Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1078: A Green Hat on His Head

Thinking of Zhou Zhiruo’s beautiful face, Song Qingshu felt a warmth rise in his heart. He then said to Li Kexiu, “Feelings can’t be calculated like that. Of course, if Uncle Li insists on the Empress’s position, I can agree. But Uncle Li, have you forgotten the lesson of Liu Xiu and Guo Shengtong?”

Li Kexiu’s expression immediately changed. How could he not know this story? 

Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, deeply loved his wife Yin Lihua. However, to gain the support of the 100,000 troops under the command of the King of Zhending, he had to marry Guo Shengtong, the granddaughter of the King of Zhending, and make her Empress. However, Liu Xiu always loved Yin Lihua deeply, and felt guilty towards her for this incident, always wanting to make amends. The final result was that Guo Shengtong was deposed, and the King of Zhending’s lineage was almost exterminated for involvement in a rebellion.

Song Qingshu’s meaning was clear: don’t push me. If you push me any further, I might agree to your request first, like Liu Xiu did, and then betray you later.

“Since that’s the case, my dear nephew, consider it carefully. Contact me again when you’ve made up your mind.” Li Kexiu stood up, his face showing displeasure, and left with a curt remark.

Song Qingshu smiled bitterly. He actually had a more tactful approach, but for the sake of the future, he didn’t want to lie and deceive. And for some reason, he suddenly felt a surge of sentimentality. Was it because Zhou Zhiruo was involved? Song Qingshu fell into deep thought.

Cheng Yaojia saw Li Kexiu and his entourage filing out and entered with a puzzled look: “Didn’t it work?” She didn’t know what the two had discussed, but judging from Li Kexiu’s expression when he left, the meeting clearly hadn’t gone well.

“Things fell a little short.” Song Qingshu sighed inwardly. According to the generally accepted standards of his previous life, “a little short” and “far short” were essentially the same. 

For example, two startup advertising companies, A and B, both performed exceptionally well on a certain project. However, the client felt that B was slightly inferior to A and ultimately chose A. For B, although it was only by a small margin, they had already lost everything.

“Let’s go, take a walk with me,” Song Qingshu sighed and pulled Cheng Yaojia outside.

After spending this time together, Cheng Yaojia had become accustomed to his affectionate touches. Her face flushed slightly as she followed behind him.

Song Qingshu remained silent the entire way. 

After hesitating for a long time, Cheng Yaojia finally mustered the courage to ask, “Um… why did the Jin delegation withdraw?”

Song Qingshu glanced back at her. Her fair, rosy cheeks were incredibly cute and alluring. He couldn’t resist pinching her cheek. “You want to ask how Lu Guanying is, right?”

Cheng Yaojia turned her head away shyly. Although every inch of her skin was no secret to Song Qingshu, such intimate behavior in broad daylight on the street still made her feel a little guilty.

“Don’t worry, no one will make things difficult for him. This is just a small lesson for him,” Song Qingshu said calmly. He had been verbally insulted by him several times before, and although he couldn’t really do anything to him out of consideration for Cheng Yaojia, a small punishment was acceptable.

“Oh,” Cheng Yaojia breathed a sigh of relief. After spending time together, she believed he wouldn’t stoop to lying to her about this.

Suddenly, Song Qingshu reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. He looked down at her and asked, “What are your plans for the future, Madam?”

“Ah?” Cheng Yaojia was startled by his sudden action and instinctively looked around guiltily.

“Does Madam intend to continue being a virtuous wife and loving mother with Young Master Lu, or do you have other plans?” Song Qingshu asked. 

“A virtuous wife and loving mother?” Cheng Yaojia smiled bitterly. “Do I still deserve those titles? A virtuous wife? After doing that kind of thing with you, what kind of virtuous wife am I? A loving mother? We’ve been married for so long, and we still don’t have any children. My mother-in-law has always had some complaints about this. What kind of loving mother am I?”

Song Qingshu leaned in and gently bit her ear, smiling as he said, “I personally checked last night. Madam’s body is definitely fine. The lack of children is probably Young Master Lu’s problem. If Madam wants to appease her mother-in-law, how about I go through the trouble a few more times and give Madam a son?”

“How will you give me one?” Cheng Yaojia asked, confused, then realized what he meant. Her face flushed instantly, and she couldn’t help but pout, “You’re so naughty!”

“Let go of my wife!” 

Just then, a furious shout came from not far away. 

Cheng Yaojia’s face turned deathly pale. 

Song Qingshu turned around and saw Lu Guanying glaring at the two of them with red eyes. Lu Guanying, already tormented by the events of the previous night, was only discovered when officials from the Daotai Yamen came to clean the room. He found the entire Jin delegation had vanished, leaving him feeling utterly defeated.

While the events of the previous night had been painful, he had been willing to endure the sacrifice to rescue Han Dingxiao. But seeing the empty Jin delegation, he felt utterly betrayed.

