My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 27: The Sound of Madam’s Abacus Echoes in My Ears...

Chapter 27: The Sound of Madam’s Abacus Echoes in My Ears…

Qin Shaozong, having changed his attire, walked downhill, occasionally stopping people along the way to ask for directions.

Where is Commander Feng? I have urgent military intelligence to report to him, Qin Shaozong said.

The night was dark and windy, with overgrown branches and leaves forming dense shadows that fell indiscriminately on the faces and bodies of passersby, making them appear even darker.

Nine out of ten people questioned by Qin Shaozong answered him truthfully, while the remaining one or two were too preoccupied to pay him any attention.

Suspicion?

None existed.

Although it was difficult to discern features in the darkness, the faintly visible Dome-shaped Red Cap on the person’s head was enough to identify him as an ally.

If that wasn’t reassuring enough, one could take a closer look at the Military Uniform he wore—clearly identical to their own. What was there to doubt?

Commander Feng is over there, those who knew the truth directed their comrade from the front lines.

Qin Shaozong: My thanks.

Screams echoed through the mountains, each one fueling Feng Liang’s rage, twisting his face and grinding his teeth.

Despite their numbers, the obstructed nighttime vision in the mountains and the enemy’s slippery, eel-like movements—disappearing into dense thickets—made capturing Qin Shaozong infuriatingly difficult.

He was right there, yet just out of reach—how could Feng Liang not be enraged!

Just as Feng Liang was considering whether to adjust his tactics, a voice suddenly called out from nearby: Commander Feng, Qin Shaozong was severely wounded by our squad. He fled northeast and seems to have hidden in a small cave over there.

From Qin Shaozong’s perspective, after he shouted these words, one particularly agitated figure among the crowd pushed past those around him to look in his direction.

Who spoke just now? Step forward immediately, Feng Liang urged anxiously.

Qin Shaozong stared unblinkingly at the figure, a faint smile curling his thin lips.

So, you are Commander Feng!

A path opened before him, and Qin Shaozong strode forward, empty-handed, his ring-pommel knife hanging securely at his waist.

Was it you who spoke just now? Feng Liang was so eager that he took two steps forward to meet him. You said Qin Shaozong was severely wounded by your squad and hid in a cave to the northeast. Is this true?

Qin Shaozong: Of course. That man, relying on his innate strength, thought he was invincible. He grew overconfident, charged recklessly, and entered our camp alone. While our brothers worked together to restrain him, one of us ambushed him from behind and stabbed him in the back.

In the chilly spring night, a gust of wind swept through, parting the thick clouds overhead. The moon finally emerged, casting a faint, silvery light that brightened the mountains slightly.

Qin Shaozong happened to be standing in an open area, unobstructed by dense foliage. The moonlight fell directly on his profile, accentuating his stern features—a strong nose, deep-set eyes, and long brows, giving him a commanding presence.

Feng Liang had now approached within three steps of Qin Shaozong. As he looked at the man wearing the Dome-shaped Red Cap, an inexplicable sense of unease suddenly stirred within him.

But the next moment, Feng Liang saw the man before him point toward the northeast. Commander Feng, follow this direction for about two hundred and fifty paces, and you’ll see a steep slope. Above it is a cave covered with dense vines, quite inconspicuous. I saw that fellow Qin hiding inside, likely severely injured and forced to wait there for his subordinates to rescue him.

These words were incredibly enticing—not only did they provide an exact location, but they also revealed that the target was gravely wounded and currently isolated and helpless.

Feng Liang didn’t bother to think too deeply; he only wanted to strike while his enemy was vulnerable and finish him off quickly. He turned and waved, Men, head northeast and search every cave carefully. We must capture Qin—

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden flash of insight shot through Feng Liang’s mind. This thought came abruptly, like a thunderclap splitting the sky, causing his entire body to tremble and sending a chill down his spine in an instant.

