Chapter 110 Annulled Engagement
The main room was completely silent, with the incense burner in the corner emitting a faint fragrance, seemingly the only moving element in this still picture.
Outside the window, squirrels were chirping in the trees. To Dai Li, each chirp sounded like a falling pine cone, pattering against her heart, making it sink deeper and deeper.
When he said "insufficient quantity" for the second time, her heart skipped a beat, and she had a vague sense of foreboding.
As he uttered his final words, "Only the mistress may open it," the fog before her eyes dissipated, and she saw the giant tiger lying deep in the jungle.
The tiger's mouth was wide open, waiting for her to offer herself into it.
Dai Li opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then felt it was futile.
Because she knew very well that he wouldn't listen to any of her polite refusals; he would only stubbornly and willfully do what he wanted to do.
A deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed Dai Li.
Qin Shaozong, who had been holding her arm, now moved his large hand forward, covering her soft, delicate hand and enveloping it. "What is your decision, Madam? If it is difficult to decide, it is fine to think about it. There are still eleven days left until the deadline given by Mr. Ding."
Dai Li looked up at him, "Do you give me a choice?"
It seems like a choice, but there is no choice at all, just as she said before: she couldn't just stand by and watch Zhouzhou become incurable.
Whether it's the Qinglian Sect or Qin Shaozong, she's willing to make a deal with either side as long as it allows Zhouzhou to safely get through this dangerous situation.
The former had ulterior motives, and the latter also had their own agenda, only their agendas differed.
“Of course, there is a choice. Whether to open the warehouse door or not is up to you, Madam,” Qin Shaozong said.
Dai Li tried to pull her hand back, but he grabbed her fingertips. "Qin Changgeng!"
The name carried a hint of anger.
Upon hearing this, Qin Shaozong released his grip, saying, "I await good news from you, Madam."
After saying this, the man picked up the teapot on the table and poured Dai Li a cup of hot tea. "Madam, the autumn weather is dry and it's easy to get a sore throat. Have some tea to calm your nerves."
The fire in Dai Li's heart burned all the way from her abdomen to the top of her head with that cup of tea.
What's this? Getting the benefit and then acting innocent?
She could tolerate many things, not only the series of humiliating treaties she signed after being caught by him in Nanyang County, but also the fact that she could patiently receive people with Qin Hongying who were not supposed to be received by her.
There's just one thing I can't stand.
He made the state's life-saving drugs his condition!
Today it's Zhouzhou's medicine, but tomorrow will it be Zhouzhou's life being used as leverage?
Dai Li picked up the teacup on the table and splashed it at Qin Shaozong.
Caught off guard, the man's arm instinctively tensed up defensively, but he managed to control his movements and closed his eyes as he drank the glass of water.
Hot tea soaked his sideburns and broken eyebrows, flowing down his cheeks, neck, and wetting his clothes.
Dai Li smashed the empty cup against Qin Shaozong's chest. "Qin Changgeng, if you threaten me with Zhouzhou's matter again, I'll take you down with me!"
After saying that, Dai Li left the main room without looking back.
Qin Shaozong wiped his face, watched her leave, and clicked his tongue, "That precious son of hers is really something you can't say a word about."
*
The Qin residence, study.
"Second brother, you were looking for me?" Qin Hongying pushed open the door to the study.
Qin Shaozong was the only one in the study. When his sister entered, he raised his chin slightly and gestured to the seat opposite him, "Sit."
Thinking of the guest incident earlier, Qin Hongying assumed that Qin Shaozong had come to ask her about the situation. So, without waiting for him to ask, she said directly, "Don't worry, I didn't let her suffer. We have the upper hand, and Wei Wu's tricks are no match for us."
After saying that, her curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned forward, "Second brother, where did you bring Dai Li back from? She looks way too young, yet she has such a grown son, and her son even has the surname Qin. Is he really...?"
The young man named Qin Yanzhou was clearly older than Qinian, and looked to be about the same age as Yun Ce.
Her second brother married at seventeen. Before that, he had traveled from the north to various southern states. Could it be that he met a soulmate on that journey?
But it's strange, if she was once a beautiful woman, why is Dai Li so indifferent?
Moreover, Qin Yanzhou's appearance bears no resemblance to his second brother at all; even the lower half of his unworthy mother's face shows no trace of his second brother.
It doesn't quite look like it.
"She is the descendant of a recluse," Qin Shaozong simply stated.
As for how they came to be here, and the question of Qin Yanzhou, they did not answer any of it.
Qin Hongying was immediately displeased. She had gone to great lengths to protect him from the storms of life, yet he wouldn't reveal even the slightest bit of information: "Second brother, you're not being fair."
