Chapter 61 Is he just giving me the runaround?
Nangong Xiong had never been so puzzled. Qin Changgeng not only refused to go around the county with that lowly soldier surnamed Hu to dispel the rumors, but also idled away his time, wandering around with a young woman.
What puzzled Nangong Xiong even more was that he, as if by some strange twist of fate, rode his horse and followed the carriage.
Before they knew it, the carriage in front of them stopped in front of an accessories shop.
Dai Li did not bring any maids with her on this trip. She opened the car door herself and was about to get out when she unexpectedly saw Qin Shaozong standing outside the car door.
He reached out his hand to her.
The rough, large hand was turned upside down, and a section of the palm print was clearly broken.
The streets were bustling with traffic and people; it seemed someone was watching, yet it also seemed no one was. Qin Shaozong said nothing, simply staring intently at her.
The woman beneath the veil could not see her face or discern her expression. After a moment's pause, she reached out her hand.
The moment her fair fingertips touched his palm, the man moved forward slightly, closing his large hand to hold her soft, delicate hand within his.
"Did you bring any money?" Qin Shaozong asked.
Dai Li nodded and said she had brought it.
Since he ruined her story, this man seems confident that she can no longer cause trouble and does not impose any restrictions on her financially.
The storeroom doors were wide open, and she could choose from a variety of ornaments and other necessities. Dai Li didn't stand on ceremony with him, nor did she feel unworthy; if he dared to give, she dared to take.
After getting out of the car, Dai Li broke free from his hand and went straight into the store.
Qin Shaozong turned to look at Nangong Xiong, who was still riding his horse beside him. The latter was now looking at the beautiful figure with his head tilted to the side, his eyes filled with amazement and curiosity.
Beauty isn't just about the face; it's about the figure, the temperament, and sometimes even a silhouette can be breathtakingly beautiful.
No wonder Qin Changgeng didn't want the dancers he prepared; it turns out he really had a great beauty hidden away. It's like he's tasted the delicacies after having already tasted the phoenix marrow and dragon liver...
"The matter of the nursery rhyme is settled. Nangong, you can return to the army to prepare. If nothing unexpected happens, we will depart the day after tomorrow," Qin Shaozong said.
Nangong Xiong didn't move: "Qin Changgeng, how did you know all the secrets of that deception?"
Qin Shaozong had also arrived on horseback. Now, holding a riding whip, he smiled lazily at Nangong Xiong after hearing his words.
Nangong Xiong's heart skipped a beat, a strange sense of foreboding washing over him. The next moment, his premonition came true; a black riding whip came whistling through the air and lashed the steed beneath him.
The horse, in pain, immediately took off running forward.
Qin Shaozong draped the whip over his shoulder and said, "Nangong, you go ahead with your business. Take care and don't come back to see me off. I'll tell you about this in a couple of days."
"Qin Changgeng, you bastard!"
Qin Shaozong ignored it completely, casually tossed the riding whip to his guard, and then went into the shop.
...
Inside the shop.
Dai Li, who had removed her veil, was looking at the jade pendant.
In this era, wealthy families, both men and women, mostly had the habit of wearing jade pendants, the difference being in the shape of the pendants. Gentlemen wore pendants with green bamboo and fierce beasts, while young women preferred flowers and birds.
It seems like there aren't any good jade pendants in Zhouzhou, so buying a jade pendant to take home would be a good idea.
"This is nice, but a bit too elegant," someone said beside me.
Dai Li didn't need to turn her head to know that he was giving her random advice, so she ignored him and continued to look at the jade pendant in her hand.
The patterns on the front and back are different; the front features green bamboo, while the back features orchids, both representing the Four Gentlemen.
Qin Shaozong saw that she was looking at the jade pendant intently and carefully, and seemed quite satisfied with it.
The merchant standing to the side rubbed his hands together, thinking to himself that today was a distinguished guest. The lady had asked him to bring out his best jade pendant as soon as she arrived, so this deal was very promising. "Madam, this jade pendant is the store's prized possession. The carving was done by the famous artist Feng Hai, who was hired at great expense. Not to mention, the raw material itself is extremely smooth and lustrous, making it a rare and precious item."
Qin Shaozong saw her looking at it again and again, and then her gaze shifted in that direction once more. "Alright, let it be elegant then. Weapons are heavy with evil, so it's not impossible to reconcile the two."
Dai Li paused and turned to look at him.
Her veil had been removed, and their eyes met without obstruction.
It was only then that Dai Li realized how enthusiastic the man was, and combined with what he had just said, she felt that he must have misunderstood.
Dai Li: "..."
When their eyes met, Dai Li could clearly see Qin Shaozong's expression, and so could he.
