My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 12: News of My Son?

Chapter 12: News of My Son?

Dai Li’s foot had only suffered a minor sprain, not serious at all. After resting in the mansion for two days, she could already walk again.

During these two days, Yun Rong came to keep her company every day, chatting about everything under the sun and doing her utmost to cheer Dai Li up. Her efforts were quite successful, especially since Yun Rong never came empty-handed—each visit brought better gifts than the last. In just two days, the two were already affectionately calling each other sisters.

Sister Yun, I’ve been in Nankang County for some time but haven’t left the mansion yet. Now that I can walk, why don’t we go out and explore the market? Though Dai Li phrased it as a question, she was already beckoning her maid to help her change clothes.

Yun Rong hesitated. Little sister, they say it takes a hundred days to recover from bone and tendon injuries. Perhaps it’s better to rest in the mansion.

If anything happened outside, she wouldn’t be able to explain it to Marquis Qin.

Dai Li brushed it off. It was just a minor sprain, not a broken foot. Besides, we’ll take a carriage and won’t need to walk much.

Yun Rong tried another approach. My husband is hosting a banquet this evening. The Lord will surely bring you along. If we return late…

It’s still early! Seeing Yun Rong’s continued reluctance, Dai Li said bluntly, If Sister Yun doesn’t want to accompany me, just say so. I can go explore the market alone.

With things put so plainly, Yun Rong couldn’t refuse further. She had no choice but to have the horses harnessed and accompany this demanding young mistress out.

Only then did Dai Li show a satisfied smile.

This smile was genuine. Over the past two days, her agents had secretly combed through Jiang Mansion without finding any trace of Zhou Zhou. It seemed her son truly wasn’t in the mansion.

If he wasn’t inside, then she needed to search outside.

The carriage wheels rumbled over the stone pavement heading toward the bustling market district. After leaving the mansion, the quiet gradually gave way to noise, with vibrant sounds of life penetrating through the hanging curtains.

Dai Li lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, allowing warm sunlight to stream in as she caught sight of the lively streets. Vendors crowded together, stalls bustling with abundant goods creating a dazzling array.

Dai Li’s brow relaxed further.

The dancer’s indifferent attitude toward the corpse had made her think they were accustomed to death. Combined with the salt smugglers running rampant, she had assumed the world had already descended into chaos.

But this bustling county town gave her some reassurance. Perhaps the times were indeed bad, perhaps the world was heading toward disorder, but everything happened gradually—especially since chaos couldn’t arrive overnight.

Taking the late Eastern Han Dynasty as an example, thirty-six years passed between the Yellow Turban Rebellion and Emperor Xian’s abdication. For those with short lifespans, that was an entire lifetime.

Dai Li desperately hoped this unrest was just beginning to sprout and hadn’t yet reached terrible proportions.

The first stop of their market excursion was a silk shop, a favorite destination for young ladies. As a local, Yun Rong naturally served as guide, having selected this Rui Xiang Silk Shop. The shop occupied a large area with spotless storefront, where three donkey carts and one carriage were parked outside. Neatly dressed attendants could be seen emerging with wrapped fabrics.

Clearly, this silk shop catered to high-end clientele.

The moment their carriage stopped, a clever young attendant from the shop rushed over like the wind, carrying a small stool. He placed it by the carriage door, and would have opened the door himself if not for the guards blocking him.

After all, this was a carriage—something few households in all of Nankang County could afford.

Upon recognizing Yun Rong stepping out of the carriage, the young shop assistant’s smile grew ingratiatingly sweet. No wonder I heard magpies singing on the branches today—it turns out you’ve graced us with your presence, my Lady. Please, come in.

Just then, Yun Rong turned and spoke warmly to a lady still inside the carriage. Soon, a second person descended, carrying with her a wave of delightful fragrance.

The shop assistant stood frozen, only snapping back to reality when the two had already entered the silk shop.

It was nearly the end of the Si hour, the busiest time of day. Inside, Dai Li saw young ladies shopping together for clothing, as well as many women wearing their hair in topknots.

With crowds came noise—some chatting idly, others discussing fabrics, and still others directing the shop assistants.

Dai Li faintly overheard someone say:

I’ve heard there are more refugees lately. That dilapidated temple outside the eastern suburbs has nearly become their battleground.

My son told me he passed by that temple yesterday while out enjoying the spring scenery. He saw about a dozen people inside—old and young alike. The elderly were nearly sixty, while the youngest were still in childhood, all dressed in rags.

The sudden increase in refugees must mean some natural disaster struck somewhere, and with disaster comes human suffering. Between heaven-sent calamities and man-made woes, who knows how many more will be left homeless.

Exactly. My son mentioned seeing a child of eight or nine there, fair-skinned and dressed a little better than the others, with short hair. Who knows if traffickers had cut it off?

It must have been child traffickers—they’re experts at altering appearances…

Dai Li didn’t catch the rest. Those key words swelled in her mind like sponges soaking up water, consuming her thoughts completely.

Eight or nine years old, fair-skinned, short hair…

Could it be Zhou Zhou?

Ah, sister, where are you going? Didn’t we agree to look at clothes? Yun Rong, seeing Dai Li suddenly turn to leave, instinctively reached out to stop her.

Dai Li’s arm was caught, and her drifting thoughts snapped back. She stood still for a moment, expressionlessly listening as the other woman called her name several times.

Sister, what’s wrong? Yun Rong felt a hint of unease.