Qin Shaozong, holding a tiger-shaped pen rest, asked, "Is Rongrong engaged?"
The Great Yan Dynasty had a law that if a woman was over the age of fifteen and did not marry, she would be subject to a five-fold increase in poll tax. This fivefold increase was a considerable expense for ordinary families, but for wealthy and powerful households, it was nothing.
Noble ladies usually marry later in life, but even if they do, their engagement will be arranged in advance.
Shi Rongyue, who is sixteen years old, is not yet married, but usually she is engaged.
"It's arranged. It's arranged with the eldest son of the Zheng family in Nanyu. Neither her father nor I want her to marry so far away." Qin Hongying nodded. After saying this, she suddenly asked in surprise, "Second brother, what do you mean by asking this?"
There are fewer prominent families in Nanyu County than in Yuyang County, and the two counties are not too far apart. Qin Shaozong recalled for a moment and remembered, "The Zheng family of Nanyu is the Zheng family of the prefect, right?"
Qin Hongying neither nodded nor shook her head, but nervously asked a second time, "Second brother, what do you mean by asking if Rongrong is engaged or not? Give me a definite answer quickly."
If Rongrong could marry back into the Qin family and marry her cousin, that would be perfect; she would definitely live a very comfortable life. Besides, her second brother's power far surpasses that of a mere prefect.
She had previously considered marrying her daughter back to the Qin family; Yun Ce was three years older than Rong Rong, which was the perfect age.
However, with his elder brother's death in battle as a precedent, the second brother had many concerns about Yun Ce's marriage. Unlike typical parents, he was not assertive and would listen to Yun Ce's own wishes.
Yun Ce only treated Rong Rong as a younger sister, without any other intentions.
As for Qinian, he is the same age as Rongrong, so he is also suitable.
Unfortunately, the Qin and Wei families had arranged a marriage between their children in their early years. Although the marriage fell through due to the early death of the Wei girl, the Wei family later tried to evade the issue, attempting to blur the marriage from a specific young woman to any Wei girl.
The second brother seems to be in no hurry to arrange Qinian's marriage, and there is a stalemate between him and the Wei family, with no movement taking place.
Since neither of her two biological nephews could be persuaded, Qin Hongying decided not to consider collateral relatives either.
There's no need. Not to mention the young talents from the collateral branches who don't meet her standards, the relationships are far more complicated. Marrying her daughter off to them would be a losing proposition.
But now, it sounds like my second brother has changed his mind.
"When will the wedding be held?" Qin Shaozong asked.
Qin Hongying answered truthfully: "Next summer."
Qin Shaozong turned the jade ring on his thumb. "Let's call off the marriage with the Zheng family. I'll send someone to cancel it, so they can't blame the Shi family."
Qin Hongying's pupils suddenly narrowed, her eyes surging with a monstrous aura. "Second brother, do you intend to marry Rongrong into the Qin family? Do you want her to marry Qinian? Are you planning to deal with the Wei family as well this time?"
She was so excited that she asked three questions in a row.
Qin Shaozong only answered the first question, "I want to marry into the Qin family."
Qin Hongying felt a sense of relief. Her second brother never made promises lightly, and he always kept his word.
With his words, Rongrong's marriage was mostly settled.
As for the Zheng family, young Master Zheng is indeed good, but how can he compare to his nephew?
Fortunately, she and her husband planned to arrange for Rongrong and Zheng Xiaolangjun to meet after they returned to Nanyu. Now that the two younger generations have not met, some matters are handled entirely through communication between elders.
"Second brother, why did you suddenly change your mind? Last time I asked you, you said you weren't in a hurry," Qin Hongying asked curiously.
Qin Shaozong still didn't answer the question, only saying, "After breaking off the engagement with the Zheng family, we shouldn't rush into another marriage, otherwise Yu Rongrong's reputation will suffer. She may not necessarily marry Qinian; let the younger generation get to know each other first."
Qin Hongying felt a sudden jolt of surprise, and one question after another popped into her mind.
It doesn't necessarily mean praying for a good harvest. Does it mean Yun Ce? Has Yun Ce changed his mind?
But she had only been living here with her daughter for a few days. Yun Ce was always reserved, so there was no reason for him to have developed feelings for Rongrong and then express his intention to marry her to his second brother.
And her second brother's words were so ambiguous; if she didn't know his character, she would have thought he was playing a trick on her.
Qin Hongying was full of questions, but no matter how she asked, she couldn't get any answers.
*
Several days have passed in the blink of an eye.
The ancient city of Yuyang is bustling with activity, a constant flow of traffic. Every day after dawn, it's as if an invisible scroll of the Qingming Scroll is slowly unfolding, depicting a prosperity similar to yesterday's.
