Chapter 167 My wife and I shared joys and sorrows.
Even with preconceived notions, Dai Li still felt dizzy when she heard that even Nalan Zhi had declared the state's future worrisome.
Noticing Dai Li's unpleasant expression, Nalan Zhi comforted her, "Mistress, no matter what, your position will only become more secure. Leaving aside Chong Le's significant contributions in the great victory over the Xuzhou army, the previous dragon bone waterwheel, the salty stone, and the unheard-of fertile soil are all your achievements, which no one can deny..."
The mistress and the lord did not have any children, but if a woman is outstanding, her value is far greater than that of women who only bear children in the backyard.
Nalan continued, “The Lord has never altered or concealed your achievements; in fact, he often issues proclamations to the public to express his gratitude. Therefore, if this autumn brings abundant harvests and a bountiful crop, you, my lady, will have bestowed blessings upon all people and future generations. This alone is enough to make you famous throughout history.”
"The rights and wrongs, merits and demerits, will be judged by future generations; the present is the present," Dai Li sighed.
Nalan Zhi said in a low voice, "But you must know that a single word of praise is more glorious than a magnificent robe; a single word of criticism is more severe than an axe. The historian's pen is sharper than any sword."
The water in the kettle boiled, and Nalan Zhi lifted the ceramic pot off the charcoal stove to start brewing tea. The steam rose even more intensely, like a thin veil spread out.
Dai Li looked at him through the mist and suddenly understood the unspoken meaning in Nalan Zhi's words.
Regardless of what happens to the two children in the future—whether they fight tooth and nail or one of them loses out—it won't affect her status.
Because she has left her mark on history, no longer merely as the wife of some powerful figure, but as her own name. This name has then spread out countless invisible threads, flying into ordinary people's homes and tying themselves to millions of commoners.
An unseen, heavy weight and a shimmering golden robe floated in, enveloping her. Even amidst the bloodshed outside, that golden robe, forged from merit, was enough to guarantee her peace and prosperity for the rest of her life.
It felt as if a spark had landed on her eye socket, burning Dai Li's heart and causing her to feel a mix of emotions.
She blinked quickly, trying to erase the unusual emotion, then hurriedly picked up her teacup, gently blowing on the scalding tea to keep herself busy.
Nalan Zhi then spoke of other matters, saying, "Haiqing comes from the Cui family of Hedong, a prominent clan. When the lord mentioned Haiqing and Chongliang, he said that they were already making plans for the Third Young Master; while Chongle has no one by his side. Now that I am a teacher, it is my duty to make plans for him."
Dai Li stopped blowing, and the ripples in the teacup quickly returned to calm. She gazed at it for a moment before saying, "So after that, you started teaching Zhouzhou those books from the *Great Learning*?"
He reiterated, "As a subject, I can only obey orders."
However, she added a slightly stronger sentence, "Mistress, although Chong Le is not the Lord's biological son, as long as you are still alive, he is not without a chance of winning."
This involves many aspects and far too many things. Even Nalan Zhi could not deny that his lord, who possessed the ambition to ride the clouds and transform into a dragon and was decisive in killing, cared for his wife in an extraordinary way.
Dai Li's lips moved, but she finally shook her head. "Having a chance of winning doesn't mean you'll definitely succeed. This matter may or may not be accomplished. Sir, rather than going through bloodshed and arduous journeys to obtain the great treasure, I hope that Zhouzhou will have a peaceful and healthy life without worries."
She had already lost her child once, and was plagued by nightmares and unable to sleep at night.
These dark and gray past events are like evil spirits locked in a box; even a brief recollection brings excruciating pain and an everlasting terror.
Nalan Zhi remained silent.
Dai Li smiled bitterly, "Qinian is not my biological son, but after spending the past six months with him, I know he is a good kid, and I truly treat him as family. If it weren't for me and Zhouzhou, there would be no competition, and he wouldn't even have the possibility of falling into a bad situation in the future."
Before coming to the Great Yan, she was just an ordinary citizen, not a bureaucrat, politician, or any privileged noble. But history is a mirror; it reflects the past and can also vaguely reflect the future.
