Daili was stunned, not expecting his request to be a "husband".
This kind of thing was said with the mouth, and didn't require doing anything, just touching the upper and lower lips together.
But in the afternoon when the sun was strong, Daili looked into those light brown eyes, as if she saw a mirror. In the center of the mirror were two shrunken versions of herself.
He was very serious, not joking at all.
Some words seemed to grow thorns, stuck in her throat, unable to be said. Her red lips moved slightly, and Daili looked away, "Why are you suddenly saying this?"
Qin Shaozong's eyes darkened, and his long fingers pinched her cheeks again, tightening and loosening, pinching her mouth into a goldfish mouth again, "What did Madam promise me just now? Say something nice quickly."
After looking away, the discomfort disappeared. Not only was her cheek pinched, but this person was also playing around. Daili immediately reached out and pushed him, "You let go first."
Qin Shaozong let go as requested, but still stared at her intently.
Daili lowered her eyes, and her gaze fell on his animal head belt. There was a tiger head carved on it, and the exposed tiger teeth were long, extraordinarily ferocious and intimidating, just like his majestic aura without being angry.
He didn't speak, and didn't urge her.
Not looking at him, she felt much better. Daili helplessly called out, "Husband..."
The two words were said very softly, lightly, as if a stronger wind could blow them away.
But Qin Shaozong heard it.
The anger and gloom in his chest slowly turned into powder in these two words, and then blown by the wind, there was no trace left. It was a very comfortable feeling, somewhat similar to a triumphant return from the battlefield.
The damn bird outside the window was still calling, but its call was much nicer than before.
Okay, step by step, he never lacked patience.
"Yeah." He replied first, his spine straightened, and his sitting posture was more upright than before. When he spoke again, there was a faint smile in his voice, "What are Madam's orders?"
The tense atmosphere began to flow, the ice and snow melted, and it returned to its previous peacefulness.
Daili raised her eyes and met his smiling eyes. The two small figures in the mirror were very clear, just like before.
Daili sighed silently in her heart.
*
A few days later.
A carriage escorted by a group of cavalry arrived at the side door of the Qin residence. It entered through the side door and was led to a pavilion courtyard by the guards.
The carriage door opened.
Hu Bao respectfully said, "Madam Qin, please."
A tall figure in maple red stepped down from the carriage first, "Where is my second brother?"
"The Marquis is in the main courtyard," Hu Bao replied.
Thinking that they had arrived a bit earlier than expected, Hu Bao added a sentence, "You go to the main hall and wait a moment, I'll go inform the Marquis."
"No need, I'll go directly to the main courtyard. He has an injury and shouldn't move around." Qin Hongying refused, and then said to the young girl who was getting off the carriage, "Rongrong, let's go to the main courtyard to visit your second uncle first."
Knowing her daughter's habit of speaking surprisingly, Qin Hongying exhorted, "Don't speak nonsense when the time comes. You can walk sideways in Nanyu Commandery, but not here."
Shi Rongyue had been lifting the curtain to look since just now, and the doubt in her heart reached its peak when the carriage entered the mansion, "Mother, this place doesn't seem to be the Marquis's mansion."
Qin Hongying was stunned, her slender eyes swept around, and she realized belatedly that although this pavilion courtyard was elegant, it was very unfamiliar, not the courtyard she lived in before she got married.
Before Qin Hongying could ask, Hu Bao said, "Since returning to Yuyang, the Marquis has always stayed here."
Meaning you didn't come to the wrong place.
Qin Hongying's heart, which had been bumping along the way, rose again. More than a month ago, the news of the Marquis of Wu'an being seriously ill and seeking medicine came from Yuyang, spreading to the surrounding commanderies and counties, causing a huge uproar.
When she first heard the news, she was burning with anxiety and wrote a letter, having someone deliver it overnight to Yuyang.
Her second brother's reply was delivered quickly, with only three words written in vigorous strokes on the paper: Won't die.
Qin Hongying saw it, okay, then it's fine.
With her second brother's temperament, being able to say this proved that everything was still fine, maybe he was still plotting something. She then only ordered someone to bring some medicinal materials back to Yuyang, and didn't go there herself.
However, a few days ago, she received a second letter.
