As dusk fell, escorted by two columns of the Naval Fleet, scattered sails slowly entered the harbor and came into view of the waiting crowd.
The shore was already packed with people who had come to welcome the ships. At the sight of the vessels, the crowd stirred with excitement. As the ships drew nearer, cheers erupted, and those with family members aboard pushed forward anxiously, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
Jiafu and Meng Shi had arrived early and now stood at the docks, straining their eyes to see ahead. As the ships approached, Jiafu finally spotted her brother Zhen Yaoting among the crowd on the deck—some were weeping with joy, while others waved and jumped frantically toward the shore.
It was well known that if merchant ships fell into the hands of ordinary pirates, families might still retrieve their loved ones by paying a ransom. But if they encountered Japanese Pirates, the outcome was almost always the same: the ships would sink, and all aboard would perish. Though Lord Gao had dispatched the Naval Fleet to rescue them, hardly anyone dared believe they would actually return—the odds were simply too slim.
Yet the impossible had happened.
When Meng Shi caught sight of her son, she burst into tears of joy. Jiafu, supporting her, also felt her eyes grow moist.
Zhen Yaoting had spotted Meng Shi and Jiafu long before. Overjoyed, he rushed ashore the moment the gangplank was lowered, calling out, "Mother!" before turning to Jiafu with a cheerful, "Sister!" He asked why she had returned to Quanzhou at this time. After hearing her explanation, he spread his arms and spun around. "I'm fine! You must have been so worried!"
Meng Shi grabbed her son’s arms, examining him closely. Aside from being tanned and thinner, with a few fresh scars on his neck and forehead, he seemed unharmed. Wiping her tears, she asked about Zhang Da and the others. She learned that while the ship and cargo had been lost, and one crew member had tragically died, Zhang Da and the rest had survived mostly unscathed. Those who were injured would recover after some rest ashore. Relieved, she turned toward the Mazu Temple and bowed several times in gratitude.
"Mother," Zhen Yaoting said, "if you're giving thanks, don’t forget the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord. If not for him, I might never have made it back!"
Meng Shi pressed for details, but others disembarking nearby were already recounting the ordeal to their families.
Several days earlier, their ship had been returning home when it was overtaken by Japanese Pirates. Unlike ordinary merchant vessels, the pirates' ships were built for speed and agility, making escape impossible. The pirates were ruthless—any resistance was met with instant death, the bodies tossed into the sea. This time, however, the pirates seemed intent on capturing laborers for their lair, sparing the crew’s lives. Over a dozen ships were seized, their valuable cargo looted before the rest was scuttled. Hundreds of captives were locked in the cargo hold.
Just as the pirates prepared to flee, they crossed paths with the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord’s warships. A fierce battle ensued, and the pirates were swiftly overpowered—some killed, others fleeing by leaping into the sea. The Golden-Masked Dragon Lord rescued many, including Zhen Yaoting, and escorted them back. Along the way, they encountered the official Naval Fleet. Given the unusual circumstances, the commanding officer did not engage the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord. Instead, the rescued were transferred to the fleet, and both sides went their separate ways.This ordeal had caused significant losses for all shipowners, and naturally, some had tragically perished. Nearby, the sound of weeping could be heard intermittently. However, the storyteller had a remarkable talent for narration, spinning the events with such vivid intensity that it felt like listening to a thrilling tale. The Golden-Masked Dragon Lord was portrayed with awe-inspiring majesty, captivating the audience completely, who cheered and applauded incessantly.
Zhen Yaoting spoke a few words before glancing around and asking, "Sister, has Lord Pei come with you?"
Though he was nominally the elder brother-in-law, he was younger than Pei You'an and lacked the confidence to address him as such, hence the respectful title "Lord Pei" instead of "brother-in-law."
Jiafu turned her gaze toward the shore, where a crowd had gathered. She spotted Pei You'an standing at the bow of a naval fleet warship, flanked by Lord Gao and other local officials. A middle-aged man with the bearing of a military officer—likely the Li Zongbing—stood at attention with a row of lieutenants and commanders behind him, paying their respects with deference. Pei You'an seemed to have been keeping an eye on their side all along. He glanced over, exchanged a few words with the general, presumably asking him to wait, then disembarked and approached Jiafu.
Zhen Yaoting had always been somewhat uneasy around Pei You'an. Hearing him inquire about his well-being, he hurriedly assured him that all was fine, even swinging his arms to emphasize his point.
