My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 25: A Lesson

Chapter 25: A Lesson

The Golden Crow sank westward once more, dimming the sunlight another degree.

Qin Shaozong stood outside the humble cottage, the warm orange sunset casting sidelong illumination across his sharply defined features. The high bridge of his nose served as a dividing line between light and shadow, making his brown eyes appear as dark as ink on one side while retaining their feline amber hue on the other.

Dai Li instinctively stepped backward, but after taking just one step, a powerful hand shot out and clamped firmly around her upper arm.

Still thinking of running? Qin Shaozong studied Dai Li’s face, noting how the black, gray, and yellow pigments created quite sophisticated layers that appeared almost natural at first glance.

Without close inspection, one could easily be deceived by her disguise.

The fire in his heart flared up again, blood rushing to his head until his very organs seemed to burn with pain.

Dai Li was too frightened to speak now, only shaking her head repeatedly. The iron-like arm restraining her pulled back, causing her to crash against his solid chest.

The man had always radiated intense body heat, but today it seemed even more pronounced. With one hand braced against his chest, Dai Li could feel the scorching warmth through his thin clothing, as if she were standing before a furnace.

Before Dai Li could formulate her words, he suddenly seized both her wrists, his large hand easily encircling them together. Then, producing a silk ribbon from somewhere, he wrapped it three times around her wrists, tying them securely.

Qin Shaozong, let me explain! Dai Li cried out in desperation.

Qin Shaozong let out a cold laugh without responding. After binding her hands, he scooped her up by the waist and strode purposefully toward the alley exit.

Mo Yanyun and the others quickly followed, each feeling their temples throb upon hearing that Qin Shaozong.

Good heavens, even after days apart, Madam Dai’s ability to provoke anger hadn’t diminished in the slightest. Calling the Lord by his full name—was she truly unafraid of making him angrier?

Lin Erniang’s home happened to be at the easternmost edge of the urban village, quite close to the alley entrance. With Qin Shaozong’s long strides and rapid pace, it seemed like merely the blink of an eye before he emerged from the alley carrying Dai Li.

A carriage had appeared at some unknown time, its rear door wide open. Hu Bao sat on the carriage shaft, and as soon as Qin Shaozong boarded, he flicked the reins, causing the horses to break into a trot from the sting.

Inside the carriage.

Qin Shaozong shoved Dai Li into the corner of the soft seat but didn’t retreat. Instead, he pressed closer, his knee driving between her legs while one hand braced against the closed window frame. Using both the carriage panel behind him and his own substantial physique, he effectively trapped her in the small corner.

Weren’t you going to explain? Then speak properly. Why all the lies before? What was your ultimate purpose? His brown eyes were heavy, nearly spitting fire.

Yet at this moment, Dai Li felt less fear than when she’d first seen him standing outside the door.

Because she realized he didn’t seem intent on killing her—at least not now. Otherwise, the blade at his waist would have already tasted blood when he saw her at the cottage entrance.

Since that was the case…

Dai Li’s eyelashes fluttered violently as she pressed her lips together in silence.

Qin Shaozong reached out and gripped her jaw, tilting it upward slightly. Speak! Silent when you should talk, full of lies when you shouldn’t—do you not want this mouth anymore?

There’s no explanation. I was deceiving you earlier. Dai Li’s voice was very low.

Qin Shaozong nearly thought he’d misheard. Having reached the peak of anger, he instead grew calmer. You were still planning to lie just now?

Dai Li’s gaze lightly, cautiously fell upon his face, touching briefly before withdrawing. She didn’t speak, but her eyes clearly carried a hint of you get upset when I tell the truth.

A vein throbbed on Qin Shaozong’s forehead.

Fine, she was certainly doing splendidly!

Just then, the carriage came to a halt.

Qin Shaozong withdrew his hand, his rough palm now coated in black and gray grime. Paying it no mind, he extracted the woman from the corner, clamped her against his chest, and carried her out of the carriage.

As her view shifted from confined to expansive, Dai Li realized with a start that the carriage had stopped before a Courier Station.

The Courier Station’s facade was clean, with an exquisite plaque hanging high above. Vines climbed beside the windows of the second-floor rooms, their intertwined surfaces blooming with delicate little flowers that added touches of brightness.

