For Zhou Pei, to some extent, that might have been a period of memory she least wanted to mention or recall in the future. At the age of fifteen, she went to the capital to escape marriage, attempting to create a remarkable tale of a heroine who could match men, which sounded good, but she hadn't anticipated encountering such a significant setback right from the start. Originally hiding in the box, she considered whether to speak up, but by the time she made a decision, it was already too late.

Leaving the Yangtze River from the Jiangning wharf, Zhou Pei was confined in that large box without a ray of light throughout the bumpy journey on the river. For her, who had always been pampered, the fear in her heart was beyond words. But even if she desperately hammered at the walls of the wooden box, the sound that could be transmitted was minimal. The boxes next to hers contained heavy objects and had leaned against hers due to the constant jolting. She realized that calling for help was futile, but she still had a dagger with her, and then she started cutting the box walls while crying. However, after cutting for a long time, she only managed to cut a small opening. In fact, if it hadn't been for this small opening speeding up ventilation, she probably would have suffocated in the box before long.

The time that followed was a complete nightmare. Darkness, hunger, panic, and exhaustion were like tortures Zhou Pei had never imagined before. Although the box was quite large, the fifteen-year-old girl couldn't fully stretch her body inside. Sweat soaked her clothes, and the knife cut a gash on her hand. She once thought she was going to die, and then she realized the most embarrassing urge to urinate...

She didn't know how long she had been in that big box. When she was conscious, she would knock on the box walls, sometimes kicking with her legs, sometimes scratching with her fingers. Sometimes she thought, "I'm going to die, I'm going to die," and sometimes she felt it would be better to die. The air and time in the box gradually became strange. In a daze, she felt like the demon in a bottle that the teacher had mentioned before, wondering how she would be discovered.

Sometimes she thought that if someone could save her, she would love him forever and repay him well, no matter how he treated her. Thinking of embarrassing things, she curled up and felt a warm current flowing between her legs, crying painfully against the box wall.

Sometimes she remembered the teachings at home. She was a princess, with the blood of the imperial family flowing in her veins, possessing the dignity of the royal family. Although she couldn't see her appearance in the dark, she could imagine that she must already be in a terrible state. If someone saw her, their first thought would probably be to kill her to silence her.

Her heart wavered between giving herself in marriage and being silenced, and she had many confused dreams. She dreamed that she was getting married, but then she killed her husband, sometimes by imperial decree, sometimes by her own hand. No matter which time, she cried. Sometimes she thought of that teacher. She actually admired the teacher's poetry and talent, but the teacher probably didn't know. She had wanted to say it several times and had always wanted the teacher to see her extraordinary qualities. She was the little princess praised by so many people, liked by many, with people coming to propose marriage. She wanted to show her noble and elegant side in front of the teacher, but the teacher didn't seem surprised. She was admired by so many people in her circle...

After all, they weren't in the same circle. Ning Liheng was too strange; he wasn't in any circle. Then, in the dream, he turned into the teacher, and she felt... after he died, she was so sad...

In this chaotic fantasy and dream, time passed as long as if it had been several days. Her consciousness was actually becoming more and more blurred, difficult to form clues. When the first ray of light finally appeared and she saw Ning Yi's appearance, she still felt it was a dream. However, between reality and dream, that figure made her feel a little peace, and she finally fell asleep tiredly...

**************

Without much bumping, the boat moved forward, breaking through the waves.

Ning Yi stood on the railing at the rear of the big boat, watching the scenery. In the summer evening, the scenery on both sides of the river receded with the boat, and occasionally pedestrians passed by in that picture. It was already the third day after departure, heading north into the Grand Canal. The weather was clear, and the sunset was beautiful. Several large boats sailed, breaking through the waves, making people feel refreshed.

On the other hand, the room he had originally lived in had now been occupied by Zhou Pei. The little princess, only fifteen years old, was in her rebellious period according to later generations. Ning Yi didn't want to get involved in her strange and tangled thoughts. Although they were nominally teacher and student, at least from Ning Yi's perspective, they weren't close. He didn't need to be too considerate to such a young girl.

When he carried the little princess out of the box, the girl, who had been locked up for a day and a night, was indeed in an extremely miserable state, perhaps even in a dying state. Many adults might not be able to endure being locked in such an environment for so long, let alone a young girl. After waking up yesterday afternoon, she had been silent while curled up on the bed, looking much thinner than when she was high-spirited. It was estimated that she already had a shadow in her heart and would not be able to recover for a while.

