Chapter 70 Releasing the Wolf Cubs to Find Their Mother
As the embroiderer spoke these words, Dai Li and Di Ting were playing chess in the hall.
"Inspecting passing ships?" Di Ting raised an eyebrow.
The embroiderer nodded. "They are very likely people of Marquis Wu'an."
They were traveling upstream, and the ship, including this two-story building, carried at least ten people that Dai Li had seen before. In addition, they had a considerable amount of supplies stored up beforehand, so the ship's speed was not particularly fast.
By speeding up along the coast, they can indeed reach the upstream area ahead of others.
After pondering for a moment, Di Ting smiled at Dai Li, who was sitting across the table, and said, "Please go back to your room and take a nap, Madam."
Dai Li's eyelids twitched.
Not only did he go back to his room, but he also went back to his room for a nap.
Is he trying to knock her unconscious, or is he trying to continue giving her those drowsy drugs?
"Are you worried that I want to go back to Marquis Wu'an's side?" Dai Li stood up from her seat. She had changed out of her smoky purple dress and was now wearing a green dress from Bishan.
The green made her skin appear even whiter, and in the brightly lit hall, she seemed to glow. Dai Li looked down at Di Ting. She was already stunningly beautiful, but now, looking down at people, she exuded a newfound aggression. "There's no need for this. To me, Marquis Wu'an is just a piece of driftwood. If there were other good timbers, why couldn't I give him up?"
Just as Di Ting was about to speak, he heard her finish her sentence:
"Of course, I know you must be worried. I can cooperate with you this time because it is my sincerity. Next time, I will not."
Dai Li looked him straight in the eye: "There are boats blocking and inspecting us not far away. If I wanted to go back to him, I could have just suddenly rushed out and jumped over the railing into the river. If you try to rescue me, it will make quite a commotion and attract attention; if you don't, I can swim and find them myself."
Di Ting was slightly taken aback, not expecting Dai Li to even mention jumping into the river.
However, this statement is not entirely untrue.
"Okay," he said with a gentle smile.
Dai Li turned and went back to her room.
Where no one could see her, Dai Li slowly exhaled.
She can swim, but only a basic doggy paddle. She can't swim like a white streak in the river, and she needs a swimming ring even to stay in a still swimming pool for a few minutes.
Jump into the river? What a joke! She's not courting death; Zhouzhou is waiting for her to come back.
Dai Li followed the embroiderer to another room.
Under Dai Li's gaze, the embroiderer gripped the edge of the bed with both hands and, with a forceful pull, lifted the entire bed board at a ninety-degree angle.
Beneath the tatami mat, another space covered with bedding was revealed. The space wasn't large, just enough for one person to lie down.
The front and back ends of the wooden board facing outwards are carved with layers upon layers of openwork patterns. The patterns interweave with each other, out of sight but allowing air to pass through.
The embroiderer took out a small bottle with lotus patterns and poured out a black pill for Dai Li.
"Madam, please."
Dai Li took the pill, but didn't take it immediately. "How long will this one keep me asleep?"
The embroiderer said, "Half a day, six hours."
Dai Li first sat down on the tatami mat, and then swallowed the pill in front of her.
She swallowed it raw, and because of her narrow throat, it got stuck. A strange bitter taste spread in her mouth, making her frown.
The pill took effect in less than half a minute after being swallowed. In her dazed state, Dai Li heard the sound of the bed being overturned.
In the last moment before her consciousness faded, Dai Li thought to herself that this pill worked really fast, even better than sleeping pills. If it were in modern times, it would sell out in no time.
The embroiderer carefully tidied the bed, then took out pillows and quilts from a box beside her, placed them on the couch, and slightly ruffled the quilts to create the illusion that someone had slept on the couch not long ago. She also took out a ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) from the box and casually hung it on the clothes rack next to her.
After doing all this, the embroiderer closed the door and left.
Over there, two large ships had sandwiched the listening vessel between them, one on the left and one on the right.
Someone on the deck shouted: "Recently, river bandits have been rampant, disguising themselves as passing merchant ships to harm the people. The authorities have stopped the ship for inspection. We hope you will cooperate."
It's just a notification; a response isn't required.
After saying a symbolic remark, several iron hooks with ropes were swung over from the opposite side, precisely hooking onto the wooden railing. After being slightly secured, a long wooden plank was lowered down from above with a "thud," forming a small wooden bridge.
The wooden plank was about 15 feet long, with no railings on either side, but the person on the other side was skilled and daring, and stepped across it with ease.
Wooden bridges were placed on both sides at the same time, and people crossed over simultaneously.