Once the battle for the throne begins, the loser may be imprisoned until death, never to be free again; in severe cases, not only will the loser be wiped out, but hundreds of thousands of people will also be affected, with the impact potentially lasting for centuries...
Just like the War of the Eight Princes in the Western Jin Dynasty, which affected countless people and caused a huge impact on the social economy, it is also regarded as the beginning of the Five Barbarian Invasions. Its negative and far-reaching influence is terrifying to later generations.
Admittedly, Qin Changgeng only has two sons now, unlike the War of the Eight Princes which could provide two tables of mahjong, but Dai Li is unwilling to see infighting among family members, causing the people to suffer as a result.
After a long silence, Nalan Zhi raised his eyes and said, "Mistress, you are wrong about one thing. Even without Chong Le, the Lord's achievements would not necessarily be inherited by the Third Prince."
Dai Li looked at Nalan Zhi in surprise.
A breeze seemed to rise from somewhere, sweeping away the dust of her memories. She was suddenly pulled back to the day her son was crowned—no, it should be said, the night of his crowning.
After returning from the Marquis's mansion, Qin Changgeng disappeared without a trace. She searched for him in the mansion and eventually found him in a pavilion where weapons were kept.
The room reeked of alcohol, and the man seemed somewhat drunk. He unusually began to talk to her about his past.
He also said that Yun Ce had recognized his biological father, and added, "Yun Ce said he was sorry to me, that he had disappointed me and failed to live up to my expectations over the years. But if he knew that his elder brother died because of me, he wouldn't have said those words."
At the time, Dai Li focused on the second half of the sentence, but now, thanks to Nalan Zhi's reminder, she realized...
Cultivation?
If it were just ordinary cultivation, even if Yun Ce apologized verbally, why would Qin Changgeng hold a grudge? Why would he be so upset that he confided in her?
Therefore, it was definitely not an ordinary cultivation method!
"He wants Yun Ce to take over his position?" Dai Li was surprised, but after the initial shock, she inexplicably felt that Qin Changgeng was capable of doing such a thing.
Nalan Zhi nodded slightly. He had served the North for many years and there were some things he could understand. "That's why I said earlier that our lord has always acted in an unconventional way."
“But you said earlier that Mr. Cui and Mr. Sheng had already made plans for Qin Nian. Could it be that they didn’t realize Qin Changgeng’s intentions?” Dai Li expressed deep doubt.
“Of course not.” Nalan Zhi gave a negative answer. “They are the Third Young Master’s teachers, so naturally they will rack their brains to plan for him, for him, and for themselves.”
Dai Li's breath hitched, and she suddenly recalled the Xuanwu Gate Incident in history. The one who opened the city gate for Li Shimin was Chang He, a subordinate of his brother Li Jiancheng.
Chang He was then the head guard of Xuanwu Gate. After the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he rose through the ranks to become the governor of Qianzhou. In modern terms, he was a gatekeeper captain who eventually became the governor of a major province.
What did they rely on? Their merit in following the emperor's lead!
Dai Li sighed, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her with each exhale.
Yun Ce withdrew from the competition, but so what? It's just going around in circles, back to square one, and the problem remains unsolved.
Nalan Zhi kept Dai Li's expression in mind.
"Madam, have you ever told Chongle what you are thinking and what you are planning?"
"Sir, how can I break this deadlock? Could I simply leave..."
Two voices rang out, the first one being half a beat faster, so that the second one had to stop before it could finish speaking.
Both of them were taken aback.
Nalan Zhi stared at Dai Li with a look of astonishment. He had obviously heard the word "separation," but he wasn't sure if what she meant was what he was guessing.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Finally, Nalan Zhi said, "Chong Le has come of age and is an adult. Why don't you ask him what he thinks and listen to his opinion?"
Dai Li pursed her lips, avoiding Nalan Zhi's gaze, and said, "Thank you for the reminder, sir."
...
After enjoying a cup of fragrant tea at Nalanzhi's place, Dai Li took her leave.
