Jiafu, as lovely as a flower that understands speech, stayed by Pei You'an's side day and night. As they journeyed southward, the spring scenery grew more vibrant, and Pei You'an seemed to gradually unburden himself. In the mornings, they played music together, and at dusk, they listened to the boatmen's songs by the window, as if life had granted them a rare moment of leisure. Jiafu felt utterly carefree and delighted. Were it not for her eagerness to reunite with her family, she secretly wished this journey would never end.
One day, the boat entered Fujian and docked at a small fishing port called Langmen in the evening. The boatman went ashore to replenish supplies, planning to stay the night and continue the journey the next morning. After five or six more days on the water, they would reach Quanzhou.
As darkness fell, the cabin was lit with lamps. It was still too early to sleep, so after dinner, Jiafu asked Tanxiang to bring out the small chess table and set it up on a wide couch by the porthole. She climbed up herself to arrange it, fetched the chess pots, and once everything was ready, she dismissed Tanxiang and the others to rest. Then she dragged Pei You'an, who had been reading, over to play chess with her again.
Pei You'an was a master of chess and often played with Jiafu to pass the time during their journey. Jiafu also knew how to play and wasn’t weak by any means, but compared to him, she was no match. Often, by the end of the game, even if Pei You'an wanted to let her win, he couldn’t find a way to do so. Losing repeatedly stirred Jiafu’s competitive spirit, and she refused to play with him for a while. One day, she deliberately went ashore and bought a chess manual, immersing herself in it day and night. With Pei You'an as her mentor, her skills improved significantly in just over half a month—at least, that’s how she felt. She had recently studied a new move in secret, one so ingenious that she couldn’t wait to see his surprised expression. After dinner, she eagerly pulled him over to play.
Pei You'an let himself be dragged over and sat down to play with her. He took black, and Jiafu took white, with him giving her a three-stone handicap as usual. Kneeling before the board, Jiafu focused intently, racking her brains to set up a trap for his black dragon. Yet he refused to fall into it, lounging casually by the porthole, holding a chess piece in one hand and a book in the other, seemingly lost in its pages and thoroughly enjoying himself. His absent-mindedness annoyed Jiafu so much that she stopped playing and exclaimed, "You’re bullying me!"
Pei You'an snapped out of his reverie and glanced at her. Across the table, she was pouting and glaring at him, her adorable expression making it hard for him not to tease her further. He raised an eyebrow. "How am I bullying you?"
"You’re looking down on me! What’s the meaning of multitasking like this?"
Pei You'an quickly set the book aside and apologized, promising to focus on the game. True to his word, he sat up straight afterward, and Jiafu relented, continuing to place her stones.
But after just a few moves, there was a crisp "tap" as he placed a stone in a corner, then withdrew his hand and said, "I concede."
Jiafu stared at the board for a long moment before realizing what had happened. She was dumbfounded.
In her single-minded pursuit of luring him into her trap, she had neglected the broader situation in the corner. His seemingly ordinary move had actually landed on a vital point, connecting the head and tail of his black dragon like a stroke of genius, swallowing half the board. The outcome was already decided. Even if her white dragon refused to admit defeat immediately and continued to claim territory in irrelevant areas, it would only be a futile struggle, prolonging the inevitable.Jiafu looked up to see Pei You'an gazing at her with an apologetic expression, though the corners of his eyes were clearly crinkled with amusement. Instantly flustered and angry, she swept her hand across the board with a clatter, scattering the pieces. She shot him a glare, snorted, then twisted away and climbed off the couch, refusing to acknowledge him further.
Pei You'an burst into laughter behind her, reaching out to grab her wrist and forcibly drag her back into his embrace. He studied her face for a moment before nodding solemnly. "My Fu'er is upset. Fine then, I'll play another game with you. This time I'll properly fall for your tricks—will that satisfy you?"
Jiafu had already settled obediently in his arms, but upon hearing that he'd seen through her ploy all along—not only winning but now mocking her—she flared up again. Struggling free from his hold, she huffed, "You just love bullying me! I won't play with you anymore! Let me go, I'm going to check on supper... Ah! What are you—"
Amid her protests, Pei You'an lifted her effortlessly and laid her sideways across the couch. In one fluid motion, he flipped over, pinning her beneath him, their bodies half on the couch and half dangling off the edge.
"I don't want supper. I just want to play chess with you," he murmured, his tone teasing.
