Jiafu changed into men’s clothes, tied her hair up high, finished tidying herself, then ran out and stood before him, turning once around. “Cousin, is this alright?”
Pei You’an was leaning against the dressing table. He beckoned her over, then turned and took one of his own men’s hairpins from the box and inserted it into her hair bun. He examined it briefly and smiled. Under the dim moonlight, she now looked like a small attendant who accompanied him everywhere.
Outside the door, a carriage waited, Yang Yun dressed in a green robe and small cap, holding the reins. Pei You’an brought no other attendants, gently lifted Jiafu into the carriage, then seated himself inside. They passed through the southern city gate and went to a coral tree forest near the coastal garrison. General Li led several subordinate officers waiting there on horseback.
Civil officials preferred to travel by carriage, it showed status and was more comfortable. Although Pei You’an was a soldier who had recently helped bring to justice the notorious pirates troubling Guangdong and Fujian, in Li’s eyes, Pei You’an was still the exemplary young civil official announced in the imperial palace, so Li was not surprised to see him arrive by carriage. Upon seeing him, Li hurried forward to greet him.
Pei You’an dismounted and switched to riding a horse. Surrounded by the group, they rode off, leaving Yang Yun holding the reins, leaning against the front of the carriage, almost dozing while waiting for his master’s return.
The pale moonlight spilled over the coral trees like a watery curtain, the shadows flickering in mottled patterns, enveloping the carriage.
Earlier on the road, Pei You’an had told Jiafu he and General Li would first patrol the coastal defenses at night and asked her to wait inside the carriage.
Jiafu sat quietly in the dimly shadowed carriage, listening to the sound of waves nearby, patiently waiting.
The moon rose higher. Around midnight, Jiafu heard horse hooves outside, Pei You’an had returned.
General Li’s family was not in Quanzhou. That night, he stayed at the garrison drafting urgent reports on coastal defenses and had come to personally escort Pei You’an back to the city. Pei You’an declined and told him to stay behind.
Having served with Li for half a month, Pei knew this young lord was high-ranking and shrewd but personally diligent and frugal, and did not care for the usual elaborate official ceremonies. So Li dared not insist on accompanying him, instead stopping at a distance and watching as Pei You’an boarded the carriage. The carriage passed through the coral trees and headed toward the city gate, gradually disappearing into the night. Only then did the men disperse, and Li hurried back to the garrison.
Jiafu stood quietly behind tall coral trees, holding the man’s hand tightly and holding her breath. Their shadows were hidden beneath the dense canopy. When the carriage left and Li’s group gradually dispersed, she looked up at him.
He slightly lowered his head; the tree shadows cast a mysterious dark silhouette over him.
“I’m going to see an old friend.”
He tightened his grip on her hand and spoke softly before turning and leading her away.
Jiafu’s heart suddenly raced. She took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and nervousness as if she were about to embark on an adventure with him. She lifted her foot and followed.
He led her silently through the coral forest and onto a snow-white rocky beach bathed in moonlight. Finally, they reached a remote cove.
By the reef lay a fishing skiff, gently bobbing with the mild waves.
Pei You’an picked Jiafu up, waded through the shallow water just below his thighs, and set her into the skiff before climbing aboard himself.
Using the oar to push off the reef, he pushed the skiff out from the cove, then sat at the stern and rowed.
At this time, the tide was slowly ebbing, carrying the small boat forward, parting the waves.
The sea was calm and windless. The silver moon reflected on the dark waters, moonlight sparkling like scattered stars. The boat drifted as if floating on a dark gem studded with shimmering stars.
Jiafu sat at the bow facing Pei You’an. Occasionally she watched him row steadily and smiled at each other; sometimes she bent over to dip her hand in the water, letting the cool sea flow through her fingers; sometimes she faced the sea breeze, looking into the distance, seeing the stars and sea merge into one, full of quiet dreams. She could not help but wonder where this man in the moonlight was taking her, only wishing that in this moment, the immortal realm would last forever and she could cross the sea with him.
The skiff floated downstream, approaching a small reef island that was exposed at low tide but submerged at high tide. The bow gently touched shore. Pei You’an disembarked, secured the rope, and helped Jiafu onto the wet stones. He looked around, then took a whistle and blew a call mimicking a seabird.
Behind a nearby reef rock, a man appeared.
The man hurried forward. Jiafu looked, and in the moonlight saw a tall, bearded middle-aged man. The man called out, “Eldest Young Master,” and immediately knelt toward Pei You’an.
Pei You’an stepped forward quickly and lifted him up.
The man looked emotional. “Eldest Young Master, it’s been a long time since I heard from you. A few days ago I received word and couldn’t wait to come tonight, secretly and alone, as per your instructions. Rest assured, I didn’t even let the Second Young Master know…”
He looked toward Jiafu standing behind Pei You’an, hesitated, showing some confusion, then turned to Pei You’an and said, “Eldest Young Master, who is this?”
Pei You’an looked at Jiafu, his eyes softening. “She is the girl from the Quanzhou Zhen family, now my wife. We have been married for over a year. Uncle Dong, you are not an outsider. You saved her brother again this time, so I brought her along to personally thank you.”
The middle-aged man had earlier noticed the young attendant who came with Pei You’an. Under the moonlight, he saw that the attendant’s face was as beautiful as jade, with delicate, almost feminine features. He found it strange and couldn’t understand why Pei You’an would bring such a person along, never suspecting her true identity.