Eight people on each side, a total of sixteen people boarded the ship.
"Where is the owner of this ship?" Centurion Lin Wu shouted.
Di Ting emerged from the main hall at this moment. "I have not heard of any river bandits on the Jin River, but the authorities must have a reason to inspect the boats. I wonder how you would like me to cooperate?"
Lin Wu saw that the man was in his early twenties, just coming of age, dressed in slightly above-average clothes, and behaving rather recklessly. He was probably a young master from some family who was traveling.
Lin Wu: "Tell me your family background."
Di Ting: "My ancestral home is Donghai, Xuzhou. I am Kong Lishen, the fifth son of the magistrate of Donghai County. Half a year ago, I set off from Xuzhou to travel around. I have been to Qingzhou and Yanzhou, and I was just about to go to Sizhou when I passed through..."
"Alright," Lin Wu interrupted his long-winded explanation. "How many people are on your ship?"
Di Ting: "Twenty."
"Did your ship dock at Jiujiejin?" The "Jiujiejin" that Lin Wu mentioned was the sloping ferry crossing north of Bai Ri City.
Di Ting nodded without hesitation, "Of course I've been there. When traveling, one stops at every ferry crossing. Is there anything wrong with Jiu Jie Ferry?"
"Bring out yours." As Lin Wu said this, he waved his hand, and the guards immediately scattered.
This multi-story ship has two decks, and is neither new nor old. Compared to the first deck, which faces the river and has less ventilation, the second deck offers a more open view. Therefore, on such multi-story ships, the master usually resides on the upper deck, while the servants live on the lower deck.
Soon, a stack of papers was brought over.
Lin Wu looked through them one by one. This group of people came from Xuzhou, and the information they brought was all from Xuzhou. Most of them were from Donghai County, and a few were from counties next to Donghai County.
“Your Excellency, although I don’t know how I got involved with the river bandits, I am definitely a law-abiding citizen. Here is also a letter with my father’s and his superior’s official seals. Please take a look.” Di Ting took out a letter.
Lin Wu took it and looked through it.
Perhaps hoping to minimize the troubles her son might encounter while traveling, the letter was written very earnestly and was stamped with many red seals.
The county magistrate and the county assistant both had their official seals and private seals, and the paper was not new, with deep creases, indicating that it had been opened many times.
Lin Wu examined it carefully and confirmed that it was genuine, but he did not immediately stop the search.
Several guards went up to the second floor and checked each room. The people inside had already left after hearing the news, and now the rooms were completely empty. All the boxes that could have concealed a person had been opened.
They checked room after room, but found nothing.
They then withdrew.
They shook their heads at Lin Wu.
Lin Wu tossed the letter back to Di Ting: "Fall back."
The return journey was just as swift as the arrival; in the blink of an eye, the passengers on the ship had already departed.
Di Ting watched their departing figures and curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.
There won't be any problems.
Because the letters were genuine, as were the official seals, and even the information conveyed was not forged; it was truly possible to find that one person.
...
The neighboring ship.
After the group returned to their quarters, one of the guards murmured, "Some of the rooms on that ship smelled really good. I wonder what kind of incense they used."
The person next to him laughed and said, "People like this smell so good. Those young masters are the most particular. It must be high-end stuff."
"Too."
This little incident only happened between the two of them, and they quickly forgot about it.
*
White City.
"My lord, just as you predicted, the young master left the manor under cover of night," Hu Bao reported.
It has been three days since Lady Dai disappeared.
Centered on Bai Ri City, the lord sent people to search in all directions, including Lu Chuan County in the south, Qi Jiang County in the east, Luo Xing County in the west, and Jin Shui in the north, leaving no place unsearched.
In the past few days, hundreds, even thousands, of carriages have been stopped, and countless ships have been intercepted and searched. All the city gates of several cities have been strictly guarded, and all vehicles entering and leaving are being rigorously inspected.
Even later on, Nangong Qingzhou, upon learning the news, enthusiastically joined the search.
It can be said that Qingzhou and Beidi joined forces in this search. With the combined efforts of both sides, they should have been able to find not only a talking human, but even a small cat.
But it didn't happen.
Madam Dai was still nowhere to be found; it was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth the moment she disappeared from "Jin Fengyu".
The lord's expression grew increasingly grim each day, and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive. Everyone in the manor was more cautious than usual, fearing that they might inadvertently provoke him at this critical juncture.
Unfortunately, while the lord was displeased, the little tyrant under guard was anything but quiet, constantly outwitting and outmaneuvering his guards. He had demolished the courtyard several times, and nearly tore the roof off the house.