Jiafu's face burned, but she refused to yield, squirming beneath him like twisted candy. Suddenly, she felt him still. He bent his head, lips brushing her ear as he commanded in a low, slightly hoarse voice, "Don't move."
Jiafu froze, comprehension dawning instantly.
After his grandmother's passing, Pei You'an, as the primary mourning descendant, observed the strictest mourning rites, which naturally forbade marital relations. In the initial period of deep grief, neither had given it thought. But now, past the most intense mourning phase, their youthful passion and closeness made moments like this inevitable.
For most, such mourning customs were mere formalities—what happened behind closed doors remained private. But Jiafu knew Pei You'an's principles. Though it pained her to see him restrain himself, she wouldn't deliberately provoke him now. Sensing the tension in his body, she went perfectly still, wide eyes fixed on him.
Pei You'an rolled off her, lying flat on his back with an arm over his face. After a long exhale, he slowly sat up.
Jiafu stole a glance downward before scooting closer. "Cousin," she whispered, "I didn't mean to just now..."
He leaned in, murmuring against her ear, "Fu'er, I've wronged you."
She shook her head vehemently. "I can wait as long as needed!"
Pei You'an didn't reply, only smiled tenderly and pulled her into his arms.
The silver candles burned bright, the water outside lapping gently. Occasional footsteps of boatmen crossing the deck echoed faintly.
Jiafu closed her eyes, nestling against him like a small bird, their quiet embrace filling her with profound peace.
Suddenly, rapid clangs of a gong pierced the air, mingled with distant, indistinct shouts. Though too far to discern the words, the commotion on shore was unmistakable.
Jiafu's eyes flew open.
Pei You'an pushed open the porthole and looked out.Jiafu also leaned out and saw a group of men dressed as officials approaching the distant shore, holding torches and beating gongs while loudly shouting, "All boatmen, listen! Japanese Pirates are raiding Quanzhou and Pinghai! By order from above, to prevent the pirates from coming here, the port will be sealed off starting tonight! No vessels are allowed to leave without permission! Anyone who acts recklessly will be treated as collaborators with the pirates!"
Having grown up in Quanzhou, Jiafu was no stranger to Japanese Pirates. Since the time of her ancestors, coastal areas had been plagued by pirate raids, with Quanzhou often bearing the brunt. After the founding of the dynasty, numerous Garrisons were established along the coast to train troops against the pirates. In the past, Quanzhou had been ordered to close its ports several times due to pirate threats, severely affecting many merchants, including the Zhen family. However, in the nearly twenty years since Jiafu's birth, Quanzhou had not suffered any major pirate raids. Even when attacks occurred, they were usually repelled before landing.
She never expected that pirates would raid Quanzhou at this time! Judging by the situation, this attack must be significant—otherwise, why would the local authorities be so alarmed?
"Cousin!" Jiafu's voice trembled slightly.
Pei You'an gently patted her back to comfort her, then got up from the bed and stepped out of the cabin, calling for Yang Yun. Moments later, Yang Yun returned with an official-looking man who hurriedly boarded the deck and knelt before Pei You'an. "Your humble servant, Liu Tong, a centurion of Langmen Garrison, had no idea Lord Pei was passing through tonight. I failed to welcome you properly and beg for your forgiveness!"
Pei You'an motioned for him to rise and inquired about the situation in Quanzhou.
Liu Tong replied, "Lord Pei, this time the Japanese Pirates have colluded with bandits from eastern Guangdong, attacking Quanzhou and Yongning simultaneously in a coordinated assault. The attack was fierce. I heard they not only hijacked over a dozen merchant ships preparing to return to port but also took advantage of the Garrisons' lax nighttime defenses to launch a surprise attack on the city, killing and burning as they went. The pirates entered through Quanzhou's southern gate. Although General Li arrived in time to repel them, there were casualties in the southern district, and many wealthy households suffered greatly—some reportedly incurred heavy losses."
Pei You'an asked, "Do you have any news about the Zhen family?"
Liu Tong said, "The Zhen family of Quanzhou? When the pirates fled, they set fire to warehouses near the port. The blaze burned for days before being extinguished, so the Zhen family must have suffered some property damage. As for their people, I'm not entirely sure."
Jiafu, still inside the cabin, heard everything clearly. Her heart burned with anxiety. The moment Pei You'an returned, she grabbed his hand and said in a trembling voice, "Cousin, can we hurry back to Quanzhou? My home is in the southern district! I'm worried about my mother and the others!"
