On the eve of Chapter 52, she wanted him dead!

Mingying suppressed the panic in her eyes, which was fleeting but still caught Pei Xiaoyun's attention.

He touched her face, gazed at her for a long time, and smiled, "It's alright, I'm here."

He wanted to take Mingying onto the ship, and Mingying was powerless to resist.

In the latter half of the night, the sea finally regained a temporary calm.

A passenger ship was floating behind the warship. Pei Xiaoyun temporarily placed Mingying on this ship, keeping her almost always by his side so that he could take care of her at any time.

With only endless waves at sea, there was no way to pass the time. Fearing that Mingying would get bored, he called the only girl close to her, named Yu'er, to keep her company.

He looked at Mingying, who was sitting by the window watching the surging waves, and for a moment, he was just as lost in thought as she was. He instructed Yu'er, "When I'm not around, talk to her more, don't let her overthink things."

No one was watching her. He was afraid something might happen, or like last time, when she cut her hand and none of the servants knew, so he just let the blood flow.

Yu'er nodded; she also wanted to talk to Miss Ming more and cheer her up.

She walked to Mingying's side and gently nudged her. "Miss, this sea is boring. Why don't you invite Sister Zisu in and we'll play backgammon?"

Pei Xiaoyun heard this and remained silent, which was taken as agreement.

In the past, he would have thought it was unruly, and he would not have wanted to see Mingying sitting on equal footing with brothel girls or servants.

But now, rather than her remaining silent all day, he still hopes she can cheer up a bit.

As long as he protects her, no one will dare to reveal her identity.

Mingying was clearly taken aback by what Yu'er said: "I don't know how to play this."

"Huh?" Yu'er stared in surprise, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "But you used to be really good at backgammon."

"What's your name?" Mingying looked at her and asked softly, word by word, "Did we play backgammon together before?"

The fish choked for a moment, not knowing what was wrong with Mingying, and could only look at her true master, Pei Xiaoyun.

Pei Xiaoyun remained silent for a few moments, then waved his hand to shoo the fish away.

He knew that it was only a matter of time before she gradually forgot some people.

He wanted to find something for her to do, not wanting to see her depressed and lonely all day.

So I took out paper and pen, held her hand, and drew a large, crystal-clear white camellia on the paper. I told her, "This is your favorite flower. Follow my instructions and draw all the flowers on the paper behind you."

Mingying stared at the flower for a long time, realizing that she seemed to be very familiar with it. So, holding her pen, she nodded.

To help her get used to sailing, Pei Xiaoyun sat beside her for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, watching her intently draw, carefully sketching and tracing his picture stroke by stroke.

Satisfied, he let her continue painting, then, thinking of the urgent military situation, he put on his light armor and went out.

As he left, he sternly instructed the servants at the door: "Take good care of her, don't let her run out. Go in and check on her every half hour. If anything happens, you will all be executed."

The eerie torches that lit up the sea stretched along the city like ghostly shadows, heralding the start of yet another confrontation.

Shen Chun's troops, deployed according to the blueprints, were repeatedly thwarted by Pei Xiaoyun's forces, resulting in heavy losses.

Ke Chenchun had lingered in Jiangnan for decades and possessed far more than just these abilities. He sent his navy to circle around underwater to Qingshui Bay Port and establish a route and fixed points.

Pei Xiaoyun had already anticipated his actions. Taking advantage of the thick fog and night, the warships unleashed a barrage of arrows, wiping out all of Shen Chun's men sent to establish a fixed point, catching them completely off guard.

After a day and a night, the two armies temporarily ceased hostilities and prepared for battle.

In the dead of night, the sea roared and surged, with turbid waves reaching the sky.

Pei Xiaoyun removed his armor, changed out of his blood-stained robes, and wiped the blood from his hands before going to the ship where Mingying was being housed.

It was so late, he thought she was asleep, but when he pushed open the cabin door, he saw her thin body half leaning against the window, the sea breeze blowing her clothes and hair wildly.

"What are you doing lying there? Be careful not to fall in, I'm not going to fish you out."

As he spoke, he walked to the table, opened the drawing paper he had left behind yesterday, and found that each of the back sheets was filled with camellia patterns. Although the lines were uneven, it was clear that they were drawn carefully.

He was pleased with how obedient she was.

Mingying remained pressed against the window frame, motionless.

He walked over, intending to help her down, when he saw a snow-white dove perched on her outstretched palm.

She broke the crumbs of pastry into her palm, and the pigeons pecked at them, one after another.

"I don't know where it flew from, it landed on my hand and won't leave." Even though Mingying heard his footsteps, she didn't dare turn around for fear of startling the pigeon, and said to herself.

Pei Xiaoyun took a closer look and recognized that these were the carrier pigeons he raised, specifically for maritime communication.

How did it end up flying over here?

