Flower Stealing Master

“I’ll make arrangements. Once Princess Roujia enters the palace later, I’ll lead her here. You should quickly deal with Consort Tong afterward.” Dongfang Muxue’s voice transmission lingered in Song Qingshu’s ears before she left, leaving him with a helpless smile.

Watching ‘Kangxi’ leave, Consort Tong grew increasingly anxious. She stood there with her head lowered, nervously wringing the edge of her sleeve.

‘What should I do? Am I really going to… with him?’

‘But the Emperor has already issued an edict. How can I refuse?’

‘I am a noble consort of the Great Qing Dynasty, yet I am about to be def!led by a Han man. Why is my fate so miserable…’

Song Qingshu observed her with interest. Seeing the glimmer of tears in her eyes, a warmth stirred in his heart. Previously, he had only regarded her as a plaything, but he never expected her to have such a delicate and pitiful side.

In the past, Song Qingshu often, under the guise of Kangxi, favored Consort Tong. Her reactions had never been so intense. However, after Dongfang Muxue’s clever arrangement, he could now openly face Consort Tong as himself.

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but reminisce about his days in the palace, serving as a guard. Every time he encountered Consort Tong, he had to bow respectfully. Now, the woman who once stood high above him was within arm’s reach. The stark contrast in their statuses filled him with exhilaration.

‘Too wicked! Dongfang Muxue is far too wicked!’ Song Qingshu marveled at her ingenuity. With just a few words, she had created such a classic role-playing scenario. How could he let her efforts go to waste?

“Servant Song Qingshu pays his respects to Consort Tong.” Song Qingshu returned to his days as a guard, bowing respectfully before her.

“Ri—rise… rise,” Consort Tong stammered, her response a common one. Yet now, it felt unbearably strange. Irritated, she thought, ‘You’re fully aware of the awkwardness between us, yet you still perform such formalities.’

Clearing her throat nervously, she said, “Although the Emperor said so, you must remember your status. You are just a servant. Don’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts toward me.”

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but laugh. Even at this point, Consort Tong was still deceiving herself. Taking a step closer to her, he said, “Whether servant or master, I don’t care how you perceive me. All you need to understand is that I am your man.”

“How dare you!” Consort Tong’s breathing quickened. “To speak such insolent words in my presence!” Her face flushed with either anger or embarrassment, but her delicate tone undermined the authority she tried to muster.

“The bold one is you, Consort,” Song Qingshu said nonchalantly. “Have you forgotten why I’m here? Or are you planning to defy the Emperor’s decree so soon?”

“I… no…” Flustered, she instinctively took a step back, her chest rising and falling as her emotions surged. “It’s just that I’m not ready yet.”

“What preparation does the Consort require?” Song Qingshu chuckled. “Allow me to assist you. The only thing you need to do is enjoy yourself.”

“Enough of your indecent talk!” Consort Tong’s face turned cold, but her heart raced wildly at his audacity.

“Since you dislike it, I won’t speak further.” Consort Tong had barely sighed in relief when Song Qingshu grasped her delicate hand. “Does the Consort soak her hands in milk every day? They’re so smooth.”

“You… how dare you!” Consort Tong looked at him in disbelief. As someone of noble status, no man had ever touched her, apart from her father when she was a child and the Emperor. Startled by Song Qingshu’s boldness, she felt both shame and fury.

“You misunderstand, Consort. I’m merely reading your palm.” Song Qingshu smiled faintly.

“Ridiculous! I have no need for palm reading!” She tried to pull her hand back, but his grip was unyielding. Feeling the warmth of his touch, her heart pounded uncontrollably.

“Doesn’t the Consort wonder why the Emperor, needing an heir, chose me—a Han man—and treated me with such courtesy?” Song Qingshu suddenly flashed her a mysterious smile.

“Why?” Consort Tong was drawn in, momentarily forgetting to struggle. She had been puzzling over this matter herself. If the Emperor were seeking an heir discreetly, wouldn’t he have chosen someone from the Manchu? Why pick a Han man?

Initially, she thought it was to avoid suspicion, but the Emperor’s interactions with Song Qingshu had an air of equality. Moreover, he had explicitly instructed her to serve Song Qingshu as she would serve him, which was unlike any emperor-subject relationship she had ever known.

“Because I am an immortal descended to earth,” Song Qingshu said with a cryptic smile. “Throughout history, emperors have claimed to be sons of heaven, but they are mere mortals. The imperial bloodline may be noble, but compared to the lineage of immortals, it pales in comparison. If not for a favor I owe Kangxi, I would never have bestowed my essence upon you…”

“Utter nonsense!” Consort Tong’s face turned bright red. “If you dared spread such heresy on a normal day, I would have you dragged out and executed!”

