Chapter 165 He gave me the promise of sweet dreams from now on.
"Brother Chongle, little white dog!"
Shi Rongyue looked at the puppy in Qin Yanzhou's arms, her eyes shining as brightly as the golden crow in the sky.
Qin Yanzhou put the furry ball down, gently stroked its head until it whimpered, "There was an old man selling puppies at the market just now. I remembered what I promised you, so I picked one out. Do you like it?"
He had barely finished speaking when a crisp "I like it" rang out from the other end. The young man smiled almost imperceptibly, patted the round, plump rear end, and gestured for the little white dog to move forward.
This little furball seemed to understand human nature; it actually waddled towards Shi Rongyue with its short legs and propeller-like tail.
It was about two months old, with a round head, bright black eyes, and snow-white fur, except for a bit of ink on the tip of its tail.
It was a gift from him, and Shi Rongyue already liked it. Now that the little puppy had licked her fingers, her affection for it was almost overflowing.
"It's so cute! It'll definitely be the best dog in the future." Shi Rongyue picked up the fluffy little thing and rubbed her cheek against its head. "Brother Chongle, I don't know how to name it. And since you brought it back, why don't you give it a name?"
Two pairs of eyes looked at him at the same time, one pair as black as an inkstone, the other as bright as amber, both round and clean.
Qin Yanzhou frowned in thought, while Shi Rongyue held her breath slightly, her ahoge (a stray hair on her head) standing on end, waiting expectantly.
After a long while, the young man said, "It's white, so how about we call it Little White?"
Shi Rongyue: "..."
Seeing that she remained silent, Qin Yanzhou guessed that she might not like the name. Looking at the puppy's still wagging tail, he changed his mind and said, "Its tail is black, so calling it Little Black Tail would also fit."
Shi Rongyue: "..."
Choosing the lesser of two evils, Shi Rongyue hesitated for a moment, "Actually, Xiaobai is quite good, let's call him Xiaobai."
Qin Yanzhou nodded. "Yes, Xiaobai is indeed quite good."
After watching the puppies for a while, Qin Yanzhou, who still had homework to do, left Shi Rongyue's courtyard.
As soon as he left, Shi Rongyue immediately covered the little ball's ears and rubbed them, saying, "Sweetie, don't listen to what Brother Chongle just said."
After she finished speaking, she paused, released one hand, and covered only one of the puppy's ears. "Okay, you still have to listen to half of it. If he calls you Xiaobai from now on, you have to respond to him."
"Woof." The puppy wagged its tail.
"Hmm, what should I name Xiaobai?" Shi Rongyue held the puppy in her arms, pinching its chubby little paws as she fell into deep thought.
About fifteen minutes later, the little girl suddenly lifted the fluffy ball high in the air and said, "I've got it! I'll call him Birch! Legend has it that Birch can devour the ghosts that cause nightmares, and he will give me good dreams from now on."
"Woof woof".
*
After returning from the market, Dai Li went back to her room and took out a map, which she then spread out.
The Sizhou army was attacked from both sides by the Qingbei coalition and was almost completely wiped out; the Xuzhou ambush force was also surrounded by the Beidi army after receiving the news. Li Lishen was killed in battle, and half of the army was defeated and fled. As the Xuzhou army's granary was burned, the remaining Xuzhou remnants became easy prey.
Dai Li stared at Chang'an on the map, her gaze heavy.
Given Qin Changgeng's fighting prowess, this city certainly won't hold out for long. And once Chang'an falls, Yongzhou, along with Chang'an, will naturally fall entirely to the Northern Lands.
It can be said that, apart from the two southern provinces of Jing and Yi... oh, and Qing province, Qin Changgeng has basically pieced together the map of the world.
However, with the young emperor of Great Yan still alive, Qin Changgeng could not act in a legitimate manner like the Sima family, who killed the emperor in the street. Otherwise, for Liu Jingzhou, who also held a large army, it would be like someone handing him a pillow when he was dozing off, giving him a legitimate reason to launch an attack.
Dai Li was glad that she "woke up" early, because Qin Shaozong seemed to be only one step away from that position, but that step was not easy to take.
She still has time and room to maneuver.
The woman tapped her fingers absently on the table, her thoughts peeling away layer by layer as she contemplated the future.
