A Gentleman Does Not Deceive in Private

What a joke. Song Qingshu was not that dull-witted little eunuch, and he had even been emperor of the Forbidden City for a time. These imperial rites were child's play to him.

Empress Peiman did not believe him at once. Instead, she eyed him suspiciously. "Then demonstrate it for me."

Song Qingshu nodded and repeated the entire sequence of movements she had taught him earlier. Empress Peiman's expression finally eased, and she nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, not bad. It seems I underestimated you, boy."

"It is all thanks to Your Highness's excellent teaching," Song Qingshu flattered her.

"If your tongue were not still so sweet, I would have thought you had become someone else," Empress Peiman said, making Song Qingshu tense all over. "When I taught you before, you got this wrong or that wrong every time. Here, this is your reward from me." With that, she took out two gold ingots she had prepared beforehand and tossed them over.

Song Qingshu caught them reflexively. Looking at the two hefty gold ingots, he could not help feeling amused. This reward was certainly generous for a little eunuch, but he now commanded tens of thousands of elite troops and ruled a territory spanning a thousand li. How could he possibly care about such a trifling sum?

"What, do you think my reward is too little?" Noticing Song Qingshu's expression, Empress Peiman snorted heavily.

Song Qingshu was startled, knowing that she had noticed the contempt he had inadvertently revealed. He hurriedly explained, "I would not dare. It is only that I have never seen so much gold before, so I did not know how to spend it for a moment."

Empress Peiman immediately burst into giggles. "You servant, you truly have never seen the world. Rest assured, as long as you