Chapter 59 His Self-Imposed Imprisonment
Qingzhou, past the clouds, Qin residence.
Achoo...
Dai Li sneezed several times in a row. She rubbed her nose and suspected that she had caught a heatstroke.
"Madam, have you caught a cold? Should I go to Mr. Ding's place and get some medicine?" Bibo asked worriedly.
After rubbing her nose, Dai Li waited a moment before saying, "My throat doesn't hurt, and my nose isn't stuffy, so it shouldn't be a cold."
As for why she suddenly sneezed repeatedly, it was probably because someone was talking to her. Thinking of this, she remembered that when Qin Shaozong left the manor earlier that day, he asked her if she wanted to go to the military camp with him.
Dai Li declined, citing her still-healing foot injury.
She guessed that war was really about to break out, and this person didn't want to travel back and forth, so she made this suggestion.
But she wasn't willing at all. She was living comfortably in the mansion, with easy access to water, a comfortable bed, and free access to the small stove in the main courtyard. Once her foot injury healed, she could even go out for a stroll. Why did she want to go with the army and endure the elements?
The man glanced down at her feet, said nothing, and left.
"Madam, the clothes have been retrieved." Nianxia's voice came from outside.
Today, Nianxia went out to the silk shop to pick up the clothes she had ordered for Qin Yanzhou a few days ago.
Now, she returned with her clothes and saw Dai Li and Bi Po together. Remembering that Dai Li hadn't left the house for several days due to her foot injury, she put the clothes away and told Dai Li about an interesting thing that happened outside.
“Madam, I heard a strange story in the county today.” Nianxia continued after the two looked over: “A cook was preparing food when he suddenly saw a piece of mulberry paper flying down from the sky. The cook picked it up and was about to throw it away when he was surprised to find words appearing on the paper.”
Bibo's curiosity was immediately piqued. "What's written on it?"
"Though the mountains and rivers are beautiful, they are not perfect; the root of disaster still comes from the north." Nianxia thought this saying was quite catchy.
Dai Li's brow twitched.
"Words appeared out of thin air? Really?" Bibo asked in surprise.
“I didn’t see it, but it’s said that many people witnessed this miraculous scene, and afterwards, people knelt down and prayed that it was a divine intervention,” Nianxia said.
Bibo murmured, "Such a strange phenomenon appearing in broad daylight, could it really be a divine manifestation, sending some kind of hint?"
"This matter should not be mentioned again in the manor," Dai Li said solemnly. She rarely had such a serious expression, and the two women nodded repeatedly upon seeing this.
Dai Li was still worried, so she added, "Not only can you not mention it at home, but you also can't join in such commotion outside. Otherwise, someone might use it against you and endanger your lives. I won't be able to save you then."
The two women were immediately alarmed and repeatedly assured each other.
“Go and call Commander Hu…” Dai Li changed her mind halfway through her sentence, “Never mind, you don’t need to go. You can all go about your business. You don’t need to serve me here.”
After they left, Dai Li sat on the soft chair, lost in thought.
Though the landscape is beautiful, it is not perfect; the root of the disaster still comes from the north.
In the north, Qin Shaozong.
It's not a particularly profound sentence, but it's perfect for those with limited education to understand. It's simple, straightforward, and easy to figure out on your own.
Who knows, once they figure it out, this group of "enlightened people" might even gather together to secretly exchange information. If left unchecked, this dark cloud hidden beneath the calm will quickly ferment.
Popular support and prestige, though seemingly intangible assets, can sometimes play a decisive role in crucial moments. When Duke Mu of Qin attacked the State of Jin and was on the verge of death, he was saved by a group of farmers. Can we say that popular support didn't play a key role in this?
Someone is secretly targeting Qin Shaozong.
The move was so mysterious and unbelievable, it caused quite a stir, and it'll probably be the talk of the town soon. Who did it? Were those enemies from the prefecture come knocking on their door?
Although Qin Shaozong is not in the city now, he is likely aware of what is happening there. No rush, she'll observe further.
Dai Li decided to wait and see, but something happened that very night that gave her a real fright.
An assassin has entered.
Unlike the previous misunderstanding, this time someone really broke in at night. And they went straight for the main house. Dai Li woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of shouts and the clash of swords outside.
Her foot was mostly healed, and she walked slowly without the help of a maid. Dai Li immediately got up and went out to check on her. However, just as she reached the window, a glance she made caused her expression to change drastically.
Her son was walking out with a knife in his hand.
"Zhouzhou!" Dai Li called out quickly.
The young man, who had already reached the courtyard, stopped and turned back.
"Where are you going?" Dai Li stared at the knife in his hand.
