Chapter 43 Entering the Tiger's Den
Ding Lianxi was awakened by a maid and learned that Dai Li had a high fever. It was both unexpected and not unexpected, as he had predicted yesterday that the persistent internal heat would cause her to fall ill.
It seems that Madam Dai did not escape unscathed.
This matter could not be delayed, so Ding Lianxi slung his medicine box over his shoulder and hurriedly followed Bi Po to the side room.
In this desolate night, the side room was as bright as day.
The basic methods of diagnosis in medicine: observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.
Ding Lianxi skipped the third question; the burns were so severe that it was clear it was no ordinary case. So, after taking Dai Li's pulse, Ding Lianxi prescribed medicine again.
The two women quickly went to prepare.
"My lord, may we speak privately?" Ding Lianxi asked Qin Shaozong in a low voice.
Qin Shaozong said nothing, but stepped out of the inner room with him and went through the beaded curtain to the outside.
Ding Lianxi said solemnly, "My lord, Madam Dai's high fever is caused by a knot in her heart. Whether it's medicine or bloodletting, these are only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. As the saying goes, a heart ailment requires a heart remedy. The root of everything lies in this knot in her heart. If Madam Dai's knot in her heart is not resolved for a long time..."
Ding Lianxi didn't say what the outcome was, but only shook his head solemnly.
Qin Shaozong lowered his eyes, twirled the jade thumb ring in his hand, and turned back into the inner room without saying a word.
Nianxia and Bipo went to prepare the medicine, leaving only Daili inside. She was terribly cold and was huddled in the new blankets the two women had given her before they left.
High fever is sometimes accompanied by tinnitus. Amid the gradually increasing ear noise, Dai Li heard footsteps.
The man who had just left has returned.
Qin Shaozong sat by the couch as before, supporting her shoulder blades and turning the woman, who had her back to him and was facing inward, around.
"Does Madam not trust what I just said?" he asked.
Dai Li's long, wet eyelashes trembled, but she did not answer.
She was extremely negative.
The world is so vast, and the population is so large. Given the current inconvenience of transportation, even traveling day and night from south to north would take at least several months. Qin Shaozong's power is only in the north; beyond that, it belongs to other people. How easy is it for his influence to spread throughout the provinces?
Moreover, many people fear his power, and even more have become his enemies. If others knew that he was searching for someone in such a high-profile manner, his prefecture would definitely become the target of public criticism.
Not to mention, for a full ten years, including a major famine nine years ago, the state of Zhouzhou was still in dire need of...
Dai Li felt the venomous, chilling snake in her heart begin to wreak havoc again. Its mouth gaped open, greedily devouring flesh and blood. She curled up, burying her face in the blankets.
Qin Shaozong pulled the blanket up to reveal her face: "The news of the Qin family's extensive search for the person has probably spread in Yangzhou, and may even reach other states. Even if someone discovers that your son shares the same name and surname as the person the Qin family is looking for, and some characteristics match, it doesn't matter. After all, we are looking for a nine-year-old boy, not a nineteen-year-old boy."
After he dug her out, Dai Li, who was about to bury her head again, stopped in her tracks.
Qin Shaozong tucked a strand of long hair that had fallen to her cheek behind her ear. "Furthermore, I believe that your son is very likely to no longer live under his real name, which would help avoid those villains who would rather arrest the wrong person than let one go."
It's not that they "can't," but rather that they "cannot."
If he were still alive, given his destitute state at the time, lacking both household registration and lineage, even if he were kindly adopted as a slave, his name would certainly have been changed.
Dai Li sensed the unspoken meaning in his words, and the tears she had just stopped flowing back down her cheeks.
"The news of refined salt has already spread throughout the states, and countless merchants from various states will be heading to the North to purchase the goods in the future. Once these people have tasted the sweetness of success, they will surely be driven by profit to come a second time. It will not be difficult to ask them to deliver messages. If you are worried that they will be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, I can also form a special inspection team that travels to various states and entrust the management of this team entirely to you." Qin Shaozong's hand, which had been smoothing her hair, moved down and remained on her hand through the brocade quilt.
"My lady, you need not worry that I will break my promise, abandon the project halfway, or do something perfunctory. After all, from beginning to end, you know best what I want." He looked at her intently. All the hidden undercurrents and desires, at this moment, were revealed to her without reservation, like a tiger leaping out of the forest.
In today's world, ordinary people who follow the rules and are kind-hearted may be lucky enough to die a natural death. But in wealthy families and in power struggles, such people are often devoured, leaving not even bones behind.
