Shock and Sorrow

Wanyan Liang had no desire to delve any deeper into the matter. For the rest of the conversation, they spoke only of romance and scenery, never mentioning state affairs again. Song Qingshu understood what was going on and did not press further.

The afternoon passed quickly. When Wanyan Liang heard that Song Qingshu and the others were going to attend Puchá Ahute's daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, he smiled. "What a coincidence. The Princess Consort and I are going as well. Since that's the case, let's go together."

Song Qingshu did not actually want to travel with him, but Wanyan Liang's invitation was so warm that it would have been awkward to refuse. In the end, to demonstrate his goodwill, Wanyan Liang even had his servants bring out his beloved luxurious carriage and give it to the couple.

Although Ge Bi kept signaling for him to refuse, Song Qingshu knew exactly what Wanyan Liang was up to. There was no reason not to take advantage of such a bargain. The carriage was as luxurious as a Rolls-Royce; it had surely been bought with wealth squeezed from the common people somewhere. Making him bleed a little was practically acting on behalf of Heaven—besides, it could serve as compensation for the previous time he had been attacked by assassins while riding in Wanyan Liang's carriage.

Before they departed, the Princess of Hailing suddenly tugged at Wanyan Liang. Receiving his wife's signal, Wanyan Liang apologized to Song Qingshu and Ge Bi. "My sincerest apologies. There seems to have been a problem with the gift my wife and I prepared for Miss Puchá, and we need to make new arrangements. Why don't you go on ahead?"

Though Song Qingshu was curious about what Tudan Jing wanted to say to Wanyan Liang, the man had already tactfully