Misty Rain of the Old Times

As the water level of the Qingping River drops, the wharf in Shanglinping County is no longer as bustling as it used to be, adding a touch of desolation.

As the main transportation link in Shanglinping County, the river's water level has dropped by more than ten feet, making it difficult for large cargo ships to dock. This has had a chain reaction that has directly and seriously affected the livelihoods of the entire county.

The most direct victims are the laborers who make a living by carrying goods at the docks. When cargo ships have difficulty docking, they have no work to do and are filled with confusion and helplessness. Even if medium and light cargo ships can use gangplanks, the longer the distance, the more hardship they suffer. Moreover, there are too many laborers vying for work, and those who cannot get a job will not earn any income, which can easily lead to conflicts.

For ordinary people, they are not afraid of hardship or fatigue. As long as they are willing to endure hardship, there is no end to the hardships they can endure. But even if they endure hardship, it is too difficult to have a stable life.

A few dozen passenger boats, fishing boats, and cargo ships were scattered on the river outside the dock, less than half the number of those in the past.

The most eye-catching one was a three-story ship on the side, more than ten feet long. It was a small to medium-sized vessel. Although it was not magnificent and ornate, it showed ingenuity in every detail. It was understated yet luxurious and tasteful. It was brand new and exceptionally clean, which immediately set it apart from the old ships exposed to the elements around it.

The people waiting eagerly on the ship were dressed in silk brocade, which shimmered faintly in the bright sun. Many people glanced at them discreetly, wondering which wealthy family was about to depart. They dared not look too closely, lest they displease the distinguished guests.

The ship was docked in a special area. Not only was a temporary gangplank erected to connect it directly to the ship, but the usually menacing management staff of the dock were also watching closely to prevent anyone from getting close.

Despite being called management, they were nothing more than gang members who leeched off the laborers at the bottom. They stood tall and looked down on everyone, as if guarding ships made them superior.

In reality, no one asked them to do this; they volunteered and took the initiative. Didn't you see that the people waiting on the ship didn't even glance at them? Yet they remained meticulous, as if they had gotten a huge advantage.

As the convoy arrived and stopped at the dock, the management team instinctively lowered their chests, appearing incredibly humble, not daring to look back even once. They maintained that posture until the convoy members boarded the ship and set sail. Only after the ship had gone downstream did they straighten their chests, disdainfully survey their surroundings, and loudly go off to drink heavily, shouting that they had served a VIP, even though the VIP didn't know who they were, but this was something they could brag about for the rest of their lives.

As for who this benefactor is, and how powerful they are, well, their status is beyond words, unspeakable. If I told you, it would scare you to death…

Standing at the bow of the boat, with the river breeze blowing in his face, Chen Xuan couldn't help but think back to when he went to the Gao family's house years ago. It was also on this river. More than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. The difference is that back then, arriving at the Shanglinping County Wharf was the end of the journey, but this time it was the beginning.

Xia Mei arranged the ship herself, and she didn't care where Chen Xuan came from. In short, she wouldn't take it by force, so she was very satisfied.

Brand new, almost never used, it's probably like those luxury cruise ships that many wealthy people in Chen Xuan's hometown buy and leave to gather dust. I wonder where Xia Mei found it in such a short time.

It was already luxurious enough, but Chen Xuan vaguely sensed that Xia Mei seemed to feel quite aggrieved. After all, it was a princess and her son-in-law traveling together, and there was no ceremonial procession or even a escort fleet.

There weren't many people on the ship, less than thirty in total. They were all loyal people transferred from the capital by Steward Hua, each with their own duties. It wasn't crowded, but it wasn't exactly spacious either, given how big the ship was.

After the little princess and her entourage boarded the ship, they went to arrange their luggage. They would be staying on the ship for a while, so they needed to get ready. Chen Xuan, a grown man, didn't need to get involved in such matters; he would only make things worse.

The ship has three decks. The top deck is where Chen Xuan and his wife, along with Yun Lan, Yun Xin, and Du Juan, live. The second deck is where Xia Mei and some palace maids live. The first deck houses the eunuchs who also serve as sailors, as well as a small dining room and kitchen. The cabins are used for storing miscellaneous items.

Turning his gaze away, Chen Xuan asked Xia Mei, who was diligently patrolling the area, "Aunt Mei, did you arrange those people at the dock? There was really no need. This isn't like traveling as a princess in the capital, requiring a grand procession. There's no need to disturb the people."

"My lord, I have no idea what happened," Xia Mei said, also somewhat puzzled. If Chen Xuan hadn't asked, she wouldn't have thought so much about it. After all, this kind of thing is only natural, isn't it? In the past, no matter where the princess went, there was no need for special arrangements; there were always people who knew how to handle things to take care of things in advance.

As for the idea of ​​disturbing the peace, Xia Mei thought it was insignificant. There was no quiet street, no red carpet, and no curtains to block others' view. Otherwise, as a princess, being looked at by someone would be an offense.