Qin Yanzhou said truthfully, "Assassins have come to the manor. Qin Changgeng is not here, and most of the others are not here either. Those assassins are probably after me or you. I will go and kill them all. Mother, you continue to rest."
These words sent a chill down Dai Li's spine.
The moonlight peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a soft glow. A young man in a white robe stood in the courtyard, the moonlight falling on his handsome, delicate features, yet revealing no warmth.
He is like a cold work of art, such as a knife carved from jade, or a handful of snow that never melts on a mountaintop.
He was undoubtedly calm at this moment, indifferent to the lives that were about to be harvested.
"Zhouzhou, stay there and don't move." Dai Li called to her son and then quickly went outside.
Under the eaves, the young man stood motionless, maintaining the same posture as before, without even changing his angle. Only when Dai Li came to his side did he turn to the left, facing her instead.
“If an assassin comes, so be it. The guards outside will handle it. You don’t need to worry about it. Go back to sleep,” Dai Li said solemnly.
Her son was already much taller than her, and as he listened to her command with his head down, his eyes still held the gentleness of a lamb, without the slightest reluctance or resistance.
But he stood still.
Dai Li emphasized, "Be good!"
"I'm going back to sleep. You should get some rest too. Goodnight, Mom." The young man nodded.
Dai Li: "Zhouzhou, go back first."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yanzhou turned and went back to his room.
Dai Li remained standing still until the door to his room closed. Her heart was churning with emotion, and a chilling realization pinned her to the spot.
These things didn't appear suddenly; she had simply refused to confront them, deceiving herself by shutting them out. Now, they swept in like a tsunami, engulfing her and leaving her breathless.
Zhouzhou was only nine years old when he came here, and he spent ten years in this era.
Nine years and ten years.
The latter period was significantly longer, not to mention that in the first nine years, he was not able to run and jump from the beginning, nor did he have his own cognition from birth.
His values were not fully formed before they were violently erased by this cannibalistic era, and then slowly reshaped with blood and remains.
Human life was not a very important thing in his eyes; he had an indelible bloodlust in his bones.
Moreover, after spending these days together, Dai Li discovered that her son had significant problems in both personality and social skills.
Qin Shaozong had no shortage of talkative generals under his command, and they were all very curious about Zhouzhou. Several of them even chatted with him every day. But Zhouzhou's attitude was not that he disliked talking to him or was too lazy to pay attention to him. It was more like he had drawn a circle around himself and trapped himself on a hopeless island.
Aside from talking to her, he rarely initiates contact with anyone else. Sometimes he sits alone for an entire day, doing nothing, just sitting like a puppet.
While feeling sorry for his numbness, Dai Li also felt a sense of inexplicable bewilderment.
This can't go on any longer.
Dai Li stood outside for a long time, so long that when Nian Xia, who had come to gather information, returned, Bi Po couldn't help but remind her.
"How is the situation outside?" Dai Li asked.
Nianxia replied, "The ten infiltrators have all been executed."
“Madam, Commander Hu is guarding the gate, so you don’t need to worry.” Bibo thought Dai Li was frightened.
Dai Li looked in that direction and indeed saw several long shadows cast by the firelight at the courtyard gate. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You should all go back and rest too."
However, after lying back on the couch, Dai Li was unable to fall asleep again, and she remained awake until dawn.
The next day, after breakfast, Dai Li sent Nianxia and Bibo outside the mansion, not to buy anything, but to gather information.
Dai Li instructed them to pay close attention to what was happening on the streets and alleys, and to ask people who had witnessed miracles. She also told them to sit in teahouses, restaurants, and other similar places, saying that they might hear something different today.
The two women accepted the order and went out.
About two hours later, the two returned to their residence one after the other.
"Madam, you are incredibly insightful and amazing!" Nianxia looked intently at Daili. "Are you perhaps a celestial being in disguise? Otherwise, how could you possibly know the future?"
Dai Li sighed.
A glimpse through a tube reveals a whole leopard. Given Nianxia's attitude, it's not hard to guess how the commoners outside, who hold a deep reverence for ghosts and spirits, would react.
They're uneducated and easily fooled.
No, it's not a question of whether or not to read books, it's a question of cognition.
Ancient people observed celestial phenomena at night, learning about the Twenty-Eight Mansions and the Four Symbols, and also divided the night sky into sections. But what lies beyond the heavens? This question that puzzled people was only partially answered when the first astronomical telescope was introduced to China at the end of the Ming Dynasty.
Beyond the sky is outer space, the solar system, and the universe.
The long river of history, which is still slowly flowing forward, has clearly not passed through that magnificent and beautiful history of exploration.
