Flower Stealing Master

A refreshing, soothing fragrance wafted toward him. He couldn’t tell whether it was the scent of the perfume that Wanyan Gebi normally used or the natural aroma emanating from her body, but Song Qingshu felt his whole body tighten as his heart pounded wildly.

‘What if she comes to get intimate with me later? Am I to be seen as a brute or merely a gentleman?’ Song Qingshu thought that his earlier decision had overestimated his own resolve. With such a stunning beauty—truly a paragon of charm—taking the initiative, any man would find it hard to resist.

While Song Qingshu’s reason and desire battled fiercely within him, Wanyan Gebi made no further move. When he turned to look, he saw that the beauty had closed her sparkling eyes and, curled up in his arms, had fallen back asleep.

Song Qingshu finally exhaled in relief, though he couldn’t help but feel a trace of melancholy. Of course, he quickly shook off that emotion; rescuing Song Yuanqiao and the others was the top priority, and no slip-up could be allowed before that.

Although his disguise technique was exquisite, it had only temporarily deceived Wanyan Gebi. After all, a married couple knows each other better than anyone else. Even if he remained extremely cautious, over time she would surely notice something—especially after the intimacy they had already shared.

Women are the most perceptive creatures in the world—they can detect even the slightest difference, like that of a single strand of hair. If they truly become physically intimate, aspects such as a person’s scent, build, and even… size, would immediately reveal that he was not her real husband.

No longer the reckless youth he once was, Song Qingshu now knew how to prioritize. Before he could rescue Song Yuanqiao and the others, Tang Kuo Bian’s true identity must never be compromised in the slightest.

‘It seems I must find a way to distance myself from her; otherwise, spending every day and night together will eventually expose everything.’ Having made up his mind in silence, Song Qingshu soon felt sleep overcoming him and drifted off into a hazy slumber.

---

At daybreak the next morning, Wanyan Gebi awoke to find herself curled up like a cat in her husband’s arms, while her husband clung to her like an octopus—especially with one hand that had slipped deep inside her garment’s lapel…

Her face slightly flushed, Wanyan Gebi carefully withdrew his hand, then gently shifted the leg he had pressed against her waist to the side, and quietly got off the bed to freshen up.

In truth, Song Qingshu had already awakened when she first moved, but the situation was so awkward that he didn’t know how to face her and decided to feign sleep. Later, noticing her tender actions and fearing she might wake him, he silently mused, ‘Tang Kuo Bian’s wife isn’t just beautiful; she is extraordinarily graceful and caring despite her noble status. A woman like her is extremely rare—what kind of fortune did Tang Kuo Bian have in his past life…’

Recalling the soft, warm touch of her skin, even though Song Qingshu’s resolve was as thick as a city wall, he couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. He vowed that he had never intended to take advantage of her; this was just how things were when he awoke.

However, because he had been so exhausted recently, Song Qingshu mumbled a few words, turned over, and fell asleep again. When he woke up once more, it was nearly noon, and Wanyan Gebi was standing by the bed with a basin of water, watching him tenderly.

“Husband, let me help you freshen up,” she said.

“No, it’s not necessary,” Song Qingshu immediately snapped back to full awareness. ‘What a joke! I’m wearing a mask right now—if you were to clean me, wouldn’t that give me away?’

“Husband, why are you being so formal with me?” Wanyan Gebi replied as she rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms whiter than jade. She wrung out a handkerchief, preparing to wipe Song Qingshu clean.

“I said it’s not needed!” In a burst of urgency, Song Qingshu pushed her hand away.

Caught off guard, Wanyan Gebi staggered backward several steps, simultaneously toppling the basin of water beside her. The entire basin emptied onto the floor, and as her foot slipped, she tumbled down in one sudden fall.

Given Song Qingshu’s level of cultivation, it would have been effortless for him to catch her before she fell. His body had stirred with desire several times, yet in the end, he chose not to help. Since he had already decided to distance himself from her, it was best to start that very moment.

Wanyan Gebi had not expected that her kind-hearted effort would lead to such an outcome. Tears glistened in her sparkling eyes, but though she was gentle, she was by no means weak. Forcing back her tears, she stood up, gathered the basin and handkerchief from the floor, and turned away without looking back—without saying a single word to Song Qingshu.

Song Qingshu saw everything clearly. The moment Wanyan Gebi turned away, she could no longer hold back her tears. Her delicate, tear-streaked face was so pitifully beautiful that even he, with all his self-restraint, nearly called out to stop her.

But the thought of Song Yuanqiao and the others made him hesitate. His mouth opened slightly, but in the end, he remained silent.

With a sigh, he placed his hands behind his head and lay motionless on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was a tangled mess, lost in thoughts even he couldn’t quite decipher.

He had no idea how much time had passed when light, graceful footsteps suddenly echoed from the corridor. Startled, he turned his head, only to see Wanyan Gebi returning.

There was no trace of tears on her face anymore. Instead, she wore a warm, radiant smile as she approached with a bowl of fragrant porridge in hand. Sitting down beside the bed, she said softly, “Husband, your body is weak and cannot handle heavy tonics, but you can’t have plain congee every meal. I was worried that the servants might mess it up, so I specially prepared a bowl of chicken congee for you. Drink it while it’s hot.”