"What is Madam thinking about?" someone suddenly spoke beside her.
Dai Li was so frightened that her hair stood on end. If there had been a big, fluffy tail behind her, it would have exploded as if she had been electrocuted.
"Are you frightened?" Qin Shaozong didn't expect her to react so strongly. He asked with a smile, "What mischievous idea is Madam up to now?"
He asked it casually, but Dai Li was terrified when she heard it.
Admitting it was absolutely out of the question, so Dai Li quickly turned the tables, "What nonsense are you talking about? I was just scared by you. Why didn't you make a sound when you came in?"
"It's clearly Madam who's captivated by what she's watching, and it's turned out to be my fault." Qin Shaozong patted her back gently, as if to appease her. "Are you tired of staying in Wugang and eager to go to the capital?"
“Small counties have their own local customs and traditions. This place is very nice, I’m not in a hurry.” She couldn’t wait to stay in Wugang longer and for Qin Changgeng to slow down.
However, Dai Li's plan failed, because she heard the man beside her say, "At most a month, Madam will come to the capital with me."
A thunderbolt struck Dai Li's heart. "So fast? You can wipe out the Yuzhou army in just one month? By the way, I heard that Liu Jingzhou was also going to the capital. Now that you and Prime Minister Dong are fighting fiercely, where is he?"
Qin Shaozong looked at the map, a glint of cunning in his narrow eyes. "Liu Zhan is quite cunning. He was the second to claim he was going to the capital, but he also dragged his feet. He sat on the sidelines watching the tigers fight, hoping to pick up the pieces, but then realized it was too difficult to get involved, so he simply retreated back to Yizhou."
Dai Li seemed to be deep in thought.
The terrain of the Guanzhong region is protected by the Qinling Mountains, which are like a dragon encircling the area, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. If the army is not organized properly, it can easily be trapped in the valleys, leaving them with no way to advance or retreat, and there is indeed a chance of total annihilation.
“Once things are settled in Chang’an, you’ll still have a lot to finish up,” Dai Li probed. “Like appeasing the young emperor and the court officials…”
She mentioned comforting the young emperor.
Qin Shaozong shifted his gaze back to her, chuckled, and said, "Haste makes waste, and focusing on small gains will prevent you from achieving great things. Some things need to be planned slowly and deliberately."
Dai Li was not surprised. He really hadn't intended to kill the young emperor.
Dai Li added, "Qin Changgeng, this is the first year that fertilizer has been used to assist cultivation. I want to spend this golden autumn in Yuyang."
Qin Shaozong looked at Dai Li without saying a word.
Dai Li knew that his reluctance stemmed from his lack of immediate agreement, so she continued, "Once you march into Chang'an, the political landscape will inevitably undergo significant changes. The powerful families of Chang'an have been entrenched in this fertile land for over a hundred years, with deep-rooted influence. Even if you have troops at your disposal, since you're aiming for a gradual and respectable future, some things can't be done drastically. This whole process will take at least a few months, and I can't wait that long."
Qin Shaozong's gaze was heavy.
He knew she was right; it would take time and effort to manage the situation in Chang'an in a balanced way.
"It's still early before autumn; we can discuss this later," Qin Shaozong said in a deep voice.
Having finally gotten to the point, Dai Li naturally pressed her advantage, not wanting to "discuss it later." She immediately said, "It's getting late. It's already July, and summer is halfway over. It will take another month for things to finish here. That means it will be August by the time the war ends and everything settles down. Even at the fastest speed, it will take about a month to get back to Yuyang from Chang'an."
Qin Shaozong: "Then let's discuss it again after the dust settles."
In other words, it's not the right time yet; we won't discuss this now.
Dai Li choked up at his words.
As the sun set, a large expanse of brilliant afterglow slanted into the room, making his forehead appear even fuller and his eyes even more profound. However, his usually sharp and imposing brown eyes still burned like fire when he looked at her.
For a fleeting moment, Dai Li wanted to ask him why he allowed his advisors to take sides? What did he take Zhouzhou for? Had he truly considered Zhouzhou's future?
A torrent of words welled up in her throat, but Dai Li couldn't utter a single one.
She and Qin Shaozong were a second-marriage couple, and the issues of a blended family and children were very sensitive, not to mention that Qin Changgeng was only one step away from the power of the world.
