Chapter 60 Unleashing a Ferocious Tempest
Dai Li asked Bi Po and Nian Xia to prepare a few things.
A sheet of mulberry bark paper, a small stove, and two citrons, which are lemons.
The bedroom has a small stove and mulberry paper; you only need to go to the kitchen to get lemons.
Bibo immediately went to the kitchen.
There were only two lemons; she didn't even need a basket. Bibo took them and went home. On her way back, she ran into Qin Yanzhou.
The young man was dressed in white, with his wide sleeves tied up with a blouse. He had a long sword hanging at his waist, and steam was rising from his body. He had just returned from his morning exercise.
Qin Yanzhou didn't react much when he saw Bibo, but he paused when he saw the lemon in her hand.
"Where are you taking the citron?" Qin Yanzhou asked proactively.
Bibo was flattered. Since the young master returned, he had hardly communicated with anyone other than his wife and rarely spoke. It was quite rare for him to take the initiative to speak now.
"The lady ordered me to prepare it, saying it was useful." Bibo didn't know what it was for, so she could only say that.
The two walked back to the main courtyard together. When they reached the cave entrance, Qin Yanzhou saw the two sitting side by side in the courtyard.
After exchanging a few words with her son as usual, Dai Li heard him ask, "Mother, why are you preparing all these things?"
Dai Li didn't hide anything from him, "Recently, some swindling tricks have appeared in the city, and many people have been misled by them. I just happened to be talking about this with Lord Jun today, so I might as well tell him the details of these tricks."
Qin Yanzhou nodded, "I see."
Dai Li asked Qin Shaozong to slice the lemons on the newly moved table and then squeeze out the juice. After he finished, she picked up a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in the juice, and wrote the character "Qin" on mulberry paper.
The ink used was colorless, so when Dai Li finished writing and the paper dried, there was no difference on it, as if the paper was still the same paper, without any problem.
Dai Li asked Nian Xia, "Is the stove hot enough?"
"I asked you to prepare it earlier," Nianxia nodded, "It's already heated."
The small stove, usually used for brewing tea, was now only burning charcoal, with no ceramic teapot placed on it. Dai Li stuck the mulberry paper in her hand to the stove wall.
Then a magical scene unfolded: to Nianxia and Bibo's astonishment, the empty paper began to change.
Brown characters appeared on it, exactly the same "Qin" character that Dai Li had just written.
The two women couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Exactly the same as what Su Xiuniang said before!"
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have truly believed it was a divine miracle. It's so mysterious!"
Dai Li laughed and said, "There's nothing mysterious about it, it's just a few minor reactions."
Lemons contain many sugars and organic acids. When heated, these substances undergo dehydration and carbonization, resulting in their bright color.
The story begins when the cook saw words on the paper. At that time, the cook was preparing a meal and would most likely have lit a fire in the stove.
Then Nianxia said that Su Xiuniang witnessed a "miracle" at the noodle stall, and that the piece of paper was blown to the stove inside the stall. The taste of the soup noodles is completely different whether they are heated or not, and the vendors doing business would not be unaware of this, so there is a heat source here.
Furthermore, regarding the matter of the military patrol that Qin Shaozong had just mentioned to her, the military patrol witnessed a "miracle" at the blacksmith's place, and the blacksmith's shop also met the condition of having a heat source.
It's not difficult to put several things together, find the overlap, and then deduce the process.
Dai Li secretly felt that among the first people to come into contact with the "miracle"—the butcher, the noodle vendor, and the blacksmith—there must have been some people with ulterior motives. After all, although the matter itself wasn't difficult, revealing all the words required considerable skill.
She didn't say anything more, because there was no need. The man beside her was incredibly cunning, like a bottomless abyss; she didn't believe he couldn't figure it out.
Qin Shaozong glanced at the paper once before turning his gaze to Dai Li, looking at her intently. "Madam is learned and talented, truly admirable."
Those brown eyes were so deep, like an unfathomable sea, with molten lava surging from the depths of a volcano. Though hidden in the depths, they were strikingly bright and captivating, leaving one bewildered.
Dai Li looked away and urged him to get to work, "Now that you know the secret, my lord, hurry up and get busy. Don't forget what you promised me when you're done."
Even when he doesn't speak, he has a very strong presence; the moment he sits there, it's impossible to ignore him.
"Madam, come with me out of the mansion to break this deadlock," Qin Shaozong said.
Dai Li was stunned. "Me too?"
"Why can't we go together to see the plan that you've proposed, Madam? We can go by carriage, so you won't have to walk much," Qin Shaozong said.
She stays cooped up in the courtyard every day. If she stays there for a few more days, this lazy fox will probably know exactly how many bricks are in the courtyard.