She arrived at sunset, and now she is leaving as darkness falls, with stars filling the sky, a scene as beautiful as a painting.
The main house in the courtyard was brightly lit, indicating that someone was inside.
Dai Li pushed open the door and entered the room, where she indeed saw Qin Shaozong sitting at the table, reading a letter. Whether it was the good mood he was in after being appointed Grand Commandant that lingered, or the contents of the letter that pleased him, his expression was unusually gentle.
"Madam is back." Qin Shaozong beckoned her over. "Yun Ce's letter just arrived. Tsk, I recommended so many noble ladies to him before, and he rejected them all. I thought that kid was indifferent to worldly desires and wanted to cultivate Taoism. It turns out he had long ago blossomed, but he just didn't dare to say it."
Dai Li's anger dissipated somewhat, and she went over to ask, "What do you mean? Which young lady has he taken a fancy to?"
Qin Shaozong stretched out his long arm and pulled her over, letting Dai Li sit sideways on his lap, and read the letter with her. "It is Qiao, the daughter of Gongcao Shuzuo. This Qiao girl has known Yun Ce for a long time, but a few years ago Yun Ce was in poor health and felt that his illness was difficult to cure. He did not want to burden Qiao girl and also felt that the people around him were too complicated. Therefore, he did not dare to tell me and let Qiao girl marry someone else."
Gongcao Shuzuo was a subordinate of Gongcao, and it took several more promotions to reach Sili Xiaowei, which was not a very high-ranking official position.
Dai Li was even more surprised. Just as she was about to examine the letter closely, she heard the man beside her say, "If Miss Qiao's husband hadn't passed away and she hadn't had no children, she probably wouldn't have returned to the Qiao family so easily. Who knows how long Yun Ce would have had to wait. In my opinion, five-tenths of his illness is due to bottling things up. He keeps everything inside, no wonder he's getting sick. Look at him now, he's in high spirits because of a happy occasion!"
Dai Li's lips twitched.
The other woman's husband passed away, but he described it as a happy occasion.
He then clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, "How could my Qin family have such incompetent descendants? I don't know what went wrong with our ancestors. Even if I couldn't be the principal wife at the time, I should at least keep her by my side. How could I just give up the woman I had my eye on?"
Dai Li felt increasingly uneasy as she listened, and turned to stare at Qin Shaozong.
Noticing Dai Li's gaze, the man, who had drunk quite a bit that day, paused for a moment and belatedly looked at her.
In the room, flickering with candlelight, no one spoke. Their eyes met, and time seemed to slow down at that moment.
Finally, Qin Shaozong chuckled softly. He placed his hand on the back of Dai Li's neck, pressing her closer to him, and leaned down to kiss the small red mole between her eyebrows. "A fair maiden is the object of a gentleman's affections."
Dai Li turned her head and said, "Since Yun Ce wrote to inform you, he and Qiao must be in love. This time when we return to Yuyang, his marriage must be settled."
Qin Shaozong replied with a smile, "It's good that he's getting married. That kid is finally settled down, and I can finally give an explanation to my elder brother and sister-in-law."
"Giggle." Someone knocked on the door.
Nianxia's voice rang out, "My lord, Mr. Ding sent someone to deliver the herbal medicine, saying that you should eat it while it's hot."
Dai Li got up from Qin Shaozong's lap, went to open the door, and saw Nian Xia outside carrying a small wooden food box.
"What kind of herbal medicine is this?" Dai Li smelled a strong medicinal aroma.
Nianxia shook her head and said she didn't know. She only said that she had just run into Ding Lianxi's servant on her way back to the main courtyard. The servant saw her and asked her to take the food box over, saying that it was for the Lord.
Dai Li carried the things back, "Qin Changgeng, are you injured?"
The smell of medicine was so strong that she knew what was inside without even opening it. But in her memory, apart from the time he returned from Chang Le Yuan late at night injured, he always managed to escape unscathed, even when he personally donned armor and fought against the imperial allied forces.
Why do I suddenly need to take medicine?
