Chapter 64 Gifts for Her and Her Son
“It’s the fifth day.” Nangong Xiong stood by the Jin River, looking at the rising sun in the distance, his brow furrowed with worry. “Is Qin Changgeng any good? Don’t ruin yourself.”
Zhang Mingdian, the strategist from Qingzhou, stood beside him and said, "My lord, you need not worry. In any case, the current situation is advantageous to us."
If Qin Shaozong's surprise attack succeeds, Bai Ri Pass will surely fall. If he were even more swift, capturing and killing Fan Tianshi in one fell swoop, Yanzhou would be his for the taking.
However, if Qin Shaozong died in Chijiao Peak, it would be equivalent to the leader of the North and his most renowned Xuanxiao Cavalry dying together.
The northern lands have suffered heavy losses, so it's not impossible for them to turn their guns around then.
"I still hope he can succeed. Compared to Fan Tianshi, Qin Changgeng, although his words are harsh, is much more upright in his actions." Nangong Xiong was still thinking about the three hundred fine horses and the thousand shi of grain.
If Qin Shaozong is gone, who will he ask for things from?
Just then, a commotion suddenly arose on the opposite bank of the Jin River. The noise was so loud that it cut through the surging waves and reached the ears of everyone on the other side.
Nangong Xiong subconsciously turned his head.
And in that glance, he saw a flag of the "Yan" on the opposite bank that seemed to have been broken and suddenly tilted to one side.
After the flag fell, it was never raised again.
Nangong Xiong's body trembled, and a terrifying light flashed in his eyes. "Quick, prepare the boat! We're going to cross the river now!"
...
When Dai Li woke up, she suddenly noticed that the atmosphere in the military camp had changed. Joy was everywhere, and occasionally she could hear soldiers humming tunes.
Dai Li was puzzled, and just then she saw Mo Yanyun passing by, so she asked him.
Mo Yanyun beamed with joy, "Your Excellency's surprise attack was a success! Not only did you burn down the granaries of Yanzhou, but you also utterly crushed their main military force. Lady Dai, Bai Ri Pass has fallen!"
Dai Li looked dazed.
It broke? In just a few days?
Driven by curiosity, Dai Li asked him, "You mentioned a surprise attack, how exactly would you carry out a surprise attack?"
Mo Yanyun was one of the few military officers who knew the inside story and remained in the camp. "From the foot of Chijiao Peak in Guoyun County, we traveled hundreds of miles along the mountain road westward to reach the rear of the Yanzhou army."
Dai Li: "...He's quite arrogant."
Mo Yanyun suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "Oh, Lord Junhou is back!"
Dai Li looked back and saw several fast horses appearing from the direction of the Jin River. The leader was a tall and imposing man with a ring-pommel sword at his waist. He rode towards the sunlight, exuding an undeniable air of confidence and arrogance.
Seeing the beautiful figure turn around not far away, Qin Shaozong, who was on horseback, immediately raised his whip again.
The horses neighed and carried their men straight into the military camp.
A damp wind blew in, making Dai Li close her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, he was already standing in front of her.
The man rode a tall horse, his powerful aura amplified by his superior position. A smile played on his lips: "Madam, you've gotten up quite early today."
Dai Li saw that his robes were dripping with water, and the horse had only stopped for a moment when a small puddle appeared on the ground, as if it had just come out of the water.
"Has Your Excellency gone into the river?" Dai Li looked him up and down, her gaze lingering for a couple of seconds on a stray lock of hair sticking up beside his crown. Her obsessive-compulsive tendencies inadvertently surfaced, making her fingers itch slightly.
Qin Shaozong dismounted. "We've been in the mountains for a few days. If we don't wash up, you'll complain about this and that."
Dai Li choked for a moment, thinking to herself that this person was quite vengeful; he still remembered that time she made him wash up before going to bed.
"Madam, please tidy up a bit. We'll head into the city by water later." Qin Shaozong seemed to be thinking about something, then added, "I brought that brat a gift; I'm sure he'll like it."
The next sentence piqued Dai Li's curiosity.
