My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 32: Feudal Patriarch's Declaration

Chapter 32: Feudal Patriarch’s Declaration

After Hu Bao left, the courtyard fell silent.

A phoenix tree stood in the yard, its leaves rustling gently in the breeze while dappled shadows danced across the ground. The sky was clear, the sun bright—truly a pleasant day.

Dai Li composed herself and decided to set the stage. Congratulations, Lord, on another great victory in capturing Ying County.

Qin Shaozong strode toward the house. Around mid-afternoon, a group of maids will be delivered. Select two to keep by your side.

Dai Li followed him. My Lord, I thank you for the maids, but I don’t need servants.

Why not? Qin Shaozong entered the room and sat by the low table, striking flint to ignite charcoal before starting to boil water.

Dai Li took a seat opposite him. I’m not accustomed to it. In my previous home, I never had maids attending to me.

She had relied on various machines instead—dishwasher, dryer, robotic vacuum cleaner, and smart home system… hiring weekly cleaning services too. It was simply another way of freeing her hands.

If you weren’t accustomed before, then learn to become accustomed now. Qin Shaozong lifted his gaze, his eyes profound. Or does my wife feel that having two more people watching you would make certain… maneuvers inconvenient?

Dai Li’s hands resting on her knees involuntarily curled. This man was always so perceptive. Of course, she couldn’t acknowledge Qin Shaozong’s implication. My Lord wrongs me greatly. I harbor no such thoughts. You previously mentioned rewards would be given for merits, and now that Commander Qiao is out of danger, I should be seeking rewards, not scheming otherwise.

This was her second time bringing up the reward, but unlike last time’s subtle hint, Dai Li now decided to make it concrete.

The warning had been given, the groundwork laid, and Qiao Wangfei was indeed stabilized. This was the perfect opportunity—if she didn’t speak now, it would only become harder later.

Qin Shaozong suddenly curved his lips. Very well, let’s discuss rewards for merits. For saving lives, my wife shall receive ten warhorses, five treasure chests, two maidservants, and three prime commercial properties. The property deeds will be given to you after we return to Yuyang.

Dai Li: …

Instead of asking what she wanted, he directly bestowed gifts. This was unexpected, though upon reflection, it perfectly matched his style.

He had likely guessed her intentions.

Dai Li decided to be straightforward. I don’t want those four things you mentioned. I want something else. What I seek won’t cost you anything. Considering how Commander Qiao has rushed about on your behalf, risking life and limb, could you permit me to exchange this merit for what I truly desire?

First, she claimed her request was worthless—equivalent to trading high value for low, beneficial to the other party. Then she invoked Qiao Wangfei’s life-saving grace, applying moral pressure.

See? I saved your subordinate who’d go through fire and water for you—a subordinate who contributed significantly to Wang Qinglie’s defeat in the last campaign. For his sake, you should grant my modest request!

Qin Shaozong watched her smiling eyes, almost seeing a fluffy tail wagging behind her.

Hah, she’s brewing mischief again.

Instead of addressing her proposition, Qin Shaozong responded with an ambiguous smile. My wife might care to guess—how tall do you suppose the grave grass has grown over those who previously deceived me?

Dai Li: …

He was bringing up old grievances at this critical moment.

Qin Shaozong watched her silence and began enumerating her offenses one by one, Your background and experiences are fabricated, your monthly blood was feigned, the timing of your sprained ankle was dishonest, and you attempted to flee privately, nearly jeopardizing my grand plans. You have deceived me repeatedly—tell me, how many times should I have your head chopped off?

Dai Li: …

Qin Shaozong smiled, Where there is reward for merit, there is naturally redemption through service. My lady, you tell me—how many lives can Qiao Wangfei and your offering of the ox-belly treatment buy back for you?

The water in the small clay pot boiled, bubbling with audible sounds. Steam wafted from the spout, drifting leisurely between them like a thin mist, veiling the underlying tensions.

Dai Li pressed her lips together, knowing some matters must be laid to rest, or they would plague her endlessly, It’s not just Captain Qiao. The Visceral Poultice Therapy may save many soldiers in the future. Let merits offset faults, and let this matter be written off—including your promise not to punish the maidservants and coachman from Nankang County. What does the Lord think?

Agreed, he replied swiftly this time.

Dai Li sat upright, striving to appear earnest and solemn. She met his imposing brown eyes without flinching, enunciating each word clearly, My Lord, your prestige spans the four seas, and women willing to serve you are as numerous as carp in a river. I believe that compared to a dispensable concubine, an advisor beneficial to your military affairs would surely bring you greater satisfaction.