Dai Li said helplessly, "A fairy wouldn't sprain her ankle. Tell me, what happened outside?"
Nianxia: "I heard that several miracles occurred in several places yesterday and this morning, with countless witnesses and no fewer than a hundred worshippers. Madam, it's quite a coincidence that I ran into Su Xiuniang outside today. She's the same embroiderer who used to make clothes for the young master. She's one of the witnesses to the miracles."
Dai Li became interested. "I remember you were quite familiar with her. So, did you ask her about the miracle?"
“Of course I asked.” Nianxia nodded and said, “Mrs. Su said that yesterday after she went to the market to buy vegetables, she suddenly felt hungry. She happened to pass by a noodle stall and ordered a bowl of soup noodles. As soon as she sat down, a gust of wind suddenly rose up, carrying several pieces of paper that were blown to different places. One of them landed on the noodle stall.”
Dai Li asked, "Did Madam Su pick up the paper directly?"
Nianxia shook her head. "No, the paper was blown towards the stove in the stall, some distance from Madam Su. But she did see with her own eyes that after the vendor picked it up, words appeared on it, the same sentence."
Dai Li seemed to be deep in thought.
Just then, Bibo returned, bringing with her another important message: "Madam, I heard a nursery rhyme outside today."
Dai Li felt it was definitely related to Qin Shaozong, and sure enough, the next moment she heard Bi Po say:
"The northern tiger, fierce and greedy, swallowed a salt-licking cow whole and burrowed into the forest to find the blue-clothed creature; the blue-clothed creature was dull and stupid, easily deceived and incompetent, and its end was tragic."
Dai Li couldn't help but rub her forehead.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of current affairs can tell that this statement is extremely pointed.
Nursery rhymes, also known as "children's songs," are said to originate from the child's own heart and are not taught by others. Many common people believe this to be true and have great faith in nursery rhymes.
"Madam, what's wrong?" the two asked, puzzled.
Just as Dai Li was about to speak, she heard a commotion outside, with the faint sound of "My Lord, return!" mixed in.
Soon, that familiar tall figure passed through the cave entrance and strode into the main courtyard.
Dai Li had someone bring her a soft chair to sit under the eaves to cool off. As soon as Qin Shaozong entered, their eyes met.
Without speaking immediately, Qin Shaozong looked her up and down before saying, "Madam doesn't look well. Were you frightened last night?"
Dai Li didn't sleep well last night, staying awake until dawn, and her face inevitably showed some weariness. "It wasn't that I was frightened, but I couldn't fall back asleep after waking up."
“Then she’s frightened. There’s no peace in the manor. Madam, come with me to the military camp.” He made the final decision, then called over two maids and asked them to pack Dai Li’s luggage.
"Why the long face? You have to go whether you like it or not." Qin Shaozong neither removed his armor nor sat down, but simply looked down at her.
Although he had deployed a considerable number of troops to his residence and all the assassins from last night had been killed, he still felt uneasy if he didn't keep this fox under his nose.
At this moment, Qin Shaozong, clad in armor, stood before Dai Li, his imposing figure resembling a towering mountain, blocking out a patch of sunlight.
The view from above is extremely oppressive.
Dai Li was about to refuse, but for some reason, the word "no" stuck in her throat and she couldn't say it.
"Does Your Excellency know about those so-called miracles and nursery rhymes outside?" Dai Li asked tentatively.
Qin Shaozong's eyes darkened. "It's the work of a villain. Who benefits from it, and who did it? This matter is inextricably linked to Yanzhou. That scoundrel Fan Tianshi holds a grudge against me for shooting his eldest son, so he resorts to dirty tricks in the shadows."
However, it must be said that this underhanded tactic, which is almost impossible to find evidence of, is quite effective. Moreover, the nursery rhyme that spread rapidly throughout the streets and alleys like wildfire will surely cause Nangong Xiongxin to waver a little, or even more.
"How do you plan to deal with this?" Dai Li asked him.
Qin Shaozong: "Naturally, it's to put pressure on Nangong Qingzhou, trace the source, and at the same time clarify the rumors."
Dai Li couldn't stand having to crane her neck to talk to him, so she asked Nian Xia to put down what she was doing and bring him a soft chair. "The former is easy, but the latter two are more difficult than the last."
The soft chair was moved over, and Qin Shaozong sat down. "The story of the words appearing on the blank paper and the immortal's guidance is very mysterious. I have only heard about it and have not seen it with my own eyes. Later, I ordered people to collect a few sheets of mulberry paper, but I did not see anything unusual about them."
Qin Shaozong was well aware that this matter was not easy to handle, as the other party also knew how to choose the time, specifically choosing to act when he was not in the city.
