Chapter 138 What crime should a Qin soldier be charged with?
With all the guests gone, the vast mansion fell silent. The servants quickly and efficiently cleared away the leftovers, striving to restore the front yard and main hall to their former cleanliness as soon as possible.
A bright moon hangs high in the sky, its shimmering light spilling onto the upturned eaves and the neatly paved blue bricks, as if draping them in a soft white veil.
Dai Li accompanied Qin Shaozong to the banquet tonight, originally intending only to keep an eye on her son and prevent him from getting drunk.
Although distilled spirits had not yet appeared in this era, and the alcohol content of brewed spirits was limited no matter how high it was, it could still be intoxicating if consumed in small amounts.
As she chatted and laughed with the guests, she unknowingly drank quite a bit. The alcohol, like a mischievous kitten, plunged headlong into her thoughts, stirring up all the fine lines within.
When Qin Shaozong returned after seeing off the last group of guests, he saw Dai Li sitting in a chair, looking dazed. "Is Madam drunk?"
"I'm not drunk," Dai Li denied outright.
Qin Shaozong saw that her eyes were hazy and shimmering, and her cheeks were flushed with a rosy blush, making her look like some kind of steamed, exceptionally soft and white pastry, which made his mouth water.
After staring at her for a couple of breaths, Qin Shaozong finally couldn't resist reaching out and pinching Dai Li's cheek.
It was indeed incredibly soft.
With just a little force, my fingertips sank into the smooth, white flesh, a sensation even better than I had imagined.
Qin Shaozong's hand was hit.
The sound was clear and loud, and could be heard clearly by Qin Qinian and Qin Yunce not far away, as well as by the servants of the Marquis's mansion who were tidying up around them.
Some people visibly shrank back.
Qin Shaozong withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened.
"Where is Zhouzhou?" Dai Li looked around.
Qin Shaozong glanced around but didn't see Qin Yanzhou. "Where is Qin Er?"
Qin Yunce, who was standing nearby, said, "It seems he went to the side corridor with Rongrong?"
"Oh, it must be about going on vacation in a few days." Qin Qinian hiccuped.
"Yun Ce, go and call Qin Er back," Qin Shaozong instructed.
Qin Yunce went as ordered.
Not long after, he returned with Qin Yanzhou, followed by Shi Rongyue, whose head was bobbing up and down with a single strand of hair sticking out.
The young man inherited his mother's fair skin and, like her, flushed easily when he drank. At this moment, his cheeks were red, and his eyes had lost their usual coolness, appearing exceptionally languid and carefree under the influence of alcohol. Coupled with his brightly colored, wide-sleeved robe, he looked like a dashing young nobleman who had never experienced hardship.
Qin Shaozong succinctly stated: "Call someone."
Qin Yanzhou stood in front of the two men, his mind clouded by the alcohol, unable to comprehend their words, or perhaps simply unwilling; in any case, he remained motionless.
Upon seeing this, Qin Yunce quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in a bow to the two people at the head of the table, and said, "Congratulations on your marriage, Uncle and Aunt."
Qin Shaozong hummed in agreement, then turned his gaze back to Qin Yanzhou, "Qin Er."
Qin Yanzhou's eyes twitched, and finally, like Qin Yunce before him, he slowly cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations on your marriage, Father and Mother."
Qin Shaozong smiled with satisfaction.
Not wanting to be outdone, Qin Qinian also came over to pay his respects. Shi Rongyue stood behind him.
After the younger generation had finished their greetings, Qin Shaozong stood up from his seat and casually pulled Dai Li, who was sitting next to him, over to say, "Madam, let's go back to our room to rest."
Qin Qinian watched the two figures walk away hand in hand, then looked at the young man beside him, and suddenly realized: "Qin Yanzhou, so Father has been waiting here for so long because he was waiting for you to call him!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the boy was tapped on the forehead.
Qin Yuance calmly withdrew his hand. "You can't be unruly. From now on, you have to call Chong Le 'Second Brother'."
Qin Qinian covered his head and muttered, "I've been calling it that for almost half a year, how can I just change it like that... Hey, big brother, stop hitting me, I didn't say I wouldn't change it."
*
Before walking out of the corridor and completely out of the younger generation's sight, Dai Li walked slowly, her steps unsteady, holding onto Qin Shaozong's hand.
The instant they turned out of the corridor, Qin Shaozong wrapped one arm around Dai Li's waist and the other under her knees, lifting her up by the feet.