Based on Dai Li’s experience roaming the streets today, this place could rival the Bright Moon Residence in Nankang County. Currently, two sturdy soldiers stood at the Courier Station’s entrance. Looking inside from the doorway, the manager and servants were nowhere to be seen, as if the place had been cleared out.

But Dai Li had no attention to spare for any of this now.

Twilight had faded completely, the last traces of daylight devoured by darkness. The heavy night sky seemed ready to collapse overhead at any moment. Lanterns hung in the Courier Station’s main hall and corridors, their fiery glow stretching inward like a burning path. Night and lamplight blended together, merging into breathtaking shadows.

Dai Li twisted her bound hands restlessly, her heart filled with anxiety. Though her earlier small test had confirmed her life wasn’t in immediate danger, something else felt perilously precarious…

I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have deceived you earlier.

Bang.

Qin Shaozong pushed the door open with his foot.

The two sounds collided, the former muffled and barely audible.

Qin Shaozong glanced downward, his expressionless face radiating heavy pressure, still maintaining that storm-is-coming demeanor.

Dai Li had been watching him and quickly added: I was wrong, I shouldn’t have deceived you. You’re magnanimous and honorable, a truly great man. Could you please not hold it against someone as insignificant as me?

You certainly know when to bend and when to stand firm, Qin Shaozong mocked. He set her down on a soft chair by the low table and untied the bindings around her wrists. Wash your face clean.

Black, gray, yellow, and a patch of white revealed where he had smeared the makeup earlier – all mixed together on her palm-sized face, making for an eyesore.

Several ceramic basins were placed on the low table, with a silk cloth draped beside them, clearly prepared for this cleaning step.

Dai Li raised her hands, her wide sleeves slipping slightly to reveal the bandage wrapped around her left hand.

Qin Shaozong’s gaze fell upon it. He’d noticed the medicinal smell in the tea room earlier and had seen the bandage when capturing her, but considering previous deceptions, he suspected Lin-shi had likely been fooled again.

Dai Li unwrapped the bandage from her hand layer by layer, finally revealing her perfectly smooth, uninjured left hand.

The corner of Qin Shaozong’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Dai Li began washing her face. The water in the ceramic basin immediately turned murky as the silk cloth soaked. While she cleansed her face, Qin Shaozong sat opposite her, watching unblinkingly.

It had to be said, the scene held remarkable beauty.

The Black Paste was gradually wiped away, charcoal powder carried off by water, all cosmetics washed clean to reveal glowing fair skin and a vivid crimson cinnabar mole. The lamplight gently caressed her face, her slightly lowered brows and eyes concealing a landscape of radiant beauty, much like the interplay of light and shadow in an oil painting, exceptionally captivating.

Dai Li took her time washing her face, all the while acutely aware of the unwavering gaze fixed upon her from across the room.

It was intensely invasive, like flames coated in pine resin, or a gleaming blade reflecting cold light.

Though her expression remained neutral, her mind grew increasingly unsettled.

She realized that by now, there seemed to be no plausible excuse left to detain him, let alone devise an escape.

Only after using four basins of water, turning clear to murky, did Dai Li finally cleanse her face. Setting down the silk towel, she straightened her stiff spine and murmured, My Lord, there’s an old saying: ‘Do not contend with petty men, nor entangle yourself in trivial matters.’ You hold a high position where time is more precious than gold…

Produce the Talisman, Qin Shaozong cut her off coldly.

Dai Li paused, then obediently retrieved a small bamboo token from her sleeve and placed it on the table, pushing it toward him.

Qin Shaozong picked up the token, noting the characters Dai Li inscribed upon it—the very one she had deceitfully obtained from Yun Shi.

And it was the last one remaining.

Crack. The bamboo token snapped in the man’s hand, breaking into two, then into more fragments.

Dai Li’s eyelids twitched.

Qin Shaozong opened his palm, letting bamboo shards of varying sizes cascade onto the table. Now I will ask, and you will answer. If you speak even half a lie, after I conclude my affairs tonight, I guarantee you will be broken into as many pieces as this Talisman—not one fragment less.