Throughout history, countless brothers have murdered each other in their quest for that position. Even brothers born of the same mother can lament, "We are born of the same root, why must we fight each other so bitterly?" Those who are not related by blood are even more likely to suffer the same fate…
She knew Qin Shaozong liked her, but Dai Li wasn't sure how much that "like" was. Because up to this point, it seemed that their fundamental interests had never clashed.
What if a conflict occurs? Will he still act the same way? If things don't turn out as planned, will she and Zhouzhou be able to escape unscathed?
Dai Li had no answer.
I'm also afraid to break through that barrier and uncover the answer myself.
"lady?"
The hair beside her ear was tucked behind her ear, and the man's calloused fingers brushed against her fair earlobe.
Feeling a slight itch, Dai Li snapped out of her reverie. She knew this man had sharp eyes, and he might have noticed her earlier unease. Now, all she could say was, "Alright, let's not talk about it now."
*
Inside Chang'an City.
"...You scoundrel! You've turned a perfectly good situation into a precarious one! How many defeats have you suffered since you issued your proclamation? I ask you, what face do you have to continue being the General of Chariots and Cavalry? In my opinion, even a half-crippled soldier randomly picked from the army would be more useful than you." Dong Zhou pointed at Qiu Tong's nose, spitting a torrent of abuse at him.
Qiu Tong lowered his head, the veins on the side of his neck bulging and then disappearing. "The outcome of an army's battle depends on strategy; those who calculate more win, those who calculate less lose. I followed the methods of Chief Instructor Zheng, and after that man Zheng's eloquent speech, several governors praised him highly. But who could have imagined that this man was just a theorist, a pretty face with no substance, and that he was a master at deceiving people?"
In fact, it wasn't just a few governors; Dong Zhou himself also praised Zheng Yizhi highly at that time. Now, Qiu Tong only mentions Li Lishen and others, without saying a word about Dong Zhou, which is to single him out.
Dong Zhou paused for a moment, then his anger shifted. "Where is Zheng Yizhi? Tell him to come see me."
After a long while, Zheng Yizhi, who had been carried by the guards, arrived limp and weak. The guards released him as soon as they did, and he seemed to know what awaited him, collapsing to the ground, crying, "Prime Minister Dong, spare my life..."
Dong Zhou seized the man and berated him severely, finally saying in a cold voice, "Chancellor Zheng is a mediocre talent who has ruined the country and delayed military operations, allowing treacherous officials to run rampant. Guards, drag him out and behead him as a warning to the public!"
Zheng Yizhi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. Seeing the soldiers coming to pull him away, he quickly said, "Prime Minister Dong, there is someone else who has ruined the military! All my previous strategies were based on what a friend told me. It was him, he caused our imperial army to suffer a great defeat and caused Li Xuzhou to die in battle."
Dong Zhou laughed angrily, "Absurd! Do you think you can escape death by making up a non-existent person?"
"I dare not," Zheng Yizhi prostrated himself on the ground. "But he is just as sinful as I am. We should travel together on the road to the underworld to apologize to Li Xuzhou."
He spoke with utmost sincerity, even giving an address in one breath, saying that the person lived there, and begging Dong Zhou to send troops to arrest him.
Seeing his confident words, Dong Zhou sent someone to investigate as he wished. However, when the guards returned, they said the house was empty.
"Nobody? Impossible!" Zheng Yizhi reacted strongly, muttering, "He said he came to the capital to stay with relatives and would settle down here, how could this be..."
The soldier interrupted coldly, "I asked the neighbors, and they all said that the family moved away about ten days ago."
Zheng Yizhi's pupils narrowed.
Ten days ago was the day Li Xuzhou suffered his latest defeat.
Dong Zhou was too lazy to say anything more to him and waved his hand, saying, "Take him away and execute him."
*
Qin Shaozong's prediction was accurate; he said that Dai Li would be able to accompany him to the capital within a month at most. This was absolutely true. When the month was almost up, the Yuzhou army suffered a great defeat at Hengshuijin, and Jiang Ni's head was cut off.
Thus, this swiftly initiated and dramatically intense campaign to quell the rebellion came to an end.
