Chapter 180 Together from dawn till dusk, until the first light of day…
"I'm sorry." Dai Li lowered her eyes and bowed her head.
The next moment, a rough, large hand gripped her chin, lifting it up.
He seemed to be filled with both hatred and anger, his fingers pressing hard, sinking slightly into her soft flesh. "Dai Li, what I've never wanted is an apology."
When he lifted her face, he saw that her peach blossom eyes were veiled with tears, about to fall, and her eyes were red.
Qin Shaozong paused, loosening his grip slightly, but his tone remained fierce, even unreasonable in its domineering manner, "No crying, no lying, speak!"
The two were very close, with Dai Li held tightly in his arms around the waist. Their breaths mingled and blended, and Dai Li seemed to smell the smoldering, burning scent of gunpowder.
Looking into those sharp and fierce brown eyes, she felt as if she were being stared at by a tiger in the forest.
However, unlike other fierce and ruthless men who would truly exploit people to the bone, she knew that he was all bark and no bite, and that his imposing manner was merely intimidating.
She gently raised her hand to touch his broken eyebrow, her fingertips tracing the shape of his eyebrow back to the lines at the corner of his eye. Dai Li whispered, "From now on, I'll discuss everything with you, okay?"
Her voice softened, like a gentle breeze in spring.
Qin Shaozong's eyebrows rose almost imperceptibly, but he quickly lowered them again. "Is that all?"
He was not satisfied.
Dai Li thought for a moment, but couldn't think of anything else. This man's thoughts were as deep as the ocean; if he hadn't just stated his various plans for the future, she would never have guessed them, no matter how hard she tried.
So Dai Li asked him in a low voice, "Then what do you want? We can discuss it."
She spoke in a completely consultative tone. Qin Shaozong let out a snort, his expression unreadable, and simply asked, "Will the 'Divorce Agreement' still be written?"
This question is easy to answer, Dai Li shook her head and said she wouldn't write it down.
She didn't have a problem with Qin Changgeng as a person, but she was worried about her son's future safety. Since he didn't use Zhouzhou as a whetstone, she naturally wouldn't consider leaving.
Qin Shaozong grunted in response, his expression remaining indifferent. "From now on, I'll ask questions, and you'll answer."
Just as Dai Li nodded, he asked, "You said earlier that if you had a choice, you wouldn't want to leave. Is that true?"
Dai Li was slightly taken aback.
He had clearly confirmed the existence of the "Divorce Agreement" just now, but then he turned around and asked her a similar question. At this moment, Dai Li suddenly realized that she wasn't the only one who lacked trust.
He didn't trust her either.
However, compared to her doubts about whether he would treat Zhouzhou as his own daughter, his unease clearly lay elsewhere...
The man before him was a veteran of many battles, his skin a dark tan from sun and wind. His face was sharply defined, with broken eyebrows, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. He was also very tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, exuding a majestic and imposing presence. As he sat sideways on the couch, he possessed a sense of awe and grandeur, like a mountain descending upon him.
The hero who commanded armies on the battlefield now pursed his lips, his light brown eyes fixed on her. Qin Shaozong didn't show any other expression, but she sensed a hint of unease emanating from him.
Dai Li's heart was filled with turmoil. The strange feeling she had just experienced when she heard him planning the future in such an orderly manner returned, like something constantly pushing up a small mound in her heart, relentless, stubborn, and persistent.
Finally, a tiny green sprout broke through the soil.
It is so small and fragile, unable to withstand storms and any devastation, yet it truly exists.
Dai Li remained silent for a long time, only looking at him with a complex gaze that Qin Shaozong could not understand.
This was the first time he had ever seen her with such an expression. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt as if a gentle, delicate hand was caressing his heart, cheeks, and back as she gazed at him. A wave of tingling, burning sensation surged through his skull and spread down his spine to every part of his body, making him tremble uncontrollably.
Qin Shaozong tightened his long arms around her waist and leaned forward more, saying urgently, "Is it that hard to answer? Open your mouth and speak."
Dai Li sighed softly, helplessly acknowledging something, as if accepting her fate.
