Chapter 160 Growing Old Together, Sharing the Coldest Years
Dai Li initially thought she was dreaming, but the warmth and touch on her ears felt so real, and the sound that seemed to drift across the vast wilderness seemed to have shed its blurry exterior.
She finally broke free from her sleep and slowly opened her eyes.
It must be early morning. A bright strip of light was embedded in the roll-up window of the tent, and occasionally a breeze would blow through, making the inside of the tent even brighter.
The realization that it was already morning flashed by and then vanished without a trace. Dai Li looked at the man in front of her, whose palm was pressed against and cupping her cheek, and blinked somewhat bewilderedly: "Qin Changgeng, you're back..."
After traveling for a long time, Qin Shaozong was covered in dust and grime.
He had short, bluish stubble on his chin, and he still wore the heavy black armor he was wearing. He had clearly been awake for a day and a night, but instead of being tired, he was quite excited.
This kind of excitement is similar to, yet not entirely the same as, the great victories on the battlefield. It is as intense as fire, making the blood in one's veins roar and boil; it is also as sharp as a long halberd or spear, invincible, and can penetrate to the deepest part of one's heart.
Qin Shaozong was a tall and imposing man with large hands, usually able to cover her face with one hand. Now, with both hands on his, Dai Li's face appeared pitifully small.
Rough, long fingers traced the red mole on her forehead, her long, thick eyelashes, her dark eyes like ink-wash pearls, her delicate nose, and her striking red lips.
Every place is exactly how he likes it.
He said that the mistress initially decided to save herself without hesitation, and to this end, she united with other states, whether genuinely or falsely, and tied several states together on the same boat, and then used the power of the masses to break out of Chang'an.
How she dealt with the military patrol leader, how she tricked him into giving her the token, and the subsequent events of her leading her soldiers to storm the city gate...
They all vividly recounted the events to their subordinates.
Qin Shaozong took a deep breath, his emotions unchanged. His chest seemed to contain an unfathomable sea, and on that sea, a beautiful little boat was sailing against the wind and waves.
Despite the raging waves and numerous obstacles, just when he thought the ship was about to be swallowed up, she gracefully remained atop the giant waves.
He was happy and proud of her, but at the same time, he felt a deep, indescribable fear. The situation was perilous; if he wasn't careful, she could be torn to pieces.
Several complex and subtly contradictory emotions mingled together, and for a fleeting moment, Qin Shaozong felt as if he had been struck by a tiny bolt of lightning. The muscles in his back tensed and trembled, and every hair on his body shook uncontrollably.
He carefully traced her features, checking to make sure she was warm and intact. "Yes, I'm back."
Perhaps it was an illusion caused by the light, but Dai Li felt that the man's brown eyes in front of her were like a pool of boiling honey.
It was scorching, passionate, and as thick as ink, impossible to dissolve.
Dai Li had just woken up, her thoughts still hazy. Being stared at by those eyes, she suddenly forgot what she wanted to say.
Seeing her dazed expression and the faint blush of sleep on her face, Qin Shaozong's eyes darkened. He couldn't resist leaning down and kissing her lips.
The elite vanguard, still in a fighting stance, were fierce and courageous, easily routing the unprepared troops. Not content with just breaching the city, they not only looted extensively but also set fires everywhere in the early morning light.
The large hand that had been cradling her soft cheeks turned downwards, as if to check for any wounds on her body, examining every part with great care.
He stroked the fox from head to toe, from its neck to its chest, then to its waist and abdomen, and even its arms. Finally, he lifted up its large tail to examine it.
Once it was finally confirmed that she was flawless and had not suffered any loss last night, Qin Shaozong finally felt relieved.
His examination was intense and thorough, causing Dai Li to tremble uncontrollably. Invisible flames spread everywhere, first rolling back and forth over her lower abdomen and then churning downwards, burning away everything in sight. Then, emptiness swept over her like a tide, causing her to subconsciously clench her legs.
A deep laugh came from above, "Madam, you worked hard last night. I've come to reward you."
Qin Shaozong quickly removed the belt and black iron, casually tossed the two heavy objects aside, and then turned to climb onto the soft couch.
As he rolled over, Dai Li accidentally touched his elbow. The excessively wet touch startled her slightly, and she instinctively felt something was wrong. She pulled her hand away and looked back, only to see a dark red mark on her fingertip.
The last vestiges of sleepiness and everything else vanished in an instant. Dai Li sat up in surprise. "You're injured?"
The man being questioned didn't seem to care, only grunting and uttering the ambiguous word "maybe," before trying to press forward again.
"Go find Ding Lianxi quickly." Dai Li pushed the person away forcefully, and then got off the couch.
"Madam." His voice was low and hoarse; he was not very happy.
Dai Li ignored him and continued dressing with her back to him. "Times have changed. A great battle is about to break out. My lord, you must take good care of yourself."
If the ship in the North capsizes, everyone on board, including her, Zhouzhou, Qinian, and Rongrong, will perish.
The man's long eyebrows furrowed slightly when he uttered the word "My Lord," but quickly relaxed again.
Before Dai Li could even fasten her belt, two strong, long arms reached out from her sides and pulled her into their embrace.
