The main room was completely silent. The faint fragrance wafting from the incense burner in the corner seemed to be the only movement in this still, picture-like scene.
Outside the window, a squirrel was chattering in the tree. To Daili, every sound felt like a falling pinecone, thumping heavily against her heart and causing it to sink deeper and deeper.
Just now, when he said for the second time that the "quantity was insufficient," her heart had skipped a beat, bringing a vague, ominous premonition.
With his final sentence, "Only the legal wife can open it," the mist clouding her eyes vanished. She finally saw the giant tiger lurking in the depths of the jungle.
Its maw was wide open, just waiting for her to walk right into it.
Daili opened her mouth to say something, but felt it would be futile.
She knew very well that he wouldn't listen to any of her polite refusals; he would only stubbornly and willfully do exactly as he pleased.
A profound sense of powerlessness washed over Daili.
Qin Shaozong had originally been holding her arm, but now his large hand moved forward, covering her soft, pale hand and wrapping it completely in his grasp. "What is Madam's decision? If it is difficult to choose, there is no harm in thinking it over. There are still eleven days left until the deadline given by Old Mister Ding."
Daili raised her eyes to look at him. "Have you given me any room to choose?"
It seemed like a choice, but there was no choice at all. Just as she had said from the beginning: she could never just stand by and watch Zhouzhou go without his medicine.
Whether it was the Green Lotus Cult or Qin Shaozong, as long as they could help Zhouzhou safely pass this dangerous hurdle, she was willing to make a deal with them.
The former harbored unpredictable intentions, while the latter also had his own motives. It was just that what they plotted for was different.
"Naturally, there is room for choice. Whether the door to this storehouse opens or not is entirely up to Madam," Qin Shaozong said.
Daili tried to withdraw her hand, but he pinched her fingertips. "Qin Changgeng!"
Her calling of his name carried a hint of fiery anger.
Hearing this, Qin Shaozong released her hand. "I shall await Madam's good news."
After saying this, the man picked up the teapot on the table and poured Daili a cup of hot tea. "Madam, the autumn weather is dry, making it easy to get agitated. Have some tea to soothe yourself."
The fire in Daili's heart, fueled by his cup of tea, burned all the way from her stomach to the top of her head.
What was this? Getting the upper hand and then acting innocent?
She could endure many things, including but not limited to the series of humiliating treaties she was forced to sign after he caught her in Nanyang County. She could even patiently receive guests alongside Qin Hongying, people she shouldn't have been responsible for hosting.
But there was one thing she absolutely could not endure.
He was using Zhouzhou's life-saving medicine as a bargaining chip!
Today it was Zhouzhou's medicine; tomorrow, would he use Zhouzhou's life as a threat?
Daili picked up the teacup on the table and violently threw its contents right at Qin Shaozong.
Caught off guard, the veins in the man's arms bulged in a defensive reflex, but he forcefully restrained his movements, closed his eyes, and took the cup of hot water to the face.
The hot tea soaked his temples and his broken eyebrow, trickling down his cheeks to his neck, dampening his collar.
Daili smashed the empty cup against Qin Shaozong's chest. "Qin Changgeng, if you ever use Zhouzhou's matters to threaten me again, I will drag you down to hell with me!"
Having said her piece, Daili stormed out of the main room without looking back.
Qin Shaozong wiped his face and looked at her retreating figure. He clicked his tongue softly. "That precious son of hers really can't be spoken of at all."
Qin Manor, the study.
"Second Brother, you were looking for me?" Qin Hongying pushed open the door and entered the study.
Qin Shaozong was the only one in the study. Seeing his sister enter, he lifted his chin slightly, gesturing to the seat opposite him. "Sit."
Qin Hongying thought of the guests they had just received and assumed Qin Shaozong had called her to ask about the situation. Without waiting for him to ask, she said directly, "Rest assured, I didn't let her suffer any losses. It was an easy fight, the advantage was ours. Wei Wu's little tricks are nothing to worry about."
After saying this, her curiosity took over, and she leaned forward. "Second Brother, where exactly did you bring Daili back from? She looks far too young to have such an old son, and her son's surname is also Qin. Is he really related to you..."
That young man named Qin Yanzhou was clearly older than Qinian, and looked to be about the same age as Yunce.
Her second brother had married at the age of seventeen. Before getting married, he had left the North to travel through the southern provinces. Could it be that he had met a confidante on the road back then?
But it was also strange. If she was a former lover, why was Daili so cold towards him?
Furthermore, Qin Yanzhou's appearance bore absolutely no resemblance to her second brother. Even his lower face, which didn't resemble his mother's, showed not the slightest trace of her second brother's features.
It just didn't look like it.
"She is the descendant of a hermit," was all Qin Shaozong said in response.
As to how she came to be here, and the matter of Qin Yanzhou, he offered no answers whatsoever.