When Qin Shaozong saw her sigh, his brow twitched, and his heart, which had just been floating, sank to the bottom. At the same time, a strange anger, a mixture of sorrow and rage, rose up in his heart.
He had no idea what a difficult question it was that she wouldn't even try to coax him into answering, and she even sighed, saying that talking to him made her feel so uncomfortable.
However, in the next instant, the delicate hand that had been in my illusion became reality.
"I'm not leaving. I'll live a good life with you from now on." Dai Li saw that he was just staring at her intently, and she didn't know if he was suspicious or hadn't realized what was happening.
She continued, "I used to think of you as a dutiful husband, but from this day forward, you are my lover."
Some people equate "husband" and "lover" directly, but Dai Li believes they are different. A husband can be a partner in a marriage of convenience; but a lover is a term used only when there is mutual affection.
She wasn't ungrateful, and what he did genuinely touched her. If Zhouzhou had a stable future, what was wrong with her dating?
Yes, fall in love after marriage.
Dai Li stroked the faint crease between his brows, "What my heart understands, your heart I know; we walk together day and night until the dawn."
Qin Shaozong didn't understand the meaning of the word "lover," but that didn't stop him from knowing its meaning and the emotions in those bright, sparkling eyes.
His pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart still felt like it was on fire, but unlike the unbearable stinging pain just now, the flames now were just a warm, scalding heat that did not hurt him.
A chill ran down her spine as Qin Shaozong held her tightly, his rough hands stroking her chin and lips repeatedly. "Say what you just said again."
The man's hands were calloused, and he was quite strong. Dai Li's cheeks ached from his rubbing, and she even had the illusion of being scratched by sandpaper.
“Say it again, madam,” he said urgently.
Without saying a word, Dai Li grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, responding with a kiss.
Qin Shaozong paused, a muscle on his back twitched beneath his black robe, and he held her tightly, then pressed her forward.
Dai Li was pinned to the couch, and a shower of delicate kisses fell upon her, first on her lips, then on her cheeks, forehead, and temples, not even sparing the scar on her face that had not yet been removed.
The intense kisses made it impossible for Dai Li to open her eyes. Suddenly, the heavy man above her sat up. As soon as her vision cleared, she saw Qin Shaozong staring intently at her.
"Has my wife fallen for me?" His voice was deep and magnetic, characteristic of a mature man.
The man's gaze was intense and direct. Even though they had already done more intimate things, Dai Li felt a rare hint of shyness when he looked at her like that and pressed her closer.
However, she doesn't have an avoidant personality; she's either yes or no. Although that feeling wasn't profound or earth-shattering, a genuine attraction was present.
Therefore, under his piercing gaze, Dai Li nodded slightly.
Almost immediately, he laughed, a hearty and unrestrained laugh, unusually devoid of any deep or mocking emotions, and his voice was loud.
Dai Li had no doubt that he could hear him laughing from the stairwell; this man wanted everyone in the dormitory to know how happy he was. Her blush deepened, and she reached out to cover his mouth, "Qin Changgeng, keep your voice down."
She had only covered her hands for a short while when Dai Li quickly withdrew her hand, her palm slightly damp and itchy. "I haven't washed my hands. Aren't you disgusted?"
“When have I ever disliked you?” he said.
But after saying that, the man's upturned lips fell, his expression turning cold and stern. "Even if my wife says she loves me, it doesn't change the fact that you left home without a word. If this matter is not severely punished, and we simply let it go leniently, it will be tantamount to condoning it. You will definitely do it again."
Dai Li: "..."
She never expected that after going around in circles, she would end up back at the beginning, the only difference being that he was no longer bursting with anger.
"What does Grand Commandant Qin want?" Dai Li asked helplessly.
Qin Shaozong showed her with his actions that he had torn the blue dress that Dai Li was wearing.
Yes, it was torn open.
The clothes worn by the dancers of the Huang Mansion were made of very ordinary material. In fact, in order to entertain some guests with certain fetishes, the fabric of the dancers' clothes was made very thin, even in the increasingly cool autumn.
