Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1045: The Ugly Hunchback and the Stunning Beauty

“Ah~ Really?” Cheng Yaojia stood up with a mixture of surprise and delight, not even minding that the other person was playing with her hair.

“Of course it’s true.” Song Qingshu pressed her shoulders to help her sit back down, casually combing her hair into a bun. “But Madam, don’t be too happy yet. We’re going to gather intelligence near Yuqing Temple later, not to immediately rescue Young Master Lu and the others.”

“Hmm, I understand.” Cheng Yaojia was well-mannered, and since Song Qingshu had explained the reasons to her last night, she didn’t react too strongly.

“I won’t disturb you any longer. Let’s set off after you’ve finished washing up.” Song Qingshu went out and called a soldier, giving him some instructions. 

Soon after, Cheng Yaojia came out as well.

“Madam looks beautiful today.” Looking at the gentle and graceful woman from the Jiangnan water towns before him, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but praise her. 

Cheng Yaojia blushed, not responding to his question but instead changing the subject, “Where are we going now, to Yuqing Temple?”

“We’re going to have breakfast now,” Song Qingshu said mysteriously.

Half an hour later, Cheng Yaojia and Song Qingshu sat by the window on the second floor of a restaurant near Yuqing Temple, where they could observe the situation there.

“You two went to Yangzhou incognito this time, and with so many things that happened afterward, you probably haven’t had a chance to have a proper meal. The breakfasts here in Yangzhou are quite good; Madam, you should try them.” Song Qingshu placed a pastry in her bowl.

“I’m not in the mood for enjoyment right now, and besides…” Cheng Yaojia glanced at the table full of dishes, thinking this was a bit excessive; it was just breakfast.

“Madam, worrying too much now is useless. The only thing you can do is eat well and sleep well, conserve your energy, and when the time is right, you’ll have the strength to rescue Young Master Lu and the others. Madam doesn’t want to faint from hunger before even seeing her husband, does she?” Song Qingshu said.

“It’s not that exaggerated,” Cheng Yaojia couldn’t help but smile. However, his words did offer some comfort, and thinking that this was to conserve her energy for saving her husband, her appetite gradually returned.

The two ate and chatted, but Cheng Yaojia’s gaze kept drifting towards Yuqing Temple. 

Song Qingshu knew her thoughts but didn’t point them out. At the same time, he was also carefully observing the situation at Yuqing Temple.

Unexpectedly, Yuqing Temple showed no abnormalities; in fact, many people were coming and going, as if nothing had happened the previous night.

“Wang Baobao is truly a genius,” Song Qingshu secretly admired. He had controlled Yuqing Temple in such a short time and created a peaceful atmosphere; he himself probably couldn’t have done as well.

“It seems these Mongols intend to take over and live here,” Song Qingshu thought to himself. 

After taking Cheng Yaojia back last night, he worried that the Mongols might abduct the Southern Song group and hide them somewhere unknown, so he ordered his guards to secretly keep watch here. When he learned that the Mongols hadn’t emerged from Yuqing Temple, he still harbored suspicions, so he rushed over early in the morning to investigate, and indeed, it was exactly as the scouts had reported.

Song Qingshu even spotted several familiar faces from the Prince Ruyang’s Palace coming and going, and couldn’t help but think: “Wang Baobao’s actions were a clear signal for Li Kexiu to come and negotiate with him…”

The morning gradually passed, and Song Qingshu had roughly figured out the patrol patterns of the Prince Ruyang’s Palace’s guards. 

Just as he was considering whether to leave, a series of curses suddenly came from the stairwell: “That jinx, chasing and chasing, I don’t know why he’s so desperate.”

“That woman from the Wang family is his aunt, of course he’ll try to curry favor with her given this opportunity,” a delicate, clear voice echoed, but its tone was icy and devoid of any warmth.

Song Qingshu was startled. 

That voice sounded like…

Then, a strange pair appeared at the top of the stairs: a short, ugly hunchback, and beside him a slender girl with long, flowing black hair.

The girl had a pointed chin, a fair and smooth complexion, without a single blemish. Her cherry-like mouth was delicate and well-proportioned, with thin lips and two rows of fine teeth like shattered jade. While there were many beautiful women in Jiangnan, such stunning beauty was extremely rare, especially with an ugly hunchback by her side.

“What are you looking at? Believe me, I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Noticing the stares, the girl frowned. Before she could speak, the ugly hunchback preemptively attacked.

Seeing his ferocity, the guests on the second floor quickly averted their gazes, no longer daring to stare at the two.

The hunchback, with sharp eyes, stopped and scanned the second floor. He paused when he saw the guards vaguely standing behind Song Qingshu and Cheng Yaojia, as if sensing this group was not to be trifled with, before leading the girl in another direction.

“Waiter, bring me all your best food and drinks!” After sitting down, the hunchback slammed his hand on the table, shouting arrogantly.

The beautiful girl beside him frowned, clearly disapproving of his behavior, but for some reason, she refrained from speaking.

Seeing that Song Qingshu had been staring intently at the girl ever since the two went upstairs, Cheng Yaojia felt a pang of jealousy and couldn’t help but remark, “That girl is really beautiful.”

“She’s always been beautiful,” Song Qingshu replied instinctively.

Cheng Yaojia was taken aback: “You know her?”

Song Qingshu didn’t answer. The image of the girl lying obediently in his arms months ago, her eyes filled with tender affection, flashed through his mind. A wave of guilt washed over him: he had promised to find her after rescuing the Wudang group, but the Jin Dynasty had delayed them for so long.

This stunningly beautiful girl was naturally Mu Wanqing. After their last parting, she had followed her mother’s instructions to cause trouble for Madam Wang at the Mantuo Manor in Suzhou. He wondered why she was here, and the person beside her…

Song Qingshu’s expression darkened as he scrutinized the hunchback. He was ugly, dressed unlike anyone from the Central Plains, and carried a hunchbacked sword at his waist.

“Could it be him?” Song Qingshu began to list the famous hunchbacks in Jin Yong’s novels. Suddenly, he thought of someone: Mu Gaofeng, the famous hunchback from the North in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. All the characteristics matched perfectly.

“Could Wanqing be under his control?” Song Qingshu frowned, but quickly dismissed the thought. Judging from their current state, Mu Wanqing didn’t seem like a captive.

Furthermore, given his current inability to reveal his identity, and since Mu Wanqing wasn’t in immediate danger, Song Qingshu decided to observe the situation and rescue her in a secluded place.

Because Mu Gaofeng had been so ferocious earlier, the waiter dared not neglect him and quickly brought out the food and wine. Seeing the table full of dishes, Mu Gaofeng’s eyes lit up, and he immediately rolled up his sleeves and began to devour them.

Mu Wanqing ate much more elegantly than him, but it was still clear she was extremely hungry.

“How could she suffer such injustice!” Seeing the two of them, Song Qingshu was instantly enraged and abruptly stood up.