Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 950: The Gentleman and the Rogue

“Proof of allegiance?” Daiqisi was momentarily stunned. “What kind of proof?”

Song Qingshu looked into her somewhat evasive eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re a smart woman, Madam. Why make me spell it out? Surely you don’t expect me to naively believe you based on just your word?”

In The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the Purple-robed Dragon King was a woman who appeared deeply devoted but was actually quite fickle. Her devotion was reserved solely for her husband, Han Qianye; towards everyone else, she was cold and detached.

The Butterfly Bone Medical Immortal, Hu Qingniu, had saved her life, yet she killed him without batting an eye.

Everyone from the top, Yang Dingtian, down to the lowest disciples on Bright Peak, had treated her exceptionally well. Yet, for a man she had only met once, she betrayed all these friends. Even more absurdly, that man was an enemy of the Ming Cult.

When the Ming Cult severed ties with her, only the Golden-Haired Lion King, Xie Xun, attended her wedding. The couple’s nicknames, “Golden Flower Granny” and “Silver Leaf Gentleman,” were derived from the wedding gifts Xie Xun had given them. Yet later, she schemed to obtain Xie Xun’s Dragon-Slaying Saber and showed no concern when she saw him in crisis.

Even towards her own daughter, Xiao Zhao, she displayed little maternal love. When Xiao Zhao was still very young, Daiqisi forced her to disguise herself as an ugly creature and infiltrate Bright Peak to steal the Heaven and Earth Great Shift. For a non-Ming Cult member, Bright Peak was akin to a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair. The slightest misstep would have led to Xiao Zhao’s utter ruin. For a mother to be so ruthless truly showed her heartlessness.

Of course, if she were the novel’s heroine, these flaws wouldn’t be an issue. Many heroines share this temperament, caring only for their own man and nothing else. Women like Zhao Min and Huang Rong had similar personalities in their youth. However, because their men were the protagonists of their stories, their actions were enjoyed by readers. Daiqisi’s husband, Han Qianye, was merely a side character. From a reader’s perspective, she naturally seemed vicious and cold.

Song Qingshu wasn’t sure if he was the protagonist of this chaotic world, and it was clear Daiqisi did not love him. How could he easily trust her?

Daiqisi quickly regained her composure. “What will it take for you to believe me?”

Song Qingshu refilled his glass with wine, leaned back in his chair, and drank leisurely. “That, Madam, is for you to figure out.”

Daiqisi’s expression shifted rapidly, first showing confusion, then uncertainty. “Should I swear an oath of loyalty to you?”

Song Qingshu shook his finger. “Oaths are the most unreliable things in this world. Ming Zun is the true god of all Ming Cult disciples. Every member swears allegiance to him upon joining, but look what happens.”

“Then what do you suggest!” Daiqisi, already suspecting his intentions, spoke less politely.

Song Qingshu reached out, pulled Daiqisi’s soft wai$t, and drew her into his embr@ce. Holding her chin, he looked down at her and said, “If you’re willing to pledge loyalty to me, then devote yourself to me completely, holding nothing back.”

Since Han Qianye’s passing, no m@n had been this close to her. Daiqisi was both embarrassed and furious. She instinctively tried to fight back, but for some reason, she found herself unable to muster any of her inner energy. Her struggles only resulted in her delicate b0dy rubbing against the m@n’s embrace, to no avail.

Realizing her struggles were only to Song Qingshu’s advantage, she immediately stopped moving and glared at him with flushed cheeks. “Let me go!”

Song Qingshu remained unmoved, a faint smile playing on his lips. “If our positions were reversed, would you let go in this situation?”

Daiqisi was speechless. If she were a m@n, she wouldn’t let go of such a stunning beauty either—she had always been extremely confident in her looks.

While she was lost in thought, Song Qingshu didn’t hold back. His hands slipped into her g@rments.

Daiqisi’s b0dy stiffened. She hadn’t expected him to act so unreasonably. The men she had encountered before had all gone to great lengths to please her, afraid of causing her even a hint of displeasure. But Song Qingshu was different—he had no sense of decorum, acting little better than a ruffian.

What infuriated her most was that she knew how to deal with gentlemen. Over the years, countless suitors had failed to even t0uch her hand. Yet, since meeting Song Qingshu, she had been repeatedly thwarted. First, to avoid Da Xingguo’s inspection, she had to remove her upper g@rment in front of him, exposing her b0dy to a m@n other than her husband. She had been utterly humiliated and enraged. Now, it wasn’t just looking—he was t0uching her directly.

As if under some spell, Daiqisi’s initial shame and anger soon gave way to a strange sensation, even an impulse to yield.