The writer was Yun Ce, but the tone was exactly like her strong second brother. The letter said "just recovered from illness", but asked her to bring precious medicinal materials such as Polygonum multiflorum and musk.
Could it be that he doesn't have long to live?
"Madam Qin, the Marquis is actually not injured," Hu Bao explained.
Qin Hongying was stunned, alternating between anger and joy, "Since second brother is not injured, why did he say he just recovered from illness, and asked me to bring medicinal materials over?"
Hu Bao lowered his head, "It's a long story, why don't you ask the Marquis yourself later."
Qin Hongying: "Lead me to the main courtyard."
...
Daili was informed by Qin Shaozong this morning that his younger sister would arrive today, but the estimated arrival time was at Shen hour (3-5 pm). She then took a nap according to her usual habit, anyway, there was still time.
As for the argument about marriage the day before yesterday, the two of them tacitly did not bring it up again later.
Footsteps approached from outside, and Qin Shaozong, who was sitting at the desk in the outer room reading a letter, looked up at the sound.
The place where the desk was placed directly faced the door. Through the open door, he could see the visitor outside. And from a distance, two pairs of similarly shaped eyes met.
Qin Hongying was completely relieved, and she suddenly felt annoyed, "Second brother called me back from Nanyu in such a hurry, is it just to have me watch you review memorials?"
Qin Hongying was angry and dared to speak with hidden barbs, but the young girl beside her had to salute properly, "Greetings, second uncle."
"Lower your voice." Qin Shaozong's gaze returned to the desk, and he finished writing a letter with a few strokes.
Qin Hongying raised her eyebrows slightly, "What, are you keeping a mistress in a golden house?"
After saying this, she realized that this room was quite different.
There was a vase more than half a person tall in the corner, a wooden rack supporting an incense cage next to it, and landscape paintings hung on the wall. In addition, a soft couch was set up by the window, and a lotus-cyan mink blanket was placed on the couch.
And on the other side of the soft couch armrest, there was a novel small table with small wooden wheels underneath that was obviously movable. There were two books on the table, and a small wooden box that looked like it contained snacks.
It was too soft, completely unlike the style of a widower military general.
A picture inexplicably floated in Qin Hongying's mind. A slender lady sat on the soft couch by the window, holding a book in her hand, the wooden box on the movable small table opened, and candied fruit and other snacks could be vaguely seen inside.
She was reading a book, occasionally eating snacks, and then taking a sip of hot tea; while the man sitting at the desk not far away looked up at her during a break from reviewing documents.
Qin Hongying's hair stood on end from her own inexplicable imagination.
What kind of person is her second brother?
Except for close relatives, he is the most distinct and has a strong sense of territory. She remembered that after her second brother got married, he lived in a courtyard by himself and did not live with her second sister-in-law.
She hadn't not seen his room, it was hard, with all kinds of weapons placed in it. Rather than a place to sleep, it was more like an armory.
Why now...
"Qin Changgeng, has your sister arrived at the mansion?" Daili was woken up by the talking outside.
She had just woken up and was still groggy, thinking it was Nianxia or Bipo coming to report.
It went quiet outside.
Soon, Dai Li, sitting on the bed clutching her quilt, saw Qin Shaozong part the bead curtain and enter the inner room.
"Hongying arrived at the manor early." Qin Shaozong took the dress from the clothes rack and handed it to Dai Li.
Dai Li rubbed her eyes, taking the skirt while looking out the window. "It seems earlier than expected."
"Probably the driver was in a hurry and cracked the whip so hard it sparked." Qin Shaozong stood by watching her get up, completely omitting the fact that someone was waiting outside.
Since he didn't mention it, Dai Li assumed his sister was drinking tea in the main hall. Besides, if he wasn't in a hurry, why should she be? So, she moved slowly.
After putting on her outer clothes, Dai Li brushed through her hair.
Having not left the manor today, she hadn't asked Nianxia to style her hair into a bun, merely tying it casually with a hair ribbon. The ribbon had been pulled off before her nap, and now that she was to meet a guest, she naturally couldn't go with her hair completely loose.
"Nianxia," Dai Li called out.
There was no answer from outside.
Dai Li paused. Not Nianxia? Then she'd try the other. She called for Bipo.
