Chapter 23 Bring her back!
Some things can't be decided by just one person's opinion. After finishing her noodles, Dai Li was still not convinced, so she put down her bowl and went to the market.
"...Zhuya Ferry, yes, recently none of the boats from there have come. You ask when that happened? It seems to have been four or five days ago. It started because a boatman's boat was also hijacked by river bandits. Those bandits were utterly shameless and heartless. Even though the boatman had already handed over his boat, they still killed him to cover it up. After this incident spread, many boatmen were terrified and sailed away overnight, no longer approaching Zhuya Ferry. At least for the past few days, there haven't been any boats there."
"You ask why the government isn't doing anything? Ha, I can't say for sure, but it's probably because there's a shrewd guy among these bandits who's particularly good at cultivating connections..."
The peddler pointed to the sky, "He's spent a fortune, buying his life. You ask if there's any quick way south? Since you asked about Zhuya Ferry, you must know there's a war going on in the south. With this war, there's no such thing as a quick or slow route; just being safe is a blessing."
"...Yes, that's right. You could go south with a bodyguard or a caravan, but in this day and age, it's best to choose a reputable large bodyguard or caravan. We don't have any large bodyguards or caravans in Taiping County, and as for the latter..."
The peddler grinned and pointed to himself, "Just got back with a team, all loaded with goods. No plans for any long trips in the near future."
After saying that, the peddler continued to enthusiastically promote his tea and spices to Dai Li.
Dai Li politely declined and turned to leave.
It seems that Zhu Yajin's decision to disband the passenger ships is a done deal. Since water transport is not feasible, she will have to consider land transport.
Perhaps because the journey by boat had only lasted half a day, Dai Li felt an indescribable anxiety and unease.
Her departure from the city couldn't be kept secret for long. If that person investigated thoroughly, the silk shop maid would surely be exposed. And following the trail, the coachman who took her out of the city might also be revealed.
Once the driver is located, he will inevitably find out that she is in Taiping County.
But will he really pursue this to the end?
The little white figure with angel wings said, "No, Qin Shaozong is busy dealing with Lord Jiang right now. After Lord Jiang, there's a big salt smuggler waiting for him. He doesn't have time to bother with a nobody like you. Besides, Taiping County is closer to Ying County. Would he dare come alone? And if he wanted to bring troops, where would he find the ships to carry his three thousand soldiers?"
The little black figure with demonic wings said, "Ha, Qin Shaozong is so arrogant. Including the first time, you've tricked him twice. Do you really think he can swallow this? For a man with such deep cunning, changing plans is as easy as drinking water. It only takes half a day to get here from Nankang County. If he sets off tonight, he can arrive by noon or afternoon the next day. What's wrong with a blitzkrieg? Better safe than sorry!"
The two little figures fought fiercely, and finally the little devil took out a big iron hammer and knocked the little angel away.
Dai Li looked up at the sky.
It's almost the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), so she still has a short period of time that is absolutely safe.
We need to figure out where to stay tonight first.
The inn is no longer very safe.
After pondering for a long time, Dai Li first went to the post station to pay for the storage of her belongings, then found a clinic, and finally went to the cloth shop.
She spent some more money and got information about several embroiderers from the shop's maid.
In this era, there were no embroidery workshops; the embroiderers worked independently or were simply employed by cloth and silk shops. Whether they were employed by the former or the latter, they all worked from home.
...
"Giggle."
Hearing the knocking, the homeowner called out, "Who is it?" There was no response from the person outside, so the homeowner knocked twice more.
The owner of the house had no choice but to put down his needlework and open the door. With the creaking sound of the wooden axle turning, Lin Erniang saw a young woman wearing a veil standing outside.
The other person was tall and slender, dressed in old clothes, and looked unfamiliar even without seeing their face.
They don't seem like the neighbors in this area.
"Who are you?" Lin Erniang asked warily.
She had recently lost her husband and was living alone with her child. Today, there is a strong encouragement for widows to remarry, and she recently found a suitable match and will be getting married soon. She is currently at home preparing for her wedding.