If he were a responsible parent, he would probably have sent her back to Jiangning at this time, but Ning Yi chose to stay out of it. He wrote a letter and sent it back to Kang Xian via carrier pigeon, and simply gave the room to the girl who was traumatized and unwilling to move, so as not to become a villain in her eyes.

Now, there were only a few people who knew that the little princess was on the boat, except for him and the steward who stood guard outside the door yesterday, there was only Xiao Chan. However, although Xiao Chan had no problem taking care of people, she couldn't do anything about the girl's psychological trauma. When it was time to eat, Ning Yi still had to bring hot porridge in. Perhaps because she had been locked in the dark for too long, even when she saw Ning Yi, the girl sat on the bed hugging the quilt with a complicated expression, as if she was fearful or scared. But if it was Xiao Chan, even if she approached her, there would be no positive reaction, or she would simply hug the quilt and shrink into the corner of the bed.

After Ning Yi rescued her from the box, Ning Yi first had Xiao Chan bathe and change Zhou Pei's clothes and bandage her wounds. At that time, she was still unconscious, so she was at Xiao Chan's disposal. After waking up, it was no longer appropriate to do that. She was wearing Xiao Chan's single clothes that she had brought on the road on the bed. Even though it was Xiao Chan's prettiest dress, it looked a bit shabby on Zhou Pei. She had bandages on her fingers, and her long hair, which had been well maintained, was also scattered down. Sitting on the bed, she looked particularly thin and small, with a bit of pity.

Ning Yi sat by the bed and spooned the porridge for her to eat.

"...The boat has passed Yangzhou and is no longer on the Yangtze River, so it won't be so bumpy next time. It's getting late now, and we'll probably dock near Huai'an at night. Many people on the boat will go to the city to stay. You can consider it. The news that you are on the boat hasn't been made public yet, but it's not a big deal. If you feel better, go out and take a walk. The scenery on the boat is not bad."

As he said this, he held out the spoon. Zhou Pei ate a little bit for a long time, then shrunk back slightly, hugged the quilt, and lowered her head. Ning Yi said, "However, the news has been sent back to your Grandpa Kang via carrier pigeon. Think about what to do next. It's best to go back, of course. You are a member of the royal family, and it's good that nothing happened. If things get out of hand, no one can handle it. Steward Liu, who is following the boat, is almost scared to death by you."

Ning Yi said a few words, and Zhou Pei moved slightly, feeling aggrieved, and whispered, "Teacher... are you troubled?"

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably answer that they were not troubled, but Ning Yi nodded: "It is indeed a bit of trouble, but you should take care of your body first... give me your hand."

After feeding the porridge, Ning Yi changed the medicine and bandages on her fingers. Zhou Pei's fingers were long and white, stretched out there, occasionally touched, slightly trembling, perhaps the fingertips were still painful.

"Next time, let Xiao Chan change it for you. You've seen her before. Now she is my wife and can be considered your Shiniang (師娘 - teacher's wife). Your status is too high, she is a bit stressed, don't scare her."

In fact, it was Zhou Pei who was traumatized now, but after all, she was well-educated. After Ning Yi said this, even if she resisted others, she had to show some closeness to Xiao Chan. But then she heard her whispering, "Isn't Xiao Chan teacher's concubine..."

"A concubine is a wife." Ning Yi replied.

"I... I haven't heard others say that..."

"My family's rules." Ning Yi smiled, seeing that she had started to speak, he said again, "By the way, what is your relationship with that Zhuo Yunfeng?"

"Zhuo... Zhuo Yunfeng?" Zhou Pei probably thought for a while before reacting, "He... no relationship..." She didn't understand why Ning Yi suddenly asked this.

"I think he speaks quite well and is very talented. From his speech, he seems to be quite familiar with you..."

"Teacher, you... have you seen him?" Zhou Pei raised her head slightly, then lowered her head again, and whispered, "Oh... he... he asked someone to find the teacher?"

"He's on the boat."

"Ah?" This time Zhou Pei was startled, and she lowered her head, not knowing what she was thinking. She only heard Ning Yi say, "He seems to have a good impression of you, and it is estimated that he has already proposed marriage to your family..."

