Chapter 87

Last night, she had signed a slew of humiliating treaties. The memories were too painful to dwell upon, and just as Dai Li was attempting to block them out, the bedroom door opened.

The hinges of this guesthouse door were in poor condition; opening and closing them produced an unavoidable, sharp creak. Now, that sound struck like a bolt of thunder, instantly jolting Dai Li back to her senses.

The door was pushed open, and a tall figure stepped inside.

Dai Li stole a glance at Qin Shaozong. Her expression remained calm, and she didn't bother to stop him. Last night, her poor silk camisole had been used as a rope and was now a wrinkled mess. Dai Li rolled over, turning her back to the outside of the bed to face the wall.

A sudden bout of perfectionism took hold as she tried to smooth the creases out of the silk.

After a few strokes, it looked presentable enough, and Dai Li began to dress.

The thin ribbons had just looped around her neck, but before she could tie the knot herself, two large, dark-toned hands took over.

Dai Li paused for a moment, then allowed him to help.

Qin Shaozong stood by the couch, towering over her. Looking down from his height, he easily took in the stunning view before him.

Her skin was like congealed cream, her neck elegant and fair. Her ink-black hair flowed like a cloud over her snowy back, where intense red marks trailed down from her nape like clusters of blossoms—or perhaps like inescapable thorns entwining her.

The thin silken cords wound through his fingers. This was the first time Qin Shaozong had ever done such a thing for a lady.

It was a novel experience, and a pleasant one at that.

He tugged the ribbons, preparing to tie the knot, but the woman in front of him suddenly shifted. She placed a hand on the camisole, appearing as though she wanted to pull it down slightly, while looking back at him with dissatisfaction. "It's too tight."

Only when she turned did he see that it was indeed too tight.

The ends connected to the thin straps had been pulled up too high. However, rather than focusing on the garment, his gaze lingered on her.

The lush, snowy curves filled the silk camisole, dotted with red marks, vibrant and rich in color. She was naturally radiant and exquisite, with pitch-black eyes and watery red lips. At this moment, she looked like a peony soaked in water, possessing an indescribable languor. Even as she glared at him imperiously, she appeared charming and breathtakingly beautiful.

Qin Shaozong loosened the long fingers holding the cord. "Is this better?"

The camisole slid down a bit. Dai Li turned back to face away from him, letting him continue with the ribbons. "Tie it."

In a place where Qin Shaozong couldn't see, Dai Li twisted her fingers and began to ponder the future.

He seemed quite peaceful this morning, his expression no different from usual, as if her unauthorized trip south had been smoothed over.

But Dai Li knew everything was only "as if." By the end of last night, she couldn't even remember how many shameless things she had promised him. Knowing Qin Shaozong, he would certainly hold her to them. Furthermore, in certain respects, he likely wouldn't trust her again...

To be honest, Dai Li didn't know what to do now. She couldn't break free, and she couldn't run away.

With no other choice, she decided to wave the white flag for now and see what the future held. For the time being, she would just drift along.

After he had taken his time helping her into her undergarments, Dai Li went to look for her outer robes. Her clothes from yesterday had been torn, but a set of new garments now sat by the bed.

The midnight-blue silk shimmered in the sun-drenched room. When she lifted it by the collar, the smooth fabric unfurled like flowing water.

Dai Li let out a hum of confusion. "Where did these clothes come from?"

Small counties rarely had large-scale silk merchants; they might sell fabric, but not necessarily ready-made clothes—and these were clearly no ordinary garments.

"The magistrate of Nanyang came to visit me this morning, intending to gauge my intentions. I asked him for a few things," Qin Shaozong said, leaning against the bedpost and watching her dress.

Having his city gates forced open by cavalry in the middle of the night had terrified the local official. He had come to the guesthouse at the crack of dawn to beg for an audience. Upon learning that Qin Shaozong was merely "passing through" and leaving today, the magistrate, a man named Mi, became incredibly sycophantic, insisting that if there was anything he could do, Qin Shaozong shouldn't hesitate to ask.