“My surname is Rong. I am an embroiderer from the south. I learned from others that Madam Lin is an excellent embroiderer in this area, so I came to visit you,” Dai Li said softly.
When Lin Erniang heard that the woman was an "embroiderer," her wariness lessened. She knew the other woman was a young woman, not as threatening as a tall, burly man, and people generally feel safer in things they are familiar with or skilled in.
Even so, Lin Erniang did not lead Dai Li into the house, but asked at the door, "What brings you here to see me?"
Dai Li recounted: "My brother is a merchant. Some time ago, I came to the north with him to make a living. After purchasing the necessary goods in the north, we headed south, but we were harassed by river bandits at Zhuya Ferry. Although we lost all our goods, we managed to escape with our lives. Among the goods was a very important embroidery design that I had already finished, but unfortunately, after this incident, I had to start from scratch. However, the previous encounter with the bandits injured my hand, and I was unable to continue embroidering the new design."
As she spoke, Dai Li rolled up her left sleeve a little.
Lin Erniang followed the gaze and couldn't help but gasp softly.
Good heavens, this hand is wrapped up like a dumpling, you can't even see the fingers, how badly is it injured? No wonder she smelled medicine earlier, so this is where it came from.
Everyone in the area knew about the bandits near Zhuyajin, and Lin Erniang had no doubt about it. Moreover, judging from the implied meaning in the later words of this "Madam Rong," the other party was very likely looking for her help to finish the embroidery.
This means business has come knocking.
Lin Erniang stepped aside, "Come in first."
Dai Li slowly walked inside.
"There's no one else here, and my son is only four years old. You may take off your veil." Lin Erniang closed the door.
"I have a black birthmark on my face, which is quite frightening. I hope you won't be alarmed, Madam Lin." Dai Li raised her hand and took off her veil.
The other party had given her a heads-up beforehand, so Lin Erniang was mentally prepared, but when she actually saw the hideous black birthmark that covered half of her face, she couldn't help but immediately look away.
That scene just now is still lingering in my mind.
Starting from the temple, the line extends down to the bridge of the nose, covering the entire left eye in the middle, and then obscuring the jaw on the same side.
What does it resemble?
It was like a black flame imprinted on her face. It was as if, when she was being reincarnated and drinking the Meng Po soup, the whole pot of Meng Po soup had overturned, and the torch underneath had scorched her face with flame marks.
Dai Li put her veil back on. "I'm sorry, I startled you."
Lin Erniang swallowed awkwardly, "No, no, please sit down. Would you like some tea? I'll brew some for you."
Dai Li did not refuse.
The only sound in the room was the bubbling of boiling water. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Lin Erniang glanced at the young woman opposite her several times, worried that she might have offended her and that she would be pressured to lower her price later. She was currently preparing for her own wedding, and with her sons eating so much, she was really short of money.
Lin Erniang took the initiative to start the conversation, "I wonder what kind of picture the young lady would like me to embroider?"
Dai Li: "Landscape Painting".
Lin Erniang was stunned.
The embroidery work she takes on usually involves embroidering flowers, birds, fish, and insects, or at worst, patterns of plants and characters.
How do you embroider this landscape painting?
Dai Li explained, “My client was a traveler when he was young, and he traveled all over the famous mountains and rivers. In his old age, he wanted to reminisce about the past, so he searched for people to embroider the mountains and rivers in his memory. I followed my brother around the country to make a living and have seen countless mountains and rivers, which met his requirements. That’s why he chose me earlier.”
As if sensing Lin Erniang's worries, Dai Li continued, "Don't worry, this landscape painting isn't difficult. I told you to embroider it, and you can embroider as much as you can. I'll pay you according to your progress. There's just one thing..."
"What?" Lin Erniang quickly replied.
Dai Li: "I need to keep a close eye on the progress of the landscape painting and make timely adjustments to the details to avoid mistakes. I will probably have to stay at your residence."
Lin Erniang hadn't considered this. She remained silent for a moment, feeling uneasy about welcoming a stranger she had only met once into her home.
