Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 723: A Late-Night Invitation

Huang Rong also felt embarrassed as she watched Madame Tang leap into Song Qingshu’s arms like an excited young girl. A trace of disdain even flickered through her heart. According to the intelligence she had gathered, Madame Tang was a married woman. However, thinking about her own situation, she realized she had no right to judge.

It was clear that the joy and smile on Madame Tang’s face were genuine, not feigned. This only made Huang Rong more puzzled. What was it about this man that could make a married woman so infatuated?

But she quickly let go of the thought. After all, Song Qingshu was indeed a charming man. Before last night’s events, she had even developed a slight fondness for him. To prevent herself from overthinking, she had even considered marrying her daughter to him…

Even up until tonight, her impression of Song Qingshu had remained quite good. Even though she had unexpectedly ended up in his embrace last night, she had regarded it as an accident—one that was more her fault than his, making it difficult to entirely blame him.

However, what happened today made it impossible for Huang Rong to forgive him. Whatever goodwill she had toward him instantly vanished. Yet, strangely, despite her loss of affection, she found that she couldn’t bring herself to truly hate him. Seeing him and Madame Tang embracing so intimately, she even felt a tinge of jealousy and discomfort in her heart.

Song Qingshu wasn’t aware of Huang Rong’s inner turmoil, but he could roughly guess the consequences of his actions tonight. Initially, he had planned to win Huang Rong’s heart over time. Unfortunately, plans never kept up with changes, and due to an unexpected turn of events, he had taken her body first.

He was no naive young boy; simply possessing Huang Rong’s body didn’t bring him any real joy. Instead, he was well aware that this was a disaster. With his abilities, winning over Huang Rong physically would have been effortless. But he had refrained from making a move because he wanted her to willingly give herself to him.

Yet, last night’s incident had completely shattered the ambiguous relationship he had carefully built. Huang Rong was a mature woman, renowned for her intelligence. After what had happened, she would undoubtedly sever ties and leave without hesitation, as if nothing had ever transpired.

Song Qingshu sought something enduring, not just a fleeting night of pleasure. But after what happened, how could Huang Rong ever allow him into her heart? Left with no choice, he had to change his  approach—switching from winning her heart to capturing it through other means. If she was bound to forget about him, he would rather make her hate him first. It was easy for love to turn into hatred, and hatred could just as easily transform back into love. That was preferable to both of them pretending that night had never happened and gradually becoming strangers again.

While Song Qingshu and Huang Rong each had their own thoughts, Madame Tang was not as composed. She coldly snorted, turned around, and walked away. “Since Young Master already has a beauty by his side, why come looking for me?”
Song Qingshu finally snapped back to reality and smiled bitterly. “Madame, I actually came to ask for your help with something.”

Madame Tang felt a rush of satisfaction. ‘Hmph, so even a beauty like Huang Rong has things she cannot do…’ As she thought about it, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably. ‘What exactly was she unwilling to do that made Song Qingshu come to me? Could it be that she is too reserved to satisfy him the way I do?’

Recalling those unconventional positions, even Madame Tang, who was well-versed in such matters, felt her heart race. If Huang Rong refused to do such things, it would be understandable…

“I actually need you to invite Wanyan Liang over,” Song Qingshu said.

Hearing his words, Madame Tang snapped out of her fantasies, feeling as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. She forced an unnatural smile. “Alright.”

‘Of course. For something as sordid as seducing another man, how could Young Master bear to let the noble and pure Huang Rong do it? Naturally, a fallen woman like me is the more suitable choice…’ Madame Tang couldn’t help but wallow in self-pity.

“Aren’t you going to ask why I need him to come?” Song Qingshu, a master of reading women’s thoughts, immediately noticed the disappointment in her expression and knew she had misunderstood.

“You must have your reasons, Young Master. I will do as you say—there is no need for me to ask why,” Madame Tang replied, lowering her head so that her expression remained unreadable.

Song Qingshu chuckled. “All you need to do is invite him over. I will take care of the rest. Have you forgotten how I hypnotized him before?”

Madame Tang’s heart surged with joy, and she instinctively lifted her head. “I don’t have to accompany him?”

Song Qingshu snorted. “That wretched fool is not so fortunate. I would never let you accompany him.”

Hearing this, Madame Tang could no longer hold back. She threw herself into Song Qingshu’s arms, sobbing, “I thought you didn’t want me anymore…”

Song Qingshu quickly patted her delicate shoulder to console her, while Huang Rong, watching from the side, furrowed her brows in frustration and secretly cursed, ‘What a manipulative vixen.’ ɌäꞐ𝘖βĘ𝙎

*****

[The night is long, and sleep eludes me. I invite you to share wine beneath the moon…]

Smelling the faint fragrance of the note, Wanyan Liang’s lips curled into a lascivious smile. ‘That seductive vixen is inviting me over at this hour? She must be feeling lonely and impatient. Heh, drinking together at midnight? There’s no way this won’t end in bed. This letter is a blatant invitation.’

Excited, he stood up. However, just as he took his first step, a flicker of confusion appeared on his face. Normally, he would be brimming with desire at the prospect of such an encounter. Why was his body completely unresponsive now?

He forced himself to recall Madame Tang’s charming face, her luscious red lips, and her voluptuous figure… but even so, he felt nothing.

What he didn’t realize was that this was the effect of Song Qingshu’s Soul Capture Technique. Deep in his subconscious, he had already lost interest in Madame Tang. Had she not invited him tonight, he might not have thought of her at all.

“Never mind, I’ll deal with it when I get there.” Wanyan Liang assumed it was simply due to exhaustion over the past few days. He reasoned that once he was in the presence of Madame Tang’s luscious lips, it wouldn’t take much to stir his ‘interest.’

With that thought, Wanyan Liang led a grand procession of guards toward Madame Tang’s chambers. Upon arriving at the courtyard, he instructed his men to remain outside, choosing not to bring them in with him. After all, Madame Tang was a married woman. While he wasn’t afraid of her husband, he still had to maintain appearances—lest he push the man into desperation.

As for his own safety, he had no concerns. Before his arrival, he had ordered his guards to conduct a thorough sweep of the courtyard, ensuring there were no hidden dangers.

“Madame Tang, inviting me over so late at night—what an elegant sentiment,” Wanyan Liang said as he entered, keeping up the pretense of a refined gentleman rather than revealing his true intentions.

Under the soft glow of the lanterns, Madame Tang looked even more stunning. Seeing him enter, she playfully chided him, “My Lord, if you close the door, I will be in an even better mood~”

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