My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 9: How Many Husbands Have You Had?

Chapter 9: How Many Husbands Have You Had?

Lord?

Mo Yanyun had been quite shaken by Qin Shaozong’s earlier act of abducting someone. Coupled with the moon finally emerging, he found himself unable to sleep and decided to admire the moonlight in the courtyard.

But he hadn’t been enjoying the moon for long when he saw his superior emerge from the main residence.

Mo Yanyun couldn’t conceal his astonishment, mixed with a concern he couldn’t openly express.

To thoroughly enjoy such a vibrant beauty from head to toe, savoring every last drop of marrow—there were so many things one could do, and it would absolutely require considerable time.

Yet now, in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Lord had already come out. Could it be…?

Qin Shaozong turned at the sound. Whether it was his imagination or not, Mo Yanyun felt his superior’s eyes were gleaming with a green light, just like the hungry wolf they’d seen failing in a hunt on the Northern Territory grasslands.

Instinctively, he lowered his gaze, taking a quick glance downward. Being a man himself, he could tell at a glance whether the other had been satisfied.

Oh, so it wasn’t his imagination earlier—the Lord truly hadn’t had his fill. Calculating the time, he might not even have gotten a taste.

As someone well-versed in the pleasures of the night, after ruling out other possibilities, Mo Yanyun guessed that Fengchun was likely having her Monthly Blood and thus couldn’t serve. He knew well that men would feel extremely frustrated at such times. Since there were many dancers in the mansion, and she was unable to continue, they could find another beauty to serve him. Why should the Lord suffer such deprivation? So he said, Shall I pick out a beautiful dancer for you?

Qin Shaozong: Approved.

Mo Yanyun accepted the order and went to arrange it, but after taking only three or four steps, he heard his superior change his mind—

Forget it.

Mo Yanyun turned back in surprise. Why is that?

Qin Shaozong’s voice was hoarse, but his tone had grown much calmer. I have a plan that could make this endeavor twice as effective with half the effort. It requires her participation. It’s not suitable to bring another woman into this now.

Lord, is she trustworthy? Mo Yanyun expressed deep doubt about this.

From his understanding of Qin Shaozong, if the other said she was needed, then Fengchun would definitely be more than just a peripheral character with low presence.

Someone brought in temporarily with unknown background—and who had even tricked the Lord before—could she really be trusted?

She has no connection whatsoever to Jiang Mansion. Qin Shaozong said calmly, She has a young son, surnamed Qin, named Yanzhou, with short hair, about five chi seven cun tall, who might be in Jiang Mansion. Tomorrow, take people to search for him discreetly. Also, investigate whether the Qin clan of Northern Territory has lost a child, and look into the movements of the noblewomen from various Qin families.

Mo Yanyun was greatly shocked by these words. He blurted out, Lord, you suspect ‘Fengchun’ is a noblewoman? How…how is that possible?

A wife’s status depends on her husband’s. So-called noblewomen must come from prominent husbands’ families, or even have husbands who have achieved considerable accomplishments and are outstanding talents. Of course, such powerful families typically form alliances through marriage, so the wife’s maternal family wouldn’t be inferior either.

In short, noblewomen are precious daughters before marriage, and after marriage their fortune remains good, with both their husbands’ families and the husbands themselves being highly capable.

Qin Shaozong glanced sideways at him, not intending to explain in detail. Why ask heaven and earth so many questions? Are you planning to quit as commandant and become an all-knowing storyteller in a teahouse to earn silver?

Mo Yanyun stammered a denial.

Qin Shaozong looked back at the residence behind him, his eyes filled with profound meaning.

Women from ordinary households who engage in farm work, laundry, or cooking would inevitably develop calluses on their hands over time. Dancers, to put it bluntly, are also servants; when not attending to esteemed guests, they must perform manual labor themselves. Only noblewomen, waited upon by servants and provided with fine food and drink by their husbands’ families, could keep their hands untouched by the toils of daily life.

Her hands were exceptionally soft and delicate, with only a slight thin callus on the inner side of her right middle finger. Her skin was smooth and supple, carrying a faint floral fragrance—a testament to meticulous care and pampering.

Coupled with the leather shoes and the waist wrap embedded with small iron pieces, it was evident her husband’s family was anything but ordinary.

The name Fengchun was fake, and Songlan was also fabricated, yet Qin Shaozong inexplicably felt her desperation to find her child was genuine. Thus, Qin Yanzhou was likely not a false name.

Her husband’s family was the Qin clan, a prominent lineage in the Northern Territory. However, he recalled no famously stunning beauty among the Qin branch families’ noblewomen.

Could she not be the principal wife?

That seemed plausible.

If she were the principal wife, how could she lack guards and servants at her disposal? Moreover, if a legitimate son from a branch family had been abducted, he would surely have heard rumors, and the matriarch would hardly be reduced to personally searching outside…

With this in mind, Qin Shaozong added an instruction: Besides noblewomen, also investigate favored concubines who have borne children and are deeply cherished by their husbands.

Acknowledged.

*

The moon set, the sun rose, and the eastern sky brightened—a new day arrived as scheduled. Morning training was fundamental for military generals, and no one lazed in bed.

When Qin Shaozong returned from his drills, he happened to see Yan San emerging from the main quarters. The latter explained upon seeing him, My Lord, ‘Fengchun’ just mentioned she sprained her ankle and requested medicinal oil, so I brought it to her.