Song Qingshu was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected that besides Shuang’er, there was another woman of this kind in his life. He stared at her dumbfounded, unable to speak for a moment.

Subconsciously, Wanyan Gebi touched her cheek and smiled bashfully, “Could it be that something unclean got on my face? Oh dear, when I came out of the kitchen earlier I didn’t have a mirror to check, so I must have picked up something.”

Song Qingshu shook his head. “No, your face is as smooth as egg white—absolutely spotless.”

“Then why are you looking at me like that~” she teased coquettishly.

Song Qingshu hesitated, “Just now…”

“Just now was merely an accident,” she interrupted before he could continue. “Besides, I wasn’t entirely clear of fault either.”

“Uh…” Song Qingshu was rendered speechless, inwardly exclaiming, ‘Tang Kuo Bian, you must have had your ancestral graves emitting blue smoke to have been so fortunate as to marry such a perfect wife.’

“And still you’re looking at me like that~” Wanyan Gebi couldn’t help but give him a withering look, yet she was as enchanting as ever. “Are you trying to get me to feed you?”

Quickly, Song Qingshu shook his head. “No need—I’ll do it myself, I’ll do it myself.” As he took the bowl, he silently cautioned himself: ‘this woman’s charm is far too powerful. If I continue my playboy ways, I might eventually find himself completely ensnared.’

As he ate his congee, Wanyan Gebi chatted casually beside him, while Song Qingshu dared only to offer vague hums in reply, fearful that speaking too much might lead to mistakes. Yet with his quick wit, his evasive responses managed not to arouse her suspicion.

“By the way, Prince Hailing had sent someone earlier to see you, but I declined on the pretext that you weren’t feeling well,” Wanyan Gebi mentioned suddenly.

“Why?” Song Qingshu asked coldly.

For a moment, Wanyan Gebi was taken aback—she hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from her husband. Instinctively, she replied, “I always felt that Prince Hailing harbored ill intentions; every time he looked at me… um… his gaze was rather peculiar. I don’t like him.”

“Didn’t I tell you? That’s just your overthinking. Besides, you two are cousins—I don’t know why you’d entertain such vile thoughts!” Song Qingshu sighed inwardly. He had already softened his heart earlier, but her offhand chit-chat had left him utterly at a loss; it had taken him tremendous effort to keep the conversation in check. If such exchanges continued, his true identity would soon be exposed. At this point, he had no choice but to resolutely distance himself from her, and Wanyan Liang provided a perfect pretext.

Being sternly reprimanded by her husband, Wanyan Gebi’s eyes reddened instantly. However, her suspicions about Wanyan Liang were based solely on a feeling, and she couldn’t find any concrete reason to back them up. Yet, the thought that her husband didn’t believe her hurt her deeply, and she sat in silence, stewing in her sorrow.

Seeing her expression, Song Qingshu knew it wasn’t enough, so he continued, “In the past, we had many misunderstandings with Prince Hailing, but it was thanks to him—without holding onto past grudges—that he rescued me. I owe him my life, a second chance even. From now on, I won’t allow you to speak ill of him behind his back.”

Wanyan Gebi pouted and turned her head away without replying, clearly unimpressed.

“Did you hear that?!” Song Qingshu suddenly raised his voice—so much so that even he startled himself.

“Wogula, you’re going too far!” At that, Wanyan Gebi could no longer hold back. She abruptly stood up, wiping her eyes as she ran out. In the wind, one could faintly hear the sound of her crying.

Song Qingshu sighed inwardly, ‘Brother Tang Kuo, if there are spirits in heaven, I hope they won’t blame me. Though I hurt her feelings, at least I saved you from having to wear a green hat…’ For a moment, his mind drifted into a chaotic haze.

---

Last night, an assassin had caused a commotion in the palace, and Wanyan Ping had been busy all night. Near dawn, only then did she get a chance to rest. Upon waking, finding her hands free for the moment, she remembered to leave the palace to check on her sister and her poor, badly injured brother-in-law.

For some reason, even though her brother-in-law sported a scruffy beard, his martial prowess was mediocre, and his official rank modest, Wanyan Ping always felt an unusual fondness for him.

“Maybe it’s because he hugged me when I was little~” she self-mockingly chuckled. Given her close relationship with Wanyan Gebi, she didn’t need to report her comings and goings at the Tang residence. Lost in thought, she was suddenly bumped at a corner by someone coming straight toward her.

“Who doesn’t have eyes? How dare you be so brazen!” Wanyan Ping immediately became furious, assuming the offender was some clumsy servant. She reached for her whip, ready to strike.

“Sister?” When Wanyan Ping saw the person’s face clearly, she was dumbfounded.

“Ping’er, you’re here,” Wanyan Gebi hurriedly said while wiping the tears from her face.

“Which bastard would dare bully you? I’ll exterminate his entire clan!” Seeing her sister still in tears and unresponsive, Wanyan Ping suddenly realized, “Could it be… brother-in-law?”

“No… it’s not him,” Wanyan Gebi hastily replied.

Sisters united in heart, and knowing her sister’s temperament all too well, Wanyan Ping felt that the more her sister said this, the more it proved that her brother-in-law had wronged her. For some inexplicable reason, a surge of wicked anger bubbled within her. Grabbing her whip, she ran straight toward Tang Kuo Bian’s bedroom, shouting, “I’m going to teach that b*stard a lesson!”