Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 1039: Husband’s Misfortune

Cheng Yaojia was completely dazed. It wasn’t until Song Qingshu parted her lips and their tongues touched that she finally snapped out of it. She pushed him away abruptly, running off like a startled rabbit, leaving only her back to him. Her slender figure trembled slightly in the cold night wind, making her appear exceptionally pitiful.

Song Qingshu was also somewhat embarrassed. His actions were purely instinctive. How could a shy and demure young woman like her tolerate such behavior?

“Just now…”

Song Qingshu was about to speak when Cheng Yaojia interrupted him: “Nothing happened just now.”

“Uh…” Since the woman had said so, Song Qingshu couldn’t say anything more. “How about I return this handkerchief to Madam?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Song Qingshu wanted to slap himself. Had he not practiced in a long time? He was acting like a naive young boy.

Hearing his words, Cheng Yaojia trembled, but her answer was unexpected: “Since it’s already dirty, you can keep it yourself.”

Song Qingshu was taken aback. What did that mean?

“Why did you risk your life to save me, Madam?” Recalling Cheng Yaojia’s selfless act of shielding him at He Garden, Song Qingshu was deeply moved.

“I…I don’t know why. My mind was blank at the time,” Cheng Yaojia said, somewhat lost in thought, “Perhaps it was because I thought that if you hadn’t saved me, you wouldn’t have been in danger…”

“Couldn’t it be because you couldn’t bear to see me die?” Song Qingshu walked up to her and asked softly.

“I hope you will have some self-respect, sir!” Cheng Yaojia bit her lip, her face reddening, and turned away again.

Unfortunately, Song Qingshu’s face was thicker than a city wall, and he immediately moved to face her directly: “Where did I lack self-respect?”

Cheng Yaojia couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, letting out a coquettish snort: “You lack self-respect in every way, my lord~” 

Thinking about how her lips, which had never been touched by another man before, had just been so wantonly tasted by him, she felt both ashamed and angry. However, she knew that the ki$$ was accidental, so she was too embarrassed to blame him.

Song Qingshu felt half-melted by her sweet voice. Just as he was about to say something, Cheng Yaojia interrupted, “I’m going back.”

“So early?” Song Qingshu’s disappointment was palpable.

Cheng Yaojia almost laughed out of exasperation. She thought, it’s the middle of the night! How is that early? Even when she was still unmarried, she would never stay out this late with a man.

Song Qingshu realized his words were somewhat absurd and quickly said, “Then I’ll take you home.”

“No need,” Cheng Yaojia hurriedly waved her hand. Firstly, her husband had already misunderstood her because of him; if he saw the two of them together late at night, what would he do? Secondly, her heart always pounded when she was with him. After all, she was a traditional woman who followed the rules, and realizing this, she decided to stay as far away from him as possible to avoid doing anything that would disgrace the family. 

Seeing her avoidance of eye contact, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Am I that scary? What if you run into someone like Lu Zhangke again? You can’t always be so lucky as to run into someone like that.”

Hearing him mention Lu Zhangke, Cheng Yaojia hesitated. Compared to those lewd scoundrels like Lu Zhangke and Zhang Hongfan, the man beside her was practically a gentleman. And even if something inappropriate happened between them, it seemed far better than being vi0lated by those lewd scoundrels…

“But because of what happened before, Husband already suspects us…” Cheng Yaojia was too ashamed to say the rest.

Song Qingshu immediately understood her worries and smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll leave when I get you to the vicinity of Yuqing Temple. I won’t appear before your husband.”

“Thank…thank you,” Cheng Yaojia said, then added apologetically, “This is too much of a burden for you.”

Song Qingshu waved his hand dismissively, “Consider it my thanks for saving you today, Madam.”

Cheng Yaojia’s face flushed again. She lowered her head and walked towards Yuqing Temple. Now that there were no pursuers behind her, she certainly couldn’t let Song Qingshu carry her by the waist. 

Song Qingshu also enjoyed their time together and didn’t rush her. The two strolled leisurely along the river towards Yuqing Temple.

They talked a lot along the way, but Song Qingshu did most of the asking, while Cheng Yaojia only passively answered. Although she was shy and reserved, Song Qingshu’s questioning techniques were skillful. By the end of the walk, he probably knew everything about her except for some of her more intimate physical characteristics.

For example, who are her family members? Do she get along well with her in-laws? What interesting things has she experienced since childhood?

Cheng Yaojia gradually relaxed and no longer felt as wary of him as before, instead treating him like a good friend.

The two chatted and laughed all the way, and time passed by unnoticed. Seeing the outline of Yuqing Temple in the distance, Cheng Yaojia felt a pang of reluctance.

‘What’s wrong with me? What does it matter how well we get along? I’m already married, and besides, he’s a Jin man…’ At the moment of parting, Cheng Yaojia was momentarily lost in thought.

Song Qingshu, however, stared gravely in the direction of Yuqing Temple: “Wait, something seems off inside.”

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Yaojia finally snapped out of her daze, and thinking of her husband still inside, she became anxious.

“I don’t know, I think I heard fighting.” Song Qingshu frowned. “I’ll go in and investigate.”

“No, I want to go in too!” Thinking her husband might be in danger, how could Cheng Yaojia stay outside unattended?

Song Qingshu suddenly looked at her strangely and whispered in her ear, “My lady, you don’t want me to carry you, do you?”

“What nonsense are you talking about~” Cheng Yaojia immediately scolded him lightly, and couldn’t help but give him a playful punch.

“Alright, alright,” Song Qingshu quickly grabbed her hands, “I’ll take you in, okay?”

“Mmm~” Feeling the warmth from his palms, Cheng Yaojia’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly withdrew her hands.

Although Song Qingshu was joking with her, his attention was already focused on the Yuqing Temple. Who exactly was plotting against the Southern Song envoy?

He wrapped his arm around Cheng Yaojia’s slender wai$t, and with a light step, the two silently slipped into the Yuqing Temple.

Despite being held by him so many times, Cheng Yaojia was still incredibly shy. However, thinking of his recent internal injuries and worried about his health, she hesitated for a moment before snuggling closer to him, hoping to ease his burden.

Feeling the soft, warm b0dy in his arms, Song Qingshu’s heart fluttered, but the scene before him instantly snapped him out of his reverie.