This stripped away the thin veil both understood—she had no desire to serve him or become his woman.

Qin Shaozong averted his gaze and leisurely began placing dried melon and tangerine peel into the cup.

Tap, tap.

The firm dried melon pieces clinked crisply against the porcelain.

The advisors in my army either rose with me from humble beginnings, aiding my ascent, or are renowned scholars of exceptional talent who sought me out later. None are women, Qin Shaozong stated flatly.

He took the nearby kettle and poured hot water into the teacup. My ranks, past or future, will never include a female advisor. Women should remain in the estate admiring flowers and feeding fish. Dealing with schemes and bloody conflicts is men’s duty and mission—no need for women to trouble themselves.

As hot water filled the cup, the steam thickened, nearly obscuring the other’s face.

Dai Li gritted her teeth inwardly. What feudalistic, patriarchal nonsense! Such blatant male chauvinism. She hadn’t even finished her proposal, yet he outright rejected the possibility of female advisors.

Dai Li took a deep breath, suppressing her rising anger. My Lord, everything begins from nothing. If you grant me this, I will later provide Mr. Ding with detailed instructions on making mulberry bark thread.

Qin Shaozong set the teacup before Dai Li and suddenly chuckled. Ding Lianxi is quite innovative in medicine, adept at extrapolating. Since you’ve informed him that mulberry bark thread can replace silk thread, it’s only a matter of time before he masters it.

The subtext was clear: your detailed instructions are unnecessary; Ding Lianxi will deduce it himself eventually.

This concession was meaningless.

Dai Li understood but remained unfazed, as she could propose an alternative. Sow in spring, reap in autumn. Spring is the season of cultivation and renewal. Has the Lord considered experimenting with growing more grain?

The change of subject was abrupt, but Qin Shaozong showed considerable interest. With the same amount of farmland and the same number of farmers, how can we produce more grain?

Have you heard of the Dragon Bone Waterwheel, my Lord? Dai Li countered with a question instead of answering.

Qin Shaozong remained silent.

Observing his expression, Dai Li had her answer—he hadn’t heard of it.

Since arriving in this era, Dai Li had been gathering information. This dynasty was called Yan, and the current emperor’s surname was Han, known as Emperor Han. While a State of Yan had existed in Chinese history, there had never been a Yan Dynasty.

This was an unfamiliar ancient dynasty that never appeared in history. Based on the clothing and daily items of people in this era, Dai Li privately believed the current Yan Dynasty closely resembled the Han Dynasty.

But with the Eastern Han and Western Han spanning over four hundred years combined, which specific period of the Han Dynasty was she in? Was this unfamiliar Yan Dynasty following the historical trajectory she was familiar with?

Dai Li couldn’t say for sure.

No, actually that wasn’t entirely true. Because she had discovered that the stirrup, which should have appeared later in history, had already emerged prematurely here.

The general course of history seemed similar, yet not entirely identical.

After a moment, Qin Shaozong finally asked, What is this Dragon Bone Waterwheel?

Dai Li felt completely reassured. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. The Dragon Bone Waterwheel is an irrigation tool. You can think of it as an upgraded version of the well-sweep and bamboo dipper. It draws water through hand-cranking or foot-pedaling, making it more time-efficient, labor-saving, and effective compared to the well-sweep and bamboo dipper. This way, lands that previously lacked water or required strenuous irrigation can easily be transformed into fertile fields.

The well-sweep essentially functioned as a lever—with a counterweight on one end and a water bucket suspended on the other—using the principle of leverage to lift water from lower to higher ground or transfer it elsewhere. The bamboo dipper, woven from bamboo strips and rattan, took its name from its dipper-like shape.

Whether it was the bamboo dipper or the small buckets attached to the well-sweep, their water capacity was limited and couldn’t compare to a continuous flow of water.

How is the Dragon Bone Waterwheel made? Qin Shaozong asked.

Dai Li’s eyes sparkled with amusement. So does this mean you acknowledge me as your advisor?

Seeing her smiling face with eyes curved like two crescent moons, Qin Shaozong found her resemblance to a cunning little fox waiting by a trap, wagging its tail for dinner both irritating and amusing.

All her clever schemes were directed at him.

Qin Shaozong wasn’t in a hurry to respond. He also picked up his teacup and took a sip. Earlier in the Qin family history, one branch went south for trade, reaching the Yangzhou area. A few days ago, I sent word back to Yuyang to investigate this branch’s movements. I expect to receive a reply within a day at most. Qiantang, which you’ve been thinking about constantly, is in Yangzhou. When the time comes, I’ll have them check Qiantang to see if they can find your son.