Since the offer had been dropped in his lap, Qin Shaozong didn't stand on ceremony and took several items from Magistrate Mi.

"What did you ask for?" Dai Li asked casually.

"A carriage, two sets of clothes, and..." He paused here, and as expected, she turned her head, her gaze sweeping toward him from the corner of her eye.

"The medicine Madam wanted."

Dai Li froze, her eyes instantly lighting up. She turned to look at him directly, a bright smile gracing her face. "Ah, the Lord is truly as meticulous as a hair, so thoughtful and thorough in his actions."

She was smiling like a flower, but the corners of Qin Shaozong's mouth slowly sank. After everything that happened last night, the dark fire that had nearly been extinguished flared up again.

Even though he knew rationally that she was unwilling and had no intention of bearing another child, seeing her so happy about birth control still infuriated him.

She had been willing to have a child for someone else—and for a man she had quarreled with, no less.

What was so good about that man? How much property did he own? Did he have more power than Qin? Why was she willing to carry that man’s bloodline but refused even to consider him!

Seeing his expression darken, Dai Li knew exactly what Qin Shaozong was thinking. But she had made it clear long ago: this was a matter of principle and was not up for negotiation.

Once dressed, Dai Li left the room.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous about going out. Although the thunder had been loud last night and could mask many sounds, it hadn't been constant.

If a certain moment hadn't been covered and the sound had drifted outside or to the next room, it would be incredibly embarrassing...

The entire guesthouse had been booked out, and the owner had been living in fear since last night.

First, a troop of cavalry had arrived. Then, just as dawn broke, the County Magistrate himself showed up. That was the highest official in their region, someone who didn't appear easily, yet he had come to this small guesthouse today.

What shocked him even more was the magistrate’s attitude—he was extremely respectful, acting as if he were a mere servant.

In the owner's mind, the only person higher than a magistrate was a Governor. Could it be that a Governor from another province was staying in his shop?

He served them with fear and trepidation, secretly speculating. Finally, around mid-morning, there was movement upstairs.

The owner peeked up, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Governor's majestic bearing, only to have his entire attention captured by a silhouette in midnight blue.

The ladies from ancient scrolls and the legendary beauties of literature seemed to suddenly come to life in that moment. As she slowly descended the stairs, she glowed like a shimmering pearl or radiant jade; the hall seemed to brighten significantly.

The owner stared blankly, filled with confusion.

The people who checked in last night were clearly all men. When did such a lady enter his shop?

Could she be a fox spirit in disguise?

A sharp, cold gaze shot toward him—authoritative and deep. Though it held little emotion, it made the owner shiver, and he instinctively looked away, not daring to stare further.

Dai Li saw her son while she was still on the stairs.

The young man was sitting on the ground floor with Mo Yanyun and the others. Hearing footsteps, Qin Yanzhou looked up.

Despite the distance, Dai Li could see the worry in her son's eyes. She gave him a reassuring look, signaling that everything was fine.

Everyone else had already eaten breakfast except for Dai Li, who had woken up late. Shortly after she sat down, food was served. She was starving and began to eat.

Mo Yanyun secretly stole a glance at his superior.

It was strange. Clearly, the Lord had been in a good mood this morning, radiating the refreshed satisfaction of a man well-sated. How had his temperament taken such a sharp turn for the worse in such a short time?

Mo Yanyun’s gaze shifted stealthily to the side. Looking at Dai Li this time, he felt a sense of admiration that bordered on total worship.

When the news of Lady Dai’s betrayal first broke, the Lord had been livid, his fury bordering on the uncontrollable. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Mo Yanyun had feared for Lady Dai’s life; after all, she was the first person to ever successfully deceive the Lord time and again, and it was obvious he cared for her deeply.

And yet, here they were. Lady Dai was perfectly fine, and the young master had not been made a scapegoat. Not a single hair on the heads of mother or son was missing.

It seemed the Lord’s great storm of rage had been exactly like the heavy rain last night—it poured violently, but once it was over, it was gone.

The clouds had parted, and the sun was out.

