Chapter 101 My Father Forcibly Takes Another Man's Wife?
Since the incident with the fire starter, Dai Li's status in Qin Qinian's heart has risen sharply.
Not to mention that this was the first woman he knew who dared to call his father by his first name and kick him.
What does Madam Dai really mean?
Feeling itchy inside, Qin Qinian immediately slowed his pace and quietly approached the courtyard entrance, where he eavesdropped.
As a result, he listened for a long time, and Uncle Mo kept repeating the same two sentences, such as whether Madam Dai was serious and regretting that he had spoken without thinking.
Then the others comforted her, saying that nothing had happened and it was alright.
Qin Qinian found it extremely distressing to hear.
What are you talking about?!
Can you please explain the cause and effect clearly? You're speaking in riddles; it's driving me crazy!
Seeing that they seemed to be changing the subject, Qin Qinian became anxious and jumped out, saying, "Uncle Mo, what have you done wrong? What did Madam Dai take seriously?"
In the courtyard, everyone was startled.
There are guards patrolling the manor day and night, and anyone acting suspiciously will be arrested. But this obviously doesn't include the notoriously restless Third Young Master; as long as he doesn't climb over the wall, the guards won't bother him at all.
Mo Yanyun was so shocked by the sudden appearance of the young man that his eyes widened and he stood frozen in place.
The others also looked stunned, and unanimously exclaimed that something was wrong.
The courtyard was completely silent. The people stood frozen in place like stone statues, with only two withered yellow leaves swirling and turning on the ground in the autumn wind.
Qin Qinian tilted his head. "Why aren't you guys saying anything?"
The mountains and rivers in Mo Yanyun's heart collapsed, and the sound of the collapse was deafening.
"Ahem, Old Mo recommended a delicious dish to Madam Dai earlier, and Madam Dai took it seriously. However, the tastes of the North and South are different, and it didn't suit her palate," Feng Feng coughed to cover up his misunderstanding.
Qin Qinian retorted, "Do you still think I'm a child? I'm not that easily fooled. Madam Dai is very gentle; she wouldn't hold a grudge over such a small matter. Besides, it's not like Uncle Mo hasn't had a good night's sleep since he entered the manor."
Mo Yanyun: "..."
Seeing that they didn't speak, Qin Qinian turned and left. "If you won't tell me, I'll ask her. She even taught me how to make a tinderbox today. She's willing to teach me such a secret, so she'll definitely be happy to tell me other things too."
His departure terrified Mo Yanyun.
Mo Yanyun was still standing in the same spot, but the person had already left for a while.
Seeing this, Bai Jianping and Feng Feng rushed forward together, each grabbing one of Qin Qinian's arms and forcibly carrying him back.
"Third Young Master, you must never tell Madam Dai about this," Bai Jianping whispered.
"Why?" Qin Qinian pouted. "You won't tell me, and you won't even let me ask others?"
Feng Feng hissed and gasped, "Do you know Madam Dai's background?"
Qin Qinian paused, sensing an underlying meaning in his words, "I don't know. What's her background?"
His eldest uncle died in battle when he was young, and his father became the heir of the clan. Later, his grandparents passed away one after another, and his father took on the responsibility of the entire Qin family on his own.
After that, he fought in the south and the north, going south to suppress the bandits of Bolei Mountain, going north to beat up the northern ethnic groups, and also having to deal with the difficulties caused by Bingzhou and Jizhou.
Compared to other clan leaders or powerful rulers, his father had very few children and concubines. He only had one biological son, and the number of concubines in his harem could be counted on one hand.
In this world, there are only a few ways for concubines to enter the inner palace: they can be purchased with gold and silver, given as gifts by friends, or bestowed by elders of the clan or superiors.
Oh, and there are also girls from humble families who are taken in and offered money to be taken away. This can barely be categorized as buying someone with gold or silver.
Qin Qinian asked, "Was it given to Father by officials from another state?"
They all shook their heads.
"If it wasn't a gift from a friend, then was it bought?" Qin Qinian asked.
After saying that, he felt it was impossible. Madam Dai was more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen. There was no reason why such a beauty would not have a husband, especially since her son was already so grown up.
Even if her father did buy it, there's no reason for him to bring her son back with him.