When he returned, the whole city was in an uproar. When he asked the city's military patrols, none of them could give a clear answer. Some even claimed that they had personally witnessed a miracle, their expressions and words filled with awe.
This infuriated Qin Shaozong, who neither believed in fate nor in ghosts and gods.
But when he raised his sword, he looked around blankly and couldn't find a weak point to break through.
Dai Li seemed to be deep in thought. "I've heard that miracles are nothing more than paper being blown by the wind. Do all of these pieces of paper that are blown by the wind reveal words on them?"
"No, it's only a part. However, there's a saying circulating among the people that this wordless book requires a special connection with the gods to trigger the appearance of words on it." Qin Shaozong scoffed, "What special connection? It's all just a bunch of nonsense. They're just trying to sow discord between me and Nangong Xiong from within."
“You’re right.” Dai Li then asked him, “Could you tell me a little about the miracles that the military patrol witnessed? I would like to know as well.”
Qin Shaozong did not hide anything and told Dai Li everything he had seen during the military patrol.
Dai Li's delicate eyebrows lifted slightly.
Qin Shaozong's narrow eyes suddenly narrowed: "Does Madam know anything?"
Dai Li was once again amazed by the man's keen insight. She estimated that even without her, he would have found the hidden key thread sooner or later. "Indeed, I know how to break this deadlock. But as a reward, I would like you to grant me one request."
Qin Shaozong's eyes held a complex mix of emotions that shifted several times before finally disappearing into the depths of his inky blackness. "What is it, Madam? Tell me."
"I would like to ask Mr. Nalan to teach my son for a period of time." After all, Qin Shaozong was Nalan Zhi's superior, so Dai Li couldn't bypass him and go directly to Nalan Zhi.
Later she learned that the Nalan family was originally a prominent family in the capital. Nalan Zhi had been living a life of luxury since childhood, with a large retinue of servants, but everything changed later.
The Nalan family was framed by villains. Nalan Zhi's grandfather was so angry that he died on his sickbed. His parents died during their exile. His pregnant wife could not withstand the turbulence and gave birth to a baby girl prematurely before passing away. The baby girl could not be saved in the end.
When Dai Li first learned the details, she was stunned for a long time. If it weren't for the ink marks on his face, she would have truly thought that Nalan Zhi was no different from an ordinary strategist.
It can only be said that Nalan Zhi is not insane yet; either he has a mind that is extraordinary and he is extremely good at resolving things, or he has buried all his hatred deep inside, waiting for the day when all the poison will be expelled.
Judging from Dai Li's perspective, she felt that Nalan Zhi should be the former.
And Zhouzhou happens to need a counselor.
Qin Shaozong was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but utter two words, "That's it?"
Dai Li didn't notice his strange expression at first, but turned her head after hearing those two words. "Yes, that's it."
Seeing his confusion, Dai Li said, "My lord, people have different desires and see different values. My son is as worthless as grass in the eyes of the Fan family, but he is the apple of my eye. The dragon bone waterwheel is a treasure that the tenant farmers can look at several times a day to ensure it is intact; but to me, it is just an ordinary wooden frame that can draw water."
The recipe for Xian Shi is coveted by the powerful and wealthy. It's just a matter of a few words from her. If she could exchange it for her son, Dai Li wouldn't hesitate for a moment.
Similarly, the man beside her is a highly sought-after catch in the eyes of many women, a high branch that they would do everything in their power to climb.
For her, he was merely a temporary bed partner.
Okay, it's a temporary bed partner plus a hotel, so I can take my son to temporarily escape the turmoil outside.
"I will speak with Wugong about your son's matter and try my best to get him to share all his knowledge with me," Qin Shaozong said, his eyes burning with determination.
“No need to share everything I know. I will explain what I have taught him myself. You just need to express your opinion to Mr. Nalan.” Dai Li waved her hand.
Qin Shaozong nodded, letting her decide. "Madam just said she could break the deadlock. How should we break it?"
Dai Li: "Naturally, we should start from the root. As long as we expose the so-called miracle in public, we can use the excuse that the nursery rhyme was caused by someone with ulterior motives, and then issue a ban on its spread in the city, with violators fined."
When Qin Shaozong heard her say "exposed in public," he raised his long eyebrows and said, "It seems that Madam has completely mastered this deception."
"Would you like to see it, my lord? If so, I can demonstrate it for you right now," Dai Li asked him.
It's a very simple trick, and it doesn't even take long to prepare. Come to think of it, she and Zhouzhou had done this kind of little experiment before.
Qin Shaozong smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Author's Note: Here I am! [shy]
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