Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 984: A Fateful Meeting

Song Qingshu placed her on a chair and then ran to a nearby room. Judging by the decor, it must have been Grandma Sun’s room. He dismantled her bed and moved it next to the Cold Jade Bed, setting it up again and laying out the bedding before helping Xiao Longnu to bed for a good night’s sleep.

Seeing jars of Jade Honey Paste in the room, Song Qingshu’s eyes lit up. This was pure, natural honey that wouldn’t spoil even after a few years. He poured a small half bowl of honey paste, mixed it with clean water, and fed it to Xiao Longnu. Finally, a hint of color returned to her pale cheeks.

“Thank you,” Xiao Longnu said. Although she was naive about the world, the vast Ancient Tomb felt empty with just the two of them. It felt awkward not to say something.

Song Qingshu smiled and said, “We’re not strangers, so there’s no need to be so polite.”

Xiao Longnu smiled slightly and suddenly remembered something. “Brother-in-law, could you go to Ancestral Grandmother’s room and bring me that gilded box? Would that be alright?”

Song Qingshu was taken aback, thinking, is that the box containing Lin Chaoying’s Dowry? What does she need that for at this time? However, he wouldn’t refuse such a small request and replied with a smile, “You don’t need to be so polite when talking to your brother-in-law.”

Following her instructions, he ran to Lin Chaoying’s room and brought back the bottom box from a few stacked at the head of the bed.

The box wasn’t heavy and wasn’t locked. It was painted red with gilded designs, and the patterns were elegant.

Xiao Longnu said, “I heard Grandma Sun say this box contains Ancestral Grandmother’s Dowry. She never got married, so these items are naturally useless now.”

Song Qingshu had already guessed what was inside. Upon hearing this, he responded with an “mm” while looking at the beautifully decorated box, feeling a mix of joy and infinite sorrow. Sigh, who told her to fall in love with a scumbag like Wang Chongyang? She really had bad luck with men.

Suddenly, he felt dazed, realizing that someone like him, who was so emotionally involved with many people, would also be seen as a scumbag by outsiders. He just didn’t know who was worse compared to Wang Chongyang.

After thinking it over, Song Qingshu still believed Wang Chongyang was a bit worse. After all, those who are devoted can be the most heartless, especially if they’re irresponsible.

While he was lost in thought, Xiao Longnu had already opened the box. Inside lay a pearl-studded Phoenix Crown, a gold-embroidered Ceremonial Robe, and a bright red satin dress. Each piece was made from the finest materials and, despite being decades old, still looked radiant and new.

Xiao Longnu, severely injured, found even this small action exhausting. She could only say, “Brother-in-law, could you take them out for me to see?”

Song Qingshu nodded and began to take out the garments one by one. Beneath them was a combing box inlaid with pearls and a jade-carved jewelry box. The rouge and powder in the combing box had long dried, but half a bottle of fragrant oil remained. When the jewelry box was opened, both of them were dazzled by the sight of pearl hairpins, jade, and gemstone earrings, all splendid and shining.

Xiao Longnu, having rarely seen jewelry, didn’t know how valuable these items were. Song Qingshu, however, was slightly taken aback. The craftsmanship of these ornaments was exquisite, and each piece was not just a result of great effort but also extremely valuable. Such quality jewelry was rarely seen even in the Jin Dynasty’s imperial palace. Lin Chaoying was just a person from the wulin; even if her martial arts were high, how could she have acquired so many precious ornaments?

His first reaction was that Lin Chaoying might have learned from Huang Yaoshi’s disciple and had been a Master Thief in the Southern Song Imperial Palace. However, he quickly dismissed this guess. These ornaments were meant for a Dowry; a woman wouldn’t use stolen goods as her own Dowry.

At that moment, Xiao Longnu suddenly asked, “Brother-in-law, what do you think about me dressing up as a bride?”

Song Qingshu’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t understand why she wanted to dress as a bride. Did she have feelings for me?

He hurriedly replied, “You’re tired today; let’s wait until tomorrow to dress up.”

Xiao Longnu shook her head. “No, I’m worried I won’t make it to tomorrow. I want to wear a wedding dress before I die.”

Song Qingshu thought, with me here, how could anything happen to you? But seeing her determined attitude and wanting to see how beautiful Xiao Longnu would look in a wedding dress, he hesitated for a moment and then agreed.

Xiao Longnu smiled slightly, picked up the rouge, mixed it with some honey water, and began to carefully apply makeup in front of the mirror. This was her first time applying makeup in her life. Her complexion was naturally fair, and she didn’t need much powder. However, after her severe injury, she had lost all color. A light layer of rouge on her cheeks indeed made her look more radiant.

After a short break, she picked up a comb and sighed, “I don’t know how to style my hair into a bun.”

Song Qingshu’s heart fluttered, and he blurted out, “How about I help you style it?”

Xiao Longnu looked at him in surprise. “Can you do it?”

“Of course!” Song Qingshu replied proudly. He had so many beautiful friends and often spent nights with them, helping them with their makeup and hair. Although he had been clumsy at first, he had many opportunities to practice, and over time, he had become quite skilled.

“Then… okay,” Xiao Longnu said, feeling a bit uneasy but having no concept of propriety. After hesitating for a moment, she agreed. If it were any other woman in the world, she would never allow a man other than her husband to touch her hair.

Song Qingshu, coming from a different era, didn’t think much of it. Even if he knew there was such a taboo, he wouldn’t take it seriously.

Standing behind Xiao Longnu, he saw her long, flowing hair, black and shiny, reflecting light beautifully. He couldn’t help but admire her as he began to comb her hair.

