man who shared the boat with her under the moonlight was taking her, she only wished that at this moment, the mythical Penglai was eternal, and she could journey alongside him forever.
The sampan drifted with the current out to sea, gradually approaching a small rocky islet that emerged at low tide and was hidden at high tide. The bow gently touched the shore. Pei You'an stepped off, secured the cable, and brought Jiafu onto the damp, stone shore. They stood still, scanned the surroundings, and then he took out a whistle, blowing a note that imitated a seabird. Behind a reef in the distance, the figure of a man appeared.
The man ran over. Jiafu looked and saw, in the moonlight, a tall, middle-aged man with a face full of whiskers. He called out "Eldest Young Master" and started to kneel toward Pei You'an.
Pei You'an took a swift step forward and caught him, lifting him up.
The middle-aged man appeared somewhat emotional: "Eldest Young Master, I have not received news from you for a long time. When this subordinate learned the news the day before yesterday, I simply could not wait. I managed to wait until tonight, and following your instructions, I came here secretly and alone. Please rest assured, Eldest Young Master, I did not even let the Young Master know..."
He looked at Jiafu, who was standing behind Pei You'an, paused, and a look of confusion appeared in his eyes as he turned to Pei You'an: "Eldest Young Master, who is this..."
Pei You'an looked toward Jiafu, his eyes filled with tenderness: "She is the girl from the Zhen family in Quanzhou. She is now my wife. We have been married for over a year. Uncle Dong, you are no stranger; this time she saved her brother, so I brought her along so she could personally thank you, Uncle Dong."
The middle-aged man had noticed the small attendant who came with Pei You'an earlier. In the moonlight, seeing this attendant's jade-like face and delicate features, he had felt strange, unable to understand why Pei You'an would bring such a person along, and never guessed her identity.
He looked at Jiafu again, recognized that she was indeed a woman, and couldn't help but gasp: "She is the one who saved back then..."
He stopped abruptly.
Pei You'an smiled and nodded, signaling for Jiafu to come over: "Fu'er, this is the Golden-Faced Dragon King. I call him Uncle Dong. That your brother and the others were able to return to port safely this time is entirely due to Uncle Dong's efforts."
On the way here, Jiafu had wondered who the "old friend" Pei You'an spoke of could be. She never expected to meet the savior of her brother—the famous Dragon King of the seas.
Although Pei You'an did not say much, Jiafu had already realized it. Since this middle-aged man called himself a subordinate and addressed Pei You'an as "Eldest Young Master," and maintained such a respectful attitude, it was not hard to deduce that he had once been an old subordinate of the Duke’s household. Furthermore, he had saved her brother.
Jiafu felt a deep sense of respect. She bowed and curtsied: "Thank you, Uncle Dong! The day my brother and the others returned, the villagers all praised the Dragon King's merits. On behalf of my grandmother, my mother, and the hundreds of fellow villagers who were fortunate enough to return home thanks to your protection, I thank you for your life-saving grace!"
Dong Chengmao hurriedly stepped aside, waving his hands: "Madam, you are too kind. Suppressing the Wokou is my duty; why should there be such courtesy?"
Pei You'an took off his outer coat, spread it over a flat rock on the ground, and helped Jiafu sit down. He squatted before her to look her in the eye and leaned in to whisper: "I have a few more words to speak with Uncle Dong. Sit here and wait; I will be right nearby. If you need anything, call me."
Jiafu nodded.
Pei You'an touched her head as if by habit, then stood up and walked with Dong Chengmao to the side of a reef dozens of steps away from Jiafu, where they stopped.
Dong Chengmao still looked moved: "Eldest Young Master, this subordinate truly did not expect that the Zhen family girl who saved the Young Master back then would become your wife. It is truly a match made in heaven—excellent!"
Pei You'an looked back at the small, delicate figure sitting quietly in the moonlight and smiled: "Although my wife has already thanked you, I must also thank you again. You are loyal and courageous. Over these years, not only have you protected Yu'er without complaint or regret, but even while living in exile, you have not forgotten to protect the people. This time, driving away the Wokou for the people of Quanzhou and Pinghai was a noble and heroic act that makes those of us who sit high in the temples feel deeply ashamed." Saying this, he bowed deeply to him.
Dong Chengmao hurriedly returned the salute: "Eldest Young Master, why do you say that! If the official army is ineffective, as long as there is still a shred of blood left in our chests, we will not stand by and watch the Wokou slaughter our coastal people. This is my duty! My only worry is that this time, the incident was sudden and the commotion a bit large, which goes against your original intention of having me remain hidden. I am afraid that if it attracts the court's attention, my life is of no consequence, but I fear it might expose the Young Master."
Pei You'an pondered.
Dong Chengmao’s expression changed slightly: "Eldest Young Master, has the news truly leaked?"
Pei You'an said: "Uncle Dong, be at ease. This time it was indeed a bit unfortunate, leading the Quanzhou Garrison Commander to speculate about your identity, but the problem is not major. I have already suppressed it. The matter regarding the Young Master should not have been leaked."
Dong Chengmao sighed in relief, a look of slight guilt on his face: "My actions were still somewhat inconsiderate and nearly caused a great disaster. Thank you for your guidance, Eldest Young Master. When I return, I will be twice as cautious."
Pei You'an said: "You care for the people; where is the fault? Why do you need to blame yourself? It is just that I have something to tell you during this meeting. The current Emperor once announced to the world that if the Young Master were still alive, he would certainly welcome him back to court. I have followed the Emperor for many years and dare not judge whether his words were insincere, but I dare not conclude that his heart and words are one. As far as I know, the secret agents sent by the Emperor to trace the Young Master's whereabouts have never ceased. As you said, the commotion this time was a bit large, and I am still worried. After you return this time, do not take any further action. Wait for my news and prepare an escape route in case of any changes. To be prepared is better than to repent."
Dong Chengmao nodded: "This subordinate will remember!"
...
Jiafu sat on the stone, watching the figures of Pei You'an and the Golden-Faced Dragon King not far away. The wind blew, and the sound of their low conversation drifted over faintly. It was nothing but a confused murmur, mixing with the sound of the sea breeze in her ears before vanishing into the night.
She had no intention of eavesdropping on their conversation.
She had a feeling that, just like Pei You'an's unspeakable, hidden background, beyond his role as a close minister to the Son of Heaven and his maneuvering in the imperial court, he had another hidden world that no one could know.
Tonight, he was finally willing to bring her here and introduce her as his wife to someone from that other hidden world of his. She already felt very satisfied.
She rested her chin in her hands, staring intently at the man’s figure under the moonlight. Just as she became entranced, she suddenly felt an unusual movement nearby.
She turned her head. Through the moonlight, she was shocked to see a figure swaying lightly behind a nearby reef. Just as she was about to call out to Pei You'an, the person behind the rock quickly poked his head out and gave her a wide grin. In the moonlight, he revealed a set of white, even teeth. Seeing her suddenly open her eyes wide, he hurriedly pressed a finger to his lips and made a soft "shh" sound toward her.
He was a boy of fifteen or sixteen, with dark skin and a face that was dripping wet, as if he had just crawled out of the water. Yet, his eyes were extraordinarily bright. When he looked at her, his pupils were filled with joyful, shimmering light.
Jiafu was stunned. She stared fixedly at the boy, her eyes growing wider and wider, until she suddenly cried out: "It is you? You are still alive?”