Qin Shaozong of the Northern Territory, the court-appointed Marquis Wu’an, the only Lord who guarded the border while governing two provinces. Rumors said this man possessed divine strength but was born with broken eyebrows, having brought misfortune to his father and elder brother.

Broken eyebrows!

The soldier who had just reported the military intelligence clearly had a disconnected left eyebrow tail.

You are Qin—

Slice. A long blade swept across his neck, and Feng Liang’s round head flew clean off.

Earlier, following Feng Liang’s command, the guards around him had all turned to face northeast, ready to advance. As a result, when this sudden change occurred, no one reacted in time, let alone rushed to his rescue.

Qin Shaozong shouted loudly, The Lord is wounded, and the traitor Feng shall accompany him in death! Your commander has fallen!

His voice boomed like a bell, carrying far and wide, causing the surrounding soldiers who heard the news to panic in alarm.

To capture the rebels, first capture their leader. Now that the rebel leader had perished, leaving the group without a head, this thousand-strong army instantly fell into chaos.

Qin Shaozong took advantage of the confusion to slip into the forest. As he ascended the mountain, he casually dealt with any soldiers he encountered along the way.

Beep, beep, beep—

Several long whistles sounded. Qin Shaozong’s personal guards, upon hearing the whistles, fought while retreating, swiftly pulling back upward.

With Feng Liang dead, his deputy general gritted his teeth and struggled to hold on, relying solely on the phrase The Lord is wounded to muster the will to continue organizing the fight.

Due to the withdrawal of Qin Shaozong’s side, Li Zan’s army also advanced much faster. The deputy general led his troops all the way to the mountain stronghold at the summit, then chased them down the mountain, finally pursuing them to the edge of the lake.

From a distance, the deputy general saw two people flanking a third, supporting him by the arms as he stepped onto the plank connecting the shore to the multi-storied warship.

They intended to escape by boat!

Hurry, stop them! Qin Shaozong is already wounded—don’t let him escape! the deputy general shouted hoarsely. Whoever takes his head, the Grand Marshal will ensure his entire clan enjoys wealth and honor!

The soldiers’ spirits lifted, each one charging forward as if injected with adrenaline. Unfortunately, the distance between them was no small gap. No matter how hard they ran, gasping for breath, they remained far from the multi-storied warship.

Watching Qin Shaozong board the ship and his guards retract the plank, the deputy general’s eyes nearly burst with fury. Fire arrows!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

A rain of arrows shot forth with imposing momentum but ultimately fell short, embedding themselves in the ground. They didn’t even reach the multi-storied warship, let alone the people on board.

By the time the deputy general led his troops to the shore, the two multi-storied warships had already sailed to the center of the lake.

The arrows couldn’t reach them, and there were no boats to use—success had slipped through their fingers at the last moment.

The deputy general vented his frustration by hurling his longbow to the ground, his gaze dark and fierce. We were so close—how utterly infuriating!

Vice General Chen, what should we do now? a soldier asked.

The vice general took a deep breath. The news of Commander Feng’s death and Qin Shaozong’s escape while injured must be immediately reported to the Grand Marshal. They’re traveling along the Qi River, which runs north-south longitudinally and west-east latitudinally. They’re certain to head upstream—closer to Nankang County.

The guard beside him brightened. Ximen County! The upper reaches of the Qi River connect to Ximen County.

The vice general gnashed his teeth in fury. Qin Shaozong is severely wounded and will certainly need a physician and medicine for treatment. If we rush to Ximen County immediately, we can capture him there.

When generals are far from court, they need not follow every imperial decree.

This Vice General Chen, eager to secure wealth and honor for his entire clan, had his own plans. After hastily writing a letter for his subordinate to deliver, he led the remaining troops in a frantic dash toward Ximen County.

Multi-storied warship.

When Dai Li saw Qin Shaozong being helped aboard, on the verge of death, she was both surprised and not surprised. She thought to herself that their route would definitely be altered now.