Yesterday, the Lord ordered that the guards need not be as strict as before, leaving some room for escape.
Sure enough, the young man slipped away that very night.
Qin Shaozong sat behind the long table, his face ashen. "That brat will sneak out at night and will surely wait until daytime to leave the city. Make sure to place sentries at the four city gates and Jiujiejin and other places. I need to know where he is going."
That kid has someone backing him.
At first, he thought that his wife had been kidnapped by the Qinglian Sect, but later he felt that perhaps another suspect could be added.
For example, the power behind that kid.
After learning of his wife's disappearance, he behaved quite unusually, repeatedly trying to leave, resolutely and decisively, as if he already had a destination in mind.
The other party refused to tell him the truth, so he had no choice but to let him go back and secretly follow the wolf cub.
*
Dai Li is still on the ship.
On the seventh day of the voyage, the ship docked, but not to reach its destination; it simply sent people ashore to purchase supplies.
After being fully prepared, the ship continued its journey.
Five more days passed, the twelfth day after Dai Li boarded the ship, and finally the ship docked. Dai Li had crossed the border of Sizhou and Yanzhou from Bai Ri City, the border between Yanzhou and Qingzhou, and arrived at the ferry outside Tian Shui County in Sizhou.
"Madam, let's disembark." The embroiderer took a veil and put it on Dai Li's head.
As Dai Li stepped out of the room, she saw Di Ting. At first glance, she thought she had mistaken him for someone else.
His style of dress had changed; he was no longer ethereal and otherworldly. He wore a purple-gold sun-shaped crown and a long, flowing robe with a dark blue gourd pattern, exuding the air of a dashing and debonair rich young master.
And that face wasn't one that Dai Li was familiar with.
At first glance, he looks like a completely different person, but upon closer inspection of his features, one can see that only minor alterations have been made. A small difference can lead to a huge discrepancy; now he gives off a completely different impression.
One is a charlatan, the other is a rich young master.
"Don't you recognize me, Madam?" Di Ting asked with a smile.
Dai Li stared intently at his face, and for some reason, a strange thought arose within her. But before she could grasp it, the man in front of her said again:
"Madam will get used to it after a few more glances. The world is becoming increasingly chaotic these days, so it's always good to be prepared when traveling."
Dai Li snapped out of her daze and said, "The way you're talking makes it sound like you've offended a lot of people outside."
Di Ting gestured for us to proceed. “In this world, some people worship us as gods, respecting and loving us; naturally, there are also people who despise us like evil spirits, wishing they could get rid of us as soon as possible. Better safe than sorry. Only by living well can we fulfill the mission entrusted to us by the Eternal Mother and save all people from suffering.”
Dai Li disembarked before him, not letting him see the expression on her face.
"While traveling, please excuse me and treat me as your elder sister for now. Your surname is He, and your given name is 'Hua'. You recently lost your husband and have no children, so you returned to your parents' home to stay with your younger brother." Di heard this.
As soon as he finished speaking, the woman in front of him suddenly turned around and reached out her hand to him, her pale palm facing upwards.
Listen closely as his eyebrows slightly twitched.
"What about my biography?" he heard her say.
Dai Li replied matter-of-factly, "Since you are a law-abiding citizen, and since you can provide specific information, there must be some kind of report, right? Let me see it."
Di Ting did not move.
Everything around him revolved around him; if he didn't move, the embroiderer and the others naturally wouldn't move either.
Dai Li said directly, "In the past half month on the ship, I am sure you are easier to get along with than Marquis Wu'an. Before I find my son, it doesn't matter where I stay, you are a good choice. Once we enter the city, I will give you a gift."
Upon hearing the last sentence, a glint of cunning flashed in Di Ting's eyes. "What exactly is the lady's gift?"
Dai Li smiled enigmatically, “It’s similar to the North, yet not entirely the same. Now that we’ve reached Sizhou, Qin Changgeng’s reach can’t extend here, no matter how far it’s extended. And I’m all alone, with no money, no relatives or friends, and I don’t know the way. Where can I go without you?”
Di Ting turned his head to look at the embroiderer, who understood and took out a small wooden plaque from her pocket and handed it to Dai Li.
Dai Li took it and looked at it.
It was indeed "He Hua," with information such as her place of origin written on it, and even an official seal engraved on it. It was almost identical to the one she had tricked from Yun Rong before.
A faint smile appeared in Dai Li's eyes. She had said she was just "taking a look," but after receiving the gift, she stuffed it into her sleeve pocket in front of everyone, showing that she had no intention of returning it.
Di Ting chuckled softly, unsurprised by this.
