My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 7: Catching a Fox

Chapter 7: Catching a Fox

But when he sniffed more carefully, that wisp of fragrance from moments ago had vanished without a trace, as if that fleeting moment had merely been his imagination. Yet Qin Shaozong never doubted his own sense of smell.

In earlier years, the imperial court had repeatedly sent assassins to target the Qin clan’s descendants, employing methods ranging from ambushes and assassinations to poisoning and insider treachery.

During his youth, Qin Shaozong had encountered poisoning attempts no fewer than ten times, yet he had never fallen victim to any external substances.

Whether it was soups, wines, or even bitter medicinal brews, he could keenly detect that discordant note within them.

Qin Shaozong scanned the small space. The courtyard was modest, with a trough and stable for horses on the southern side, where an unusually tall chestnut steed was still snorting and whinnying. To the west, a small arched gate connected to the neighboring courtyard, and the line of sight was unobstructed as far as one could see. Opposite the stable, a small door to the north allowed servants to enter and clean the stables without passing through the two pavilions housing distinguished guests.

In the northwest corner, carriages that had been unharnessed stood neatly lined up against the wall, utterly silent. The courtyard was unlit, and the row of carriages submerged in the darkness resembled large boxes draped in black gauze.

Will you come out on your own, or shall I drag you out? The man’s voice was rich and resonant, carrying a hint of a faint smile, as if offering a final courtesy before drawing weapons.

Only he and Qin Shaozong were present. Mo Yanyun initially thought the Lord was speaking to him and instinctively replied, What? But seeing the other’s gaze fixed intently ahead and considering the meaning of the words, he suddenly realized the remark wasn’t directed at him.

Could it be…?

Mo Yanyun’s face was filled with stunned disbelief.

H-How could it be?

After toying with the Lord and knowing full well that many were searching the entire estate for her, how could she dare to return?

He couldn’t help but shift his gaze to the row of carriages. There was no sound there—not even the buzz of mosquitoes, let alone any sign of a person.

Unbeknownst to the puzzled Mo Yanyun, Dai Li had been so frightened moments ago that she nearly lost control and cried out. At this very moment, a cold sweat broke out on her back, and as the night breeze brushed against it, goosebumps rose, sending a chill down her spine—truly embodying the phrase hair-raising terror.

The courtyard was so silent that every sound seemed magnified. Dai Li heard footsteps; though the approach was neither hurried nor slow, each step seemed to land precisely on her nerves, making her blood run cold and her hands and feet icy.

The footsteps continued to draw nearer.

Could it be that his earlier words weren’t just a casual bluff?

Dai Li bit her lip, trembling with fear as she shrank further into her hiding spot.

Lord, how did you know she was hiding here? Mo Yanyun couldn’t resist asking.

Qin Shaozong merely said, Whether she is or isn’t, we’ll know by looking.

Cargo carriages, for ease of loading and unloading, typically had doors at both ends. The soldiers who had finished the task might have had a touch of obsessive-compulsiveness, as they had closed both doors on every carriage.

Qin Shaozong raised his hand and pushed.

Creak—

The wooden axle turned with a grating sound, and the small front door of the carriage swung open.

But inside, there was no one.

Creak, creak…

One after another, the small doors of the carriages were pushed open, and each time, the two men found the interiors empty.

When the last carriage door was opened and revealed nothing inside, Mo Yanyun was dumbfounded.

Nothing?

All the carriages had been inspected, but nothing was found. Could it be that the Lord’s earlier words were merely a spur-of-the-moment attempt to bluff and see if that audacious young woman was hiding here?

But the next moment, he saw Qin Shaozong turn sideways and proceed forward, squeezing through the extremely narrow passage between the wall and the carriage.

In just three or four steps, Qin Shaozong reached the end. From this transverse vantage point, the rear of all the carriages was fully visible, and this area too… was empty.

Qin Shaozong raised his eyebrows with interest and turned his gaze to another spot.

From Dai Li’s perspective hiding beneath the carriage, the unfolding scene was more terrifying than the most horrifying film.

The creaking sound of wooden axles opening doors approached from afar. Soon, she saw two pairs of black boots stop right in front of her. Though all the carriage doors had been opened, the two men showed no intention of leaving. Dai Li curled her hands over her chest, trying to suppress her increasingly violent heartbeat.

One pair of black boots moved—not to leave, but to enter through the narrow side passage.

Right beside her, so close that she only needed to reach out to touch his black boots.

Dai Li instinctively held her breath. The black boots soon moved out of her sight. She knew he had circled to the back, but she dared not turn her head or even move, afraid of making any sound that might catch his attention.

My Lord, I actually think that girl wouldn’t dare to return—

Pull this carriage out.

Two voices spoke simultaneously.

When the superior gives an order, the subordinate obeys. Without much thought, Mo Yanyun instinctively grabbed the long shaft and pulled it forward.

Rumble—

The rolling sound echoed in Dai Li’s ears like thunderous explosions, as if the giant beast that had sheltered her was being driven away by a vicious tiger, trembling as it retreated.

The clouds that had obscured the full moon all night were finally blown away by the wind, and faint moonlight spilled down.

In terror, Dai Li noticed that all the surrounding carriages cast shadows in the moonlight—except her own.

There was no shadow of hers because it was completely engulfed by a tall, mountain-like black shadow behind her, leaving no trace of her form. She’s really here?! Mo Yanyun exclaimed in shock.

