Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 828: The Unrestrained Indulgence Pill

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but feel a chill listening to this. The words sounded strange no matter how he heard them—like coaxing an innocent young girl. But since Empress Pei Man was playing the villain, he was happy to stay silent and reap the benefits.

“W-we want… brother-in-law…” The two girls’ voices were barely audible, but since everyone was so close, their words were heard clearly.

“He is not your brother-in-law!” Zhao Yingluo massaged her temples, looking like she was about to faint. She didn’t even know how to describe her sisters—were they naive and innocent, or just plain foolish?

‘No! They’re still just young.’ Though her sisters were a bit silly, as their elder sister, she had to protect them. How could she stand by and let this happen?

Song Qingshu remained silent, but Empress Pei Man sneered, “You want to save your sisters in the Laundry Courtyard, yet you’re unwilling to make sacrifices? Since when does the world offer perfect solutions? If not for a twist of fate, the price you’d have to pay would be far greater. And now you act coy after getting off easy?”

Zhao Yingluo was momentarily speechless. She knew there was truth in the empress’ words, but something about the whole situation felt off. “Why can’t we just use Prince Wei’s…? Making this guy do it—what kind of arrangement is this?”

Song Qingshu shrugged. “Don’t drag me into this. From start to finish, I’ve been the victim here. Even if you begged me, I might not be willing.”

Empress Pei Man pointed at Zhao Hu’er and Zhao Yuanyuan. “This was your sisters’ own request. Why don’t you ask them what they think?”

Zhao Yingluo turned to her sisters, exasperated. “You’re both girls—how could you make such… such a request?” She had almost blurted out shameless but swallowed the word at the last moment, realizing it was too harsh.

“Sister, we just don’t want Prince Wei’s filthy stuff on us. The thought alone makes us sick—we might have nightmares for the rest of our lives,” Zhao Yuan’yuan protested in a small voice.

“And you don’t find his stuff disgusting?” Zhao Yingluo couldn’t understand her sisters’ stubbornness.

“Brother-in-law is different,” Zhao Hu’er muttered, pouting.

“How is he different?” Zhao Yingluo snapped.

“Honestly, how can you be so dense as an elder sister?” Empress Pei Man interjected. “Can’t you see your little sisters have taken a liking to Young Master Song? Of course they wouldn’t mind his… contributions.”

“N-no we haven’t~” The two girls blushed and protested in unison.

“How is that possible? They’ve only met him once—how could they fall for him so quickly?” Zhao Yingluo was stunned.

“Love strikes unexpectedly. Besides…” Empress Pei Man shot Song Qingshu a playful glance, “Young Master Song is handsome, powerful, and a renowned hero. Even I fancy him—let alone these two inexperienced girls.”

“Shameless! Have you no decency?” Zhao Yingluo spat.

“This is the difference between us grassland women and you Han women. We like who we like—no need for convoluted games.” Empress Pei Man glanced at the two girls on the bed. “Though they’re Han, they grew up in the Jin land. In this regard, they’re more like us.”

Seeing Zhao Yingluo still hesitating, Empress Pei Man delivered the final blow: “Let’s be blunt—Young Master Song has already seen and touched your sisters. Do you really think they can marry anyone else after this?”

“Hey, hey, let me reiterate—I only did that to deceive you. Who knew fate would bring us to the same side?” Song Qingshu protested as the blame shifted to him.

“Oh? So you’ll do the deed but refuse responsibility?” Zhao Yingluo’s eyebrows shot up, forgetting that just moments ago, she had been the one objecting.

“What ‘deed’ are you talking about?” Song Qingshu scowled. “Where I’m from, a little hugging is perfectly nor—” His voice trailed off. In his past life, casual touching might have been normal, but gr0ping a n@ked girl—even if it was to fake evidence—was definitely not.

“Master Song’s hometown is Wudang Mountain in Xiangyang. Since when is such behavior normal in the Song Dynasty?” Zhao Yingluo retorted coldly.

“Fine, I’ll take responsibility. Two princesses? I can handle that.” Song Qingshu stood up, exasperated. For a moment, he felt a pang of nostalgia—once, he had been an idealistic young man who believed in pure love. But in this chaotic world, he had learned to embrace things he once scorned, like marriages of convenience…

“Wishful thinking! Hu’er and Yuanyuan are beautiful, noble princesses of the Great Song Dynasty. You think you can just claim them?” Zhao Yingluo felt inexplicably irritated.