Qin Shaozong reached out and ripped a strip of clothing off with a "rip". He said with dissatisfaction, "Why can't you stay at home? Why do you have to run away from home to wear this tattered thing?"
The man's reaction was so obvious, his presence so strong, he was practically ready to pounce. Dai Li knew what he wanted to do. "Get up. You can't be lewd during the day. Do it at night."
Qin Shaozong remained unmoved, not retreating an inch. He folded the long "rag" he had just torn and tied it over Dai Li's eyes. "Alright, it's dark now."
Dai Li was both annoyed and amused. Just as she was about to say something, the man pressed down again, silencing her.
This kiss was less angry than before, yet more greedy. Deprived of sight, other tactile sensations became incredibly clear; the contact of lips and tongue brought a shiver, and the wet, smacking sounds seemed a little louder.
The rough, large hand seemed to be holding a cluster of fire, and a wave of heat rose up wherever it passed.
Qin Shaozong felt the response.
It's not that she didn't react when they were intimate in the past. Of course, she did react in the past, but after he told her that he loved her, he belatedly realized that the two were completely different.
She used to ignore him and only gave him feedback when she was in a good mood or felt comfortable. How different she is now, so enthusiastic.
Qin Shaozong gritted his teeth, his teeth aching with hatred. What kind of miserable life had he lived before?
Just as Dai Li was about to be pulled into the hazy pool of desire, she suddenly remembered something, "Qin Changgeng, you didn't lock the door!"
The man had carried her into the house by kicking the door open, and then he didn't care anymore.
As she felt a lightness on her body, the man who had been holding her got up, but did not leave immediately. Dai Li heard the sound of tearing fabric again, and then a large hand reached out and grabbed both of her wrists, binding them neatly.
Only after the person was tied up did he get out of bed and lock the door.
He was told to leave quickly and return quickly. When Qin Shaozong returned, he saw that the woman on the bed was still in the same position as when he left.
Her long, cloud-like hair was spread out, her face was like a silver plate, the red mole between her eyebrows was delicate and beautiful, her cheeks were flushed, and her slightly parted red lips were moist. The abrupt fake scar on her face had inexplicably lost its ferocity and instead looked pitiful and cute.
Her clothes were no longer neat and tidy; the front of her dress was open with a cross-collar, and the deep white of her dress resembled spring water melting from a sacred mountain, clear and dazzling.
Qin Shaozong did not immediately go to bed, but stood in front of the bed and watched as she regained her senses. He then tentatively brought her head close to his hands, trying to remove the thin bandages from her eyes.
He chuckled softly, then climbed back onto the bed and arrested Dai Li on the spot. He reached behind her and patted her ample bosom. "Disobedient, you should be punished."
While he was locking the door, Dai Li calmed down a bit, and her thoughts drifted to her son.
It won't be long before Zhouzhou finds out what happened in the Huang residence. Once her son knows that she was taken away by Qin Changgeng, he will definitely come looking for her.
She needs to act quickly.
So Dai Li provoked him, "If it's not that the Grand Commandant is powerless, then hurry up."
Qin Shaozong's forehead veins bulged as he lowered his head and sealed those annoying red lips with his. After the kiss, he slowly moved his lips and tongue down to feel the pulse of her delicate veins, their lips intertwining and merging with each other.
*
Qin Yanzhou only learned of what had happened in the prefect's mansion half an hour later. He immediately dropped the broom and ran out of the mansion without hesitation.
The two servants beside him stared in astonishment, calling out to him twice, but the young man didn't turn his head back, as if he were about to leave and never return.
"Honestly, this Yan Er is very strange. It's one thing that he doesn't talk to others normally, but now he's behaving so unruly. He's just a distant relative of the steward, huh, does he really think he's the master?"
"Ignore that weirdo."
...
Qin Yanzhou scaled the wall and left the mansion, heading straight for a post station in the prefecture. During his stay at the Huang residence, he had been intentionally or unintentionally gathering information from the outside world, and thus knew where that person was staying.
The inn's doors were bright and clean, and two tall figures stood at the entrance—Bai Jianping and Mo Yanyun. They seemed to know Qin Yanzhou was coming and were waiting at the door.
