Chapter 93

Chapter 92: Oscar Best Actor and Actress

Before entering the room, Dongfang Bubai had imagined many scenarios, such as Song Qingshu lying in wait in the dark, ready to fight to the death the moment he entered; or he might pretend to be calm and slowly engage in a battle of wits...

No matter which scenario, Dongfang Bubai was confident that the other party could not escape his notice. However, when he pushed the door open and saw the scene inside, he was momentarily stunned.

It turned out that the bed was being tossed and turned, and upon hearing the door open, Song Qingshu turned his head. Upon recognizing Dongfang Bubai, his face turned pale, and he instinctively grabbed the wooden sword by the bed, his expression showing a struggle. Clearly, his first reaction was to eliminate the witness, but he also deeply feared Dongfang Bubai's martial arts.

Dongfang Bubai, with his keen eyesight, had already seen that there was a woman under the covers. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, the glimpse of her fair skin and snowy back was enough to confirm that she was a stunning beauty.

"Friend Song, you certainly have good taste. While the palace is in chaos due to an assassin, you are enjoying the company of a beauty," Dongfang Bubai said with a half-smile.

Song Qingshu's face turned ashen, and he didn't respond, quietly pulling the covers to shield the woman beside him.

Dongfang Bubai's expression suddenly changed. "Song Qingshu, you have a lot of nerve. All the women in the palace belong to the emperor, and you dare to touch his women?"

Song Qingshu's voice was hoarse as he said bitterly, "I, Song, am a lecher and a rogue. Today's disaster is entirely my own doing... Lord Dongfang, please make your move. Although I know I am no match for you, I am not one to surrender without a fight." He then held the wooden sword in front of him, ready to fight to the death.

"Hold on!" Dongfang Bubai felt confused. Why was this different from what he had imagined? He glanced at the woman on the bed and asked, "Who is this woman?"

Song Qingshu's expression was uncertain, clearly struggling internally. Finally, he said in a hoarse voice, "Lady Mi."

"Mi?" Dongfang Bubai was shocked. He had thought the woman was just a concubine or a palace maid, but he never imagined that Song Qingshu would be bold enough to touch Emperor Kangxi's favorite concubine, Lady Mi.

"Is Lady Mi being forced by Song Qingshu?" Dongfang Bubai asked the woman on the bed in a serious tone, thinking that if Song Qingshu had used his martial arts to force her, he wouldn't mind getting rid of such a scoundrel.

"No... I... I did it willingly," the woman on the bed hesitated for a long time, her voice barely audible.

Song Qingshu gave a loving look at the woman beside him, then turned back, as if he had come to a decision. He threw the wooden sword to the ground and smiled faintly. "I, Song, know I am no match for you and am willing to die. I only ask that you show mercy and not ruin Lady Mi's reputation."

"No! If we die, we die together. I hope that in our next life, we can be a proper couple," a pale arm emerged from under the covers, gently but firmly holding Song Qingshu's hand.

Seeing the two of them confess their love, Dongfang Bubai became impatient. He thought to himself: The assassin is not Song Qingshu, and even if his identity is exposed, it's just a matter of death. But Song Qingshu has touched the emperor's concubine, which is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans...

Thinking of this, Dongfang Bubai let out a cold snort. "Foolish lovers, I have no time to deal with you. Since Friend Song has a beautiful companion, I will not disturb you." With that, his figure disappeared into the distance.

"Thank you, TVB, thank you, 'A Step into the Past,' thank you, Gu Tianle..." Seeing that he had successfully deceived Dongfang Bubai, Song Qingshu felt his clothes drenched in cold sweat.

It turned out that at the critical moment, Song Qingshu had imitated a scene from TVB's 'A Step into the Past,' where Xiang Shaolong pretended to be caught by Prince Xinling sleeping with a princess to make Prince Xinling believe that the secret records were not stolen by him. He and Xia Qingqing had put on a convincing act together.

