Chapter 93

Qin Shaozong paused slightly, but the hand around Dai Li's waist did not loosen. He simply swallowed the words that had reached his throat and changed to another sentence, "Has Madam eaten?"

"I've eaten."

Dai Li got straight to the point. "This afternoon, Zhou Zhou and I went to see Mr. Ding for a consultation. Mr. Ding said he couldn't figure it out and suggested Zhou Zhou go find his grandfather. Qin Changgeng, I want to take our son to Yuyang Commandery first."

She did not ask him when he would return, but directly stated that she wanted to go ahead first.

Qin Shaozong replied, "In a few days, I will return to Yuyang together with Madam."

Dai Li frowned anxiously. Her son said the affliction would act up every ten days, and she did not want to wait a moment longer. "How many days is a few days? How about this, we split up. Zhou Zhou and I will go first, and you can return after you finish your business."

After she finished speaking, Dai Li belatedly realized that her son had followed her out of the room. She suddenly felt the large hand on her waist become exceptionally hot.

She quietly tried to push his hand away, but failed. That dark hand was like cast iron, firmly clamped on her waist.

Qin Yanzhou looked away. "Mother, I'm going back to my room first. Good night."

"...Good night, Zhou Zhou," Dai Li said, feeling very awkward.

Qin Yanzhou turned and went into his own room. Only after he entered the room did Qin Shaozong take Dai Li back to their room.

There were no lamps lit in the room; only a few fading embers of the dusk lingered by the window.

Qin Shaozong turned around, trapping her between himself and the door. He lowered his head and kissed the small red mole on Dai Li's forehead. "Wait two more days. In two days, Madam will depart with me to return to Yuyang."

He had just been drinking in the main hall, and now his breath was full of the smell of alcohol as he spoke. Dai Li wrinkled her nose and turned her head away. "Two days is a bit long."

Qin Shaozong could never stand her showing distaste for him. He immediately pinched her chin with two fingers and turned her back. "It's not long. When the time comes, Madam and I will travel day and night, with the infantry following behind. We can make up for the time."

Dai Li still frowned. "I still want to..."

The rest of her words were swallowed by him before she could finish.

The taste of alcohol exploded in her mouth, surging fiercely like a tsunami. Dai Li's pupils trembled slightly. The other party came menacingly, as if he hadn't eaten enough at the banquet, and was now opening his appetite to gorge himself.

The soft red was hooked, and the greedy tiger found the hidden delicacy, smacking his lips loudly as he ate, as if to extract all the flavor from the very marrow.

Unlike any partner Dai Li had ever dated before, Qin Shaozong would not close his eyes at times like this.

He always looked at her without blinking. Not only did his arms have to encircle her, but his gaze also locked onto her tightly, guarding his meat like a tiger or wolf, allowing no one else to snatch it, nor allowing her to be distracted.

The room was unlit, and the man's light brown eyes were pitch black at this moment, like a bottomless dark pool.

Even though she hadn't been drinking, Dai Li was forcefully intoxicated by his aura. By the time she came to her senses, she was already on the bed, her outer garment lying not far away by the edge of the bed.

Click.

The soft clinking of beads was exceptionally clear in the night.

Dai Li only felt a cold sensation on her wrist, as if something was wrapped around it. She raised her hand. The surrounding light was not very bright, and she could only faintly see a touch of unusually vibrant blue-green.

"What is this?" Dai Li moved her wrist.

Qin Shaozong mumbled with soft flesh in his mouth, "Nangong came to the manor to dine. After taking a bite of the meat stir-fried in the iron wok, he was greatly amazed and couldn't stop thinking about it, attempting to ask for the recipe. I told him this was Madam's masterpiece, and if he wanted to know, he should bring some treasures for you to look over. Upon hearing this, that fellow couldn't wait a single moment and had people return to his manor, directly bringing over several large chests of jewelry. Madam, take a look, do they catch your eye?"

Dai Li turned her hand.

The object was not heavy, seemingly some kind of beaded bracelet.

After saying that, Qin Shaozong snorted lightly, showing a bit of disdain. "There are not many treasures in Qingzhou and Yanzhou. Wait until Madam returns to Yuyang with me, I will let Madam see other treasures. For now, we'll just make do with these."

Though his mouth spoke of disdaining the other's gifts, his movements did not stop. He produced a long necklace from who knows where and continued to drape it over Dai Li.

The lack of oxygen in her brain, coupled with the intoxicating smell of alcohol, made Dai Li's thoughts two beats slower than usual. She didn't even resist when he lifted her hands and waist.

It took a good while for Dai Li to realize that she had become a Christmas tree.

The cold bead chain slipped through her open undergarment, feeling icy and smooth. Dai Li reached out and touched it. She couldn't see, but the texture was nice. Considering this man picked it out from several chests of jewelry, it was likely no ordinary item.

It was true that she liked collecting jewelry, but who wants to wear a body full of accessories in bed!

"No, these will poke me if I roll over." Dai Li tried to take them off.

