Having stayed on the boat for a day, Su Li didn't want to remain in the room except for meals.
She had been on the deck all along, enjoying the scenery on both banks of the river.
When the sun set, and she had also enjoyed the beauty of 'half the river turquoise, half the river red,' she reluctantly returned to her room.
Mo Yang brought the food back. Su Li went forward to check, and indeed, it was drugged.
Su Li took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to Mo Yang. "Take one each. Eat this food as usual."
Mo Yang, thinking he would have to go hungry tonight, happily took the porcelain bottle and left.
Su Li handed Jun Mo an antidote pill. The two took the antidote and ate their meal as usual.
After eating, they played a game of chess, which helped with digestion.
After the two washed up, they prepared for bed.
"Li'er, rest assured and sleep. I've arranged everything," Jun Mo said softly, sitting by the window and reading a book.
Su Li felt very at ease. If he couldn't even handle those few people, he wouldn't be Prince Jing.
Night gradually deepened.
The already quiet upper deck became even more silent.
Faint footsteps sounded from outside the door. Jun Mo's eyes didn't leave his book, as if he hadn't noticed anything.
Perhaps confident in the narcotic, these people's movements weren't light. They directly pushed the door open and entered.
No lamps were lit inside the room. The burly men in helmsmen's clothes immediately noticed Jun Mo sitting by the window upon entering. Moonlight illuminated half of Jun Mo's face, while the other half was hidden in darkness, like a soul-reaping Rakshasa.
The burly man was startled, knowing he had "kicked a steel plate." He turned to flee, but it was already too late.
Jun Mo's figure had already appeared before him. With one move, he made the man collapse to the ground.
The situation in the adjacent rooms was roughly the same. Jun Mo walked over, tucked in Su Li's quilt, then carried the burly man out of the room.
Mo Yang and the others were also emerging from their rooms, throwing the unconscious helmsmen together.
Mo Yang and the others stepped forward and cupped their hands. "Master."
"Tie them all up first."
Mo Yang cupped his hands. "Yes."
Jun Mo then asked, "Which of you can operate a boat?"
The Mo Guards looked at each other and all shook their heads, indicating they couldn't.
At this moment, a voice sounded leisurely from a corner: "Perhaps I can try."
Everyone turned their heads and saw Huang Yang leaning against the door.
Mo Yang looked at him suspiciously. "You?"
"Hey, what kind of look is that? Let me tell you, to get useful information, I spent the entire day hovering around that helmsman. I've learned about seventy to eighty percent of how he operates the boat."
Mo Yang said, "There are over a hundred people on this boat. It's no joke. You..."
Jun Mo interrupted him. "You go."
With Huang Yang's observational and imitative abilities, an entire day was enough for him to learn how to operate the boat.
Huang Yang proudly lifted his chin and headed to the lower deck.
Jun Mo looked at the pile of people on the ground and said, "Clean this place up."
He finished speaking, then entered the room, quietly shedding his outer robe and boots. He gently embraced Su Li.
Su Li nestled slightly in his embrace, finding a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep.
The morning sunlight was peaceful and elegant, gently casting its rays on the river.
The people on the boat were still unaware that they had just brushed with death.
"Why hasn't breakfast been served today?"
"Yeah, I woke up with a backache from that sleep. This boat is really not meant for sleeping. Good thing we're arriving today!"
At this moment, the boat swayed.
"What's going on? Is there really a water beast?"
"Ah? I don't want to die yet!"
Mo Yu, dressed in a helmsman's uniform, loudly said, "Everyone, don't panic. There are no water ghosts or water beasts. This is just normal turbulence."
Just as he finished speaking, the boat began to sway again.
Mo Yu walked towards the bow.
"Huang Yang, can you drive more steadily?"
Huang Yang turned his head and said, "You do it?"
Mo Yu immediately shut his mouth.
Huang Yang snorted coldly. "It's good enough that I can even get the boat moving. I've been driving all night, and I haven't slept a wink. I'm dead tired!"
Mo Yu said, "If you keep driving like this, everyone's going to throw up."
"Throwing up is better than losing our lives."
Mo Yu came out, and someone immediately stopped him and asked, "How are you driving the boat? Everyone's about to get seasick! And why is there no breakfast today? We've all paid!"
Mo Yu said coldly, "You're dizzy, and I'm dizzy too! If you want breakfast, go make it yourself. There's no breakfast or lunch today."
"How can you do this? Refund our money!"
"Exactly! Refund!"
...
Mo Yun brought the food in, and said apologetically, "Young Mistress, Your Highness, this was prepared by this servant. It's my first time cooking, so I apologize if it's not good. Please bear with it."
Su Li looked at the red mark on her hand and frowned. She took out a bottle of medicine from her waist and handed it to Mo Yun.
"Put some medicine on it."
Mo Yun shook her head. "No need, Young Mistress. This subordinate is not that delicate."
"Take it. It's not about being delicate. Girls all care about their appearance, and a scar wouldn't be good."
Mo Yun's heart was touched, and she accepted the medicine bottle.
Su Li sat at the table and served Jun Mo a bowl of somewhat thick porridge.
She took a bite herself, then looked up to see Mo Yun nervously watching her.
Su Li smiled faintly. "Mo Yun, is this truly your first time cooking? It tastes quite good."
Mo Yun's eyes lit up. "As long as Young Mistress doesn't find it unpleasant."
Su Li nodded. "You go down and eat too. Your hand is injured. I'll make lunch."
"How can that be? How can Young Mistress personally cook?"
Su Li chuckled, "What's wrong with that? It's just for this one meal. We'll be in Juishui City this afternoon."
Mo Yun nodded. "Then I'll assist Young Mistress."
"Good. Hurry and eat."
After Mo Yun left, Su Li looked at Jun Mo and asked, "How do you plan to deal with the Qin family?"
Jun Mo walked to the table and sat down, took a bite of porridge, and then silently put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"I plan to dispatch Mo Yun to personally oversee this matter. This involves so many lives; it's a grave matter. If it's left to local officials, they might protect and conceal the Qin family for their own positions."
Just then, Mo Yu hurried in, anxious. "Master, the people on the boat are making a fuss."
"About what?"
Mo Yu replied, "Because there's no breakfast."
Su Li was startled. "How about I make a few steamed buns?"
Jun Mo pulled her closer and said coldly, "Just say there isn't enough staff. Aren't there women on the boat? Give them some silver and let them make it."
Mo Yu slapped his forehead. "That's right! If it's something that can be solved with money, then it's not a problem. This subordinate will go handle it."
Aside from the boat swaying occasionally, more frequently than yesterday, everything else was fine. The common folk on the boat had no idea what had happened.
By evening, the boat finally docked steadily at the pier outside Juishui City.
After the common folk had all left, Mo Yang and Mo Feng escorted a carriage full of helmsmen towards the government office.
"This day and night really tired me to death!"
Su Li looked back and saw Huang Yang slumped on the ground with two black eyes.
Su Li chuckled. "Let's find an inn in the city, and you can get a good night's sleep."
Huang Yang could only slowly crawl up, listlessly following behind them.
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