Song Qingshu was taken aback. "Who is it, coming to see you so late?"
Zhao Min hurriedly got up and pushed him away, her face slightly flushed. As she straightened her rumpled clothes, she said, "It's my sister-in-law, Consort Han. When I came to the capital this time, I brought her and my nephew along as hostages. That was why Temujin did not move against Prince Ruyang's Mansion just now."
After explaining, she raised her voice and replied, "Sister-in-law, is something the matter?"
"Consort Han?" Song Qingshu froze. "Wasn't she captured by Fan Yao during the battle at Wan'an Temple and used to bribe Lu Zhangke, only to perish in the fire?"
"So it was Lu Zhangke and Fan Yao!" Zhao Min's brows shot up. Learning the truth had clearly infuriated her. "That was Little Consort Han. This is Great Consort Han. They are sisters, though not blood sisters—cousins."
"I'm a little scared. I can't sleep, so I wanted to talk to you." Outside the door, Consort Han knocked softly. "May I come in?"
"All right, wait a moment." Zhao Min jumped off the bed and hurriedly shoved Song Qingshu aside. "Hide first."
Song Qingshu looked aggrieved. "Couldn't you just make up an excuse and send her away? Why let her come in?"
"You don't understand." As Zhao Min pushed him behind the folding screen, she explained quickly, "Prince Ruyang's Mansion has suffered such a huge disaster, and I brought her to Karakorum City as a hostage. This place is fraught with danger, and she has been on edge every day. If I don't comfort and reassure her from time to time, and something happens to her or my little nephew, how could I face my elder brother?"
Once she finished explaining, Zhao Min hurried over to open the door.