Song Qingshu remained calm. "You two should understand that in these troubled times, women are the cheapest bargaining chips."
Tianshan Tonglao and Li Qiushui both caught their breath, but they understood that he was right. In these chaotic times, for those at the top, what woman could they not obtain? Their transactions were generally exchanges of interests, while women were often no more than extras thrown in.
Li Qinglu, standing nearby, went pale the moment she heard those words. She had already felt disheartened upon learning that her grandmother had abandoned avenging her father for the sake of a man long ago, leaving her alone to struggle in supporting Western Xia. Then she learned that her grandmother had offered her as a bargaining chip to a strange man, which hurt her even more. What she had not expected was that, in his eyes, she was actually a worthless bargaining chip!
She had always been proud and arrogant. How could she endure such humiliation? She opened her mouth to say something, only for her small hand to be caught in Song Qingshu's. Then his tone shifted. "But I have always hated seeing women sad and in tears. Fine, I'll help you this once."
Tianshan Tonglao was so furious that she laughed. "Brat, I thought you were some great hero untouched by feminine charms. After all that, you're still a sentimental fool."
In that brief instant, Li Qinglu's emotions had been like a roller coaster. First, she had fallen from the clouds into the depths, only to be abruptly pulled right back into the sky. It happened so quickly that she had no idea how to react, and she could only stand there stiffly, her face flushed.
Song Qingshu smiled faintly. Li Qinglu was naturally one reason he had agreed, but more