Pei You'an smiled faintly and nodded before turning to Meng Shi and Jiafu. "Mother-in-law, Fu'er, I still have matters to attend to here. Since Yao Ting is unharmed, I can rest easy. I’ll arrange for someone to escort you home first. I’ll return later."
Though dressed in casual attire that day, Pei You'an’s innate elegance made him stand out like a crane among chickens. The nearby townsfolk had already taken notice of him, especially seeing how even the provincial governor, Lord Gao, treated him with utmost respect. Rumors had long circulated in Quanzhou that the Zhen family’s daughter had married into nobility, and the family had received imperial favor—Old Madam being granted an Imperial Mandate—all because their son-in-law was a high-ranking official from the capital. Now, they surmised that this tall, slender, and refined young man, who appeared almost scholarly, must be that very son-in-law. They watched him with reverence, and as he stepped off the ship and approached, the surroundings quickly fell silent.
Meng Shi knew that official duties were unavoidable for him here, especially since their arrival had coincided with such an incident, which would undoubtedly keep him busier than usual. She nodded hastily in understanding.
Pei You'an personally escorted them to their carriage. Seeing this, Lord Gao and the others hurried over to bid them farewell as well. Only after the Zhen family’s carriage had departed did they return to the warship and enter the cabin. Li Zongbing followed immediately, while Lord Gao and the remaining officials waited outside, not daring to enter.
Pei You'an smiled faintly. "Regarding the Zhen family’s matter, I must thank you. Not only did you protect their home, but you also ensured their safety today."
Li Zongbing bowed hastily. "You flatter me, Lord Pei. It was my negligence in the first place. Even at the cost of my life, I would have ensured the Zhen family’s safety."
Pei You'an replied, "Though you were initially remiss, your swift response afterward mitigated further losses, redeeming your lapse. I will consider forwarding your suggestions directly to the Emperor as appropriate. Remember, your duty here is not just to protect one household but thousands of families. You must remain vigilant at all times and ensure such incidents never happen again!"For many years, Li Zongbing had been stationed in Quanzhou. Upon meeting, he immediately proposed establishing additional Patrol and Inspection Offices, expanding troops, increasing warships, and upgrading weapons. He explained that these requests had been submitted to higher authorities for years, but due to the prolonged absence of major threats from Japanese Pirates, his superiors had always dismissed them with vague excuses. This led to disunity among the ranks and lax defenses, compounded by collusion with bandits from eastern Guangdong, resulting in the recent mishap. Hearing Pei You'an's response, he was overjoyed and immediately knelt to express his gratitude.
Pei You'an bade him rise and inquired in detail about the leader of the eastern Guangdong bandits and the coastal defenses. After arranging to survey the terrain the next day, he dismissed Li Zongbing. The general retreated a few steps but hesitated before stepping forward again to bow: "Lord Pei, this humble officer has another matter. I wonder if it is appropriate to mention it?"
Pei You'an replied, "If it concerns the court or the people's welfare, speak freely."
Li Zongbing lowered his voice: "My lord, the safe return of Young Master Zhen and his companions this time was largely due to the efforts of the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord. This humble officer dares not claim credit. As for this Dragon Lord, I was ordered to capture him a couple of years ago, but his hideout on Golden Dragon Island is well-hidden and heavily fortified. Since he never harassed the coast, the higher-ups turned a blind eye, and I let him be. This time, the Japanese Pirates attacked not only Quanzhou but also Pinghai. I heard that the pirates targeting Pinghai were intercepted at sea before they could land, reportedly by forces under the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord..."
He paused: "Though the Dragon Lord aided the authorities in suppressing the pirates, which is a great merit, I have been secretly observing him for years and suspect his origins are not simple. This time, I finally caught a glimpse of him and was reminded of someone."
"Who?"
"General Dong Chengmao from the Tianxi era!"
"What makes you so certain?"
"My lord may not know, but I once served as a guerrilla under General Dong. After he was disgraced and disappeared, I was transferred several times before ending up in Quanzhou. When I finally encountered the Golden-Masked Dragon Lord, though it was only a distant glimpse, I noticed he indeed wore a mask as rumored. Yet, I felt I had seen him somewhere before. Moreover, his banners and signals seemed familiar, leading to this bold speculation. If the Dragon Lord truly is General Dong from back then—a man of integrity, wronged in the past, and now with merits to his name—should he pledge allegiance to the court, His Majesty would surely accept him."