A gift for Zhou Zhou? And he's sure he'll like it?
But before she could ask, Qin Shaozong had already hurriedly returned to camp to change his clothes.
With Bai Ri Pass breached, the allied forces from the North and Qingzhou broke camp together.
They're about to migrate.
The large number of cattle and sheep carried by the cooks could not be loaded onto the boats, nor could they cross the bridge, so they had to turn back and pass through Bai Ri Guan.
Lightly armed soldiers traveling by water or boat bridges took a shortcut, allowing them to reach Bai Ri City faster than the troops behind them.
On the way into the city, Dai Li kept thinking about his gift. Zhou Zhou used to like many things: calligraphy, cats and dogs, Lego, puzzles…
However, now, Dai Li doesn't know what her son likes anymore.
I wanted to ask, but I couldn't find the words.
Whether it was his initial "It's all in the past" or his later "I'll tell you later," she understood that it was a signal that he didn't want to recall those past events.
It's normal, really. After finally getting out of the mire, why would you want to recall the suffocation and despair of the past?
His avoidance was too obvious, coupled with his usual apathy and unusual silence, leading Dai Li to suspect that her son might have post-traumatic stress disorder.
She was extremely anxious but helpless, and could only rely on Nalan Zhi for guidance.
Even she, as a mother, couldn't understand what her son liked, yet Qin Shaozong dared to give her a guarantee?
It seemed unbelievable no matter how you looked at it, but this man had never actually lied to her.
On the way into the city, Qin Shaozong could always feel a subtle gaze watching him. It would often steal a glance, look away for a moment, and then look back again, repeating this process over and over.
The man smirked and continued to control the horse's speed, neither too fast nor too slow, just right next to her carriage.
The mansion where Fan Tianshi had previously lived had been emptied, and now its gates were open, awaiting its new owner. Nangong Xiong, knowing that Qingzhou had contributed less than the northern regions, did not compete with Qin Shaozong for the mansion, and led the Qingzhou generals elsewhere.
Dai Li felt like she had a cat scratching at her heart, but that person was so awful that he seemed to have completely forgotten what he had said, as if nothing had happened.
On several occasions, when their eyes met, he would pretend not to know and ask her how it was.
Just as Dai Li finished her hesitant lunch and finally decided to take the initiative, she turned around and found that Qin Shaozong had disappeared.
"Where is the Lord?" Dai Li asked in surprise.
Qiao Wangfei, whom she randomly caught, replied, "The Marquis went to the Prefect's residence."
Bai Ri City did have a prefect, but after Fan Tianshi marched into the area, the prefect was naturally sidelined. Now that Bai Ri Pass has fallen, the prefect still has no real power.
Seeing Dai Li hesitate, Qiao Wangfei took the initiative to say, "Do you have something to discuss with Lord Jun? Bai Ri City has just been captured, and there are many matters to attend to. Lord Jun will most likely not return this afternoon. By the way, Madam Dai, there is a joint banquet with Qingzhou tonight. Lord Jun may have some free time after the banquet."
Dai Li: "...Okay."
So Dai Li stopped looking and went back to take a nap.
When Dai Li woke up, her son, who had gone to Nalanzhi's place, had not yet returned. She sat by the window in a daze.
“Madam, if you feel bored, why don’t you go for a stroll in the streets?” Bibo suggested in a low voice.
Nianxia frowned. "I just heard that the Yanzhou soldiers in the city have not yet been eliminated. It is not appropriate to go out now. Why don't you wait a few more days, Madam?"
Dai Li sighed, "Let's go to the amusement park in a few days. For now, let's go and take a look at the back garden of the mansion."
To Dai Li's surprise, the mansion's back garden was quite large, with exotic flowers and plants, as well as a large pond.
A gentle breeze stirred, and the water remained undisturbed. Dai Li sat under a tall tree by the pond, fishing with a rod in hand, finding a unique kind of enjoyment in the scene.
*
Inside a teahouse in Bai Ri City.
Inside, tea was bubbling and steaming, filling the air with fragrance, and the windows were mostly open, letting in the warm sunlight.
There are two people inside, one sitting and one standing.
