Daiqisi had intended from the start to deny everything afterward. She had thought that as the Princess Consort, with Emperor Wanyan Dan backing her, would Tang Kuobian, a mere Imperial Son-in-Law, really dare come collect the debt from her?
But who could have anticipated that plans would fail to keep up with changes? Wanyan Dan was now dead, and she was no longer the lofty Princess Consort. The Imperial Son-in-Law she had once looked down upon had become the most powerful man in the Jin court. That previously worthless promissory note had suddenly become scalding hot.
"You never rescued Wanyan Yuan, so why should I pay up?" Daiqisi quickly came up with an excuse.
Song Qingshu immediately laughed. "Who said I didn't rescue Wanyan Yuan? Everyone in the capital knows that I had him acquitted and released, and the emperor even threw me into the Heavenly Prison over it. Wanyan Yuan was simply unlucky and was later killed by the emperor anyway. How can you blame that on me?"
Daiqisi said urgently, "This was clearly one matter. Wanyan Yuan never left the Heavenly Prison from beginning to end."
"I don't care about that. I fulfilled what I promised, so now it's time for you to fulfill your earlier promise." Song Qingshu looked entirely justified.
"What kind of person are you? Isn't this just sophistry?" Daiqisi snapped.
Song Qingshu looked at her leisurely. "Madam has roamed the martial world for so many years. You should have understood this principle long ago, shouldn't you? Whether as the Dragon King of Purple Robes or Granny Golden Flower, when did you ever reason with those martial artists who died by your hand? The strong make the rules; the weak can only obey them honestly."
Daiqisi shuddered, then fell silent. After a long while, she