Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 791: The Feeling of Being an Emperor

Hearing the eunuch’s voice and worried that they might barge in, the yellow-robed woman hurriedly pulled Zhao Fujin deeper into the bed. 

Song Qingshu flicked his sleeve to lower the bed curtains, then put on Xiao Xingguo’s mask again before going to open the door.

“You two again?” Song Qingshu couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the same two eunuchs who had come for him last time. After the yellow-robed woman’s rampage in Taihe Hall, the Prince of Wei had taken the chance to purge many of the Empress’s followers. The fact that these two had survived until now was nothing short of miraculous.

“Oh, Eunuch Xing, how can you still laugh? You haven’t paid your respects to Her Majesty in so long that she’s issued an order—if we don’t find you today, the three of us will be hauling nightsoil together!” The two eunuchs grew frantic, grabbing Song Qingshu’s arms to drag him out.

“Gentlemen, wait a moment. Let me fetch something first.”

Before they could refuse, Song Qingshu shut the door and rushed back inside. “The Empress has summoned me. I’ll go deal with her and see if I can gather any information about the Carefree Powder. Stay here and be careful.”

“You… be careful yourself,” The yellow-robed woman said hesitantly, her voice soft.

“Huh? Is the sun rising from the west today?” Song Qingshu teased.

“Hmph! You’re the key to saving my sisters from their suffering. Is it so strange that I’d worry about you?” she snapped.

“Relax, handling these situations is child’s play for me… Wait, speaking of which—” Remembering how Zhao Fujin had seen through his disguise earlier, he dared not wear his current robes to meet Empress Pei Man. Who knew if she’d detect the lingering scents of both Zhao Fujin and the yellow-robed woman?
Without hesitation, Song Qingshu stripped off his outer robe right in front of them, revealing his toned, muscular physique. His skin bore a faint, lustrous sheen, a side effect of his refined Qi.

“What are you doing?!” The yellow-robed woman’s voice was a mix of embarrassment and anger. 

Song Qingshu turned to see both women blushing and looking away.

“Changing clothes. I don’t want the Empress catching your scent on me again,” he said, amused by their reactions. “Seriously, I’m the one half-naked here, yet you’re the ones acting shy?”

“Get lost!” A pillow, infused with its owner’s fury, flew at his head.

“Hahaha!” With a loud laugh, Song Qingshu turned and left.

Peering through the window crack, the yellow-robed woman watched as Song Qingshu and the two eunuchs disappeared into the distance. She returned to the bedside and said, “Fifth Sister, this place is rarely visited. Stay hidden here for now. I’ll be back soon.”

Zhao Fujin noticed the eager glint in her eyes. “Are you… planning to follow Young Master Song?”

“Mhm.” The yellow-robed woman nodded. “I’ve always felt there’s something off about his relationship with the Jin Empress. A noble empress summoning a lowly eunuch in the dead of night? There must be some unspeakable secret.”

Zhao Fujin hesitated. “I think Young Master Song is a good man. He wouldn’t do anything to harm us.”

“Oh, dear Fifth Sister, since when did you start defending him? Don’t tell me something happened between you two at Autumn Fragrance Pavilion—” The yellow-robed woman tugged Zhao Fujin’s sleeve, teasing.

Zhao Fujin flicked her sister’s forehead. “No wonder Young Master Song always says you’ve got a wild imagination! I’m just worried you might interfere with his plans.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance.” Before Zhao Fujin could object, the yellow-robed woman darted out, calling over her shoulder, “Stay safe, Fifth Sister! I’ll return soon!”

Watching her sister vanish in a flash, Zhao Fujin sighed inwardly. ‘If only I knew Qinggong like her…’

*****

Following the two eunuchs through twists and turns, Song Qingshu avoided most of the guards patrolling Taihe Hall’s perimeter. Still, some encounters were inevitable—yet to his surprise, the guards ignored them completely, not even bothering to question their presence.

‘Empress Pei Man is truly formidable.’ Song Qingshu marveled. He had assumed the Prince of Wei had full control over the palace guards after the recent incident, but Pei Man had already turned some to her side. Not many, but enough to render the Prince’s efforts futile.

Once inside Taihe Hall, the two eunuchs withdrew. Song Qingshu navigated the familiar corridors until he heard Empress Pei Man’s lazy voice:

“Xiao Xing, what did I tell you last time?”

‘Ah, the reckoning has come.’

Playing the part, Song Qingshu adopted a pitiful tone. “This lowly one remembered Your Majesty’s instructions and returned after three days, but the outer halls were swarming with unfamiliar guards. I feared interrogation might jeopardize Your Majesty’s plans, so I dared not enter.”

“Hmph. If not for the recent… ‘developments’ in Taihe Hall, I’d have had your head for your insolence, you lowly s1ave!” Her voice dripped with menace.

Song Qingshu’s frown deepened. After hearing Zhao Fujin’s account of the Song captives’ suffering, his anger toward the Jin Dynasty’s cruelty had already been simmering. Now, being called a “lowly s1ave” repeatedly by the empress, he struggled to keep his temper in check.

“Still, you’ve got a sharp mind. Had you blundered into those guards, it would’ve been troublesome for me.” Empress Pei Man chuckled and beckoned. “Come sit beside me. Since you’re so clever, I’ll reward you with some grapes.”

Song Qingshu inwardly scoffed. In this world, grapes might be a delicacy for servants, but in his past life, even commoners had access to exotic fruits—dragonfruit, durian, cherries, blackcurrants, mangosteens… Any of them would’ve dazzled her.

‘Now, if she meant the “grapes” on her chest, that’d be a different story.’ Suppressing his thoughts, he forced a look of flattered gratitude.

“How goes your training with what I taught you?” Empress Pei Man lounged on the bed in a loose silk robe, lazily sucking grape juice from her fingers.

“I’ve mastered it inside out.” Sitting on the edge of her bed, Song Qingshu eyed the exposed swathes of fair skin beneath her robe and sighed. ‘She really doesn’t see me as a man at all.’

Empress Pei Man smiled, pleased. She sat up, looped her arms around his neck, and leaned in to whisper breathily into his ear:

“Today, I’ll let you experience what it feels like… to be an emperor.”

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