Dai Li had been staying at home for a few days, and upon hearing this, she was indeed somewhat eager to go. She looked at her son beside her and said, "Zhouzhou, do you want to wear a mask and come with me?"
These weren't his original ghost mask, but rather several masks that Dai Li had Nianxia buy for him later. Some covered half his face, while others covered the whole face, just in case.
Since returning that day, my son has not left the manor. When he travels by carriage, he wears a mask and spends very little time on the streets. Even if an enemy were to sneak into Yun County, they probably wouldn't notice.
Qin Yanzhou shook his head and refused, "Mother, I will wait for you to return at the manor."
Dai Li hesitated for a moment, "Really not going?"
Qin Yanzhou shook his head again.
Dai Li had no choice but to give up, pondering Qin Shaozong's earlier words about unrest at his residence and his request for her to accompany him to the military camp. As the commander-in-chief, with Fan Tianshi's son killed and war imminent, he could not possibly linger in the prefecture for long. He would most likely return to the camp immediately after dealing with the nursery rhyme matter.
In other words, she should be able to see Nalan Zhi by this afternoon at the latest.
“Okay, Zhouzhou, stay here. Mom will bring you a souvenir when she comes back,” Dai Li said with a smile.
A carriage drove out of the Qin residence, heading towards the most bustling market in Guoyun County, when the sound of clattering hooves came from nearby.
Qin Shaozong, mounted on his horse, turned his head at the sound and saw a group of people rushing towards him. The one leading them was none other than Nangong Xiong.
"Qin Changgeng, you certainly have a lot of leisure time." Nangong Xiong's face was unpleasant.
Recently, a children's rhyme has been circulating throughout the county. The last line, "The one in blue is dull and stupid, easily deceived and incompetent, and his end is tragic," made Nangong Xiong's heart burn with anger.
Even knowing that all of this was likely the work of someone with ulterior motives, how could he, the dignified governor of Qingzhou, not be furious to be called stupid and foolish to his face! What infuriated him even more was that after the nursery rhyme and the "miracle" spread, his allies remained silent and did not offer any response whatsoever.
What, is Qin Shaozong secretly gloating?
If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain. Nangong Xiong originally wanted to have a good talk with his allies and find a solution. But just when everything was ready, his scouts told him that Qin Shaozong had returned to the city.
Nangong Xiong was so angry that he overturned the table on the spot. Fortunately, his strategist Zhang Mingdian strongly advised him, which made him suppress his anger.
Alright, let's go into the city and arrest him. Today, he's determined to make Qin Shaozong give him an explanation!
Upon arriving at the mansion, they saw Qin Changgeng riding on horseback, with a carriage beside him that appeared to be carrying female relatives.
As for how he knew it was a woman, Nangong Xiong had a sharp eye. When the carriage left the mansion, he noticed that the inner curtains were slightly lifted by the wind, revealing a small patch of apricot-colored clothing of the person inside.
This realization was quite significant, like oil being poured over a raging fire, enraging Nangong Xiong.
Well, he was anxious on the other end, but he was thinking of Qin Shaozong and held back from making trouble. Who knew that this guy was not only not anxious, but also had the mood to take the beauty to the market!
This made him deeply suspicious: was Qin Changgeng, this ally, really reliable?
Qin Shaozong knew why he had come. "Nangong, don't worry. I'm here to resolve the matter that has been troubling us."
Nangong Xiong was slightly taken aback, his anger turning into suspicion, his gaze shifting between Qin Shaozong and the carriage.
How can we resolve the worries that trouble you and me?
This sounds plausible, but why is there a woman with him? Could this woman be the stunning beauty Qin Changgeng has been hiding away like a treasure? It piqued his curiosity a little…
"Really?" Nangong Xiong asked.
Qin Shaozong said slowly, "Seeing is believing. Whether it's true or not, come and see for yourself."
Nangong Xiong thought that made sense, and then suppressed his anger.
So the two groups merged into one and headed into the bustling city. It was past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), now it was Si Shi (9-11 AM). People had just finished breakfast and were out and about, some strolling, some doing business, some enjoying themselves—a lively and bustling scene.
Soldiers had already been dispatched on horseback to the teahouse to make arrangements, so now that Dai Li's carriage had arrived, there was no need to ask if there were any private rooms upstairs; they could simply go up directly.
Wearing a veiled hat, Dai Li stepped out of the carriage, and Qin Shaozong accompanied her into the teahouse. Upon entering, Dai Li was surprised to hear someone telling stories.
He was a middle-aged man wearing a blue robe and a headscarf. He held a folding fan in his hand, and on the table in front of him were teacups, fruits, and a few copper coins.
At this moment, the man in the blue robe spoke with great emotion, "But on that day, the sky was clear and the air was crisp, a rare and beautiful day. The east family was celebrating their son's 100th day, and the west family was congratulating themselves on moving into their new home. Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, a sudden gust of wind arose, and several sheets of paper drifted down from the sky..."