Qin Hongying was instantly displeased. She had put in so much effort outside to shelter his sweetheart from the wind and rain, yet he refused to reveal even a tiny bit of information. "Second Brother, you're being unkind."
Qin Shaozong picked up a tiger-shaped brush rest. "Is Rongrong engaged yet?"
The Great Yan Dynasty had a law: if a woman was fifteen or older and remained unmarried, she was subjected to a five-fold calculation. This meant paying five times the standard poll tax. While this five-fold amount would be a significant expense for a commoner's household, it was less than a drop in the bucket for noble and wealthy families.
Noble daughters usually married later, but no matter how late, their engagements would be arranged in advance.
The sixteen-year-old Shi Rongyue was not yet married, but normally speaking, she should already be engaged.
"She is. She's engaged to the legitimate heir of the Zheng family in Nanyu. Her father and I didn't want her to marry so far away." Qin Hongying nodded. Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly asked in surprise, "Second Brother, what do you mean by asking this?"
There weren't as many prominent families in Nanyu Commandery as in Yuyang, and the two commanderies weren't too far apart. Qin Shaozong thought for a moment and remembered. "The Zheng family of Nanyu... that's the family of Commandery Governor Zheng, correct?"
Qin Hongying neither nodded nor shook her head, but instead nervously asked for the second time, "Second Brother, what do you mean by asking if Rongrong is engaged? Give me a straight answer quickly."
If Rongrong could marry back into the Qin family, marrying her cousin, that would be the best possible outcome. She would definitely live a very comfortable life in the future. Moreover, her second brother's power was far beyond what a mere governor could compare to.
Previously, she hadn't been completely opposed to the idea of marrying her daughter back into the Qin family. Yunce was three years older than Rongrong, making them a perfect match in age.
But with the precedent of their eldest brother dying in battle, her second brother had many reservations about Yunce's marriage. He wasn't as overbearing as normal parents; he would listen to Yunce's own wishes.
And Yunce only saw Rongrong as a younger sister, with no romantic feelings whatsoever.
As for Qinian, he was the same age as Rongrong, which was also suitable.
Unfortunately, the Qin and Wei families had arranged a marriage for them when they were babies. Although this arranged marriage came to nothing due to the early death of that particular Wei daughter, the Wei family later played dumb, attempting to blur the lines of the engagement from a specific young lady to any daughter of the Wei family.
Her second brother didn't seem to be in a hurry regarding Qinian's marriage. He was in a subtle stalemate with the Wei family and had made no moves.
Since neither of her two biological nephews was a viable option, Qin Hongying didn't plan to look at the collateral branches either.
There was no need. Not to mention that there were no outstanding young talents in the collateral branches that caught her eye, the relationships there were much more complicated. Marrying her daughter into such a situation would do more harm than good.
But now, why did it sound like her second brother had changed his mind?
"When is the wedding set for?" Qin Shaozong asked.
Qin Hongying answered truthfully, "Next summer."
Qin Shaozong twisted the jade thumb ring on his finger. "Break off the engagement with the Zheng family. I will send someone to cancel it on our behalf, so they won't be able to blame the Shi family."
Qin Hongying's pupils shrank sharply, a stormy wave of emotion surging in her eyes. "Second Brother, are you planning to have Rongrong marry into the Qin family? Do you want her to marry Qi Nian? Are you going to deal with the Wei family at the same time this time?"
She was so agitated that she fired off three questions in a row.
Qin Shaozong only answered the first one. "She will marry into the Qin family."
Qin Hongying's heart finally settled. Her second brother never made promises lightly, but he always kept his word.
With his assurance, Rongrong's marriage was practically set in stone.
As for the Zheng family, the young master of the Zheng family was indeed quite good, but how could he compare to the reliability of her own nephew?
Fortunately, she and her husband had planned to wait until they returned to Nanyu before arranging a meeting between Rongrong and the Zheng family's young master. Since the two juniors had not yet met, handling certain matters was entirely just a discussion between the elders.
"Second Brother, why did you suddenly change your mind? When I asked you last time, you said there was no rush," Qin Hongying asked curiously.
Qin Shaozong still did not answer this question directly. He merely said, "After breaking the engagement with the Zheng family, do not rush to arrange another one immediately, otherwise it will be bad for Rongrong's reputation. She might not necessarily marry Qi Nian. Let the younger generation spend some time together first."
Qin Hongying's heart skipped a beat, and doubts began to bubble up one after another.
If not Qi Nian, did that mean Yun Ce? Had Yun Ce changed his mind?
But she had only been staying here with her daughter for a few days. Yun Ce was always reserved; there was no reason for him to fast-forward to developing romantic feelings for Rongrong and expressing a desire to take a wife to her second brother.
Moreover, her second brother's words were so ambiguous. If she didn't know his character, she would have thought he was playing a trick on her.