"I understand!" Qin Qinian made a fist with his right hand and pounded it on his left palm.
"It must have been that Madam Dai's family encountered bandits on the road. In the midst of the crisis, when her life was hanging by a thread, my father appeared out of nowhere and saved her like a hero! Madam Dai fell in love with my father at first sight and was extremely grateful. She then pledged herself to him. Since her husband had just died, she and her son followed my father to his side." Qin Qinian said with certainty.
Mo Yanyun: "..."
Bai Jianping: "..."
Feng Feng: "..."
Kuang Ye: "..."
Silence fell over the surroundings. Qin Qinian looked at this person, then at that person, and asked, "What's with those expressions? Am I wrong?"
"You have a good imagination, but don't guess next time." Bai Jianping wiped his face.
Qin Qinian frowned, displeased. "You won't tell me, and you won't let me guess. Isn't it supposed to be a hero saving a damsel in distress? There's no reason for this! My father is a peerless martial artist with numerous military exploits. Isn't it normal for a young lady to fall for him in times of danger?"
Seeing that they remained silent, Qin Qinian was puzzled. "So what exactly is her background?"
Feng Feng saw that he wouldn't give up until he got to the bottom of things, and knew that the Third Young Master wouldn't get an answer from them, so he would definitely go to ask Madam Dai.
But is that something I can ask?!
Feng Feng sighed deeply, "Then I'll keep it short. Third Young Master, just listen to it as a story, and then forget about it."
In fact, Dai Li's origins were a mystery to Feng Feng and his group, and even to Mo Yanyun, who had stayed at the Jiang residence with Qin Shaozong.
However, after the Dragon Bone Waterwheel came into existence, they all unanimously believed that Dai Li was a girl from a secluded village who came into the world to find her son and incidentally offer her treasure, but she just happened to run into their lord.
As a result, the lord immediately captured the man and refused to let him go.
Qin Qinian urged, "Alright, then tell me quickly."
"Lady Dai is the descendant of a great hermit. She came into the world to search for her son and to present treasures. The world-renowned Xian Stone was made by her, as was the dragon bone waterwheel she presented to the lord," Feng Feng said.
Qin Qinian gasped.
Feng Feng looked away, not daring to look at Qin Qinian: "After meeting Lady Dai, the Marquis forced her to stay. She left twice, but the Marquis led his troops to bring her back each time."
Qin Qinian was stunned for a few moments, then jumped up as if pricked by a needle, and retorted sharply, "Impossible! You must be talking nonsense. How could my father do such a shameless thing as forcibly taking another man's wife!"
Everyone: "..."
How should I respond to that? It seems like no response would be appropriate.
"Ancestor, please keep your voice down." Mo Yanyun almost knelt down before him.
Kuang Yewen's gentle dog eyes darted around, and he skipped the middle and went straight to the conclusion, "In short, Madam Dai was unwilling to move into the Marquis's mansion, so the Marquis chose a house not far from the Ding mansion, which would also be convenient for treating Young Master Qin's illness."
Normally, the Third Young Master's attention would have shifted elsewhere by now.
For example, they could ask about Young Master Qin's illness, or about Lady Dai and Lord Jun's past. They could ask anything, but they wouldn't pay any more attention to "Old Mo" and "Lady Dai's true identity."
Unfortunately, the Third Young Master seemed to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information today, so he simply put it all out of his mind and went back to the beginning.
He murmured, "So what exactly is the relationship with Uncle Mo, and what did Madam Dai 'really' take seriously?"
Kuang Ye: "..."
Qin Qinian muttered to himself, "Could it be that Uncle Mo told her that the people in my father's household are difficult to get along with?"
The group was startled; such words shouldn't be spoken lightly.
“Of course not,” Feng Feng quickly replied.
Seeing that Qin Qinian wanted to get to the bottom of things, Kuang Ye simply said, "It was because Madam Dai was unwilling to come back at the beginning. In the end, Old Mo had no choice but to casually say that it would be more free to live outside and not have to abide by the rules of the Marquis's Mansion."
Qin Qinian suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
"So ultimately, the reason Madam Dai is here is partly due to Old Mo, which is why he is so restless," Kuang Ye said.
