Chapter 757: Southeast! Five Ship Silhouettes

Tuan Tuan ran to the cabin door and just shouted: "Second Brother! Third Brother!"

Then came Xiao Ningchen's muffled voice from inside: "Don't, don't come in! Urgh—"

Tuan Tuan didn't care about that and shoved the cabin door open.

She saw her usual second brother, who normally could fight a hundred with his murderous aura soaring to the heavens, now lying on the bed, his face ashen as paper, with a damp cloth on his forehead.

Beside the bed sat a small wooden basin, its bottom holding a little clear liquid.

"Tuan Tuan," Xiao Ningchen said weakly, "I don't feel like talking right now; I just want to vomit out everything in my stomach."

Tuan Tuan ran to the bedside, reached out her small hand and touched his cheek: "Second Brother, are you sick? I'll go call a doctor!"

Having said that, she turned and ran, but Xiao Er quickly grabbed her: "Miss, the Second Young Master isn't sick."

"I..." Xiao Ningchen shook his head, unable to speak.

"No need," Xiao Ningxun said, sitting upright on the other bed: "Your second brother is just seasick."

"He's invincible on horseback, but the horse can't swim, and neither can he."

"This boat's rocking makes him seasick to the point he can't stand it."

"Oh," Tuan Tuan understood, walked to his bedside and looked at him curiously: "Third Brother, why aren't you seasick? I and Second Uncle aren't either!"

Xiao Ningxun smiled, pointed to the book on the bed: "I get seasick too, but as long as I stay still and lie down, I'm fine."

Tuan Tuan suddenly realized, looked up at Xiao Er: "Is Seventh Uncle also seasick?"

Xiao Er helplessly nodded: "Just like the Second Young Master, he was fine at first, but these past two days it's gotten worse; he can only lie down."

Tuan Tuan looked at the two on the bed, her big eyes rolled, and she pattered out of the cabin.

"Miss! Where are you going?" Xiao Er hurried after her.

Shortly after, Zhao Tieshan followed Tuan Tuan and Xiao Er inside.

"Eldest Young Master, Second Young Master," Zhao Tieshan said with a somewhat amused smile, placing a coarse porcelain small bowl on the bedside.

"The Princess asked me if there's any good remedy for seasickness."

"This bowl contains thinly sliced ginger; hold a piece in your mouth and press it, and it will help a lot."

Xiao Ningchen opened one eye, picked up a piece and stuffed it into his mouth.

The spicy juice slid down his throat, and his churning stomach indeed calmed a bit.

Xiao Ningxun also held a piece, feeling his mind instantly clear up considerably.

Xiao Ningchen let out a long breath, then he had the energy to size up Zhao Tieshan before him.

"Commander Zhao, this remedy really works."

Zhao Tieshan laughed: "This is a fisherman's folk trick; I've been in Jiangnan long enough to have this little skill."

Tuan Tuan saw the brothers' faces improve a bit: "Uncle Zhao, could you also send some to Seventh Uncle later?"

"Sure!"

Tuan Tuan rubbed her little chest, looking at the two brothers: "Why don't you go ask Uncle Zhao?"

Xiao Ningchen rolled his eyes: "We think it's just a bit of discomfort, not a big deal; lying down for a few days will be fine."

Zhao Tieshan shook his head: "Seasickness may not be an illness, but we can't let it worsen; if it really gets serious, a person can't hold out, we need to suppress it."

Xiao Ningxun reached out and pulled Tuan Tuan into his arms: "Still, our Tuan Tuan is the smartest, knowing to seek Uncle Zhao for a solution."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "If you don't want to see a doctor, I'll go find Uncle Zhao! He runs around the ship every day and doesn't get seasick at all!"

Zhao Tieshan felt embarrassed hearing Tuan Tuan's praise and scratched the back of his head: "Princess, you overpraise me."

"Actually, I never expected His Majesty to entrust me with such a large navy."

"This is the largest navy in the history of Lie State. When I attacked Jingcheng, I didn't achieve any great merit; I merely followed the Prince into the city."

"Yet His Majesty entrusted me with this important task; I'm not afraid you'll laugh, but lately I haven't been able to sleep soundly."