Upon seeing the person, Mo Yanyun immediately said, "Second Young Master, don't worry, the Mistress is alright."
"What floor and room is my mother in?" Qin Yanzhou asked as he walked inside.
The two remained silent. Seeing this, the young man went upstairs on his own, intending to check each floor one by one from the top floor. Bai and Mo couldn't persuade him otherwise, so they had no choice but to follow him.
As soon as the three of them reached the third floor, before they had even taken a few steps to the side, they heard a woman's voice drift over, "Qin Changgeng, don't push your luck!"
The voice sounded both angry and forceful. Even without seeing the person, one could guess that no extreme event had occurred inside the house.
Qin Yanzhou suddenly stopped, turned around, and slowly walked back.
Mo Yanyun hissed inwardly, recalling how furious the Marquis had been when he arrived, his thunderous rage lasting for days, a dark cloud looming over the city, threatening to crush it. He had thought that after finding the mistress, the thunder in the sky would finally fall, but unexpectedly… this was it?
Instead, it became someone else who was throwing a tantrum.
Bai Jianping's thoughts were pretty much the same, but he had other ideas as well. He said resentfully, "Second Young Master, next time I beg you to be merciful and spare my neck, and leave me a few more clothes."
Qin Yanzhou coughed lightly, "I'm sorry, I promise there won't be a next time."
*
Dai Li slept until dusk, and to her surprise, her back was still pressed against a warm, fleshy wall, the blankets were also warm, a strong, long arm was wrapped around her waist, the arm was pulled inward to embrace her, and there was even breath falling on her neck.
In the past, when she woke up, Qin Shaozong was nowhere to be seen. He was either out for morning exercise or handling official business, and would never still be in bed.
Dai Li turned over to face him.
The setting sun slanted in through the window, making the room not too dim. In the lingering light, Dai Li quietly gazed at the man's face before her. He seemed less imposing and less fierce when he was asleep than during the day.
Dai Li extended a finger and touched the wrinkles between his brows, trying to smooth them out.
She had just noticed that, perhaps because she had been frowning a lot lately, the creases that were previously barely noticeable were now much deeper.
This made him look preoccupied.
Dai Li extended another finger, using both her index and middle fingers to try and smooth out the crease. However, before she could make a move, her hand was grabbed by a large, raised hand.
He slowly opened his eyes, his light brown pupils like agate in a stream, unusually gentle. "Have you suddenly realized how handsome your husband is?"
“That’s true.” Dai Li nodded. In relationships, she was never stingy with giving her partner emotional support.
She thought he would be happy, but to her surprise, he showed a look of resentment and gritted teeth. Before Dai Li could ask, he pulled her close and kissed her.
Although she didn't understand what was wrong with this person, Dai Li, who loved kissing her lover, accepted it all.
He paused for a moment, then pressed the person down and kissed them even more fiercely.
After the long kiss ended, Qin Shaozong picked her up, grabbed Dai Li's waist and said angrily, "So it turns out that Madam has been very perfunctory towards me in the past."
Dai Li: "..."
How was she supposed to respond to that?
Previously, she viewed Qin Changgeng as a bed partner and a stepfather in California. They were simply living together; why should she talk about feelings?
Unable to respond, she simply changed the subject, and Dai Li touched the side of his cheek, "You haven't shaved your stubble for days, it's really prickly, you should go and get it trimmed."
She peeked inside her collar again and saw that he had indeed rubbed a large area of it red.
The Han Dynasty was the golden age of bronze mirror development in China, as was the case with the ancient state of Yan, which was similar to the Han Dynasty. Each room in the inn was equipped with a small bronze mirror. Dai Li first cleansed her face in front of the mirror and removed the fake scars from her face.
Once she had taken care of herself, she abdicated and gave the position to Qin Shaozong.
Unexpectedly, the man remained seated at the small table, showing no intention of getting up. He simply beckoned to her, "Madam, come here."
Dai Li was puzzled. "What's wrong?"
He suddenly reached out and pulled her, and Dai Li, caught off guard, sat on his lap. Then, her hand suddenly felt heavy, and a short blade appeared in her hand. "Help your husband shave."