Qin Shaozong grabbed her wrist, stopping Dai Li's movements. "Just look at them first, take them off after you're done looking. Back in Nanyang County, what did Madam promise me?"

As if reminding her not to forget, his other hand patted her perky and plump side.

Dai Li was speechless.

She had discovered that this man had some particular quirks in bed.

He was suddenly in high spirits, acting on a whim, wholly focused on dressing Dai Li up.

Not only on her neck and hands, but Qin Shaozong also took two gold bracelets and slipped them on her, pulling a necklace down to use as a waist chain. He also hung thin gold chains in other places.

After roughly finishing the decorations, Qin Shaozong stood up, scooped Dai Li up with one arm, letting her sit on his left arm, and carried her off the bed just like that.

Her feet couldn't touch the ground at all, she couldn't get down, and she had nothing to lean back on. Afraid of falling, Dai Li had to hook one arm around his neck.

Qin Shaozong carried her around the room, picked up two items, and then went to the vanity mirror.

"Madam, light the lamp."

Something was stuffed into Dai Li's hand. She felt it out to be a piece of flint and a small iron block.

In this era, let alone lighters, even the initial version of lighters, fire sticks, hadn't appeared yet.

When people wanted to start a fire, they generally used the method of obtaining fire with golden flint and stone flint. The former utilized sunlight, while the latter used flint, a type of phosphorus-containing siliceous stone, striking it against iron tools to manually create fire.

There was a soft chair in front of the vanity mirror. Qin Shaozong sat down, and then let Dai Li sit on his lap.

A lamp stand stood quietly in front of them. Dai Li held the things in her hand. She had never used this contraption before, and combined with her lack of enthusiasm, her attempts to strike a fire were sporadic. It took a long while before she managed two clicks.

Qin Shaozong patted her. "Don't dawdle. The sooner you finish looking, the sooner we go back to rest."

Speaking of this, Dai Li found her motivation. She tilted her head slightly, dodging the heated kisses on her earlobe. "Give it a rest for a moment."

"You do your thing, I'll do mine, we won't interfere with each other," Qin Shaozong said, taking that round, snow-white earlobe into his mouth.

Dai Li shuddered, and then felt a rough sensation slither under the hem of her clothes like a snake. It measured inch by inch, growing upwards like a vine, and then turned into spreading fallen leaves to support her.

Focusing her attention, Dai Li struck the stone two more times, finally seeing sparks fly out.

But having motivation is one thing, whether she can use it is another. Not knowing if her method was wrong, Dai Li struck it a few times, but not a single imperceptible spark landed on the wick.

"Qin Changgeng, did you give me a fake flint?" Dai Li let go and quit.

"Nonsense, let me teach you, Madam." Qin Shaozong withdrew his hand from her clothes, instead wrapping her two hands separately, teaching her hand in hand how to use the flint.

"Click," the force was much greater than Dai Li's previous strikes. With just that one strike, the wick was lit.

"See, it's done. What's so hard about it?" Qin Shaozong smiled.

Dai Li pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, thinking to herself that a fire stick was still easier to use, only needing a blow to work.

Thinking of the fire stick, her thoughts couldn't help but drift further away. It was now autumn, and the weather was getting colder day by day.

Yuyang Commandery was in the north, where winters were even colder. Using a flint to start a fire would definitely hurt her fingers, and it would be inconvenient for eating hotpot or roasting meat. It would be better to make a batch of fire sticks. Then she, Zhou Zhou, Nianxia, and Bipo could sit around the stove and eat hotpot.

The hotpot was already floating in front of her eyes when a sudden chill on her chest pulled Dai Li back to reality.

Her bodice was loose, and after the long amber necklace wrapped twice around her neck, the largest rabbit-shaped amber in the middle was hidden in the high snow-white.

The bean lamp flickered, and the bronze mirror in front reflected a bright light, with gold and silver intertwining to outline a luxurious and elegant beauty.

The knot of the bodice was close at hand. Qin Shaozong leaned closer, biting the knot with his sharp canine teeth, and then tilted his head to the side.

The smooth silk slipped down.

Under the bean lamp and in the bronze mirror, other more vivid and bright colors were added to the snow-white scroll. Dai Li raised her hand to pick up the fallen bodice, her fingertips barely touching the apricot-colored undergarment, when suddenly she was lifted up by him.

Originally sitting sideways, she was now sitting straight, facing the bronze mirror and leaning against his back.

As she slowly sat down, Dai Li's breathing slightly paused, her waist tense, completely unable to care about picking up the fallen bodice.

Qin Shaozong's breathing sank heavily with her tightening, and he opportunely reached out to rub the small of her back.

The pool water was rippled by a not-so-gentle wind, pushing away layer by layer, revealing the murmuring flowing water.

The mirror reflected a beauty like a flower demon, with snow-white flower branches wrapped in gold and silver ribbons, jade, various agates, amber, and turquoise adorning the delicate branches everywhere.

"Does Madam like it?" He personally decorated it one by one, measuring it carefully again, unable to put it down.

"Don't wear it here, Qin Shaozong, you pervert." Dai Li's face was flushed, and she was not honest in doing things. She raised her hand to take it off, but her wrist was caught by him again.