Finally, Dai Li turned to her, the corners of her eyes slightly red. Sister Yun, I just overheard them saying there are refugees outside the city, and even children among them. They must be starving and poorly clothed—how pitiful! Why don’t we bring some food to the temple outside the city? Though she phrased it as a question, she was already pulling Yun Rong out of the silk shop.

Yun Rong was dumbfounded. Over the past two days, she had come to understand that this favored concubine of the Lord was both arrogant and excessively naive—as if heaven had poured all its favor into her appearance, leaving nothing for her mind.

But she never expected that, on top of being empty-headed, Dai Li would also overflow with sympathy.

In these times, natural and man-made disasters were hardly rare. There were plenty of pitiable souls; uttering a word or two of pity was kindness enough—who had the energy to help them all?

Dai Li had already dragged her into the carriage and ordered Yan San, who accompanied them, to buy some flatbread.

The carriage originally parked in front of Ruixiang Silk Shop now changed course, heading out of the city. Drawn by strong, well-fed horses, it moved swiftly, and before long, Dai Li caught sight of a temple.

The place truly lived up to the word dilapidated. The lacquer on the plaque had completely faded, the wood riddled with worm-eaten holes of varying depths. Broken walls and crumbling ruins, windows gaping with drafts—it was impossible to tell how many years it had lain abandoned.

There’s an old saying: One should not enter a temple alone, because in ancient times, these temples often harbored bandits evading government capture, indicating their dangerous nature.

However, Dai Li, accompanied by guards, didn’t care at all. As soon as the carriage stopped, she couldn’t wait to jump down.

The dilapidated temple was small but unusually filthy. Upon entering, a sour stench assaulted their noses. Several heads popped out upon hearing the noise, initially thinking it was their own comrades returning or some fool coming to challenge their territory. Instead, they saw a stunningly beautiful woman.

Some showed greed, but then noticed men with short knives at their waists following closely behind. Their gaze was sharp as blades, making people instinctively shrink back.

Armed, strong, and more than one.

They must be important figures!

Dai Li paid no mind to others’ thoughts and directly asked, Is there a short-haired nine-year-old boy here? Where is he now?

The refugees looked at each other in confusion.

Yun Rong recalled fragments of conversation overheard at the silk shop and couldn’t help but ponder.

Madam Dai had a nephew who was abducted. She was very close to her brother, so she’s been quite distressed. Please understand, Lord’s wife. Yan San hinted without elaborating.

Yun Rong suddenly understood.

With this explanation, she wasn’t surprised when Dai Li proceeded to search every corner of the temple.

Dai Li searched with hope, and indeed saw some children, including the fair-skinned, short-haired child mentioned by others.

But unfortunately, it wasn’t her little friend.

Watching the short-haired child devouring flatbread ravenously, Dai Li felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Everyone has their own fate. We’ve done our best. Some things can’t be forced, sister. Let’s go back. Yun Rong covered her nose with a scented handkerchief, not wanting to stay a moment longer in the stinky temple. Thinking Dai Li was being overly sympathetic and reluctant to leave, she gritted her teeth and said bluntly, Sister, we’ve already distributed all our supplies. Standing here now won’t help. It’s better to return to the estate and send someone with food later.

Dai Li seemed to have an idea suddenly. She lowered her head, a glint in her eyes, and replied, Then let’s do as you say.

Yun Rong, hearing this, immediately turned to leave.

Noticing no one was paying attention, Dai Li quickly untied the small bamboo token from her waist and slipped it into her sleeve, using her wide sleeve to cover the empty spot at her waist.

The two left the temple and returned to the carriage.

As the carriage reentered the bustling streets of Nankang County, Dai Li exclaimed softly, Where’s my Talisman?!

Yun Rong immediately looked at her waist and saw that the small wooden token usually hanging there was indeed gone. Her first thought was that someone in the temple had stolen it when they got close to Dai Li.

I told you that place was unclean! Yun Rong said angrily. Let’s turn back.

We can’t! Dai Li stopped her urgently. Meeting Yun Rong’s puzzled gaze, she explained quietly, Among the guards accompanying us today are the Lord’s men. If we turn back now, the Lord will surely find out I’ve lost the Token of our love.

Yun Rong: So what? With his affection for you, he can get you another one even if it’s lost.

Dai Li smiled awkwardly: True, but I’ve already lost it four times before by accident.

Yun Rong: …

Yun Rong was speechless. If she flaunted it every day, losing it was hardly surprising.

I was throwing a tantrum with him earlier, so how can I let him catch my weakness now? He must never find out about this. Dai Li grabbed her sleeve: Dear sister, could you do me a favor…

There was a banquet tonight, once again hosted for Qin Shaozong, but unlike before, today’s banquet included female guests since Dai Li could move about freely now.

When the two arrived at the main hall, Qin Shaozong and Jiang Chonghai were already there, drinking together at the head table.

A slender silhouette was cast into the hall by the setting sun, while a gentle breeze carried a whiff of elegant fragrance. The man at the head table relaxed his long brows, casually set down his wine cup, and stood up.

Qin Shaozong was tall enough that descending from the head table seemed to take only a few steps.

This was Dai Li’s first time acting in front of the Jiang couple. Just as she was pondering how far to take the act, a sturdy arm suddenly reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

The man held her by the waist, looking down at her with a smile at the corner of his lips. Has my wife returned from her outing? Didn’t cause any trouble outside, did you?

Dai Li’s heart skipped a beat.

Author’s Note:

Here I am Let me see

Does anyone know what Dai Li is trying to do? Shrugs