Chen Xuan immediately understood. He guessed that those low-level thugs had somehow gotten wind of this and were deliberately trying to curry favor with him. They were good at getting along with people in the docks, and they didn't seek merit but only to avoid mistakes. Not to mention people like Chen Xuan, anyone with a bit of background could have their livelihood ruined if they encountered something unpleasant in the chaotic docks and took it out on them with just a few words.

There was no need to take this to heart. With nothing else to do, Chen Xuan propped himself up on the gunwale and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Aunt Mei, could you get me a fishing rod? My hands are itching. I've done some calculations, and I'm going to have a great catch today. We'll have a whole fish feast tonight."

"Please wait a moment, sir," Xia Mei responded and left with a smile on her lips. From the first time Chen Xuan met the little princess, she had been around almost constantly. Many times when Chen Xuan went fishing, as long as he didn't use any tricks, his catch was really nothing to brag about. He was both bad at fishing and loved to play. Fortunately, food was precious in this era, and no one was willing to use food to bait the fishpond. Otherwise, Chen Xuan might have been able to fatten up a whole river of fish.

Although she was a guard, she had watched the little princess grow up. From the bottom of her heart, she also regarded Chen Xuan as a junior. Seeing how loving the young couple was now, she was extremely happy for them.

Ask any man in the world, how many would spend their honeymoon traveling and sightseeing with their wife after marriage? He's practically spoiling his little princess rotten. After all, given Chen Xuan's cultivation level, time is incredibly precious, yet he's willing to spend so much of it on making his wife happy.

The fishing gear arrived quickly, brought by Yunlan. Chen Xuan realized that it was probably arranged by the little princess. As dowry maids, she and Yunxin would be Chen Xuan's bedmates sooner or later. When the little princess became unwell, they would have to serve her in bed.

The two sisters are arguably the princess's most trusted confidants. The princess is always generous to her own people and definitely hopes that Chen Xuan will have the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with them, as they want to spend their lives together.

Yunlan and Yunxin, the twin sisters, look exactly alike, so Chen Xuan could easily tell them apart. He turned around and smiled, "Xiaolan, are they still not ready?"

Wearing a light blue dress, Yunlan handed over the fishing gear and said, "Madam said she wants to decorate the room to be as cozy as home, which will probably take a while. I heard that Master wants to go fishing, but they don't need that many people over there, so I came to check. Will this disturb Master?"

The fishing rod was made of solid golden bamboo, which was extremely tough, and the fishing line was made of ice silkworm silk. Chen Xuan weighed it in his hand and thought that this thing could not only catch fish, but it could even pull a shark up by force.

With a pre-cooked wheat stalk on the hook, Chen Xuan casually cast his line, saying, "I won't bother you. Master, I've already reached the pinnacle of fishing. If you're free, sit next to me and watch me show you my skills."

As he spoke, Chen Xuan patted the side of the ship beside him. "We're all on the same side. Bragging isn't illegal. Let's just have some fun."

Upon hearing this, Yunlan was overjoyed. She gracefully lifted her skirt, stepped over the gunwale, and sat down next to Chen Xuan. Her heart pounded slightly as she said matter-of-factly, "Master is the most capable man in the world. He's good at everything. Fishing is a piece of cake for him."

It was late spring, the sun was shining brightly every day, and the weather was gradually getting warmer. Yunlan, who already possessed considerable cultivation, didn't wear many clothes. Beneath her skirt were a pair of long, straight, and beautiful legs that were white and slender. When she lifted her skirt and stepped over the gunwale, the hem was above her knees, dazzling in the sunlight. Besides palace maids and eunuchs, who were also elsewhere on the ship, Chen Xuan was the only man present. After being brought along as part of the dowry, Yunlan and her sister were now Chen Xuan's women. With their backs to him, they didn't seem to care much about appearances, perhaps harboring some ulterior motives. The status of dowry maids was already precarious, and they hoped Chen Xuan would occasionally glance at them.

The gunwale was only a hand's width wide. She sat on it, the hem of her skirt below her waist slightly taut, outlining a breathtaking curve. With her skirt down and legs together, her small feet in embroidered shoes swayed slightly. It was a rare occasion to be alone with Chen Xuan, and she was in an exceptionally pleasant mood.

Without feigning superiority, Chen Xuan reluctantly withdrew his gaze, raised his chin with an expression of smug self-importance, and said, "That's right, the fish will be served soon, and I have a feeling it'll be a big one."

The boat was quite fast, Yunlan thought with a smile. Could they even catch any fish like this? That wasn't important. What mattered was that she was happy to be with Chen Xuan. She nodded and said, "It's an honor for them to be caught by Master. The fish will be fighting over the hook!"

“I love to hear that. Xiao Lan, you don’t know, every time I go fishing with Lao Deng, he always looks down on me for cheating. Little does he know that he’s not as good as me. He’s the biggest cheater in the world,” Chen Xuan said with a smile.

