Flower Stealing Master

Upon hearing Lu Guanying’s words, the maidservant was stunned. She looked at Song Qingshu and couldn’t help but inwardly grumble: *This Young Master Song might be good-looking, but he’s so young. What ability could he possibly have to warrant the old madam coming to pay respects to him? Our old madam is a noble lady personally bestowed with a title by the Emperor himself. Has the Third Young Master lost his mind from anger?*

She dared not voice these thoughts, but her dismissive expression said enough.

Lu Guanying was even more enraged and was about to scold the maid when Song Qingshu stopped him. “Brother Lu, don’t be angry. Since it’s an elder of yours, it’s only proper that I go and pay a visit. Lead the way, little girl.”

Dazzled by his radiant smile, the young maidservant found herself feeling favorable toward him. *At least this guest is more sensible than the Third Young Master.* Smiling sweetly, she said, “This way, Young Master.”

Lu Guanying looked embarrassed. “My apologies, Young Master.” After all, Song Qingshu was a regional hegemon. Even men like Han Dingxiao treated him with respect. The head of the Lu family might not even have the same status in Han Dingxiao’s eyes.

“Think nothing of it.” Song Qingshu smiled faintly, then added thoughtfully, “But it seems you haven’t been faring too well in the Lu household lately.” From the various signs since entering the compound, it was clear that Lu Guanying was not in favor with the family.

“It’s my fault,” Cheng Yaojia sighed softly.

“What happened?” Song Qingshu asked curiously.

Cheng Yaojia sent the maidservant away before replying. “The old madam places great importance on heirs. Throughout the Lu household, she favors anyone who adds to the family’s descendants. She is very harsh toward the women who have yet to bear children. She even ordered her own son to divorce his wife because they had been married for years without producing an heir.”

“She’s inhuman,” Lu Guanying said indignantly. “My uncle and aunt were deeply in love, and she tore them apart with her bare hands. And my aunt was not only her daughter-in-law but also her own niece…also from the Tang family. Utterly heartless!”

A thought struck Song Qingshu. “Is this uncle you speak of Lu You?”

“Yes.” Lu Guanying nodded. “My uncle’s talent rivals any in history, and he is skilled in both civil and military arts. Yet he couldn’t even decide his own marriage. It’s truly… alas.” Though Lu You was his uncle by generation, they were similar in age and temperament, and had always been close.

Confirmation brought a flood of emotions to Song Qingshu. The tragic love story of Lu You and Tang Wan had been passed down for a thousand years. He hadn’t expected that, having transmigrated into this world, he would witness it firsthand.

“Because I never conceived, the old madam ordered Guanying to divorce me and marry another. Guanying refused, even talking back to her. That’s why she has always disliked him. So it’s all my fault,” Cheng Yaojia said, tears streaming down her face.

“How can you blame yourself…” Lu Guanying quickly comforted his wife, then said to Song Qingshu with a wry smile, “Now you understand why I asked for your help, Young Master.”

Song Qingshu’s expression was strange. *This kind of help…the more, the better, as far as I’m concerned.* Aloud, he said, “Your old madam seems to hold Cheng Ying in high regard. Since she’s the younger cousin of your wife, why are the two sisters treated so differently?”

“You may not know this, Young Master,” Cheng Yaojia explained softly. “Cheng Ying’s aunt, Cheng Miaojing, is the wife of Lü Wende, the defender of Xiangyang. Lü Wende comes from the Donglai Lü clan, and the Tang family has long been on friendly terms with them. So the old madam treats Cheng Ying like her own granddaughter. I’m only her cousin; I have no connection to the Lü family.”

Beside her, Lu Guanying snorted. “She calls it a long-standing friendship, but really, it’s just because the Lü family is so powerful now and she wants to curry favor.”

Lü Wende currently held the post of Jinghu Regional Military Commissioner. The Lü clique controlled nearly a third of the Southern Song’s defense forces…naturally, they were immensely powerful. Not only did Old Madam Tang want to ingratiate herself, but Ling Tuisi had once sought to marry his daughter into the Lü family, and Huang Rong had considered allying her daughter Guo Fu with a Lü family son.

Cheng Yaojia quickly tugged her husband’s sleeve. “Guanying, be careful what you say!”

Lu Guanying sneered. “Young Master Song is not an outsider. Why hide anything? Besides the Lü family’s power, the old madam also values Cheng Ying’s status as Huang Yaoshi’s last disciple. In recent years, many court officials have turned to cultivating immortality, taking pride in obtaining elixirs from Huang Yaoshi.”

“However, the old master’s temperament is unpredictable, and his whereabouts are erratic. So many have turned their attention to his last disciple instead. Cheng Ying has always been good-natured, naturally easier to deal with than the old master.”

“In the end, the old madam is just afraid of death and wants some life-extending elixirs from Peach Blossom Island.”

Hearing the disrespect in his tone…clearly the result of years of ill-treatment at the old madam’s hands…Song Qingshu smiled. “Aren’t you also a disciple of Peach Blossom Island?”