"Clang." A stack of silver coins was placed on the table.
“I won’t eat or stay for free. Consider this as room and board and occasional meals.” Dai Li smiled and put down another stack of money. “After losing the goods, I also lost the needles and thread. If you are willing to take this order, this will be considered as payment for the needles and thread. By the way, I am the only one staying at your place. My brother is staying at the post station and will not bother me.”
Lin Erniang's gaze fell on the money on the table.
"This is my petition. I am a law-abiding citizen, so you can rest assured." Dai Li took out a wooden plaque. Her left hand was bandaged, and she held the petition with her right hand, pressing her index and middle fingers together on the edge of the small bamboo plaque, which just covered her surname.
From Lin Erniang's perspective, who was sitting opposite her, she could only see a single character "Li" in the name column.
Dai Li only took it out to show her, without handing it to her, and put it away after demonstrating it.
"My humble abode is simple and unadorned; I hope you will not mind, young lady," Lin Erniang said somewhat reservedly.
This means they've agreed to let Dai Li stay at their house.
Dai Li smiled and pushed the two stacks of silver coins on the table over. "It's a pleasure doing business with you. I'll go to the post station to tell my brother and bring the luggage over as well."
After leaving Lin Erniang's house, it was already past 9 AM. Dai Li pursed her lips and pondered for a while before going to the post station to retrieve her package. However, she took the package with her and left the city.
*
The brand-new two-story ship sailed with the wind, its bow drawing stacked "eight" shapes on the river surface, bathed in the warm orange-yellow afterglow of the setting sun, creating a layer of brilliant, fragmented gold.
After a six-hour voyage, the ship that departed from Nankang County finally arrived at its destination.
The ship docked, and the long planks connecting the two ends were raised. A group of strong and sturdy guards disembarked nimbly. They were neatly dressed, with cold expressions and gleaming eyes, like sharp blades concealed within.
Those making a living and transporting passengers on Riyuejin River, as well as anglers fishing in the shadows, all couldn't help but glance at what they saw.
The hustle and bustle on the shore seemed to cool down abruptly with their arrival, only to reignite after they left.
"Whose troops are these? Their aura is so intimidating! Just now, when that burly man with thick eyebrows swept his eyes over me, it sent chills down my spine."
"Could it be the Zhu family? I heard that they were robbed by river bandits at Zhuyajin a few days ago and suffered a great loss. Could they have sent people to suppress the bandits now?"
"Are you stupid? Look at the knives on their waists, they're all the same size, and the scabbards are of excellent quality. The Zhu family doesn't have that kind of strength."
"Don't bother with them or provoke them, they're not coming for me anyway."
...
Qin Shaozong passed through the city gate at the closing time. After entering, he did not immediately look for anyone, but went to the prefectural governor's mansion in Taiping County.
The prefect of Taiping County was surnamed Deng, with the given name Tuo, and he was already in his sixties.
There is a document now stipulating that "a high-ranking official shall retire at the age of seventy," meaning that one should retire at seventy. Deng Tuo still has a few years left before stepping down, and as people get older, they become more timid; in recent years, his demeanor has become increasingly mild.
Like many nights before, Deng Tuo sat by the window tonight, enjoying his evening meal while watching the peach blossoms sway in the breeze in the courtyard, completely relaxed.
"My lord, a distinguished guest has arrived!" A servant rushed over at that moment.
Deng Tuo slowly swallowed the beef in his mouth. "Why are you in such a hurry? Who has come to visit?"
"Qin Shaozong is Lord Qin..."
The servant spoke softly the first time, and Deng Tuo only heard the word "Qin," which made his gray eyebrows furrow.
Qin?
There are no prominent Qin families in the prefecture, but there are quite a few Qin family roots in Youzhou to the north and Bingzhou next door.
What business did the Qin family members have with him?
What if the merchants passing through here got robbed by those river bandits from Zhuyajin? This is going to be troublesome...
"My lord, it's Lord Qin who's visiting, the patriarch of the Qin family from the north." The servant raised his voice.