Qin Shaozong was not the eldest son of the legitimate wife; he was the second son in his family. He once stayed away from power struggles, watching others fight to the death with a smile. Later, he also got involved, experiencing countless battles and deceit.
Beneath his feet lay piles of bones, and beside him stretched a continuous mound of corpses and a river formed of blood.
He was never a good person.
He waits for the right moment to strike, seizing any opportunity that comes his way; if something doesn't belong to him, he'll find a way to take it for himself.
Qin Shaozong never felt there was anything wrong with this. If it weren't for his domineering nature, the North wouldn't be ruled by the Qin, he wouldn't have everything he had now, or he might have died long ago in his rivals' schemes...
Dai Li bit her lip; she knew what he meant.
The manpower, resources, and difficulty required to find someone who appeared ten years ago, who may no longer exist, are on completely different levels compared to finding a child who appeared six months ago.
Amidst the tinnitus, she seemed to hear the familiar cries of a child again, sorrowful and desperate, like a sharp, long saw cutting into her stretched and fragile nerves, making her heavy mind increasingly muddled.
Dai Li's slender hand under the covers slowly tightened. She grasped the brocade quilt beneath her, but it seemed as if she wanted to grasp not only the quilt, but also the hem of her son's clothes. "One year. I will serve you for one year. After one year, I will return to my original position."
Returning to their original positions means continuing as staff members, and they ended their sexual relationship.
She thought a year would be about right.
Men of his rank and power have no shortage of women; there are plenty of beautiful women vying for his favor. His attention will not linger on them for long, and he will eventually get tired of them.
A year is enough for her to build her own foundation and network in the caravans and the inspectorates of the various states. Even if she were to retire to a staff position later, she could still remotely control them.
She hadn't slept with him before because she didn't think things had gotten that far off. But now, she saw the determination and dominance in his eyes.
Dai Li knew she had no way out.
They were less than an arm's length apart, gazing into each other's eyes. Finally, those light brown eyes lowered slightly, and she said, "Okay."
Dai Li breathed a sigh of relief.
The maid returned with the medicine. After drinking it, Dai Li wrapped herself in the quilt and lay down, her eyes still open, showing no signs of sleepiness.
Qin Shaozong reached out and tucked the blanket around her: "Madam, please rest early. The inspection team that travels to various states will begin to be formed when you recover from your illness."
Dai Li's pupils trembled slightly, and finally she slowly closed her eyes. This time, however, she did not turn her back to the outside of the bed as she had done before.
Whether it was the effect of the medicine or the promise she had received, the invisible ice and fire gradually disappeared, and she soon fell asleep.
Qin Shaozong did not leave immediately; he remained seated beside the couch, watching the woman on it.
The green curtain on one side was lowered, blocking out most of the light. She lay on her side on the brocade pillow, and in the dim shadow, her flushed face gradually turned pale. The once vibrant peony was covered with a sickly aura, and even the cinnabar mole on her forehead seemed to have dimmed a lot.
Her brows furrowed involuntarily, her breathing became heavy and irregular, clearly trapped in a bad dream again, though she no longer murmured aloud as before.
The candlestick beside him burned out, the small flame vanished abruptly, and shadows surged in instantly.
Qin Shaozong rose from beside the couch, personally lowered the green curtain on the other side, and then looked at the maidservants waiting beside him. He didn't speak, but with just a glance, the two women nodded repeatedly.
A soft rustling sound came from the beaded curtain, but silence soon returned.
Qin Shaozong stepped out of the side room.
Tonight, the moon shines brightly, a full moon hanging high in the sky. Stepping out from under the eaves, the moonlight spills down, and Qin Shaozong raises his hand, a sliver of moonlight falling into his palm.
*
There is a saying that people who are not sick for a long time will suddenly fall ill and be very difficult to cure.
Dai Li had been bedridden for several days, drinking bowl after bowl of medicine, and the entire side room was filled with the smell of medicine.
She had been recuperating for the past few days and had not left the main courtyard. She was unaware that Qin Shaozong had finished reorganizing his army, and that the troops from Yuyang had even arrived in Ying County. They were just waiting for his order to march south.
In the study.
The meeting had just ended, and normally, both military officers and strategists could leave.
Nalan Zhi stepped out, and as Kankan stepped out of the study, he noticed that the group of military officers had not left. He paused slightly, vaguely thinking of something, stroked his long beard, and left with a smile.
If Dai Li were here, she would find two new faces in the study compared to a few days ago.
A man with a refined, scholarly appearance, resembling a civil official, and shrewd, narrow eyes, named Jin Duole, was also a military instructor, just like Su Xiuzhu. However, the latter was exclusively assigned to the Xuanxiao Cavalry, while the former commanded the entire Northern Army, making Jin Duole Su Xiuzhu's superior.