Song Qingshu had been betting that Dongfang Bubai was only concerned with his own interests and was not a loyal and patriotic guardian.

Sure enough, when Dongfang Bubai saw the emperor being cuckolded, he had no interest in reporting it to Emperor Kangxi and instead left indifferently. Under Song Qingshu's deliberate suppression, he didn't notice Song Qingshu's injuries at all.

"Get down quickly!" A voice with a hint of tears came from the side.

Song Qingshu hurriedly jumped out of bed, his back to Xia Qingqing. "I had no choice, please forgive me, Yu."

"I told you not to call me Yu!" To deceive Dongfang Bubai, Xia Qingqing had stripped down to her undergarments, and the skin contact with Song Qingshu made her face flush red.

"Then what should I call you? Qingqing?"

"Call me Lady Yuan from now on." Xia Qingqing dressed herself and made a silent vow: As long as I can avenge Brother Yuan, I am willing to pay any price!

"Lady Yuan?" Song Qingshu smiled bitterly. "It sounds strange."

Xia Qingqing ignored him and asked, "You said you had a way to avenge me. What is it?"

Song Qingshu's breath caught in his throat, but he had to say, "Has Lady Yuan forgotten Brother Yuan's master?"

"Brother Yuan learned from the Huashan Sect and my father, the Golden Snake. My father passed away many years ago, and Brother Yuan's master, the Divine Sword Immortal, is probably on par with Brother Yuan in martial arts. If we ask him to avenge Brother Yuan, it might endanger his life."

Song Qingshu closed the door again and said slowly, "To be precise, Brother Yuan learned from the Huashan Sword Sect, and the most skilled in the Sword Sect is not the Divine Sword Immortal Mu Renqing, but another person who can match Dongfang Bubai."

"Who is it?" Xia Qingqing's eyes lit up, thinking that there might be another expert in Brother Yuan's sect.

"The Huashan Sword Saint, Feng Qingyang, known as the 'First Sword in the World.'"

"Feng Qingyang?" Xia Qingqing seemed to recall some rumors about him, and her eyes sparkled with hope.

"Exactly. If we can persuade him to come out of seclusion and work with the rest of the Huashan Sword Sect, it's not impossible for you to avenge yourself." Song Qingshu sighed inwardly: Heroes often fall for beauties. I have worked hard in the Qing court, but is it worth giving it all up for Xia Qingqing?

"Fine, I will go to Huashan and ask my master to intervene. I hope we can persuade Feng Qingyang to come out of seclusion." With a plan in mind, Xia Qingqing couldn't wait to reach Huashan.

"It's already daylight. How can you leave the palace now?" Song Qingshu quickly pulled her back. "Besides, Dongfang Bubai will be watching closely these days. If you go out, you'll be caught. Stay here for a few days, and we can discuss a plan to avenge your husband."

Xia Qingqing tilted her head and looked at him for a moment, then smiled brightly. "You're keeping me here with ill intentions, aren't you? Trying to take advantage of me?"

"Palace life is lonely. Having a beautiful companion is more interesting than living alone." Song Qingshu neither confirmed nor denied, then sat down to practice the Nine Yin Manual to heal his injuries.

Seeing Song Qingshu focused on healing, Xia Qingqing, who had been tense all night, suddenly felt drowsy. She lay down on the bed, pulled the covers tight, and looked at Song Qingshu warily. "We had a deal. I'm only in the same bed with you because of the emergency. If you try anything, I'll cut off your hands and feet."

"Don't worry. I was injured in the abdomen. Even if I had ill intentions, I wouldn't have the ability." Song Qingshu didn't open his eyes, focusing on his healing.

Xia Qingqing was startled and asked, "Will you... be okay?"

Song Qingshu opened his eyes and looked at her with a playful expression. "Do you hope I get better or not?"

"Go to hell." Her face flushed red, Xia Qingqing pulled the covers over her head and turned her back to Song Qingshu.