"I wasn't injured," he replied. "This medicine was prescribed by Jian to help me recover. He's always nagging me about health and wellness, it's so annoying, I can't stand it anymore, so I just drink it casually."
Dai Li was suspicious, finding his words strange.
She had lived with Qin Changgeng for so long, and this was the first time she had ever seen him drink this kind of medicine. Besides, he had refused to drink it even after being told countless times, so why was he agreeing now?
Qin Shaozong opened the food box and took out the medicine bowl inside.
The bowl of medicine was pitch black and had a very strong smell. Just smelling it made Dai Li's tongue feel bitter. He seemed to feel the same way. After taking out the bowl, he kept holding it in his hand, but didn't bring it to his mouth.
Seeing this, Dai Li laughed, "So you're afraid of bitterness."
"What is there for a real man to fear?" Qin Shaozong said dismissively.
Dai Li: "Then you should drink it."
Qin Shaozong put down the medicine bowl. "It's a bit hot, let's wait a little longer."
“Since Mr. Ding instructed you to drink it while it’s hot, it must be because the medicine won’t be as effective if it’s cooled down. You’ll have to drink two doses to make up for the difference.” After saying that, Dai Li ignored him and picked up the letter on the table to read it carefully.
Qin Shaozong stared intently at the black bowl for a moment, then suddenly looked at Dai Li.
Looking at a beauty by the lamplight, the more you look, the more charming she becomes. Her cool and elegant features are outlined by the soft light, her black eyelashes are half-lowered, and her perfectly shaped peach blossom eyes seem to shimmer with precious light. She is graceful and elegant, breathtakingly beautiful.
Qin Shaozong picked up the medicine bowl, still looking at Dai Li, as if he regarded her as some sweet candied fruit, and drank the medicine down in one gulp while she was drinking it.
It really did taste awful. Qin Shaozong's long eyebrows furrowed, and after enduring it for a couple of breaths, he finally couldn't take it anymore and went to drink some water. "Could it be that Ding Congjian added Coptis chinensis to it?"
Dai Li laughed at him, "Mr. Ding is doing this for your own good, how can you have the nerve to question his good intentions in secret?"
Qin Shaozong saw that her eyes were curved in a smile, and she looked genuinely happy.
Is it that he's unhappy, and she's happy?
With a snap, Qin Shaozong put down the teacup, walked over, pulled Dai Li into his arms, and began kissing her. He had just finished his medicine, and although he had drunk a cup of tea, his mouth still tasted very bitter.
An indescribable bitterness spread through Dai Li's mouth like flames, gently engulfing every part, including her soft tongue, pearly teeth, and even her gums.
Not satisfied, he used his calloused thumb to stroke her throat repeatedly, helping her swallow.
Dai Li was so distressed that her heart was trembling.
After the kiss, the smile shifted to Qin Shaozong's face. He embraced her and laughed heartily, "My wife has shared both joy and sorrow with me."
"I was just trying to be helpful by advising you to finish your medicine quickly so as not to disappoint others. You are not only unreasonable but also ungrateful." Dai Li tried to push him away.
Qin Shaozong did not let go, "You can't say that. The lady is half responsible for this medicine."
"What does this have to do with me? Let go, I'm going to get a drink of water." Dai Li pinched him.
This time he let go.
Dai Li poured herself a glass of water and was about to bring it to her lips when she heard him say, "Since I have promised you, my wife, to grow old together and spend the cold winters with you, I naturally cannot break my promise halfway."
Dai Li was stunned, thinking of the day he returned from Chang Le Yuan.
The man, who had been traveling all night, arrived at her first. His armor was tattered, and his black robe was torn. Apart from his clothes, several cuts, some deep and some shallow, were bleeding, almost leaving him with a jagged, unsightly appearance.
She told him that under normal circumstances, men's lifespans are shorter than women's, and he angrily denounced her as absurd.
But looking back now, it seems he did listen at all...
Dai Li slowly lowered her eyes and sighed silently with melancholy.
Author's Note: Yun Ce and his partner are a younger man/older woman couple, a straightforward older sister x a gentle and reserved younger brother. I won't go into detail in the main story [glasses].
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