The thought of his wife being taken advantage of fueled his rage. Ignoring his injuries, he grabbed his sword and searched the streets for the Jin people. But the Jin delegation had already left the city; where could he find them?

The more he searched, the more frustrated and enraged he became. Suddenly, he spotted Cheng Yaojia in the distance. Overjoyed, he was filled with rage, for his wife was not alone; she was being embraced by a young man, her face flushed with shyness.

He already felt cuck0lded by Tang Kuo Bian, and now with another man appearing, he felt like he was being treated like a cuckold.

Growing angrier, he charged forward with his knife, aiming to kill the adulterous couple.

Song Qingshu shielded Cheng Yaojia with one hand and easily caught Lu Guanying’s knife with the other, coldly saying, “Young Master Lu, is this how you treat the man who saved your wife?”

“Huh?” Not only was Lu Guanying confused, but Cheng Yaojia was also dumbfounded, staring blankly at the man beside her, wondering what he was up to.

“What do you mean?” Lu Guanying tried to pull his knife away, but it wouldn’t budge, so he could only stare at him and ask. “Today I saw your wife being escorted by several Jin soldiers, so I rescued her. She told me you were also imprisoned by the Jin, and I was just about to come and rescue you when you arrived and immediately drew your sword,” Song Qingshu said calmly. 

Cheng Yaojia was impressed; he had managed to fabricate such a flawless lie in such a short time.

“Is that really so?” Lu Guanying looked at his wife with suspicion.

Cheng Yaojia’s face flushed slightly. For some reason, she subconsciously followed Song Qingshu’s words: “Yes, it was this young master who saved me.” A slight sense of guilt rose in her heart; after all, it wasn’t right to deceive her husband with a stranger. However, thinking about how her husband had forced her to do such a thing, which was definitely not something a husband should do, she immediately felt much relieved. Besides, she hadn’t lied; Song Qingshu had indeed saved her many times these past few days.

Lu Guanying hurriedly withdrew his sword, looking apologetic at Song Qingshu, and said, “I’m so sorry, I misunderstood you, benefactor. May I ask your esteemed name?”

“I am Song Qingshu of the Golden Serpent Camp.” Song Qingshu’s attitude towards him had completely changed from Tang Kuo Bian’s, becoming much more humble and polite.

“You are the Golden Serpent King, Song Qingshu?” Lu Guanying’s face showed shock. “Your reputation has long been legendary, and I have always admired you. To meet you in person is truly an honor.”

Cheng Yaojia, standing nearby, heard her husband’s words and her expression turned strange. She thought to herself, “If you knew that the man who ravaged your wife last night was this very person, I wonder if you would still feel so fortunate.”

“Young Master Lu of Guiyun Manor is a staunch advocate of loyalty and integrity, which I greatly admire,” Song Qingshu said with a slight smile.

Lu Guanying’s face flushed. He thought to himself, what was his own reputation compared to Song Qingshu’s? Although he knew it was just polite talk, he was still somewhat pleased. “How does Young Master Song recognize me?” Lu Guanying suddenly realized something, his expression changing as he stared intently at him.

Cheng Yaojia trembled upon hearing this, her heart leaping into her throat, her face filled with worry as she looked at the man beside her.

“The Golden Serpent Camp, if it wants to establish itself in the world, certainly has this much intelligence capability,” Song Qingshu said calmly.

Lu Guanying was taken aback, but immediately his suspicions vanished. With numerous powerful forces rising in the world, each was heavily investing in intelligence agencies. It wasn’t surprising that Song Qingshu, as a regional leader, knew his information.

Cheng Yaojia breathed a sigh of relief, gently biting her lip, her cheeks flushed. She thought to herself that this man could lie without batting an eye.

“May I ask what brings Young Master Song to Yangzhou this time?” Lu Guanying asked tentatively.

“Not long ago, I dreamt that I would meet a destined person in Yangzhou, so I came here specifically to relax,” Song Qingshu said, glancing at Cheng Yaojia discreetly.

Cheng Yaojia felt a flutter in her heart under his gaze. She glanced subconsciously at her husband, and seeing he hadn’t noticed her, she relaxed, suddenly feeling a strange thrill.

Lu Guanying, however, didn’t notice their exchange. He was thinking that Song Qingshu’s trip was definitely for Li Kexiu, a direct competitor of the Southern Song Dynasty. But the thought of Han Guoxuan made him dejected; at this moment, he didn’t care about being a competitor.

The thought of rescuing Han Guoxuan filled him with a burning rage. That damned bastard Tang Kuo Bian, he’d taken advantage of her and left, completely breaking his promise to rescue Han Guoxuan.

“Young Master Song, I have something I want to say to my wife, but I don’t know…” Lu Guanying, eager to inquire about Tang Kuo Bian, could only say to Song Qingshu with a troubled expression.

“Please, both of you!” Song Qingshu smiled slightly and gestured for her to proceed.