Flower Stealing Master

Startled, Cheng Yaojia instinctively straightened her clothes and cleared her throat before calling out softly, “Come in.”

The door creaked open. It was only a maidservant bringing tea.

With an outsider present, Cheng Yaojia quickly sat up straight, resuming her usual dignified and gentle young matron persona.

After the maidservant left, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but chuckle. “I didn’t even touch you just now. Why were you fixing your clothes?”

Cheng Yaojia’s face burned with embarrassment. She protested coquettishly, “The Young Master is still as wicked as ever, teasing me the moment we meet.”

Song Qingshu loved seeing her flustered like this. “A guest in your home, and the hostess doesn’t even offer tea?”

Cheng Yaojia’s almond eyes widened in confusion as she looked at the teacup by his hand. “Didn’t they already serve you tea?”

Song Qingshu poured the tea out. “It’s good tea, but the maidservant’s worldly hands ruined the ambiance.”

“Then you’ll have to stay thirsty.” Knowing he was deliberately picking a quarrel, she gave a delicate snort, her lips curving in a smile.

“Might I be fortunate enough to enjoy a cup brewed by the lady herself?” Song Qingshu smiled at her.

Cheng Yaojia blushed and said softly, “Aren’t you afraid my worldly hands will ruin the ambiance?”

Song Qingshu laughed. “A maidservant’s hands are indeed worldly, but a lady’s hands are filled with ethereal grace.”

Cheng Yaojia couldn’t help laughing and quickly covered her mouth. “Young Master, your silver tongue truly knows how to please a lady.”

“If I have pleased the lady, might I trouble you for a cup of tea?” Song Qingshu pressed.

Cheng Yaojia shot him a very becoming look of mock annoyance. Finally, blushing, she stood and walked over. “If the Young Master isn’t afraid of my worldly hands, then by all means.”

She called for fresh tea sets and leaves, washed her hands, warmed the cups and pot, rinsed the leaves with boiling water, and performed the “Phoenix Nods Three Times”…

The whole process was unhurried, each movement graceful and elegant.

Watching the young matron’s flowing skirts, her pale wrists almost merging with the white teacup—it was hard to tell which was whiter—Song Qingshu was entranced.

Cheng Yaojia was focusing intently on brewing the tea when she suddenly felt a strong, masculine body press against her back, arms encircling her waist.

She trembled all over. The heat from his hands seeped through her thin dre$s into her be1ly, spreading through her b0dy like a blossoming flame. She felt as if her bones were melting.

“Don’t… someone might see,” Cheng Yaojia’s voice trembled violently. The Lu family was a prominent and wealthy clan in Shanyin. They had thousands of servants. Each madam and young mistress was attended by a large retinue. There were certainly maidservants standing outside the door at that very moment, awaiting orders.

“Your b0dy is still so soft, my lady.” Song Qingshu nuzzled his nose against her slender, pale neck, inhaling the orchid-like fragrance of her skin. He felt utterly relaxed and content.

His warm breath against her skin made her lose her grip on the tea set. Biting her lip, her voice took on a tearful quality. “Young Master, please stop. If someone really sees us, how can Guanying and I ever face anyone again?”

High-walled compounds like this were always full of gossip. If one person saw something, the whole household would know within half a day. The thought of such consequences made her shudder.

“Just continue brewing the tea, my lady. When it’s ready, I’ll let go.” Feeling the elegant curve of her waist and hip, Song Qingshu found himself reluctant to release her.

With no choice, Cheng Yaojia continued brewing the tea. But with a man distracting her from behind, how could she perform her usual graceful, skilled tea ceremony? She fumbled through it and finally poured a cup, but her wrist was shaking so badly that half the tea must have spilled onto the tray.

“Young Master, your tea!” Cheng Yaojia turned and presented the cup to Song Qingshu.

Seeing the gentle young matron’s lovely face flushed as if it might drip blood, Song Qingshu chuckled. “Haven’t we been intimate before? Why are you still so shy?”

Cheng Yaojia turned her face away, ignoring him, and simply held the cup out again. “Young Master, drink your tea.”

“How could I enjoy alone the fine tea the lady has brewed?” Song Qingshu inhaled gently. A thin stream of tea rose from the cup into his mouth. Then he reached out, took Cheng Yaojia’s chin, and ki$$ed her moist lips deeply.

*Gulp, gulp.*

Caught off guard, Cheng Yaojia swallowed most of the tea before realizing what was happening and pushing the man away.

Wiping the moisture from her lips, she was both embarrassed and annoyed. “How can you be like this…” But what surprised her was that she felt no anger or disgust—only fear of being seen.

Song Qingshu pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her mid-sentence. “Shh. The young master is back.”

Cheng Yaojia’s b0dy trembled. “Then let go of me quickly!”

“I’ll come to your room tonight.” Song Qingshu whispered in her ear, his voice full of seduction. Then he released her and sat back down in his chair.

Though his relationship with Cheng Yaojia had been approved by Lu Guanying himself, she was still his nominal wife. To embrace her openly in front of him would be insensitive.

Hearing his words, Cheng Yaojia’s heart stirred. She licked her moist lips and murmured softly, “If you have the nerve, say that to Guanying.” Then she quickly turned away, not daring to look at him again.

Just then, Lu Guanying strode into the room in a huff. Noticing his grim expression, Song Qingshu smiled. “What’s the matter, Brother Lu?”

Lu Guanying’s face was ashen. He slammed his hand on the table. “Absolutely outrageous!”

Startled, Cheng Yaojia thought her husband had seen her embracing Song Qingshu. Mortified, she stammered, “Guanying, I…”

Song Qingshu remained much calmer. He knew Lu Guanying was not upset over them. And indeed, the man’s next words confirmed his suspicion.

“The clan head is away. I decided to request an audience with the old madam first. But she was busy receiving guests and wouldn’t see me. She left me waiting outside for half a *shichen*. I’m certain it was deliberate. So I came back.” Lu Guanying’s hands shook as he spoke, clearly furious.

Before coming, Song Qingshu had done his homework. The current clan head of the Shanyin Lu family was Lu You’s father, Lu Zai, who had served as the Vice Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit and was now retired.

Though the Vice Transport Commissioner of Jingxi Circuit was not a high-ranking post, Lu Zai was a descendant of a distinguished family. He had a wide circle of acquaintances and was learned and wise, so he enjoyed considerable prestige.

The “old madam” Lu Guanying referred to was Lu Zai’s wife, née Tang. Her family background was equally illustrious—she was the granddaughter of Tang Jie, who had served as the Deputy Chief Minister in the early Xining era.

Cheng Yaojia asked curiously, “Who was the old madam receiving?”

Lu Guanying’s face darkened. “None other than your esteemed cousin.”

“Cheng Ying?” Cheng Yaojia exclaimed.

Song Qingshu smiled knowingly. “It seems the young master is not held in very high regard in this household.”

Lu Guanying’s face grew even darker. Just then, a maidservant arrived with a message. “Third Young Master, the old madam requests that you bring your friend to see her.”

“What?” Lu Guanying exploded. “With Young Master Song’s status, she should be the one coming to pay her respects!”

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