Song Qingshu hurriedly rose to his feet. "Great Khan, Madam Shuangxiu has kept her chastity for many years and has always been revered by the people of Wushuang City. This may be somewhat... improper."
He could no longer worry about offending Temujin. If Temujin truly humiliated Madam Shuangxiu, not only would Gu Zixian hate him for the rest of her life, but he himself would never be able to get over it.
He rapidly considered how to protect Madam Shuangxiu. He even thought of claiming that he had been involved with her. Though that would be awkward, saving someone took precedence in an emergency. Gu Ningqing and Gu Zixian presumably would not blame him for it.
Yet he had to reject that plan. After all, in theory, he and Gu Ningqing had never had any prior contact. Could they really have gotten involved during the brief time he had gone to persuade them to surrender?
Would that not be openly competing with Temujin for a woman? What normal subordinate would dare do such a thing?
Unfortunately, although his mind raced, he could think of no way to protect her in such a short time.
At his words, the entire hall instantly fell silent. Everyone wore strange expressions as they watched to see how things would unfold.
A flicker of anger crossed Temujin's face, but he restrained himself well and said coldly, "Grandmaster, you misunderstand. I invited Madam here only to discuss Wushuang City's future handover of hostages. We will soon be departing for other places, so this matter must be settled quickly."
When the Mongol Empire accepted a surrender, it did not simply take people at their word. It generally required important local figures to provide hostages to Karakorum City, where Temujin would place them in the Kheshig Guard.
Compared