Chapter 470: making friends

Wong Mei lowered her eyes.

"They took our furniture, our remaining grain, even the wooden cart. We left with only the clothes we were wearing."

The youngest boy stopped playing.

"Father, will we have a house again?"

The question made the adults fall silent.

Wong Jian looked at his son.

"Of course."

"When?"

The father opened his mouth but couldn’t answer immediately.

The Empress felt something tighten in her chest.

She looked at the boy.

"Do you know what my grandmother used to say?"

Tao shook his head.

"She said a house isn’t made only of walls and a roof. It’s made of the people who sit together inside it."

The boy considered her words.

"Then we still have a house?"

The Empress smiled.

"You have all five of you. So yes, you still have a home."

Wong Mei’s eyes became moist.

The Emperor glanced at his wife.

He knew she wasn’t merely comforting the child.

She believed every word she had spoken.

Around the fire

As the night grew colder, the conversation became easier.

Ming finally spoke.

"Where are you both from?"

The Emperor answered without hesitation.

"We used to live in a small town. My family traded cloth and household goods."

Wong Jian nodded knowingly.

"Merchant family?"

"Yes."

"What happened to your business?"

The Emperor sighed.

"My father trusted the wrong people. He borrowed money to expand the business, but the venture failed. The creditors took most of what we owned."

The Empress turned her head slightly.

She nearly laughed.

The man had managed to transform an entire empire into a failed merchant business.

Wong Jian shook his head sympathetically.

"Debt is a terrible thing. It destroys a man slowly."

The Emperor nodded.

"Indeed."

"Does your father still owe money?"

"Quite a considerable amount."

The Empress lowered her face, pretending to examine the fire.

Considerable amount? Your treasury is larger than the entire merchant guild’s wealth.

She pressed her lips together.

Wong Mei noticed her expression.

"Are you all right, Lin?"

"Yes, Auntie. Smoke entered my eyes."

The Emperor turned towards her.

"Move a little away from the smoke."

She gave him a warning look.

He calmly shifted closer and adjusted the shawl around her shoulders.

Wong Mei smiled.

"Your husband cares for you."

The Empress looked at him.

"He worries too much."

The Emperor replied without hesitation.

"She doesn’t take care of herself."

"That’s not true!"

"You walked the entire day without drinking enough water."

"I drank water."

"Half a cup."

"You’re counting?"

"Someone has to."

Lian laughed.

"You two sound like my parents."

Wong Mei immediately protested.

"We don’t argue that much!"

Her husband looked at her.

"Really?"

"Jian!"

The children burst into laughter.

Even the Emperor chuckled.

For a little while, the fire brought warmth to more than their cold hands.

The Emperor’s quiet observation

After dinner, Wong Jian began telling them about the village.

He described the fields, the small market, and the old temple beneath the banyan tree.

"People used to gather there every morning," he said. "There was a well nearby. Even during the hottest summers, the water never ran dry."

The Emperor listened carefully.

"How many villages around here have lost their water sources?"

Wong Jian thought for a moment.

"At least six that I know of. Perhaps more."

"And the river?"

"Almost dried up. Only a little water remains."

The Emperor looked towards the darkness beyond the settlement.

"Have officials visited your village?"

"Officials?" Wong Jian laughed bitterly.

"They came once to collect taxes. They haven’t returned since."

The Emperor’s expression changed slightly.

"Not even to distribute grain?"

"Some grain was distributed, but it was not enough. The local magistrate said the supplies were limited."

The Empress looked at her husband.

He was quiet now.

She knew that expression.

He was remembering every word.

Wong Jian continued.

"People are angry. Some blame the merchants. Others blame the officials. Everyone is hungry, and hungry people become desperate."

The Emperor stared at the fire.

"People should not have to beg for food when their own land has fed them for generations."

Wong Jian nodded.

"Exactly."

The Empress gently placed her hand over her husband’s.

It was a small gesture, almost unnoticed by everyone else.

But he understood.

Not here. Not tonight.

They were supposed to be ordinary people.

A little kindness

Later, when the children had become sleepy, Wong Mei noticed the Empress rubbing her feet.

"Child, are your feet hurting?"

The Empress smiled awkwardly.

"A little."

"You should have told me earlier."

Wong Mei moved closer.

"Let me see."

"Oh, no, Auntie. It’s fine."

"Don’t argue. I have two eyes. I can see you’re struggling."

She gently examined the Empress’s swollen feet.

"These shoes are terrible. How long have you been walking in them?"

"Since morning."

Wong Mei shook her head.

"You young people always pretend to be strong."

The Empress laughed softly.

"You’re not much older than me."

"Old enough to know better."

She tore a clean strip from an old piece of cloth and wrapped it around the Empress’s heel.

"There. It should protect the skin from rubbing against the shoe."

The Empress looked down.

"Thank you."

Wong Mei patted her hand.

"Don’t thank me. We’re all travelling together now."

The words touched her more deeply than she expected.

Travelling together.

Not as an Empress and her subjects.

Not as a ruler and a family seeking help.

Just people who had lost something and were trying to survive.

When the night grew colder

The children eventually fell asleep beside their parents.

Wong Jian covered Tao with his outer garment, while Ming rested his head against his sister’s shoulder.

The Empress watched them.

"They must be exhausted."

Wong Mei smiled sadly.

"They haven’t slept properly in days."

"Neither have you."

The older woman shrugged.

"A mother learns to sleep whenever she can."

The Empress looked at her.