They would surely rush to another county to find a physician for Qin Shaozong in the middle of the night. Amid the chaos and confusion, perhaps she could…

Her scheming thoughts were cut short when Dai Li watched as the man who had been half-carried into the cabin suddenly straightened up.

His spine erect, his sharp and bright eyes swept over her, that vibrant, wolf-like energy strikingly conspicuous even in the night—a far cry from his previous near-death state.

Before she could react, their eyes met.

Dai Li: …

Qin Shaozong walked straight toward her.

As he advanced, Dai Li retreated until her back was pressed against the cabin wall with nowhere left to go.

What schemes is my wife plotting now? Qin Shaozong asked with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his gaze cold and sharp.

The moment he looked up, he had seen her big eyes shifting restlessly. This cunning fox was probably thinking of pretending to be a rabbit while causing trouble again—he really couldn’t take his eyes off her for even a moment.

Dai Li naturally denied it. I’m not.

The sound of your calculating is ringing in my ears. How could you not be scheming? Besides, if you’re not, why are you retreating? Qin Shaozong continued his advance.

Dai Li whispered, The smell of blood on you is strong. I’m not used to it.

This wasn’t a lie. The moment he returned, Dai Li had detected an intensely thick scent of blood that swiftly filled the entire cabin like a gust of wind.

As he drew closer, the smell grew stronger, like a cloth thrown into a bucket filled with blood, every thread saturated with the heavy scent of gore, so drenched that it still dripped blood when pulled out.

For a moment, this thick, almost viscous blood scent gave Dai Li the illusion that standing before her was a ferocious tiger returning from a hunt, its sharp fangs and even the crevices between its claws still carrying remnants of un-cleaned flesh.

So delicate, Qin Shaozong clicked his tongue lightly but didn’t advance further.

Both multi-storied warships had three decks. Originally used for transporting passengers, they not only had numerous rooms but also basic facilities in each cabin.

Seeing that they seemed to have matters to discuss, Dai Li went upstairs alone. She went to the third floor and chose the cabin at the end of the corridor.

Entering the room and locking the door, she completed the actions in one fluid motion.

Only when she was alone did Dai Li take out a cloth bag from each of her sleeves.

Her menstrual period was approaching, so she carried a menstrual belt with her; the other cloth pouch contained silver coins and delicate, easily pawned jewelry.

That was all she had. Her main bundle was left at Lin Erniang’s house—there had been no time to retrieve it when they fled.

As for the most important Talisman…

Dai Li sighed.

Downstairs, in the side chamber.

Qin Shaozong sat in a chair facing Mo Yanyun, who was furiously writing three paces away. His hand rested on the side table, long fingers tapping idly.

He was waiting, but his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

Though Mo Yanyun often lost his head over women and sometimes lagged half a beat behind his comrades, he possessed a rare talent: he was exceptionally skilled at drawing maps.

Mountain paths traversed, bridges crossed, rivers forded, even maps glimpsed briefly months ago—all seemed etched into Mo Yanyun’s mind. Whenever he wished, he could retrieve and piece them together.

Lord, it’s done. Mo Yanyun set down his brush.

Qin Shaozong collected his thoughts and reached for the still-damp silk map.

The silk depicted the mountains and rivers near Ximen Commandery and Taiping Commandery, emphasizing the Qi River’s flow, tributaries, confluences with other rivers, and the commanderies it passed through.

Mo Yanyun: At our current sailing speed, we’ll reach Ximen Commandery in two and a half hours at most. By then, dawn will have broken, and we can enter the city without revealing our identities.

Qin Shaozong studied the Qi River on the map, a faint glint in his eyes.

The Qi River flowed roughly north to south with a slight westward-to-eastward curve, resulting in a southwestern direction. This southwestern waterway passed near several commanderies, including Taiping Commandery—where Zhuya Ford was located—and Ximen Commandery, their destination.

Further upstream lay the third: Guhan.

