If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place. For a moment, Dai Li thought Qin Shaozong had discovered what she had done, but she quickly realized it was impossible—he couldn’t possibly know.
Yan San entered the main hall with her, and even if he had seen through her plan, he wouldn’t have had time to report it to Qin Shaozong. So the man must have spoken offhandedly.
No, not entirely offhanded. Given her current persona, it was perfectly reasonable for her to stir up minor trouble now and then.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yun Rong watching her, her expression tense. Dai Li knew what she was worried about.
Their secret collaboration had already been established, and Yun Rong was afraid she might use this opportunity to reconcile with Qin Shaozong. If they made up, Yun Rong’s position as the official wife would be meaningless.
This was her chance to whisper in his ear.
Dai Li raised a hand to press against Qin Shaozong’s chest, stopping him from coming closer. "What kind of nonsense is that? In your eyes, am I really the type to cause trouble the moment you take your eyes off me?"
After saying this, she suddenly changed her gesture from pressing to gripping, seizing his collar as she stood on tiptoe, frowning and sniffing. "The banquet hasn’t even started, and you’re already reeking of alcohol. How much have you drunk? You should drink less—drinking on an empty stomach will make you drunk and harm your health. If you’re wasted tonight, don’t expect me to take care of you."
Qin Shaozong chuckled, clearly enjoying being scolded by his concubine in public. "As my lady commands."
Yun Rong exchanged a glance with Jiang Chonghai at the head of the table, giving a slight nod. Realizing they had finally found the opportunity to influence Qin Shaozong, Jiang Chonghai brightened and ordered servants to bring out several more jars of wine.
With all the distinguished guests present, the evening banquet began.
Qin Shaozong and Jiang Chonghai sat at the head of the table, while Dai Li and Yun Rong took the first seats on either side below them.
The banquet table was laden with delicacies—steamed lamb tripe, roasted deer tail, braised crucian carp, chestnut chicken, and cold dishes like wild garlic and asparagus salad. There were also thinly sliced, translucent raw fish, accompanied by sweet soup and honey-glazed pastries. It was a feast fit for royalty.
Of course, aside from the lavish spread, the banquet also featured towering stacks of wine jars.
The women chatted and laughed, while the men engaged in drinking contests.
Dai Li noticed one detail—they drank fiercely and barely touched the food. Every time Qin Shaozong picked up his chopsticks to take a bite, three out of five times, he was interrupted and ended up drinking instead.
She nibbled on a piece of chestnut chicken, guessing that Jiang Chonghai was trying to get Qin Shaozong drunk.
Many military men loved wine, and countless had suffered for it. In the past, Dian Wei had been robbed of his weapons while drunk and died in battle, and Zhang Yide lost Xuzhou due to his indulgence in drink. A little wine was fine, but excess led to disaster.
For now, she and Qin Shaozong were bound by shared interests. The search for her son in Nankang County wasn’t complete yet, and she couldn’t afford for him to falter at this critical moment.
Thud!
Dai Li suddenly slammed her chopsticks on the table.
She timed it perfectly—right in a lull between conversations—so everyone heard.
All eyes turned to her, but she stared straight at the man at the head of the table, her tone petulant. "Qin Changgeng, the smell of alcohol is making me sick."
The hall fell silent.
Jiang Chonghai was so shocked he spilled his wine.
She dared to call Qin Shaozong by his full name in public and speak to him so insolently? It was just as his wife had said—this Lady Dai was spoiled and lacked propriety.
Yet the man in question showed no anger, only a tipsy laugh. "If my lady dislikes it, then I shall stop. It wouldn’t do to anger her and be barred from her chambers tonight. Servants, remove these wine jars."
Jiang Chonghai’s brow twitched, stunned by Qin Shaozong’s submission. He was frantic—the whole point of this banquet was to get him drunk and test certain crucial information.
For the past few days, Yun Rong had been visiting Dai Li, not just to build rapport but also to uncover an unexpected lead.
According to Dai Li, Qin Shaozong had recently taken in an eccentric strategist. This man was brilliant but loathed attention, preferring to lurk in the shadows like a damp mushroom. He rarely appeared in public yet held immense influence over Qin Shaozong.
For instance, the infamous spy scheme that had shaken the world was actually his idea. This time, when Qin Shaozong set out to suppress the salt smugglers, the "Mushroom Scholar" had been summoned to accompany him. But halfway through the journey, he fell ill and had to be left behind to recuperate.
That was why there were no strategists among the entourage—not because none had come, but because one had been left behind.
These details hadn’t been revealed all at once. Yun Rong had carefully extracted them from Dai Li, piecing together the fragments of information.
Jiang Chonghai’s paranoia made him suspect a trap, but he couldn’t shake the possibility that this "Mushroom Scholar" truly existed.
Noble families amassed wealth and, in turbulent times, raised private armies to carve out their own domains. The scions of these families became warlords, recruiting strategists for wisdom and generals for strength.
As the chessmaster, a warlord only needed to be good at accepting counsel and displaying some decisiveness to thrive. His political background and military resources gave him an inherent advantage far beyond ordinary men.