Finally, the group begged him not to tell anyone, saying that this was a private matter between the Marquis and Lady Dai, and it would be inappropriate for others to hear about it.
Qin Qinian nodded repeatedly, then left.
Mo Yanyun and the others breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had come back to life.
But to their utter surprise, Qin Qinian didn't tell "anyone else" that he had gone straight back to find Dai Li.
Mrs. Dai is a party involved, not an outsider, right?
...
"...So, you really were forced to stay by my father?" Qin Qinian sat up straight.
Compared to the time when Qin Shaozong practically forced him to bow, Qin Qinian was much more reserved now, with an inexplicable air of caution.
Dai Li could tell that he was sitting on pins and needles, and then she recalled how he had rushed over just now and couldn't hold back his words, getting straight to the point about her and Qin Shaozong.
I guess the child overheard something from somewhere else.
Dai Li picked up the cup on the table, took a sip, and spoke amidst the other person's tense expression, "At first, yes, but later I reached other agreements with Lord Junhou, so that's another matter."
The poison in Zhouzhou's body was something she hadn't anticipated, and the way things had spiraled out of control was completely beyond her plan.
As for the future...
Dai Li isn't thinking about the future right now; all she wants is for her son to be cured of the Gu poison as soon as possible so that he can live a peaceful life for the rest of his days.
Qin Qinian's face felt burning hot.
Recalling what he had said earlier, he felt as if ants were crawling all over him, not only crawling everywhere but also biting him.
He had previously boasted that his father would kick her out of the manor and that she would have nowhere to cry. But it wasn't that she wanted to stay; it was clearly his father who wouldn't let her leave.
It is said that children should pay for their fathers' debts, which is a matter of course. Not only did he fail to pay for his father's debts, but he also spoke arrogantly to her. No wonder his father said that he would never let him go to the military camp again.
"I...I didn't mean to say that that day..." Qin Qinian said, his head bowed.
He didn't specify which day, but Dai Li understood immediately. It wasn't hard to guess; aside from the first day when the young man had "spoken outrageously," he had been quite well-behaved with her in the following days.
Dai Li wouldn't hold a grudge against a child. "It's nothing."
"May I ask you some other questions?" Qin Qinian asked in a low voice.
Dai Li glanced at the sky outside.
Her son's treatment lasted two hours each time, and there was still some time left before it ended. She could chat with the child for a bit longer, "Go ahead and ask, but I might not be able to answer you."
*
In the study.
"My lord, the prefectural clerk, Wei Congmu, requests an audience," Hu Bao reported.
Qin Shaozong kept writing.
Qin Yunce turned to Qin Shaozong and said, "Father, it seems that Cai Yuan leaked some information when he left, otherwise how could the Wei family have arrived so quickly?"
When Cai Yuan entered the house, Qin Yunce was standing at the door, and he heard the entire conversation inside. Cai Yuan wasn't stupid; he would never leak the matter of reorganizing the military farms. He probably only revealed some minor details.
For example, he met Marquis Wu'an.
When other people came to visit, they were all received by Qin Yunce, and none of them were able to see Qin Shaozong.
"It's not impossible, and it's probably because everyone is competing fiercely." Qin Shaozong put down his wolf-hair brush and called his subordinate: "Hu Bao, have someone send the stack of letters on the left to Qingzhou by fast horse, the ones in the middle to Sizhou, and the ones on the right to Jizhou."
Some time ago, the Xuanxiao Cavalry split into many small teams and, based on information provided by Qin Yanzhou, headed straight for the various strongholds of the Qinglian Sect.
Search what needs to be searched, arrest what needs to be arrested.
Although the master craftsman skilled in medicine was not found, the search was not entirely fruitless. At least some people secretly forging armor were caught during the operation.
The Great Yan dynasty allowed private individuals to craft some short weapons, such as swords and bows, which were perfectly acceptable for self-defense or hunting. However, the manufacture of defensive military weapons, such as leather armor, was strictly prohibited.
Although Qin Shaozong returned to Yuyang, he did not relax his control over the other states at all. He had a special cavalry force for sending messages and he was very strict in this regard.
Anyone found to be illegally forging armor will be imprisoned.
He wasn't in a hurry to behead them, but instead subjected them all to severe torture to extract more information from them.