He saw her eyebrows slightly raised, perhaps she had taken a liking to the pigeons, and it seemed that being with these living creatures made her heart more alive.

He just smiled faintly: "These are my carrier pigeons. If you like, you can catch a few to keep. I'll release them after we disembark."

Mingying neither nodded nor refused, but gathered the pigeon in her palm and pulled it inside: "When can we disembark?"

Pei Xiaoyun knew that this ship was not as comfortable as the mansion, and she was not used to the rocking motion, so her desire to get off the ship was understandable.

"Almost there." He bent down slightly, hooked his finger, and closed the wide-open window.

As the wind subsided, his voice grew louder, as if he were saying to himself, "It won't be long."

He didn't want to waste any more time with Shen Chun. Even if the other party had the blueprints, he wouldn't let him get any closer to Qingshui Bay.

Even if it's a do-or-die situation, he's confident of victory.

The next day, he kept his word and indeed caught a few carrier pigeons for Mingying to raise.

Mingying smiled again, a smile she hadn't shown in a long time. She spent her days by the window feeding the pigeons snacks, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Several pigeons flew around the cabin, making a terrible racket. When Pei Xiaoyun was looking at the route map, he couldn't stand the noise any longer, so he found an iron cage, put the pigeons inside, and forbade Mingying to let them out again.

Mingying had no choice but to feed them through the cage.

The battle raged on for several more days.

Following the trail of clues left by Shen Chun's men, Pei Xiaoyun finally discerned a few hints.

Setting up a fixed defense like Shen Chun makes both offense and defense extremely difficult; every step is like a sieve full of holes.

Therefore, he was almost certain that the blueprints in Shen Chun's possession were problematic and could not possibly have been made by Lin Xian.

He sneered and sighed repeatedly. Shen Mingshu was really good at this. He gave Shen Chun a fake blueprint and fooled Shen Chun and him for so long.

With no more reservations, he decided that very night to lead his troops straight to Shen Chun's main camp and end the war as soon as possible.

Almost simultaneously with this decision, under the cover of the hazy night, dozens of warships sailing south from the north broke through the Jiangnan Customs and headed straight for Hangzhou.

The scouts gathered the latest information, wrote down the battle report, and sent it by carrier pigeon.

"Master, something terrible has happened!" Kong Qing rushed over with the message brought back by the carrier pigeon, her face extremely grim.

Pei Xiaoyun had just taken off his armor and was standing on the ship, facing the sea breeze, with his eyes closed, resting. "What is it?"

"Our men have sent military intelligence that tens of thousands of troops are marching south toward Hangzhou and Haikou. The commander seems to be Shen Mingshu, and the battle flags look like those of the imperial army."

Pei Xiaoyun suddenly opened her eyes, her eyelids twitching three times.

These words caught him off guard, but within moments he understood everything.

The emperor, that foolish child, has no troops at all. The ones with troops are those powerful families that he hasn't had time to eradicate. They took advantage of his fierce battle with Shen Chun and used the emperor's name to send troops south.

Shen Mingshu escaped from his command and went to submit to those powerful families in the imperial court.

He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white from the clenching of his fist.

"master……"

With Shen Chun in front and surrounded from behind, the situation was extremely bad. Even Kong Qing wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead and asked, "What should we do?"

Suddenly, a spark ignited in Pei Xiaoyun's eyes, a murderous aura filling the air. His voice turned cold at the end, resolute as a rock: "Fight. They're courting death, so let's send them on their way."

He would kill anyone who betrayed him.

This time, he will not let Shen Mingshu off the hook, even though he is Mingying's brother.

In the dead of night, the candles were extinguished by the sea breeze, and the waves were about to come.

In a battle between three armies, the outcome was extremely critical.

Pei Xiaoyun entered the cabin, then sat down and took out a map to sketch out the marching route in preparation for the upcoming expedition.

Seeing him walk in with an anxious expression, Mingying guessed what was going on and asked in a low voice, "Is it time for war?"

Pei Xiaoyun looked up at her. In the candlelight, her face was as serene as ever. One glance was enough to extinguish some of the anxiety in his heart.

He wouldn't tell her that her brother had betrayed him.

She doesn't need to know these things; he's enough for her.

So he put his arm around her waist, made her sit on his lap, and laughed, "Isn't it a war every day? What's there to be afraid of?"

Mingying didn't say anything, but looked down at the several winding sketches he had drawn and asked him, "What are these?"

Pei Xiaoyun lowered his head and smelled the fragrance in her hair. This posture reminded him of many times when he held her and taught her to write and paint.

This sense of calm can suppress the roaring waves outside the window.

"Route map, used for troop deployment," he replied casually, without saying anything more to her.

Next, he sealed the blueprints into envelopes, sealed them with sealing wax, and sent five envelopes out by carrier pigeon to the commanders scattered throughout the sea, instructing them to be on guard and ready to meet the enemy at any time.