Xiao Ningchen said solemnly: "When your future in the Northwestern Main Camp was uncertain, you resolutely quit your post and came alone; this courage is why His Majesty values you."

"Moreover, you've long been in Jiangnan, familiar with naval warfare, stronger than us."

"His Majesty appointed you as Navy Commander; you are fully deserving."

Zhao Tieshan's throat moved a few times as he bowed with clasped fists: "Second Young Master, I'll remember these words!"

Tuan Tuan looked at Xiao Ningchen: "Second Brother, you're just like Father!"

"Yes," Xiao Ningxun also laughed: "Second Brother is becoming more and more like Father."

As they were speaking, a cheer came from outside the cabin.

A sailor ran excitedly to the cabin door: "Commander Zhao! The brothers hauled up several silver-scaled pomfret! This fish is rarely seen normally!"

Zhao Tieshan's eyes lit up, he stepped out: "This is great! Order it: add ginger strips, stew a pot of soup to nourish the Princess and the Prince!"

Tuan Tuan instantly perked up and chased after him.

On the deck, several sailors gathered around a large wooden tub, inside which several palm-sized fish swam back and forth, wagging their tails.

Xiao Er praised: "Really fresh!"

Tuan Tuan leaned over the tub and stared for a while: "Uncle Zhao, is this fish soup really delicious?"

"I guarantee it with my head!" Zhao Tieshan said solemnly.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, suddenly thought of something, turned and ran to the flag bearer, tugging his sleeve.

She pointed at the nearby big ship: "Uncle! Quickly use this small flag to ask Jing Ning and Ninth Brother and the others!"

The flag bearer hurriedly asked: "What does the Princess want to ask?"

"Tell them we caught a lot of fresh fish, Uncle Zhao says the stew will be delicious, and ask if they'd like to come over for fish soup."

Flag bearer: "……"

Xiao Er: "……"

"Princess, I... I can't do this."

Tuan Tuan was puzzled: "Why can't we strike? Then what can this Small Flag strike?"

The flag bearer, embarrassed, was sweating: "Only—only can strike forward, retreat, enemy raid, those."

"Oh." Tuan Tuan understood.

She thought for a moment: "Uncle, could you ask whether they get seasick?"

The flag bearer, as if a weight lifted: "As for that, Princess need not ask; just yesterday a small boat went over to ask."

"Besides the Goryeo royal family and their guards, Deputy Commander Zhang and Ninth Prince, General Chen, were all seasick to the extreme, all lying in the cabin!"

Tuan Tuan froze for a moment, turned her head to look at Xiao Ningchen's cabin, then suddenly let out a "Pfft" laugh.

"So it's not just Second Brother and Seventh Uncle!" she stretched out a finger and began counting, "One, two, three… right! Master and Dad also aren't seasick!"

"The National Preceptor indeed doesn't get seasick," Zhao Tieshan said, holding back laughter, "but the Prince does get seasick; he's just forcing himself."

"I just saw him at the stern, holding the rail and vomiting, but when someone came, he immediately turned his back and stood perfectly straight…"

"Dad!" Tuan Tuan bolted toward the stern.

At the stern, Xiao Yuanhang clutched the ship's side with one hand, his face ashen, gazing at the distant sea.

Tuan Tuan rushed over: "Dad, Uncle Zhao said you get seasick!"

Xiao Yuanhang's body tensed.

"He said you were still holding the rail and vomiting…"

"Nonsense." Xiao Yuanhang's expression unchanged, "I'm fine!"

Tuan Tuan tilted her little head back, studied her father carefully for a while.

"Dad, your complexion is so pale."

Xiao Yuanhang scooped his daughter up into his arms, looked at her bright, mischievous big eyes, and helplessly shook his head with a smile.

Tuan Tuan shouted toward Xiao Er behind her: "Uncle Xiao Er! Dad also wants ginger slices! Could you bring them over?"

"By the way, send some to Ninth Brother as well!"

Xiao Er replied, "Alright!" and turned to leave.

Suddenly.

In the lookout atop the mast, the water soldier wielding the Thousand-mile mirror shouted: "Southeast! Five ship shadows!"

"The ships are narrow, using both oars and sails! No flags hoisted! They appear to be Eastern Sea warships!"