Hearing his words, Old Madam Tang flew into a rage. Cheng Ying’s expression also darkened. *This man truly doesn’t know what’s good for him.*
Lu Guanying and his wife exchanged glances, marveling at Song Qingshu’s audacity. Both felt a secret delight. Over the years, they had suffered much from the old woman’s tyranny. Now that Song Qingshu was confronting her, it would vent some of their frustration.
Lu Wushuang, who had been holding back for a long time, could contain herself no longer. She stepped forward and snapped, “Do you have any idea who the Old Madam is?”
Song Qingshu was unmoved. “Oh? Do tell.”
Lu Wushuang faltered. She hadn’t actually thought through what to say to flatter Old Madam Tang. She blurted out, “The Old Madam is a noble lady personally bestowed with a title by the Emperor himself! She comes from the Jiangling Tang family. Do you know of the Jiangling Tang family? Her grandfather was the Deputy Chief Minister during the Xining era—Lord Zhisu, whose integrity shook the world!”
Cheng Ying smiled wryly. *This cousin of mine is too straightforward. That’s not how you flatter someone.*
But she was being unfair to Lu Wushuang. These were the very things Old Madam Tang constantly harped on. In her haste, she had simply repeated them.
Song Qingshu did not show the regret or fear Lu Wushuang had hoped for. Instead, he glanced at her and said flatly, “Add thirty more kowtows from you.”
Lu Wushuang was first incredulous, then enraged. “Who do you think you are—”
Old Madam Tang could no longer hold back. She slammed her cane against the floor. “Wushuang, stop wasting words with this man. Guards! Drag him out and give him eighty strokes!”
Cheng Ying quickly interjected, “Old Madam, eighty strokes would kill even a nine-foot-tall strongman. This young man’s slight frame could never survive it.”
As Huang Yaoshi’s last disciple, she was quite skilled in martial arts for her age. She had been quietly observing this somewhat arrogant young man. Detecting no trace of true qi, she assumed he had no martial arts whatsoever. How could she know that, young as he was, he had reached the realm of returning to simplicity and concealing his aura?
Song Qingshu glanced at her with surprise. *She has a kind heart.*
Old Madam Tang frowned, displeased. But mindful of Cheng Ying’s status, she finally snorted. “For Miss Cheng’s sake, sixty strokes.”
Cheng Ying smiled wryly. *Sixty strokes would still cripple most men.* But she did not dare plead further. She could only think that a lesson might do this arrogant young man some good. She would just have to save his life afterward with medicine from Peach Blossom Island.
At Old Madam Tang’s shout, a dozen burly guards had already rushed in, menacingly surrounding Song Qingshu.
He acted as if he hadn’t noticed, not even flinching. Instead, he picked up a cup of tea and drank leisurely.
“Stop!” Lu Guanying rushed forward to block them. *Are you joking? I know Song Qingshu’s martial arts. If he gets involved, none of these men will survive.*
But Old Madam Tang, thinking he was protecting the other man, grew even angrier. She hurled her teacup to the floor. “Lu Guanying, you ungrateful wretch! Get out of the way!”
Swallowing his anger, Lu Guanying explained, “Old Madam, this gentleman is…” He suddenly didn’t know how to continue. Even if he revealed Song Qingshu’s identity, given her temperament, would she let the matter rest?
Just as he was at a loss, a surprised voice came from the doorway. “What is going on here?”
Song Qingshu continued drinking his tea calmly, not even shifting his gaze. The others turned to see an elderly man and a middle-aged man standing at the door. They were Lu Zai, the clan head, and Lu You, who held the post of Drafter of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
Old Madam Tang, seeing a savior, immediately burst into loud sobs. “My lord, you must stand up for me!”
Lu Zai was startled. “What happened?”
Lu You, also alarmed, was about to ask when he noticed Song Qingshu sitting in the room. Surprised and delighted, he exclaimed, “Young Master Song, it’s you!”
This turn of events dumbfounded everyone else. Even Old Madam Tang stopped her crying and looked over questioningly.
“Wu Guan, who is this?” Seeing his usually composed son so excited, Lu Zai asked curiously.
Lu You smiled. “Father, weren’t we just discussing his exploits all the way here?”
“Discussing his exploits, and his surname is Song…” Lu Zai’s eyes lit up. “Could this be the Golden Serpent King, Young Master Song Qingshu?”
Only then did Song Qingshu rise and bow. “Greetings, Uncle Lu. Greetings, Brother Lu.” He had always held Lu You in high esteem. Moreover, after his poisoning in Yangzhou, Lu You had come to his aid. Naturally, he treated him with courtesy.