The person sitting there was young, with a handsome face, wearing a long robe with gold trim and flowing cloud patterns on the collar, exuding a gentle yet unrestrained air.
Before him was a table with a teacup, a small stove, and a silver-white mask.
"Fan Yanzhou has been defeated, and the city is being cleared. The Yanzhou garrison is gradually being replaced by the two armies. Sir, when shall we withdraw?"
Di Ting smiled and said, "What's the point of retreating when such a great opportunity is there?"
The man paused.
“Bai Ri Pass is a dangerous pass. Qin Shaozong broke through it in just five days. If this happened to you, would you be proud?” Di Ting asked.
The man immediately nodded, "Of course I'm proud."
Di Ting laughed and said, "Throughout history, arrogant soldiers have often been defeated, and those who underestimate their enemies rarely succeed. Qin Shaozong was riding high, having wiped out the Yanzhou soldiers in the city. How could he have imagined that there was more than one force in this city?"
The Qinglian Sect has always maintained a low profile, openly avoiding involvement in the struggles across the states. Each member has a publicly acknowledged identity, and even a thorough check of their household registration and lineage reveals no discrepancies. This is because many members were originally engaged in a particular profession before joining the sect.
However, after saying this, Di Ting paused, "After the miracle, Qin Shaozong might think of us, but by then it will be too late."
"You mean to wait passively for Lady Dai to leave the mansion?" the man asked.
Di Ting laughed and said, "After marching for many days, she must be feeling quite bored. Now that we've finally entered the city, she certainly can't stay cooped up in the mansion forever. Just wait, she'll definitely come out of the mansion sooner or later."
The man nodded obediently like a puppy, "You're right."
"How are the preparations going with the embroiderers?" Di Ting asked about other matters.
The man replied, "Two women with similar builds and appearances have been selected, and the embroiderer is now making final adjustments to them."
Di Ting: "What about the city guards?"
The man said, "Of the few Qingzhou soldiers we've contacted so far, only two are capable of participating in the screening work at the city gate, and both of them have been assigned to the east gate."
"Only two..." Di Ting poured himself a cup of tea. "Not many, but enough. How about the caravan and the boatmen?"
The man said, "They've been on standby, ready to act at any time. Now all that's left is the embroiderer's side, and waiting for Madam Dai to leave the mansion."
Di Ting picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Uncle said that the worst thing to do when undertaking great tasks is to be impatient. Let's wait and see, and not make a move that might alert the enemy."
"Oh, sir, there's one more thing." The man hesitated. "We've sent out the signal several times, but the beacon still hasn't responded, not even once."
Di Ting paused, his hand still holding the teacup. He seemed to be deep in thought, and after a moment he chuckled softly, “No rush, he absolutely cannot be separated from us.”
*
The Qin residence, back garden.
Dai Li caught three fish and leisurely whiled away the afternoon.
As dusk approached, Hu Bao came to find her and asked, "Madam Dai, the Marquis asked if you would like to attend the victory celebration banquet tonight?"
"I heard you're celebrating with the Qingzhou generals tonight, so I won't go. You all have a good time." Dai Li knew they were definitely going to drink.
A group of military officers gathering together to eat and drink would surely lead to dissolute behavior, so she decided not to join them.
Hu Bao then asked, "And what about Young Master Qin?"
Dai Li said matter-of-factly, "Zhouzhou won't go either. Qin Changgeng said before that Nangong Qingzhou suspected my son of robbing the gifts they were giving to the court. My son's wanted posters are flying everywhere. It's hard to guarantee that Nangong Qingzhou will recognize him."
Hu Bao smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about this. Lord Jun has already reached an agreement with Nangong Qingzhou, who has agreed to let bygones be bygones."
Dai Li was slightly taken aback.
A deal has been reached?
When did he and Nangong Qingzhou reach an agreement?
Thinking this way, Dai Li asked Hu Bao, but the latter only said, "It was agreed upon before the Lord went to launch the surprise attack. As for the reasons behind it, please ask the Lord in person, Madam Dai."
