Chapter 82 Mu Yu's eyes can see light again!

"Merchant ships from the Northern Frontier?"

Mu Fang frowned, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

Traveling from Jiangnan to the capital by water is the fastest way, but it also means there are more uncertainties.

"How many ships are there? What is their size?" Chu Chongjin asked calmly.

"Your Highness, there is only one ship, moored alone in the middle of the river three miles ahead. It doesn't look like there's an ambush," the scout reported.

That's even stranger.

What can a ship do?

"Let's go take a look." Chu Chong ordered, and the fleet slowed down. The Xuanjia Army warships formed a triangular formation around the imperial warship, and all the crossbows were cocked, entering a state of combat readiness.

As the distance closed, the merchant ship became clearer.

The ship was not large, and a tall man dressed in northern Xinjiang clothing stood on the deck, followed by only a few attendants.

As the imperial ship approached, the man took the initiative to call out in broken Mandarin: "I am Wu En, a merchant from the Northern Frontier, and I have important business to discuss with His Highness the Ninth Prince of Great Chu!"

Xiao Beichen held up his monoculars and curled his lip: "These few people, they want to see His Highness? Let's just send them away."

Yan Ziche shook his head: "Something's not right. He specifically asked to see His Highness, which means he knows we're on this ship. This information was either leaked by Sikong Ming's people, or... he has his own intelligence sources."

After a moment's thought, Chu Chongjin understood the other party's intention.

"Have them send a small boat over, and only that guy named Une is allowed to come aboard."

Soon, the Northern Frontier merchant who called himself Wu En was brought onto the deck.

He was in his thirties, with dark skin, a hooked nose, and sharp, eagle-like eyes.

He first performed a Northern Frontier-style chest-touching salute to Chu Chongjin, then his gaze swept over Mu Fang, Xiao Beichen, and the others before finally settling on Mu Yu.

Mu Yu was being held in Mu Fang's arms, curiously "smelling" this stranger.

He had a strange smell; there was the smell of mutton, the smell of leather, and a faint... wolf-like odor.

It doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't smell good either.

“Your Highness, Ninth Prince,” Wu En said bluntly, “I’ve come to make a deal with you.”

"Oh? I have never met you before. What deal can we make?" Chu Chongjin said calmly.

Uen grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "I know you've seized Sikong Ming's money bag in Jiangnan, and you also know part of his plans."

Upon hearing this, Mu Fang and Xiao Beichen's eyes instantly turned cold.

“I can also tell you which tribe in our northern frontier he is colluding with, what their specific plans are, and even… the route map of the Wolf Guard’s entry into the pass.”

These words struck like a thunderbolt.

Chu Chongjin's eyes narrowed: "What are your conditions?"

"I want Sikong Ming dead!" Wu En's eyes blazed with deep-seated hatred. "And all the supplies he's stockpiled on the northern border will be mine!"

"Do you have a grudge against him?" Xiao Beichen couldn't help but ask.

“He killed my whole family!” Un’s voice was filled with suppressed rage. “He disguised himself as a merchant, gained my father’s trust, and then, with the help of others, annexed our tribe and stole all our cattle, sheep, and grain!”

I see.

They've come seeking revenge.

"Why should I trust you?" Chu Chongjin asked the most crucial question.

Uen pulled a token from his pocket and threw it over.

Xiao Beichen caught it; it was a centurion's token of the Northern Frontier Wolf Guard.

“This is something I cut off from a Wolf Guard officer. As a token of my sincerity, I can tell you the first piece of information: Sikong Ming not only wants to invite wolves into the house, he also wants to add something to His Majesty the Emperor’s soup in the capital.”

Yan Ziche's pupils contracted.

This is regicide!

"Deal." Chu Chongjin said almost without hesitation. "Write down everything he knows. Yan Ziche, you go and ask him yourself."

Yan Ziche accepted the order and led Wu En to the cabin.