"Earlier, Madam said this was a compliment. It seems you really like it," he laughed in a low voice.

Occasionally, strong winds and huge waves would crash over, causing the flower branches to tremble, and even the rabbit-shaped amber deep in the canyon was turned out.

"These things from Qingzhou are still a bit inferior." After he had enough of his addiction, he took them off for her one by one, picking them up with his mouth, and then hugged her back to the bed to continue the second half.

Only a faint light remained in the lamp in front of the mirror box, looking as if it would go out in the next breath. The dim light fell on the bodice left behind by its owner.

The warm-colored undergarment glowing with a faint light lay quietly on the soft chair. The bodice was a bit wrinkled, but it was not difficult to see the beautiful peony embroidered in the middle.

And in the center of the peony's heart, a different dark color bloomed, as if accidentally wet by a water stain.

The candlelight suddenly went out, but the movement in the room had not yet stopped.

*

Qin Shaozong said they would wait two more days before setting off back to Yuyang, and he meant two days.

Two days later, he left Kuang Ye in Bairi City to wrap things up, and amid Nangong Xiong's cursing, he led a group of people and Dai Li to set off first.

Bairi City was in Yanzhou, and Yuyang was in Youzhou. To go from Yanzhou to Youzhou, they had to cross Jizhou, which covered a considerable area.

Jizhou had already been swallowed by Qin Shaozong in his early years, and now passing through this area was like returning to his own home, with unimpeded progress all the way.

Normally, Qin Shaozong would stay in various commanderies of Jizhou for a few more days to check on the work of each commandery in the state, but now it was purely rushing.

They marched almost entirely during the day, and at night, if they encountered a commandery or county, they would settle down in the city; if not, they would continue their journey.

On the way back, a not-so-small incident occurred.

The matter began when they came to a place called Dahong County. Dahong County was not large, and there were only a few inns in the county, which could be counted on one hand.

Qin Shaozong went directly to the most expensive one, waved his hand, and booked the entire inn.

After having dinner downstairs, Dai Li went upstairs to rest. On the way back to Yuyang Commandery, she slept in the same room with Qin Shaozong. When she came up, Qin Shaozong was still downstairs.

Nianxia and Bipo stayed in the next room. After Dai Li washed up, there was no place where they needed to serve, so she let them go back to their room to rest.

Although there were fewer mosquitoes and insects in autumn than in summer, in the current weather, which was not as hot and stuffy as summer, Dai Li still smoothly put down the plain curtain.

As a result, as soon as the plain curtain hanging on the wooden hook dispersed, a piece of silk cloth gracefully fell down.

It was a very plain-colored silk cloth, looking very clean, so clean that no one would feel that picking it up would dirty their hands.

Dai Li bent down to pick it up, and when the distance narrowed, she found that there were words on this silk cloth.

It read: The medicine of Yanzhou can only be cured by me.

Dai Li's pupils suddenly shrank. At that moment, her heart seemed to be caught off guard by a hidden poisonous snake, and the seemingly corrosive venom stung her heart.

She stood there in a daze, staring closely at the silk cloth.

Where did the silk cloth come from, and how could it be placed in her room so coincidentally?

Yes, the believers of the Green Lotus Sect were spread across all states, and it was not surprising that they had people in the commanderies and counties of Jizhou. There were people from the Green Lotus Sect in this inn, and they accurately calculated the room she would stay in.

No, those were not the main points.

The main point was, could the poison on Zhou Zhou really only be cured by the Green Lotus Sect?

Dai Li only felt a rolling pin stirring vigorously in her brain, shaking her eardrums and making her dizzy. Unable to stand, her legs gave way and she fell to the ground.

Qin Shaozong ended his conversation with Mo Yanyun within a quarter of an hour after Dai Li went upstairs. "It's getting late, let's go back to our rooms and rest."

He turned and went upstairs, walking all the way to the best room in the inn, pushing the door open and entering.

The door wasn't locked, and the light wasn't out.

The room was divided into an inner and an outer room. Qin Shaozong had just called out to his wife when he turned his head and saw Dai Li sitting on the floor beside the bed in the inner room.

The man's gaze sharpened, and he stepped forward in three strides, scooping her up. "Why are you sitting on the floor? Did you hurt your foot again?"

"No, no..." Dai Li was like waking up from a nightmare, clutching the silk cloth tightly, so hard that her knuckles turned white.

Qin Shaozong instantly noticed the thing in her hand. He wrapped Dai Li's cold hand in his palm, and then skillfully took the plain-colored silk cloth.

The eight characters on the cloth were written in cinnabar, bright and eye-catching. This color would normally be festive, but at this moment, it carried an ominous sign.

A chilling ruthlessness flashed through his brown eyes. The man clenched his large hand, instantly crushing the silk cloth into a ball. "Although these scare tactics are clumsy, they are highly effective. My lady, do not fall for their treacherous scheme. In four days, we will arrive in Yuyang. When the time comes, I will accompany you to pay a visit to the Ding family."