Chapter 53: Night Walk
Sun Wei pondered. This was indeed not a good situation. There were only eight of them, and a dozen or so unarmed boatmen. If they really encountered a bad guy, they didn't know if they could resist.
There was silence on the boat; even the boatman stopped rowing. All that could be heard was the sound of the river water splashing against the hull.
She could even hear the sound of the opposite boat approaching, the oars hitting the water powerfully and rapidly.
A'ru pulled Sun Wei into the cabin, peering outwards, her hand already darting out a dagger. Outside, Deng Lian was positioning his few men at strategic points, setting up crossbows.
Soon, the fire on the opposite ship could be seen, growing brighter and brighter.
Sun Wei's heart was pounding, and thousands of scenarios flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, someone on the approaching boat shouted, "Put away your bows and arrows! It's the prince!"
Sima Jun?
Sun Wei was stunned for a moment.
At this time, the people on the deck outside had started moving around again, and someone laughed happily and said, "It's indeed the prince who has arrived!"
Sun Wei hurried out of the cabin and saw Deng Lian lowering a plank between the two boats. A man climbed up along the plank, his steps light and familiar. With a single push, he effortlessly crossed the side of the ship and landed on the deck. It was Sima Jun.
He was dressed in black, almost blending into the night, his eyes reflecting the firelight, bright and shining.
"You're very brave to sail at night." He said this to Deng Lian, but his eyes were looking straight at Sun Wei who was coming out of the cabin.
"Don't blame Sima Deng, it was my idea." Sun Wei said.
In the flickering firelight, Sima Jun's expression was unclear.
"Whose idea was it to move the warship without orders from above?"
Sun Wei remained calm and said, "It was my idea, but I had no choice. The situation at the time was dangerous, and I considered it over and over again before taking this route."
Sima Jun stood in front of her and looked at her.
"Since the danger is unclear, has it not occurred to Princess that returning to the palace would be the safest option?"
Sun Wei looked at him for a moment, then smiled and flattered him softly, "Yes, why didn't I think of that? The prince is indeed wise."
The words that Sima Jun was about to say were blocked.
With a cold face, he walked quickly into the boat house.
"Come in."
The tone was so unfriendly that even Deng Lian hesitated, not knowing who Sima Jun was referring to.
Sun Wei remained calm and said to Deng Lian and the others, "You've all worked hard. It's getting late. Go and rest."
After she said that, she turned and went into the boat house.
This cabin was the largest cabin on the ship and served as a meeting room. There were tables at the main seat and on either side, as well as shelves displaying feng shui instruments and weapons and armor.
Sima Jun was obviously very familiar with this place. He sat down in the main seat and said, "Madam, do you know what the consequences will be if this ship goes any further?"
Sun Wei said, "I don't know. But since the prince is here, it's definitely dangerous ahead."
"Madam, you are very clever. Why don't you tell me your fortune now?"
Sun Wei said, "I've calculated it, and the hexagram indicated a very bad omen, but with the arrival of the prince, things have turned for the better. The prince is truly blessed."
Sima Jun: “…”
He had long been convinced that Sun Wei was a liar. Now, she refused to even pretend.
Even so, there was still something about this woman that puzzled him. The location of the ship was a confidential matter, strictly forbidden in the palace. She had just arrived in Jiankang, and her every word and action was under Cao Song's surveillance, so there was no way she could have inquired about such a matter. How did she know where his ship was hidden?
And why was she suddenly being hunted?
Today, the Crown Prince suddenly sent Sima Jun an urgent message, saying the princess might have been intercepted, and ordered him to go to the dock at Jingkou to meet her. Upon arriving, he spotted several suspicious individuals inside. His trip was a covert one, and he didn't want to alert the enemy, so he boarded a small boat to intercept the warship.
Sima Jun looked at Sun Wei. The candlelight cast a soft shadow on her face, making her look harmless.
He knew that there was something wrong with this person, but he couldn't find any evidence against her.
When facing her, he couldn't help but ask himself whether he was really too suspicious, and whether she was really an innocent and good person with magical powers?
Sima Jun, in commanding his troops, had always forbidden any involvement in occult practices like spirit writing and witchcraft, and he had even executed several charlatans who claimed to be invulnerable and attempted to preach within the army. He had thought that Lu Shi might be just one of them, and perhaps he should let her run into the wrong person and fall into their trap, thus saving him a worry.
But the moment he learned that she was in danger, he didn't think about it and immediately set off.
"I wonder where the prince came from?" Sun Wei asked, "What happened on the river?"
Sima Jun did not answer, but abruptly stood up and left the boathouse. He then ordered Deng Lian to turn the boat around and dock at the ferry a mile behind.
Soon, we arrived at the ferry.
The ferry was used to dock sampans, and large ships could not dock. Everyone had to transfer to the small boat Sima Jun brought with him, and then board the ferry.
The boatman threw down a ladder and lowered it onto the boat below.
The wind was strong at night, the water on the river was shaking, and the ladder was not very stable.
Sima Jun's men were all accustomed to walking on water, so it was no problem for them. Some of them didn't even need a ladder, and easily jumped onto the boat.
Sima Jun went down first and waited for Sun Wei to come down on the boat.
Sun Wei looked down, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
She had never seen such a scene in her two lives. Looking at the dark river water below, she was actually a little scared.
"Just climb the rope, don't be afraid." A voice came from below.
Sima Jun was looking up at her, holding the ladder steady with his hands.
Her heart inexplicably calmed down, and Sun Wei followed the instructions, grabbed the rope on the ladder, and walked down step by step.
Before she landed, someone had already held her arm.
Sima Jun has always been very strong, and just like in his previous life, his hands were like iron hoops.
But it's strangely reassuring.
Sun Wei, using his strength, finally landed on the boat. But compared to the warship, the boat was even more shaky. A wave came over, and Sun Wei lost his balance. With a cry of surprise, he grabbed Sima Jun's arm.
Sima Jun looked down at the clenched hands on his forearms, as if a drowning man was grabbing a piece of driftwood.
"Madam, aren't you a very good swimmer? How come you can't even withstand such a small storm?" he suddenly asked.
Sun Wei's heart skipped a beat.
"It was fine originally." Sun Wei forced herself to remain calm, "But ever since I nearly drowned in the Cangwu flood, I've developed a fear of water. Especially when I'm on a boat, the slightest swaying makes me terrified."
"Oh, really?" Sima Juan said lightly, not knowing whether to believe it or not.
Seeing A'ru also coming down from the warship, Sun Wei quickly let go of Sima Jun and grabbed A'ru.
The boat left the ship and headed towards the ferry.
Sun Wei sat next to A Ru on the boat, her back facing Sima Jun. But she felt a chill running down her spine, as if someone was staring at her thoughtfully.
When he finally reached the shore, Sun Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