The other was a military general, eight feet tall, with a simple and honest appearance and dog-like eyes, his gaze gentle and kind like a puppy's. This man was named Kuang Ye. But if you believed his honest appearance, you would be in big trouble.
For the worst possible outcome, one can refer to Rong Bingzhou, who has already reported to the King of Hell.
He had been under his command for seven years, risking his life for him, and was considered a trusted confidant. But it turned out he was a spy for the neighboring state. In the end, Rong Bingzhou not only lost his life, but the entire state was also swallowed up.
After Nalan Zhi left, Kuang Ye looked at Mo Yanyun and blinked his gentle dog-like eyes.
Standing next to Mo Yanyun, Feng Feng's eyes darted around. Taking advantage of the gesture of putting his hands behind his back, he nudged the person next to him with his elbow.
Let Lao Mo ask.
This guy was incredibly curious before, let him ask. Anyway, Lord Junhou knows he's always been impulsive, and since he comes from the Mo family, Lord Junhou certainly won't blame him.
With his brothers placing high hopes on him, Mo Yanyun felt his back straighten up considerably.
Okay, let him come!
So after Qin Shaozong said, "Why are you just standing here like a wooden stake?", he was the first to speak up: "My lord, when shall we leave Ying County?"
Mo Yanyun clenched his fist excitedly, "Qingzhou has already sent a letter, extending a warm invitation. Now is the best time to strike while the iron is hot. If we postpone it any longer, what if the conflict between Qingzhou and Yanzhou is resolved, or the Qinglian Sect escapes? That would be very disadvantageous for us..."
The meetings held over the past few days covered a wide range of topics, including the protection of the salt lake, the subsequent sale of refined salt, the reception of merchants from various regions, and matters concerning the subsequent southward march.
There are many things to do, and all arrangements have been made. It can be said that everything is ready now, except for the final step: setting off.
But the lord just wouldn't say when he would set off.
Qin Shaozong first looked at Mo Yanyun, then his gaze swept over everyone in the study. Some people were looking down, some were scratching their ears and cheeks, and some were blinking their innocent dog eyes.
"What's the rush? We'll set off when the time is right. They're begging us to come, so it's alright if we take our time," Qin Shaozong said.
Seeing that Mo Yanyun still wanted to speak, he simply got up from his seat and walked out, clearly not intending to say anything more to him.
After Qin Shaozong left, the group of military officers looked at each other in bewilderment.
"No, what do you mean by this, my lord? It's just a specific date, can't you just say it?" This was Mo Yanyun's response, who was greatly shocked.
"Perhaps there might be unforeseen circumstances." This was Yan San's thought after careful consideration.
"By the way, have you seen Madam Dai recently? I haven't run into her for the past few days." This was Qiao Wangfei, who was recovering from his serious injuries.
"Why are you asking about Madam Dai? Let me tell you, Madam Dai is no ordinary woman. Don't covet what you shouldn't covet." This was Bai Jianping, the head of Nantun, reminding his friend.
Qiao Wangfei said unhappily, "I'm not like that guy Lao Mo, who can be bewitched by a beautiful woman."
Mo Yanyun: "..."
Neither Kuang Ye nor Jin Duole had ever met Dai Li, but despite not seeing her in person, her reputation was legendary.
Kuang Ye stroked his chin thoughtfully, "How about we go see Mr. Ding later?"
"Why are you looking for Mr. Ding? Are you feeling unwell?" Mo Yanyun asked, puzzled.
Yan San was taken aback, then realized what he meant, "I'll go with you."
The two hit it off immediately and, ignoring everyone else, left the study after Qin Shaozong.
Jin Duole watched the two figures disappear into the distance, hissed in shock, and began to count on his fingers, "If there really is a problem with Mr. Ding, there may be a large expense in the near future."
"What kind of big expenditure?" Mo Yanyun asked, puzzled.
Jin Duole muttered to himself as he calculated, "The Marquis's mansion in Yuyang needs to be renovated, and the garden will definitely need to be repaired as well... No, no, no, it shouldn't be like that, why would it have to come to that?"
"What's wrong with this miserly guy?"
"Who knows? He's always like that."
*
Main house and courtyard.
After lying in the house for several days, Dai Li couldn't stand it anymore. Today, feeling much better, she put on thick clothes and went for a walk in the yard.
"Nianxia, go and find out where Commander Hu is. I need to ask him to come over," Dai Li said to Nianxia. The latter obeyed and hurried off.
