The girl traveled through another world and forced the prince to take the imperial examination

A few days later, at Fuzhou Port.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy smell, mingled with the unique, bustling atmosphere of the dock. In the distance, masts stood tall, and the sounds of fishermen's songs and vendors' shouts created a vibrant, noisy scene.

Several seemingly ordinary merchant ships quietly docked, and a group of people, though dressed as merchants, walked with steady steps and sharp eyes, quickly blending into the bustling crowd at the port.

Yun Qing and her group arrived secretly. To avoid being noticed, they entered the city in batches and eventually gathered in the backyard of a seemingly ordinary but actually heavily guarded warehouse near the dock.

The courtyard gate opened slightly, revealing a tall, pine-like figure standing against the light. The man was dressed in a dark blue casual robe, his face etched with the hard marks of time and hardship, but his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were filled with extremely complex emotions—anxiety, anticipation, guilt, and a slight tremor like the fear of returning home.

This person is none other than Pei Jingyuan, the former young general of the Pei family army who used the alias Wei Ting and had been in hiding for fifteen years after faking his death.

His gaze, almost the instant he entered the room, locked onto a person beside Yun Qing—Mo Xue, who should now be called Pei Yanji.

The courtyard fell silent suddenly. A sea breeze blew through the corridor, causing the hems of clothes to flutter.

Pei Yanji (Mo Xue) also looked at Pei Jingyuan at the same time.

Fifteen years of blank space, the absence of the word "father" and the hidden imaginings during those fifteen years, all materialized at this moment in the face before me, a face that was both unfamiliar and seemingly connected by blood. His fingers in his sleeves curled almost imperceptibly, a crack appeared in his usual calm and composure, and his heart in his chest pounded heavily and with unusual clarity.

There were no excited shouts or hurried steps forward as expected. Father and son stood a dozen steps apart, separated by fifteen years of life and death, gazing at each other in silence. The air seemed to freeze, only their eyes silently meeting, searching, and confirming.

Pei Jingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed, his lips parted slightly, as if a thousand words were stuck in his chest, ultimately condensing into a low, hoarse call, tinged with a rusty, unpleasant quality:

"Yan...Ji?"

The sound was extremely soft, yet it was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, suddenly shattering the surface of the water.

Pei Yanji closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, a glint of tears flashed across his eyes, which he quickly suppressed.

Yun Qing stepped forward and gave him a push: "What are you standing there for? Go and call your father!"

Pei Yanji stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down properly, his forehead touching the ground: "Unfilial son... Pei Yanji greets father."

His voice was steady, yet trembled with barely suppressed emotion. Fifteen years had passed, from an innocent child to a cold, aloof young man; the word "father" was utterly foreign to him.

Pei Jingyuan, the father, was completely unaware that he had a son. At this moment, heartache, regret, and remorse intertwined, making his actions incredibly difficult.

Despite the difficulty, he couldn't help but step forward and grab his son's arms with surprising force.

He looked closely at Pei Yanji's face: "Yes, you really look like your mother!"

The fifteen years of lost time were too heavy. His arms were trembling. This man, who had faced thousands of troops on the battlefield without changing his expression, now had red eyes, with endless regret and the excitement of regaining what he had lost surging in his chest.

"Good...good boy...get up, get up quickly." He pulled his son up, but his hands did not let go, as if he was afraid that if he let go, this reunion would vanish like a dream.

"It is your father... I am sorry, I am sorry to your mother..."

Yun Qing and Mu Qingcheng stood quietly to the side, not disturbing this reunion that had been fifteen years overdue. Mu Qingcheng watched, and couldn't help but think of her parents and brother; she constantly worried about and missed her family.

After a long while, Pei Jingyuan finally managed to calm himself down. He turned to Yun Qing, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply: "Your Highness's great kindness in helping my father and son reunite is something I will never forget! Yan Che's matter is a matter for the Pei family, and I will do my utmost to save him even if it means my death!" His eyes regained their firmness and determination. The forbearance and strength that had been building up for fifteen years were now fully ignited, for the unfulfilled responsibilities he had for his nephews and his former subordinates.

"General Pei, there's no need for such formalities. Yan Che is also a close friend and comrade-in-arms of mine." Yun Qing offered a gesture of support, his expression grave. "The most urgent matter at hand is to discuss how to sail out to sea and deal with Yizhou Island and Mo Yan. General, you have been in the Southeast for a long time, and the Pei family's old troops should know about naval warfare and even the waters around Yizhou. Please do not hesitate to offer your advice."

The father and son exchanged a nod, their initial awkwardness and unfamiliarity quickly dissolving in the face of their shared goal, replaced by a tacit understanding born of blood and a determination to fight side by side. The group moved into the inner room, unfurled the nautical chart, and the flickering candlelight illuminated their solemn faces.

Over the next two days, the warehouse's backyard became a tense command center. Pei Jingyuan demonstrated a profound understanding of the southeastern coast, especially the waters off Yizhou. Combining the intelligence brought by his secret guards with the forces under Yun Qing's command, a meticulous rescue and combat plan gradually took shape.

In addition, Mu Qingcheng racked her brains day and night to increase the power of firecrackers. She also thought of the naval mines of later generations and made some improvements. Although they were simple and had a limited range, they were better than nothing.

Yun Qing and Pei Jiajun secretly tried it out and were very satisfied. However, due to time constraints, they did not have time to build more mines.

Pei Jingyuan took out the Pei family's token and mobilized part of the Pei family army's naval forces that had been hidden for many years, as well as the sturdy ships that Yun Qing had secretly gathered. Although they were not as well-equipped as the Southern Yan navy, they had the advantage of surprise and elite personnel.

Ten days later, several warships disguised as merchant ships quietly sailed away from Fuzhou Port. To make it look real, Mu Qingcheng disguised herself as a merchant's family member and boarded the warship with Zijin, Zipei, and Liuliu.

"Keep a watch! There are many hidden reefs around Yizhou, and there are also patrol boats from Nanyan!" Pei Jingyuan stood at the bow of the main ship, the sea breeze blowing his sideburns, his eyes scanning the waters ahead where the mist was gradually rising, like a hawk.

Although he has been hiding on the island all these years, he has extensive experience in sea voyages.

Yun Qing stood beside him, her hand gripping the gunwale, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Mu Qingcheng and Zi Jin Zi Pei stayed in the cabin the whole time, only showing herself when they encountered a patrol team. But her eyes were always vigilantly watching the sea, and she would occasionally look worriedly at Yun Qing on the deck.

Her improved "mines" were carefully placed on several speedboats, covered with tarpaulins, like sleeping beasts, awaiting unknown commands.

Suddenly, the lookout on the mast emitted a short, sharp bamboo whistle!

"To the right front! There are three... no, five! They are patrol boats from Southern Yan!"

Everyone felt a chill. The patrol boat was long and narrow, and extremely fast. It was a type of patrol and assault vessel commonly used by the Southern Yan Navy, but it was usually used as a single vessel.

"All ships on high alert! Proceed with the first plan, spread out and prepare to engage the enemy!" Yun Qing's voice pierced the sea breeze, clear and calm. The flag bearers quickly signaled, and each ship moved in response, adjusting its position with practiced discipline.