Chapter 88 His Only Requirement of Her
When Qin Shaozong saw that Dai Li was about to get up after speaking, he tightened his long arm and held her back in the soft chair. "It won't make a difference if it takes a little longer. We can talk about this after we get back to Xiagu."
Dai Liren sat back down in her chair, but was trapped in anxiety and unease.
"Most of those so-called miracle drugs are just charlatans. How could they possibly have the effect of prolonging life and causing intestinal perforation, and even cause the stomach to rot if you don't take them? It's like forcing people to take them regularly. That's too far-fetched. Most of the rumors are untrue." Qin Shaozong scoffed at this.
Dai Li pursed her lips and remained silent.
Qin Shaozong took one of her hands and squeezed her pink fingertips. “If you are worried, Madam, when we get back, have Ding Congjian take that boy’s pulse and examine him carefully. Ding Congjian’s family has been practicing medicine for generations. His father and his grandfather, who is now in their seventies, are both very skilled doctors. They can cure many difficult and complicated diseases.”
After a long pause, Qin Shaozong finally heard her softly say "Mmm," and then say to him, "Thank you."
Qin Shaozong found those two words grating. “No need for thanks. If you really want to thank me, Madam, then you should behave yourself from now on and stop running around all day.”
Dai Li glanced at him sideways, her lips still pursed.
Upon seeing her expression, Qin Shaozong understood everything.
Well, she's still not convinced. He's probably caught her now, but she's just temporarily at a loss and has no choice but to accept her fate. Her mischievous schemes have never dried up.
"What, did I say something wrong?" Qin Shaozong was determined to correct her bad habits and thoughts. "Dai Li, I can grant you anything, except one thing."
Whatever treasures she desired, whatever she wanted to do, he could find them for her and arrange everything for her. He could even personally pave the way for her son's future, ensuring the boy's lifelong wealth and status.
Except for one thing, she could never leave him.
This is the bottom line. Above this line, no matter how outrageous she acts, even if she causes a major disaster, he can help her fix it.
Dai Li knew perfectly well what he meant, but she had no intention of arguing with him. "You are right, my lord."
Qin Shaozong's lips twitched. Her voice was pleasant to hear, but some of her words were infuriating.
When Dai Li left Xia Gu, she rode with Qin Yanzhou on horseback, and their speed wasn't particularly fast. Now, on their return journey, they traveled by carriage, which moved at a speed similar to the two of them riding together. As dusk approached, they arrived at the small mountain village.
They will live in the villagers' homes in the same way they lived back then, and will be paid money to do so now.
Because of the generous gifts, the villagers were all smiles, and some even brought out their chickens and geese to be slaughtered. The good food and meat served as a treat, earning them extra money, while the scraps, which the wealthy wouldn't eat, were enjoyed by the villagers themselves.
As dusk approached, the small mountain village was unusually lively.
Children ran around laughing and joking, while the villagers beamed with joy at the windfall they had received. Meanwhile, the Xuanxiao cavalry, having won a battle and with their return to the city imminent, were all relaxed.
Besides, Mo Yanyun.
Mo Yanyun had been struggling with this decision the whole way. Ever since he heard Dai Li's explanation in the eastern suburbs, he was initially struck dumb and found it hard to believe.
But upon closer reflection, it's entirely understandable! Lady Dai is exceptionally talented, stunningly beautiful, and gentle in nature; it's perfectly reasonable for her to request to be the principal wife.
No woman doesn't want to be the wife, just as no soldier doesn't want to be the leader.
Unfortunately, the Marquis and the Wei family had made a promise. And the Marquis is a man of his word; in the past thirty-odd years, he has never broken a promise he made to anyone.
This is a difficult matter.
But if he didn't tell the Lord about it, and Lady Dai were to try to escape again, it would be a dereliction of duty on his part as her subordinate...
"Mo Yanyun".
Mo Yanyun squatted on the ground, holding a wildflower, continuing to pick petals, muttering to herself, "Say it, don't say it, say it, don't say it..."
"Mo Yanyun".
Mo Yanyun shuddered, instinctively standing up quickly, legs together, back straight, "Yes!"
Qin Shaozong glanced at his subordinate, whose expression seemed strange, and narrowed his long brown eyes. "I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Explain yourself."
Mo Yanyun inwardly cried out in alarm; the Marquis must have overheard his inner turmoil.
Well, this time there's no need to pick flower petals; the lord will decide for him directly.
Mo Yanyun swallowed hard, not daring to remain silent: "My lord, when I followed Lady Dai out of the city, she discovered me and started following her in the eastern suburbs. I tried to persuade her to come back with me, but she refused, saying at the time that..."
At the end, his voice dropped eight octaves, "She said she didn't want to be a concubine."
