“So that’s how it is.” Song Qingshu nodded and asked a few more questions about the Persian Ming Cult.
Daiqisi answered them one by one.
Seeing that there was nothing more to ask, Song Qingshu snapped his fingers, jolting Daiqisi out of her hypnotic state.
Unlike the political intrigues of the various nations in this world, Song Qingshu, coming from a later era, knew all too well how formidable the Mongols truly were. In his mind, the Mongols were the ultimate final boss, while the Jin and the Qing were rely elite minions. There was no need to jeopardize the grand strategy against the Mongols for short-term gains.
Although Daiqisi was a mber of the Ming Cult, Song Qingshu needed the Ming Cult to slow the Mongols’ advance. In a way, she and he were on the sa side. Back at Blackwood Cliff, he had even spared the Ming Cult’s leader—why would he harm the Purple-robed Dragon King now?
“What did you just do to ?” Daiqisi, now awake, froze montarily, struggling to recall what had just happened. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t rember—only the feeling of being unable to refuse his commands remained. She instinctively took several steps back, staring at him in horror.
Song Qingshu chuckled. “Why are you covering your chest? Did you think I’d take advantage of you and undress you? I have more class than that. Besides, I’ve already seen it earlier.”
Daiqisi flushed red—she had secretly checked her clothes and found them undisturbed. “What exactly did you do to ?”
“Relax, I didn’t do anything harmful,” Song Qingshu said, pausing before adding, seeing her suspicion, “We’re not enemies—at least not for now. Just rember that.”
“Then who are you?” Daiqisi stared at him in shock.
Song Qingshu pushed open the window behind him, about to leave, but paused at her question. Turning back, he grinned. “My surna is Wang. You can call
Old Wang Next Door from now on.”
With that, his figure vanished into the night. Though the palace was heavily guarded on the other side, Song Qingshu’s Qinggong was so refined that the ordinary sentries didn’t even notice his departure.
“Old Wang Next Door?” Daiqisi muttered to herself. “What kind of strange na is that? Is he from the Western Regions? But he doesn’t look like it…”
*****
Song Qingshu was intimately familiar with the Jin Dynasty’s palace—every hidden sentry, every patrol route, every timing. To an observer, he would appear as nothing more than a ghostly figure strolling leisurely through the palace, carrying an eerie grace.
Before long, he returned to Taihe Hall, only to find that Empress Pei Man had already fallen asleep. Annoyed, he woke her up. “I went through hell and high water for your sake, and here you are, sleeping soundly.”
Empress Pei Man stirred awake, her eyes landing on the man by her bedside. She giggled. “As the empress, I’m constantly surrounded by maids and eunuchs. The only way to send them away was to pretend to sleep while waiting for you. Don’t be angry—what did you find out?”
A high-ranking empress pleading softly before him—Song Qingshu couldn’t help but feel a little smug. “Just as you suspected, as soon as Lady Taohua entered the palace, Da Xingguo had her bathed and changed. Then your husband threatened her with Prince Changsheng’s life, and she submitted.”
Song Qingshu summarized the events, omitting Daiqisi’s true identity and tweaking the details. After all, in Emperor Xizong’s mind, this was how things had unfolded.
“That wretch Taohua! I knew that vixen would seduce the emperor one day,” Empress Pei Man hissed through gritted teeth.
Song Qingshu frowned. “From what happened, Lady Taohua was the victim. Your emperor husband was the instigator.”
Empress Peiman leaned closer. “Is Lady Taohua very beautiful?”
Song Qingshu’s mind flashed to Daiqisi’s alluring figure and stunning beauty. “Indeed, she is.”
Empress Pei Man snorted. “I knew it. That vixen has a way with n. Ever since she arrived in the capital, every man around her has fallen for her—even you.”
Song Qingshu was both amused and exasperated. A jealous woman was truly terrifying. If anything, Daiqisi, despite enchanting several n, had never betrayed her husband, Han Qianye. In contrast, Empress Pei Man’s actions were far more fox-like.
Noticing his skepticism, Empress Pei Man grew irritated. She grabbed his hand. “Don’t leave tonight. Stay with .”
“Ah?” Song Qingshu thought, Weren’t you just calling soone else a vixen? The mood shift is a bit sudden.
Empress Peiman bit her lip. “My husband is currently enjoying himself with another man’s wife. I want him to know how it feels when his own wife does the sa.”
Song Qingshu hadn’t been particularly interested, but her words stirred sothing in him. If an empress extended such an invitation, would refusing be too cruel?
The room was filled with the scent of premium sandalwood, mingling with the sweet fragrance of the w0man in bed.
Song Qingshu’s body quickly relaxed.
Empress Pei Man nibbled his ear and whispered playfully, “You’ll have to work hard, my lord. I need to conceive soon to secure the child’s legitimacy. Otherwise, given ti, that vixen Taohua might steal the advantage.”
*****
Over the next few days, a series of shocking events left the court officials utterly bewildered.
Emperor Xizong’s earlier actions had led them to believe he was moving against Prince Changsheng. The prince’s escape during the birthday banquet had given the emperor a perfect excuse to act—even Prince Changsheng himself thought so, fleeing to his fiefdom overnight.
But instead of punishing him, Emperor Xizong issued a series of edicts praising and rewarding Prince Changsheng. Officials close to the prince were even promoted, leaving the ministers scratching their heads.
Those with insider knowledge, aware of Lady Taohua’s visit to the palace that night, understood the emperor’s sudden change of heart. However, given the scandalous nature of the affair, none dared speak openly. Most officials remained clueless. Just when they had been ready to kick a man while he was down, the brothers suddenly reconciled, leaving those who had cheered for the emperor feeling uneasy.
Crash!
In the Hailing Prince’s residence, Wanyan Liang angrily swept everything off his desk. “Unbelievable! Just when Prince Changsheng was about to fall, that Taohua steps in, and the emperor changes his mind imdiately! A man who indulges in won and gets trapped by them—Emperor Xizong is no man of ambition!”
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