Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 546: Escape from Misery

Jiao Wan’er had not been doing well lately. Even the maids could tell that she was absent-minded and advised her to rest more.

Jiao Wan’er smiled bitterly. Rest? As soon as she closed her eyes, those images would flood her mind. How could she dare to rest? However, she knew that if she didn’t sleep soon, her body would probably give out.

Half-disrobed, she reclined on the bed. In a half-awake, half-asleep state, she couldn’t help but think of that night in the bridal chamber. Unknowingly, her body began to heat up. If the previous experience left her with a deep impression of humiliation and helplessness, the one afterward in the bridal chamber brought a completely different, strange sensation.

Since Song Qingshu had not known it was her at the time, Jiao Wan’er didn’t feel as much pressure afterward. Instead, she couldn’t help but recall some of the scenes from that moment.

That intense feeling of fusion between them was something she had never experienced before. She didn’t dare to think too much about it, for whenever she did, she felt as though she was betraying her husband emotionally.

“Mistress… Mistress?” The shocked voice of a maid came from outside the room, abruptly waking Jiao Wan’er from her daze.

Song Qingshu nodded to the maid. “I need to discuss something with Chief Jiao.” With that, he walked straight into the inner courtyard.

Although the maid found it improper, Song Qingshu’s prestige had skyrocketed recently. Common folk like her revered him, and the idea of stopping him never crossed her mind. It wasn’t until after she escorted him to the inner courtyard that she slapped her forehead in realization: ‘Oh no, the Mistress is resting!’

Still, the maid didn’t think that the upright and respected Golden Serpent King would have anything improper going on with the always graceful and demure lady. Shrugging, she went back to her duties.

By the time Song Qingshu entered the room, Jiao Wan’er hadn’t had the chance to properly dress. In a flurry, she hastily covered her chest, cursing the maid under her breath.
“There’s no need to rush, Madame. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.” Song Qingshu smiled faintly. Ever since he had come to understand the nature of his inner demons, he no longer felt the need to maintain a facade of moral righteousness, nor did he deliberately act roguish. He simply followed his instincts, making his mind clearer and more at ease. (G: There ya go.)

Jiao Wan’er’s face flushed red, and she quickly pulled the blanket up to cover herself, shrinking into the bedding. Seeing Song Qingshu speak as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she couldn’t help but curse him inwardly: How could someone be so shameless yet so self-assured?

“Where’s Brother Luo?” Song Qingshu casually glanced around the room, asking as though it were an offhand question.

“He went to Ju County and won’t be back today,” Jiao Wan’er answered, but immediately regretted it. Why did I add that last part? It sounds like I’m implying something…

She looked up and, sure enough, saw Song Qingshu wearing a smirking expression. Jiao Wan’er was so flustered she was nearly in tears.

Noticing her reaction, Song Qingshu chuckled and moved to the bed, as though it were his own. “Madame, make some room.”

What does he want to do?

Jiao Wan’er’s heart trembled, but her body instinctively shifted inward. Without hesitation, Song Qingshu kicked off his shoes and slipped under the blanket.

“What are you doing? Get out!” Jiao Wan’er was both angry and anxious, her eyes darting to the door in fear that a servant might pass by. She would be mortified if anyone saw this.

“Don’t worry, no one is within ten zhang (about 33 meters) of this place.” Song Qingshu wrapped his arm around her soft, voluptuous body and gave her a playful k!ss on the cheek.

Jiao Wan’er was instantly petrified, her face burning red. “Please don’t… I’m begging you.”

Song Qingshu had initially just wanted to tease the typically graceful woman, but now, seeing her so delicate and alluring, his heart ignited with passion. He could no longer restrain himself and leaned in to k!ss her lips.

“Mmm… Mmm…” Jiao Wan’er, barely able to catch her breath, pleaded in a whisper, “Not here, please.”

As Song Qingshu had entered the residence openly, many people had surely noticed him. Jiao Wan’er didn’t dare allow any impropriety in such a conspicuous place.

After everything that had happened between them, Jiao Wan’er knew she couldn’t resist him. Her only wish now was not to be caught.

“But I prefer it here,” Song Qingshu said, his tone leaving no room for argument as his l!ps trailed down to her pale neck.