Qin Shaozong's upturned lips drooped, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp, and his tone dangerous, "Madam, you wouldn't be planning to spend my money and then abandon me to buy gifts for someone else, would you?"
His brown eyes gradually turned fierce, as if if she dared to nod or say "yes," he would immediately drag her out and send her home.
Dai Li: "...No."
Qin Shaozong raised his chin slightly. "Choose."
Dai Li was still holding the jade in her hand. She looked around and finally walked to the area with the Four Treasures of the Study. In addition to brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, there were some small ornaments, such as paperweights and brush rests.
Qin Shaozong followed Dai Li over and saw her pick up a tiger-shaped pen pillow. Then, with a hint of probing in her eyes, she asked him, "My lord, what do you think of this?"
Qin Shaozong laughed in anger.
The pen pillow was less than a finger's length long, a tiny thing that she had just grabbed casually, a stark contrast to her focused expression as she examined the jade.
Just giving him the runaround, huh?
Seeing his displeasure and the hint of anger about to erupt, Dai Li quickly said, "Actually, I saw from afar that this tiger-head pen rest is carved with great majesty, just like yours, Your Excellency. However, the object is a bit small, and I don't know if you will find it too small. If you do, I can choose something else?"
Qin Shaozong paused, then took the tiger-shaped pen pillow from her hand.
This pen pillow is carved from yellow jade, but it's not entirely yellow; there are two ink lines spreading out on it, making it look just like a tiger's skin at first glance.
Qin Shaozong flipped it over.
The jade material is so-so, but it has its own unique characteristics. The carving of the tiger's head is passable, and the overall design does have a certain imposing presence.
Dai Li stole a glance at him, then another, and was surprised to find that his anger seemed to have subsided. She lowered her head and touched the jade pendant, thinking to herself that this man was actually quite easy to fool in some ways.
"This is it." Qin Shaozong thought the little thing was ugly at first glance, but he would like to look at it after a few more times.
After buying the gifts, the carriage headed back home.
After the carriage left, a street vendor who had been squatting by the roadside stood up, stopped selling his wares, picked up his load, and left.
The streets were bustling with pedestrians, and no one noticed this inconspicuous scene.
*
The Qin Residence.
When Dai Li returned, Nian Xia and Bi Po had already packed all her luggage and loaded it into the car.
"Zhouzhou, this is a gift for you. See if you like it." Dai Li called her son over and gave him the brocade box.
Qin Yanzhou took the box and opened it. On the red silk lay a piece of Hetian jade, with a vigorous green bamboo carved on it. He looked at it for a moment, and like when he was a child, he first reached out and touched the inside. Then, a smile, which was noticeable to him, appeared on his lips. "I like it. Thank you, Mom."
"Don't mention it," Dai Li waved her hand.
She brought up another matter. Getting her son to see a psychologist required not only the doctor's willingness to work, but also the patient's cooperation. Dai Li said, "Zhouzhou, how about I find you a tutor?"
Qin Yanzhou was slightly taken aback. "Mom, I can read."
“No, it has nothing to do with literacy. Besides learning to read and write, reading can also broaden your horizons.” Afraid that he would not agree, Dai Li lowered her voice and used her trump card, “If you learn more, our lives might be easier when we’re out in the future.”
Sure enough, the young man in front of her nodded. "Okay."
Dai Li's heart was at peace.
Her luggage was packed quickly, and just as Dai Li had predicted, she took a carriage with Qin Shaozong and left the city that afternoon.
This evacuation involved the entire force and was carried out swiftly, leaving not a single soldier behind.
The convoy left the mansion, heading west through the sunlight. As the setting sun bathed the earth, they arrived at the military camp on the outskirts of the city.
Dai Li's military tent had been set up, and Nian Xia and Bi Po were carrying their belongings into the tent one by one.
Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, Dai Li saw military banners fluttering in the wind, rows of guards patrolling beneath them, and several familiar figures chatting in front of military tents.
On the eve of dinner, with no fighting going on, everyone was quite relaxed. I imagine Nalan Zhi was no exception.
Dai Li looked at the man who had not yet left beside her, and asked him, "Does Your Excellency have something you want to say to Mr. Nalan?"
Qin Shaozong chuckled, "Why are you in such a hurry, Madam? When have I ever broken a promise I made to you?"
Even so, he still went to Nalanzhi's military tent.
About fifteen minutes later, Qin Shaozong came out. Accompanying him was another thin figure.
Nalan Zhi, dressed in a grey cross-collar robe and holding a feather fan, greeted Dai Li with a cupped hand and said, "Madam Dai."
Dai Li returned the gift to him.
Although Qin Shaozong had already given him a general overview, when it comes to asking someone for a favor, one still needs to say it to them personally, regardless of the circumstances.
