Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1072: Discord Between Husband and Wife

Noticing Lu Guanying’s reaction, Song Qingshu immediately felt displeased. “I took such a big risk to save you, how can I not be a good person?” 

“Aren’t you doing this for… for…” Lu Guanying glanced at his wife, his breathing quickening. “Aren’t you doing this for Yaojia? Do you think I don’t know your intentions?” 

Cheng Yaojia hurriedly explained, “Guanying, you misunderstood. There’s nothing between us; he… he’s also a gentleman who abides by propriety.” She had previously promised Song Qingshu not to reveal his true identity to anyone, not even her husband. 

Song Qingshu, standing by, casually remarked, “Of course I’m doing it for her. Otherwise, why would I take such a big risk to save someone with whom I have no ties?” 

“So you finally admit it!” Lu Guanying pointed at him, trembling with anger. 

Cheng Yaojia couldn’t help but stomp her foot. “Guanying, stop making a scene! It’s so dangerous here; once we reach a safe place, I will explain everything to you slowly.” 

“I’m making a scene?” Lu Guanying, furious at being accused by his wife, snapped, “You’re blaming me for this wild man?” 

“I…” Cheng Yaojia’s lips parted slightly, momentarily at a loss for words, tears welling up in her eyes, feeling utterly wronged. 

Song Qingshu frowned, reached out to pull Cheng Yaojia back, and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her. Then he turned to Lu Guanying and said, “If I remember correctly, you’ve already written a divorce letter. Cheng Yaojia has no relationship with you anymore. Even if she really found another man, you have no right to interfere. Besides, if we’re being serious, you’re the wild man now.” 

“You!” Noticing his actions, Lu Guanying’s eyes narrowed, realizing his wife was used to it and showed no signs of resistance, his face turned ashen. 

“Young Master, please stop provoking him, okay?” Cheng Yaojia quickly shook his arm, pleading softly. 

“Hmph!” Song Qingshu snorted lightly but didn’t say anything further. 

Cheng Yaojia ran back to her husband, pleading desperately, while Lu Guanying turned his face away. “Even if I die here, I won’t let him save me!” 

Cheng Yaojia, anxious, was about to say something when Song Qingshu spoke up, “Yaojia, I have tolerated this multiple times. If it weren’t for your sake, would I do such a thankless task? Since he wants to stay here, let him stay.” 

“But…” Cheng Yaojia cast a reluctant glance at her husband, hesitating and standing still. 

Song Qingshu knew that if Lu Guanying didn’t leave, Cheng Yaojia would never abandon him. With a thought, he came up with a plan: “It’s better if he doesn’t leave; otherwise, after we go out, we would have to sneak around.” 

“Ah?” Cheng Yaojia, surprised, blushed, and was about to explain when Song Qingshu quietly said beside her, “Madam, I’m doing this to provoke him; I hope you can cooperate.” 

Cheng Yaojia immediately understood but felt that something was off. However, at this point, she had no better options and could only lower her head in tacit agreement. 

This pair of adulterers! 

Watching the two of them embrace each other intimately, Lu Guanying was about to explode with anger. “Hmph, who said I wouldn’t leave?” After saying that, he endured the pain in his body and walked over step by step. 

Cheng Yaojia was overjoyed and hurried to support him. Lu Guanying initially wanted to wave her off, but upon seeing the tears in his wife’s eyes, he softened. 

“Let me help,” Song Qingshu said, noticing the two supporting each other, his brow furrowing slightly. 

“Who needs your help?” Lu Guanying, softening towards his wife due to their years of affection, naturally had no such good temper towards Song Qingshu. 

Song Qingshu coldly replied, “Who told you two have such poor Qinggong? Right now, the Yuqing Temple is heavily guarded. Not to mention bringing you, a burden, even Yaojia alone wouldn’t be able to escape.”

“Yaojia, Yaojia, you really call her so affectionately.” Lu Guanying couldn’t help but murmur.

Song Qingshu, too lazy to engage in a war of words with him, directly stepped in between the two, wrapping one arm around Cheng Yaojia’s waist and grabbing Lu Guanying by the collar with the other. Using his Qinggong, he sped away like the wind, quickly reaching outside Yuqing Temple.

Even as an enemy, Lu Guanying had to admit that the opponent’s Qinggong was truly exceptional; it might even rival that of his revered master, Huang Yaoshi.

Thinking about the vast gap in martial arts between himself and the other, and then glancing at his wife’s beautiful face, Lu Guanying felt as if a heavy stone was lodged in his heart, leaving him with a deep sense of helplessness.

Naturally, Song Qingshu had no time to concern himself with the weak’s mindset. He waved his hand, and several disguised Jin Dynasty guards rushed over. “First, escort these two back to the Daoai Yamen and call a doctor to treat Young Master Lu’s injuries.”

He had just seen Li Kexiu’s figure in Yuqing Temple and knew that he couldn’t delay any longer; it was time to confront Li Kexiu.

“Who wants to go to your place? Yaojia, we can go by ourselves!” Lu Guanying immediately protested, reaching out to pull his wife. However, Cheng Yaojia instinctively shrank back, leaving him frozen in place. In that moment, he faintly felt that he might have permanently lost his wife.