Jiao Wan’er shuddered and bit her lip to suppress a m0an. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally urged helplessly, “Then hurry up!”

Who knows how much time had passed, but eventually, Jiao Wan’er, her face flushed with embarrassment, pushed the man off her and hurried to fix her disheveled clothes. “This time, you’ve truly ruined me. I don’t even want to imagine what rumors will spread.”

Having been alone with Song Qingshu in her room for so long, there was no telling what the servants would think. The more Jiao Wan’er pondered, the more upset she became, and she couldn’t help but sob quietly.

“Don’t cry. I actually have good news. Do you want to hear it?” Song Qingshu, looking completely satisfied, reclined lazily on the bed, watching her flustered attempts to dress with amusement.

“You only bring me nightmares. What good news could there be?” Jiao Wan’er, her nose stinging with the urge to cry, quickly turned her head away.

“Isn’t it your wish to return to your hometown in Jinling? I can now give you that opportunity,” Song Qingshu said with a faint smile.

Jiao Wan’er froze in shock and pointed at him in disbelief. “How… how do you know?” She had only ever mentioned this to Xia Qingqing. ‘Could it be…?’

“The dress you’re wearing isn’t as flattering as the bridal gown you wore that night,” Song Qingshu said as he reached out, pulling Jiao Wan’er into his arms with a casual motion.

“You were pretending to be drunk!” Jiao Wan’er’s face went deathly pale. Thinking of how she had willingly responded to him that night made her wish she could die on the spot.

“Whether I was drunk or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that you obediently played the bride that night. I can’t treat you too cruelly, now can I?” Song Qingshu said, his fingers lightly tracing her smooth cheek.

“I’ve been your bride for more than just that one night…” Jiao Wan’er turned her face away, biting her lips tightly.

“If you do one thing for me, I promise I won’t bother you anymore,” Song Qingshu said, withdrawing his hand without concern.

“What is it?” Jiao Wan’er’s heart stirred.

“Now that the Manchu territories have been divided in two by the Golden Serpent Camp, the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region has become isolated. Li Kexiu, the Green Standard Army commander in Jiangnan, will inevitably become a target for various factions,” Song Qingshu’s expression turned serious. “However, his family is still in Yanjing, so he won’t be siding with anyone just yet. I need you to go ahead to Jiangnan with trusted people to secure our position, making it easier for me to take control of the region quickly when the time comes.”

“I don’t have the ability to sway Li Kexiu,” Jiao Wan’er shook her head.

“You don’t need to win him over…” Song Qingshu suddenly frowned. “Wait, someone’s coming.”

Moments later, Jiao Wan’er also heard voices. Her face turned pale as she looked at Song Qingshu still lying in her bed. Panicking, she was nearly in tears. “It’s my husband!”

Things are Not Looking Good:

Yes, things are not looking good. As you know, translation requires a lot of time and energy. I translate, edit and proofread the chapters on my own. I will be honest here, I started translating as a hobby, then it evolved to a hope of earning a living by doing something I enjoy. 

However, I suffered a chain of misfortunes during and after the pandemic, and earnings from FSM and RTV helped me a lot. It became a significant part of my life. As long as my monthly income bordered around $200, I could make the time to translate in the middle of other works. Then RTV ended, and the earning decreased. Now, it has decreased to around $90-$100. And with PETTV nearing completion, that would decrease even more. A*dsence gets me about $ 0.50 per day, and you can’t get the payment until it reaches $100, so I can’t depend on that either. 

It wouldn’t be an issue in normal circumstances, but it matters a lot to me since I am still dealing with a lot of financial troubles. I am currently looking for a job, and will have to invest my time and energy in it once I get it.

Long story short, if you enjoy reading this novel, support the translation if you can, either by becoming a Patron in Patreon, or sponsoring chapters at BuymeaCoffee. You can also take some time to watch a*ds to increase the revenue on A*dsence. Grains of sand together can form a desert.

FSM supporters has been supporting me from the start no matter what, so I would continue to translate FSM as long as I am alive. But for the other projects, I now desperately need your support so that I can spend the time and energy to serve them to you all. That’s all. Thank you.