107 Meeting Afu Again

When the sea eagle returned, the handkerchief I had given it was no longer in its beak. Helpless and unable to communicate with it, I remained clueless as to where it might have dropped the handkerchief. Dongfang Qingyu said that at least the sea eagle had understood our intentions, and after fiddling about for a while, he believed it must have dropped it in the right place. I could only shake my head and sigh deeply.

I waited for about ten days, my patience nearly exhausted.

Day after day, I stood by the sea.

“You don’t mind the strong winds, standing here every day waiting,” Dongfang Qingyu said as he arrived, draping a cloak over my shoulders.

“It should be any day now. It’s been a year since I left my younger brother. Now, separated only by this sea—not too far, not too near—I find myself growing more restless and anxious.”

“What’s the hurry?” Dongfang Qingyu was fastening the cloak around me, but I pushed him away abruptly, and the cloak slipped from my shoulders.

“What are you doing…” he asked.

I quickened my pace, walking ahead. Dongfang Qingyu bent down to pick up the cloak and came to stand beside me, silently watching the distant ships.

Without a word, we both gazed intently at the approaching vessel. It was a magnificent ship, far more luxurious than any fishing boat.

As the ship drew nearer, my heart tightened.

With a sudden thud, the ship docked. I hurried to its side.

“Please, Princess, come aboard,” a voice called from within the cabin. I was about to step inside but was held back by Dongfang Qingyu.

“It’s alright,” I reassured him, patting his hand.

“I will come in with you.”

“Very well.”

I stepped from the land onto the slightly rocking ship.

Two attendants stood at the entrance and lifted the beaded curtain as I approached.

Inside stood a veiled woman, twirling a silk handkerchief in her hands.

The curtain was drawn back, and the woman knelt immediately upon seeing me.

“Princess…”

That voice—that voice was…

She lifted her veil slowly, her eyes moist as they met mine.

“Afú…”

I crouched down and embraced her tightly. The whole cabin was filled with the sound of two women’s sobs rising and falling.

After a moment, we composed ourselves. Dongfang Qingyu left to make preparations for our journey to the island, reminding me repeatedly not to set sail without him.

“Afú, how is my brother? How did you manage to reach the island safely?”

The mere thought sent a chill through me. It had been so reckless to send my brother to the island alone, so far away. How could he have evaded all the countless dangers?

“Princess, rest assured. The Crown Prince is well. But this time, we insisted he not leave the island to meet you. If it were up to me, I would have come instead.”

“You must have suffered much on the island as well.”

“At first, yes. The Crown Prince was shocked and fell ill. We had to avoid the soldiers’ pursuit. Little Linzi and I had barely any silver coins. But Linzi was clever—he took odd jobs, and I washed clothes for others. We barely managed until the secret guards discovered us and began protecting us.”

“Secret guards? What secret guards?” As far as I knew, before the tragedy that befell my father and mother, there were no such guards left—their existence had been eradicated.

“They were called the Twelve Assassins. In short, the Crown Prince came to know them. With their help, the Crown Prince, Linzi, and I safely reached the island. But when the Crown Prince asked them to search for the Princess, he was told that you were dead. Yet I am uncertain—it was very likely someone else who died…”

“It was Arong who died in my place,” my eyes clouded with sorrow.

“It was a pity she was so dear to you. When she sensed something was wrong, Arong insisted I take you away first, choosing to risk herself. She said I was steadier and had grown up with you, so our bond was deeper. She gave me the chance to live.”

“I have caused you so much harm…” I gripped Afú’s hand tightly.

Soon after, Dongfang Qingyu returned, carrying many gifts.

“Why so many things?”

“For your brother,” he replied.

I smiled as I accepted some of them. Afú’s gaze flickered between me and Dongfang Qingyu. I said nothing, and neither did she.

Since childhood, our lives had been filled with secrets unknown to others. Afú had grown accustomed not to ask.

We still had two days before reaching the island, but my heart was too anxious to sleep.

As dusk fell, I wrapped myself in a cloak and came to the ship’s edge.

The dark sky bore a full moon, surrounded by countless stars. If the moon had stars for company, what about me?

Liyue Xuan, I am moving away from you, in the opposite direction, growing distant. Do you ever think of me? Likely not. Do you resent me for making you remember me this way? You don’t even know there is a child of yours growing inside me. But what does it matter? You are the noble Prince Xuan; many will bear your children in the future.