Qin Hongying was full of questions, but no matter how she pressed, she could not get a clear answer out of him.
*
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
The ancient city of Yuyang Commandery was bustling with endless streams of carriages and horses. Every day, after the dawn broke in the east, it was as if an invisible scroll of a prosperous cityscape slowly unrolled, depicting a vibrancy identical to the day before.
Inside a corner private room on the second floor of a certain eatery in the city.
"They have stopped searching for fleeceflower root. This is not good." Diting sat at the table, holding a white Go piece, his eyes lowered toward the chessboard.
Bai Xiang, holding a black piece, was also studying the board. "It is said that Madam Qin has a habit of collecting herbs. Her coming to Yuyang this time is definitely at the invitation of the Marquis of Wu'an. The fleeceflower root they lack has likely been supplied by her. However, as long as they do not have enough musk, Madam Dai will eventually come to our side."
Slender fingers placed a white piece onto the board, producing a soft clink of jade.
"The Marquis of Wu'an is incredibly cunning. Just like the battle of Bairi City back then, who could have imagined that he would neither forcefully attack Bairi Pass nor build a pontoon bridge to cross the river, but instead lead his troops on a grueling multi-day march through desolate mountain paths to flank Bairi City from behind?" Diting shook his head and said, "Whether they have obtained enough musk is hard to say."
"The Red Gallbladder poison in Mingdeng's body has at most eight days left. If it is not removed within eight days, he will surely die." Bai Xiang sighed with deep emotion. "For things to develop to this point is something I never anticipated. Having known him for nearly ten years, I truly treated him as my own brother."
A complex emotion flickered across Diting's face as well, but it ultimately settled into calmness. "Those walking different paths cannot make plans together."
Bai Xiang chuckled dryly. "It is still too early to draw conclusions about our paths. Mingdeng only chose his mother, not the Marquis of Wu'an. If Madam Dai is willing to come, he will definitely return to the Green Lotus Sect."
Diting, however, shook his head again. "If you had met Madam Dai, you would know that the Marquis of Wu'an will never let her leave under any circumstances."
Just as Bai Xiang opened his mouth to speak, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside.
Soon, a servant dressed as a young attendant entered the room.
"Sir, he has left the estate again. This time, apart from the Third Young Master of the Qin family, there is also a young lady accompanying them," the servant reported.
No specific name was mentioned, only a "he," yet the two men in the room understood perfectly.
"Alright, you may step down."
After the servant left, Bai Xiang tapped the table lightly with his finger. "How many times is this?"
Diting looked thoughtful. "At least the third time we have received such news. Mingdeng is not an active person. For him to frequently leave the estate to roam the markets is highly suspicious."
Bai Xiang argued, "But it's hard to say for sure. The Third Young Master of the Qin family is naturally lively and playful. He has been cooped up in the estate for nearly two months; it is quite normal for him to want to go out."
"Mingdeng is exceptionally familiar with our sect. With his repeated excursions, I worry he is looking for us." Diting lowered his eyes and placed a piece on the board. "Since we previously sent a letter to Madam Dai, he must know that there are traces of our sect in Yuyang Commandery."
"Then what do you intend to do?" Bai Xiang placed a piece casually.
"Uncle once said that in all matters, one must assume the worst-case scenario in order to remain invincible. Let us assume they have found enough musk and fleeceflower root, and let us also assume Mingdeng has found some traces of us..." Diting picked up a white piece, the jade glowing with a warm luster between his fingers.
Bai Xiang asked, "Then what should we do?"
"The Red Gallbladder will accelerate into its berserk phase if severely stimulated. Let us toss a stone to clear the path. He is with the Third Young Master of the Qin family, which is just perfect. Let them warm up together. Little Miss Fan has been clamoring quite loudly lately; let us send her this time," Diting smiled.
Bai Xiang understood and his expression instantly changed drastically. "Must we really do this? If it's not controlled well, Mingdeng will surely die..."
"Bai Xiang, emotions do not build empires, and those with different aspirations cannot be friends." Diting raised his eyes calmly.
Bai Xiang choked for a moment before adding, "I... I am just worried that if he dies, Madam Dai will suffer the pain of losing her son and will completely attach herself to the Marquis of Wu'an. By then, there will be no possibility of her submitting to our sect..."
The Go match was not yet finished, but the victor was already apparent.
"With Mingdeng's alertness, this will not take his life. By the way, I received a message from Uncle. The war in the south has concluded. Liu of Jingzhou was one step ahead, making Yi Province take the surname 'Liu' from now on. I must set off for Jingzhou today. You will take full charge of Yuyang. Handle everything according to what I said before, and do not let Uncle and me down." Diting clearly had no intention of continuing the game.
He rose from his seat, looking down at Bai Xiang from above. "From the moment he defected, Mingdeng was no longer our brother. The benevolence of women will only ruin great plans. Please remember this, little brother."