Qin Shaozong gave a look to Hu Bao behind him, who understood and stared intently at the storyteller in the teahouse.
Dai Li went up to the private room that had been prepared in advance on the second floor.
The private room was bright and clean, with elegant tables and chairs. In the corner was a vase with delicate flowers, and on the small table was a bronze incense burner with a carved hummingbird design.
The private room faces the street, and from the open window, you can see a bustling scene of traffic.
"Madam is watching the play in the private room, please do not wander around." Qin Shaozong had the tea servant serve tea, and then ordered a few of his personal guards to stay behind.
Dai Li sat down by the window: "Okay, you can go ahead."
When Qin Shaozong came downstairs again, the storyteller was no longer in the teahouse. The man coldly looked away.
Just as the water in the earthenware pot boiled, Dai Li heard several clanging sounds of gongs and drums from the street outside the window.
Hu Bao raised his voice and said, "Fellow villagers, recently a kind of swindling trick called 'Heavenly Book' has appeared in the city. The instigator is trying to spread rumors with it. I hope that you will not be used by people with ulterior motives and be deceived."
The resounding gong was already eye-catching, drawing the attention of everyone from vendors to pedestrians haggling over prices. Hu Bao's subsequent words, however, instantly drew the attention of those around him like a whirlpool.
People gradually gathered there, and soon an encirclement was formed.
Whispers circulated within the industry.
"That man was armed with a knife and had many guards by his side. He was most likely a government official."
"The matter of the Heavenly Book has caused quite a stir, but now the authorities are saying it's a hoax. I don't think so. How could it be a hoax? There was no one around holding a pen at the time, and the words on the paper appeared out of thin air. What else could it be but a Heavenly Book?"
"In my opinion, it's probably just an excuse the authorities made up to quell the matter. I still believe it, though. After all, it's a sacred book, and it says..."
Qin Shaozong and Nangong Xiong stood inside the encirclement.
Seeing more and more people gathering here, and Hu Bao still repeating his words, Nangong Xiong became anxious, "That's it? What's the use of just shouting!"
"What's the rush? Let's just wait and see," Qin Shaozong said with a smile, arms crossed.
After shouting it three times, Hu Bao changed his tune and said, "Words are no proof. Now I will expose this swindling trick to my fellow villagers. Please watch carefully!"
The whispers around them immediately subsided.
It's still a simple four-piece set: a piece of paper, a few lemons, a wolf-hair brush, and a small stove.
Hu Bao dipped a wolf-hair brush in lemon juice and used it as ink to write characters. After the characters dried, they left no trace on the paper. He said, "I just wrote the four characters 'abundant harvest of the five grains.' Now you can see for yourselves."
Not only the surrounding crowd, but even Nangong Xiong couldn't help but step forward, wanting to see how words would appear on this blank paper.
Everyone was looking at Hu Bao, except for Qin Shaozong.
The man standing in the crowd looked up, facing the sunlight, and looked towards the second floor of the teahouse next door, precisely finding the open window.
Dai Li had already removed her veil. At this moment, she looked out the window and her gaze met that of the man below who suddenly looked up.
She watched as he curved his thin lips into a smile, his brown eyes bathed in the bright, warm sunlight, unexpectedly revealing a gentleness that seemed out of place with his usual demeanor. At that moment, his domineering, self-centered air seemed to fade somewhat in the sunlight.
But when Dai Li calmed down and looked again, there was no gentleness at all. His eyes were as fiery as ever, as if there was magma flowing in his eyes that could devour all her flesh and blood.
Dai Li pursed her lips, wondering if that glance she had just seen was just her imagination. Before she could think any further, the crowd below suddenly erupted in gasps of surprise.
"There are words! It says 'abundant harvest of the five grains,' it really says 'abundant harvest of the five grains'!"
"My God, a miracle has occurred! Kneel down!"
"Kneel down my head! This is a charlatan's trick! The captain just said he wrote 'abundant harvest' on a piece of paper, and now the exact same words have appeared. What else could it be but a charlatan's trick!"
"Oh right, so all that so-called celestial book is fake, and we've been fooled."
...
Nangong Xiong was stunned. If he didn't have to consider the governor's face, he would have liked to step forward, grab Hu Bao and ask him all sorts of questions, and then have him demonstrate it again.
However, it is clear that Hu Bao did not only do this once. Later, he even solicited the names of the commoners and wrote them down on paper.
When his name appeared word for word, the commoners around him believed it completely.
All that talk of a mystical book is just a scam. It's infuriating how badly they were fooled before!
Taking this opportunity, Hu Bao brought up the matter of nursery rhymes and warned the commoners around him that nursery rhymes, like celestial books, were the work of malicious people, and that children in the family should not spread them.
