"Ah, rest here for the night?" Cheng Yaojia looked troubled and stammered, "Didn't you say that once night fell, you'd... you'd let us go?"
Song Qingshu smiled. "I did say that, but at the time, you were alone. Now that your husband has openly stormed the Imperial Envoy's residence, I have to discuss matters with the Qing envoy and smooth things over with him. If I let you go in private otherwise, where would that leave his dignity?"
"Ah..." Cheng Yaojia's small mouth fell slightly open, her face full of worry. "What if the Qing side refuses to let us go?"
"That would be somewhat troublesome. At worst, I'll make some concessions to him in private. I believe he'll give me that much face," Song Qingshu replied.
"Wouldn't that cost you dearly?" Cheng Yaojia asked hesitantly. Kind-hearted as she was, she always felt she owed him far too much.
Song Qingshu looked at her delicate face with an amused expression. "What, do you want to repay me?"
Cheng Yaojia blushed and lowered her head shyly. "For the Marshal's kindness toward my husband and me, Yaojia is willing to be an ox or a horse in her next life to repay you."
Song Qingshu deliberately frowned. "Madam, that's rather unkind of you. I helped you, yet not only do you refuse to thank me, you even curse me. What's that supposed to mean?"
Cheng Yaojia panicked and hurriedly waved her hands. "When did I curse you?"
"You said you'd be an ox or a horse to repay me, but I don't farm. What would I need oxen and horses for? I'm now the Jin Dynasty's highest commander, yet you want me to become a farmer tilling fields in my next life. If that isn't a curse, what is?" A teasing smile