The two were nearly 20 centimeters apart in height, with Dai Li's head barely reaching his chin.
Qin Shaozong embraced her, nuzzling her head with his chin. “Your care is like a spring breeze, refreshing and delightful. I just wonder if this spring breeze will come often in the future?”
The man had stiff stubble on his chin, and when he rubbed against her, Dai Li always felt like there was a steel wire brush rubbing against her head.
It feels weird.
Dai Li tried to remove the large hand from her waist. "I don't know if you come often, but I do know you should be leaving now."
Qin Shaozong loosened his grip slightly, but didn't completely let go. Instead, he took the two loose belts around her waist, maintaining the posture of pulling her back, and carefully helped her tie them.
After the two left the tent, Dai Li looked up at the sun and guessed that it was probably early morning, around 7:00 AM.
It's still early.
Dai Li and Qin Shaozong went to find Ding Lianxi first. When the latter heard that he was injured, his expression changed immediately, but he calmed down when he saw that Qin Shaozong was unaffected.
Qin Shaozong immediately took off his outer robe and inner garment.
The general, who had not slacked off for a single day, was all muscle, his chest muscles bulging, the smooth and powerful lines tapering downwards to reveal a strong waist, and his abdominal muscles clearly defined. After removing his clothes, he raised his hand to hang them on the wooden rack, the veins on his outstretched arms faintly visible, exuding a powerful and masculine aura.
This is the body of a robust man in his prime, like a well-honed sword, far superior to that of a young man.
His dark skin, however, now resembled a palette of colors. Besides old scars, there were bruises and three or four knife wounds of varying depths.
Dai Li only glanced at it briefly before quickly looking away, but the slightly torn flesh still lingered in her mind, terrifyingly so. "You...you weren't wearing black armor, were you?"
"I put it on later," Qin Shaozong said.
His expression remained unchanged. Ding Lianxi didn't even frown when bandaging him, and even had the leisure to continue talking to Dai Li, "Madam, I'm afraid your investiture as a noblewoman will have to be postponed for a while."
Dai Li wanted to turn her head, but she forcibly restrained herself. She truly couldn't stand the sight of blood, and was even a little squeamish about blood. "Postponed? Are you sure it's not canceled?"
"What belongs to the lady cannot be taken away by anyone," Qin Shaozong said in a deep voice.
Dai Li's thoughts raced back and forth.
Judging from his words, he still intends to go to the capital. But since he returned covered in injuries, he must have had a falling out with Dong Zhou last night. How can he possibly enter Chang'an after such a falling out?
Could it be...?
"You didn't kill Prime Minister Dong yesterday, did you?" Dai Li asked him.
A hint of coldness appeared in Qin Shaozong's eyes. "The timing isn't right. Let him live a little longer."
Dai Li seemed to be deep in thought, but after a moment she couldn't think of anything else.
It's early morning now; she only arrived at the military camp at dawn last night. She only slept for a few hours before getting up again, and after the initial rush, drowsiness overwhelmed her.
Dai Li couldn't help but cover her mouth and yawn.
She didn't look at Qin Shaozong, but his gaze remained fixed on her. Seeing this, he said to Ding Lianxi, "Congjian, it's just a minor injury like this, a little tickling. It can be treated casually."
Ding Lianxi knew that his lord had never been patient with healing, and that his current strength was entirely due to his extraordinary physique, which far surpassed that of ordinary people.
He had tried to persuade him many times in the past, but his lord hadn't paid much attention. Now...
Ding Lianxi looked at Dai Li, but spoke to Qin Shaozong: "My lord, a wise man is mindful of danger even in times of peace, mindful of ruin even in times of prosperity, and mindful of chaos even in times of order. Therefore, he ensures his own safety and the preservation of the state."①
The original meaning of this saying is to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, so that both individuals and the country can be secure. Now, Ding Lianxi uses it to subtly remind people of this.
Dai Li noticed Ding Lianxi looking at her. Her sluggish brain managed to process something again, and then she looked at Qin Shaozong, her voice filled with the irritability of someone who hadn't slept well, "The doctor will bandage you properly. Just sit and wait for treatment. Why are you making so many noises and protesting like that?"
Qin Shaozong: "..."
Ding Lianxi coughed lightly, suppressing the smile that was about to spill from his mouth.
There's an old saying: "A slap followed by a sweet treat." Now that the mistress's "slap" has landed, it's time for him, with his earnest advice, to offer up the "sweet treat."
However, someone spoke up before Ding Lianxi could finish speaking: "There was a survey in my hometown that showed that, under normal circumstances, men's lifespan is slightly shorter than women's."
Ding Lianxi gasped inwardly, but Dai Li hadn't finished speaking yet.
She continued, "As for those who don't listen to advice and act recklessly because they are healthy, they will pass away even earlier when they get old. Your Excellency will be busy with many affairs of state in the future, and you will have a lot of hard work to do. Don't you think I should start planning for myself in advance?"
Qin Shaozong's face turned completely black, and he shouted angrily, "Absurd!"
It's unclear whether to say the findings of the Peach Blossom Spring investigation are absurd, or that Dai Li's plan is absurd.
