Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 942: A Colossal Secret (part 1)

Pucha Ahihu was stunned for a moment, unable to process what was happening. “What did I miscalculate?”

Wanyan Chongjie mimicked her mother’s earlier expression and sighed deeply. “Mother, have you forgotten that my surname is Wanyan?”

“Yes, so what?” Pucha Ahihu was still confused.

“Song Qingzhu’s current identity is Emperor Xizong. By family hierarchy, he’s my uncle. How can I marry him?” Wanyan Chongjie tilted her head and looked at her mother.

Pucha Ahihu’s expression finally changed. She had been subconsciously considering her daughter’s marriage to Song Qingzhu but had forgotten that his true identity couldn’t be exposed. His public identity was Emperor Xizong, so how could he take his own niece as a consort?

Wanyan Ping didn’t have this problem because she was Emperor Xizong’s biological sister. As a princess, she already lived in the palace. Whatever they did inside the palace, who would know? Once she became pregnant, they could attribute the child to one of the consorts. With the entire palace under their control, how would the court officials know any different?

Could she really let such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away? Pucha Ahihu felt extremely unwilling.

A sly smile suddenly appeared on Wanyan Chongjie’s face. “Mother, there might actually be a way.”

“What way?” Pucha Ahihu’s eyes lit up, and she asked urgently.

Wanyan Chongjie clasped her hands behind her back, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered into her mother’s ear, “Mother, even though I can’t marry into the palace, you don’t have that restriction. You could marry him. I wouldn’t mind having another brother…” After saying this, she giggled and ran away.

Pucha Ahihu’s expression shifted dramatically. Her charming face flushed bright red as she shouted after her daughter, “You little brat! How dare you joke about something like that with your mother!”

Wanyan Chongjie knew martial arts. Even without consciously using her Qinggong, she was far faster than Pucha Ahihu. Watching her daughter giggle and disappear into the distance, Pucha Ahihu stamped her foot in frustration like a young girl. However, after calming down, she suddenly became lost in thought. Perhaps her entering the palace wasn’t such a bad idea…

She shared no blood relation with Emperor Xizong and had been widowed for many years. In the customs of the Jin Dynasty, it was normal for women to remarry, so her entering the palace wouldn’t face much resistance. Additionally, she came from the Pucha family. This marriage would further bind their interests together.

Of course, she didn’t truly intend to marry Song Qingzhu. It was merely a pretense. Even if she were to bear a son for Song Qingzhu, without Wanyan bloodline, how could he compete for the throne with Wanyan Ping’s son? The task of bearing Song Qingzhu a son still fell to Chongjie.

Pucha Ahihu thought it through clearly. Since Chongjie couldn’t openly enter the palace, everything had to be done in secret. Once she became a consort, Chongjie could frequently visit her in the palace legitimately, giving her more opportunities to be with Song Qingzhu without arousing suspicion in the capital. Moreover, there was another advantage: when Chongjie eventually bore a son for Song Qingzhu, her status as a consort could help legitimize the child’s identity…

“But this way, Chongjie’s sacrifice would be too great…” Pucha Ahihu sighed softly, standing still, her face filled with hesitation.

*****

Meanwhile, in the Hall of Benevolent Governance, Song Qingzhu looked at the elegantly poised woman kneeling below and said apologetically, “I have pardoned your clansmen. As compensation, I will bring you into the palace and confer upon you the title of Noble Consort…”

According to the Jin Dynasty’s consort hierarchy, below the Empress, the four great consorts were Primary Consort, Noble Consort, Illustrious Consort, and Beautiful Consort. The Noble Consort ranked second among the four, making her one of the most esteemed women in the harem. Given her current status as the wife of the rebel Wanyan Liang, being executed would have been expected, and being enslaved would have been considered lenient. Thus, Song Qingzhu’s offer was quite sincere.

