Chapter 40: Coming Ashore

“My child… my poor child… You’ve finally returned. Do you know how worried your father has been?” As soon as Jiang Yang disembarked, she was embraced by a middle-aged man with makeup on his face, weeping in anguish. This was Liu, Jiang Yang’s birth father in this world.

“When I heard the news of the ship capsizing, I couldn’t eat or sleep. My eyes were nearly blinded from crying, my child!” Liu held his recovered second daughter tightly, refusing to let go. “It’s all your mother’s fault. She had to accept that imperial mission, nearly causing you to lose your life. My child, we’ll never go to sea again. Just stay by your father’s side from now on, and go nowhere else, alright?”

Having lived with Liu for so many years, Jiang Yang was extremely doted on by him, and she had developed some affection for this father who had raised her for over a decade. “Alright! I’ll stay with Father from now on.”

While Jiang Yang agreed verbally, her heart was still concerned about that stupid fish. She had left without even saying goodbye. He must be resentful, and she could understand why.

But she had no choice. The people who came looking for her were Jiang Qingzhou’s soldiers. Although she was Jiang Qingzhou’s own sister, she had no authority in the military and couldn’t command these people to do her bidding, let alone conceal something as serious as a merman. She had no choice but to return with these people.

Jiang Yang thought to herself that after some time passed and things calmed down, when she resumed her usual idle life, she would use the excuse of visiting a friend to go out to sea and find Chi Mei to give him an explanation.

“Father, Yang’er has suffered hardships outside and is extremely tired from the journey. It’s best to let her return to the manor to rest quickly,” said Jiang Qingzhou, dressed in armor with her ponytail tied high, her cold eyes showing a rare hint of warmth.

“Yes, yes, look at my forgetfulness.” Liu patted his head and led Jiang Yang by the hand onto the carriage. “My child, quickly get in the carriage. Qingzhou said you were stranded on a deserted island, eating raw meat and drinking blood every day, unable to even have a hot meal. It breaks your father’s heart. We’ve prepared a sumptuous feast for you at home – lily pastries, fragrant lotus root, osmanthus syrup, cream pine nut rolls… all your usual favorites.”

Jiang Yang was pulled onto the carriage by Liu, barely able to say a few more words to Jiang Qingzhou. She could only turn back and call out to Jiang Qingzhou as she was being pulled away: “Thank you, sister, for sending people to bring me back. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be living off fish on that deserted island.”

There were countless people at the shore today to welcome Jiang Yang back, including many prominent families. It was such a good opportunity to flatter Jiang Qingzhou, and Jiang Yang wouldn’t miss it.

Sure enough, the onlookers’ gazes towards Jiang Qingzhou were full of admiration and praise, all saying that daughters should aspire to be like Jiang Qingzhou.

The noble husbands surrounded Liu, saying: “Elder brother, you’re truly blessed. Your younger daughter is thoughtful and sensible, while your elder daughter is steady, intelligent, and holds an important position in the military, even able to help her sister. We’re truly envious. If we had daughters like this, we’d be content for life.”

Liu’s eyebrows were raised so high with pride they nearly reached his temples: “Of course. My Qingzhou has been sensible, intelligent, and decisive since she was young. She never needed me or her wife-master to worry about her, and she established herself firmly in the military on her own.”

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Qingzhou’s face.

Jiang Yang knew that “thoughtful and sensible” was just a random compliment these noble husbands came up with because they couldn’t find anything else to praise her for. Their real purpose was to flatter Jiang Qingzhou, and she was willing to let these people fawn over her.

Jiang Yang took Jiang Qingzhou’s hand and said: “Sister, I must properly toast you when we get back.”

Jiang Qingzhou nodded slightly.

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During the meal, Jiang Yang was fed many dishes by Liu. In fact, she didn’t need Liu to feed her much. She had caught and cooked fish herself on the lonely island, and her cooking skills were indescribable. How could it compare to the skills of the manor’s chef? It had been a long time since she had tasted such delicious food, and she ate non-stop.

Seeing this, Liu’s eyes welled up with tears as he bit his handkerchief: “My child has truly suffered. Your face has become so thin. That damned sain—”

“Father, mind your words,” Jiang Qingzhou spoke softly.

Liu immediately shut his mouth. Although Jiang Qingzhou was the most accomplished legitimate daughter in the family, Liu was actually somewhat afraid of her due to her personality. Instead, he lavished all his affection on Jiang Yang, who may not have been studious but knew how to make people happy, much like a parasitic son in a family drama.

Seeing Liu lose face, Jiang Yang immediately picked up a piece of rouge goose and placed it in Liu’s bowl: “Father, this is delicious.”

Liu looked at Jiang Yang with a loving expression, wearing a “my youngest daughter is so good, so thoughtful” look on his face.

Finally, after finishing the meal, Liu had some urgent matters to attend to with several concubine-born sons and left first. Jiang Yang began to chat idly with Jiang Qingzhou.

“I heard from Lan Qian that you caught a merman, which is what caused the huge waves?” Jiang Qingzhou’s eyes were imbued with a cold light.

Since Lan Qian had already told Zhang Nian about encountering the merman, Jiang Yang wasn’t surprised that Jiang Qingzhou knew.

Fortunately, Lan Qian wasn’t completely brainless and hadn’t told Zhang Nian about the entanglement between Chi Mei and her.