Pei You'an reassured her, "I'll take you back to Quanzhou as soon as possible. Don't be afraid—I'm here."
Liu Momo and Tanxiang quickly packed their belongings for shore. The magistrate of Langmen, overwhelmed by the sudden emergency, had personally come to supervise the port. Upon hearing that Pei You'an was passing through, he rushed over to pay his respects. Shortly after, the post station delivered the requested carriages and fast horses. Pei You'an thanked the magistrate, then escorted Jiafu into a carriage. The group set off for Quanzhou overnight.The remaining journey was no longer as leisurely as before. Apart from necessary breaks, they pressed on without stopping and finally arrived in Quanzhou after three days. At the city gates, soldiers stood guard, inspecting everyone who entered or exited. Pei You'an led Jiafu into the city, and as they approached the southern district, they saw traces of looting and arson everywhere. Many households had white funeral banners hanging at their doors, and the sound of weeping could be heard from within.
Jiafu, her heart pounding with fear, finally reached her family's doorstep. She knocked on the tightly shut gate, and a servant peeked out. Upon seeing Jiafu, the servant jumped with joy and rushed inside to announce her arrival. Meng Shi initially didn’t believe it but hurried out. When she saw Jiafu and Pei You'an with her own eyes, she burst into tears of joy and quickly welcomed her daughter and son-in-law inside.
Not seeing her brother or grandmother, Jiafu immediately asked about them.
Meng Shi, her heart heavy with sorrow, wiped her tears and said, "Earlier, the Japanese pirates raided the southern district, killing and burning everywhere. Our family was fortunate that Li Zongbing sent troops in time to guard us, so our gates weren’t breached. But your brother... he must have fallen into the hands of the pirates..."
Overcome with grief, Meng Shi choked up and couldn’t continue. A servant nearby stepped in to explain.
Last month, the Zhen family had a ship bound for Ryukyu, a relatively short sea journey. Zhen Yaoting had obtained permission from his grandmother Hu Shi and Meng Shi before boarding the ship with Zhang Da. They were supposed to return by now, but they encountered Japanese pirates along the way. The ship was hijacked, along with over a dozen other merchant vessels. Hu Shi, who had been ill before and hadn’t fully recovered, collapsed in shock and fury upon hearing her grandson had been captured. She had been bedridden these past few days, refusing food and water. Meng Shi, while constantly sending people to the authorities for updates, had been tending to her ailing mother-in-law, utterly exhausted. She had been preparing to send another message to the capital when, to her surprise, her daughter and son-in-law suddenly returned. How could she possibly contain her emotions?
Jiafu suppressed her own panic and hurriedly comforted her mother.
Pei You'an stood up. "Fu'er, take care of your mother and grandmother. I’ll go to the yamen."
After giving his instructions, he turned to leave, but the gatekeeper rushed in, announcing that Governor Gao had arrived.
...
With such a major incident in Quanzhou, a single misstep could cost him his official position. Gao Huaiyuan, upon hearing the news, was so frantic he couldn’t sit still. While sending word to the capital, he personally rushed to Quanzhou to handle the aftermath, arriving the day before. He had just been overseeing coastal defenses when he received word that Lord Pei from the capital had entered the city. He immediately led his men to the Zhen residence. The moment he saw Pei You'an, he dropped to his knees, kowtowing in remorse. "Lord Pei! This humble official is guilty! I never imagined the Japanese pirates would collude with the bandit leaders from eastern Guangdong to attack us! Fortunately, I’ve always emphasized preparedness, ordering regular drills at the garrisons, which allowed us to repel the pirates in time! As for the dozen or so hijacked ships, rest assured, I’ve already ordered the admiral to lead the naval fleet in pursuit. Though the sea is vast, we will spare no effort. I only hope Lord Pei can understand my difficulties and put in a good word for me before His Majesty. This humble official would be eternally grateful!"Gao Huaiyuan wasn't lying. The moment he heard that among the hijacked ships was one from the Zhen family with their young master aboard, he had groaned in dismay and immediately dispatched the Naval Fleet to search and rescue. But truth be told, on the vast ocean without any leads, trying to catch up with the pirate ships and rescue the hostages was like fishing for a needle in the sea—the chances were extremely slim. Even as he spoke, he felt somewhat guilty and didn't dare lift his head for a moment.
Pei You'an told him to rise. Just as he was pondering the situation, another urgent report came from outside: "Sir! Sir! Good news! All dozen or so hijacked ships have returned! They'll be entering the harbor today!"
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