Clatter.

Are you telling the truth?! Dai Li exclaimed excitedly, accidentally knocking over the teacup beside her hand.

Teacups were traditionally filled only seventy percent full, and since Dai Li had already taken a sip earlier, even with all the tea spilling out, it wasn’t too disastrous.

Dai Li’s hand was scalded by the hot tea before she belatedly realized she had overturned the cup. A cloth napkin lay beside the ceramic pot, intended to protect the handler from heat, though Qin Shaozong hadn’t needed it earlier when he handled the pot barehanded.

As Dai Li’s fingertips touched the napkin and she began to retrieve it, a large, dark hand reached over and covered hers.

The man with long limbs and large palms—two sizes bigger than Dai Li’s—covered her hand, barely revealing a sliver of pale skin beneath.

Dai Li’s pupils trembled slightly.

Qin Shaozong shifted sideways against the back of her hand, his four fingers slipping beneath the handkerchief to cup her palm, enveloping it entirely in his own grasp.

With only the thin handkerchief separating their palms, Dai Li felt a continuous surge of warmth, as if she had touched a small clay pot that had just been boiled.

His long, calloused fingers stroked the delicate skin on the inner side of her wrist, then slipped through the gap at the top of the handkerchief, pushing aside the obstructive cloth before gathering her hand back into his palm.

Without any barrier, every subtle movement of his became increasingly clear to Dai Li.

The man’s gaze was profound, his brown eyes like a tiger lurking in the shadows, claws retracted, patiently waiting for its prey to draw near. Of course it’s true. I have never once deceived you, my lady.

Dai Li slowly lowered her eyes. When she raised them again, she had regained her composure, returning to her earlier nonchalance.

She withdrew her hand, making sure to take the handkerchief with her. Thank you, Lord, for your concern about my son. If there is any news of him, I will naturally repay you—a reward guaranteed to satisfy you.

She did not specify what the reward would be, and at first glance, her words sounded like an offer of herself. But Dai Li’s tone was too composed. Even though her voice retained its captivating gentleness, it held no trace of suggestive provocation.

Qin Shaozong raised a brow, momentarily unable to decipher what she was truly scheming.

Dai Li used the handkerchief to dry the water, then righted the overturned teacup. Might I borrow the study in your residence? I will sketch the Dragon Bone Waterwheel for you shortly.

The study shared the same extravagant style as the rest of the residence, with Han dynasty jade paving the floor, crystal jade discs serving as lamps, and even the drapes woven from lustrous pearls.

Dai Li’s first impression was that this place resembled a leisure area more than a solemn chamber for discussion.

That salt smuggler surnamed Li certainly knew how to indulge himself.

On one side of the desk lay silk fabric, mulberry bark paper, and uninscribed bamboo slips; on the other, carving knives, a wolf hair brush, and pine-soot ink.

The four treasures of the study were all present, ready for use.

Yet Dai Li hesitated.

Although it was paper, the paper of this era was far inferior to modern paper in smoothness and fineness. Moreover, she had never learned calligraphy and did not know how to use a brush.

Combining these two factors, even before putting brush to paper, Dai Li could foresee a disastrous sketch in the making.

Dai Li: …

My lady? Qin Shaozong noticed her prolonged stillness.

Dai Li turned to him, her tone somewhat uncertain. If I said I’m unaccustomed to using a brush and therefore find it difficult to draw, would you think I’m deceiving you?

Qin Shaozong replied meaningfully, What do you think?

The atmosphere grew tense. Neither spoke, and Dai Li was the first to break, averting her gaze.

Steeling herself, she stepped forward and unrolled the mulberry bark paper. The paper was coarse and uneven; running her hand over it, she could distinctly feel its fibrous texture.

She then took out the pine-soot ink and the wolf hair brush, ground the ink, and dipped the brush. Holding the brush near its tip in the manner of a modern pen, she attempted to draw.

Qin Shaozong’s gaze fixed on her grip, the corner of his eye lifting slightly.

Her hands bore only a thin callus on the inner side of her right middle finger. If she used this grip consistently, the callus that should have formed on the ring finger would indeed develop on the inner side of the middle finger.

The young lady could read, write, and even paint. Among women with such abilities, Qin Shaozong had only encountered three before.

Even noblewomen, at most, only learned arithmetic for managing household accounts, and nothing more, as it was practically useless. Moreover, no District School would ever admit female students, and without a teacher willing to instruct, how could one even begin to learn?