He looked again at Jia Fu and recognized that she was indeed a woman, and involuntarily exclaimed, “She is the one who saved...” Then he suddenly stopped.
Pei You’an smiled and nodded, signaling Jia Fu to come closer. “Fu’er, this is the Golden-Faced Dragon King. I call him Uncle Dong. Your brother and the others were able to return safely this time all thanks to Uncle Dong’s help.”
On the way here, Jia Fu had wondered who the “old friend” Pei You’an mentioned could be. She never expected that it would be her brother’s life-saving benefactor, the famous Dragon King of the sea.
Though Pei You’an hadn’t said much, Jia Fu had already realized that this middle-aged man, who called himself a subordinate and addressed Pei You’an as “eldest young master,” treated him with great respect. It was easy to infer that he had once been an old retainer of the Duke’s household, and besides, he had just rescued her brother.
Jia Fu felt deep respect and bowed to him, clasping her hands together in thanks. “Thank you, Uncle Dong! When my brother and the others returned that day, the villagers all praised the Dragon King’s great deeds. On behalf of my grandmother, mother, and the hundreds of villagers who were fortunate to be protected by you and returned home, I thank you for your lifesaving kindness!”
Dong Cheng’ao quickly stepped aside, waving his hands. “Madam, you flatter me. Eliminating the Japanese pirates is simply my duty. There is no need for such formal thanks.”
Pei You’an took off his outer robe and laid it on a flat rock, helping Jia Fu to sit down. He squatted in front of her to be at eye level, then leaned close to whisper, “I still have some things to discuss with Uncle Dong. You sit here and wait. Call me if anything happens.”
Jia Fu nodded.
Pei You’an habitually patted her head, then stood and walked with Dong Cheng’ao to a rock several dozen paces away and stopped there.
Dong Cheng’ao sighed, “Eldest young master, I never imagined that the girl from the Zhen family who once saved the young master would now become your wife. Truly a match made in heaven!”
Pei You’an glanced back at the small figure quietly sitting under the moonlight and smiled. “My wife already thanked you, but I must thank you again. Uncle Dong, your loyalty and courage have been unwavering all these years. Not only have you protected Yu’er without complaint, but even living in the wilds, you have not forgotten to safeguard the people. Your heroic deeds in driving out the pirates from Quanzhou and Pinghai have made those of us who serve in the court ashamed. I bow deeply to you.”
Dong Cheng’ao hurried to return the bow. “Eldest young master, you are too kind! The failure of the official army only spurred us to act. Anyone with half a heart would not stand idly by while pirates slaughter our coastal people. This is simply my duty. I was only worried because this incident happened suddenly and loudly, contrary to your original instructions to keep a low profile. I feared it might draw the court’s attention. I do not mind risking my life, but I dread it might expose the young master.”
Pei You’an pondered.
Dong Cheng’ao’s expression slightly changed. “Eldest young master, has the secret really been leaked?”
Pei You’an said, “Uncle Dong, stay calm. It was indeed unfortunate that the Quanzhou garrison commander began to suspect your identity, but it’s not a big problem. I have suppressed it. The young master’s whereabouts, as far as I know, have not been revealed.”
Dong Cheng’ao finally breathed a sigh of relief, with a slight look of guilt. “I was careless, nearly causing a great disaster. Thank you for your guidance. I will be more cautious when I return.”
Pei You’an said, “You have a heart for the people. There is no fault in your actions, no need for guilt. The real reason I came to see you is to entrust something. The emperor once declared that if the young master were still alive, he would welcome his return with an official position. I have served the emperor for many years and dare not judge whether this was empty talk, but I dare not simply assume the emperor’s sincerity either. As you said, there have always been spies sent to search for the young master. Since this incident stirred some attention, I am uneasy. After this, hold your position, take no further action until you hear from me. Also prepare an escape plan just in case. Better safe than sorry.”
Dong Cheng’ao nodded. “I have noted that!”
...
Jia Fu sat on the rock, watching the figures of Pei You’an and the Golden-Faced Dragon King not far away. The wind blew softly, carrying faint murmurs of their low voices mixed with the sea breeze, dissolving into the night.
She had no intention to eavesdrop on their conversation.
She felt, just like Pei You’an’s unspoken secret origins and his political dealings in court, he also had another hidden world that no one else knew about.
Tonight, he finally was willing to bring her here and introduce her, as his wife, to someone from that secret world. That alone made her very content.
She propped her chin on her hand, gazing fixedly at the man’s figure under the moonlight. As she grew absorbed, suddenly she sensed movement nearby.
She turned her face and, in the moonlight, suddenly saw a figure lightly swaying behind a nearby rock. Startled, she was about to call out loudly to Pei You’an, when the person quickly stuck out their head, grinning at her. In the moonlight, a set of clean, white teeth gleamed. Seeing her wide-eyed surprise, he quickly pressed a finger to his lips and gently shushed her.
It was a boy of fifteen or sixteen, dark-skinned, with wet hair and face as if just emerged from the water, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, filled with joyful sparkling light when looking at her.
Jia Fu was stunned, staring fixedly at the boy, her eyes growing wider and suddenly she shouted, “It’s you? You’re still alive?”
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