Madam Hu's Jealousy

"My lord's strategic mind and meticulous planning are truly admirable. Considering your background in the Hanlin Academy, I am genuinely impressed," Huang Rong's flattery made the shrewd Ling Tuis feel a bit puffed up. After all, being praised face-to-face by such a radiant woman was bound to make any man feel proud.

"However, there are bound to be gaps when soldiers patrol. Perhaps I could stay behind with a few Beggar's Clan experts to guard against any unforeseen circumstances?" Huang Rong's gentle voice soothed Ling Tuis's heart, leaving no room for displeasure.

"Excellent, excellent," Ling Tuis chuckled heartily. He looked at the people behind Huang Rong and asked, "And who are these individuals?"

"These two are my husband's disciples, Wu Xiuwen and Wu Dunru. And these are our brothers from the Beggar's Clan..." Huang Rong introduced them one by one.

Are those the two good-for-nothings Yang Guo called 'even pigs would bow to you as king'? Song Qingshu curiously sized them up. They looked decent enough, and their martial arts seemed to have some foundation. They shouldn't be that bad.

Next, both sides discussed the battle situation on the Xiangyang front. Song Qingshu found it utterly boring. Seizing an opportunity, he discreetly excused himself.

With Huang Rong here, plus the ill-intentioned Snow Mountain Sect, and Wu Liuqi lurking in the shadows, the city of Jingzhou was truly a cauldron of simmering intrigue. This made sending Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua out of Jingzhou seem all the more feasible.

He arrived at a secluded spot within the mansion, stretched, and sat down under a large tree. Before long, two muffled grunts sounded from behind him. A smile touched Song Qingshu's lips. Without opening his eyes, he said, "You've arrived~"

"You don't even bother to call me 'sister-in-law' anymore?" Madam Hu emerged from the shadows, chiding him playfully.

The beauty was still as elegant as ever after several days apart. Song Qingshu stood up. "Who told you to look so young and delicate? To outsiders, you'd still seem too young even if I called you my sister. I was just afraid that calling you 'sister-in-law' would make you feel old."

Knowing he was teasing her, Madam Hu found herself unable to get angry. She could only comfort herself, telling herself her brother-in-law was just a carefree person who didn't stand on ceremony.

"Talking nonsense again!" Madam Hu put on a stern face, deliberately. "Quickly, tell me if there's anything you need me to do. The prefect's yamen is heavily guarded now, and I need to leave soon to avoid being discovered."

As it turned out, Song Qingshu had anticipated that contacting the outside world would be difficult before entering the yamen. He had arranged with Madam Hu to exchange information daily at this tree in the early evening.

Madam Hu would secretly observe the situation outside the mansion. If Song Qingshu didn't show up, it meant he had nothing to tell her. If he did, she would use her Qinggong to slip into the mansion, incapacitate the two yamen runners secretly monitoring Song Qingshu, and then reveal herself to meet him.

Song Qingshu informed Madam Hu about Huang Rong's arrival and the Snow Mountain Sect's assassination attempt. Seeing his eyes light up when he mentioned Huang Rong, Madam Hu felt a pang of discomfort. She asked indifferently, "Rumor has it that Huang Rong was the most beautiful woman in the world back then. Is she really that stunning?"

Song Qingshu hadn't expected her first question after hearing his report to be about that. He hesitated, then excitedly replied, "She is indeed a peerless beauty. Although she lacks the youthful innocence of a maiden now, she has gained the charm and allure of a mature woman..."

As he spoke, he noticed Madam Hu's expression growing colder. Song Qingshu suddenly realized his mistake, mentally slapping himself. He quickly changed his tune, "However, she's a bit older now and showing signs of aging. The title of the most beautiful woman in the world is probably no longer deserved. I think you're even prettier than her, sister-in-law..."

Madam Hu blushed, muttering under her breath, "Sect Leader Huang is only in her early thirties, how could she be showing signs of aging? You only know how to coax me. If you were with other women, would you gossip about me like this?"

"How could I dare!" Song Qingshu was speechless and quickly changed the subject. "Sister-in-law, let's get back to business. Find a way to notify the Snow Mountain Sect to make their move on the fifteenth. That's when Ling Tuis plans to interrogate Ding Dian. He doesn't want anyone else to know about the Liancheng Jue, so the guards will be relatively weaker then."

"Hmm, I happened to run into a group of people on the outskirts of the city recently. They tried to silence me then. They must be from the Snow Mountain Sect," Madam Hu recalled. "I know their movements and it won't be difficult to find them. I'll make sure to deliver the message."

"What?" Song Qingshu exclaimed in shock. Although he knew Madam Hu was standing before him unharmed, implying she had come to no real harm, he couldn't help but ask, "Were you injured anywhere, sister-in-law?"

For some reason, Madam Hu immediately thought of the time she had injured her ribs and he had taken advantage of her. A faint blush crept up her neck as she quickly replied, "I'm fine. My own martial arts are decent, and with the White Python Whip Technique you taught me last time, I can protect myself quite well."

"That's good, that's good," Song Qingshu chuckled foolishly. "Then be careful this time, sister-in-law. It's best if you don't show yourself."

Seeing his worried expression, Madam Hu, who had lived a lonely life depending on Fei'er for many years, felt a warmth flow through her heart. She replied softly, "Don't worry, brother-in-law, I'll be careful."

Watching Madam Hu's graceful departure, Song Qingshu felt exceptionally refreshed. He went to the side, woke up the two men he had knocked out, and left directly.

The two yamen runners were left looking at each other, bewildered. "Did something just happen?"

"Should we report it to the prefect?"

"Are you stupid? If the prefect blames us, who will take responsibility? No one knows anyway, and Song Qingshu didn't go missing. It's better not to make a fuss."

"Brother, you're experienced. I admire you!"

"Of course, I haven't been working at the yamen for all these years for nothing."

In the following days, Song Qingshu encountered Huang Rong several times by chance in the mansion. Although he wished he could stare at her to his heart's content, he knew well that their current statuses were worlds apart, with no intersection between them. He maintained his composure, nodding in greeting each time before gracefully departing.

This left Huang Rong with a much better impression of him. Over the years, from Ouyang Ke to various martial artists, and now to the officials in Xiangyang City, even the prefect Lü Wenhuan, everyone he met, despite their attempts to conceal it, she could clearly see the desire in their eyes.

This time, encountering such a young man with clear eyes and a calm demeanor in Jingzhou City, she inquired about him and learned he was a recent advisor hired by Ling Tuis. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she gazed at his retreating back, lost in thought.

Time flew by, and the fifteenth day arrived quickly.

Because Huang Rong and the others were present, Ling Tuis had intended to postpone the interrogation of Ding Dian for the month. However, Song Qingshu argued that it was a crucial period for eliciting a confession. If Ling Tuis paused the interrogation, Ding Dian might become suspicious, thinking they were colluding, and all their efforts would be in vain.

Ling Tuis agreed. He found an excuse to send Huang Rong and the others away, set up a makeshift courtroom in the inner chambers, and had Ding Dian brought in.