“Mr. Nalan, I have a request for you. I would like to ask you to teach my son and allow him to become your student.” Dai Li’s expression was very solemn. In ancient times, the status of a “teacher” was extremely important, hence the saying, “A teacher for a day is a father for life.” Especially some prestigious scholars were very strict in accepting students. If they didn’t meet the student’s approval, no matter how wealthy or talented the student was, they would not accept him.
Nalan Zhi shook his feather fan. "There is something I don't understand. I wonder if Madam Dai could enlighten me?"
Dai Li: "Please speak freely, sir."
“Your talent and insight are beyond my reach, and your son is even more outstanding under your personal guidance. Why do you want to stray from the essentials, Madam Dai?” Nalan Zhi asked, puzzled.
He had just heard from Qin Shaozong about the experience of breaking the "miracle," but he had never heard of the mystery behind it before, and once again he was convinced of his superiority.
So he couldn't understand why?
Dai Li glanced at Qin Shaozong beside her, not wanting too many people to know about her son's inside story.
Qin Shaozong noticed her gaze, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
He discovered she had some really bad habits, like being ungrateful after using someone. Back in Nankang County, she used him to get an extra piece of land, then turned around and left him with a mess to clean up. Now that he'd acted as a go-between for her, she immediately wanted him to go somewhere else, not even letting him listen to her.
After the battle of Yanzhou is over, he will definitely teach her a lesson and help her correct this troublesome bad habit.
Qin Shaozong sneered, then turned and left without a word.
Upon seeing this, Nalan Zhi paused in his fanning motion, and when he looked at Dai Li again, a hint of seriousness appeared on his face.
Qin Shaozong left, leaving only her and Nalan Zhi. Dai Li then got straight to the point: "Mr. Nalan, to be honest, ever since I learned about your experiences, I have been deeply impressed by your will. Honestly, if I were in your situation, I certainly couldn't do even a tenth of what you have done. My son has had a difficult life, and after suffering a great calamity, his personality is completely different from that of ordinary boys. I am very worried but powerless to change it. I couldn't help but think of your transcendent state of mind, so I dared to ask you for help."
Fearing that the other party might feel burdened by the task, Dai Li added, "You don't need to teach him astronomy and geography, nor do you need to impart all your knowledge like other teachers do. I just want you to guide him more."
“I have heard a little about your son’s situation. Parents who love their children will plan far ahead for them. As for your guidance, I can only do my best, but I cannot guarantee the results,” Nalan Zhi sighed.
He has agreed.
Dai Li curtsied to him, saying, "It is already a great favor that you have agreed, sir. I dare not ask for anything more."
After walking for a while, Qin Shaozong looked back and saw two people standing in the sunset not far away.
At first, Nalan Zhi would occasionally wave his feather fan, but then, after she said something, the fan slowly stopped. He also saw her curtsy to Nalan Zhi again.
This time, the other party accepted her greeting.
The importance attached to "teachers" in ancient times also means that the apprenticeship ceremony was not perfunctory. The Book of Rites states: "The bundle of gifts is ten pieces of dried meat."
This means the student's tuition fee to the teacher is ten skewers of dried meat. After the teacher accepts the tuition, the student kowtows and offers tea, and the teacher reciprocates with scallions and celery, symbolizing the student's intelligence and diligence. After this process, the teacher-student relationship is formally established.
Unless the teacher and student voluntarily sever ties, the teacher-student relationship will continue for life.
Tuition fee: ten strings of dried meat.
Dai Li originally wanted to follow the ancient custom, but after Qin Shaozong learned of the amount of money she was going to give as a gift, he said, "Sending ten pieces of dried meat is too stingy. Madam, just go and tell the cooks to pick out the ten strongest rams and use them as a gift."
Dai Li frowned slightly. "That's not a good idea. Ten live sheep are hard to handle. They'll definitely have to be mixed into the flock later. After a while, who will remember that Mr. Nalan had ten sheep? He might even be too embarrassed to bring it up again."
Qin Shaozong: "Then let's slaughter them and have a lamb feast."
Dai Li still frowned. "You said earlier that we would set off the day after tomorrow. So, wouldn't Mr. Nalan's ten sheep be included in the whole lamb feast tomorrow night? The lord ordered the slaughter of sheep for the feast, and the soldiers are grateful to you, but no one knows about Mr. Nalan. That's not appropriate."
This whole operation was essentially a transfer from one hand to the other; Qin Shaozong still had to hold his banquet as usual, while Nalan Zhi got nothing.
The tuition fees were all forced to be donated, so it was all for nothing.