Carrying the person in his arms, Qin Shaozong strode back to the main courtyard.
Dai Li had drunk quite a bit, and now that she was out of the main hall and the wind was blowing, her head was spinning. "Qin Changgeng, put me down, I can walk by myself."
"You called me by the wrong name." That was all he said.
Dai Li asked slowly, "What do you mean by 'wrong'?"
He got straight to the point, "He should be called husband."
Dai Li: "..."
Seeing that she was pretending to be deaf and dumb, Qin Shaozong's eyes suddenly flashed with anger. "I'll deal with you when we get back."
Dai Li was all too familiar with that look in his eyes. Every time he gave her that look, he would inevitably have a wild and unrestrained affair, not stopping until he was completely satisfied.
Dai Li narrowed her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
...
Inside the main room.
The pair of festive red candles had long since burned out, and Nianxia had replaced them with new ones at the perfect time. The incense burner in the corner emitted a faint, silent fragrance, and the lamplight cast a shadow over the carved screen.
At some point, a dark shadow approached from the outside, merging with the shadow of the screen, as if forming a greedy glutton.
“Not back here,” Dai Li suddenly said.
"My lady and I have shared the same food and performed the nuptial ceremony. She has already married me. If you don't want to come back here, where else would you want to go?" Qin Shaozong chuckled as he brought her to the bedside, then beckoned Bi Po to come and help her remove her headdress.
Dai Li, however, gave an irrelevant answer, pointing to a spot not far away, "There should be a soft chair over there."
Qin Shaozong glanced at her, then turned back to look at her, knowing that she was referring to a chair that used to be in the master bedroom of the Qin residence. "Have someone add a long bench tomorrow."
Dai Li: "I want to drink water."
Bibo was about to call Nianxia when she saw Qin Shaozong get up and go to the outer room. When he returned, she heard Daili say that the spring chill was still in the air and that a hot water bottle needed to be stuffed into the bed.
After several back-and-forth attempts, just as Dai Li was about to speak again, Qin Shaozong sat down beside her, took out a small object from his sleeve, and put it directly around Dai Li's neck. "Don't cause trouble, don't take it off."
Dai Li lowered her head, seemingly unconcerned.
Qin Changgeng had given her many gifts before, mostly jewelry, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and various earrings, which he would personally present to her that very night and she would put them in her dressing case the next day—this was a very common occurrence.
However, at first glance when she looked down, Dai Li almost thought she had misread the image.
It was a piece of mutton-fat jade bound with black cord. It was as smooth and delicate as white fat. The whole piece was carved into the shape of a tiger, with its mouth slightly open, its front and hind paws together, its front lower than its back, and its long tail slightly curled.
The tiger's body also has slightly concave patterns, painted with either black ink or some other special pigment. These patterns form characters, like garments covering the tiger's back.
She had seen the exact same object in a museum before; back then, it was called a "Tiger Tally."
However, the tiger tally is made of copper and can be disassembled and reassembled using internal mortise and tenon joints. The jade pendant that Dai Li is currently wearing around her neck is a single piece and cannot be separated.
"It's not good if others see this." Dai Li picked at the white jade with her finger.
"What business is it of yours or mine?" he said dismissively.
The last hair ornament was removed, Dai Li's hair bun and hairpins were all taken away, and the gaze that had been watching her all along grew even hotter.
"You may all leave," he said in a hoarse voice.
The two men obeyed the order and withdrew.
"Click." The outer door closed.
A massive shadow approached, first creeping up the footstool, then climbing over the couch to envelop her. Hot breath poured down from above, licking her long, straight eyelashes like a snake's tongue.
Not only his breath, but his first kiss also landed on her eyelids, first kissing her eyes and deliberately making her long eyelashes wet.
When her eyes were stimulated, Dai Li's eyeballs trembled, and a few meaningless physiological tears welled up from the corners of her eyes, which he then swallowed.
Once the burning sensation in her eyes subsided, Dai Li opened them. The close eye contact allowed her to clearly see the turbulent emotions surging within those brown eyes.
The waves surged, as if transforming into a terrifying whirlpool, capable of engulfing and swallowing a person whole. Before she could even look at him, he leaned over and, like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, pressed her down onto the bed.
He bit her red lips, his slightly pointed canine teeth sinking into her soft flesh, bringing Dai Li a slight, electric-like pain and itch.
A moment later he released his grip and charged straight in.