True geniuses who combined intellect and martial prowess were as rare as phoenix feathers. Qin Shaozong had been born into privilege and possessed extraordinary combat skills—how could he possibly have everything?
Rumors spread like wildfire. Perhaps Qin Shaozong’s fearsome reputation was just a carefully crafted illusion. Jiang Chonghai speculated maliciously.
After much deliberation, he had arranged this banquet to probe the truth. Now, with his plan on the verge of collapse, he couldn’t let it end like this. He shot Yun Rong a meaningful glance.
Dai Li had initially worried that Qin Shaozong’s drunkenness might ruin things, but hearing his words, she relaxed.
Oh, he’s still so clear-headed? His alcohol tolerance must be excellent. Then we can proceed as planned.
"Sister, I’m feeling a bit stifled too. Why don’t we take a stroll together?" Yun Rong ventured nervously.
She had no confidence—this woman was notoriously self-centered and heedless of others’ feelings. Yet, surprisingly, it worked.
"Fine. I’ve eaten my fill anyway. A walk would do me good." Dai Li set down her chopsticks and stood, then added to Qin Shaozong, "You reek of alcohol. Sleep alone tonight."
After the two women left the hall, Jiang Chonghai sighed. "Lady Dai is like a peony in moonlight when silent, but once she opens her mouth, she turns into wild ginger—spicy indeed."
"I like that about her. Ordinary women lack flavor," Qin Shaozong replied with a laugh.
Jiang Chonghai tried to coax him. "Since Lady Dai has left, shall we continue?"
Qin Shaozong remained silent.
Jiang Chonghai sighed again. "Ah, my wife probably won’t let me back into our chambers tonight either. When drinking companions meet, they should drink their fill. The night is long—why not drown in wine? Do you dare accept the challenge?"
"What’s there to fear?"
After leaving the main hall, Dai Li and Yun Rong wandered aimlessly through the estate.
The prefect's residence was built extravagantly, with pavilions scattered throughout and winding corridors. Along the main path, exquisitely carved white jade lantern covers stood every ten paces or so. A single candle placed inside would cast a soft, glowing circle of light.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and the last traces of daylight faded, night fell. Dai Li watched the maids deftly light the lanterns and thought to herself how lavish this prefect's estate was—even candles were lit outdoors.
"Sister Yun, about the matter I asked you to help with this afternoon... could you have it settled by tomorrow?" Dai Li murmured.
For commoners, replacing a lost identity document was a tedious process. One had to report the loss to the authorities, submit proof and application forms, and wait for approval before receiving a new one.
But for the powerful, especially someone like Prefect Jiang Chonghai—the highest authority in Nankang Prefecture—reissuing a document was effortless. A single word from him would send his subordinates scrambling to get it done, even if it meant working overtime.
Yun Rong's eyes flickered. "Why the urgency, little sister? Is Lord Qin about to leave Nankang soon?"
"Of course I'm anxious! If he finds out I've lost my identity document again, he’ll have another excuse to control me," Dai Li sighed. "As for when he’ll leave, he hasn’t told me. He only mentioned taking me to see the peach blossoms. I’ve never seen endless stretches of peach trees before—I’ll have to take a good look when the time comes."
Yun Rong froze.
Peach blossom groves?
Lord Qin’s mission was clear: he was here to eradicate the salt smugglers. Nankang Prefecture lay directly west of Ying Prefecture, and there were three possible routes to get there.
The first was to march northeast first, then turn southeast—a detour from above. This was the upper path.
The second was to head straight west without changing direction, directly into Ying Prefecture. This was the middle path.
The third was to march southeast first, then turn northeast—a detour from below. This was the lower path.
Of these three, only the upper path passed by a mountain covered in peach trees. Locals called it Peach Blossom Peak, and in spring, the slopes were blanketed in blossoms—a breathtaking sight.
"Sister Yun, will you promise me this?"
Yun Rong’s mind was entirely occupied with Qin Shaozong’s marching route. She had no attention to spare for anything else and only nodded hastily.
Dai Li smiled in satisfaction.
After another stroll, Yun Rong spoke up. "Little sister, let’s head back. Even though the wine was eventually taken away, men are fickle creatures—they can’t resist the lure of alcohol. Who knows if a casual remark might stir their cravings again? It’s safer to return and keep an eye on things."
"Lord Qin has a decent tolerance. He’s unlikely to cause a drunken scene," Dai Li said, her objective achieved. She had no desire to stay outside feeding mosquitoes any longer.
They had left midway through the banquet, and by the time they returned to the main hall, the evening feast was winding down.
The opulent hall was thick with the lingering scent of alcohol. One didn’t even need to see the countless wine jars littering the tables and floor—the heavy aroma alone was proof they had indulged again.
A piercing gaze locked onto her. Dai Li looked up and met the eyes of Qin Shaozong, seated at the head of the room.
His complexion wasn’t fair, so only a faint flush tinted his cheeks, making it hard to gauge how drunk he was. But his eyes held a dark, smoldering intensity—something between desire and something else entirely, enough to make one’s heart race.
In full view of everyone, he beckoned to her.
"Come here, my lady."
