Li Yuanzhi felt as if she had been dreaming a very, very long dream—a dream in which some extremely shameful things had happened. She wanted to wake up, yet she was somewhat reluctant to let go of that unprecedented feeling.
That feeling grew increasingly real, nothing like a dream at all. Suddenly, Li Yuanzhi realized that there really *was* someone on top of her. The shock was no small matter. She immediately kicked out at the person.
Although she was an official’s daughter, she had never liked embroidery and needlework as a child—instead, she had longed for the wulin. Moreover, by sheer luck, a reclusive master had been living in her household, and through a fortuitous chain of events, she had trained herself to a respectable level of martial skill.
On the verge of terror and shock, her kick was utterly ruthless and vicious. Coupled with the suddenness of the attack, it would have been nearly impossible to defend against.
But the other party wasn’t sent flying as she’d expected. Instead, he raised his hand with an air of unhurried ease. Though his movements seemed impossibly slow in Li Yuanzhi’s eyes, they arrived after the fact but before her kick could land—catching her smooth, rounded ankle perfectly.
Song Qingshu laughed. “Women really are fickle. A moment ago, you were sweet and obedient. Now you’ve turned your face against me.”
Unfortunately, he was still wearing Jia Baoyu’s mask, and his smile appeared utterly lecherous in Li Yuanzhi’s eyes. “Shameless!”
She didn’t know how this had happened, but years of wulin experience told her that this man must have used some despicable means to vi0late her.
Thinking that the virtue she had preserved for over a decade had been stolen by a stranger in such an unclear way, sorrow welled up in Li Yuanzhi’s heart. She wanted to tear the man before her into a thousand pieces.
She tried to pull her foot back, but it wouldn’t budge—it felt as if it were caught in an iron vise. Li Yuanzhi quickly realized how awkward this position was. Humiliated and furious, she snapped, “Let go!”
Seeing her face flush with color, her long, enchanting eyes filled with anger rather than tenderness, Song Qingshu felt a surge of affection—yet couldn’t resist teasing her a little. “If you promise not to kick me again, I’ll let go.”
Li Yuanzhi had always been clever and mischievous. Even after what had happened, she didn’t wail and thrash like an ordinary woman. Instead, she suppressed her anger and said sweetly, “All right~”
Her smile seemed to radiate light. No man could resist such a sweet smile from a young girl—even Song Qingshu, with all his experience, found himself momentarily distracted. His grip loosened slightly.
Li Yuanzhi had been waiting for this moment. In an instant, she pulled her foot back, snatched a golden hairpin from beside the bed, and thrust it toward his chest using the Hibiscus Golden Needle technique of the Wudang Sect. The sweet smile on her face had vanished, replaced by an icy expression.
Song Qingshu was startled—not by the viciousness of her attack, but by a pang of guilt. *Perhaps I’ve carried this joke too far.*
With a few light flicks of his fingers, Li Yuanzhi felt her wrist go numb, unable to grip the hairpin any longer. Seeing that she still wouldn’t give up, Song Qingshu pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry for frightening you, Yuanzhi. It’s me.”
Li Yuanzhi had been in his arms, contemplating mutual destruction, when his words registered. Her whole body stiffened. “That voice… but how can that be…”
Sensing her confusion, Song Qingshu gently pushed her back and removed his mask.
“Brother Qingshu?” Li Yuanzhi’s body trembled. She couldn’t help reaching up to pinch his cheek. Confirming that it wasn’t someone else in disguise, she finally whispered, “It really is you?”
Song Qingshu smiled. “It really is me.”
Overjoyed, Li Yuanzhi exclaimed, “How did you escape? I thought… I thought you…”
“It’s a long story. But it all began with you saving me in Yangzhou. Without you, I’d be dead by now.” Song Qingshu’s voice was full of emotion.
Remembering how she had announced in front of so many people that she was carrying his child, Li Yuanzhi felt a wave of embarrassment. But soon, something else came to mind. She bit her lip and glared at him. “So *this* is how you repay me?”
Even with his thick skin, Song Qingshu found himself in an awkward spot. How could he explain? *Could he say that he saw she’d been drugged with an aphr0disiac and had nobly sacrificed his own chastity to save her?*
If he were in Li Yuanzhi’s shoes and heard such a line, he felt sure he’d slap the speaker across the face.
Just as he was floundering, Li Yuanzhi spoke first. “Never mind. Better you than some other man. You really scared me just now.” She patted her chest, as if still recovering from the shock.
Song Qingshu blinked. *Isn’t she being a bit too… understanding?* “You’re… not angry?”
Li Yuanzhi humphed. “If it were another man, I’d want to kill him. But you…” She looked up at him and said sweetly, “I’m not angry.”
The words struck Song Qingshu’s heart like a hammer, filling it with tenderness. He pulled her tightly into his arms.
Feeling the masculine aura of the man holding her, Li Yuanzhi felt a twinge of shyness. After hesitating for a long moment, she reached her arms around his back. “Qingshu, if that weren’t the case, would I have said what I said in front of everyone back in Yangzhou?”