Zhou Pei quickly shook her head, and then said: "He... he is the son of the Princess Chaoyang. Aunt Chaoyang originally married a commander, but later that Commander Zhuo committed a crime, and his family fell into decline. Because of Aunt Chaoyang's relationship, the above did not punish him too much. Zhuo Yunfeng... is quite smart. Aunt Chaoyang sent him here when he was a child to study with a teacher with me. So I and him can be considered acquaintances..."

Thinking about this, she had many thoughts that she didn't say. Among the various young people around Zhou Pei, Zhuo Yunfeng was considered one of the most outstanding. They were also somewhat acquainted, but it had not reached the point of romantic love. Although both families were royal, the bloodlines had been separated for several generations. After the news of Zhou Pei's selection of a prince consort came out, the Zhuo family had sent someone to propose marriage. Zhou Pei, as usual, politely declined. Zhuo Yunfeng was also a proud person, and he had never mentioned this matter before or after that.

However, since Zhou Pei also somewhat admired his talent, they were naturally closer than ordinary people. Regarding her admiration for Ning Yi's talent, she inevitably expressed it in her words and actions. Zhuo Yunfeng should know this, but she didn't know how much he had told the teacher.

She often showed a disapproving attitude towards Ning Yi in the past. If Ning Yi knew about this now, she would naturally lose a lot of face. Although in her mind, she had already lost face beyond compare when he carried her out of the box earlier – this day, she lay on the bed, thinking over and over again about how she was carried out at that time. In her imagination, it was simply a more embarrassing scene than being carried out naked, so that she sometimes wanted to cry and sometimes wanted to hide and not see anyone – but at this time, she still couldn't help but feel uneasy. Fortunately, Ning Yi nodded after hearing her say this and didn't ask any more questions.

After saying a few words to Zhou Pei and seeing that her condition had improved, Ning Yi felt relieved. When he took the bowls and chopsticks out, he saw Zhuo Yunfeng and several other people coming from the side of the cabin. They came over to say hello. Looking at the tray in Ning Yi's hand, he said, "Mr. Ning, do you clean up yourself after eating?" Ning Yi smiled: "It's just convenient."

Most of the people with Zhuo Yunfeng were the children of wealthy families from the Jiangning area. Ning Yi didn't know them, so he didn't greet them. After he left, Zhuo Yunfeng looked thoughtfully at the room for a few times, and walked away while talking to everyone. What a few people were discussing was exactly Ning Yi's identity. Someone said: "Living here, could he be an accountant?"

"Judging by Yunfeng's attitude, it seems like he is someone's aide. He may be going to the capital."

Zhuo Yunfeng said: "He is Ning Liheng."

Everyone had heard this name: "So it's our first talent?" In their words, they weren't too surprised. Then someone said: "The princess's teacher, right?"

At this time, there were naturally people who were quite familiar with Zhuo Yunfeng. When they reached the bend in front, they whispered, "Yunfeng, didn't you want to marry that little princess before? Why are you suddenly going to the capital again this time..." Zhuo Yunfeng looked back and only frowned and shook his head without speaking.

They gradually drifted away, and their voices became unclear. Among them, besides Zhuo Yunfeng, there were certainly people who knew Zhou Pei. But just as they walked past, Zhou Pei was lying on the bed in the inner room, gently biting her fingers and thinking about her small, chaotic thoughts. She didn't listen carefully to the slight noise outside.

In the room not far from here, Su Wenyu, who was traveling with them, was lying pale on the bed, seasick these days. On the outer side of the ship's railing, Ning Yi greeted Wenren Bu'er who was coming. On a large boat in the back, Yunzhu and Jin'er sat by the window watching the scenery, talking to each other. The boat was full of strangers, and they were women, so they didn't go out much after they moved in. The sunset was red, shining on the rolling river below, carrying everyone's thoughts, and on this night, they arrived in Xuyi, a county town near Huai'an.

Huai'an is the intersection of the Huai River and the Grand Canal. Although Xuyi is not as prosperous as Huai'an, many people on the boat went into the city at night to have fun. However, late at night, several servants rushed back in a panic, saying that a young marquis had a quarrel with someone in a brothel in the county town and was then abducted...

**************

I've been away from home for a whole month and I'm finally home. (To be continued. Please vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)