Mo Yanyun hissed a breath through his teeth, thinking to himself that if he ever accidentally messed up in the future, it might not be a bad idea to ask Lady Dai to intercede for him.

If Dai Li could have heard Mo Yanyun’s inner thoughts, she would have refuted them on the spot.

What did he mean, "perfectly fine"? She was anything but!

It was just that the place where she had received her "punishment" wasn't something she could easily talk about with others.

After the meal was finished, the group left the relay station.

Dai Li saw a carriage parked at the entrance. The curtains were rolled up and the door was open, revealing the interior. It looked clean and tidy, furnished with a small desk and a padded chair.

She climbed inside and slowly lowered herself onto the chair.

Several layers of soft cloth had been spread over the seat, making it much softer than usual. Dai Li let out a slow, cautious sigh of relief.

It wasn't bad; in fact, it was better than she had expected.

But just as she relaxed, a familiar, imposing figure entered the carriage. This carriage only had a single row of seating; the desk in front was fixed against the front window, leaving no room for a second row.

Dai Li watched as Qin Shaozong came toward her.

He didn't speak, simply standing before her. Dai Li hesitated for a moment before finally scooting to the side to make room for him.

Qin Shaozong’s expression softened slightly. He reached back to close the carriage door and sat down beside her.

The carriage wasn't actually small. If nothing else were placed next to the seat, there would be more than enough room for two people to sit side-by-side. However, the carriage’s previous owner had been a man of meticulous tastes and had installed a small cabinet next to the seat.

With the cabinet taking up space, the seating was less spacious than usual.

Qin Shaozong stood over eight feet tall with a frame much broader than the average man. The moment he sat down, the chair became cramped, forcing Dai Li’s thigh to press firmly against his.

Once he was settled, the carriage began to move.

Dai Li turned her head to look out the window. The small town was bustling during the day; pedestrians came and went, and vendors cried out their wares. It was the picture of a perfectly ordinary, peaceful life.

Only a day ago, she had been planning how to live her future life, thinking about how to decorate her little house and what color kitten or puppy she should raise...

In less than a day, most of those choices were no longer hers to make.

Seeing Dai Li staring fixedly outside, Qin Shaozong let out a cold mental sneer.

This little fox still hasn't given up.

"My Lady."

Hearing his voice, Dai Li turned her head. She saw him holding his hand out, palm up. "The travel permit. Give it to me."

Her permit was kept in a small cloth pouch. He must have seen it when she changed her clothes earlier.

He wouldn't take it himself; he insisted on her handing it over personally.

Under his expressionless gaze, Dai Li pulled the pouch from her sleeve, slowly loosened the drawstring, and pulled out a small wooden tablet.

She placed the wooden tablet in Qin Shaozong’s hand.

He flipped it over to look at the front.

Name: Hua Wenxiu.

Qin Shaozong studied the tablet for a moment before suddenly asking, "Is that all?"

Dai Li’s breath hitched slightly.

The man’s long, well-defined fingers tapped the wooden tablet, then brushed over the "Name" column. His tone was so calm it was unnerving. "After My Lady fled Sweetwater County and arrived in Xiagu, you spent a period of time hiding alone. During that time, the Lotus Sect turned the world upside down looking for you. Wanted posters were plastered all over the city; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they searched every inch of Xiagu. Where was My Lady staying then?"

The fact that she could enter Xiagu successfully meant she must have had a permit on her.

That boy had been sent back by him later. Calculating the time, the boy had just arrived in Sweetwater County before being diverted, so it was unlikely she had met up with her son there.

It had to be Xiagu.

For her to hide while the whole city was being searched meant there was likely something wrong with that permit.

And don't even suggest that the Lotus Sect wouldn't realize she had forged one. As soon as she ran, they would have meticulously reviewed everything she had done recently. It wouldn't be hard to find a hidden permit.

But now, the permit in his hand showed no signs of tampering.

Dai Li had already reached a point of "giving up." When she pulled the permit from the pouch just now, she had grabbed one at random.

She had been careless, but she hadn't expected Qin Shaozong to be so observant.

