Song Qingshu was greatly startled and hurriedly helped her up. "Shuang'er, get up. Whatever you want to do, why would Brother Song refuse you?" Seeing tears streaming down her cheeks, he reached out and kept wiping them away with his fingers.
Shuang'er shook her head. "This is a very difficult matter, but I... I have no choice but to beg you."
Song Qingshu wrapped his left arm around her waist. "The more difficult it is, the more it shows how much I cherish my good Shuang'er when I accomplish it for you. What is it? Tell me quickly."
A faint flush appeared on Shuang'er's pale face as she said softly, "Brother Song, that dog of an official, Wu Zhirong, is my mortal enemy. Dozens of lives from the Zhuang family—the master, the young masters, everyone—were all taken because of him. I... I want to kill him and avenge the entire Zhuang family, but the Jin Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty are brother nations. If you kill him, it may well affect relations between the two countries. Then your political enemies at the Jin court may seize the chance to attack you. If it costs you your official position, Brother Song, then Shuang'er will become a terrible sinner."
Song Qingshu burst out laughing. "I thought it was something truly difficult. Not to mention a mere Prefect of Yangzhou—even if you wanted to kill Suo'etu or the emperor, I would grant your wish."
Shuang'er was instantly overwhelmed by surprise and joy. "Really? Would killing him bring you any harm?"
Song Qingshu shook his head. "If we use the proper official procedures to kill him, it would indeed be troublesome. But at heart, we are people of the martial world. People of the martial world settle grudges freely—since when did we need all