My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 17 She’s Lying?!

Chapter 17 She’s Lying?!

On the way, Dai Li told Yun Rong she needed to relieve herself. Yun Rong’s mind was still buzzing, and at first, she didn’t respond. It wasn’t until Dai Li stood up that she hurriedly instructed Taoxiang to follow and attend to her.

Dai Li paused but didn’t object.

The two of them went to the outhouse in the backyard.

Shortly after the wooden door closed, Dai Li said to Taoxiang outside, I need to change into a new menstrual belt. Go fetch one from the carriage for me.

Madam, I have it with me. Instead of leaving, Taoxiang pulled a small cloth pouch from her sleeve. She had stood out among the maids precisely because of her attentiveness.

Considering Madam Dai’s extreme strictness in certain matters—such as never reusing menstrual belts made of expensive silk, instead burning each one after use—Taoxiang dared not be careless. When traveling, she carried Dai Li’s menstrual belts in a small pouch, ready for use at any time.

Behind the door, Dai Li furrowed her delicate brows. After a brief pause, she opened the door and took the menstrual belt from Taoxiang. Once the door was closed again, she lowered her gaze for a moment, then suddenly let go.

The menstrual belt fell to the ground.

Taoxiang, I didn’t hold it steady just now. The menstrual belt dropped. Dai Li’s voice was filled with irritation.

A menstrual belt, designed to be wrapped around the waist, had numerous straps and was quite thick when folded—unlike modern sanitary pads, which are thin and flat. Thus, Taoxiang’s pouch contained only one. Now, staring at the empty pouch, she was dumbfounded.

Is there another menstrual belt in the carriage? If so, go back and fetch it, Dai Li said.

The traveling carriage had two small chests for storing clothes or small items, prepared for emergencies. Taoxiang quickly replied, There is another menstrual belt in the carriage, Madam. Please wait a moment. I’ll go fetch it for you right away.

Dai Li agreed, waiting quietly inside until Taoxiang’s footsteps faded into the distance. Then, she swiftly opened the door.

Madam, what are your orders? The young servant who was called over asked respectfully.

Dai Li said, Help me pass a message to your manager…

The Hour of the Goat was drawing to a close, and time slowly moved into the Hour of the Monkey. The red sun in the sky had softened considerably, its brilliant rays dyeing the heavens like a masterpiece oil painting. Inside the Bright Moon Residence, a young servant walking through the backyard couldn’t help but look up at the stunning sunset, while no one noticed the two people whispering near the outhouse.

Dai Li slipped a handful of Wu Zhu coins into his hand. Handle this neatly. This is your reward.

The servant grew even more respectful and compliant.

Dai Li then turned and returned to the outhouse. Almost as soon as she closed the wooden door behind her, Taoxiang hurried back with the new menstrual belt.

Once the matter was settled, mistress and maid returned to the dining hall.

As Dai Li entered, she sensed a gaze from the side. Turning her head, she saw it was indeed the manager of the Bright Moon Residence. She gave him a slight nod, and he promptly responded with a polite smile.

Though puzzled, the manager recalled the young servant’s emphasis on personal discretion and understood to keep silent.

The nobility and wealthy merchants always placed great importance on privacy. For this lady to act this way while accompanied by a friend clearly indicated she didn’t want it known. The Bright Moon Residence’s principle was always to act more and ask less. For esteemed guests, it was best to follow instructions without being overly clever, adding unnecessary complications.

Dai Li resumed her seat beside Yun Rong. When they had nearly finished their meal, she suggested, Let’s go, Sister Yun. We can visit the Western Market to see the Western Region’s Civet Cats.

Yun Rong’s lips trembled, and a wave of dizziness washed over her.

If one was already exhausted to begin with, it would be very difficult to rise once seated—and that was precisely the state she found herself in now.

The air remained silent for several breaths.

This self-willed favorite consort of the Lord, who had been acting willfully all along, seemed to finally have a pang of conscience. Sister Yun, are you tired?

Yun Rong inexplicably felt her eyes welling up with tears. How rare—this block of wood had finally learned to be considerate. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly said, I am indeed quite weary. How about we head back to the mansion?

I’m not tired and can continue strolling through the market. But since Sister Yun is tired, let’s rest here for a while. I’ll go to the West Market on my own for about half an hour and then come back to meet you, Dai Li declared matter-of-factly.

Yun Rong stiffened slightly. Little sister, that doesn’t seem appropriate.

Sister Yun, aren’t you tired? If so, what’s inappropriate about it? I’ll only be gone for half an hour, not one or two hours. Besides, with maids and guards accompanying me, what could possibly go wrong? Dai Li rose from her seat.

The scales in Yun Rong’s heart gradually tipped.

But Dai Li gave her no time to hesitate further. It’s settled then. You rest at Bright Moon Residence, and I’ll go to the West Market. I’ll come back to find you later. Sister Yun, rest assured—given our relationship, if the Lord asks tonight how my outing went, I’ll definitely tell him you were a wonderful host and I had a marvelous time.

Watching Dai Li’s retreating figure, Yun Rong opened her mouth but ultimately remained silent.

Jiang Mansion, guest courtyard.

Upon receiving the secret report, Mo Yanyun said excitedly, Lord, last night, that man surnamed Jiang sent someone to Ying County to deliver a message. It seems he is deeply convinced.

Once Li Zan confirmed they were taking the intended route, he would surely take action. For this expedition, they had brought the Dark Valiant Cavalry—an elite force renowned for its invincibility in battle. In a conventional confrontation, they would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

But an ambush was different.