Dai Li: …

Though skeptical, she maintained a respectful demeanor and promptly adopted a serious expression. Please ask, my Lord.

Qin Shaozong: Was anyone behind your actions?

This was an easy question. Dai Li shook her head immediately. No. If there were, why would I have no one to assist me now?

Qin Shaozong gave a noncommittal Hmm, showing neither surprise nor doubt. Qin Yi, Qin Huali—do these individuals exist?

Dai Li: …They do not.

Qin Shaozong continued, So from the start, you were never from Jiaozhou, nor did you wander north from the south. Your claims of five former husbands and the old residence in the western quarter were all fabrications, correct?

Dai Li lowered her eyes submissively. Yes.

Although he had anticipated that her lies might run deep, hearing her confess firsthand still made the fury in Qin Shaozong’s heart surge.

He would settle scores with her later—there would be ample time for that. Suppressing his anger, he asked, Where is your ancestral home?

Dai Li: Qiantang.

Qin Shaozong tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice.

This aligned with what the carriage driver had previously stated. Ancestral home in Qiantang, and she was headed there—it seemed she intended to return to her roots. He pressed on, Why did you appear in Jiang Mansion, and what were your intentions?

This time, Dai Li fell silent, her delicate brows furrowed in prolonged hesitation. So long that Qin Shaozong curled his knuckles and rapped the table sharply as a warning.

Speak.

Dai Li replied softly, her tone resigned, If I tell the truth, you will only find it utterly absurd and surely disbelieve me. Yet if I craft a lie to deceive you, you will hold me accountable. Neither choice is right—I am truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

Qin Shaozong: Simply speak the truth.

Dai Li pondered for a long while, carefully choosing her words before saying, Let me tell you a story. There was a place called Peach Blossom Garden, completely isolated from the world, where everyone could read, every household had surplus grain, and both the elderly and children lived in contentment. A woman lived there with her young son, but unexpectedly one day the child suddenly disappeared. As she searched while traveling, she accidentally fell into a river. When she woke up, she had arrived at a completely new place. The master of that place was surnamed Jiang.

Qin Shaozong watched the person before him intently, not missing the slightest change in her expression.

Dai Li knew he didn’t believe her – changing someone’s beliefs was extremely difficult. Just as it would be nearly impossible to make a devout Christian who firmly believes in ascending to heaven after death to abandon their faith with just a few words.

Similarly, it was equally impossible to make an atheist believe in an Ultimate Bliss paradise existing apart from the world, where someone could simply fall into a river and appear elsewhere.

The reason you knew I was in the side room earlier was because you heard the sound of water, right? My shoes were wet, which gave me away. Dai Li left her statement at that.

Whether he believed her or not, she had already told the truth.

In reality, this was the only way she could temporarily avoid being entangled with him. If she fabricated another story now, it would easily be exposed and would further anger this already furious tiger.

Unlike young women who had just come of age, she no longer felt shy about matters of intimacy, nor would she make life-or-death fuss over such things.

Now there were only two choices: to be bitten by the dog, or to be bitten by the dog and then have him help her find her son.

Since arriving here, she had never again had those bizarre dreams. Zhou Zhou must be here. She needed to survive, to survive and find Zhou Zhou!

Silence spread through the room, with neither speaking.

The candle flame flickered slightly from the night breeze slipping through the window, the boundary between light and dark swaying along with it. A small moth fluttered its wings and crashed into the flame. With a faint sizzle, only a speck of ash remained by the lamp.

Watching that falling ash, Dai Li’s heartbeat uncontrollably quickened.

She had said all there was to say. If he still didn’t believe her, thinking she had fabricated another lie to deceive him, and pressed her for the truth…

Dai Li suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Suddenly, the lamplight on the table swayed violently, and the shadow cast on the floor from the side rose and elongated like a mountain range.

Qin Shaozong had risen from his seat.

Regarding Dai Li’s earlier explanation, he offered no comment, leaving it unclear whether he believed her or not. The man walked around the table, his long arm scooping the woman from the soft chair into his embrace, carrying her toward the bed.