Qin Shaozong grunted in acknowledgment and shifted the topic: Pack your things and move in with Mo Yanyun. Vacate the side room, and find two maidservants by noon.

Just yesterday, he had rejected Jiang Chonghai’s offer of servants, yet today he actively sought them—a clear case of reversing orders. But Yan San asked no questions, merely cupping his hands in acceptance of the command.

After Qin Shaozong left last night, Dai Li naturally dared not sleep in the main quarters. She quickly relocated to the small side room adjoining the main hall, meant for attending servants to rest.

Though the side room was cramped and the bed narrow, it offered safety and was far superior to sleeping outdoors. Dai Li managed a decent night’s sleep.

Preoccupied with worries, she woke early the next day. Upon rising, she stayed indoors, listening quietly until the man next door departed, then requested medicinal wine from his subordinate.

Unexpectedly, he returned just as she had applied the medicine.

This was the finest guest courtyard, with optimal orientation and top-tier furnishings, so even the connected side room lacked the typical dimness of such quarters.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting his figure in sharp relief—a silhouette as imposing as a mountain range. Even in daylight, the intimidating aura he exuded was only slightly diminished from the night before, not vanished.

Just as Dai Li adjusted her expression, he asked, Sprained your ankle? When did it happen?

The injury could not possibly have occurred before her exposure, lest he deduce that her discomfort last night had nothing to do with her monthly blood.

After you left last night, I was anxious and unsettled, my mind adrift with worry. On my way back to the side room, I lost focus, stumbled over the threshold, and twisted it, Dai Li recited her pre-prepared excuse.

Qin Shaozong’s gaze traveled downward. She sat cross-legged on the daybed with her shoes and socks removed, the wide skirt spreading like flower petals around her. One foot was completely concealed beneath the fabric, while her left foot—the one being treated with medicine—was exposed from mid-calf downward. In the dimly lit room, her skin glowed with the creamy whiteness of mutton-fat jade. The ankle coated with medicinal oil showed slight swelling, confirming the injury.

His gaze, much like its owner, carried an invasive intensity. Dai Li felt as if her calf had been scalded by fire, instinctively wanting to pull down the hem of her skirt she had rolled up.

But just as she began to move, Dai Li suddenly remembered something and forcibly stopped herself.

A woman who would actively seduce the powerful, seeking to share intimacy with them, would certainly not dislike such a gaze.

Has Your Excellency come with news of my son? Dai Li asked with feigned excitement.

The opened medicinal wine filled the room with its pungent aroma, like a ravenous beast devouring the elegant fragrance that usually clung to the woman. As a military general accustomed to battlefields, Qin Shaozong was thoroughly familiar with various medicinal wines, yet for the first time, he found today’s medicinal scent particularly bothersome.

Qin Shaozong: There is no news of your son yet.

Dai Li lowered her eyes, unable to conceal her disappointment.

It’s still early. We’ll see later. The small room designated for servants contained few furnishings—just a table, a cabinet, and a chair. Influenced by northern nomadic culture, the chair was a small hu-style seat. Qin Shaozong casually moved the chair before the daybed with one hand and sat astride it, facing Dai Li directly.

Your name, madam? he asked abruptly.

Just as Dai Li was about to speak, he added in an unreadable tone: No need for false names like Fengchun or Songlan.

Dai Li. ‘Dai’ as in distant mountains, ‘Li’ as in dawn. Dai Li hadn’t planned to lie this time anyway. She needed to remain here for several more days, and it would be problematic if she failed to respond when addressed by a false name, potentially revealing her deception.

Qin Shaozong’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Dai. The Dai clan.

Among the prominent families of the Northern Territory, there was no surname Dai. It seemed she wasn’t from a great house. For women from humble backgrounds seeking wealth and status, their only path was to become concubines to scions of noble families.

Qin Shaozong: You don’t appear to be from Nankang Prefecture, madam.

Dai Li sighed with a faint smile. Your Excellency has keen eyes. I am indeed not local. I came to Nankang Prefecture merely by chance.

He pressed further: Where is your hometown?

Dai Li inwardly panicked. Unlike many television dramas portrayed, she had come directly from modern times, leaving no traces here—essentially making her an undocumented person.

Remaining silent would surely provoke his persistence, potentially disrupting the delicate balance she had painstakingly maintained. But speaking posed its own dilemma—what could she say?

Her thoughts tangled like yarn messed up by a kitten. Her eyelid twitched twice before sudden inspiration struck: Jiao Province. I’m from Cangwu County in southern Jiao Province.

In ancient times, transportation was underdeveloped. Traveling from south to north wasn’t a matter of mere hours like in modern days. Even if he decided to investigate thoroughly, the round trip would take at least several months. By the time any news returned, she would long have left Nankang Prefecture.

Jiao Province? Cangwu County? Qin Shaozong’s long eyebrows rose slightly. Jiao Province is at least three to four thousand li from here. What prompted you to leave your homeland?

Dai Li offered a conventional explanation: Naturally, to follow my husband as his shadow follows his form.

The man nodded, clearly approving of her response, but his questioning didn’t end there: Why are you searching for your son alone? Where is your husband?

Dai Li revealed a sorrowful expression: I wonder which of my husbands you are inquiring about?

Qin Shaozong paused, How many husbands have you had?

Author’s note:

Just like Old Huo next door, Qin Shaozong was initially drawn by her appearance, as Dai Li’s looks perfectly matched his aesthetic preferences. However, since they’ve just met, it hasn’t reached the point of no one but you. As for what happens later… well, there’s a reference next door hhh