Fortunately, she was strong-willed and quickly recovered. “If you continue to har@ss me, I’ll scream!” They were in a carriage, and although Song Qingshu had ordered the soldiers to keep their distance, her cries would still be heard.

“Go ahead. The people outside are my subordinates. Do you think they’ll help you or me?” Song Qingshu found this amusing.

Daiqisi bit her lip and glared at him hatefully. “As the Imperial Consort, you must care about your reputation. If this gets back to the court and you’re impeached, you’ll be in serious trouble.”

Song Qingshu laughed. “Have you forgotten that I’m also the King of the Golden Serpent Camp now?”

“You!” Daiqisi was speechless. Only now did she realize she seemed utterly powerless against him.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock came at the carriage door. 

Daiqisi breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had found a savior.

“Come in,” Song Qingshu said calmly, without stopping his actions.

Daiqisi froze. Was he not even going to try to hide this? How could she let anyone see her in this state?

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as she wished. The door opened, and she had no choice but to bury her face in Song Qingshu’s chest, hoping to avoid being recognized.

Song Qingshu chuckled inwardly. 

Daiqisi was usually clever, but in critical moments, she resorted to ostrich-like behavior.

When Pucha Qiucao entered and saw the scene inside the carriage, she couldn’t hide her disdain. She had heard that Tang Kuo Bian had brought a mysterious woman along on this trip and thought he was bold, considering he had a princess waiting at home. Now, seeing him act so brazenly in front of her, she realized he wasn’t just bold—he was utterly lawless.

“Marshal, it’s getting late. Should we order the camp to be set up?” Pucha Qiucao asked coldly.

“Of course. Everyone must be tired after a long day. Let’s stop here,” Song Qingshu replied.

Pucha Qiucao nodded expressionlessly and withdrew.

Song Qingshu noticed her look of disdain but didn’t care. He had no interest in this young girl and wasn’t concerned with her opinions.

To be fair, although Pucha Qiucao was flat-che$ted and had a small bottom, she was still a beauty. However, Song Qingshu was surrounded by devastatingly stunning women, and Pucha Qiucao’s looks weren’t enough to catch his attention. Besides, she was engaged to Yang Guo…

‘Yang Guo has suffered enough.’ Song Qingshu felt no need to add to his misery.

In the end, Song Qingshu released Daiqisi. As the army’s commander, he needed to appear before his subordinates and attend to his duties.

“Brother Song, if I were thirty years younger, I might have been jealous of your incredible luck with w0men,” Ouyang Feng remarked, watching Song Qingshu carry a flushed Daiqisi into a tent. He was one of the few who knew Daiqisi’s identity. The Purple-robed Dragon King’s beauty had been renowned throughout the martial world, and he, too, had been captivated by her in his youth.

“Brother Feng, you flatter me. Everyone in the martial world knows that although the Western Poison is venomous, he has never been one for w0men,” Song Qingshu replied with a laugh.

“Although I’m not fond of w0men, I’m still a man,” Ouyang Feng said gloomily. “Every time I see you, you’re with a different w0man, and each one is a devastatingly enchanting siren. I have no idea how you manage to charm them all.”

“I’m a respectable man. How could my actions be called charming?” Song Qingshu chuckled.

Ouyang Feng smiled knowingly. “If Ke’er were still alive, the two of you would have gotten along well.” His tone was filled with nostalgia.

“The departed are gone. I hope you can find peace, Brother Feng,” Song Qingshu said, then abruptly changed the subject. “But I’ll say something that might get me punched: if Ouyang Ke were still alive, we’d be thanking heaven if we didn’t end up fighting over w0men. How could we ever be friends?”

Ouyang Feng imagined the two of them competing for w0men and couldn’t help but smile. “That’s true. But Ke’er was no match for you. Most likely, you would have toyed with him to death.”

Ouyang Feng had spent considerable time in the Prince Hailing’s residence and knew that Wanyan Liang, despite his high intelligence and capabilities, had been utterly crushed by Song Qingshu. Witnessing Wanyan Liang fall from his peak to utter ruin at Song Qingshu’s hands had left a deep impression on him.

Song Qingshu quickly put on a horrified expression. “Brother Feng, we know each other well. You know I’ve never had any interest in men!”

Ouyang Feng was taken aback, realizing the double meaning in his earlier words. His expression turned strange, and he laughed. “You’re the only one in the world who would dare joke with me like this.”

Song Qingshu smiled. “Because we’re friends.”

“Yes, we are friends.” Ouyang Feng sighed emotionally. Now that he was older, he had a different appreciation for a word he had once scorned.

Noticing Song Qingshu occasionally glancing toward the tent, Ouyang Feng burst into laughter. “Well, I won’t keep you. ‘A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.’ I’m not so tactless. I’ll go find Old Qiu for a drink.” With that, he strode away.