Dai Li tilted her head back, feeling as if he had forcefully explored every part of her body. She ate with a mixture of smacking and chewing, making loud smacking sounds. A strand of silver, glistening in the candlelight, fell from the corner of their mouths. It was extremely conspicuous at that moment, yet it went unnoticed by anyone.
With his belt loose and his clothes slightly open, a dark figure covered in calluses seized the opportunity to slip in, first patrolling in circles, and then wreaking havoc.
Dai Li's breathing grew heavier and heavier, like a piece of duckweed adrift in a stormy sea. With her back pressed against the brocade quilt and most of her vision blocked, she closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again.
As Qin Shaozong gradually shifted his position, Dai Li wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his thin lips, asking, "Husband, would you allow me to come tonight?"
The voice was as sweet as honey, like invisible threads that circled around my heart.
As soon as the first two words were uttered, the breath above seemed to freeze for a moment.
As she listened, Dai Li clearly saw the hidden fire in his eyes burning even more fiercely, like water boiling in a pot, ready to be steamed and eaten at any moment.
Dai Li tried to push him.
The muscular man was pushed away with relatively light force.
A glint flashed in Dai Li's eyes. As soon as he stepped back, she sat up and saw that Qin Shaozong was still sitting. She raised her hand to press him down.
He raised his long eyebrows, offering no resistance, and fell down with her pull. Dai Li smiled at him, then leaned down and kissed him again as a reward, casually sitting on his lower abdomen.
Almost simultaneously, his long arm reached out and wrapped around her waist. The apricot-colored silk undergarment was very thin, clinging to the woman's waistline, and in the candlelight, it vaguely revealed a hint of flesh.
He held her close, quietly pulling her backward.
Dai Li pretended not to know. She took the belt that Qin Shaozong had torn off earlier, grabbed his left hand, and tied the belt around his wrist.
"What do you mean by this, Madam?" he asked.
Dai Li didn't look at him, busying herself with her own affairs, "Given the Lord's poor credibility in bed, I had no choice but to resort to this tactic."
The tatami mats of this era all had a bed frame. Dai Li threaded the other end of her belt through the openwork carved bed frame and tied two knots.
After tying his left hand, Dai Li went to get Qin Shaozong's belt and then took his right hand off her waist.
She couldn't move it with her first tug. Dai Li looked down at him, but her tone was extremely gentle, "Is my husband going back on his word?"
Qin Shaozong's Adam's apple bobbed. "Madam, please leave me one hand..."
Dai Li didn't say whether it was good or bad, and continued to pry open his right hand. This time she managed to pry it open, and she used his own belt to tie him to the edge of the bed.
After his hands were fully bound, Dai Li smiled with satisfaction. "I am the Northern Inspector specially appointed by His Majesty, responsible for supervising local officials. After some undercover investigation, I discovered that the Marquis of Wu'an in the North has been bullying men and women and committing numerous evils. I hereby temporarily remove him from his post and deprive him of his right to 'who in the court can accuse this official.'"
The phrase "Who here accuses this official?" was spoken by Qin Shaozong on the night of the winter hunt, and now Dai Li has brought it up without changing it.
Qin Shaozong revealed a few sharp canine teeth. "Oh? What does Inspector Dai want? How about punishing me to be a lowly jailer, toiling away every day to administer whippings?"
He was quite obedient in words, but his hips were pointing upwards as he boldly and brazenly approached.
Both of them removed their belts, and Dai Li's inner garment was open. The peony handkerchief inside, which Qin Shaozong had previously pulled loose, was now wrapped around her fair neck, teetering on the verge of falling off.
Dai Li raised her hand and hooked the thin ribbon, pulling the handkerchief down a little further under the man's burning gaze.
The length of the rope on the tiger-shaped mutton-fat jade has not yet been adjusted. The tiger jade hangs down with an excessively long black rope, resting on the undulating, voluptuous surface.
Dai Li picked up the black rope and, under the gaze of those brown eyes that seemed to burn with sparks, slowly and methodically hid the tiger jade deep within the snow-white depths. "This is a treasure given to me by my husband. How could I let a nobody like you see it?"
The muscles in his waist and abdomen tensed instantly as he urged, "Madam, hurry..."
The more he urged her, the less anxious Dai Li became.
She slowly moved back, gently pressing against him, "I am an official appointed by the imperial court. Who is your wife? Don't call me that."
The veins on Qin Shaozong's forehead bulged. "Then I beg Inspector Dai not to delay and to interrogate me quickly."
