Chapter 44 Inu-Agastache
A large, dark hand reached out and enveloped the delicate hand on the beast-head belt. He neither wrapped the other hand around it and pulled off the waistband, nor did he take her away.
Staying in place.
His long fingers slipped between her fingers, spreading them apart, and finally pinched her bamboo shoot-like fingertips. "I intend to take you south, but you wish to stay in Ying County."
Dai Li didn't react at first.
Who said she wanted to stay in Ying County?
She didn't want to stay here any longer; she wanted to go south, preferably to Qiantang to see that old man Sun in person.
They sat on soft chairs by the window, the sunlight making their brown eyes appear even lighter. Qin Shaozong's desire was now undisguised; all his burning, intense greed was laid bare.
The ferocious tiger emerged from the jungle, everything ready. Its claws were sharpened, and its fangs were meticulously cleaned; it was just waiting to feast. But the fox it had just pulled from its den was sick and not as plump and energetic as before. So the tiger thought for a moment, then lay down and cradled the fox with its paws, occasionally licking it to satisfy its craving.
During their eye contact, Dai Li's brow twitched twice.
This man not only wanted to have a big, bold show, but he also felt that if they went on a wild night, her body wouldn't be able to handle it, and she might fall ill again, forcing her to stay in Ying County.
"Why don't you stop here after a brief taste, my lord?" Dai Li tried to discuss with him.
Qin Shaozong chuckled lightly, and just when Dai Li thought there was hope, he uttered two resounding words: "No."
Dai Li gritted her teeth inwardly; this person could be utterly despicable at times.
*
Sunrise and sunset, tides rise and fall, and in the blink of an eye, Dai Li had taken medicine for two more days.
Early that morning, Ding Lianxi came over to take her pulse. He looked relieved and said, "Madam Dai's illness has subsided by 90%. However, this high fever came on fiercely and lasted for a long time, which has damaged her vital energy. In the next few days, please do not overwork yourself so that you can recover all the losses."
While Ding Lianxi was taking the pulse, Qin Shaozong listened from the side. The man turned his jade thumb ring, his expression unreadable: "Congjian, prescribe a few doses of medicine to strengthen the body and nourish the vital energy for the lady."
Dai Li had been taking medicine for many days in a row, until her tongue was numb and her head was spinning. Now, upon hearing that she had to take more, she immediately frowned. "No, I'm going to rest..."
"Open." The tone was uncompromising.
Qin Shaozong looked at her, his brown eyes calm and unwavering, but there was only one meaning in them: Does Madam still want that inspection team?
Dai Li fell silent.
Then Qin Shaozong looked at Ding Lianxi and said, "Congjian, we will break camp and leave Ying County at noon. Order your servants to buy more medicinal herbs in the county."
After waiting for several days, the order to depart finally came down, and all the military officers breathed a sigh of relief, with only one thought in their minds:
Lady Dai's illness has finally been cured.
The military order was swift and decisive. In less than half an hour, those who needed to pack up had packed up, and those who needed to stay had stayed. Everyone in the mansion was neatly organized.
Not everyone went south with Qin Shaozong; Yan San was left behind in Ying County.
The Yan clan was a branch that Qin Shaozong personally promoted. After Yan Da and Yan Er died in the war with the northern state, Yan San, who was already the most outstanding among the Yan clan members, was given even more important positions.
Yingjun is no ordinary county now; with the advent of refined salt, it also represents the purse strings of the north. Yan San's task is to safeguard this purse strings, highlighting the importance of his mission.
Dai Li and Nian Xia Bi Po rode in the same carriage.
Listening to the rumbling of wheels rolling over the official road, and the clamor fading into the distance, Dai Li slowly lowered her eyes.
For the first time, I felt uneasy not being far from the city.
She headed south, getting closer to Qiantang, and perhaps closer to Zhouzhou as well...
*
Yanzhou, Gaoling Commandery.
The Fan family of Yanzhou is a prominent local clan. If one were to trace their lineage back to the internal strife between the imperial relatives of the emperor two hundred years ago, the Fan family would have made contributions in quelling the rebellion and thus received rewards.
Of course, it wasn't a particularly great achievement. Otherwise, he would have settled in Chang'an instead of going to Yanzhou.
However, the ancestor of the Fan family was a clever man. Not only did he start from scratch, but he also raised the next two generations of his heirs very well. With the prestige of his merits, the Fan family made many friends among the powerful and influential, and gradually grew stronger in Yanzhou, eventually becoming a prominent family in the region.
