Song Qingshu was furious. At such a crucial moment, someone had actually ruined everything. If he had truly kissed Xiaolongnü, their relationship would have taken a qualitative leap forward. But with this interruption, their relationship might not advance at all—it might even regress.
"Whoever you are, you'll pay for this!" Song Qingshu turned toward the window with an unfriendly expression. There stood a young married woman in palace attire, her dark hair piled high. Her phoenix eyes carried both authority and a faint, teasing smile. Her orange-red chest wrap contrasted beautifully with the jade-white skin of her neck, making her look all the more vivid and seductive.
Seeing such a beautiful, captivating young woman come looking for Song Qingshu in the middle of the night, Xiaolongnü secretly spat in annoyance. Yet she was also puzzled. She was certain she had never met this woman before, so why did she feel a strange sense of familiarity upon seeing her?
"So it's you!" Song Qingshu said irritably. He had already recognized her as Madam Wang of Mantuo Mountain Villa, the White Lotus Holy Mother, Li Qingluo.
Hearing the displeasure in his voice, Li Qingluo raised a brow. "What, are you blaming me for interrupting your good time?"
Their conversation left Xiaolongnü thoroughly mortified. Her jade-like cheeks flushed crimson. Amid her embarrassment and indignation, she could not help wondering about her own earlier impulse. Why had she closed her eyes then? Covering her burning face, Xiaolongnü fell into a daze.
"How did you get in?" Song Qingshu ignored her question and asked one of his own. After all, he was now an honored guest of the court and was responsible for guarding Xiaolongnü, an "Imperial Criminal." Han Tuozhou had specifically assigned a unit of soldiers to protect this residence.
"How could those useless