Jiang Yang said with regret: “Yes, I had thought to capture a rare merman to present to the emperor, allowing our Jiang clan to gain face before the emperor. Who knew… It’s truly a pity.”

Jiang Qingzhou said: “There’s no need for regret. It’s just a small beast. If the Jiang clan needs to gain face, it should naturally be through military achievements and political merits, not through oddities like mermen.”

Jiang Yang’s heart skipped a beat, almost forgetting that Jiang Qingzhou had always been wary of others standing out: “Sister is right. Anyway, that merman is gone, and it almost cost me half my life. I don’t want to go to sea again.”

However… small beast?

She hadn’t forgotten what Chi Mei said about the story between Jiang Qingzhou and Fu Yue. Was it appropriate to describe a merman she had slept with as a “small beast”? Wasn’t that degrading herself as well?

She wondered if Fu Yue had found Jiang Qingzhou yet. If he really had found her, how would she treat him?

“It’s good that you won’t go to sea.” Jiang Qingzhou was very satisfied with her: “The sea is full of risks and variables. It’s dangerous for you to go. It’s better to stay at home. Our Jiang family won’t cut off your food supply.”

Jiang Yang raised her wine cup to Jiang Qingzhou: “Sister understands me best. I’m not cut out for great deeds. If it weren’t for mother forcing me to go, I wouldn’t have wanted to. But after this incident, I think mother won’t force me anymore.”

Jiang Qingzhou returned the toast to Jiang Yang: “As long as you can be safe and sound, it doesn’t matter if you can’t achieve great things.”

Jiang Yang leaned on the table and accidentally knocked over the wine jug. The fragrance of wine spread, and a rosy flush climbed up her cheeks.

“Is Yang’er drunk?” Jiang Qingzhou put down her wine cup. Though she had drunk the same amount, her gaze remained clear.

Jiang Yang hiccupped: “Sister, you should go back. I’m going to find Qiu Yi.”

“Qiu Yi?”

Jiang Yang giggled, the alcohol giving her smile a touch of silliness: “Qiu Yi, my little husband.”

Jiang Qingzhou smiled and shook her head: “From Yihong Lou?”

“What Yihong Lou? The people in Yihong Lou are all stale now. He’s from Zuihua Lou, the new top courtesan. I’ve been keeping him for quite a while. I don’t know if he mourned for me when I got into trouble. If he didn’t, I’ll go and keep his rival instead, let that little slut suffer a bit.”

Jiang Qingzhou’s smile deepened: “Then go ahead.”

Jiang Yang stumbled as she got up from the table: “Lan Qian, Lan Qian, where the hell are you? Come quickly and help me to Zuihua Lou!”

Lan Qian ran in from outside, bowed to Jiang Qingzhou, and led Jiang Yang out.

Just as Jiang Yang left, Liu, who had finished dealing with his concubine-born sons, returned. Seeing Jiang Yang’s seat empty, his face darkened: “Where’s Yang’er?”

“Yang’er, she…” Jiang Qingzhou didn’t say it directly.

Liu angrily swept his sleeve: “You don’t need to say it, I already know. She’s been lured away by those little hussies outside again. This Jiang Yang, she really doesn’t let me have any peace of mind!”

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In the cool, quiet little wooden cabin, two men and two children sat together. Chun Jian, sporting a purple-red eye from being punched, laughed mockingly and desolately: “You were just telling me how good your Ah Yang was, and now what? She’s gone, didn’t even say goodbye to you.”

“She said she would marry me,” Chi Mei hugged his fish tail, his hair in disarray.

“Marry you? Hah!” Chun Jian sneered, “Can you believe even one word a woman says? They can tell lies so easily, without having to pay any price.”

“She said she would marry me,” Chi Mei murmured, repeating the same sentence.

Chun Jian waved his hand in front of him, his once clear and lively eyes now like a pool of dark, dead water.

Both were fish abandoned by women. Chun Jian couldn’t stand to see Chi Mei continue to wallow in self-destruction.

Unprecedentedly, Chun Jian took the initiative to pat Chi Mei’s shoulder, comforting him softly: “Alright, even if she abandoned you, at least you still have a way out. Go back to the clan, apologize to the elders, they will still accept you.”

Chi Mei raised his head, looking at Chun Jian, his eyes twisted with pain but stubbornly said: “Who told you Ah Yang abandoned me? Shut up!”

Chun Jian: “…?”

“She left with those humans, but she didn’t say she was abandoning you. If that’s not abandonment, what is it?”

Chi Mei bit his lip: “She just left with those people, she didn’t say she was abandoning me.”

Chun Jian’s eyes widened: “…Are, are you sick in the head?!”

Chi Mei pointed at Dong’er: “Did Ah Yang tell you she was abandoning me, that she didn’t want me anymore?”

Dong’er shook his head.

“What about you? Did Ah Yang tell you she didn’t want me anymore?” Chi Mei pointed at Xia’er and questioned.

Xia’er also shook his head.

“See? Ah Yang just left, she didn’t say she was abandoning me.” Chi Mei clenched his fists tightly, his teeth biting into his lip, biting until his mouth was full of blood, unwilling to wake up, preferring to indulge in false fantasies: “Ah Yang said she would marry me.”

“Keep deceiving yourself then,” Chun Jian left with the two children, sweeping his sleeve.