"Clatter." The jade chopsticks in Deng Tuo's hand fell to the ground.
After a moment of stunned silence, Deng Tuo quickly got up, abandoned his meal, and hurriedly walked outside. "Why would Lord Qin come to my tiny little place? I can't worry about that now. Go to the Li residence immediately and tell the eldest son who is drinking that Lord Qin from the north has come to our house. Tell him to come home immediately to keep him company."
Deng Tuo stopped abruptly before entering the main hall. He straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and thought that even though his official rank was far inferior to others, he couldn't be too inferior later. As a result, he felt his legs go weak as soon as he took a step into the main hall.
On either side of the reception hall stood a dozen or so burly men, dressed in light armor, armed with ring-pommel swords, their arms bulging with smooth, muscular curves, and as he walked out from the side corridor, these soldiers all looked over.
Deng Tuobai's white beard trembled, as if he could smell the scent of yellow sand and blood mingling on the battlefield.
There was only one person sitting in the main hall. He was tall and imposing, with broad shoulders and long legs. When he sat there, he seemed to bring out a majestic mountain that made people feel suffocated. Over the years, he had accumulated a heavy sense of authority.
He looked over at the sound, his brown eyes cold and stern, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes seeming to transform into knives, exuding an imposing aura that chilled the heart.
Deng Tuo's doubts vanished completely.
It really is Qin Shaozong!
"I have come here hastily because of the urgency of the matter. I hope Lord Deng will not take offense." Qin Shaozong said that he hoped the other party would not take offense, but he sat down in the chair without any politeness and did not get up at all.
Deng Tuo bowed deeply and said, “Your Excellency is handsome and extraordinary, and your reputation is renowned. Your presence is truly an honor to my humble abode. There is no question of ‘strangeness’ about it. I just don’t know what brings you here. If there is anything I can do to help, I will go through fire and water for you.”
Qin Shaozong helped him up, but did not change his story. "I recently took in a concubine. I like her very much and keep her by my side day and night. However, she turned out to be someone else's spy. She stole some of my secrets and ran away when I was not paying attention."
Deng Tuo was shocked and inexplicably uneasy: "My lord, could this woman be hiding in Taiping County?"
"Seven or eight out of ten," Qin Shaozong said, not giving a definitive answer.
Deng Tuo quickly said, "My lord, please rest assured. Taiping County is not large, and it is not difficult to find someone. Please describe her specific information, and I will immediately send someone to arrest her and throw her into prison. We will use all kinds of torture to ensure that she will confess even if she doesn't want to."
Mo Yanyun's brow twitched as he listened.
Is Lord Deng so old that he's lost all sense of romance? First, the lord said, "This woman is very much to my liking," then he said, "I quite like her," and he even dared to use all eighteen kinds of torture.
Qin Shaozong first described the information in Dai Li's biography, and then said, "She is about seven feet three inches tall, with a well-proportioned figure, peach blossom eyes, and a cinnabar mole on her forehead. However, since she is alone, she will definitely disguise herself. You can look among women with dark skin and ugly faces."
He emphasized at the end, "I will personally interrogate the person once we catch him. Lord Deng, just help us find him. There's no need for you to worry about anything else."
Deng Tuo belatedly realized he had overdone it, and he awkwardly forced a smile, "What you say is absolutely right, my lord. After all, she is your person, and it is up to you how to deal with her."
Qin Shaozong: "We need a place to rest at night, so let's go to the post station in the prefecture first."
Orders from above are swift and decisive; how dare those below slacken their efforts?
If you shift your perspective from the ground to the air and look down on the entire county from above, you can see several groups of people setting off from the prefectural governor's mansion under the dark night sky, winding their way towards the county's post station like long snakes.
The innkeeper, seeing the group of soldiers striding in, exclaimed in surprise, "What...what's going on here? May I ask if there's anything wrong with my humble inn, sir?"
The leading soldier said, "Don't panic, it's nothing serious, we're just looking for someone. Bring out the register of guests who have stayed at your post station in the last two days."
