Chapter 15: There's a result regarding your son's matter.
The two maids dared not delay and quickly left the room.
The door slammed shut with a clatter, and Dai Li, lying on the bed, froze. The darkness in front of her dissipated considerably after a few breaths, and through the thin peony-patterned curtains, she could see a candle flame flickering slightly.
The candlelight illuminated a towering figure to the side, his shadow stretched long by the lamplight until it merged into the darkness, becoming one with it, as if it had transformed into a majestic and imposing peak.
Now that things have come to this, pretending to be asleep is useless, and it would be even more dangerous to continue lying on the couch. Dai Li sat up from the couch.
She had slept fully clothed, so she got up quickly. Her soft fingers lifted a corner of the bed curtains and hung it on a jade hook. Dai Li turned around and placed her legs on the footstool beside the bed, intending to get off, but as she lowered her eyes, she saw a pair of black boots at the top of her field of vision.
Looking up, first you see his wide sleeves with silver trim, then his dark blue sash.
Dai Li paused slightly. He was standing less than half a step in front of the pedal. If she continued to get up, it would be tantamount to throwing herself into his arms.
Unable to advance, unable to retreat...
Qin Shaozong stood before the bed, his gaze sweeping down from her head. She wore a peach-colored round-necked dress, the light from the dim lamp illuminating her fair skin and red skirt, making her features appear even more striking. In the quiet night, she was like a midnight epiphyllum in full bloom.
Before going to bed, besides her silk stockings, her bare feet, adorned with nail polish, had slender ankles and the skin on the insteps had a lustrous pearl color even in the dim light. They were very delicate and attracted attention when she stepped on the dark pedals.
Suddenly, her bare feet tucked into her skirt like swimming fish, and when I looked up again, she was already sitting cross-legged on the edge of the couch, with an empty seat next to her.
Dai Li patted the seat next to her as if nothing had happened, "Please come and sit down. Let me tell you about what happened during the day when you and the Lady of the Prefect were out and about."
Whether it was because people are often slow to react after drinking, or because he was thinking about something else, he did not act immediately after she finished speaking.
Dai Li's heart trembled slightly. "Are you feeling unwell after drinking? Should I have Tao Xiang and the others make you a bowl of kudzu root soup?"
As she spoke, she quickly got up and was about to pass by him when he suddenly grabbed her arm.
"No need." The two words were still spoken in an overly somber tone.
Qin Shaozong led her back to the couch, pressed her down to sit, and then sat down next to her. "Tell me, what happened between you and her during the day, and what happened after you left the banquet?"
He didn't let go of her, but his hand moved down from her arm to her wrist.
It felt as if her wrist was covered with a layer of red-hot sandpaper, incredibly hot and rough, making Dai Li's heart pound. She pursed her lips tightly before beginning to talk about what had happened during the day.
Dai Li knew that Yan San would accompany her when she left the mansion during the day, and that the latter would likely report back to her, so what she said and what Yan San said must not differ in any way.
Dai Li honestly recounted what happened during the day, and also carefully concealed the matter concerning Chuan Yi that was inside the car.
After speaking frankly, she carefully began, “On the way back to the manor today, I made an appointment with Yun Shi to go out for a stroll again tomorrow. Tonight, we had such an unpleasant argument at the banquet. Given my arrogant nature, it would be quite normal for me to take my anger out on the soldiers around you. Could you please tell them not to accompany me tomorrow?”
The air grew quiet, and Dai Li felt her palms sweating. She knew she couldn't let his men see what she was about to do; otherwise, given his deep cunning, he would quickly realize she had ulterior motives.
The large hand covering her wrist then turned her to the side, its four fingers pressing into her palm from below, as if trying to lift and play with it. But halfway through the movement, Qin Shaozong stopped, his tone ambiguous as he asked, "What's there to be nervous about?"
Dai Li knew he was always perceptive, otherwise he wouldn't have discovered her when she was hiding behind the car. However, she didn't expect him to be so shrewd even after drinking, leaving her speechless.
The atmosphere froze.
"You seem genuinely nervous. Can't you tell me? Is it somewhere you plan to go tomorrow, or something you want to secretly talk to Yun Shi about? I suspect the former is more likely, since Yun Shi has been frequently visiting you lately. If you want to have a private conversation with her, you can do so in the manor." Qin Shaozong turned her hand over so that her palm was facing up.
The two sat by the couch, the candlelight falling unobstructed into Dai Li's palm, casting a subtle glow.
It was obvious that her palms were sweaty.
Qin Shaozong gently stroked Dai Li's palm with his fingertips, wiping away the almost non-existent thin layer of sweat: "What is Madam hesitating about?"
“Your Excellency is truly discerning; nothing can escape your notice.” Dai Li lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyelids. “Today’s visit to the dilapidated temple in the east of the city reminded me of my son, who has not yet returned home. Therefore, I plan to go to a temple tomorrow to inquire and see if there is any news of him.”
"Zhanghui" is another name for brokers who were involved in the buying and selling of horses, livestock, and servants.
As she spoke, she quickly glanced at him, and seeing no anger on his face, she continued, "Your Excellency promised to help me find my son, so I shouldn't have gone to such lengths. But the thought of him wandering alone in the world breaks my heart and makes me restless. It's really hard to calm my anxiety without doing something."
What kind of lies are the hardest to detect?
It's a mix of truth and falsehood.
She is indeed desperate to find her son, and she does indeed plan to go to the Jai festival tomorrow; these things cannot be faked.
As for the others, that's another matter...
