From cute to empress

Chapter 281 The crew's fight against the raging waves

"Storm?!" My heart sank, and before I could react, a huge wave slammed into the deck, and the cold sea water instantly soaked me.

"Mengmeng!" Zhen Youcai pulled me back, his voice almost drowned out by the whistling wind. "Hold on to me! Don't let go!"

I clutched his arm tightly, fear coiling around my heart like seaweed. The wind howled like a roaring beast, threatening to devour us and the boat. The boat rocked violently, and I felt like I was trapped in a wildly swaying barrel, ready to be thrown out at any moment.

"Hold on! Hold on!" Zhen Youcai shouted at the crew at the top of his lungs, "Hold on to your belongings! Don't panic!"

However, in the face of the violent forces of nature, humans seemed so insignificant. Huge waves slammed against the ship one after another, making a deafening roar. The mast of the ship was blown off by the strong wind, and the sails were torn into pieces, flying wildly in the air.

I saw a crew member being swept into the sea by a huge wave and instantly swallowed by darkness. Fear and despair spread among the crew like a plague.

"Your Majesty! We can't go on like this! The ship is going to fall apart!" The boatswain's voice trembled and his face was full of horror.

"Zhen Youcai! Think of a way! Think of a way!" I held his hand tightly, my nails almost digging into his flesh.

"I'll go to the bow! You stay here to command!" After Zhen Youcai said this, he ran to the bow regardless of the wind and rain.

I forced myself to calm down. Now was not the time to be afraid. I had to do something!

"Everyone, don't panic!" I shouted, my voice almost torn apart by the wind. "We will definitely get through this! Trust me!"

My voice seemed to give the panicked crew a little strength, and they gradually calmed down and tried hard to control the ship.

Time passed by, and the storm showed no sign of abating. I looked around anxiously, but found that all the ships around us had disappeared. We were scattered by the storm!

"Where is Lord Zheng He? Have you found Lord Zheng He?!" I grabbed a passing crew member and asked loudly.

"Not yet! The storm is so bad, we've lost contact with the other ships!"

My heart sank. Zheng He was an experienced navigator, and if even he...

"Your Majesty! Look!" a crew member exclaimed, pointing into the distance.

I followed his finger and saw a ship slowly approaching us in the storm...

"It's Master Zheng He! It's Master Zheng He who has returned!"

I was so excited that I almost jumped up. It’s so great that Lord Zheng He is safe and sound!

Zheng He's ship approached our ship in the midst of a violent storm. He directed his crew to throw over thick ropes to tightly connect the two ships together.

"Your Majesty, are you okay?" Zheng He boarded our ship, soaking wet, his face full of anxiety.

"I'm fine, Master Zheng He, how great it is that you've returned safely!" I said excitedly. "How are the other ships?"

"The storm was so strong that we were separated. I've already sent people to look for the other ships," Zheng He said gravely. "The most urgent task is to repair the damaged ships, otherwise we will all perish at sea!"

As experienced a navigator as Zheng He was, he quickly organized his crew to start repair work. Braving the wind and rain, they used spare wood and canvas to patch up the damaged hull and reinforce the shaky mast.

The boatswain also came back, he was soaked, his face showed some fatigue, but more determination.

"Your Majesty, I have sent a small team to continue searching for the lost ships and crew members in the nearby waters." The boatswain reported to me.

I nodded, my heart filled with gratitude and admiration. These brave crew members risked their lives and fought against the storm to complete their mission.

"Thank you for your hard work." I looked at their exhausted figures, my heart filled with emotion. "When the storm passes, we will definitely celebrate!"

When the crew heard what I said, they all showed determined smiles on their faces.

Under Zheng He's command, the crew worked together and finally repaired the damaged ship before sunset. Although the hull was still scarred, it was at least temporarily safe.

The storm gradually subsided and the sea returned to its former calm. Only the waves gently hit the hull, as if telling of the ferocity of the storm.

"Lord Zheng He, how far are we from our route now?" I looked at the nautical chart and couldn't help feeling a little worried.

Zheng He carefully observed the nautical chart and frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, our current location..." He paused, as if choosing his words, "has already strayed far from our original route, and..."

"And what?" My heart tightened and I asked.

"Moreover, according to the markings on the nautical chart, we are now in an area known as the 'Lost Sea'." Zheng He's tone was solemn.

"Lost Sea?" I murmured to myself, and a shadow suddenly fell over my heart.

"Your Majesty, the 'Lost Sea' is shrouded in thick fog all year round, and the records of this sea area on the nautical charts are very limited. Once a ship mistakenly enters this sea area, it is often difficult to get out." Zheng He explained.

Just then, a shrewd-looking merchant dressed in exotic clothes came onto the deck. His name was Amir, and he was one of the merchants who had volunteered to join the voyage before the fleet set out, hoping to take this opportunity to open up new trade routes.

"Your Majesty, I just heard your conversation." Amir bowed slightly and said in his unfluent official language, "I know a little about this sea area and may be able to help."

My eyes lit up, and I quickly asked, "Mr. Amir, what do you know? Please tell us!"

Amir walked over to the nautical chart, pointed to our location, and said, "This area of ​​water is called the 'Lost Sea' because the weather here is unpredictable, the fog is thick, and…" He paused, lowering his voice, "Legend has it that there are strange creatures living here that can control the sea fog."

I was shocked. Could it be that such a magical creature really exists in this world?

"However, Your Majesty, do not worry too much," Amir continued. "Based on my experience, as long as we can find the right sailing direction, we can get out of this foggy sea."

"How can we find the right direction?" I asked doubtfully. "But we are completely lost now. How can we find the right direction?"

Amir smiled mysteriously and pointed to the sky and said, "Your Majesty, please look. Although this place is shrouded in thick fog all year round, the stars in the sky can still guide us."

I looked up and saw stars twinkling with faint light above the thick fog.

Under Amir's guidance, Zheng He and his sailors re-determined the direction of their voyage based on the position of the stars.

"Your Majesty, we have found the right direction. Please rest assured that we will be able to lead the fleet safely out of this sea area!" Zheng He said in a firm tone.

I nodded, my heart filled with hope.

However, at this moment, a thick fog swept in, shrouding the entire fleet in a vast expanse of white. I felt the ship rock slightly, as if it had hit something.

"What's going on?" I asked loudly, my heart tightening.

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Zheng He's voice came from the thick fog, but it was too late...

I felt dizzy and heard panicked shouts, and then I lost consciousness...

When I woke up again, I found myself lying in an unfamiliar cabin.

"Your Majesty, you are awake!" A familiar voice came from my ears.

I opened my eyes and saw Zheng He's anxious face.

"Master Zheng He, what happened?" I asked, struggling to sit up. "Where are the other ships and crew members?"

"Your Majesty, we have encountered some troubles..." Zheng He's tone was filled with hesitation.

"What trouble?" I felt an ominous premonition in my heart.

Zheng He took a deep breath and said slowly, "We...we seem to be lost..."

I stood up suddenly, grabbed Zheng He's arm, and asked anxiously, "Lost? What do you mean?"

Zheng He's face turned pale, and his voice trembled as he said, "We...we seem to have entered deeper into the fog..."