“Dai Li? Yes, yes, yes, this woman arrived this afternoon, in the room on the far left upstairs,” the innkeeper hurriedly replied.
"Boss, let's hurry up and inform that person!" The soldier couldn't wait to claim credit.
The captain, however, was more cautious and asked the shopkeeper, "What are this woman's appearance and height like?"
The shopkeeper was deeply impressed by her: "She was seven feet three inches tall, dark-skinned, ugly, and had a sour smell about her."
Sergeant T thought to himself, "It's settled. Everything matches up. This is the woman!" He then ordered his men, "You guard the front and back gates here. No one is allowed to enter or leave. I'm going back to inform the important person."
In less than a quarter of an hour, Qin Shaozong appeared at the entrance of the post station.
The inn was packed with people. The manager and a group of servants were all huddled together in the corner of the counter, trembling, like chicks being pulled out of their nests.
Qin Shaozong already knew that Dai Li was on the second floor on the way. After entering the post station, he didn't look at anyone else and went straight upstairs.
Soldiers guarded the second floor, and all passengers were required to stay in their rooms and were not allowed to leave. Qin Shaozong walked to the room in the far corner and pushed the door open.
With a click, the door opened.
The light suddenly shone out from inside, and along with the light came a stench even more unbearable than the smell of spoiled food.
The sergeant who had tipped off Qin Shaozong was so overwhelmed by the stench that he instinctively took a step back, only to see the tall man in front of him standing as steady as a mountain. He couldn't help but admire him inwardly.
No wonder they came from a battlefield littered with corpses; they remained unfazed even in the face of such stench.
A cold laugh suddenly rang out.
The captain shuddered, a chill creeping up from the soles of his feet. He vaguely saw a furious tiger in the jungle tearing off a thick tree branch with its claw.
No, haven't we already found the person?
Why is the esteemed guest still unhappy? Is it not this...?
Inside the room, a tall woman in her forties looked at the group of people outside the door with fear. "Who are you?"
She was wearing a gray-black ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her face was dark and wrinkled, clearly indicating that she hadn't had many good days recently. The suffocating stench from before came from a pile of clothes in the corner, which looked like they had just been changed and hadn't been washed yet.
"Who gave it to you?" Qin Shaozong stood at the door, not going in.
Seeing that things were not going well, the woman dared not refuse to cooperate, saying, "I picked it up, I picked it up from the ground."
Fearing the other person wouldn't believe her, she quickly added, "I really found it, just in the outskirts of the north of the city. I was walking along when I suddenly saw a package. The cloth on the outside was quite old, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look, maybe there'd be something good inside. And there really was something good..."
The package contained a set of clothes, a robe, and even some silver coins, suggesting that someone had carelessly lost it.
She was a refugee with nothing of value and was starving. She had no sense of righteousness about not picking up lost items on the road and would definitely prioritize her own hunger. So she immediately picked up the package and went into the city.
"My lord, could it be that Lady Dai has lost the secret?" Mo Yanyun asked incredulously.
Qin Shaozong turned and left. "She has two documents on her. If the package is lost, it won't be just one missing. There's no need to search the post stations in the prefecture anymore; she must not be there."
Mo Yanyun quickly followed, "Then where should we look?"
Qin Shaozong said in a deep voice, "We need to investigate thoroughly the brothels, cloth shops, and the residences of the women associated with the cloth shops, wherever there are many women."
Mo Yanyun nodded.
Indeed, if Lady Dai were alone abroad and didn't stay in a post station, she would definitely go to a place with many young women, since those places are relatively safe.
Qin Shaozong: "In addition, tomorrow we will post a notice in the prefecture, announcing that a female thief has come to the city, warning all households not to be careless in taking in outsiders. At the same time, we will send people to guard the four city gates and strictly check every woman who leaves the city."
Run? Hide?
He wanted to see where she could run to and where she could hide!
Once he catches this fox by the tail, he'll definitely teach her a lesson.
Author's note: Nearly 6k words, praise me! (Proudly puffing out his chest × stretching out his claws to ask for nutrient solution.jpg)
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