Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 951: The Art of Stealing Hearts

Watching Ouyang Feng’s bold and hearty laughter as he walked away, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Everyone spoke of the Western Poison’s cunning and ruthlessness, yet to him, the old man seemed quite endearing. It appeared everyone had different facets to their character.

After instructing the guards at the tent entrance to keep their distance, Song Qingshu walked in with great anticipation.

Hearing the movement, Daiqisi, who was sitting on the bed, glanced up at him before lowering her eyes again.

Noticing her expression, Song Qingshu was slightly taken aback. “You seem somewhat resigned to your fate now?”

A flicker of emotion finally crossed Daiqisi’s face as she coldly replied, “You merely want a pledge of allegiance. But have you considered that even if you obtain me through such means, you should thank the heavens if I don’t despise you to the bone? How could I possibly be loyal to you?”

Song Qingshu nodded with satisfaction, sat down beside her, and casually unsealed her pressure points. Given his martial prowess, whether her acupoints were sealed or not made no difference. “I’m pleased. It’s taken quite some time, but you’ve finally found a decent excuse.”

Regaining her mobility, Daiqisi instinctively shifted a few feet away, as if seeking a sliver of security in the distance.

Song Qingshu noticed her subtle movement and chuckled. “Madam, why not listen to a story? Over the years, the Persian Ming Cult has been at war with the Mongols. You must be familiar with the deeds of Genghis Khan, the Great Khan of Mongolia, right?”

“That fiend? Which aspect are you referring to?” Before meeting Song Qingshu, Daiqisi had viewed the Ming Cult’s leader as a god-like figure and Genghis Khan as a demonic one. Now, however, she placed Song Qingshu in the same category as those two.

“Regarding his h@rem,” Song Qingshu replied.

“Hmph! That monster took pleasure in seizing others’ wives and daughters. After death, he will surely descend into the Dark Kingdom and suffer the agony of eternal flames!” 

The Dark Kingdom was a concept in Ming Cult doctrine, similar to hell.

Song Qingshu paid no heed to Daiqisi’s curse. “Unfortunately, Genghis Khan worshipped the Eternal Blue Sky, which protected him. Your Ming Cult’s gods could do nothing to him.”

Seeing Daiqisi about to retort, Song Qingshu raised a hand to stop her. “I’m not here to debate religious doctrines today. The story I want to tell involves Yesui Khatun, one of Genghis Khan’s wives. Do you know of her?”

Daiqisi looked puzzled. “I only know of his first wife, Börte.” 

Genghis Khan had countless women throughout his life, and unlike in Song Qingshu’s previous life with the internet, information spread slowly in this era. Her lack of knowledge was unsurprising.

Song Qingshu explained, “Yesui Khatun was Genghis Khan’s third wife and, aside from Börte, his most trusted and favored woman. But did you know her original husband was not Genghis Khan?”

Daiqisi frowned and said irritably, “That beast Genghis Khan often seized others’ w!ves.”

“Indeed, Yesui was taken by force. Her father was a Tatar, a longstanding enemy of the Mongols. After defeating her father, Genghis Khan sent troops to search for him and instead found her younger sister, Yesugen. Captivated by Yesugen’s youth and beauty, he took her as a consort.”

“Later, Yesugen highly recommended her sister Yesui, who was ten times more beautiful, to Genghis Khan. Intrigued, he sent men to find Yesui. At the time, Yesui and her husband were hiding in the mountains with the defeated Tatars. Genghis Khan eventually captured her and made her his consort, showing her extreme favor.”

“However, Yesui deeply loved her husband and spent her days distraught, longing for him amidst the chaos of war.”

Hearing this, Daiqisi couldn’t help but admire her. “What an extraordinary woman, trapped in the enemy camp yet remaining faithful to her vows, unmoved by wealth and luxury. What happened next? Did she reunite with her husband?” Having deeply loved her own husband, Han Qianye, she unconsciously put herself in Yesui’s shoes, worrying for the unfortunate couple.

“They reunited, but in an unexpected way,” Song Qingshu sighed and continued. “One day, during a banquet in the wild, Genghis Khan noticed Yesui constantly sighing while gazing at a particular spot in the crowd. Suspicious, he ordered Muqali to command all onlookers to return to their respective tribes and raise their flags. Instantly, the surroundings fell silent and solemn. Only one handsome young man remained, his eyes burning brightly, with no tribe to return to.”

“Was it Yesui’s husband?” Daiqisi exclaimed, though unrelated to herself, she felt as if she were there, concerned for the man’s fate.