Dai Li’s hands rested on his shoulders, unconsciously wrinkling the fabric where she gripped.

She knew what he wanted to do.

When placed on the bed, Dai Li neither shrank back nor avoided his intensely aggressive gaze. At this point, she decided to negotiate with him. Lord, I need to find my son.

Fearing he wouldn’t take it seriously, as he leaned closer, Dai Li raised her hand against his chest, looking directly into his eyes as she repeated, You must help me find my son. You must find him!

The fire within Qin Shaozong burned fiercely – it hadn’t diminished since the day she escaped, and as the days of searching passed, what was originally simple anger had increasingly transformed into something else.

He watched her parting lips—they were truly exquisite, naturally crimson like the vibrant red of peony roots, with a full Cupid’s bow and a subtle upward curve at the corners. It was just that the words they spoke were never pleasant.

Qin Shaozong raised his hand, circling around Dai Li’s neck, his large palm covering her nape like a tiger seizing its prey. His fingers splayed out in a posture of absolute control, immobilizing the woman before him.

Dai Li was thoroughly startled by his action.

She had initially thought he wouldn’t kill her—could it be that those two slightly commanding phrases had provoked him?

Her breath hitched. The large hand on her nape was scorching and rough, like a red-hot iron clamp gripping her, making it impossible for Dai Li to turn her head or move. But she soon realized she had misjudged—this man currently had no intention of snapping her neck.

The man leaned in, the distance between them rapidly vanishing. The hand Dai Li had initially pressed against his chest now found its back pressed against herself.

Even with psychological preparation, when this moment arrived, Dai Li still felt goosebumps rise along her spine.

He was too fierce, his kiss too relentless—conquering and plundering as he pleased, as if bringing forth a blazing wildfire or dragging her into boiling depths.

The transition from gentle to intense was instantaneous. The rising heat engulfed her, the innermost nerve mercilessly teased until Dai Li trembled with a muffled sob. The hand pressed against him slowly curled, clutching his disheveled collar until the entire front was wrinkled.

Qin Shaozong had one arm encircling her waist while the other gripped her nape. As the kiss deepened, he released her waist and instead tugged open the tie at her waist, his dark hand slipping inside like a swimming fish.

Dai Li trembled more violently, but her tongue was trapped in a fierce, sucking struggle—she couldn’t even turn her head, let alone do anything else.

The gray-black sash loosened, her garments falling open to reveal glimpses of porcelain-white skin beneath.

Yet, right at this moment…

Knock! Knock! Someone was pounding on the door outside.

The force was heavy—clearly from a military general’s hand, and the knocker seemed quite urgent.

Qin Shaozong paused but ignored it.

Hearing no response from within, the person outside knocked again with greater force.

My Lord, scouts report Li Zan’s troops are approaching—over a thousand strong and hostile. We must retreat immediately. It was Mo Yanyun’s voice.

Qin Shaozong breathed heavily, the veins at his neck tensing and throbbing before subsiding, repeating several times.

Dai Li also heard the words from outside. She froze momentarily, never expecting such a sudden turn of events. Feeling Qin Shaozong’s clear release, she turned sideways and buried her face in the quilt.

Qin Shaozong panted roughly. He had intended to rise—by now, leaving Taiping County was as urgent as an arrow on the bowstring. But noticing Dai Li’s subtle movement, he halted and reached out to tug her back slightly.

Caught off guard, Dai Li inadvertently exposed half her face.

Thus, completely unobstructed, Qin Shaozong saw the upturned curve of her lips.

Here he was stifling flames of frustration, while she was secretly delighting in it.

It had been a long time since Qin Shaozong had felt such uncontrollable rage. Since the Qin family hailed him as clan leader, since he had beaten the Northern Territory jackals into docile pups, if not everything went exactly as wished, at least major affairs proceeded smoothly without suffering hidden losses.

Until now!

Dai Li was startled, thinking this was bad—things were about to go wrong. Lord, I didn’t…

Before she could finish speaking, she was flipped over, her waist gripped and lifted, until she was lying face-down across his lap.

Then smack!

Not heavy, but sharp and resonant.

Dai Li’s pupils contracted abruptly, the half-formed smile on her face freezing solid.