Those who violate this rule will be fined fifty coins for the first offense, one hundred coins for the second offense, and imprisoned for a few days for the third offense.
The onlookers nodded repeatedly, none of them responding.
After this "performance," Hu Bao led his men to the next bustling city, where they would tour various parts of the county as planned.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Dai Li remained sitting by the window, feeling the cool breeze carrying the hustle and bustle of the world into the room.
Suddenly, the feeling of being watched returned. At first, Dai Li thought it was Qin Shaozong again. She looked down and saw that Qin Shaozong was talking to Nangong Xiong.
It wasn't him.
Dai Li looked around.
The teahouse was located at a crossroads, with excellent visibility in all directions. Dai Li could see the restaurants across the street and the bookstore not far away.
The restaurant is three stories high, with windows on each floor; some windows are open, and some are completely closed. The bookstore has fewer open windows, with only two open on the third floor.
As for the streets, the gradually dispersing pedestrians were all discussing what had just happened with great interest, with only a very few looking around.
Strange, could it have just been her imagination...?
"lady."
A deep male voice suddenly sounded in her ear, startling Dai Li. Before she could even jump up from the soft chair by the window, a strong, long arm wrapped around her waist.
As soon as Dai Li turned around, she almost bumped into his arms, her nose hitting his chin.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she was about to reach out to cover them, but a large, dark hand beat her to it. The calloused fingertips touched the bridge of her nose, gently pinched it, and then rubbed the tip of her nose.
"It's not crooked, it's still very beautiful."
Dai Li slapped his hand in annoyance, "Qin Changgeng, can't you make a little noise when you walk?"
The sound of her hitting him was quite loud, but it didn't hurt the thick-skinned man at all. He immediately laughed and said, "Why was there no sound? It's because you were too focused just now. When you're fully focused, you only have the guts of a rabbit."
Just as Dai Li was about to speak, she saw him stretch out his long arm and close the window behind her.
Dai Li's brow twitched.
Almost at the same moment the window slammed shut, he collapsed.
The sudden kiss was very forceful, trapping Dai Li on the soft seat. He was in front of her, and his strong arms were on either side of her; she could only tilt her head back to receive it.
Starting with the soft tip of her tongue, a fiery entanglement unfolds, moving from the outside in, and finally returning to entwine her lips and tongue.
The scorching heat swept over her like a tidal wave, his deep masculine scent engulfing her; his breath filled Dai Li's mouth and nose.
Dai Li was going crazy. She didn't know what she had done to offend him. He was perfectly fine when they left the manor, but now he was holding her down in the private room and throwing a tantrum.
His entire mouth was invaded, and Dai Li trembled uncontrollably. Her whimpers were swallowed, and the wildfire raged on. A strand of silver thread slid down from the corner of her mouth and fell, leaving a delicate little dot on the man's black robe.
The long arm that had been holding her waist slowly tightened, and the large, well-defined hand moved backward along her waistline, gently stroking her waist through her thin summer clothes.
Dai Li trembled even more violently, a tingling sensation rising from her tailbone exploded, making her waist completely limp, and all her strength seemed to be drawn away from her waist.
Just when Dai Li thought she might be executed on the spot, the man who was holding her back stepped aside.
Qin Shaozong's breathing was extremely heavy, and an unbearable crimson spread across his eyes. His gaze was fixed on her without blinking, as if he wanted to tear her apart and devour her whole.
He raised his hand, his rough fingertips brushing against the corner of her lips, wiping away the barely noticeable, ambiguous trace of moisture. "What were you looking at just now, Madam?"
Dai Li's chest heaved violently. When he asked her a question, her mind was buzzing and she couldn't answer at all. She just stared at him blankly.
Qin Shaozong chuckled and leaned forward again, this time only lightly touching her red lips before pulling away. "Where did your soul go?"
Dai Li reached out and pushed him, and after a long while she said, "It's nothing. You've finished taking care of everything, right? I want to go buy some things."
"What do you want to buy?" he asked.
Dai Li: "Buy a gift."
In the past, her work sometimes required her to travel for short periods, usually one or two days. Whenever this happened, she would entrust her child to a retired couple of professors who lived next door, asking them to take care of Zhouzhou for a day or two.
Every time she returned from a business trip, she would bring her son a small gift. Sometimes it was a local specialty, and sometimes it was a small toy, so that he would be less resistant to her business trips.
Although her son has grown up and may no longer care about some of these little gadgets, Dai Li still wants to revisit those old memories.
As she pondered what to buy, she didn't notice the man in front of her smiling wider and wider.
"Buying a gift? That's wonderful."
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Author's Note: Here I am! [shy]
I need nutrient solution! [Orange heart]
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