This past year, I lived entangled in everyone’s schemes. I suppose I was simply too gullible. Before I left, you struck me with a sword. Whether the tenderness you showed in those days was real or feigned, I have returned it all.

I once foolishly believed you truly loved me. I never imagined all our ties were part of your calculated plan—pure calculation. It seems love and passion are utterly unsuited to me. So it was in my past life, and likely so it will be in this one.

A servant continued to watch the ship’s arrival, eyes fixed toward the bow. My younger brother awaits me at our destination. I wonder if he has grown taller or gained weight.

When Afú mentioned the Twelve Assassins, a sudden familiarity struck me. Later, I recalled having read about them in my father’s library.

The Twelve Assassins were a secret guard composed of twelve men, the trusted aides of the founding emperor of Lingyun Kingdom. Once the nation stabilized, these twelve vanished into the shadows. Legend says each had a successor, passing the mantle down through generations.

By the time of my father’s predecessors, these twelve rarely appeared but presumably still existed. I had never seen them myself. Their true identities were a mystery—some were nobles, others vagabonds. They lived hidden among the world, appearing only when summoned.

The throne of Lingyun Kingdom almost always passed to the legitimate heir, unless the emperor left no legitimate sons. This was thanks to the Twelve Assassins, who reportedly obeyed only the rightful heir’s command. This is why Consort Lan’s son was chosen to succeed the throne, and why she took such ruthless measures to eliminate all threats.

Yet why, when my father was dying and when my brother and I fled, did the Twelve Assassins not appear? Why did they only find my brother afterward? Was something delaying them?

These questions lingered in my heart. Perhaps I would find answers only upon reaching the island and meeting the Twelve Assassins.

“Don’t you ever learn? How come you’re out here in the wind again?” Dongfang Qingyu arrived.

“Didn’t I put on my cloak?” I replied.

“Why are you out here in the middle of the night?”

“Can’t sleep.”

Dongfang Qingyu helped me sit down.

“I’m fine. The child is well. I’m not so fragile.”

“Have you thought about how you will tell your brother?” His fingers tapped the table—each tap felt like a strike against my heart.

I had pondered this carefully. I could neither change my experiences of the past year nor fabricate lies entirely. My belly would grow day by day; I could not hide the child forever.

“Just try to tell him the best parts,” I said.

“If I could, I would be the father of this child,” Dongfang Qingyu said, causing me to pause.

I smiled and motioned for him to stop.

“You are already the godfather of my child.”

“That will do nicely.”

Dongfang Qingyu smiled, and I understood his meaning. There was no need to deceive my own brother. If I had to lie even to family, life would be unbearably exhausting.

“Princess…” Afú murmured, running over. “I only looked away for a moment, and you ran out again.”

“Alright, let’s go back,” I signaled to Dongfang Qingyu and returned inside with Afú to rest.

“I remember telling you to stop calling yourself a servant. It sounds awkward,” I said as Afú took off my outer garment.

“Understood, Princess Sister.”

“Come lie down. We’ll sleep together tonight.” I patted the bed, and Afú shed her cloak and lay down beside me.

“I never thought I’d see the Princess again. Thinking back to the palace upheaval, I was so scared.”

“Silly girl, what’s there to fear? I have come back.”

“Princess, is Master Dongfang… your husband?” Afú asked cautiously.

“No, I only recently met him.”

“Ah, but he still takes care of you. He must be a good man.”

“Perhaps. Afú, I’m pregnant…”

“What!” Afú sat up in shock, and so did I.

“When did you get married, Princess?”

“No.”

“What? Who’s the scoundrel?” Afú clenched her small fists, fuming.

“Calm down. The child is mine. That man probably just isn’t meant to be. I just haven’t figured out how to tell my brother. You must take care of me every day, so I can’t hide it from you.”

“How many months now?” Afú looked at my belly.

“Almost three.”

“The Crown Prince surely can’t keep it a secret. You must prepare yourself.”

“I know.”

“Princess, you should lie down and rest well.”

“Mm.”

Afú quickly covered me with a quilt but then got out of bed. She said she slept poorly and was afraid she might hurt me or the baby. This girl worries more than I do.