But there was still no answer.
Qin Shaozong chuckled softly. "They went to the kitchen to prepare the meal. They aren't in the courtyard right now."
Qin Hongying had arrived early and hadn't had lunch yet, so Qin Shaozong had sent the two maids to the kitchen.
"Then what about my hair..." Dai Li completely didn't expect anyone to be outside, thinking Nianxia and Bipo had just left after passing the message.
"I'll tie it for you, Madam," Qin Shaozong suddenly offered with interest.
Dai Li was guided by him to the vanity mirror and sat down, half-doubting. "Do you know how to style a hair bun?"
"No," he admitted honestly.
Qin Shaozong had never done it before, though he had watched the maids style her hair many times.
"Then no, don't mess around." Dai Li snatched the hair ribbon back from him. Men were clumsy; if he pulled her hair, she'd be the one hurting.
She gathered her long hair into a ponytail. "This will do for now. I'll go find Nianxia to style it for me, and you go to the main hall to see your sister. She's here to see you anyway; she won't mind if I don't go out with you."
Qin Shaozong thought of Qin Hongying's expression just now and said meaningfully, "That might not be the case."
After getting dressed, Dai Li followed Qin Shaozong out.
Qin Shaozong was very tall and broadly built. Dai Li was a head shorter than him, and walking behind him, her view forward was completely blocked.
It wasn't until Qin Shaozong stepped aside that Dai Li saw two unfamiliar women.
One was in her early thirties, tall and voluptuous, with narrow dark eyes. She wore a maple-red dress, exuding a sharp, cold edge amidst her flamboyant appearance.
The other was a pretty young girl, perhaps not yet fully grown, with a cute, round little face. She was currently staring at her curiously with large light-brown eyes.
Dai Li: "..."
Dai Li froze in place for a couple of seconds, stiffly turning her head to look at Qin Shaozong beside her. The latter seemed completely oblivious to her embarrassment and began introducing them.
"Hongying, this is my wife, Dai Li."
He then introduced Qin Hongying and Shi Rongyue to Dai Li.
Dai Li: "...Hello."
Qin Hongying looked Dai Li up and down, then looked at Qin Shaozong, the amusement in her eyes so rich it almost spilled over.
So her second brother really was hiding a great beauty.
But before she could speak, she heard her brother ask, "Hongying, how much fleeceflower root and musk did you bring?"
The Qin family was a lineage of military generals guarding the borders. In the early years, before the northern lands were pacified, the uncles of the Qin clan all had to go to the battlefield. Qin Hongying had developed a habit of collecting medicinal herbs since childhood, delivering some to her father or brother today, and to other uncles tomorrow.
Dai Li's eyes instantly lit up.
In the following quarter of an hour, Qin Shaozong witnessed for the first time Dai Li's fiery enthusiasm and unparalleled social skills.
When this little fox wanted to coax someone, she could probably coax the birds right out of the trees.
In just a quarter of an hour, she had become so close to Qin Hongying that it seemed like they had known each other for over a decade and were the best of friends, holding hands as they chatted.
A vein throbbed on Qin Shaozong's forehead.
The smile on Qin Hongying's lips never faded. She found Dai Li's personality very interesting. Moreover, being showered with attention by a stunningly radiant beauty was indeed something hard to resist.
Of course, the sight of her second brother holding his breath and forcing himself to endure his annoyance without an outburst was truly a rare treat.
A moment later, two brocade boxes brought all the way from Nanyu Commandery were presented to Dai Li.
Dai Li opened them, the eagerness in her eyes growing even stronger.
Fleeceflower root is a knotweed plant, generally reddish-brown with wrinkled grooves on its surface. The piece of fleeceflower root Qin Hongying brought was exceptionally large, at least as thick as an adult man's arm, easily weighing several pounds.
As for the musk beside it. Processed musk is a brown, lumpy solid, and the amount of musk Qin Hongying brought was also considerable, feeling heavy in the hand.
With these two portions of medicinal herbs, even if Ding Luying asked for double the original amount, they could easily satisfy the demand.
Dai Li could almost hear the sound of a heavy boulder lifting from her heart.