The man who usually commanded thousands of troops was very imposing, but this shout made Ding Lianxi tremble violently.
Dai Li, expressionless, suddenly turned and walked out without a word.
As soon as she left, Qin Shaozong, who had been sitting, subconsciously stood up, wanting to follow her, but he was still wrapped in an untied cloth strip, the other end of which was in Ding Lianxi's hand.
"Oh, my lord, you can't leave yet!" Ding Lianxi was unsure whether to grip the bandage tightly or loosen it. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Your wound hasn't been properly bandaged yet. If you go back now, your mistress might not be happy to see you like this."
The man stopped, a vein throbbing on his forehead, before finally sitting back down. "Hurry up."
*
Dai Li returned to her small tent, slowly removed her clothes, and climbed back onto the bed. It was summer, and the soft bed still retained some warmth. She pulled a corner of the blanket over her stomach, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.
However, before Dai Li could go to see Zhou Gong again, the sound of the curtains fluttering came, followed by footsteps.
Dai Li's eyelashes didn't even twitch.
Qin Shaozong looked at her lying so upright, like an old monk in meditation, and hesitated for a moment.
With her eyes closed, Dai Li heard the sound of clothes rubbing together, as if he had also taken off his outer garment and hung it on the rack.
A moment later, the outer side of the soft couch dented.
That familiar scent enveloped her, and she found herself in a strong, warm embrace. He kissed her cheek and earlobe again and again, his lips brushing against her temples, whispering sweet nothings, "My lady..."
Dai Li still didn't open her eyes, only raised her hand to push him, and when she couldn't push him anymore, she simply put her hand on her face to resist the intrusion.
Qin Shaozong's kiss landed on the back of her hand. He seemed not to see her covering her hand and kissed it a couple more times before saying softly, "Madam, I didn't mean to blame you just now. I just feel that we still have many decades ahead of us, so I find it hard to accept that you are planning a future without me."
This was the truth from his heart, and he didn't think there was anything he couldn't say.
Dai Li closed her eyes and said, "Be quiet, I want to sleep."
Instead of remaining quiet, he chuckled softly and kissed her a few more times, saying, "Actually, after calming down just now, I was quite happy. What you said means you want to grow old with me."
Dai Li: "..."
Qin Shaozong smiled and sighed, "I share the same wish as you, to grow old together and spend the cold years in harmony."
“I just can’t reason with you.” Dai Li nudged him with her elbow, trying to create some distance between them.
Unexpectedly, she heard a muffled groan beside her ear. She froze, remembering the knife wound on his body, and ultimately did not strike him a second time. "Qin Changgeng, let go of my hand and go to sleep on your own."
"I'm already married, why would I do things that only single people do?" Qin Shaozong's smile deepened.
Dai Li said a few more words to him, but he let them go in one ear and out the other, as if a spring breeze was just passing by.
Dai Li, who was already exhausted, became even more tired, and her voice grew softer and softer until only shallow breathing could be heard.
Qin Shaozong embraced the person and closed his eyes. After a day and night of travel, he was finally able to relax and soon fell asleep.
Sleep well.
...
When Dai Li opened her eyes again, the light outside the roll-up window seemed to have intensified. Remarkably, the man was still beside her when she woke up this time.
Qin Shaozong didn't have the habit of taking a nap, and he would get up to exercise every day at the crack of dawn, so Dai Li usually didn't see him.
The burly man slept behind her, his rhythmic breathing falling on the back of her neck like goose feathers, tickling her slightly. Dai Li tried to get up, but as soon as she moved, Qin Shaozong woke up.
He had only slept for less than two hours, yet he was already full of energy, the fatigue in his eyes completely gone. "Is Madam hungry?"
It's time for lunch now.
Dai Li responded with an "Mmm," and at that moment, she vaguely heard someone outside whispering:
“Nangong Qingzhou has come to visit with his troops; in principle, we should inform the Lord…”
“But you only returned at dawn. I heard from Commander Bai that there were fierce battles last night. You are probably resting now.”
Dai Li turned to look at Qin Shaozong, "I brought Miss Nangong back last night, and her father has come to ask for his daughter back."
Qin Shaozong sneered, "He returned at Chenshi (7-9 AM), and only now does he come to ask for it. His fatherly love is as thin as paper, and his intentions are malicious."
Dai Li's lips twitched, but she ignored him.
The two left the tent together.
When Dai Li saw Nangong Xiong, he was talking to Nangong Zijin. The father and daughter had different expressions, and Nangong Qingzhou was stroking his chin as if he was thinking.
Seeing Dai Li and Qin Shaozong arrive together, Nangong Xiong's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly said, "Wu'an, last night Prime Minister Dong suddenly launched an attack. That girl you sent over, who claimed to be a concubine of the Marquis's mansion, I couldn't attend to at the time, and she's probably still in Chang Le Yuan. I'm truly sorry, I've failed your trust."
Qin Shaozong subconsciously looked at Dai Li.
Author's Note: Here I am! [dog head with rose in hand] The previous chapters were all about plot, now it's time for a bit of fun! [droopy-eared rabbit head]
①: The Book of Changes
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