They disembarked at the ferry, and to Dai Li's surprise, a carriage was already waiting there.
Get on the bus and enter the city.
Sweetwater County is smaller than most counties, but even in the smallest place, with enough supernatural power, one can create a gold and silver treasure.
For example, the house where Dai Li now lives.
The exterior looks old and small, even somewhat dilapidated from years of neglect, but the interior is a hidden gem. It's not ostentatious luxury with gold and jade carvings, but rather an elegant ambiance carefully crafted.
The pavilions and towers are dignified and orderly, with the main courtyard leading directly to the back garden. The garden is filled with strangely shaped rocks, exotic flowers and rare plants blooming in profusion, and there is a pond with water flowing through it, where jade koi carp spout water to form a waterfall. It is no exaggeration to say that it is a masterpiece of nature.
As Dai Li looked around, she was amazed at how powerful the Qinglian Sect was, with its multi-story ships, carriages, and even hidden residences in the city.
I just don't know where this money came from.
It could be the lower or middle class.
Wealthy religious merchants donated large sums of money, while those with meager means donated small amounts. Everyone did what they could, and little by little, they accumulated wealth, eventually forming a breathtaking sea of sand.
She checked into the house at noon, and less than half an hour later, Di Ting came looking for her.
The young man stood in front of the door, blocking most of the sunlight that slanted in, and half of his face was shrouded in shadow and could not be seen.
Compared to Qin Shaozong's imposing aura accumulated from years of battlefield experience, Di Ting was even quieter, like still waters running deep.
"Madam, I've come to collect my gift." He was quite frank.
Dai Li smiled and said, "You are truly concerned about the country and its people, so you will definitely like this item."
Di Ting paused in his movements.
Could it be that what she said...
“The hermit Feng is a real person. He asked me to take two things with him. One was a dragon-bone waterwheel, and the other was a curved-shaft plow. Compared to the straight-shaft plow we use now, which requires two oxen to pull, this thing is much lighter and more than twice as efficient, and it can save the effort of one ox.” Dai Li carefully observed his expression.
Although this person was putting on a facade, perhaps due to his youth, he couldn't completely suppress his emotions. At that moment, Dai Li clearly saw him pause for a moment.
She was overjoyed.
Compared to the saltstone that could bring immense wealth, the curved plow was clearly worthless. First, like the dragon-bone waterwheel, it was the kind of thing that could be easily copied, requiring no technical skill whatsoever. Second, it was a farm tool.
This means that the users and the most direct beneficiaries are definitely the tenant farmers and self-cultivating farmers at the bottom of society.
If the Qinglian Sect relied on its followers' offerings to amass wealth, unless everyone led an ox to plow the fields, the curved-shaft plow, an improvement on the straight-shaft plow that didn't appear until the Tang Dynasty, wouldn't provide any immediate benefits.
Okay, even if every believer uses a curved plow, it will take at least a year to see results.
After all, crops need time to grow, don't they?
Just when Dai Li thought he would get angry, the man in front of her smiled and said, "This is very good, thank you, Madam."
Dai Li raised an eyebrow, "You really like it?"
"Of course. The Eternal Mother is compassionate, and our Qinglian Sect also takes it upon itself to save all living beings, worrying when the people of the world worry and rejoicing when the people of the world rejoice."
In the end, Di Ting spoke meaningfully, "Madam, however, the road ahead is long and arduous, with dark clouds overhead and fierce tigers and wolves blocking the way. If you blindly follow the rules, you will hardly achieve great things. For the sake of equality and freedom in the future, and for your soul to ascend to the Pure Land, all sacrifices are worthwhile. You have rendered meritorious service in saving all living beings, and the gods will bless you."
Dai Li's teasing smile slowly faded.
She suddenly realized that the fact that the Qinglian Sect could stand for a century and have followers all over the world was not simple, and could even be described as very clever.
This era emphasized the divine right of kings, meaning that the gods bestowed supreme power upon the monarch, and the monarch was ordained by Heaven.
The Qinglian sect worships the Eternal Mother, believing her to be the true founder. The Eternal Mother advocates equality for all and the pursuit of rebirth in the Pure Land, which essentially bypasses the concept of a "monarch."
The two ideologies are bound to clash; the latter will challenge imperial power and traditional ethics, but it will certainly be popular among the lower classes.
Without sufficient material resources, talking about equality for all beings is wishful thinking. Therefore, whether it is the divine right of kings or the equality and bliss of the Qinglian Sect, if you peel back the layers to the essence, they all use religion to serve politics.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Dai Li is gathering her strength.
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