"Do you miss your home?"

Wong Mei’s smile disappeared.

"Every day."

She stared into the flames.

"I keep remembering small things. The door that never closed properly. The mango tree in our courtyard. The little kitchen where I used to cook."

Her voice trembled.

"Such ordinary things. I never thought I would miss them this much."

The Empress remained silent.

Wong Mei wiped her eyes.

"Forgive me. I shouldn’t be talking about such things."

"Why not?"

"Everyone has suffered."

"That doesn’t mean you have to hide your sadness."

Wong Mei looked at her.

The Empress continued softly.

"Sometimes, remembering what we lost is the only way to remind ourselves that we once had something beautiful."

The older woman took her hand.

"You speak like someone much older than you."

The Empress smiled faintly.

"Perhaps life makes us older."

Across the fire, the Emperor watched his wife.

He had seen her in silk robes, sitting upon a golden throne, receiving ministers and nobles.

But tonight, sitting on the dusty ground beside a stranger, she seemed just as much an Empress as she had ever been.

Perhaps even more.

A husband who refused to let her suffer

It was getting late when the couple finally prepared to sleep.

The Emperor spread their thin blanket on the ground.

The Empress sat down with a tired sigh.

"My entire body hurts."

He crouched in front of her.

"Give me your feet."

She looked at him suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Let me check."

"I’m fine."

"You’re not."

She sighed and stretched out her feet.

He carefully examined the cloth Wong Mei had wrapped around her heel.

"Does it hurt here?"

"A little."

He adjusted the cloth.

"Tomorrow, you won’t walk so much."

She raised an eyebrow.

"And how exactly do you intend to achieve that?"

"I’ll arrange for us to travel with a cart."

"With what money?"

He looked at her.

She stared back.

Then he said quietly, "I’ll find a way."

She shook her head, amused.

"Merchant Lin, you have a lot of confidence for a man whose father is drowning in debt."

He gave her a long look.

"Merchant Lin?"

"Would you prefer Young Master Lin?"

He almost laughed.

"Just sleep."

She lay down and pulled the blanket over herself.

A moment later, he sat beside her.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Not particularly."

"I know."

He placed their folded bundle beneath her head to make a pillow.

She looked at him.

"You should sleep too."

"I will."

"You’ve been working all day."

"So have you."

She reached out and caught his hand.

"Come here."

He lay beside her, careful to leave enough space between them so they wouldn’t disturb the neighbouring families.

She moved closer anyway.

"Good night."

He looked at her in the darkness.

"Good night."

A few moments passed.

Then she whispered, "Do you think they’ll be all right?"

He knew exactly whom she meant.

"The Wong family?"

She nodded.

"We’ll make sure they receive proper assistance."

She closed her eyes.

"Not just them. Everyone."

He looked towards the rows of temporary shelters.

"I know."

Somewhere beyond the settlement

A few guards disguised as ordinary travellers were stationed near the settlement.

One of them quietly approached another.

"Have you received the message?"

"Yes. The palace has been informed that His Majesty and Her Majesty have reached the refugee camp."

"Has anyone discovered their identities?"

"No. Everyone believes they are a merchant couple."

The guard glanced towards the small shelter where the royal couple was sleeping.

"His Majesty has also been helping distribute food."

The other guard sighed.

"Of course he has."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember the last time we accompanied him on an inspection? He spent half the day arguing with the governor over grain prices."

The first guard shook his head.

"Keep watch. No one is to approach them unless necessary."

"Understood."

The next morning

Before sunrise, the Empress woke to the sound of someone coughing.

She opened her eyes.

The Emperor was already awake, sitting beside their belongings.

"Why are you awake so early?" she murmured.

He turned towards her.

"The camp is waking up."

She sat up slowly.

Her body protested immediately.

He noticed.

"Still hurting?"

She nodded.

He handed her a small cup of water.

"Drink."

She accepted it.

Across the fire, Wong Mei was preparing breakfast with whatever little grain she had left.

The Empress watched her for a moment before standing.

"Where are you going?" the Emperor asked.

"To help Auntie Wong."

He caught her wrist gently.

"Your feet."

"They’re better."

"Lin."

She smiled.

"Don’t worry, husband. I won’t walk all the way to the neighbouring kingdom."

He released her with a resigned sigh.

She walked towards Wong Mei.

"Good morning, Auntie."

Wong Mei looked up.

"You’re awake! Come, sit down. I’ll make you some porridge."

"Let me help."

"No, no. You’re a guest."

"Then let me be a guest who helps."

The older woman laughed.

The Emperor watched them from a distance.

A few minutes later, Wong Jian approached him.

"Young man, would you like to help me collect some firewood?"

The Emperor stood.

"Of course."

Wong Jian handed him a small rope.

"Come. There are some fallen branches behind the settlement."

The Emperor took it.

As they walked away, Wong Jian began talking.

"You know, I once thought my family would never have to depend on anyone."

The Emperor glanced at him.

"Do you regret losing your business?"

Wong Jian was quiet for a moment.

"I regret that my children had to suffer. The business can be rebuilt. Money can be earned again."

He looked back towards his family.

"As long as they’re alive, I still have something worth working for."

The Emperor followed his gaze.

For the first time in many years, he found himself looking at his kingdom through the eyes of an ordinary man.

And he realised something.

A throne could be rebuilt.

A treasury could be replenished.

But the trust of people who had lost everything could not be demanded.

It had to be earned.

He tightened his grip around the rope.

This journey was far from over.

And