Of course, even if you beat him to death now, he would never utter a single word about the things he said to Madam Dai in the dilapidated temple later.
Qin Shaozong was silent for a moment: "Anything else?"
Mo Yanyun quickly shook his head, "No, Madam Dai only said that one sentence at the time."
Qin Shaozong glanced at the petals scattered all over the ground, "What's there to worry about? Next time you encounter her, don't hold back, just report it directly."
Mo Yanyun mustered his courage and asked, "What do you think about that matter?"
“It’s only human nature,” Qin Shaozong said calmly. “If you were a woman, you wouldn’t only want to be a concubine.”
Mo Yanyun scratched his head. That was true, but he was actually more interested in knowing how Lord Junhou planned to handle the matter.
However, his question "How do you see it?" was already an overreach, and he dared not ask any further questions.
*
Meanwhile, during this leisurely time before dinner, Dai Li and her son took a walk in the small village.
Two Xuanxiao riders followed the mother and child at a distance, keeping a watchful eye on them without disturbing them.
Dai Li wandered aimlessly.
She had so much to say to her son, but because there was so much, it was like layers of silt and sand piling up, blocking the way out and making her unsure where to begin.
Qin Yanzhou could sense his mother's emotions; she seemed a little depressed, flustered, and at a loss.
He assumed Dai Li was upset about being captured, so he whispered comfortingly, "Mother, this failed southward expedition was accidental. We only lacked the last element—the right time, the right place, and the right people. Unexpectedly, Marquis Wu'an's reinforcements arrived in Xia Valley ahead of schedule, ending the battle much sooner. It's also my fault for not dealing with that gyrfalcon sooner, which allowed it to tip off Marquis Wu'an. But don't be discouraged. If it doesn't work this time, we'll wait for next time, next time..."
As Qin Yanzhou spoke, he inadvertently noticed the tears welling up in Dai Li's eyes.
A shimmering layer, its watery hue particularly pronounced in the sunset, looked so full that it seemed as if the layer of water could turn into teardrops and fall with just a blink of her eye.
The young man's usually expressionless face now showed an undeniable panic, like a collapsing mountain.
Last night, the thunder was deafening, and the rain poured down almost all night. The sounds from next door were drowned out by the rain and thunder, making them almost inaudible. But when my mother came downstairs this morning, she clearly looked a little tired, while the Marquis of Wu'an, in high spirits, didn't say a single harsh word to him about taking my mother south.
Although he had never had any physical contact with the woman, Qin Yanzhou was no fool and could easily guess what had happened in the next room last night.
The mother cried, overwhelmed with humiliation!
His eyes flashed with murderous intent; at this moment, he hated Marquis Wu'an to the extreme.
But the next moment, he heard Dai Li say, "It has nothing to do with Qin Shaozong. I wasn't thinking about our trip south just now. I was just feeling sorry for Zhouzhou."
The young man froze instantly, and even the murderous intent in his eyes was frozen and dissipated.
Once you get started, the rest will flow smoothly.
Dai Li said softly, "Sometimes I can't help but think about those ten years, about all the difficulties and experiences you encountered, and how you got through them. I sometimes dream at night that you were captured during the Great Famine, and they wanted to kill you for your flesh. During the great famine, people even exchanged their children to eat, and the child they exchanged was my son. Zhouzhou, I'm telling you this not because I want you to feel burdened, but simply because I feel that I am not a good mother."
"No!" Qin Yanzhou hurriedly shook his head: "There is no better mother than you."
He didn't start remembering things early; he was four years old, almost five, before he began to remember things, and before that, there were only some fragmented memories.
His father was a commercial airline captain and was often away from home. His only impression of his father was his tall back and the warmth of his large hands resting on his head.
But I have so many memories of my mother.
Those memories are like wildflowers blooming all over the mountains. If you pick one at random, it might become the memory of your mother sitting in the audience with other parents in kindergarten, watching his performance with a camera in hand.
It might also be depicted as a picture, showing him sitting on the floor at home, holding a toy car, while his mother works on her laptop on the sofa not far away.
It might turn into another scene: He plays with his friends in the neighborhood, and when he returns to his mother's side covered in sweat, the beautiful woman takes out a small water bottle and hands it to him. After watching him unscrew it and gulp down the water, she takes out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
These wildflowers covering the mountains and fields formed an oasis unknown to anyone, protecting him from the terrifying sandstorms and providing him with a brief respite after many years of hardship.
Dai Li smiled bitterly, "I can't accept that 'good'. I left you, so young, to wander here alone for so long. We finally reunited, but we haven't had many good days together before you have to go on the run with me."
"Being with you is the best thing for me," Qin Yanzhou said without hesitation.