A massive crisis seemed to have been partially averted by an unexpected "ally".

Xiao Beichen was still somewhat incredulous: "Could this guy be someone Sikong Ming sent to trick me?"

Mu Fang said in a deep voice, "The hatred in him is real. It's not surprising that someone like Sikong Ming would do anything to achieve his goals and make several enemies with deep-seated hatred."

Chu Chongjin looked into the distance, knowing that the waters of the capital were probably even deeper than those of Jiangnan.

The disturbance dissipated without a trace, and the fleet continued its journey.

As night fell, the moon rose high in the sky.

The silvery moonlight spilled onto the wide canal, making it shimmer like a flowing brocade.

Mu Yu couldn't sleep, so she asked Mu Fang to carry her to the deck to look at the moon.

The evening breeze was cool and felt very comfortable.

Mu Yu rested her head on her father's broad shoulder, humming a tuneless lullaby.

Since the Fortune Pond has risen significantly, her sleepiness has improved considerably, and she has become much more energetic.

She "looked" at the world before her.

Although it was still dark, she had become accustomed to using her sense of smell, hearing, and touch to perceive everything.

Father smelled of sunshine, Brother Beichen smelled of sweat and weapons, and Brother Chongjin smelled of a faint ambergris and... a golden scent that made her feel very comfortable.

Her little nose twitched, and she smelled the water and the moonlight again.

Wait, the smell of moonlight?

How can moonlight have a smell?

She tried hard to discern that it was a cool, refreshing sensation, like a mint candy.

She looked curiously at the water.

In her perception, the river illuminated by the moonlight seemed different from the darkness elsewhere.

There...it seems to be light there.

It was not the colored light seen through the Eye of Fortune, but a very, very faint light in the physical sense.

"Huh?" she exclaimed softly.

"What's wrong, Xiaoyuer?" Mu Fang asked softly.

“Daddy,” Mu Yu pointed her little finger at the river, “Look, the moon is blinking in the water.”

Mu Fang looked in the direction she pointed and saw only a patch of moonlight like shattered silver.

"Yes, the moon's reflection in the water is beautiful."

“It’s not a reflection,” Mu Yu said, struggling to find the words, “it’s… lots and lots of tiny points of light, dancing. Flashing, flashing.”

Chu Chongjin and Yan Ziche also came over.

"What did the young princess say?"

Mu Fang repeated Mu Yu's words.

Yan Ziche squatted down and asked curiously, "Little Yu'er, can you see the light now?"

“It’s not seeing,” Mu Yu shook her head, “it’s…feeling. Like, eating a mint with your eyes.”

The analogy was strange, but everyone present understood it.

Chu Chongjin's heart stirred, and he reached out and gently covered Mu Yu's eyes.

A wisp of pure purple-gold dragon energy slowly passed over.

Mu Yu let out an "Ah".

"What's wrong?" Everyone immediately tensed up.

"The sugar... has become sweeter," Mu Yu said in her childish voice.

In her perception, those faint points of light, which were originally like fireflies, seemed to become brighter and clearer under the cover of Chu Chongjin's dragon aura.

Although it is still blurry and the outlines of anything are still indistinct, this is undoubtedly a huge step forward!

"It works!" Yan Ziche was so excited he almost jumped up. "His Highness's dragon aura can enhance the little princess's ability to recover her sense of light!"

Mu Fang's large hand trembled slightly as he cautiously asked, "Little Yu'er, really? You can really feel the light?"

"Mmm!" Mu Yu nodded vigorously, then snuggled closer to Mu Fang. "Daddy, I think... I'll be able to see your beard soon."

Although she had no idea what a beard looked like.

But those words gave everyone present a glimmer of hope.

Return to Beijing!

We must return to Beijing immediately!

Find the best imperial physician, use the best medicine, and combine it with the Ninth Prince's dragon energy!

Their little water goddess, their little lucky star, will soon be able to see the world she has protected.