At this moment, aside from extreme astonishment, he inexplicably thought of something else:

The Lord’s earlier words weren’t false—he had truly known she was here. By circling to the back before ordering the carriage pulled out, it seemed he intentionally trapped her between two fronts. Was this meant to… completely crush any thought of escape?

But why go to such lengths? Once caught this time, she would surely recognize her own insignificance and never dare scheme again.

What Mo Yanyun thought, Dai Li didn’t know. She only felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss, so frightened she could barely breathe.

Every nerve in her body screamed at her to flee the danger. Driven by instinct, Dai Li tried to run. But the moment she stood up, before she could take a step, a powerful arm reached from behind, wrapping around her waist and pulling her back, dragging her abruptly backward.

I thought I’d caught a little rabbit, but it turns out to be a cunning fox, he said with a laugh.

Dai Li stumbled backward, crashing into a solid chest. On this chilly spring night, he was surprisingly lightly dressed, and an unending warmth radiated from behind him—like a wildfire no one could extinguish or a scalding rock wall. Instead of warming her, this heat sent a shiver down her spine.

Qin Shaozong embraced her from behind, feeling as if he were holding a soft cloud. He lowered his head, burying his face in the side of her neck where her cloud-like hair cascaded. The fleeting elegant fragrance from before had now grown richer, lingering around his nostrils and refreshing his heart and mind.

His nose brushed against her neck, his scorching breath like the bared fangs of a wild beast. The last thread of composure in Dai Li’s mind snapped with a snap. Instinctively, she used both her nails and palms, trying to pry away the iron-like arm around her waist. Let go of me!

The restraint around her waist suddenly loosened. She was spun around, shifting from facing away to confronting him directly.

The full moon slanted westward behind him, the man’s face shrouded in darkness, save for a pair of beast-like brown eyes that exuded overwhelming pressure.

Suppressing her panic, Dai Li was about to speak when, in the next instant, her feet left the ground—she had been hoisted onto his shoulder.

Her vision abruptly inverted, and her mind buzzed with shock. Her waist and abdomen pressed against his sturdy shoulder blade, one arm forced to wrap backward around his neck. Her legs kicked uselessly in the air, and her other hand was powerless.

Mo Yanyun stared wide-eyed, astonished as he watched Qin Shaozong carry the struggling woman away.

Having followed the Lord through countless southern campaigns and northern expeditions over the years, when had he ever seen the Lord so impatient?

Was he truly provoked to fury, or…

The small courtyard was only a few steps from the main house, so the distance Qin Shaozong covered while carrying her was very short.

Thud. The door was pushed open.

The man strode into the room, passed through the outer chamber, and crossed the threshold into the inner chamber.

When Dai Li was set down on the bed, her cheeks still bore a faint flush from the rush of blood, and her chest heaved rapidly. The soft couch was spacious, with plenty of room behind her, so the moment she landed, she instinctively shrank backward.

But as soon as she moved, her left ankle was seized. The man’s palm was broad, and with a light flick of his long fingers, Dai Li’s round-toe silk shoes slipped off with a pat onto the footrest before the bed.

There was an injury on her ankle, and Dai Li winced slightly from the pain. Though it hurt, it was like a bucket of ice water poured over her in the height of summer, cooling her feverish and swollen head.

The room was lit by lamps, the candlelight blazing brightly, illuminating every detail with clarity. The man’s face, once hidden in darkness, was now illuminated. His eyebrows swept sharply toward his temples, his eye sockets deeper than most, and when he gazed straight ahead, his presence was intensely invasive.

Now, the corners of his lips curled lazily, but his eyes remained fixed unwaveringly on her. Dai Li felt as if she were facing a vicious tiger licking its paws, ready to crush bones.

She thought, this was an exceptionally dominant man. Dominance also meant pride.

Perhaps she could use that to her advantage…

After lowering and raising her thick lashes, the beautiful woman on the bed adopted an expression of fear and grievance. It is not that this humble one is unwilling to serve Your Lordship, but circumstances compel me. Some matters were unavoidable.

At that moment, Qin Shaozong suddenly raised his hand.

Dai Li’s pupils trembled, and it took immense self-control to suppress the urge to raise her elbows in defense.

He was very tall, and his large, bony fingers could easily envelop her face. His palm pressed against the side of her head, his calloused thumb resting on her forehead, slowly wiping away the rice powder that concealed the red mole there.

The woman’s skin was as fair as fine porcelain, glowing with a lustrous pearl hue under the full candlelight. Her cloud-like hair was lush and rich, like a vivid and enchanting painting.

Qin Shaozong’s lips curved in satisfaction. Oh? What reason could it be that led you to break your word, then hide and evade, and finally put up a stubborn resistance? Speak, and let me hear it.

The places that had been carefully caressed felt as if set ablaze, as though scraped by the rough tongue of a beast, sending fine tremors through her. The words Dai Li meant to say caught in her throat.

Haven’t thought up a proper excuse yet? Then don’t bother. The large hand dusted with rice flour changed course downward, an arm encircling the waist of the person before him. With one swift motion of tightening and pulling backward, Dai Li found herself pressed against the couch with her back.

A dark shadow loomed over her, enveloping her completely. For a moment, Dai Li thought she had returned to the days in the stable courtyard.

Author’s Note:

Dear readers, I can see all the mines and nutrient solutions you’ve sent in the backend. Thank you all orange heartred heartgreen heart. Now, the confrontation officially begins shrugs.