If they laid an ambush in a strategic pass, flanked the enemy from both sides, and sent a small force to break their formation, they could easily swallow up the majority of their troops.

He may not be entirely convinced, Qin Shaozong said, looking at the sheepskin map spread on the table. Jiang Chonghai has always been suspicious. This move alone is not enough.

He tapped a spot on the sheepskin map—the location of his encampment outside the city. His long finger slid a short distance due east before returning to the original point, then moved southeast. Since I already announced at the banquet that we would take the central and lower routes, let’s make a grand display of it. Send troops advancing fifty li along these two routes, then choose a spot near water but not bordering it to set up camp and cook, pretending to be the vanguard.

Qin Shaozong’s gaze shifted to the upper route, a faint smile flickering in his brown eyes. Additionally, dispatch a small detachment to quietly scout the upper route. With Madam’s unintentional disclosure earlier, Jiang Chonghai will surely plant spies along the upper route to observe covertly. Seeing is believing. Only when he confirms that the central and lower routes are decoys will he be about eighty percent convinced.

When dealing with such a suspicious person, the best approach was to let him believe he had control over the entire situation.

They were indeed taking the upper route, but not to play the cicada—they were going to be the oriole that devours the mantis.

Knock, knock.* A sound came from outside the door.

Qin Shaozong glanced at Yan San, who, understanding the order, went to open the door. It was unclear what was reported to him outside, but after a long while, he returned with a somewhat grave expression.

Mo Yanyun, noticing the situation, asked curiously, What happened? Did that man surnamed Jiang suddenly change his plans, or is there some emergency in Ying County?

Yan San: Neither. It’s about Madam Dai.

Just as Mo Yanyun was about to say there was no reason to look so troubled, Yan San continued, My Lord, the guards just reported that they searched within five li radius from a point ten li due west of Nankang County, but found no residences matching Madam Dai’s former dwelling.

Qin Shaozong, who had been studying the sheepskin map, abruptly looked up.

Meanwhile.

After leaving Bright Moon Residence, Dai Li headed toward the West Market.

During her market exploration yesterday, she had already gathered detailed information about Nankang County’s various markets.

The East Market mainly featured teahouses, food stalls, and courier stations. The North Market housed numerous cloth shops, jewelry stores, bookstores, and pawnshops. The South Market, located relatively distant from other commercial areas, had become a quiet district for the nobility and wealthy.

The West Market sold all kinds of food ingredients – rice, flour, grains, oils, various seasonings, and assorted vegetables. Occasionally, hunters would sell wild rabbits, boars, and snakes caught in the outskirts here. Additionally, foreign merchants from the Western Regions sometimes sold live animals like civet cats along with spices in the West Market.

When Dai Li’s carriage arrived at the West Market, she slowed her pace upon alighting.

It was currently the beginning of the Shen hour. In another two hours, the sun would set. The best vegetables and meats had already been sold out in the morning, making the West Market noticeably less bustling than it had been earlier in the day.

The West Market’s stalls were arranged systematically – grains and oils in one section, butcher shops occupying a separate corner, fruit and vegetable stalls grouped together elsewhere, and additionally—

A row of elevated areas built with bricks into 口-shaped structures.

This area was noticeably more waterlogged than other parts, with occasional glimmers on the ground like scattered stars embedded in the surface.

Compared to other sections, there were fewer vendors here. Along the entire row of stalls, only three or four merchants remained, and they were mostly packing up.

As she approached, Dai Li detected a strong fishy odor.

Madam, this place sells aquatic products and is quite dirty and smelly. Perhaps we should go elsewhere, Taoxiang whispered.

Dai Li spoke reminiscently, My hometown is in the southern water country, where the fish markets were incredibly prosperous with countless varieties of aquatic products. Since coming north, I’ve been searching for fragments of my hometown, but some things cannot be obtained even with mountains of gold and silver.A fishmonger who was packing up paused his movements, keenly sensing the smell of money, ‘Madam, what kind of aquatic products are you looking for? Fish, turtles, shrimp, crabs, or various shellfish and algae? Oh, if you want some seafood or sea cucumber, that can be arranged too, though the price would be much higher.

The seafood and sea cucumber the fishmonger referred to were what people called sea delicacies and sea cucumber.

Dai Li’s eyes brightened slightly, You can really get them? I should mention beforehand that I only enjoy fresh, live aquatic products, not dead fish or spoiled shrimp.

The fishmonger flashed a bright smile, Rest assured, Madam. Although the Hutuo River’s currents are swifter than ordinary rivers, making upstream travel more time-consuming and laborious than on common waterways, if you’re truly interested in purchasing seafood and sea cucumber, I can have my men distribute the cargo among boats. Light boats traveling upstream will be much faster, ensuring freshness and liveliness.

Dai Li’s heart raced uncontrollably.

The Hutuo River!

This great river flowing from west to east, passing through Shanxi and Hebei, actually ran near Nankang County.

The character 沱 in Hutuo River means torrential, indicating its swift currents and turbulent waves. Traveling downstream by boat is the most efficient method; vessels sailing with the current can easily cover a hundred miles in a day, which is precisely why the phrase a thousand miles to Jiangling returned in a single day exists.

The Hutuo River flows eastward. By boarding a boat heading east with the current, she could quickly put distance between herself and Nankang County, then disembark midway and change course southward to Hangzhou.

Author’s Note:

Dai Li is currently surrounded by a crowd of personal attendants, making it difficult for her to slip away unnoticed. Moreover, she is aiming for a single, successful attempt, so the earlier details are written meticulously to avoid abruptness heart.

But it won’t be long now—there aren’t many preparations left zipped mouth.