Pei You'an fixed his gaze on Li Zongbing: "Have you spoken of this to anyone else?"
"This is purely my speculation and may not be true, so I dared not mention it to others. Knowing you are a close confidant of His Majesty, I ventured to bring it to your attention for your consideration."
Pei You'an pondered for a moment before nodding: "You are loyal and prudent. I will recommend you to the Emperor. I will look into this matter further. You must not disclose it to anyone else."
Overjoyed and deeply grateful for such praise, Li Zongbing prostrated himself in thanks once more before rising and withdrawing as ordered.
...
Jiafu returned home with her mother and brother. After visiting her grandmother, they assessed their losses. Reports came in: the warehouse had burned down, and a fully laden cargo ship was destroyed, resulting in heavy losses. Moreover, given the circumstances, the court would soon reinstate the Sea Ban. Once implemented, it was uncertain when maritime trade would resume. For merchant families like the Zhen family, whose livelihood depended on their fleet, this would deal a devastating blow to their vital essence, as if severing their lifeline.But these were all external matters. Fortunately, most people on the ship had returned safely. That evening, the Zhen family set up a meal in the main hall to comfort those who had been frightened during the voyage, providing compensation to the families of the injured and the deceased. Within the inner residence, a separate family banquet was also arranged. Pei You'an declined Lord Gao's invitation and returned to the Zhen family for dinner. That night, Meng Shi prepared a room for her daughter and son-in-law, and the couple stayed over. The next day, Pei You'an went out, accompanied by Lord Gao and Li Zongbing, to inspect coastal defenses, adjust troop deployments, and coordinate joint military operations to suppress the bandit leaders in Guangdong. He was busy from dawn till dusk, coming and going early and late. Finally, news arrived that the bandit leader, who had plagued Guangdong and Fujian for years, had been captured and beheaded, his head displayed as a warning. Upon hearing this, the people of Quanzhou spread the news excitedly. By the time Pei You'an returned to the city, the entire place was celebrating, with crowds flooding the streets to catch a glimpse of the legendary Prime Minister Pei. Officials of all ranks and local gentry took turns hosting congratulatory banquets, and the invitations sent to the Zhen family nearly filled their post box.
That evening, after visiting the ailing grandmother Hu Shi with Jiafu, Pei You'an returned to their room. He changed his clothes and said he still had one more matter to attend to that night, possibly not returning until the next day, so she shouldn’t wait up for him and should rest early.
Jiafu clung tightly to his arm, pouting, "What's so urgent that you have to go out tonight and stay away the whole time? Could it be those people have set up another flower banquet, inviting the Ten Beauties of Tongyun for you to admire and critique under the lanterns?"
Pei You'an had declined all such invitations, citing mourning obligations, and Jiafu knew this well. But seeing that he had finally found some free time today after his busy schedule, only to leave again in the evening, she felt both distressed and a little displeased. Having spent so much time with him, she sensed he seemed preoccupied tonight—different from his usual official duties. Judging by his tone, he wouldn’t be back until morning. Knowing he doted on her and wouldn’t truly get angry no matter how she teased him, she decided to throw a small tantrum.
Pei You'an chuckled, pinching her pouting lips, which resembled morning glory petals, then embraced her and whispered soothing words. After a while, Jiafu finally released his arm—only to wrap hers around his waist instead. She looked up at him solemnly and said, "Cousin, I know you must have important matters, and I know I’m useless, unable to help you. But I want you to know that your business is my business. Even if I can’t assist, I hope you won’t hide everything from me. I’m really not a child—I’m your wife."
Pei You'an gazed down at her, their eyes locked for a moment before he replied gently, "I’ll be back tomorrow. Rest early."
Suppressing her disappointment, Jiafu slowly loosened her grip and smiled. "I understand. Be careful, and I’ll wait for you."
Pei You'an cupped her head in his hands, leaned down, and lightly kissed her forehead before turning to leave.
Just how many burdens still weighed on his shoulders? And how many secrets did he still carry alone in his heart?
Jiafu watched his retreating figure, a faint sense of frustration welling up inside her as she wondered what matter tonight was so important that he couldn’t share it with her. Lost in thought, she suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, she saw Pei You'an had returned.
"Come, I’ll take you with me," he said with a faint smile.
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