Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 816: A Sweet Assignment

“Is this the new outfit Her Majesty prepared for me?” Song Qingshu smiled bitterly while maintaining the fearful demeanor expected of a lowly eunuch. He had assumed that after that night, the Empress would have seen through his disguise as a fake eunuch. Yet, after so long, she had shown no reaction at all. Even today, when she saw him again, her expression remained unchanged. Thus, he decided to play along, adapting to the situation without revealing anything.

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you quite bold last time? Now you’re scared?” Empress Pei Man laughed, though inwardly she was deeply frustrated. 

That night, she had been so reckless with this little eunuch that she had lost her senses, allowing some mysterious man to take advantage of her. She had spent this entire time secretly investigating who that man was, but no matter how hard she searched, she found no clues. In a fit of rage, she had executed every suspect under her suspicion.

“Last time, it was because Your Majesty was so beautiful that this lowly one momentarily lost control and forgot his fear,” Song Qingshu replied while subtly observing her expression.

“How could a eunuch ‘lose control’?” Empress Pei Man giggled. “Xiao Xing, I find myself growing fonder of you. Your flattery is truly unique—your words are as sweet as honey.”

“Every word I spoke just now came from the heart, as Heaven is my witness!” Song Qingshu declared righteously.

“Enough, enough. Now you’re even trying to sound sophisticated with me. Who knows where you picked up these phrases?” Empress Pei Man had no interest in continuing this topic. She pointed at the dragon robe beside her. “Hurry up and put it on. Let me see how you look.”

Song Qingshu, equally curious about her intentions, stopped refusing. In a few swift motions, he shed his eunuch attire. When his muscular chest and imposing physique were revealed, Empress Pei Man’s eyes brightened. She reached out and pressed a hand against his chest. “My, my, quite sturdy, aren’t you? You must be quite popular among the palace maids. Tell me, how many have asked to form a ‘pair’ with you?”

Having spent considerable time in the palace, Song Qingshu knew that “forming a pair” referred to lonely palace maids and eunuchs pretending to be couples. Though they were called “false couples,” aside from intimacy, their relationships were no different from real marriages.

Not wanting to complicate things, Song Qingshu shook his head. “This lowly one is favored by Your Majesty. How could I dare seek companionship with other maids?”
“You dog of a servant, your audacity is something else,” Empress Pei Man scolded with a laugh. “After all this, are you treating ‘me’ as your ‘pair’?”

“This lowly one wouldn’t dare.” Having once impersonated Emperor Kangxi, Song Qingshu was no stranger to dragon robes. In no time, he had changed into the new attire.

Empress Pei Man’s eyes flickered with surprise before narrowing suspiciously. “You’re quite adept at wearing a dragon robe, aren’t you?”

Song Qingshu’s heart tightened, but he replied calmly, “Has Your Majesty forgotten that I am the Chief of the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau? I’m quite familiar with all the ceremonial garments in the palace.”

“So that’s it!”

Empress Pei Man had only asked casually. Her attention was soon captured by the imposing figure before her. She couldn’t help but marvel, “Who would have thought that a dog of a servant like you could look so dignified in a dragon robe? You’re even more like an emperor than the real—”

She had been about to say “more like an emperor than the real one,” but she caught herself just in time. If such words were ever leaked, the consequences would be dire. She promptly fell silent.

Song Qingshu inwardly seethed at her repeated insults. ‘Hmph, that night, you were the one acting like a b!tch, groveling on all fours…’

Looking at Song Qingshu in the dragon robe, Empress Pei Man’s face revealed satisfaction. “Excellent. The effect is even better than I expected. Xiao Xing, do you remember the court etiquette I taught you before?”

“Not a single detail forgotten.” ‘Here it comes,’ Song Qingshu thought. After all her scheming, he was finally about to learn her true intentions.

“Good.” Empress Pei Man’s face suddenly flushed. “Just act the way you did last time.” She still vividly remembered how this little eunuch had exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance. As the ruler of the inner palace, she had seen everything—yet with just one glance from him, she had been too terrified to stand.

“Now?” Song Qingshu was baffled. Was she planning to replay their previous charade of emperor and empress?

“Not yet.” The Empress’s breathing grew slightly uneven, betraying her inner turmoil. “Soon, two people will arrive. You’ll pretend to be the current Emperor.”

Song Qingshu found it strange. ‘No disguise? My face looks nothing like the Jin Emperor’s.’

“May I ask who these two people are? It would help me prepare.” He probed cautiously.

Empress Pei Man chuckled. “No need to be nervous. They certainly won’t be high-ranking ministers or marshals. If it were that complicated, I wouldn’t dare have you impersonate the Emperor. They’re just two ignorant little maids who’ve never seen the Emperor before. As long as you follow the etiquette I’ve taught you, they won’t suspect a thing.”

“Two little maids?” Song Qingshu grew even more puzzled. As the ruler of the inner palace, why would Empress Pei Man go to such lengths just to deal with two lowly maids? There had to be more to this.

“Aside from pretending to be the Emperor, is there anything else I need to do?” Song Qingshu was certain this wasn’t the whole scheme. Empress Pei Man wouldn’t orchestrate all this just to deceive a couple of maids.

“Of course there is.” Noticing the concern in his eyes, she smiled. “Don’t look so grim. In fact, this is a ‘good’ thing.”

“A good thing?” Song Qingshu was taken aback.

“Yes, a ‘good’ thing!” Empress Pei Man’s smile suddenly turned icy. “These two little maids believe they’ve been summoned to serve the Emperor in bed tonight. So, whether you use your hands or tools, you ‘must’ take their v!rginity!”

“What?!” Song Qingshu felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He had considered countless possibilities, but never in his wildest dreams had he expected Empress Pei Man’s orders to be so absurd—and so ‘depraved’. ‘Deflower two little maids? What kind of madness is this?!’

“Well? Isn’t this a sweet assignment?” Seeing his stunned expression, Empress Pei Man assumed he was overjoyed. “Countless men would beg for such a delightful task, yet here you are, a mere eunuch, getting it for free. Don’t worry—I won’t mistreat you. These two maids are stunning beauties, each one in a million.”

‘Judging by her tone, she still thinks I’m a eunuch. Did she really not realize the truth after that night?’ Song Qingshu found it bizarre, but his focus quickly returned to the matter at hand.

‘D*mn it! Whether the maids are beautiful or not isn’t the point! The real question is—what the hell is Empress Pei Man planning?!’