Deeply moved, Song Qingshu whispered in her ear, “Yuanzhi, I’ve come to care for you too. It’s just that I always thought your heart belonged to Yu—”
Before he could finish, Li Yuanzhi sat up straight and pressed her slender finger against his lips. Her large eyes sparkled with sly amusement. “Haven’t you heard? A girl’s heart is fickle.”
Holding her smooth, delicate body, Song Qingshu felt his heart stir. He breathed softly into her ear. “But you’re no longer a girl.”
A young woman’s body is sensitive, and Li Yuanzhi had always been ticklish. She tilted her head away and giggled. “Qingshu, you’re so bad~”
They played and teased for a while, their limbs tangling together until the room gradually settled into an ambiguous stillness.
Li Yuanzhi gazed at the man so close to her, her eyelashes fluttering. “Qingshu… back then, I was half-conscious… I want to feel you again while I’m fully awake.”
A young girl’s whispered words were like oil thrown on a blazing fire. How could Song Qingshu hold back any longer? He kissed her deeply…
***
Some time later, Li Yuanzhi lay disheveled in Song Qingshu’s arms, murmuring, “If only I could stay by your side forever…”
Though her voice was soft, Song Qingshu’s cultivation was such that he heard every word clearly—and the melancholy and helplessness in her tone as well. His heart stirred. “Are you worrying about becoming a consort?”
In that moment, understanding dawned. Though Li Yuanzhi was clever and mischievous, different from ordinary sheltered young ladies, her boldness today was extraordinary. It turned out she had assumed she would eventually become the Southern Song Emperor’s consort—and wanted to leave herself with no regrets.
Li Yuanzhi was surprised that her lover had guessed her thoughts so completely from just one sentence. Touched, she shook her head. “No, being a consort is fine. Why would I worry?”
After all, the man she was to marry was the ruler of a dynasty. In this age, imperial power was deeply ingrained in people’s hearts. Although Song Qingshu’s martial arts were formidable, he was no match for Zhao Gou, who commanded the realm. How could she rest easy if her presence put him in danger?
Song Qingshu had become nearly demonic in his perception. How could he not see through a girl’s little thoughts? Equal parts exasperated and amused, he said, “Don’t worry. How could I let my woman become someone else’s consort?”
“You want to elope with me?” Li Yuanzhi’s face lit up with excitement. Deep down, she was still that clever, mischievous girl. Song Qingshu’s words instantly ignited the adventurous spark within her. *If my lover isn’t afraid, why should I hesitate to wander the world with him?*
“Elope?” Song Qingshu nearly choked. “That kind of reckless, low-skill move isn’t my style.”
“If not elopement, then what?” Li Yuanzhi asked curiously.
Instead of answering directly, Song Qingshu asked, “You were drugged earlier. Do you know who’s trying to harm you?”
Li Yuanzhi shook her head. “I don’t know what happened. Today, I was summoned by Consort Jia for a chat. On my way back, my head started feeling dizzy… and then I didn’t know anything after that… Later, I found you… found you on top of me. I nearly died of fright.” Even though it was over now, the memory of opening her eyes to find a strange man violating her body was utterly horrifying.
Song Qingshu gave an embarrassed laugh, comforted her for a moment, then asked, “It really was Consort Jia?” *That doesn’t add up. If Consort Jia were behind this, why would she involve her own nephew?*
Li Yuanzhi blinked. “I’ve met her many times. How could I be mistaken?”
Song Qingshu frowned and fell silent. *Was it really just feminine jealousy driving Consort Jia to such extremes?* But he quickly dismissed the idea. Consort Jia wasn’t some daughter of a minor household. The education she’d received since childhood would never allow such irrational behavior. *There must be someone else behind this, someone targeting the Jia family—with Li Yuanzhi as a collateral victim!*
With his exposure to later generations’ palace intrigue dramas and his experiences in the Qing and Jin imperial palaces, Song Qingshu had a very clear understanding of the dark, devious schemes lurking behind courts and governments. Soon, he had sorted out the entire chain of events.
Just then, the sound of chaotic footsteps came from outside the palace hall—a large group of eunuchs and palace maids approaching. Song Qingshu’s heart stirred. *The adulterous couple hunters have finally arrived.*
They had come later than he’d expected. Song Qingshu looked at Li Yuanzhi. “Yuanzhi, do you trust me?”
Li Yuanzhi bit her moist lower lip and gave an exasperated little humph. “If I didn’t trust you, would I have let you… let you have your way with me?”
“Good.” Song Qingshu smiled and whispered rapidly in her ear. “Then here’s what you’ll do…”
After listening, Li Yuanzhi’s expression became extremely strange. “Will that really work?”
“Trust me. If you do as I say, you’ll come through this storm unscathed—and you won’t have to worry about marrying the Emperor either. Once I’ve arranged everything, I’ll come take you away…” Hearing that the group outside had reached the door, Song Qingshu quickly gave her a few final instructions, then snatched up his clothes and slipped out the window.