Shock, disbelief, shame, anger, regret—

A cascade of vivid emotions flashed across Dai Li’s face one after another.

Watching her rapidly shifting expressions, the stifling anger in Qin Shaozong’s chest inexplicably eased. Instead of moving his hand away, he spread his fingers and kneaded the soft, rounded flesh firmly. We’ll set off from Taiping County soon. Behave yourself on the road. Tuck away all that cunning mischief of yours, or when we return, I’ll make both sides bloom.

Creeak. The door opened, and the two inside emerged one after the other.

Mo Yanyun heaved a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness the Lord had come out—otherwise, he would have had to commit the grave offense of barging in.

Lord, everything is ready. We can depart at any time. Mo Yanyun’s gaze drifted around, glancing here and there, his mind buzzing with speculation.

Clearly, the Lord hadn’t gotten what he wanted, yet strangely, he seemed to be in a fairly good mood. In contrast, Madam Dai behind him wore a cold, displeased expression.

They had been in the room for less than half an hour, yet their moods seemed to have swapped.

What in the world had happened inside?

Whatever it was, Madam Dai’s skills were truly remarkable. That relentless, sky-scorching mountain fire of hers—she could extinguish it in an instant and emerge completely unscathed.

Keep up.

Two heavy words from ahead snapped Mo Yanyun out of his thoughts.

On Qin Shaozong’s first day in Taiping County, he had requested over thirty fine horses from Deng Tuo, the local Lord, forming a cavalry unit with one horse per soldier.

Now, for the retreat, Qin Shaozong decided to head south first. They exited through Taiping County’s southern gate, then turned westward, taking a detour back to Nankang County.

Dai Li had no idea what he was scheming. All she knew was that she was placed on a horse, and then Qin Shaozong mounted behind her.

The whip rose and fell, the steed neighed and reared, carrying them swiftly into the distance. Under the cover of night, the troop moved rapidly southward and soon passed through the southern city gate.

Not long after their departure, another large force entered the city from the east, marching urgently into Deng Tuo’s prefectural residence and hauling him out.

After intense questioning, when they learned that Qin Shaozong had taken many horses, Feng Liang, the leader, fumed, How could you give him horses?

Deng Tuo trembled, his white beard shaking, not daring to speak. Bitterly, he lamented his ill fortune. If Qin Shaozong asked for horses, how could he refuse? How dare he? He was merely a minor Lord awaiting retirement—how could he defy a powerful warlord?

Commander, they went south, a soldier reported.

Feng Liang frowned, puzzled. South? Why would they go south? Heading west would have been faster to return to Nankang County. Why would Qin Shaozong take the longer route?

Before he could figure it out, another soldier added, Commander, the city guards said they left less than half an hour ago.

Feng Liang’s eyes turned fierce. Never mind why—chase them! They came by boat. What good horses could a small place like Taiping County possibly have? They can’t have gone far.Dai Li had thought she would have to spend at least the entire night on horseback, but to her surprise, they had only been riding for two hours after leaving the city when Qin Shaozong reined in his horse.

Dismount.

At his command, all the soldiers swiftly swung down from their saddles.

The sturdy chest that had been pressed against Dai Li’s back was gone. Seated on the horse, she gripped the front arch of the saddle tightly with both hands, lowering her head as she pondered how to get down.

Though he had been the one to bring her up, after what had happened earlier in the room, she truly didn’t want to initiate conversation with him.

Qin Shaozong produced several silk ribbons from somewhere. Standing beside the horse, he first lifted the hem of Dai Li’s skirt, then tucked the ends of her trousers into her socks before deftly tying the tops of her socks securely with the ribbons.

After Dai Li’s legs were both wrapped with silk ribbons, he finally lifted her off the horse. What are you staring at with those big eyes? Raise your hands if you don’t want to be drained dry by mountain insects.

Author’s Note: The game is far from over just like this owl emoji]

BTW, following my last book, this one got reported again for supposedly misunderstanding modern women’s values eyeroll

Next update tomorrow at 11 PM. All updates temporarily scheduled for 11 PM now because I’ve run out of drafts wuwuwu

Still begging for nutrient solutions let me see