However, not every patriarch is wise. The Fan family suffered from a lack of successors and declined to the point of withdrawing from the elite circles of Yanzhou. The turning point came with Fan Tianshi's father, a resourceful and capable man who turned the tide and saved the family from dire straits. Unfortunately, fate was cruel; he had just managed to pull the Fan family back from the brink of collapse and was preparing to roll up his sleeves and make a big difference when he suddenly passed away from an illness.
Fan Tianshi was not as outstanding as his father, but he was definitely much better than the average person, so he was neither the best nor the worst.
With their early wealth as a foundation, the Fan family's mansion was extremely large. The main hall for receiving guests, the main house, the back garden, and the guest quarters were all at least three times the size of those of wealthy families. The mansion even had a wolves-keeping enclosure.
There were many pavilions and courtyards in the mansion, some housing retainers, some staff members, and others housing adopted orphans and godsons.
Whether it was a case of oversight or a deliberate attempt to sow discord, all the orphans ended up living in the same courtyard. And next door in this courtyard, Fan Tianshi's two adopted sons were no exception; they also lived there.
"Oh, the busy man is back? We rarely see him these days. Could it be that you've been flirting with someone else again? You're not satisfied with seducing the Eighth Lady, and you still have other ideas. You're truly insatiable. I'm giving you a piece of advice: you'd better be careful. Don't let yourself be caught off guard and end up being kicked out of the Fan family."
After Pingwei finished his taunts, he saw that the person hadn't stopped walking, as if he hadn't heard him. He was immediately enraged. "Quan Jie, I'm talking to you!"
The figure stopped and turned around.
A black mask with ghostly patterns gleamed coldly in the sunlight, its grotesque designs seeming to come alive, making it utterly repulsive.
He was about eight feet tall, dressed in a plain black-gray robe with a simple belt around his waist, without any other accessories. He seemed to still be growing; his physique was not as robust as that of a middle-aged man, appearing somewhat thin and frail.
“I’m just a nodding acquaintance with Eighth Miss. If you continue to speak recklessly, I won’t cover for you when my godfather holds you accountable.” Quan Jie’s voice was not pleasant, with an indelible hoarseness, sounding like he had a sore throat.
Pingwei's face twisted upon hearing this, his handsome features instantly losing half their charm. "A mere acquaintance? How dare you say that? If we were just acquaintances, why would Eighth Miss come here every few days? Why would she ask if you were here every time? And why would she bring you things!"
Inu-Akuta remained rooted to the spot, his expression obscured by the mask on his face.
Pingwei was extremely jealous.
That's the Eighth Young Lady, the most beloved legitimate daughter of his adoptive father, Fan Yanzhou. If he could win her favor, he might just become her son-in-law instead of his adopted son.
For some reason, the Eighth Young Lady, who had previously looked down on Quan Jie and avoided him like the plague, suddenly changed her attitude a few days ago. The difference between her before and after was like heaven and earth, as if she had been cursed.
Pingwei's jealousy had been boiled into a thick poison, making him feel extremely uncomfortable all over. He couldn't help but start talking about the past, "Seven years ago, you dragged your broken leg and knelt in front of the mansion, begging to be taken in. Your adoptive father saw you begging and couldn't bear it, so he took you in and gave you a meal or two. Taking you in as his adopted son was just an honor. Did you really think of yourself as a human being? You're nothing but a domestic dog. How dare a beast try to climb a high branch?!"
“We are both adopted sons; I am a family dog, and so are you,” Inu-gaku said calmly.
Pingwei was furious. Whenever he stepped out of this courtyard, he had to put on a mask of gentleness and elegance, being respectful to his superiors and polite to his subordinates.
No one knew the resentment and bitterness he harbored. Only when facing his fellow adopted son, Inu-Akuta, could he unleash all the venom in his heart: "Come on, I'm not like you. I recently contacted my distant cousin, who is now a county magistrate. He lost his son in an accident last year and now wants to adopt me as his son. I'll have a family now, while you'll still be a lonely ghost. If you die out there one day, no one will shed a tear for you!"
"Then go and tell your adoptive father that you don't want to continue being his adopted son." Inuyasha remained calm and composed, like a stagnant pool of lifeless water.
Whether the wind blows or a stone is thrown in, it cannot create even the slightest ripple.
After speaking, Inuyasha turned his head and walked past him toward the side room.
Pingwei choked for a moment, then realized he was being restrained, and his anger surged even more. "We're both orphans, what's with your smugness? I was kidnapped and sold by kidnappers, which is why I'm constantly on the move. What about you? Your biological parents didn't want you, did they? No, maybe they were cursed to death by you. None of them had a good life..."