When Qin Shaozong issued his proclamation, his target was Jiang Shi, the governor of Yuzhou, but he did not include Dong Zhou in it. He regarded this powerful minister who controlled the court as a "loyal minister" and did not mention killing him in the proclamation.
But Dong Zhou couldn't believe it. He knew that even if Qin Shaozong didn't kill him today, who knew what tomorrow might bring. So when the Yuzhou army suffered a new defeat, he fled with his wife and children.
Qin Shaozong was not surprised by this and immediately dispatched two teams to pursue them, determined to find them alive or dead.
Dai Li was unaware of the intricacies of the situation; all she knew was that she was going to the capital again with Qin Shaozong today. The last time they went to the capital, they stayed in a mansion specially arranged by Dong Zhou, where several governors lived together as neighbors.
Upon his return, Qin Shaozong stayed put and returned to the same place. And for various reasons, Nangong Xiong also chose to remain in his original position, continuing to be a neighbor to the people of the North.
Chang'an is still the same Chang'an, where wealthy families sell wine along the streets. Once a towering building rises a hundred feet high, every place is filled with indescribable prosperity.
But this time, Dai Li felt it much more deeply than before.
On the very first day back, gilded invitations poured in like snowflakes, making the place bustling with activity. People started bringing gifts at dawn, and the number of people seeking an audience was overwhelming, continuing from daybreak until curfew.
Qin Shaozong did not meet with any visitors. After resting for two days, he took Dai Li into the palace.
He did not rush to meet the emperor. On his very first day in Chang'an, he sent someone to the palace to bring up the matter of Dai Li's conferment of the title of noblewoman again, and to tell the young emperor that he would come in two days.
At the age of eight, the young king of Han took over the throne from the late emperor who died suddenly due to the abuse of elixirs. After ascending the throne, he did not hold real power, and the government was jointly controlled by the Empress Dowager Wang and the powerful minister Dong Zhou.
Qin Shaozong's invitation was more likely delivered to the Queen Dowager than to the young prince of Han.
We are at their mercy, like fish on a chopping board. The fierce wolf has just left, but the wicked tiger has arrived.
Regardless of how furious the Empress Dowager was in the palace after receiving the invitation, cursing Qin Shaozong for his wolfish ambition and wishing him a terrible death, she outwardly sent invitations to various households in Chang'an, inviting them to the palace banquet to bestow the title of Empress.
The process was clear: attend court during the day to receive the imperial decree, and hold a banquet in the afternoon.
...
Dai Li followed Qin Shaozong into the palace for court. They rode in a carriage straight into the imposing Sima Gate.
The Sima Gate was the gate through which the emperor entered and exited the palace, or through which feudal lords paid homage to the emperor. Ordinary officials went to court through the East Gate, not the main gate.
Even if one were to enter through the East Gate, one would still need to dismount and walk, and remove one's weapons before entering. But today, Qin Shaozong not only did not remove his sword before entering through this gate, but he also had no intention of dismounting and walking.
He and Nangong Xiong each drove their own car, arrogantly passing through the palace gate and arriving at the front hall square.
Dai Li stood in the spacious front hall square, the sky above her was as blue as water, the sides were exceptionally wide, and the palace stood majestically in front of her, the solemnity of the imperial city was overwhelming.
This is the most powerful and supreme place in all of Chang'an, no, it should be said to be the most powerful place in the entire world.
She suspected that she was the first woman in Great Yan, after the Queen Dowager, to openly step into the front hall area.
"Madam," someone whispered beside her.
Dai Li turned to look at the person beside her.
He wore a military cap and a black robe, with a ring-pommel sword at his waist. He was tall and strong, and exuded a radiant spirit.
What a traitorous and disloyal subject!
Dai Li looked down at herself again. Because of the appointment she had received today, she was dressed very solemnly. Her long hair was styled into a high bun, adorned with gold hairpins and pearl hair ornaments. A string of pure crystal necklaces hung around her neck on her dark blue curved-hem robe, and a jade pendant hung from her waist. A pair of auspicious cloud-patterned shoes with upturned toes, symbolizing rising step by step, covered the front of her long skirt, making her look dignified and elegant.
Indeed, what a traitorous and rebellious subject!
-----------------------
Author's Note: Here I am, please give me some nutrient solution! [Hands clasped in prayer]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