“What ‘Great Song princesses’? Right now, they’re just two destitute slaves. If not for Young Master Song’s restraint earlier, they’d already be his,” Empress Pei Man scoffed. “You keep interfering—could it be jealousy?”

Zhao Yingluo’s heart skipped a beat. “Why would I be jealous?”

“Perhaps someone secretly admires Master Song but can’t bear to see her sisters get there first. Too ashamed to fight them openly, so she sabotages things in secret.” Empress Pei Man’s words struck deep, making Zhao Yingluo pale.

“Are you two really sure about this?” Zhao Yingluo asked through gritted teeth.

Zhao Hu’er and Zhao Yuan’yuan exchanged glances, their faces burning, but neither spoke. Zhao Yingluo understood immediately. “Fine. Do whatever you want.” With that, she stormed off, her expression icy.

“Sister! Sister!” The two girls reached for her, but she was already gone. In their haste, the blankets slipped, and they hurriedly pulled them back up.

“Why is she so angry?” Song Qingshu stared blankly as Zhao Yingluo vanished out the window.

“Master Song may be a brilliant strategist, but you understand little of a woman’s heart.” Empress Pei Man chuckled but didn’t elaborate. “We’re running out of time. Let’s finish setting up. I’ll prepare Prince Wei—you two help Young Master Song.”

“We have to do it?” Zhao Hu’er was stunned. “Earlier, brother-in-law just tapped Prince Wei. Can’t he do it himself?”

Song Qingshu’s face darkened. “That move damages the kidney meridian. I’m not stupid enough to use it on myself.”

“Then… what should we do?” Zhao Yuanyuan asked blankly.

Song Qingshu was at a loss for words. What kind of mess is this? He’d never had to work so hard to woo a woman before. Trying to have your cake and eat it too is such a hassle.

Empress Pei Man, however, seemed to read his mind. Leaning close to the girls, she whispered, “What you need to do is…”

“What?!” The two girls flushed crimson, their resolve wavering.

“Just remember—this is a necessary sacrifice to save your suffering sisters,” Empress Pei Man coaxed. “Besides, you’re doing this for a man you like. What’s there to be shy about?”

As the girls’ expressions hardened with determination, their faces once again taking on that saintly glow of sacrifice, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but marvel at Empress Pei Man’s unparalleled persuasion skills.

After convincing the girls, Empress Pei Man began staging the scene. She poured wine down Prince Wei’s throat, letting it spill onto his robes until the stench of alcohol filled the room.

Time was running short. If they delayed any longer, dawn would break, ruining everything. Setting aside his reservations, Song Qingshu strode toward the phoenix bed.

*****

When Song Qingshu finally stepped down from the bed, he met Empress Pei Man’s teasing gaze. “Master Song, you’re quite… capable.” She had long finished her own preparations and had been waiting. Through the curtains, she glimpsed the girls’ flushed lips, still glistening with traces of their task, and gestured for them to wipe it off.

Song Qingshu coughed awkwardly. “Is everything else ready?”

“Almost. Just the dead guard left.” She pointed to a corner. “Originally, I planned to fake his escape, but since your disguise skills are so superb, you’ll take his face. When the emperor questions you, it’ll be more convincing.”

Song Qingshu nodded, not bothering to correct her assumption that his disguises used real skin.

“In about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, give this to Prince Wei.” She handed him a crimson pill.

“What is this?” The moment he caught its fragrance, his mind grew hazy, startling him.

“This pill is called ‘Unrestrained Indulgence.’ It’s made from dozens of rare Western herbs. It clouds the mind and unleashes one’s deepest desires, making them blurt out secrets they’d never dare speak. To outsiders, it’ll seem like drunken rambling. The success of our plan hinges on this.” Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of a gambler.

“That potent?” Song Qingshu was impressed. ‘If I get the chance, I need to learn its formula. Perfect for framing people.’

“I’ll go summon the emperor now. Young Master Song, rehearse your lines with the girls—make sure they don’t forget.” With that, Empress Pei Man lifted her skirts and hurried off.

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