Inside a private room on the second floor of a restaurant in the city.
"They've stopped searching for He Shou Wu, this is bad." Di Ting sat at the table, holding a white chess piece, looking down at the chessboard.
The white elephant, holding the black pieces, was also looking at the chessboard on the table. "It is said that Madam Qin has a habit of collecting medicines. Her visit to Yuyang this time is definitely at the invitation of Marquis Wu'an. She will probably fill most of the gaps in their supply of He Shou Wu. But as long as there is a shortage of musk, Madam Dai will eventually come to our side."
Long, slender fingers placed a white chess piece on the board, the pieces clattering softly.
“The Marquis of Wu’an is the most cunning. Just like the battle of Bai Ri City, who would have thought that he would neither attack Bai Ri Pass by force nor cross the river by boat bridge, but instead lead his troops to take several days of desolate mountain roads to bypass Bai Ri City and reach the rear.” Di Ting shook his head and said, “It’s hard to say whether they obtained enough musk.”
“Mingdeng’s internal organs have at most eight days left. If they are not eliminated within eight days, he will surely die.” Bai Xiang sighed with emotion. “I never expected things to develop to this point. I have known him for nearly ten years and I truly consider him my own brother.”
A complex emotion flickered across Di Ting's face, but it eventually subsided into calm: "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together."
Bai Xiang chuckled and said, "It's too early to draw conclusions about whether they are the same or not. Mingdeng only chose his mother, not Marquis Wu'an. If Madam Dai is willing to come, he will definitely return to the Qinglian Sect."
Di Ting shook his head again, "If you had seen Lady Dai, you would know that Marquis Wu'an would never let her leave."
Just as the white elephant opened its mouth to speak, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside.
Soon, a servant dressed as a maid entered.
"Sir, he has left the manor again. This time, besides Young Master Qin, a young lady is accompanying him," the servant reported.
There was no specific name, only "he" was used to represent him, but both people in the room understood.
"Okay, you can go now."
After the maid left, Bai Xiang tapped the table lightly with his finger, "How many times is this?"
Di Ting seemed to be deep in thought. "This is at least the third time someone has received a message. Ming Deng is not a restless person, so his frequent trips out of the mansion are suspicious."
Bai Xiang said, "But you can't be sure. Young Master Qin is lively and playful by nature. He's been cooped up in the mansion for almost two months, so it's quite normal for him to want to leave."
“Mingdeng is unusually familiar with our sect. He has been leaving the manor one after another. I am worried that he is looking for us.” Diting lowered his eyes and put down a chess piece. “With us sending a letter to Madam Dai first, he must know that there are traces of our sect in Yuyang County.”
"So what do you want?" The white elephant casually placed a piece.
“My uncle once said that you should always consider the worst-case scenario in order to remain invincible. Let’s assume that they have found enough musk and he shou wu, and let’s assume that the guiding light has found some traces of us…” Di Ting picked up a white chess piece, the jade chess piece gleaming with a lustrous light between his fingers.
White Elephant: "Then what should we do?"
“A sharp shock to Chidan will accelerate his berserk phase, so let’s test the waters. He and Young Master Qin are together, which is perfect; let them keep each other warm. Lady Fan has been making a lot of noise lately, so let’s send her this time,” Di Ting said with a smile.
Bai Xiang understood, and his expression changed drastically. "Is that really how it is? If we don't control it properly, Mingdeng will surely die..."
"White Elephant, sentimentality cannot sustain action, and those with different aspirations cannot be friends." Di Ting calmly raised his eyes.
Bai Xiang choked for a moment, then added, "I... I'm just worried that if he dies, Lady Dai, grieving the loss of her son, will definitely become completely dependent on Marquis Wu'an, and then she will have no chance of submitting to my sect..."
The game is not over yet, but the outcome is already clear.
“With Mingdeng’s keen senses, this won’t kill him. By the way, I received a message from my uncle. The war in the south has ended. Liu Jingzhou has outmaneuvered us, making sure that Yizhou will henceforth be under the Liu family’s control. I must depart for Jingzhou today. You will be in full charge of Yuyang. Do everything as I said before, and don’t disappoint my uncle and me.” Di Ting clearly had no intention of playing this game anymore.
He rose from his seat and looked down at White Elephant. “From the moment he betrayed us, Bright Lamp was no longer our brother. A woman’s compassion will only ruin things, brother, remember that.”
Author's Note: Has anyone guessed what Lao Qin is planning? Hmm, it's referring to the much longer future [glasses emoji].
Please, please provide nutrient solution. [Hands clasped in prayer]
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