His earlier harshness toward Old Madam Tang had several reasons. First, having read the tragic love story of Lu You and Tang Wan in his previous life, he knew this old woman had been the cause. Encountering her deliberately making trouble, he saw no reason to be polite. Second, he had come south to negotiate peace with the Southern Song. If he appeared too humble, his true position might be guessed. The Southern Song court, knowing he wanted peace, would gain the upper hand in negotiations. By using this incident with Old Madam Tang, he could project a hardline stance and confuse those watching.
“Wu Guan told me that the Golden Serpent King, who could take a general’s head from amidst ten thousand troops, was a handsome young gentleman. I was skeptical. But seeing you now, you are even more distinguished and younger than he described,” Lu Zai said with a hearty laugh.
Beside him, Lu You added, “Young Master Song is truly a divine figure. Those in the Bureau of Military Affairs dismiss the battle reports from wulinai as exaggerations. But I have seen Young Master Song in action with my own eyes. I have no doubt he could single-handedly capture Li Kexiu from amidst ten thousand troops.”
Song Qingshu smiled modestly. “You flatter me. I am grateful to Brother Lu for saving me in Yangzhou. I have come to pay my respects. I hope I am not intruding.”
“Not at all, not at all. Young Master, please take the seat of honor.” Lu Zai smiled broadly. The Lu family had declined somewhat in his generation. He had long sought a way to restore their former glory. He had initially allied with Han Dingxiao through Lu Feiqing’s relationship with Li Kexiu, and had seemed on the verge of rising meteorically. But the events in Yangzhou had dashed years of scheming.
Having lost his usefulness, Han Dingxiao’s attitude toward the Lu family had cooled considerably. Just as Lu Zai was worrying about this, Song Qingshu appeared. He keenly sensed that the Lu family’s fortunes now rested on this young man.
Everyone in the room, except Lu Guanying and Cheng Yaojia, was stunned by the sudden reversal.
Cheng Ying’s beautiful eyes sparkled. *So he is the Golden Serpent King who has been the talk of the wulin these past two years? Even my proud master praised this rising star and regretted not having met him…*
“What is all this?” Lu Zai and his son finally noticed the unusual atmosphere.
Old Madam Tang’s face flushed crimson. Though she was domineering and intransigent within the family, she was no fool. Seeing her husband and son’s expressions, she immediately realized this young man’s status must be very high.
Moreover, she had heard from her son about the events in Yangzhou, and knew that even a man of Han Dingxiao’s standing treated him with courtesy.
But after decades of comfort and privilege, she could not immediately shift to a smiling face.
Sensing the awkwardness, Song Qingshu spoke. “It’s nothing. I was just having a pleasant chat with Old Madam Tang. Isn’t that right, Old Madam?”
He knew when to stop. He had not come to pick a fight. He still needed to cooperate with the Lu family. The old woman had been taught enough. This was still a world that valued hierarchical ethics. Lu You would naturally side with his mother. Letting things escalate to an irreparable point would benefit no one.
Old Madam Tang hesitated. Coming from a distinguished family, she quickly grasped the situation and seized the out. “Yes, yes. We were just discussing Wushuang’s leg injury. Wushuang, quickly kowtow to Young Master Song and beg him to treat you.”
Since he had saved her face, she understood the principle of reciprocity. The only way was to have Lu Wushuang humble herself.
“Old Madam?” Lu Wushuang’s eyes reddened. *How could things change so quickly? The old madam who was just on my side has now turned against me.*
Old Madam Tang shot her a harsh glare. “Young Master Song is willing to treat your leg. Isn’t a few kowtows only right? Go!”
Stubborn and proud, Lu Wushuang bit her lip so hard that a trace of blood seeped out. She thought of leaving, but then remembered how, staying at the Lu household all these years, the old madam had treated her well. If her stubbornness caused the earlier incident to blow up and humiliate the old madam, she would be unforgivable.
Cheng Ying could not bear to watch. She stepped forward and said crisply, “I have long heard that the Golden Serpent King is a great hero of loyalty and courage, admired by all under heaven. Surely he would not stoop to bickering with a young girl.”
Song Qingshu answered flatly, “I am not bickering with her. But according to proper decorum, kowtowing to me is no injustice to her.”
Cheng Ying was surprised. “How so?”
Song Qingshu smiled. “Miss Lu is Li Mochou’s disciple. Li Mochou is my subordinate. Even she must bow to me—how much more her disciple?”
Everyone in the room was shocked. As members of the Lu family, they had a deep impression of Li Mochou—both hatred and fear. Li Mochou had wiped out Lu Zhanyuan’s entire family. They had naturally sought vengeance, but Li Mochou’s martial arts were formidable. She had killed many of the experts they sent. The Lu household had finally abandoned any thought of revenge.
That such a demoness was his subordinate only deepened their awe of Song Qingshu.
But Lu Wushuang stepped forward angrily. “I was prepared to kowtow to you. But since you have anything to do with Li Mochou, I won’t kowtow to you even if you beg me!”