Song Qingshu looked at Wan Qixie in surprise. "I was merely thinking that if I happened to win, I would boldly ask Noble Consort Wu to dance for me. Could it be that Lord Wan had something filthy in mind?"
"Huh?" Wan Qixie was instantly dumbfounded. In that brief moment, his mind had indeed been filled with indecent images. Noticing Zhao Gou casting him an unfriendly look, he hurriedly said, "Nonsense. What filthy things could I possibly be thinking?"
"That's good." Song Qingshu smiled faintly.
Not far away, the Yellow-robed Woman frowned slightly, her voice turning cold. "Young Master Song, you are being far too reckless. Her Ladyship is the Noble Consort of this dynasty—how could she dance for another man?"
Zhao Gou finally spoke. "If Young Master Song truly can summon wind and rain, it would be an auspicious sign for our dynasty. Letting Consort Wu dance a piece would be no problem." He was certain Song Qingshu could not accomplish it, so he naturally put on a magnanimous front to display the broad-minded bearing of a ruler.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Since the Emperor had spoken, the civil and military officials naturally could say nothing further.
Yet Zhao Gou sneered inwardly. Though this Song Qingshu had some ability, he was young and impetuous, arrogant and overbearing. He was destined never to achieve anything great. It seemed he had truly worried too much before.
Song Qingshu had deliberately acted so arrogant and overbearing because, based on historical experience, the tougher the enemy acted, the weaker the Southern Song became. He was merely following that pattern to gain more benefits in the peace talks. Who would have thought it would make Zhao Gou lower his guard so much? That was truly an unexpected gain.
If he had known this, he