"Second Brother, this is the first time in over thirty years you've asked me for anything. Here, all the fleeceflower root and musk in the Shi Manor are right here. I'm being quite generous, aren't I?" Qin Hongying directed her words to Qin Shaozong, but her eyes remained fixed on Dai Li.
Although there was an underlying meaning when she said this, it was not a lie.
In Qin Hongying's memory, let alone after her second brother took up the mantle of the family, even when their eldest brother was still alive, her second brother had never asked her for anything. This second brother of hers had been proud and fiercely independent all his life. He only ever supported and protected his younger sister, never stooping to ask for anything in return.
This was the first time, and precisely because of this, she set out for Yuyang immediately after receiving the news.
Dai Li noticed Qin Hongying's gaze and understood that most of those words were meant for her.
She hesitated for a moment.
Should she respond to that? If she did, in what capacity?
If she didn't, this was Zhou Zhou's life-saving medicine...
"Indeed, it's very generous. Consider me indebted to you this time," a deep male voice sounded.
Qin Hongying was even more surprised inwardly, but she said, "We're siblings, there's no such thing as owing debts. I didn't even know how to thank you for that matter with Changfeng earlier, how could I ask for a favor from you now?"
"By the way, Second Brother, Hu Bao said you've been staying here ever since you returned to Yuyang. Why aren't you staying at the Marquis Manor? How can outside accommodations be as comfortable as home?" Qin Hongying found it strange.
Qin Shaozong hadn't let Dai Li answer just now, but now he passed the buck to her. "Ask her."
Dai Li: "..."
Qin Hongying smoothly followed up, "Why is that?"
"...The Marquis Manor is undergoing renovations," Dai Li simply said.
Qin Hongying smiled with deep meaning, "Then move back once the renovations are done. The Marquis Manor is much bigger than here."
Dai Li remained silent.
Someone arrived outside at this moment; it was Qin Yunce, who had come to pay his respects after hearing that his aunt had arrived at the manor.
After he paid his respects and exchanged pleasantries with the mother and daughter, Qin Hongying asked in confusion, "Where is Qinian? Why don't I see him? Did he run off to the military camp again?"
Qin Shaozong: "He and that boy Qin Yanzhou have been running out every few days recently. You arrived earlier than expected, so the two of them probably haven't returned yet."
Both Qin Hongying and Shi Rongyue froze.
Qin Yanzhou?
Surnamed Qin, a son of the Qin family? Why would he be with Qi Nian? And why did she say "the two of them"—does that mean they came back together?
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
"Father!"
Before the person even stepped into the main courtyard, his cracking adolescent voice rang out.
"Ouch! Qin Yanzhou, what did you hit me for? Oh, oh, I forgot your mother takes a nap around this time. It is just my first time doing something this huge with you, so I got a little too excited! Hey, how are you so smart? To think you actually managed to find their trail..."
The voice gradually lowered until his words faded completely out of earshot.
However, it was not long before two silhouettes, one tall and one short, passed through the moon gate and entered the courtyard.
The taller young man had a face as flawless as jade and features as refined as a painting. However, his expression was stoic and his complexion pale, as if he were shrouded in the frigid snow of a high mountain.
The slightly shorter youth wore a fitted martial arts outfit in contrasting black and red, his long hair half-tied up. The entire way inside, he kept his head turned to chat with the person beside him, completely ignoring where he was walking.
Suddenly, the taller young man stopped in his tracks.
The exact moment he paused, Qin Qi Nian reached out and threw an arm around his shoulders in a chummy, brotherly fashion. The youth grinned, flashing a row of white teeth, clearly quite satisfied with his successful sneak attack, even if the height difference made the gesture look rather awkward.
The moment Qin Hongying saw the two walk in, her pupils shrank. She instinctively looked at Dai Li beside her, uncharacteristically unable to hide the astonishment written across her face.
With this mother and son appearing at the same time, anyone could tell at a glance that they were blood relatives.
Her second brother was not injured, yet he had been collecting medicinal herbs on a massive scale, even going so far as to break his own rules and ask her, his biological sister, for help. Looking again at Dai Li's eager excitement just now, it turned out that the one who needed those precious treasures was someone else entirely.
And this person was not even her second brother's woman, but his woman's son.
Was her second brother really racking his brains and exhausting his efforts just to help someone else raise a child?