This man’s mind was too sharp; he had pieced everything together from the smallest clue. Thinking about what he had done to her because of her lies and broken promises, Dai Li’s backside gave a phantom throb of pain. She didn't dare make up any more stories and reluctantly pulled another wooden tablet from the pouch.

Qin Shaozong took it and saw at a glance that there was something suspicious about the "Name" section.

Two of the characters in "Lotus Scholar" looked off. Upon closer inspection, it was clear they had been altered. The man gave a soft click of his tongue. "Dishonest again."

Dai Li remained silent, keeping her eyes fixed on her own lap.

*Crack.* The sound of splintering wood came from beside her.

Dai Li couldn't help but peek. She was startled to see those two sturdy wooden tablets crushed into splinters in his palm.

He reached his hand out the carriage window and opened his large palm. The fragments, large and small, were instantly swept away by the wind.

Qin Shaozong withdrew his hand. Looking at his empty palm, Dai Li sighed inwardly.

Not even the dust remained.

"Move over a bit," Dai Li grumbled, feeling uncomfortable. She intentionally tried to push him.

Qin Shaozong’s eyebrows arched slightly. He didn't speak immediately because he noticed something different in her tone.

Except for when they were in bed, she usually addressed him with formal titles, remaining polite and maintaining a clear distance. When she wanted to annoy him, she would even pointedly call him "My Lord," which was as irritating as could be. But now...

From this blunt, unceremonious sentence—completely devoid of formal titles—Qin Shaozong heard a hint of resignation.

His mood suddenly brightened. His previous displeasure and anger vanished instantly, and he yielded to her pressure, shifting slightly to the side.

Reaching out a long arm, Qin Shaozong pulled her into his embrace. "It’s all the fault of that local magistrate. He filled the carriage with useless, decorative junk, wasting all the space."

Dai Li was speechless. The man had taken someone else’s carriage and now he was complaining about it. "We’re lucky to have a carriage at all."

His hand moved down from her shoulder, brushing over her waist and following the smooth curve until it rested just above her hips. "My Lady, how effective was Ding Congjian’s medicine?"

Suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind. Ignoring everything else, Dai Li asked, "Qin Changgeng, you said before that you’d tell me something about Zhou Zhou and the Lotus Sect. What was it?"

Qin Shaozong leaned back against the padded chair. "A bit of hearsay. Whether it’s true or not remains to be seen."

"True or not, tell me first," Dai Li said urgently.

Whenever it concerned her son and the Lotus Sect, she was always desperate for information.

Qin Shaozong didn't keep her in suspense. "I’ve heard that the Lotus Sect makes certain important believers consume something called 'Divine Medicine.'"

Before she could even hear the rest, the mere words "divine medicine" made Dai Li straighten up abruptly. "What?!"

Qin Shaozong's hand moved up to soothe her back. "This medicine is said to have both benefits and drawbacks. Let's set aside the benefits for now. Some say its drawback is life-threatening; if one stops taking it abruptly, it will cause one's intestines to rot and belly to rupture."

No thunder from last night was as shocking and terrifying to Dai Li as Qin Shaozong's words at this moment.

He seemed to say something else afterward, something about the veracity of the rumors, but in this moment, Dai Li couldn't hear any of it.

The phrase "intestines rotting and belly rupturing" seized her entire mind and drained all color from her face.

"It can't be... I... I clearly asked Zhou Zhou. At the time, Zhou Zhou said one could leave..." Dai Li murmured.

She had asked her son, right there in that small courtyard.

Back then, she had been suspicious that a large sect like the Qinglian Sect might have methods to control people, and she asked him if one could leave the sect freely.

Her son had said, "One can leave."

Thinking back on it now, Zhou Zhou had only said one could leave; he hadn't answered her other questions.

He had evaded the issue, playing a game of words with her.

Dai Li felt both a heart-wrenching pain and a bewildered helplessness.

Ten years, a full ten years.

It seemed that the long stretch of time had filled the space between her and her son Zhou Zhou with an undue amount of estrangement.