Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1034: Fragrance in the Dark

Cheng Yaojia escaped a calamity, but felt no joy whatsoever. The thought of her inevitable doom upon the other party’s return brought tears streaming down her face.

“What has caused you such distress, Madam?” 

A voice, both familiar and unfamiliar, suddenly rang in her ears. Cheng Yaojia’s eyes widened, and she looked to the side in bewilderment, only to see a familiar face.

Just hours ago, she had thought this face was the most terrifying in the world, but now, seeing him again, she felt an involuntary joy.

Song Qingshu hung the bed curtains back up, looking at the beauty lying on the bed, and said teasingly, “Madam, are you happy to see me, or are you happy?”

Cheng Yaojia blushed, her eyes pleading.

Song Qingshu then realized, “I almost forgot you were tapped on the mute acupoint.” He casually released her acupoints and helped her sit up.

“Thank you.” Having had her acupoints pressed for so long, Cheng Yaojia’s body was still a little sore and numb, so she could only sit on the edge of the bed and rest for a while.

Song Qingshu smiled: “Madam is too kind.” They were in a dark room, close together, and Song Qingshu could even smell the faint, feminine fragrance emanating from Cheng Yaojia.

Cheng Yaojia, as if thinking of something, suddenly changed her expression, looking at him with some panic: “You…how come you’re here?”

Song Qingshu was taken aback, then couldn’t help but laugh: “What, you don’t want me here? Then I’ll be leaving. Don’t regret it when that lecherous dog comes back.”

“No!” Seeing that he was really about to leave, Cheng Yaojia exclaimed, instinctively grabbing Song Qingshu’s sleeve. That old man was truly terrifying; for some reason, compared to him, she found this Jin Dynasty bearded man much more endearing.

Song Qingshu’s gaze fell on her hand tugging at his sleeve, and he said with a half-smile, “Men and women shouldn’t touch each other. How long do you intend to keep doing this, Madam?”

Hearing his words, Cheng Yaojia’s hand recoiled as if electrocuted. She thought to herself, ‘When you t0uched me in the carriage, why didn’t you mention anything about men and women not t0uching each other?’ But how could she possibly say such a thing?

“That old…old man really isn’t your subordinate?” Cheng Yaojia stammered, ultimately too embarrassed to utter the words “old lecher.”

“Of course not,” Song Qingshu suddenly realized, leaning closer to her and asking, “So you thought I sent someone to capture you?”

The two were so close that Cheng Yaojia could even feel his breath. A wave of panic washed over her, and she quickly moved back inside, only relaxing when she felt she had maintained what she considered a safe distance.

Song Qingshu, taking the opportunity, sat down beside her on the bed. “Madam, this is so hurtful. I came to save you with good intentions, and you doubt me like this… sigh…”

His acting skills were now superb; his tone and expression perfectly portrayed a heartbroken figure.

Cheng Yaojia felt quite embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I was just too scared… And could you please not sit so close?”

Song Qingshu pretended not to hear her and instead asked, “How did you end up in that lecherous dog’s clutches?” He naturally knew the whole story, but telling her he had stood by and watched would damage his image.

“I was by the river…” Cheng Yaojia, unsuspecting, softly recounted what had happened. Although she was still shaken and recounting a nightmare, her voice remained delicate and incredibly beautiful, making one’s skin crawl.

“Why is Madam alone by the river so late at night?” This was what Song Qingshu was most concerned about, after all, Cheng Yaojia was quite a distance from Yuqing Temple at that time.

Cheng Yaojia hesitated, a blush rising to her face. She thought, how could she tell an outsider about their quarrel, especially since he was the culprit?

Noticing her expression, Song Qingshu chuckled, “You two had a fight, didn’t you?”

Cheng Yaojia hesitated for a moment, then hummed in agreement.

Song Qingshu asked curiously, “That’s strange. Aren’t you two a good couple? Before, when you were with me, you risked your life to save him. You’re so devoted to him, why would you quarrel?”

Cheng Yaojia, already feeling wronged, couldn’t hold back any longer after hearing his words and hugged her knees, sobbing.

Song Qingshu sighed, “You’re so gentle, yet you can quarrel. It’s obvious your husband has bullied you.”

Cheng Yaojia cried even harder. 

Song Qingshu hurriedly handed her a handkerchief: “Don’t cry, I can’t stand seeing women cry.”

Seeing his flustered state, Cheng Yaojia felt a warmth in her heart and said softly, “You’re a little different from other Jin people.”

“Am I more handsome than other Jin people? Let me tell you a secret, I’m the most handsome man in the Jin Dynasty,” Song Qingshu said proudly.

Cheng Yaojia finally couldn’t help but laugh through her tears: “You’re really shameless, with your looks…” Kind-hearted and worried about hurting his pride, she stopped herself.

Song Qingshu snorted: “The Jin Dynasty is different from your Southern Song Dynasty. We value a strong and imposing physique. Look at my beard, every hair like iron filings—that’s the most intense expression of masculinity. Unlike you in the South, where pretty boys are all the rage.”