Dai Li sighed softly, "I didn't tell you because I was afraid of upsetting you."
He had promised to help her find the person, and she had previously shown complete trust in him, but now she planned to search for him secretly on her own. This action, no matter how it was interpreted, was a sign of distrust, so it was understandable that she wanted to keep it a secret.
Qin Shaozong suddenly dropped a bombshell, "This afternoon, my men reported that there wasn't a single boy in the local market who matched your son's features."
Dai Li was stunned.
"Are you...are you sure?" Her voice trembled noticeably when she spoke again.
Qin Shaozong gently squeezed her bamboo-like fingertips. “I have carefully questioned all the boys of similar age and height, and each of them can tell me their origins. None of them have forgotten their past due to illness or injury. Since your son was abducted locally, he must not have been far away. We can search in all directions from Nankang County and investigate all the kidnappers in each county. We will surely find some clues, and it will not be difficult to find the person by following the clues. It’s just a matter of how long it takes.”
Dai Li couldn't hear what he said after that; her mind was filled with the fact that no trace of the state had been found in Nankang County.
Could it be that Zhouzhou and she are not in the same place? If she is not in Nankang County, she will have to go home.
Back to Hangzhou.
She has to go back to Hangzhou!
A slightly heavy rubbing sensation came from inside her wrist. Coming back to her senses, Dai Li subconsciously looked up and inadvertently met the eyes of the man beside her.
Perhaps because the room was dimly lit, his brown eyes appeared much darker than usual, almost like a deep, inky black, resembling an unfathomable ocean at first glance. The sea began to ripple, and the enormous sea beast slowly rose to the surface, first revealing the tip of its massive fins, then its gaping maw, full of fangs, capable of swallowing her whole.
Time seemed to be suddenly pulled back by an invisible hand, and Dai Li felt as if she had returned to the banquet not long ago.
She stood below him, and he sat above him. He had looked at her with the same blatant gaze then, but now it was even more intense.
Dai Li subconsciously moved a little to the side, trying to get away from him.
However, this movement instantly shattered the already precarious balance. The man's large hand, which was gripping her wrist, suddenly loosened, but not completely. Instead, he moved around her from behind, encircling her waist, and then grabbed her waist, using only his arm strength to pull her onto his lap.
In Dai Li's view, this scene was utterly absurd, lasting less than two breaths.
His body was firm and hot, and the mound was even nestled between her thighs. Through the thin clothing, they pressed together, and no change could be hidden. The heat spread and merged silently, eventually giving rise to an uncontrollable tremor.
"Today is the fourth day." He hooked his long fingers around her waist, took her belt, and slowly tugged at it.
“It’s the third day exactly,” Dai Li corrected, without pressing down on his hand, but softly asked, “Does Your Excellency know how many days a woman’s menstrual period lasts?”
His movements suddenly stopped.
The man was expressionless, with most of his face shrouded in shadow, and his dark brown eyes were heavy.
For the first time, Dai Li didn't find him scary anymore.
He really didn't know!
Without hesitation, Dai Li lied to him, "Seven days. As long as a woman is healthy, her menstrual period will last for a full seven days."
As soon as that number was mentioned, Dai Li, who was sitting on his lap, vaguely saw a vein on his forehead twitch, and she was overjoyed.
But the next moment, Dai Li's heart skipped a beat, because she clearly felt a push coming from behind her. His arms were tightening, pressing her against him from behind.
She was no longer a young girl, and she could resolve Dai Lishen's matter before it was too late. She quickly raised her hand and placed it on his chest, saying softly, "It is still unknown whether the maid outside has really left. I treated you coldly at the banquet, but I turned around and welcomed you into the room, even enduring my menstrual discomfort to do such a thing. This is really not in line with my arrogant and domineering nature. My lord, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan."
Dai Li remained calm and confident that she could succeed.
Her interactions with him over the past few days have made her realize that he is definitely a man whose reason prevails over his passion.
As she expected, the enormous sea monster dived back into the deep sea. The man in front of her took a deep breath and slowly released her. "It'll only be a few days. I can wait."
In his low, husky voice, Dai Li heard the tumultuous waves that would come four days later. The woman gently lowered her eyelashes, concealing the myriad thoughts in her eyes.
*
The warm afternoon sunlight shone on the trees, passing through layers of branches and leaves, and finally cast a bright, dappled pattern on the ground.
Dai Li was admiring the flowers in the back garden. Everywhere she looked, there were flowers and willows in full bloom, a riot of colors that soothed her mind. This already pleasant mood improved dramatically after Yun Rong arrived.
Before leaving the manor, only maids followed Dai Li, all of whom were from the Jiang family. Yun Rong didn't need to hide anything. "Sister, I've gotten what you wanted. It wasn't easy. I worked through the night to get it done. Zhuo Jili didn't sleep a wink for this. But since it was my husband's order, he had to do it perfectly, even if it meant working himself to the bone."
She suddenly remembered that this ancestor was a blockhead, and that she might not understand his roundabout way of taking credit. So she quickly added, "Sister, you must remember my kindness. If I ever need your help in the future, you must not refuse."
Dai Li took the two small bamboo tokens and touched them carefully. The information on them was exactly the same as the one she had hidden, and even the official seal on them was exactly the same.
This is an officially issued ID card with valid validity.
"If Sister Yun ever encounters any difficulties in the future, just come to me. If I can't help you, I'll have Qin Changgeng do it for you." Dai Li offered her empty promises to satisfy her hunger.
Yunrong was overjoyed.
The two families were filled with laughter and joy.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Dai Li is getting ready to run away, haha!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
