Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 529: Prey Becomes the Hunter

Huang Rong’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said, “It’s already late. If someone else sees you here, it could cause unnecessary trouble. If you have anything to say, it can wait until tomorrow. I hope you understand.”

Song Qingshu laughed heartily, “No need to worry, Madam. Everyone here, from inside to outside, is under my command. Even if they see something, who would dare utter a word?” With that, he ignored Huang Rong’s refusal, pushed open the door, and walked in.

‘What did he mean by that? See something and not dare to say anything?’ Huang Rong’s heart raced even faster.

As Song Qingshu entered, Huang Rong couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose, “Have you been drinking?”

“I had a few drinks with the brothers from the Golden Serpent Camp, but don’t worry, Madam. I’ve never been drunk no matter how much I drink; I’m completely sober right now.” He finished speaking and stared straight at her.

‘The more you say that, the more I worry!’ Huang Rong felt uneasy under his gaze. However, having faced countless challenges over the years, she quickly calmed down and pretended to say casually, “You’ve drunk quite a lot. The Princess and Leader Zhou would definitely be concerned. I’ll send someone to prepare some sobering soup for you.”

Seeing her indirectly warning him with Ah Jiu and Zhou Zhiruo, Song Qingshu found it amusing and pretended not to understand, replying nonchalantly, “Ah Jiu is inspecting the provinces, and Zhou Zhiruo is integrating the surrendered Qing soldiers. Neither of them is on the mountain right now.”

Hearing that both Ah Jiu and Zhou Zhiruo were not on the mountain, Huang Rong truly panicked, silently cursing her misfortune. Had she known, she would have left earlier rather than fall into such an awkward situation again!

Huang Rong had always prided herself on her cleverness, but ever since she was manipulated by Song Qingshu in the cave, she found herself feeling flustered every time she saw him, unable to maintain her usual composure and wit.

Recalling Song Qingshu’s almost supernatural behavior recently, Huang Rong felt a deep sense of powerlessness. It seemed the only thing she could do was pray that the man before her wouldn’t suddenly unleash his beastly nature.
“Have the servants been treating you well during this time? If there’s anything amiss, do let me know,” Song Qingshu’s eyes roamed around the room before he casually sat on the bed.

“They’ve all been very attentive,” Huang Rong muttered inwardly, thinking that if it weren’t for his presence, she’d be much more comfortable.

“That’s good,” Song Qingshu smiled, suddenly lifting a nearby curtain to take a sniff, “What kind of perfume are you using, Madam? It smells wonderful. I should have Ah Jiu try it someday.”

Huang Rong instantly understood his indecent intentions—having his women wear her fragrance! Her face flushed as she pretended not to hear his comment, instead asking, “What do you think of my daughter, Guo Fu?”

Realizing she couldn’t let him control the conversation, Huang Rong quickly changed the topic. If she could really matchmake the two of them, she thought, I’d be your elder, and I wouldn’t need to fear you anymore…

“Guo Fu?” Song Qingshu was taken aback. Why was she suddenly bringing up Guo Fu? He instinctively replied, “She’s quite beautiful.”

Seeing that he offered just those few simple words of praise and nothing more, Huang Rong grew anxious, “Is that all?”

Song Qingshu thought that with Guo Fu’s temper, if not for her parents being Huang Rong and Guo Jing, and her own beauty, she’d likely have been slain on the streets long ago.

Of course, it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak ill of her daughter in front of the mother. After a moment’s thought, Song Qingshu added, “Miss Guo has inherited most of your looks, Madam. She is certainly a beauty, but she’s still too immature and far from possessing your mature charm and allure.”

Sigh, when it comes down to it, Guo Fu’s only compliment-worthy trait is her beauty, so Song Qingshu could only heap praises on that and flatter Huang Rong in the process.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing his words, Huang Rong’s breathing became slightly uneven, and her face alternated between red and white.

Huang Rong could tell Song Qingshu was being sincere, which gave her a strange feeling, but she quickly dismissed it. Not wanting the conversation to veer back to herself, she quickly stiffened her expression and asked, “Besides being pretty, do you have any other impressions of Fu’er?”

“She looks quite like you, Madam,” Song Qingshu smiled, staring at her, “Why do you keep asking about your daughter? Are you planning to marry her off to me?”

Having her intentions immediately seen through, Huang Rong was filled with frustration. He was not only superior in martial arts but also as intelligent as her, even more annoying than Yang Guo!

“So what if I am? So what if I’m not?” Huang Rong gritted her teeth and huffed without confirming either way.

Song Qingshu stretched lazily, a sly smile on his face, “If you really want to play matchmaker, Madam, I’d prefer you marry yourself to me rather than your daughter.”

“What did you just say!” Huang Rong’s expression immediately changed.

Song Qingshu shrugged and lay on the bed, “I’m saying I’ve been weary from battles lately, my whole body sore and tired. When Zhiruo and the others were around, they’d massage my shoulders and back every day, so my body didn’t give out. But today, they’re both absent. If you don’t mind, Madam, could you lend a hand for the sake of resisting foreign invaders and massage my shoulders?”

Huang Rong was both angry and amused. He actually had the audacity to use such a grand justification for getting a massage! She snorted coldly, “So if I don’t massage you, I’m obstructing the cause of resisting foreign invaders?”

Song Qingshu chuckled, “Madam, as a heroine among women, you naturally understand the gravity of the situation. Besides, it’s just a simple task for you—a brief effort can contribute to the cause against the Qing, and the people will praise your discernment.”

“You have plenty of maids and servants in your quarters. Why bother coming to me?” Huang Rong replied sternly, inwardly fuming. Given her current status, how could she possibly massage a man, especially when she was already married?

“They’re nothing compared to you, Madam,” Song Qingshu sighed wistfully.

Sensing a deeper meaning in his words, Huang Rong couldn’t help but recall certain scenes between them, feeling a flutter in her heart. After her expression shifted several times, she hesitated before saying, “It’s not impossible for me to massage your shoulders, but you must promise not to mention it to anyone afterward.”

Song Qingshu was overjoyed, “Of course, of course, come on.”

Seeing his eager posture, Huang Rong was both angry and amused, adding, “Not even to your other women.”

“I won’t say a word,” Song Qingshu nodded like a pecking chick.

Only after he agreed did Huang Rong slowly walk over. Seeing Song Qingshu smiling at her, she snapped, “Turn around and don’t look at me!”

“Alright, alright!” Song Qingshu obediently turned his head away.

Huang Rong bit her lip, and finally, she knelt on the bed, her trembling hands pressing onto his shoulders.

“Oh~ that feels good!” Song Qingshu couldn’t help but moan.

“If you keep making noises like that, I’ll stop,” Huang Rong scolded.

Seeing Song Qingshu instantly shut his mouth, Huang Rong nodded in satisfaction and continued massaging his shoulders.

“Madam, your hands are truly extraordinary… huh?” Song Qingshu was enjoying himself when suddenly his body went numb.

After swiftly striking several acupoints on Song Qingshu’s body, Huang Rong breathed a sigh of relief, jumped off the bed, and looked at the unconscious man lying there, a proud pout on her lips revealing her triumph, “Hmph, did you really think you could bully me so easily?”

At that moment, Huang Rong felt as if she had instantly become ten years younger, reverting to the mischievous young girl she once was on Peach Blossom Island.

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