After Hu Bao returned from Yangzhou, she only saw him once, when he gave his report. Later, she fell ill and never saw him again.
Even though she had heard those words before, and even though they had been recurring like a curse in recent days, Dai Li still wanted to hear the person involved say them again, as if it were torture.
When Qin Shaozong returned, he happened to run into Nianxia in the corridor outside the main house. Seeing her hurrying along, he asked before she could even greet him, "Are you looking for Ding Lianxi?"
Nianxia: "Replying to Your Excellency, it is not to seek Mr. Ding, but to invite Commander Hu on the orders of the Madam."
Qin Shaozong: "There's no need to go. Hu Bao has already returned to Yangzhou."
Nianxia was surprised and wondered, "Commander Hu went to Yangzhou? When did he go?" But she knew these were not questions she should ask, so she could only follow Qin Shaozong back the way they came.
Dai Li walked slowly in the courtyard, trying to regain some of the strength that had been lost from being bedridden for several days. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a dark figure turning into the cave entrance, and she subconsciously looked over.
It was him who came back, followed by Nianxia.
Dai Li pursed her lips.
"It's been windy lately, Madam. Please don't stay in the courtyard in the wind. Go back to your room." The tone was authoritative.
After saying this, Qin Shaozong saw that she didn't move, so he stepped forward, stretched out his long arm, and pulled her into the room with him.
Dai Li only froze for a moment before letting him lead her into the room.
Upon entering the room, the medicinal smell rushed in like a ferocious glutton, completely engulfing all other odors. Qin Shaozong frowned almost imperceptibly. "I've sent Hu Bao to Yangzhou. If Madam has anything she wants to know, just ask me."
Dai Li was slightly taken aback. "You went to Yangzhou?"
Qin Shaozong explained, "After the questioning in the hall, we didn't make Old Man Sun's family keep quiet, nor did we tell Qin Ran anything. This trip is to have him go back and finish things up."
After Hu Bao obtained the clue, Ma Buti returned to Ying County, and the matter in Yangzhou was completely shelved. Since the plan was to search extensively for a nine-year-old boy in various prefectures, the information about the "ten years" period had to be kept strictly confidential.
Qin Shaozong led her to a long bench, sat down with her, and straightened her up to examine her closely: "Madam seems to be in better condition today than yesterday."
Dai Li turned her head away, "We can't just drink Mr. Ding's medicine for nothing."
Then she asked him, "Did you really not see my son making contact with that group after that old man surnamed Sun?"
“No, he was guilty about the past and fled when he heard the noise,” Qin Shaozong said calmly.
Dai Li lowered her eyes.
"In a few days, my wife will accompany me south to Qingzhou," Qin Shaozong said, bringing up another matter.
Dai Li was not surprised that he wanted to go south.
This person will surely accept the ladder offered by Nangong Qingzhou. Heading south, ah, heading south is actually quite good; it brings them closer to Qiantang…
"My lord, when can I meet the leader of that inspection team?" Dai Li asked impatiently.
Qin Shaozong took one of her hands, his calloused fingertips stroking her soft palm, moving up along the fine lines, and finally caressing the tender flesh inside her fingers. "I said before, the inspection team will be formed whenever Madam recovers."
A tingling sensation rose from her fingertips, and Dai Li subconsciously tried to pull her hand away, but her fair wrist was gripped by a large, dark hand, leaving her no room to dodge.
Dai Li paused for a moment before saying, "My fever has completely subsided today, and I feel completely recovered."
As if eager to prove she had recovered, Dai Li touched the belt around his waist.
Author's Note: The dream was the final straw that broke Dai Li's back, which led to the swiftly concluded deal. Sorry, I'm just a country bumpkin; I love these kinds of cunning and ruthless plot twists. [crying emoji]
I didn't expect so many people to think my last chapter was filler; some complained, and some even gave it negative marks. Let me say a few words...
If I really wanted to write something, I could write about Hu Bao going to Qiantang to find information, missing it again, missing it again, and finding it again. I could insert five or six chapters into that, or even write it longer.
But no, it passed immediately.
I understand your eagerness to follow the serialization, and I know you genuinely love the story. But as the author, I have a responsibility to readers who will reread the story after it's finished, and those who might reread it a second time. Some plot points need careful foreshadowing; otherwise, looking back, those parts will seem rushed, leaving a sense of powerlessness as the climax ends before it even reaches its peak. And personally, I don't like avoiding conflict…
Reading books in a calm and peaceful state of mind is beneficial to health.
I've been working incredibly hard lately, and my tenosynovitis is showing signs of flaring up again. I might need to reschedule my updates in a couple of days. [crying emoji]
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