The Crown Princess is busy fishing

Xie Chengzhu and Bai Yuzhen exchanged a glance, both seeing deep worry and reluctance in each other's eyes.

Xie Chengzhu remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking:

“Huaiyuan, I understand your thoughts, but the risks involved are truly immeasurable.”

What would we do if something happened to you?

Xie Huaiyuan knelt down with a thud, looking sincerely at his parents:

"Father, Mother, I know you love me. But I am no longer the ignorant and weak boy I once was."

I don't want to continue living such a mediocre life. I want to give myself a chance to gain experience.

Xie Chengzhu sighed deeply, his heart filled with struggle.

In the end, he could only wave his hand helplessly:

"Well, it's good for you to go out and clear your head. You've had a tough few years."

Seeing that they had made their decision, Lin Yuge first asked Xie Huaiyuan to pack his bags and prepare for the follow-up matters.

She then went to see Wang Shunfeng and several other captains to inquire about the fishing boats' condition during this period.

Only after learning that everything was alright did her tense nerves relax slightly.

After giving the captains a few more detailed instructions, she returned home.

When they came downstairs, they saw Mo Nan helping Qian Xia organize the medicine they had brought back from Grandpa Wen.

He was taken aback: "Mo Nan, what brings you here? Where's Yun Qing?"

Mo Nan quickly replied:

"Princess Consort, I just returned from the military camp with the Prince. He went upstairs."

She nodded slightly and climbed the steps.

Arriving at her room and pushing open the door, one sees Xiao Yunqing's tall and straight back.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

She quietly stepped forward and hugged him.

Xiao Yunqing was slightly taken aback, then took her hand in return and whispered:

"Look at the people in this painting!"

When I first painted this picture, I only found your image of sailing on the sea at dawn to be beautiful; now, looking at it again, I find it even more precious.

She pressed her face against his back and said reproachfully:

"It's just an old painting, why are you looking at it so intently?"

Xiao Yunqing turned around, placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked at her with deep eyes:

"The image of you in this painting carries many memories, from the first time we met to the present day, every little detail is in my heart."

After saying that, he gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.

A smile played on her lips as she felt his warmth and affection.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of their breathing mingling.

After a while, Xiao Yunqing slightly raised her eyes and gazed at Lin Yuge:

"Is everything settled on your end? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Lin Yuge gently shook her head, "Everything has been arranged, you don't need to worry about it."

Xiao Yunqing nodded, "Since everything is prepared, we will set off on time tomorrow."

The journey to the southeast is long and arduous, and the situation is delicate and complex. I will have to trouble you, my wife, to keep a close eye on things.

"What are you talking about? You and I are one, so what's the trouble?"

You know what, I've been thinking about this trip to the Southeast for a long time.

"This is a perfectly good opportunity for a publicly funded trip, with protection provided. Why not take advantage of it?"

Xiao Yunqing couldn't help but chuckle at the strange words that came out of her mouth.

He gently flicked the tip of her nose: "My wife, that's quite an interesting thing to say, a publicly funded trip?"

This is a matter of great importance to the imperial court; it cannot be treated as mere leisure.

However, with me here, I will ensure you are not in danger and that your journey is smooth.

Lin Yuge winked playfully, "Of course I know what's important, but after such a long journey, wouldn't it be boring if we didn't find some fun?"

The two talked for a while, then rested there.

By noon the following day, everything was ready.

All warships and merchant ships are ready to set sail.

As the horn sounded to signal departure, the fleet slowly sailed away from the port.

Lin Yuge waved goodbye to her elder brother and sister-in-law, her uncle's family, and other acquaintances who were seeing her off on the shore.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and she shouted:

"Elder brother and sister-in-law, uncle, please rest assured, I will definitely return safely, and we will reunite then."

Xie Huaiyuan, who boarded the boat with them, also kept waving towards the shore.

Xiao Yunqing stood beside her, also solemnly bowing to everyone with clasped hands.

As the boat sailed further away, the figures on the shore gradually became blurred.

Lin Yuge then turned away and walked towards the bow of the boat with Xiao Yunqing.

The fleet sailed through the vast ocean, and for the first half month, the sea was calm.

The crew members each performed their duties, and everything seemed to be in good order.

After passing Cochin Bay, the once calm sea suddenly turned stormy.

In the distance, where the sea meets the sky, dark clouds surged and gathered like ink.

A massive, seemingly vertical, gray column of water shot into the air and roared toward the fleet.

In an instant, a gale howled and the waves surged and crashed against the ship.

The ship rocked violently, the crew members lost their footing, and fear spread across their faces.

"It's a waterspout!" a soldier exclaimed.

Lin Yuge felt a tightness in her chest, but remained calm.

She calmly said to Xiao Yunqing:

"The waterspout is coming with great force, but it is not insurmountable."

The immediate priority is to position the warships on the outer perimeter to withstand their powerful suction and impact, while the merchant ships should be positioned on the inner perimeter, closely linked together.

Xiao Yunqing nodded and quickly relayed the order.

Upon receiving the order, the crew moved quickly, and the hundred warships swiftly adjusted their course.

The sails spread out in a ring, and their angle is cleverly adjusted according to the wind direction to reduce stress.

The soldiers stood ready on the deck, piling spare masts, planks, and other heavy objects onto one side of the ship to enhance stability.

Dozens of merchant ships were secured together with thick ropes, under the protection of the warships.

Lin Yuge climbed to the observation platform and kept a close watch on the movements of the waterspout.

"Order the ships on the left to drop anchor to reduce the pulling force of the waterspout's swirling airflow on the fleet!" she shouted.

As the anchor entered the water, splashing high into the air, the warship on the left gradually stabilized.

The waves kept surging, and more and more water accumulated on the boat.

Xiao Yunqing quickly ordered people to prepare buckets and continuously scoop water out to prevent seawater from flooding in.

Suddenly, the sails of a warship were torn apart by the gale.

The huge canvas danced wildly in the wind, instantly sweeping several soldiers into the sea.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yunqing immediately flew forward to save the person, and the guards behind him followed without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuge, on the observation platform, kept an eye on the rescue efforts while continuing to observe the changes in the waterspout.

After a while, she noticed that the core area of ​​the waterspout was gradually shifting, so she made a decisive decision:

"The warship on the left should weigh anchor, and the entire fleet should proceed slowly to the right front to avoid the brunt of the waterspout!"

Finally, thanks to everyone's efforts, the fleet narrowly avoided the waterspout.

Anxious about Xiao Yunqing's situation, they didn't wait for the storm to completely pass.

Lin Yuge hurriedly came down from the lookout tower and stood at the ship's railing to look down.

They saw that they had rescued all the soldiers who had fallen into the water and put them on the small boat, and were preparing to return to the ship.

She breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly a strong force came from behind her.

"Miss, be careful!" Qianxia exclaimed.

Before Lin Yuge could react, she lost her balance and fell toward the side of the boat.

Xiao Yunqing witnessed this scene from the small boat, and her heart clenched.

He threw down the oar and plunged into the sea without hesitation, swimming vigorously towards Lin Yuge's direction.