Dai Li was unaware of the thoughts running through the man beside her. At the moment, she was trying to tame the wolf hair brush in her hand.

Her idea was beautiful, but…

She failed.

The paper was uneven, the tip of the brush was too soft, and there was a distance between where she held it and the brush tip.

All these factors combined meant that what Dai Li envisioned and what she drew were two entirely different things. Taming the brush had failed.

Setting the brush down on the desk, Dai Li turned and saw Qin Shaozong watching her, his expression thoughtful.

Dai Li didn’t mind. She knew he was a man of deep cunning and understood that such a cautious person was bound to be somewhat paranoid. From the moment she told him she came from the Peach Blossom Garden, she was destined to be met with his suspicion.

Lord, let’s go to the courtyard, Dai Li decided to take a different approach.

Qin Shaozong said nothing and followed her out.

The courtyard outside the study was also beautifully designed, with pebble pathways branching out like leaf veins, winding in various directions and fragmenting the otherwise cohesive space.

Though the courtyard was unusable, Dai Li spotted a tree branch of suitable thickness. After cutting it with a knife, she suggested to Qin Shaozong that they look elsewhere.

Qin Shaozong likely understood her intention and went along with it.

As the two stepped out of the study courtyard, they ran into Su Xiuzhu and Mo Yanyun coming their way together.

Lord, the two men bowed in greeting. They had both come to report on their duties.

With Ying County newly captured, there was much to handle. These matters didn’t require the superior’s personal involvement, but he needed to be aware of the progress in various areas.

It made no difference where he heard the reports, so Qin Shaozong said, Come along.

Su Xiuzhu and Mo Yanyun exchanged a glance, both puzzled. Their confusion only deepened as they followed Dai Li through three courtyards, reaching its peak.

What was Madam Dai trying to do? Stroll around the estate?

Even if she was just wandering, why was the Lord indulging her? Ying County had been hollowed out by Li Zan and was in dire need of rebuilding. There was no time to waste on leisurely walks around the estate.

Just as Mo Yanyun was about to speak up and remind them, he heard Dai Li say, This place will do. Right here.

Qin Shaozong turned to his two subordinates. What is it? Speak.

Mo Yanyun glanced at Dai Li, who was bending over with the tree branch in hand, hesitated, and finally whispered, Lord… Not only was this a remote courtyard, but Madam Dai was also present.

Speak plainly, Qin Shaozong insisted.

The tree branch was firm and much easier to handle. Once Dai Li immersed herself in her work, she automatically tuned out external sounds. As the others gave their reports, the words went in one ear and out the other, leaving her completely unaffected.

The Dragon Bone Waterwheel could be roughly divided into two parts. One was the dragon bone embedded in the long groove below, and the other was the large bearing at the top, fitted with a rotating gear and connected to foot pedals.

Drawing the entire structure was difficult, so Dai Li opted to break it down. She first sketched a long dragon bone groove, then used small arrows to point to the side, where she enlarged and detailed the two connecting plates linked by the dragon bone inside the waterwheel.

Qin Shaozong divided his attention, listening to the reports with his ears while watching Dai Li and the gradually forming diagram under her tree branch.

Go to the study and fetch some mulberry paper and brushes, Qin Shaozong suddenly said to Mo Yanyun, who froze in surprise.

Qin Shaozong: Go quickly.

This time, Mo Yanyun dared not delay. He hurried back to the study, encountering Yan San and Feng Feng along the way. Unable to resist, he muttered a few complaints while walking. By the time he returned to the courtyard with the items, he was surprised to find Yan San and Feng Feng already there.

The two stood beside Su Xiuzhu, making the sole civil official present appear particularly slender by comparison.

Su Xiuzhu’s debriefing had halted at some point. Now, all three of them, along with Qin Shaozong, were gazing at Dai Li ahead.

Mo Yanyun was baffled. He shot a questioning look at his comrades in astonishment. Yan San noticed but averted his eyes expressionlessly, showing no intention of responding.

Mo Yanyun’s lips twitched. He decided to turn to the cheerful Feng Feng instead, but unfortunately, Feng Feng was inexplicably fixated on Madam Dai and hadn’t noticed him at all.

Feeling aggrieved, Mo Yanyun grumbled under his breath as he walked forward, completely oblivious to what lay underfoot.

Stop!

Don’t step there!

You fool!

Several voices struck him at once, leaving Mo Yanyun utterly bewildered.

Wh-what was going on?

Why were they looking at him like that? Had he committed some grave offense?