Lu Guanying smiled bitterly. “Back in the day, because of the Black Wind Twin Evils, my father and several other senior uncles had their legs broken and were expelled by the old master. Most of my uncles met tragic ends in the *wulin*. My father was lucky enough to be readmitted, but he’s old, his legs are broken, and his affairs are many. How could he possibly return to Peach Blossom Island? All he has is the nominal title of a Peach Blossom Island disciple.”

“If that’s the case with my father, how can I, a nominal disciple of the next generation who has never learned a single technique from Peach Blossom Island, compare to someone like Cheng Ying, a true disciple?”

Hearing the bitterness in his voice, Song Qingshu consoled him, “Rest assured, Brother Lu. Before long, I will give you reason to hold your head high. Not just the little Lu family…across the entire Southern Song, few will dare to look down on you.”

Lu Guanying’s eyes lit up. He bowed. “Young Master is truly a dragon among men. This Lu is thrice fortunate to have made your acquaintance.”

Song Qingshu mused silently, *Lu Guanying, by an unlucky twist, had his kidney meridians damaged and can no longer perform as a man. So he has redirected his ambitions to his career. Otherwise, with my relationship with Cheng Yaojia, no matter how magnanimous he was, he might not consider himself so fortunate.*

By now, they had arrived at Old Madam Tang’s courtyard. After the maidservant announced them, they were not left waiting outside this time but were ushered in directly.

Entering the room, Song Qingshu habitually surveyed the scene. An elderly woman with graying hair sat in the central chair, flanked by two young women with whom she was chatting merrily. One wore white, the other green. Both were slender, graceful, with delicate waists…very beautiful.

The old woman’s clothes were immaculate, pressed perfectly straight. She had even applied makeup. Her heavily rouged lips against her wrinkled face made her look rather monstrous. Song Qingshu curled his lip and unhesitatingly looked away. *For the same age, the old lady in the Jia mansion is far more kindly-looking. This Old Madam Tang, at first glance, seems like a domineering and difficult person.*

Of the two young women beside her, one in white was the one he had met earlier…Lu Wushuang. She seemed not to have noticed their arrival, whispering in the old woman’s ear without sparing him a glance.

*Good. If she doesn’t look at me, it saves trouble.* Unconcerned, Song Qingshu turned his gaze to the young woman in green beside her.

His eyes lit up. The young woman had a crystalline complexion, skin as white as snow, a small dimple on her oval face. She appeared slightly shy. Though not as strikingly beautiful as Xiao Longnu or the Purple-Robed Dragon King, she was still an extremely lovely girl.

As if sensing someone watching her, the young woman in green glanced in Song Qingshu’s direction and gave him a slight nod. Her eyes were as clear and soft as pure water.

“The Seventh Miss you’ve already met. The other is Cheng Ying,” Lu Guanying whispered to Song Qingshu.

Song Qingshu nodded inwardly. *Just as the novel described…a quiet, reserved beauty, like a chrysanthemum. Cheng Ying’s elegance is unforgettable once seen.*

*Thump!*

A muffled sound came from beside him. Old Madam Tang had struck her cane heavily against the floor. “Guanying, why is your friend so ill-mannered? Does he not know to kneel and pay his respects to an elder?”

Alarmed, Lu Guanying quickly said, “Old Madam, Young Master Song…”

Before he could finish, the old woman struck her cane again, cutting him off. “Doesn’t he have his own mouth? Must you speak for him?”

Song Qingshu chuckled. *This old woman is used to being the tyrant of Shanyin. Does she think everyone will grovel before her?*

He glanced to the side. Lu Wushuang was tilting her chin up, watching with the smug expression of someone enjoying a good show. Beside her, Cheng Ying looked embarrassed. Her eyes seemed to speak, conveying an apologetic look to him.

Song Qingshu immediately guessed what had happened. Lu Wushuang must have twisted the truth in front of Old Madam Tang, and the old lady, because of Lu Wushuang’s connection to Cheng Ying, wanted to use the opportunity to do Cheng Ying a favor.

But Cheng Ying had no such desire. However, with her gentle nature, since the old lady had spoken, she, as a junior, could say nothing. She could only look apologetically at the young man in the distance, hoping he would humble himself for now to get past the old lady, after which she would mediate.

Old Madam Tang, seeing Song Qingshu looking around as if he hadn’t heard her…and she, accustomed to being the supreme authority in the family for so long…could not tolerate such disregard. She flew into a rage. “Did you not hear me? Kneel and kowtow to me, begging for pardon. If I’m pleased, perhaps I’ll overlook your previous impertinence.”

“Old Madam…” Cheng Yaojia could no longer hold back.

“Shut up! Since when is it your turn to speak? You barren hen!” Old Madam Tang sneered.

Even Cheng Ying’s delicate brows furrowed. Cheng Yaojia turned deathly pale, swaying as if about to fall. Lu Guanying quickly supported his wife, his face full of fury, but bound by his family position, he could do nothing.

Song Qingshu finally lost his temper. He pulled up a nearby chair and sat down boldly, not deigning to glance at Old Madam Tang. He said coldly, “You want me to kneel and kowtow to you? You’re not qualified. You should thank heaven and earth that I’m not making you kneel before me.”

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