Qin Shaozong clicked his tongue lightly, "This won't do, that won't do either. Let's separate them then. Tomorrow's army-wide lamb feast will be held under the pretext of 'no merit.' In addition, those ten strings of dried meat will be sent separately. Is that satisfactory, Madam?"
The dried meat was good, but was it something she kept thinking about?
Dai Li smiled and said, "Your Excellency is wise; this is excellent."
...
A day passed in the blink of an eye.
Nalan Zhi was going to take on a disciple, and the news of tonight's grand feast spread like wildfire throughout the military camp.
"Have you heard? Today, Mr. Nalan is taking on a disciple, and the Marquis has therefore ordered many cattle and sheep to be slaughtered."
"How could I not have heard? I'm looking forward to it. I'll definitely eat my fill tonight! Speaking of which, there are very few famous scholars who haven't taken on disciples these days. You can count them on one hand. I thought Mr. Nalan would always be like this."
"Perhaps we didn't take a liking to him before. I heard that this time you've taken in a son of the Qin family, whose elders seem to have a close relationship with the Lord. Speaking of which, I've even met that young man; his appearance and demeanor are impeccable."
"Qin's son? What is his surname and given name?"
"This is not something I can inquire about. Just wait and see, his reputation will probably spread in a while."
...
Inside the tent.
Dressed in white, Qin Yanzhou first washed his hands in the washbasin, then straightened his clothes.
Amidst a sea of gazes, the young man accepted the tuition fee from Dai Li, stepped forward, knelt on the prayer mat, and presented the gift with both hands. “I have long admired your vast knowledge and profound understanding of the past and present. Your disciple, Qin Yanzhou, wishes to seek your instruction and has come to pay my respects.”
“I am not learned, please do not disgrace me.” Nalan Zhi accepted the fee from his hand.
Qin Yanzhou kowtowed and offered tea.
After the ceremony, Nalan Zhi personally helped the two of them up.
The plan was progressing smoothly, and Dai Li breathed a sigh of relief, revealing a satisfied smile.
Qin Shaozong glanced at her: "When that boy comes of age, Wugong can perform the capping ceremony for him."
To be crowned by a renowned scholar is an honor few can attain. Such a title benefits one's reputation and makes the road ahead much easier.
Dai Li slowly lowered her eyes.
My son's coming-of-age ceremony is six months later, six months...
Qin Shaozong: "It's settled then."
After the apprenticeship ceremony, a meat feast was held in the army.
Military banquets are not so elaborate; everyone sits around a fire, using long tables that can seat two or more people.
Dai Li sat at the same table with Qin Shaozong as before, while Qin Yanzhou followed his master, and the other high-ranking generals formed teams of two or three.
The tables were arranged in a circle, with a campfire in the center. A half-cut sheep carcass sat on the fire, and besides the roasted lamb, there were also many roasted fish skewered on wooden sticks. Each table was piled with steamed buns, rice porridge, and some wild berries.
It can be said that compared to the meat feast that Dai Li attended last time, there was a much wider variety of food this time.
Dai Li doesn't like to eat mutton; she eats grilled fish instead.
The fish, covered in fine salt, was very flavorful. After taking a bite of the fish and a sip of rice porridge, Dai Li was completely satisfied.
It wasn't a victory celebration, just a pre-battle feast, and no one drank alcohol. Before they knew it, Dai Li had finished her grilled fish.
It was delicious, but after eating two fish in a row, I was feeling a bit greasy. Dai Li reached for some wild berries to cleanse her palate.
While we ate, we listened to their conversation. Someone said that Qijiang County was not difficult to conquer, but Bai Ri City behind Qijiang County was, as there was a dangerous pass in front of it.
This pass is bordered by the Jin River to the north and a series of high mountains called "Chijiao" to the south, with only one road in between that allows passage for carriages and horses.
As she listened, Dai Li finished off her own portion of wild berries. She licked her lips, still feeling a little unsatisfied.
Suddenly, a small dish filled with wild berries was placed in front of her.
Dai Li paused for a moment, then looked up along the dark, long fingers holding the edge of the small plate and met a pair of brown eyes reflecting the firelight.
Dai Li reached out to take it, but saw the long fingers retract, and the small plate also shrank back.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, madam. Say something nice,” he said.
Dai Li hesitated, "...Thank you for your magnanimity."
He still had the same expression as before, showing no dissatisfaction, but he didn't push the small plate over either, which seemed to indicate that he was mostly unhappy.
Dai Li remained silent for a moment, then suddenly had a sudden inspiration, "Then I wish you, my lord, a resounding victory tomorrow."
Qin Shaozong smiled and pushed the small dish over, saying, "Thank you for your kind words, Madam."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Please give me some nutrient solution! [heart emoji]
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