Song Qingshu nodded and continued: “Genghis Khan asked him, “Who are you? How dare you defy my order and not return to your tribe?” The young man glared at Genghis Khan and declared, “I am none other than Yesui’s husband. You, as a leader, have no shame! You destroyed our tribe and took my beloved wife! Now that I’m captured, do as you will!”

“What a brave man!” Daiqisi gasped, vividly recalling Han Qianye’s fearless demeanor when he alone ascended Bright Peak to confront the Ming Cult heroes.

“What happened next?” Daiqisi urgently asked, though she faintly guessed the outcome, still holding onto a sliver of hope that Genghis Khan would admire the couple’s sincere love and allow them to be together.

Unfortunately, Song Qingshu’s words quickly shattered her unrealistic fantasy: “Genghis Khan flew into a rage. “You, a descendant of the Tatars, deserve death! Today, you dare to spy on the royal tent? Your crime warrants execution!” Shortly after, the young man’s head was presented on a platter.”

“What!” Daiqisi covered her mouth, her body stiffening as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She wasn’t typically sentimental, but the couple reminded her of herself and Han Qianye. The husband, in particular, shared Han Qianye’s spirit. Hearing how Genghis Khan without hesitation ordered the man’s execution, she recalled Han Qianye’s death, her nose stinging as tears fell.

Song Qingshu watched her silently cry. His impression of Daiqisi had always been that of the ruthless Purple-robed Dragon King and the cunning Golden Flower Granny from the stories. Seeing this vulnerable side of her, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity.

Daiqisi soon noticed his gaze, her cheeks flushing as she quickly wiped away her tears. “What happened to Yesui afterward?”

A playful smile touched Song Qingshu’s lips. “Her outcome was far better than her poor husband’s. With her sister’s mediation, Genghis Khan did not punish her. Later, she seemed to have a change of heart, shedding her previously indifferent attitude. Together with her sister Yesugen, she devoted herself to pleasing Genghis Khan, becoming his most favored woman and ranking first in the Third Ordo.”

“Ordo” is a Mongolian term meaning “palace tent,” with its own directly affiliated military, households, and counties, forming an independent military and economic unit. Here, it can be roughly understood as the equivalent of the common concept of the three palaces and six courts. In ancient times, while there were many imperial consorts, not each had her own palace; only the most esteemed few had their own, while others were affiliated under different consorts.

For example, in the Jin Dynasty, aside from the empress, only the Yuan Consort, Noble Consort, Zhao Consort, and Li Consort had their own palaces. The other consorts were affiliated under these four. Yesui’s status in Mongolia was equivalent to that of a Noble Consort in Jin, making her extremely prestigious.

“How could this be!” Daiqisi was astounded. She had imagined Yesui either dying for love on the spot or being executed by Genghis Khan. How could she embrace another man so soon after her husband’s death, especially the man who killed him!

“Hard to comprehend, but such is reality,” Song Qingshu said calmly. “I don’t doubt Yesui’s love for her husband, but he was dead. No matter how deep her feelings, time erodes all. Moreover, Genghis Khan surpassed her husband in every aspect and doted on her endlessly… A man superior in every way, standing at the world’s pinnacle, who also loves her—how many women could remain unmoved?”

“I would never!” Daiqisi said angrily.

Song Qingshu looked at her quietly. “I told you this story to remind you to look forward, not dwell on past sorrows. If Yesui could eventually find love with the man who killed her husband, why can’t we be together? At least there’s no deep-seated hatred between us.”

Daiqisi snorted and turned away without a word.

Song Qingshu continued, “Do you know the key factor that made Yesui ultimately fall for Genghis Khan?”

“What was it?” This was the question Daiqisi couldn’t unravel.

Song Qingshu smiled slightly. “It was because Genghis Khan $lept with her on the very first night he captured her.”

“You!” Daiqisi had been listening intently for some profound insight, but upon hearing this, her face flushed with anger.

“Do you think I’m joking?” Song Qingshu’s expression turned serious. “Because after that night, Genghis Khan placed himself on the same starting line as Yesui’s husband—both were her men. Without that night, no matter how well Genghis Khan treated her or how much effort he made, he could never compare to her husband in Yesui’s heart. But with that night, everything changed. As Genghis Khan continued to lavish attention on her, perhaps without Yesui even realizing it, she began to accept him deep down. So, even when Genghis Khan killed her husband, though she grieved, her reaction wasn’t extreme because, in her heart, she had already accepted Genghis Khan as her man.”

“You’re twisting logic,” Daiqisi retorted angrily.

Song Qingshu smiled faintly. “After all this, I only want to tell you one thing: to win your heart, I must first possess your b0dy.”