The word "end" was still stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered.
It wasn't that Pingwei didn't want to speak, but that he couldn't speak at this moment. A pale hand gripped his neck, and as the scarred hand tightened, Pingwei's face flushed red, and his eyes bulged.
He instinctively grabbed the other person's arms with both hands at the same time, trying to free his poor neck, but was surprised to find that the other person's strength was surprisingly great.
Inu-Akuta turned his head again. The demon mask on his face was still incredibly chilling, but what terrified Pingwei even more at this moment were the eyes behind the mask.
It was indifferent, chillingly so, like a monstrous wave rising from the Dead Sea that could swallow a person whole.
He wanted to kill him.
Pingwei was shocked and tried to shout that he was also his adoptive father's son, and if he died, Quanjie would definitely suffer.
The hand on his neck suddenly loosened, and Pingwei immediately hunched over, panting heavily.
A few words floated down from above: "Don't be so noisy next time."
He returned to his stagnant state, as if the Dead Sea had never stirred up any waves.
Ignoring Pingwei, who was still coughing violently, Quan Jie turned and went back to his own house.
The house was very simple, with little decoration inside. The table and chairs were the most ordinary kind, and the room contained only a table, a chair, a couch, and a few wooden cabinets.
In stark contrast to the room was a luxuriously packaged brocade box placed on the table. The box was wrapped in silk and faintly emitted a fragrance, clearly indicating that the contents inside were of considerable value.
Inuyasu didn't touch the box. He went straight to the window on the west side of the room and pushed it open. The wind blew in, carrying away the fragrance left by the brocade box.
Just as Inu-Akuta was about to turn around, he suddenly stopped when his gaze fell on a red kite on a tree not far away.
The large tree wasn't in his courtyard, or even within the Fan residence, but because it was exceptionally tall, it could be seen even from within the Fan residence. Bright red kites hung from its high branches, resembling children's kites that had accidentally become entangled in the tree.
Inu-Akuta stared at the red kite for a moment, then went out of the house again.
Pingwei was still in the courtyard when he saw him come out of the room. He instinctively wanted to say something sarcastic, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his throat burned and he couldn't speak.
Watching that departing figure, Pingwei gritted his teeth. That bastard Quan Jie must have gone to seduce the Eighth Young Lady again. No, he couldn't just sit and wait to die.
...
Quan Jie did not leave the Fan residence, but went to the servants' quarters on the west side. This was a common area where many servants lived, including a gatekeeper.
Compared to other servants, gatekeepers were among the servants who went out of the mansion relatively more often, so some maids and servants would ask them to buy things from time to time.
He ran into other people along the way, and an old doorman laughed and said, "Quan Jie, you're here to get goods from Old Zhang again?"
Inu-gaku nodded silently and walked past him into the room where Old Zhang lived.
I heard soft voices drifting from behind me.
“I’ve been in the manor for over three years, and Quan Jie is still so strange. It seems that apart from being a little familiar with Old Zhang, he doesn’t have any other relationships with anyone else.”
“I’ve been in the household for over five years, and he’s always been like this. Some people at least answer a question, but he won’t say a word when asked, like he’s mute. He’s a blockhead, a weirdo.”
"Shh, don't be so loud, he hasn't gone far yet. In the past, everyone knew that our benefactor had always treated his adopted sons like dogs, and more than a dozen of them had died. But things are different now. I heard that the Eighth Young Lady has suddenly taken a liking to him for some reason. Who knows, he might just rise to the top."
"It's not that easy. The Eighth Lady is the most beloved legitimate daughter of our benefactor. Do you think he, Quan Jie, is the son of the governor? He's just a lowly slave, without father or mother and without any power. Even if the Eighth Lady doesn't find him filthy and ugly, our benefactor would never allow it."
...
Inu-Akuta entered the hut, the sounds behind him fading into the distance. There were only two people in the hut: Old Zhang, the doorman he was looking for, and Buqu, who had worked the night shift the day before and was now resting.
"You're here." Old Zhang looked up at the sound of footsteps, his expression honest and unassuming. He took a small paper package from the cabinet. "Here, these are the things you asked me to buy before. The shop is short of supplies lately, business is bad, and they're going to raise prices..."
He raised his eyes, and his slightly dull gaze suddenly changed, becoming shrewd and sharp, like a snake awakening from hibernation. "However, the shopkeeper said you are a regular customer and always handle transactions smoothly, so if you pay for the next two orders in a row, he will not only not raise the price of the goods, but will also give you some discounts."