Cheng Yaojia believed him, thinking that no wonder the Jin Dynasty’s military might was so formidable; the whole country revered a strong and imposing physique. Cheng Yaojia glanced furtively at Song Qingshu’s beard and secretly shook her head. She thought to herself, ‘I really can’t accept their aesthetic sense. Whoever becomes his wife is truly pitiful; during intimacy, her delicate skin will be pricked to death by his full, bushy beard…’

Cheng Yaojia’s face flushed, and she quickly wiped her cheeks with her hands. What was she thinking?

“Hey, wipe your tears and give me back my handkerchief,” Song Qingshu said, holding out his hand.

Cheng Yaojia was extremely embarrassed and hurriedly returned the handkerchief. However, she quickly noticed the pattern on the handkerchief—it was clearly the mandarin ducks she had embroidered herself. She exclaimed in surprise, “This handkerchief…”

Song Qingshu simply put it back in his pocket. “Yes, this is what you gave me before. I’ve always carried it with me.”

Cheng Yaojia was incredibly bitter. That was clearly something she embroidered for her husband! He took it from her at the government office; it wasn’t a gift at all.

“I got the handkerchief dirty, I’ll wash it and give it back to you.” Cheng Yaojia knew that directly asking him for it back would be unsuccessful, so she had to use a more tactful approach.

“Is that so?” Song Qingshu took out the handkerchief again, and Cheng Yaojia’s heart leaped with joy. Just as she was about to reach out to take it, he brought the handkerchief to his nose and sniffed it lightly, revealing a look of intoxication. “Tears of a beauty, that’s more precious than pearls, how could it be dirty?”

Song Qingshu was no ordinary man; he wouldn’t be fooled by such a simple trick.

Seeing his flirtatious action, Cheng Yaojia was both ashamed and anxious. She instinctively reached out to snatch it back, but Song Qingshu pulled his hand away, and she missed, losing her balance and falling into his arms.

With his soft, fragrant b0dy in his arms, Song Qingshu smiled and said, “I didn’t expect the madam to take the initiative to throw herself into my arms. How could I refuse such affection?” He then reached out as if to embrace her.

Cheng Yaojia, like a startled little rabbit, quickly sat up straight: “You misunderstood, I just didn’t sit properly for a moment, that’s why… Don’t overthink it.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s such a pity. Such a beautiful w0man, yet I can only admire her from afar, not t0uch her. Alas, it seems I’m not so fortunate.” Song Qingshu sighed.

Hearing him praise her beauty, Cheng Yaojia felt a complex mix of shyness and secret joy. Strangely enough, this man had clearly flirted with her several times, taking advantage of her far more than that Lu Zhangke, yet she couldn’t bring herself to dislike him. She could only attribute this to the fact that although his words were frivolous, his actions were always subtle, unlike that lewd Lu Zhangke, who clearly wanted to take advantage of her body.

However, her ingrained traditional virtues made Cheng Yaojia acutely aware that she couldn’t remain in this ambiguous atmosphere with this man any longer, so she quickly changed the subject, saying, “Speaking of which, the reason I argued with Husband this time is because of you…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Cheng Yaojia wanted to slap herself. She had intended to break the awkward atmosphere, but how had she steered the conversation in such an ambiguous direction?

But the words were already out, and it was too late to change them. Song Qingshu was taken aback: “Because of me? Because of what?”

Cheng Yaojia shut her mouth, her face flushed, refusing to utter another word.

Song Qingshu smiled: “Actually, even if the madam doesn’t want to say, I can roughly guess. Any man would be suspicious if his wife spent the night with another m@n.”

Cheng Yaojia suddenly looked up, her face slightly angry: “So you did it on purpose.”

“Not at all,” Song Qingshu shook his finger, “I don’t deny that I did use a little trickery, but if your husband truly cared for you, wouldn’t he believe you? You and I both know that I didn’t do anything to you that night.”

“Hmm,” Cheng Yaojia knew she couldn’t blame him, “Actually, I also find it strange. I explained all the details to him, but he just wouldn’t believe me. I don’t know why.”

The couple had always treated each other with respect and had a deep affection. Cheng Yaojia knew that although the situation was indeed suspicious, she had explained the whole story clearly. Knowing her husband, he should be able to believe her. 

Song Qingshu shrugged, somewhat gloating, and said, “Perhaps your husband is being too sensitive.” He hadn’t expected that such a simple trick of his would cause such a huge fuss between them, and he couldn’t help but question Lu Guanying’s magnanimity.

However, neither he nor Cheng Yaojia knew that the main reason Lu Guanying was so angry stemmed from a coincidence. 

That night, Song Qingshu had carried Shuang’er back to their room, and the sounds of their intimacy were overheard by Jin soldiers outside. They mistakenly thought the person in the room was indeed Cheng Yaojia. Later, during a shift change, a casual conversation was overheard by Lu Guanying. 

The next day, Cheng Yaojia’s explanation perfectly matched what the soldiers had said. 

How could Lu Guanying possibly believe his wife’s innocence anymore?