“Does the Consort not believe me?” Song Qingshu seemed unfazed. “Surely, you’ve heard of my recent feat—summoning winds and rains to annihilate Sabusu’s eight thousand cavalry.”

Consort Tong’s face suddenly paled, losing some of its color. “That… that was just your good luck,” she stammered.

“Good luck?” Song Qingshu sneered, laughing lightly. “Throughout history, can you find another person as ‘lucky’ as I am?”

“This…” Consort Tong was momentarily speechless. She had read many books but could not think of another similarly successful example no matter how much she mulled it over.

“Fine, let’s talk about something unrelated to luck,” Song Qingshu said, his eyes beginning to scan Consort Tong.

Feeling his piercing gaze, Consort Tong shuddered. It was as if he could see through her clothes, making her furious. “What are you looking at?” she demanded.

“I’m an immortal,” Song Qingshu replied casually. “Naturally, I possess certain immortal abilities, such as…” He paused deliberately before continuing, “…The ability to see through things.”

“The ability to see through things?” Consort Tong was startled and instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. However, she quickly calmed down, realizing he must be bluffing. After all, immortals didn’t exist in this world!

With that thought, she let her guard down and coldly snorted, “If you have the ability to see through things, tell me, what do you see?”

“If I really say it, will you blame me?” Song Qingshu teased with a playful smile.

Despite a flicker of unease, Consort Tong’s logic prevailed. It was impossible, after all. She gritted her teeth and said, “Fine. If you’re right, I won’t hold it against you. But if you’re wrong, I’ll report you to the emperor, and you’ll be executed for your deceit!”

“Is there a faint red mole under your left bre*ast?” Song Qingshu asked. His words made Consort Tong’s face turn pale instantly.

“And your waist…”

“And the back of your knee…”

Song Qingshu listed several intimate features of Consort Tong’s body one by one.

Consort Tong felt as if she had plunged into an icy abyss. These were extremely private areas, places not even her closest attendants knew about. Could this man truly be an immortal?

“Ah!” Consort Tong suddenly snapped out of her thoughts with a scream, clamping her legs together. “Turn around immediately! Stop looking!”

Song Qingshu stepped forward, pulling her into his arms. His voice softened. “Why resist so much, Consort? The emperor has already gifted you to me. We should be in harmony, like a perfect melody.”

Consort Tong shivered all over. “Nonsense! When did the emperor give me to you? He only instructed me to… to…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“If you know that much, Consort, then it’s clear,” Song Qingshu murmured into her ear. “Besides, as an immortal, I’m hardly unworthy of you. Why fight this?”

“Immortal? You’re nothing but a liar using tricks I can’t comprehend,” Consort Tong retorted. She was no fool. After her initial shock, she quickly realized the absurdity—immortals simply didn’t exist.

Song Qingshu was taken aback. This girl’s quick wit had caught him off guard.

“Immortal or not, it’s not something for Consort to dwell on,” Song Qingshu said with a faint smile. “What you should be concerned about is how to conceive as soon as possible. The emperor’s patience has limits. If you fail to conceive, he might think it’s my fault and simply replace me with another man. But if he suspects the issue lies with you, he might silence you permanently. What then?”

Consort Tong turned as pale as a sheet. Both scenarios—replacement or death—were unacceptable to her. Upon reflection, it seemed bearing a child with the man in front of her might indeed be the best outcome.

She glanced at Song Qingshu cautiously, thinking, ‘Though he’s a Han, he’s undeniably handsome and heroic. If my child were to have a father like him… it wouldn’t be the worst fate. But if the emperor were to send someone repulsive in his place… that would be unbearable.’

Seeing her bow her head in silence, Song Qingshu knew she had been swayed. However, he also realized she would never openly admit it. Laughing heartily, he said, “Since Consort remains silent, I’ll take that as consent.”

With that, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bed.

Consort Tong trembled all over, clutching her robes tightly, yet she didn’t voice any objection.

When the man pressed her beneath him, Consort Tong turned her face away, tears streaming silently onto the brocade bedding. Trembling, she whispered, “Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this.”

“Only the heavens, the earth, you, and I will know,” Song Qingshu murmured softly into her ear.

‘And the emperor knows too,’ Consort Tong silently added in her heart.

*****

No one knew how much time passed before a sudden exclamation came from outside the door. 

“What… what are you doing?!” 

---

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