The broken blade was only three inches long, much lighter than the daggers beside it. Dai Li pushed open the scabbard and saw a cold, sharp light. Its blade was not much thicker than a cicada's wing.
It's a fine knife that can cut hair in the wind.
At this moment, the sharp blade in Dai Li's hand was less than a palm's distance from Qin Shaozong's neck.
Dai Li moved to a different spot, not pointing the knife at anyone. "Qin Changgeng, I've never used this before."
Qin Shaozong keenly discerned something else from her words; she simply hadn't used this method to shave before, not that she hadn't shaved other men before.
He clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Use it now if you haven't used it before. Everything has a beginning."
Dai Li argued with him for a few words, but in the end she couldn't win against him and could only have someone bring her hot water and soap.
First, soak the towel in hot water, then use it to apply to Qin Shaozong's chin to soften the beard roots. Only then did Dai Li apply soap.
The soap suds foamed and clung to his cheeks. Dai Li held the knife and whispered, "Don't move or speak for a while. I'm telling you beforehand, I'm a little afraid of blood. If you accidentally cut yourself, you'll have to take care of it yourself."
He twirled her sash between his long fingers, saying, "Alright, Madam has the final say."
Dai Li was highly focused, slowly using the blade to shave off Qin Shaozong's stubble. She dared not be distracted for a moment, for fear that she might accidentally cut off a piece of his skin and flesh.
Compared to Dai Li's focused tension, Qin Shaozong was much more relaxed and leisurely. He played with the woman's belt, occasionally touching her waist, completely ignoring Dai Li's earlier words, "Don't move."
Not only were his hands moving, but his gaze was also quite direct, carefully tracing Dai Li's face and then moving down her fair neck, looking here and there, completely oblivious to any concept of restraint.
Unable to bear it any longer, Dai Li had no choice but to move the knife away and stop. "Qin Changgeng, can't you behave yourself?"
“Madam, what you say makes no sense. I am much more well-behaved than you and have never run away from home.” Qin Shaozong raised his eyebrows.
Dai Li: "..."
Is this something that can't be let go of?
However, since the topic had come up, Dai Li took the opportunity to bring it up with him, "Zhouzhou has come of age and is now an adult. I think we should talk to him about your plans."
The last time she left the North, she concealed the reason from her son. This kind of unilateral decision-making has only happened once.
"Whatever you want," he said.
Using a hot towel to wipe away the last bit of foam, Dai Li raised her hand and touched his smooth chin, quite satisfied. "Looks like my technique is pretty good; I didn't scratch him at all."
He took the opportunity to pass the task to her, saying, "From now on, I'll leave the shaving to you, Madam."
Dai Li thought for a moment, then said, "Okay."
Qin Shaozong's cheek muscles suddenly tensed, and that stark contrast between heaven and earth reappeared, making his teeth itch. On one hand, he was overjoyed, but on the other hand, he couldn't help but recall her past perfunctory treatment and wonder about the men who had received such treatment from her.
Ah, thank goodness they're all dead.
A nameless fire seemed to burn in his heart. Qin Shaozong raised his hand and tightened his embrace around the woman on his lap, then buried his face in her neck and bit her.
Dai Li hissed in shock.
The sensation on her neck quickly changed. Dai Li threw the knife back on the table, grabbed his long hair with both hands, and pulled him away. "Qin Changgeng, you repay kindness with enmity!"
Qin Shaozong looked at the fair skin and the bright red in front of him, the crimson so vivid it looked like it had been stamped. He ran his long fingers over it and said, "Mine."
Dai Li pursed her lips. It was hard to say about other men, but the one in front of her, who was used to being strong and domineering, still needed to be disciplined. Otherwise, he would take advantage of her and she wouldn't be able to live like this.
Dai Li cupped his cheeks in her hands, trying to warn him, "You must not bite people suddenly. That is the behavior of an uncivilized beast, not the behavior of a gentleman, nor is it in line with your current status as Grand Commandant."
Qin Shaozong looked at her red lips as they opened and closed, "What are you mumbling about? Give me another kiss."
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