“Your Southern Song envoy group has been completely captured by the Mongols. The Mongols have many experts under their command, and you could be caught again at any moment. If you were to be captured, it wouldn’t matter to me, but if it leads to Yaojia being captured as well, that would be unforgivable,” Song Qingshu said coldly.

“You!” Lu Guanying glared angrily.

Only then did Song Qingshu say, “You can recuperate at my place. In all of Yangzhou, there’s probably no place safer than my residence.”

Lu Guanying wanted to say something, but Cheng Yaojia hurriedly grabbed his hand, softly advising, “Guanying, he has a sharp tongue but a kind heart. You mustn’t take his words to heart. Let’s go to his place to heal your injuries first, and then we can think of a way to rescue Master Han and Uncle Lu.”

Lu Guanying’s breath caught in his throat; his wife’s reasoning was sound, and he found no reason to refuse. With his pent-up frustration having nowhere to go, he could only grunt heavily.

Seeing her husband not opposing her, Cheng Yaojia felt delighted and ran over to Song Qingshu, her watery eyes looking up at him. “We’re going back, so… what about you?”

“I still have matters to attend to. You two go back first; I’ll be back shortly,” Song Qingshu smiled.

Cheng Yaojia’s face flushed red, thinking how it sounded like she was asking when he would return.

After sending the two away, Song Qingshu waited outside Yuqing Temple. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Li Kexiu emerged from the temple.

Song Qingshu discreetly removed Tang Kuo Bian’s mask in a secluded spot and boldly stepped out to block Li Kexiu’s entourage.

“How dare you obstruct the carriage of the Water and Land Commander!” Li Kexiu’s guards shouted in anger.

Song Qingshu smiled slightly, “An old friend comes to visit; is this how Lord Li treats his guests?”

Hearing the commotion, Li Kexiu came out to investigate. Upon seeing Song Qingshu’s face, he was taken aback and quickly ordered his men to step aside. Although Song Qingshu was now famous throughout the world, this world had no television or internet, and very few could recognize him. However, Li Kexiu had once been saved by him, so he naturally recognized him.

“Lord Li, may I have the honor of inviting you for a cup of tea?” Song Qingshu smiled gently.

Li Kexiu couldn’t help but show a hesitant expression, but ultimately nodded, “There are very few people in this world who receive an invitation from Young Master Song; how could I refuse?”

Seeing that he did not refer to him as Golden Serpent King, it was clear that they were meeting as old friends rather than for an official engagement. Song Qingshu understood this and did not rush to clarify, simply extending his hand in invitation, “Please!”

“Please!” Li Kexiu hurriedly offered with humility.

The two of them entered the nearby tavern, which happened to be the same one where Song Qingshu had previously encountered Mu Wanqing and her group. Li Kexiu’s subordinates had already cleared the tavern in advance, with everyone waiting downstairs; only Li Kexiu and Song Qingshu were on the second floor.

Originally, Li Kexiu’s skilled subordinates, such as Lu Feiqing, wanted to stay on the second floor to protect him, but Li Kexiu sent them down: “If the Golden Serpent King intends to harm me, what difference does it make whether you are here or not? Moreover, I have a close friendship with Young Master Song; how could there be any danger?”

Song Qingshu smiled and said, “Uncle Li truly has a grand demeanor; it is no wonder you manage the hundred thousand Green Camps of Jiangnan.”

Li Kexiu laughed and replied, “Young Master is being too polite. We are of the same generation; how could I dare to regard myself your uncle?”

Song Qingshu shook his head, saying, “I share a mutual interest with your daughter, and we are already good friends. As your daughter’s father, it is only right for me to call you uncle.”

With this statement, Li Kexiu naturally found it inconvenient to say anything further. However, upon hearing his words, he couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, pondering the nature of the relationship between the two.

“Uncle Li, now that you’ve come out from Yuqing Temple, have you finally made a decision?” After some small talk, Song Qingshu suddenly asked.

“What decision?” Li Kexiu picked up his teacup, concealing his inner discomfort.

“Uncle Li, since we are all on the same side, let’s be straightforward,” Song Qingshu filled his cup with tea before continuing, “I wonder if Uncle Li intends to choose the Southern Song or the Mongols?”

Li Kexiu’s expression changed several times, and he ultimately let out a bitter smile: “Indeed, nothing can be hidden from my wise nephew. To be honest, I am currently troubled by this matter.”

Song Qingshu smiled slightly: “Since Uncle Li is troubled by this matter, why not let your nephew propose a third option?”

“A third option?” Li Kexiu was taken aback, but soon thought of something, and his expression became difficult.

“I understand your concerns, Uncle. You can take a look at this before making any plans.” Song Qingshu took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to him.

“This is…?” Upon seeing the familiar handwriting on the envelope, Li Kexiu’s hands began to tremble slightly.

“Indeed, this was personally written by your esteemed wife. I heard that your family was detained by the Manchus, so I was somewhat cautious. Therefore, I specifically rescued your esteemed wife and your son from the capital of Yanjing; they are currently being well taken care of in the Golden Serpent Camp. I would never dare to be negligent in this matter,” Song Qingshu said slowly.

The reason he had been waiting all this time, aside from letting the Mongols and Southern Song fight each other, was also to await news from the capital. He had secretly sent people to bring Li Kexiu’s family to the Golden Serpent Camp, and only recently had he received a response.