“Junior Sister, you’re really beautiful,” he exclaimed, gazing at the fairy-like reflection in the mirror.

“Really?” Xiao Longnu’s brows lifted slightly with joy, but soon furrowed again. “But Guo’er has never praised me like this.”

Song Qingshu thought that Yang Guo was quite skilled in charming other women but was utterly clumsy in front of Xiao Longnu. No wonder in the original story, despite their deep love for each other, they went through so many trials and tribulations.

“Young Master Yang must have wanted to praise you for a long time. However, Junior Sister, you were once his master, and he respects you in his heart, so he just feels embarrassed to speak up,” he said, now at a level where he wouldn’t stoop to backstabbing his rival but instead defended him.

“Is that true?” Xiao Longnu asked in surprise. Hearing Song Qingshu speak for Yang Guo made her feel instinctively closer to him.

“Of course it’s true,” Song Qingshu said, stroking her soft hair repeatedly. “Junior Sister, your hair bun is ready. What do you think?”

Xiao Longnu’s beauty was of the natural kind; in fact, an elaborate hair bun would have ruined her inherent charm. Therefore, Song Qingshu only styled the simplest of buns for her.

“Brother-in-law, not only are you skilled in martial arts, but you’re also so gentle and considerate. Senior Sister is truly lucky,” Xiao Longnu smiled slightly, putting on a pair of earrings from the table, inserting a pearl hairpin, and wearing a pair of jade bracelets on her wrists. Under the flickering candlelight, she looked stunningly beautiful. She turned back with a joyful smile and asked, “Do you think I look good?”

Song Qingshu felt as if his vision was filled with light and instinctively praised, “You look extremely beautiful; even a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm can’t compare to you. Let me put on the Phoenix Crown for you!”

He picked up the Phoenix Crown and walked behind her to place it on her head.

Xiao Longnu gazed at the stunning woman in the bronze mirror and suddenly sighed, “It’s a pity Guo’er can’t see this.”

Song Qingshu was taken aback at first, then felt a pang in his heart. So, the reason she suddenly wanted to wear a wedding dress was that she was thinking of Yang Guo. He had been happy for a moment, but it turned out he had misread the situation.

However, he was also a broad-minded person and quickly composed himself. “In the future, Brother Yang will definitely see you in a wedding dress.” At the same time, he silently added, although Yang Guo might see you, you might not necessarily be his bride.

Xiao Longnu had no idea what he was thinking. Upon hearing him mention the future, she suddenly felt a pang in her heart and couldn’t hold back any longer. She cried out and collapsed onto the box, sobbing.

Song Qingshu panicked and instinctively stepped forward to hold her in his arms. “Junior Sister, what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

“What do you mean by ‘in the future’? Do I really have a ‘future’? Thinking that I might never see Guo’er again makes me want to cry,” Xiao Longnu said, overwhelmed with sorrow, not even noticing she had fallen into another man’s embrace.

Yang Guo, oh Yang Guo, you really are lucky! I wonder if a different little boy had entered the Ancient Tomb back then, would Xiao Longnu have loved him just as much?

While Song Qingshu sighed, he laughed heartily, “Junior Sister, don’t worry. With me here, I guarantee I’ll heal you so you can see Yang Guo again.”

“Really?” Xiao Longnu was a top-notch expert and knew how serious her injuries were, so she couldn’t help but feel a bit skeptical upon hearing his words.

“Even if you don’t believe me, you should trust Wang Chongyang. He is just as capable as your Ancestral Grandmother,” Song Qingshu replied.

“That’s true,” Xiao Longnu smiled slightly at the thought of Wang Chongyang’s identity.

Only then did Song Qingshu say, “Junior Sister, look how beautiful the phoenix embroidery on this dress is. Let me help you put it on!”

Xiao Longnu, being severely injured, couldn’t change clothes by herself. However, even if she were innocent and naive, she wouldn’t agree to undress in front of a man. Therefore, Song Qingshu had no other impure thoughts; he simply supported Xiao Longnu’s body and helped her put on the red jacket and skirt embroidered with golden threads over her blood-stained white dress.

Xiao Longnu wiped away her tears, touched up her rouge, and sat beside the red candle with a smile. “Thank you, brother-in-law.”

Song Qingshu smiled and said, “Alright, your wish has been fulfilled. Now we can start treating you, right?”

“Mm,” Xiao Longnu softly hummed in agreement.

Song Qingshu said to Xiao Longnu, “Relax your whole body, no matter what pain or itch you feel. You must not use your Qi to resist.”

Xiao Longnu, with her naturally calm disposition, smiled slightly upon hearing this. “I might as well be dead.”

Song Qingshu laughed, “Junior Sister, you’re truly clever!”

*****

Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Zhongnan stood a young man with a weathered face. 

Despite having lost an arm, he was exceptionally handsome. He gazed longingly at the mountain and murmured, “The world is so vast; I wonder where she is. Since I’m passing by Mount Zhongnan, I might as well return to the Ancient Tomb.” (G: RIP bro…)

Goblin: I think it’s important to include this authors note: “Regarding the recent slow updates, the main issue lies in integrating the plots of each country. This book involves the Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Qing, Western Xia, Tubo, Dali Kingdom, Goryeo, Hui people, and various Western Regions. Although I can only be considered a novice in history, I still want to align more closely with historical events and figures from each country.

Currently, the biggest problem is that while the general plots for each country have been designed, figuring out how to perfectly merge so many national events into a cohesive whole is quite a headache. I have been working on this for some time, which is why updates have been slow. Fortunately, I can see some progress now, and the day of connecting the Ren and Du meridians should be coming soon.

Thank you all for your support!”