"I'll ask my son about the banquet first," Dai Li said hesitantly.
Although she felt that her son most likely wouldn't go, she still thought that since her child was grown up, parents couldn't do everything for him.
As Dai Li had expected, Qin Yanzhou also refused. So that evening, the mother and son had a special meal in the courtyard, eating the fish that Dai Li had caught that afternoon.
One will be steamed, one will be braised, and the other will be kept in the water tank to be eaten tomorrow.
Summer days are long and nights are short; by the time dinner is finished, the entire sky is completely dark.
Dai Li thought that Qin Shaozong and the Qingzhou side would hold a banquet tonight and it would not end until very late, so she would not have time or energy to think about that "gift".
As a result, at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), Dai Li had just finished bathing and was planning to read a book for a while before going to sleep when a guard came looking for her.
The guard said, "Madam Dai, the Marquis requests that you and Young Master Qin come over. He says there is a gift for Young Master Qin."
Upon hearing about the gift, Dai Li's curiosity was piqued again. "Did he say what the gift is?"
Guard: "No, please come with the young master."
"So mysterious," Dai Li muttered, but still dressed neatly and went over with her son.
The banquet had just ended, and the drunken Qingzhou generals walked out arm in arm.
Dai Li saw that familiar tall figure under the side corridor. He stood in front of the light source, and his shadow was stretched forward a long way.
The man's face was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern his expression, but his gaze was intense, like a scorching flame or magma capable of melting bones.
Dai Li pretended not to notice anything and didn't even exchange pleasantries with him. "Your Excellency said you have a gift. Where is the gift?"
Qin Yanzhou followed behind his mother in silence. As he had done many times before, he showed no reaction to Qin Shaozong, treating him as if he didn't exist.
Qin Shaozong glanced at the mother and son and thought to himself that they were truly of the same ilk, both utterly arrogant.
Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with them.
"Come with me." Qin Shaozong turned around.
Dai Li thought he was going to take them to the main hall, but she saw him walk past the side corridor without entering, and kept walking towards the west courtyard, and the way he went was more and more remote.
After walking for a while, Dai Li couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going, my lord? There are many mosquitoes in the summer, especially at night. If you want to visit the garden, it would be better to do so during the day."
"We've arrived," Qin Shaozong said at this moment.
He stopped in front of a pavilion and looked inside. He could see soldiers guarding the entrance and a lantern hanging under the eaves. The lantern was small and not very bright, giving it an eerie feel in the dark night.
"Your mother and I won't go in." Qin Shaozong didn't enter, but looked at Qin Yanzhou instead: "There are two people inside, you can do whatever you want with them."
"Who is it?" Dai Li didn't understand.
She stood between the two men, shorter than either of them, and their gazes met over her head.
Qin Shaozong remained silent, as did Qin Yanzhou.
After a few breaths, Qin Yanzhou nodded: "Okay, thank you."
Dai Li was shocked. What kind of riddle were these two playing? Why couldn't she understand it?
Qin Yanzhou went straight inside.
Dai Li kept watching his back until her son pushed open the door and entered, completely swallowed by darkness.
A strong, long arm wrapped around her waist and turned her around. Qin Shaozong laughed and said, "Madam was right earlier. There are many mosquitoes in the summer, and even more so at night. And that boy has many scores to settle with them. He certainly won't be out anytime soon. Why don't we go and rest somewhere else?"
In a daze, Dai Li realized who was in the room, "It's Fan Tianshi..."
"Yes, and his second son too. We must nip it in the bud. We'll go to Gaoling County another day and arrest his other sons as well."
Qin Shaozong led her to another place. Seeing Dai Li frequently looking back, he couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "That boy isn't a baby who needs to be breastfed. Madam doesn't need to worry about him, and he doesn't need to cling to his mother all the time."
Dai Li's initial surge of emotion vanished as quickly as it came, and she couldn't help but push him away, saying, "Qin Changgeng, can't you speak properly?"
“Honest advice is hard to swallow, madam,” he chuckled softly.
Author's note: Nine o'clock, here we go! [Sprinkling flowers]
I need nutrient solution.
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