She was already used to him occasionally spouting some inexplicable words, and Yunlan could guess their general meaning. However, she dared not mention the matter of the retired emperor, not even in order to please Chen Xuan. She lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed, and changed the subject, saying, "Master, was it beautiful just now?"

"Beautiful, with graceful lines, as white as jade, long and slender. In my hometown dialect, we'd say legs that you could play with for years," Chen Xuan said frankly. He wasn't exactly a gentleman, so he couldn't say something against his conscience.

As the saying goes, a woman adorns herself for the one who appreciates her. Since she was already Chen Xuan's woman, hearing his words, Yunlan felt honored to receive his favor. Her heart raced, and she gently lifted her skirt, saying softly, "If Master likes to see me, I'm ready anytime. I just hope Master won't find it offensive."

Chen Xuan's eyes darted around as if he had auto-aimed, looking at me again and again, and he laughed, "Is Xiao Lan trying to distract me and make me look foolish because she knows that my fishing skills have reached a state of perfection?"

"No, it's because Master likes it that I'm willing," she said softly, shaking her head.

Clearing his throat, Chen Xuan said in a mocking tone, "You can't do that again next time."

With a sweet smile, Yunlan stopped disturbing him while he was fishing and carefully moved closer to Chen Xuan. When he didn't react, she moved closer until their shoulders were touching, and she was secretly delighted.

She wanted to rest her head on her shoulder, but was afraid of disturbing his fishing. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Chen Xuan's left hand was still free. She tentatively reached out to touch it, and slowly took it and placed it on her thigh.

Chen Xuan was well aware of her little tricks. He hissed inwardly, wondering where she learned them from. He was still fishing and she was distracting him. But he didn't move his hand away. Only he knew the feeling behind it.

Yunlan's body tensed for a moment before going limp, her face flushed red and as beautiful as a flower.

Chen Xuan, who was focused on fishing, was puzzled. It had been almost half an hour, and in such a big river, why hadn't any fish taken the bait? It was definitely not because his skills were lacking, but because the boat was going too fast and the bait couldn't sink. No wonder he couldn't catch any fish.

Fortunately, Yunlan, a considerate woman, offered him some comfort. Sometime later, she quietly had someone set up a small table with tea, snacks, and fruits on it. Every now and then, she would use her delicate hands to feed him tea or food. She wasn't fishing at all; she was clearly enjoying herself, and that was indeed the case.

They set off from home at noon, boarded a boat in the afternoon and headed south. As the sun was about to set below the horizon, the sky was ablaze with red clouds, making the river surface seem as if it were on fire. It was impossible to tell whether it was the setting sun over the long river or the sun about to leap from the river.

Suddenly, Chen Xuan felt the fishing line tighten, and immediately beamed with joy, exclaiming triumphantly, "I've got a fish! I knew it! My fishing skills are the best in the world!"

"Master is amazing! Quick, lift it up and see how big it is!" Yunlan cheered excitedly from the side.

With a wave of his hand, he pulled a small carp, about the length of a palm, out of the water.

Before Yunlan's cheers had even subsided, and just as she was wondering how to flatter her, Chen Xuan exclaimed with smug delight, "Tsk tsk, as expected of me! Such a big fish! With two pieces of tofu, you could make a whole pot of soup! We can't finish it, we simply can't finish it! Wait... uh, where's my fish basket?"

“Here it is, sir,” Yunlan immediately handed over the fish basket. Although she didn’t understand why her master was so happy, she was happy for him anyway.

A fisherman is happy to catch a fish, no matter how big it is, just focus on whether he caught it or not.

With a successful start, Chen Xuan continued to bait his hook and fish.

Perhaps Yunlan's cheers caught the attention of the little princesses, who had also finished tidying up. Then, one by one, they gathered around Chen Xuan to watch him fish. Before they arrived, Chen Xuan had already withdrawn his hand, and Yunlan also lowered her skirt.

Their furtive little actions, even though they were facing away from each other, were seen by the little princess upstairs. She didn't mention it at all, but instead nestled behind Chen Xuan, resting her chin on his shoulder and urging, "Husband, you've caught a fish! Congratulations! Hurry, hurry, catch a few more!"

The little girl glanced at the fish basket and whispered to Dujuan, "This time I don't need to secretly buy fish for Master."

Du Juan made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Don't make a sound, just watch the master unleash his might."

Yunxin sat down next to Yunlan and whispered in her ear, "Sister, you go first this time, it's my turn next time."

Nodding gently, Yunlan leaned close to her ear and asked, "Sister, did you feel it just now?"

“Yes, just as rumored, we are twin sisters. I also felt what happened to you, my legs felt tingly and numb,” Yunxin said, blinking.

Surrounded by women, Chen Xuan felt immense pressure as they all hoped he would catch a ton of fish. "Die fish, hurry up and bite! It's almost dark! My fishing skills are the best in the world, don't you have any pride?" (End of Chapter)