The Green Lotus Sect dared to target the Ding family, repeatedly poisoning and assassinating them; he could make sure they never had a moment's peace.
Hu Bao bowed and accepted the order.
After giving his instructions, Qin Shaozong stood up from his seat: "Yun Ce, you are to receive Wei Congmu. Just say a few words and send him on his way."
"Yes, Father." Qin Yunce watched that tall and imposing figure leave, and it took him a long time to look away.
He never doubted his uncle's methods; whatever his uncle wanted, things would eventually turn out as he wished, no matter how many obstacles there were.
He felt that the Marquis's mansion might soon have a mistress.
Qin Yunze coughed twice, then got up and went to the main hall: "Go and invite the Prefectural Chief Clerk in."
"only."
...
Qin Shaozong left the main hall, estimating that Qin Yanzhou's acupuncture treatment should be almost over. She would definitely go to pick him up, and since he would probably be late returning to the main courtyard, he might as well go directly there.
The acupuncture treatment was in the other courtyard. After leaving the study, Qin Shaozong did not walk properly along the long corridor, but went straight through the other courtyards.
The courtyard doesn't usually have just one entrance; it often has a small back door. Qin Shaozong walked through the courtyard.
Just as he reached the middle of the path, the man vaguely heard voices coming from next door. His senses were much sharper than the average person's, so he immediately recognized it as Mo Yanyun's voice.
The sound was no longer very clear by the time it reached this point, and Qin Shaozong initially did not intend to pay any attention to it.
Conversations among military officers were commonplace. Those who were on good terms would often gather together to chat about anything and everything.
But at that moment, Qin Shaozong heard the words "Madam Dai." Remembering Mo Yanyun's past behavior with women, the man paused, his gaze darkening.
He didn't continue walking towards the courtyard entrance; he stayed by the wall, listening quietly.
"Fortunately, the Third Young Master believed what you said, Kuang Ye. If the Marquis had been there... ha, you wouldn't have been able to hide anything from him. He would have seen through it at a glance."
"Old Mo, you'd better watch your mouth from now on. Don't just blurt things out. You even dared to make fun of Junhou. I think you really don't want to live anymore. It's lucky you were lucky this time, otherwise I really couldn't save you."
They deliberately avoided the main point in their conversation, and Qin Shaozong listened for a while but couldn't make out any specific details.
The man raised his long eyebrows and moved away from the wall.
...
The neighbor's yard.
Bai Jianping patted Mo Yanyun on the shoulder, "Fools are sometimes lucky. Anyway, this matter is over, and no one should mention it again."
"Tell me how you're going to get there," a deep male voice came from the courtyard entrance.
At that moment, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck, making the people in the courtyard freeze in place, their hair standing on end.
One breath, two breaths...
Bai Jianping quickly withdrew the hand that was still on Mo Yanyun's shoulder, and at the same time took a step to the side to create distance.
Others started moving at the same time as him, and they all simultaneously and swiftly moved to the side. A circle immediately opened up around Mo Yanyun.
Mo Yanyun was still completely dazed.
Qin Shaozong's gaze swept over the group, and they all quickly lowered their heads, as if they had found silver in the ground.
"Mo Yanyun, you are the person involved, so you should speak for yourself."
Qin Shaozong directly pointed at the person, saying, "Tell the truth, and stop making up lies. If there is even a single falsehood, you can forget about being a captain and go back to farming."
Mo Yanyun's face turned from white to pale, then pale to white.
For a moment, he was unsure whether to go back to farming or to tell the truth. The former would mean losing his military rank, but at least he would save his life; the latter was a different story.
-----------------------
Author's Note: For Mo Yanyun's story, please refer to the end of Chapter 82. You can start flipping through from the beginning of Chapter 83 =3=
Some of you who are following the series might feel the pace is slow, I'm sorry, serialization is just that painful. I know I'm not good at updating, but I can't fit too much content into one chapter, so I can only write slowly, sob sob. But this stage is almost over, and I'm ready to move on to the next stage.
There are 100 small red envelopes in this chapter, first come, first served, and only if the subscription rate is above 70% (the system will automatically select the top subscribers).
The small red envelopes will be sent out after tomorrow's update. Finally, please give me some nutrient solution! [Hands clasped in prayer]
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