Guhan Commandery happened to lie directly west of Nankang Commandery. This meant he had taken a southwestern detour, circling back to the west of Nankang. Intriguingly, Guhan was flanked by the Hutuo River, which had a minor branch near Peach Blossom Ridge.

Qin Shaozong: I am ‘gravely wounded,’ so this trip must be for seeking medical treatment in Ximen Commandery. They’re traveling by land, and with that Commander Feng dead, they likely won’t pursue too closely. Let’s lead them on a chase for now.

The recent battle had been in the mountains, where horses were unusable, so everyone had abandoned them. The difference was that his group had directly boarded a boat to escape, while the enemy had to trek back over the mountains to retrieve their horses.

In that time, their boat had gained a significant lead.

Qin Shaozong continued: Send word to Su Xiuzhu. Tell him he’ll soon receive news of my critical injury. Have him enter Jiang Mansion to extract Yan San and the others, wait one full day, then seek out Li Zan to avenge me. The Dark Valiant Cavalry will temporarily be led by Yan San. The overall campaign plan remains largely unchanged, but since I’m at death’s door, there’s no need for excessive secrecy—march directly along the upper route. The success of this strategy hinges on speed. Order Yan San to advance swiftly without delay.

On his end, it was clear that Jiang Chonghai had colluded with Li Zan, and Li Zan intended to ambush the Dark Valiant Cavalry at Peach Blossom Ridge.

As for Li Zan, he only knew that the Dark Valiant Cavalry would take the upper route past Peach Blossom Ridge. After consideration, he would likely choose to lay an ambush there.

Both sides sought to secure the ambush point. The difference lay in one side understanding the full picture and thus rushing to seize the initiative, while the other, confident of victory, proceeded at a more leisurely pace.

The Su Xiuzhu mentioned by Qin Shaozong was the marching professor of the Dark Valiant Cavalry, responsible for provisions and documentation, holding a clerical position in the army. When they first entered the city, he had remained outside the walls along with three thousand Dark Valiant Cavalry troops.

Mo Yanyun nodded and resumed writing furiously.

Half an hour later, the door to the side chamber opened, and the meeting adjourned.

Outside, the sky faintly revealed a hazy glimmer, the fish-belly white of dawn breaking through as the darkest phase before daybreak quietly passed.

Soon, the entire sky would be fully bright.

Climbing mountains, engaging in battle, boarding the ship, and holding discussions—Qin Shaozong had not slept a wink all night, yet it did not hinder his high spirits. Hu Bao, have the ship dock ashore for now.

My Lord, why is that? Mo Yanyun halted his steps toward returning to his room for a nap, thinking that this was not part of the plan they had just discussed.

Qin Shaozong cast him a faint glance. Why the fuss? I’m merely going down to the river to wash up. You come along too. If you don’t bathe soon, the dung beetles from the mountains will catch your scent and carry you away.

Mo Yanyun: …

Mo Yanyun was utterly astonished.

Wait, since when was he smelly?

The previous night, he had been left in the stronghold to prepare for the retreat and hadn’t even taken part in the bloody battle. Compared to his Lord, whose robes were so caked with blood they had congealed into clumps and whose entire being was thoroughly marinated in the scent, he had at most worked up a slight sweat.

But fine, since his superior had spoken, he had no choice but to comply. Mo Yanyun simply called out, Come on, everyone, let’s all go wash up.

The moon set, the sun rose, and daylight returned, marking the beginning of a new day.

Dai Li was awakened by the sunlight streaming through the window. She had been so exhausted after returning to her room the previous night that she forgot to draw the curtains before falling asleep.

Now, the sunlight outside was blazing, and judging by the height of the Golden Crow, Dai Li estimated it was around Chen hour (7–9 a.m.). She usually woke at this time, but having slept late the previous night, she still felt deeply weary.

Since no one had come to call her, why not draw the curtains and catch a little more sleep? With this thought, she stepped out of bed, slipped into her wooden clogs, and went to the window to close the curtains. But at that glance, she was surprised to find that the multi-storied warship had docked.