Seeing the usually alluring Xia Qingqing act like a young girl, Song Qingshu couldn't help but smile. He returned to his meditative state.

After a while, Zhang Kangnian's voice came from outside. "Lord Song, the emperor has asked you to wait for him in the study."

Opening his eyes, Song Qingshu saw that it was already bright outside. He turned and saw that Xia Qingqing was still sound asleep, her black hair spread naturally on the pillow, a smile on her lips, but a hint of worry in her eyes. He sighed, knowing she must have been exhausted. He left a note on her pillow and quietly went outside.

"Brother Zhang, it's been a long time." Looking at Zhang Kangnian, Song Qingshu felt a sense of familiarity.

"Don't call me that anymore," Zhang Kangnian smiled awkwardly. "Your position is now higher than mine."

"Brother Zhang, you're making it sound formal. Everyone knows I'm just a nominal first-class guard. I still need your guidance for gambling and visiting brothels in the capital."

Zhang Kangnian's face relaxed, and he chuckled. "Of course, but in that area, Brother Wei is the expert..."

After a brief chat, Song Qingshu casually asked, "I wonder why the emperor suddenly wants to see me?"

Zhang Kangnian looked troubled. "I don't know. The emperor specifically asked me to inform you before the morning court. He will come to the study after the court session."

"Is it about the assassin last night? Or did Dongfang Bubai report me? It shouldn't be, otherwise, there would have been an army waiting outside, not just Zhang Kangnian..." Song Qingshu kept speculating as he walked to the study.

Chapter 93: An Unknown Mission

"Palace life is lonely. Having a beautiful companion is more interesting than living alone." Song Qingshu neither confirmed nor denied, then sat down to practice the Nine Yin Manual to heal his injuries.

Seeing Song Qingshu focused on healing, Xia Qingqing, who had been tense all night, suddenly felt drowsy. She lay down on the bed, pulled the covers tight, and looked at Song Qingshu warily. "We had a deal. I'm only in the same bed with you because of the emergency. If you try anything, I'll cut off your hands and feet."

"Don't worry. I was injured in the abdomen. Even if I had ill intentions, I wouldn't have the ability." Song Qingshu didn't open his eyes, focusing on his healing.

Xia Qingqing was startled and asked, "Will you... be okay?"

Song Qingshu opened his eyes and looked at her with a playful expression. "Do you hope I get better or not?"

"Go to hell." Her face flushed red, Xia Qingqing pulled the covers over her head and turned her back to Song Qingshu.

Seeing the usually alluring Xia Qingqing act like a young girl, Song Qingshu couldn't help but smile. He returned to his meditative state.

After a while, Zhang Kangnian's voice came from outside. "Lord Song, the emperor has asked you to wait for him in the study."

Opening his eyes, Song Qingshu saw that it was already bright outside. He turned and saw that Xia Qingqing was still sound asleep, her black hair spread naturally on the pillow, a smile on her lips, but a hint of worry in her eyes. He sighed, knowing she must have been exhausted. He left a note on her pillow and quietly went outside.

"Brother Zhang, it's been a long time." Looking at Zhang Kangnian, Song Qingshu felt a sense of familiarity.

"Don't call me that anymore," Zhang Kangnian smiled awkwardly. "Your position is now higher than mine."

"Brother Zhang, you're making it sound formal. Everyone knows I'm just a nominal first-class guard. I still need your guidance for gambling and visiting brothels in the capital."

Zhang Kangnian's face relaxed, and he chuckled. "Of course, but in that area, Brother Wei is the expert..."

After a brief chat, Song Qingshu casually asked, "I wonder why the emperor suddenly wants to see me?"

Zhang Kangnian looked troubled. "I don't know. The emperor specifically asked me to inform you before the morning court. He will come to the study after the court session."

"Is it about the assassin last night? Or did Dongfang Bubai report me? It shouldn't be, otherwise, there would have been an army waiting outside, not just Zhang Kangnian..." Song Qingshu kept speculating as he walked to the study.