Old Zhang lived in a dormitory-style room, and the sleeping sergeant was not far away. There were no doors separating the rooms, so they could see each other's every move with just a turn of their heads.
Buqu rolled over, mumbled something, scratched his arm, and went back to sleep.
The awakened snakes went back to hibernation. The sharpness in Old Zhang's eyes faded, and he reverted to his usual taciturn self. Inuyasha put the paper package into his pocket, then returned to his room without a word.
After closing the door, he took out a paper package from his pocket, placed a portion of fish maw inside aside, and then took out a folded piece of mulberry paper.
There were words on the paper, filled with several unremarkable nursery rhymes. After examining it for a moment and extracting the information, Inu-Akuta found a flint, lit a candlestick, and swiftly burned the mulberry paper.
The fire had just died down when someone knocked on the door.
"Dog Mustard, your master is looking for you. Go to the study immediately." It was a servant who came to deliver the message.
Quan Jie responded, tidied everything up, and left the house.
The governor's study was located in a key area of the mansion. Once inside, guards frequently patrolled the area, and an invisible aura of luxury emanated from it.
With its upturned eaves and carved beams, every detail exudes solemnity and elegance. A summer breeze blows, causing the planted exotic plants to sway and releasing their fragrance.
The study door was tightly closed, and Inujaku knocked on it.
"Go in." A deep voice rang out.
He pushed open the door and went inside, but Kankan closed the door and turned around, only to be met with two heavy words.
"Kneel down."
Inu-gaku lowered his eyes and silently knelt on the ground.
A dark shadow suddenly attacked, moving so fast it even created a whooshing sound, and then—
"Smack!"
The long whip lashed hard across his arm and shoulder blade, causing Inu-Akuta's figure to sway slightly, but he didn't utter a sound.
Fan Tianshi, past forty, with a broad forehead, fair complexion, and a light beard, usually wore a smile, making him easy to approach. But at this moment, his smile vanished, and his face inexplicably turned icy cold. "Do you know your mistake?"
Inu-Akuta bowed his head. "Please enlighten me, Godfather."
"What a fine piece of advice. Since you can't remember, I don't mind giving you another hint," Fan Tianshi sneered.
The long whip lashed out, striking him twice more. Inuyasha remained kneeling, motionless like a stone statue after the initial slight sway, enduring the whipping.
Fan Tianshi was not a military general, and he was already a little tired after being whipped three times.
He placed the long whip on the table and suddenly softened his tone. “Quan Jie, don’t blame your father for being strict with you. The moment I saw you in front of the manor seven years ago, I knew that this young boy, who didn’t wail like ordinary people even though he had broken his leg, was resilient by nature and could endure more hardship than ordinary people. He could bear what others could not, and he might have a great future. That’s why I allowed you to enter the manor and even found a medical clinic for you.”
"I dare not forget my adoptive father's great kindness." Ikusa kept his head down, bowing and listening attentively.
Fan Tianshi smiled and said, "You are meticulous and much more steady than Pingwei. You are my most favored adopted son. I have seen and understood your contributions to the Fan family over the years. I have high hopes for you as your father..."
His smile suddenly vanished, revealing a sinister glint in his eyes. "But you have your own path. A person with blood on their hands shouldn't try to taint pure white. Some people, you shouldn't even covet, let alone touch. Don't let greed ruin you."
“I dare not. I only want to serve my adoptive father to repay his life-saving grace, and I have no other thoughts,” said the person kneeling on the ground.
Fan Tianshi softened his tone and brought up another matter, "A caravan from the north is selling salt stone. This item is quite suspicious. I suspect it's related to Qin Shaozong. Go and interrogate that caravan. Also, I received news that a batch of tribute from Gansu Prefecture is being transported to Chang'an via the Shihenghui and Feishui routes. It will arrive in Xinzhou soon. Take men to handle it, do it exactly as planned, and be thorough, leaving no trace."
Inu-Akuta: "Yes."
Fan Tianshi rose from his seat, walked around the long table to help Quan Jie up, and personally straightened his clothes. "Go, your father will wait for your good news."
*
As the days passed and the nights flew by, the Northern Army, led by Qin Shaozong, finally arrived at Guoyun County amidst a flurry of marching.
Guoyun County is located at the border of Yanzhou and Qingzhou. To be more precise, Guoyun County belongs to Qingzhou.
After Qin Shaozong stationed his troops outside the outskirts of Guoyun County, he once again received a warm invitation from Nangong Xiong.
"Madam, come with me into the city."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Alright, Dai Li has arrived at the border of Yanzhou [shy]
I desperately need nutrient solution! [heart emoji]
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