Tudan Jing looked dazed but eventually sighed deeply. “I don’t know what came over me before, betraying my husband and single-mindedly assisting you, leading to his downfall… Ah, what’s done is done. Regret is useless now. If you could, in light of the help I provided, arrange a Buddhist chamber in the palace for me to live out my remaining years with prayer and solitude, I would be eternally grateful.”

She didn’t seek death, nor did she refuse the position of Noble Consort. After all, she had the Tudan family behind her. Her actions had nearly led to the family’s destruction. The only thing she could do for them now was to accept this title, as it would ensure the family wouldn’t be completely eradicated.

She didn’t hope to leave the palace either. She knew too many secrets. The fact that Song Qingzhu hadn’t silenced her was already an act of mercy. How could he possibly let her leave his sight?

At the same time, Tudan Jing felt immense guilt toward her husband. How could she bear to become Song Qingzhu’s consort? After much thought, she believed that living a solitary life in the palace, devoted to Buddhism, was the most suitable outcome for her.

Song Qingzhu clearly understood her thoughts and nodded without hesitation. “Alright.” He could be ruthless toward Wanyan Liang, but he had always felt guilty toward Tudan Jing. This outcome was best for everyone.

Remembering the revenge plot of Chongjie and her mother, Song Qingzhu hesitated for a moment before calling out to Tudan Jing, who was about to leave. “I will try my best not to disturb you in the future, but tonight, I want you to stay with me. Consider it a farewell.”

Tudan Jing’s face flushed. She hadn’t expected such a request. But since she had accepted the position of Noble Consort, serving the emperor was a given. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded slightly and replied in a barely audible voice, “As you wish.”

Song Qingzhu certainly wasn’t cruel enough to hurt her again. However, for Chongjie and her mother to exact their revenge, Wanyan Liang needed to know the whole story. This meant keeping Tudan Jing in the dark, having her cooperate unknowingly. As long as she never learned the truth, she would never be hurt.

*****

After nightfall, Song Qingzhu dismissed the guards around the Laundry Courtyard. Within a radius of several dozen zhang, not a soul was in sight, ensuring that no one would know what happened tonight.

Seeing Song Qingzhu bring Chongjie and her mother inside, Wanyan Liang couldn’t help but laugh loudly. “What? Are you afraid I’ll be lonely and brought my old w0man to keep me company?”

Wanyan Chongjie rushed forward and slapped him twice. Wanyan Liang didn’t seem to mind. “Tsk tsk, you’re quite the fiery little thing. It’s a pity I never found the opportunity to make a m0ve on you before. I thought once I ascended the throne, you and your m0ther would willingly climb into my bed. But man proposes, God disposes. I never got to enjoy the b0th of you serving me t0gether. It’s a colossal regret, I must say. Brother Song, it seems this exquisite mother-daughter pair can only benefit you.”

Wanyan Chongjie trembled with rage and aimed a palm strike at his crown. If it landed, given her skill and hatred, Wanyan Liang wouldn’t survive.

Song Qingzhu frowned and intercepted her strike. 

Wanyan Chongjie was enraged, “Are you helping him too?”

Pucha Ahihu spoke up, “My foolish daughter, Wanyan Liang knows his fate will be miserable. He’s intentionally  provoking you, hoping you’ll kill him and give him a quick death.”

Wanyan Liang looked surprised. “In the end, it’s my old l0ver who knows me best.”

Pucha Ahihu smiled faintly. “There’s no need to provoke me. I’m not so easily fooled. I’m here today to settle old and new scores together.”

Wanyan Liang immediately became interested. “Oh? How do you plan to take revenge?” Given his current situation, he had nothing left to fear and didn’t take her threats seriously.

A strange expression appeared on Pucha Ahihu’s face. “Weren’t you always fond of def!ling other men’s w!ves and daughters? You particularly enjoyed hum!liating w!ves in front of their husbands…”

Before she could finish, Wanyan Liang laughed triumphantly. “So what? That time in front of your dead husband’s memorial tablet, d0ing you while you were in m0urning clothes was incredibly satisfying. Brother Song, although we are enemies, I must admit we share many similarities. I suggest you try this sometimes. The act is guaranteed to blow your mind.”