It wasn’t just anchored randomly by the riverbank but was moored at a ferry terminal.

In the early morning, other multi-storied warships were at the terminal, some new and some old, all berthed quite orderly at the docks, loading and unloading passengers carrying large and small bundles.

If one extended their gaze further, they could see numerous covered boats gathered near the ferry, where straw-hatted fishermen were unloading baskets of river catches.

The terminal was bustling with a continuous flow of people.

Dai Li recalled the carriage driver who had escorted her out of the city mentioning that the Qi River generally flowed from north to south. Since Qin Shaozong was fleeing for his life, wouldn’t he likely choose the faster downstream route?

If so, hadn’t she drawn closer to Hangzhou?

Though she knew Qin Shaozong would never take her back to Hangzhou, Dai Li couldn’t help feeling a surge of excitement.

She was no longer sleepy—there was no way she could fall back asleep now.

Just as she was about to push the window open wider to let in the breeze, a familiar warmth surged downward. Dai Li froze, then hurried to fetch her menstrual belt.

Her period had arrived.

Perhaps due to her constitution, Dai Li’s menstrual cycle was generally punctual. During her period, she only grew more tired than usual, without any other negative effects like cramps, back pain, or diarrhea.

After changing into her menstrual belt and freshening up, Dai Li left her room.

The entire third floor was silent. As Dai Li walked from one end to the other, she noticed all the other side chambers had their doors tightly shut, showing no signs of use, as if she were the only one occupying this level.

She headed downstairs.

It’s quite lively downstairs, with Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao standing by the staircase talking.

When we get to the medical clinic later, you put the silver coins on the table, then grab the resident physician directly to show the urgency of the situation. Mo Yanyun made a fist with his right hand and struck his left palm.

Hu Bao nodded and continued, We should also have someone ransack the medicine boxes and take as many medicinal herbs as possible. Like locusts sweeping through, leaving nothing behind.

Listening to their tone, it sounded almost like they were planning a robbery.

Madam Dai? Mo Yanyun caught sight of Dai Li from the corner of his eye.

Dai Li descended the stairs. Are you planning to go into the city? Could I join you on this trip? I’d like to buy some things.

At these words, both Mo Yanyun and Hu Bao’s pupils constricted, then they actually simultaneously turned their heads away as if they hadn’t heard.

Dai Li: …

For a moment, a faint awkwardness hung in the air.

Why are you all blocking the staircase? A tall figure emerged from the room.

Hu Bao immediately said, Lord, Madam Dai has something to discuss with you.

That’s right, she has important matters to discuss with you. She was just passing by earlier. Mo Yanyun secretly gave Hu Bao an approving look – good job, this guy’s really quick-witted.

The somewhat evasive gaze suddenly became firm, carrying its usual overwhelming intensity. Dai Li paused for two breaths before meeting those brown eyes. Yes, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.

Come here. Qin Shaozong turned and went back into the room.

Meaning they were to talk in the room.

Dai Li followed without hesitation. If this had been half an hour ago, she would definitely have felt nervous, but not anymore.

The two entered the room one after another, with Dai Li, who was behind, casually closing the door as she entered.

Seeing this, Qin Shaozong raised an eyebrow. This fox has grown quite bold after waking up from her sleep.

Dai Li walked up to him and got straight to the point. Lord, I just overheard Mo Duwei and the others discussing going to the commandery to fetch a physician. May I accompany them to the commandery to purchase some items?

Qin Shaozong let out a light laugh.

This wasn’t just being a little bolder – clearly her courage was growing toward the level of a leopard’s gall.

Author’s note: I see some readers asking about Dai Li’s modern profession. Well, no spoilers for now, it will be revealed later let me see

Wuwu, dear readers please don’t put me on hold, it might kill the story bursting into tears

By the way, I’ve enabled anti-theft measures. The anti-theft ratio will be higher right after going VIP, then gradually decrease orange heart