There was another group of people scattered in the southernmost part of the country, which was causing him a great deal of trouble.

That place is blocked by the people of Chenchun. If we send a message there rashly, the carrier pigeon will definitely be intercepted by the enemy. Once the marching route map is leaked, it will do us no harm.

After thinking it over, his gaze fell on Mingying. He lifted her chin with his finger and, unusually, discussed it with her: "Mian'er, I will leave the remaining letter on the boat. If someone comes to collect it within three days, give it to them. If no one comes to collect it after three days, burn the letter and do not give it to anyone."

“But I don’t know them,” Mingying said blankly.

She could tell that the task he was talking about was of great importance and no small matter.

Pei Xiaoyun patted her hand to calm her nerves: "My people will tell you. They said they can trust you, so just hand it over, understand?"

He still remembers how she risked her own safety to deliver the letter for him back then.

He can't trust anyone now; the only one he can trust is her.

"As you said, war is about to break out." He whispered in her ear, his weariness dissipating. "Wait a few days, and I'll be back."

He never thought about what would happen if he lost, because he wouldn't lose.

His palm covered her chest, and he could feel her heart beating fast, like drumbeats or boiling raindrops.

"Why is your heart beating so fast? Are you worried about me?"

Mingying then held his hand and remained silent.

Pei Xiaoyun knew her personality well; he understood that she was worried about him.

He kissed her lips; in the last quiet night before the storm, his movements were three times more intense than the waves.

Unable to resist him, Mingying grabbed his arm and scratched a winding, bloody mark with her fingernails.

...

Overnight, the southward-bound troops approached the port, breaching Pei Xiaoyun's first line of defense, while Chen Chun's troops on both flanks also launched a strong offensive.

The battle reports kept coming, but none of them were good news.

Having withdrawn from the boudoir, Pei Xiaoyun donned light clothing, preparing for the fierce battle.

Last night, he was insatiable and tormented Mingying to and fro, so she was still asleep when he got up.

Hearing the sounds of weapons being unloaded from the ship, Mingying slightly opened her starry eyes, and what came into view was the man's broad back.

Seeing that she was awake, Pei Xiaoyun pinched her earlobe and said, "Go back to sleep. I'm leaving."

The men he left on the ship were enough to protect his safety.

If the battle situation exceeds expectations, he will have his men dock and escort her ashore.

As for what happened afterward, he didn't think about it anymore.

He never leaves himself a way out, nor does he ever think about it.

Mingying's voice was hoarse and she couldn't speak. Her body was wrapped in the quilt, with only her head showing. She nodded as if she knew.

No one mentioned anything else; it was just like a normal farewell.

Mingying watched quietly as he tidied his clothes, put on his armor, tucked his sword at his waist, and strode out.

She didn't know how much time had passed before the warship finally sailed away. She got up and opened the window, watching as Pei Xiaoyun's ship gradually became just a speck in the middle of the river. Finally, she felt a great sense of relief. Wearing a thick fleece cloak, she leaned against the window, like a frozen stone, standing there from morning till night.

Sparse fires lit up the sea, and the sounds of fighting grew louder as they approached, their echoes particularly clear in the long, silent night.

Behind me, there was a clattering sound, like bowls and plates clattering; it was Yu'er coming in to set the table.

"Miss, please have your meal."

Yu'er knew she was frail and was afraid she would catch a cold from the wind, which would be difficult to explain to the old man.

Besides, the sounds of fighting and killing were terrifying. She advised, "Miss, don't look. The master is brave and skilled in battle; he will surely return safely."

Upon hearing this, Mingying merely twitched the corner of her mouth and said indifferently, "I have no appetite. You can leave."

The fish went down into the water, and a moment later, the cabin was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Mingying pulled her cloak, which had been blown out of shape, closer, pursed her dry lips, and slightly raised her eyelids. The dark waves washed away the chaos in her eyes, revealing a fierce glint in them.

Her delicate features lost their dullness and gained a sharpness never before seen, revealing her hatred.

The pigeons were kept in a cage and, because they were not fed, they huddled together and made cooing noises.

She took a pigeon with a tiny mark on its foot from the iron cage, and released the rest of the flock.

Then he took the letter he left behind from the table, tore off the sealing wax seal, took out the letter, rolled it up, stuffed it into a letter tube about the size of a thumb, and tied the thing to the leg of the carrier pigeon.

The window was opened wider, and the howling wind pierced through every strand of her hair, as sharp as a knife.

Brave and skilled in battle?

She clenched her teeth, watching the carrier pigeon drift away on the wind, her heart pounding like a drum once more.

She wants him dead!

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Author's Note: [Go for it!] Kill him! There was foreshadowing in the last chapter, did you all guess it? [doge] There's a red envelope for those who guessed it! [doge]