Dai Li's distress reached its peak at this moment, and she blurted out, "You left the Qinglian Sect, and they know you've defected. Not only are they issuing a warrant for your arrest, but they definitely won't give you that medicine again. Is having your intestines ruptured a good life?!"
Qin Yanzhou's pupils suddenly narrowed, and his lips moved slightly, "Mom..."
"Why didn't you tell me? Parents should be a support for their children, not a burden. My child has suffered enough. I just want you to be safe and sound from now on. I don't need you to make such a sacrifice for me, Zhouzhou." Tears finally fell from Dai Li's eyes.
When she learned about that incident from Qin Shaozong, it was no exaggeration to say that she felt like the sky was falling.
She thought that after those ten years, she and Zhouzhou would be reunited, and the days to come would be a happy one. Although they wouldn't become rich and powerful, nor would they have an easy life like in modern times, it would still be better than those ten years of hardship.
But she hadn't expected the Green Lotus Sect to have a backup plan, and she certainly hadn't expected her child to keep it a secret from her...
Over the years, there have been almost no people who could have a deep conversation with Qin Yanzhou. Having not debated with anyone for so long, he could only anxiously say, "It's not a sacrifice! As long as Mom is happy, I'm willing to do anything."
As Dai Li felt her heart clench, a surge of anger rushed to her head. "Doesn't that medicine have any side effects? Isn't this a sacrifice?!"
Qin Yanzhou was speechless.
A tear rolled down Dai Li's cheek in the blink of an eye. "I know you want me to be happy, and you want your mother to be happier in this era. But Zhouzhou, if your body is damaged by the medicine, you won't have much time left at such a young age. Let me tell you, I was able to jump off the bridge across the river back then, and on that day, I can also take a knife and slit my own throat."
Qin Yanzhou's body trembled, his face went blank for a moment, but his eyes reddened first.
Her son had grown much taller than her, so Dai Li could no longer easily touch his head as she had when he was a child; she could only pat his shoulder instead.
“Zhouzhou, I’m sorry I wasn’t by your side for those ten years. I also understand that ten years is too long. It’s enough for a child who has to rely on his mother for everything to grow into a man who can stand on his own. Maybe you’re not used to telling me everything anymore. You have your own secrets and worries. I can understand that. After all, growing up is a process of becoming independent.”
Dai Li wiped away her tears, "But you can't joke about your own body and life, that's not something to joke about."
"Mom, it's not that serious. I won't have my intestines perforated," Qin Yanzhou said dryly.
Dai Li, however, was not happy at all, because she sensed something else in those words.
Her son ate poison from the Qinglian Sect.
That's true. He makes a living in the Qinglian Sect. Once the medicine is given to him, several pairs of eyes are watching him, making sure he takes it. They might even deliberately give him water to drink later.
The states had no other choice.
Qin Yanzhou hurriedly said, "Mom, I didn't take that medicine too much. Even though it made me feel good for a short time, I know it's bad. I won't take it when no one is watching me."
Dai Li paused for a moment, and the heavy weight on her heart eased slightly. Just as she was about to speak, a soldier not far away called out that dinner was ready and to call them to eat.
Dai Li took a deep breath and slowly calmed herself down. "I heard that Doctor Ding from the North is very skilled. When we get back, Zhouzhou, you should have him take your pulse."
Qin Yanzhou nodded and agreed.
Dai Li turned around with him and walked back the way they came. "Let's not think about leaving for now."
Qin Yanzhou turned to look at his mother, but could only see the woman's calm profile.
When the mother and son returned to the cottage, dinner had already been set out, with one table inside and several tables outside.
Farmers have limited resources; they don't have fancy low tables, but rather taller and wider ones, where several people can eat together.
There were three people at Dai Li's table.
The space wasn't spacious; you were right next to each other on either side, and if you looked up, you could clearly see each other's expressions.
Qin Shaozong sat next to Dai Li, holding a bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the woman beside him.
The last rays of dusk streamed in through the wooden window, scattering golden fragments across the room. A few streaks of light fell on Dai Li's skirt, shimmering with a brilliant golden glow. She seemed to be born in the light, and would ultimately melt into that sunset.
She noticed frequent glances from those around her, and Dai Li turned to look, her eyes filled with confusion.
He was asked what he was looking at.
She had just cried, and her eyes were bright as if washed clean, with a touch of red at the corners, like she had applied rouge. However, she looked somewhat dejected and not in high spirits.
Qin Shaozong guessed that she must have gone to ask her son about the miracle drug. Neither of them, the big one nor the little one, was easy to deal with. "Ding Lianxi's medical skills are not bad, and his father and grandfather have made further progress. Besides that, there are also unconventional methods."
Author's note: Continuing to update [shrug]
Please, please give me some nutrient solution! [Sprinkling flowers]
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