Dai Li smiled. Her beautiful face was radiant in the candlelight, and she had an indescribable charm, as if several invisible fox tails were swaying behind her.
Her slender fingers traced the man's neck, causing his dark Adam's apple to bob up and down. "Since you brought up the word 'trial,' then tell me properly what crimes you've committed besides bullying men and women. If you do, I'll reward you."
Her fingers moved downwards, as if everything was new and interesting to her. If she found something interesting, she would stop and study it carefully.
The fire burned Qin Shaozong's neck veins so badly they stood on end, and his eyes turned red. "Madam!"
Dai Li glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Just go about your business and keep setting fires.
He took a deep breath. "I intend to defy my superiors."
This statement has more than one layer of meaning if you listen closely, but putting those aside, the fact that Dai Li is sitting on him right now is indeed that she is "on top".
He did indeed want to "rebel against his superiors".
"Hmm, anything else?"
Dai Li removed the barriers between the two, observed their positions, and then carefully took her seat.
His pupils narrowed for a moment.
"Hey, why are you sweating? Although you are now a prisoner, I am a reasonable official. Let me find you a handkerchief." After saying this, Dai Li propped herself up slightly on her knees and slowly got up.
She not only got up, but also made a point of getting the handkerchief that was placed beside her pillow.
Seemingly out of reach, Dai Li leaned over.
With her movements, the two panels of her inner garment opened further, revealing her fair and radiant skin, like mutton-fat jade. A lock of her long hair was divided into several strands, like the outstretched claws of some beast, opening up to cover that secret place.
The rich aroma lingered in his nostrils, and Qin Shaozong felt as if the white flesh was white and the fragrance was sweet, like a piece of fragrant meat hanging in front of him.
His canine teeth itched, his mouth watered, he could see it but couldn't touch it. The man subconsciously tried to raise his hand, but the belt binding his wrist tightened to its limit, making a "bang".
Dai Li was startled. She carefully examined the two belts and was relieved to see that they were unharmed.
Yes, the fabric used in the wedding dress is indeed sturdy.
Taking a handkerchief, Dai Li casually wiped his sweat a couple of times, then sat back down. "Tell me, you have more than just that one crime."
Seeing that he remained silent, only staring at her with green eyes, Dai Li lightly scratched his chest. "You lowly Qin, have you ever forcibly taken another man's wife?"
It felt as if a baby bird's downy feather had brushed against him, an itch that exploded in his heart. Qin Shaozong's throat was parched and burning. "...Yes."
Dai Li looked down at him, "Do you know your crime?"
"I don't know." Without hesitation.
Dai Li gave a soft hum.
She proceeded at her own pace, taking her time, letting things flow gently, resting when she was tired, and taking longer breaks when she was happy. Whether he offered kind words or uttered empty promises, she paid him no heed.
She was so comfortable that even the corners of her eyes curled up slightly, while Qin Shaozong was suffering as if he were being burned by fire.
It wasn't just a little bit off, it was a huge difference, making him anxious and his eyes burning with desire.
The flames raged and roared through my limbs and bones, and before they could be extinguished in the slightest, a large bucket of oil was poured on them, making the flames even more raging.
"Sizzle..."
Dai Li paused, looking suspiciously at the belt binding Qin Shaozong's arms.
The belt is of excellent quality, and the knot she tied is no ordinary knot; logically, Qin Changgeng shouldn't be able to break free. And as it stands, his hands show no sign of trying to escape.
Dai Li continued to be happy.
Qin Shaozong gritted his teeth, "Madam, if you untie me within half an hour, we'll finish this tonight sooner, otherwise..."
Dai Li chuckled, "You just said it would be within a quarter of an hour, and now you've halved the time. Not only are you not being honest, but you even dare to threaten me! Your crime is compounded!"
"Madam, be careful not to get burned." The last four words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"You little pawn, you've got too much to say. I'll shut you up." Dai Li didn't care and took her own handkerchief, crumpled it up, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Qin Shaozong not only did not resist, but also took the initiative to bite down, his slightly pointed canine teeth leaving a few damp marks on the peony handkerchief.
Just as Dai Li was about to be satisfied, she suddenly heard a "bang".
This was a deafening crash, unlike anything she had heard before. She stared in disbelief as the intricately carved bed frame, which had been bound with straps, was now completely severed from its original shape, pulled down entirely by Qin Shaozong.
She broke the bed on her wedding night. If word got out, she'd never be able to face anyone again.
Author's Note: Here I am! [dog head with rose in hand]
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