Song Qingzhu gave an awkward smile. Sometimes he had the thought that, if not for their irreconcilable conflict of interests, they might have been good friends.

Despite her usually calm demeanor, Pucha Ahihu’s chest heaved with anger at his words. Remembering the hum!liation she had suffered that day, she trembled with rage.

Noticing her trembling chest, Wanyan Liang whistled. “Wow, your mounds have become even fuller.”

Song Qingzhu went over and patted her shoulder. Pucha Ahihu finally regained her composure. “Hmph, don’t get too c0cky. You’re about to experience the same hum!liation those poor husbands suffered.”

Wanyan Liang was baffled, but Song Qingzhu walked over, sealed his acupoints, and stuffed him under the bed.

A look of vengeful satisfaction appeared on Pucha Ahihu’s face. “Wanyan Liang, you’ve committed countless evils. Now you’ll get to watch firsthand how your own w!fe is brought to clim@x by another man.”

Song Qingzhu frowned and sealed the acupoints of both women. Under their puzzled gazes, he explained, “I only agreed to help you get revenge on Wanyan Liang. But Tudan Jing is innocent. I’ve already wronged her enough. I don’t want her to know about any of this.” He worried that the mother and daughter, blinded by hatred, might reveal everything at a critical moment. If that happened, Tudan Jing would have no face left to live. So he sealed their acupoints preemptively.

Song Qingzhu looked around but found no other hiding spots. So he stuffed both w0men under the bed as well and then walked out.

Some time later, the door opened again. Wanyan Liang and the others instinctively looked toward the entrance. Through the hanging bedsheet, they could see Song Qingzhu had been joined by a w0man. The exquisite patterns on her skirt and the style of her shoes easily indicated her noble status.

Song Qingzhu closed the door and led the w0man toward the bed.

“Why here? It feels strange,” the woman said. 

Upon hearing her voice, Wanyan Liang’s breathing became hurried. He recognized it as his w!fe’s voice.

Song Qingzhu replied, “I like this place. I wanted to try something new.”

Wanyan Liang felt a surge of hope. He knew his wife was naturally serene and modest. She usually wouldn’t agree to even slightly unconventional p0sitions. Now that Song Qingzhu was making such an absurd request, she would surely refuse.

To his surprise, Tudan Jing only hesitated for a moment before Song Qingzhu pulled her gently, and she silently followed him to the bed. They sat side by side on the edge. 

Wanyan Liang could only see four feet and grew increasingly anxious.

“Let me make this clear upfront. I’m only agreeing to this once. Don’t disturb me in the future,” Tudan Jing said.

Song Qingzhu chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll build a Buddhist hall for you in the palace later. You can meditate there in peace without any outsiders disturbing you. But if I want to visit you, you can’t refuse.”

“You’re so unreasonable!” Tudan Jing couldn’t help but playfully punch him.

Under the bed, Wanyan Liang was on the verge of tears. His w!fe usually only showed such girlish charm around him. Now she was fl!rting with another m@n in the same way.

“Can you… spare Wanyan Liang?” Tudan Jing suddenly asked, moving Wanyan Liang deeply. It seemed his wife still remembered him.

“If you serve me well enough, maybe I’ll consider it,” Song Qingzhu said. 

Wanyan Liang was furious. This was a trick he often used to deceive w0men. Now karma had come back to bite him so quickly.

Wanyan Liang desperately wanted to warn his w!fe not to fall for it, but he was immobilized and mute. How could he warn her? 

In his anxiety, he suddenly heard his w!fe make “Mmm…” sounds, as if her m0uth was blocked. His heart turned icy cold. He knew without a doubt that another m@n was now ki$$ing his w!fe’s red lips.