Chapter 803: Take Your Pick

“Whoever arranged this marriage can marry him themselves! I won’t have any part in it!” The young woman grew even angrier at her father’s words, flinging a porcelain vase at him in frustration.

The middle-aged man’s heart lurched as he leapt forward, catching the cloisonné piece just before it hit the ground. He let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank goodness!”

Seeing this, the girl stamped her foot, then snatched up a painting and made as if to tear it. The man cried out in alarm, “No, no, no! Let’s talk this through! That’s Fan Kuan’s authentic Snowy Forest from the Northern Song Dynasty! I went through great pains to acquire it!” He immediately regretted his decision—why had he chosen to meet this little firebrand in his study?

“Fine. Explain yourself. If I’m even slightly unsatisfied with your answer, I’ll tear this painting to shreds—believe me!” She huffed, holding the painting threateningly.

This father and daughter were none other than Pucha Ahute and Pucha Qiucao.

Seeing his daughter’s actions, Pucha Ahute broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly said, “Xiao Cao, you know your father always keeps his word. The Prince of Zhao has long since passed, and Wanyan Kang died in a foreign land. The Zhao lineage is now in decline. If I cancel the betrothal now, what will people think of us? They’ll say the Pucha family are opportunists, clinging to the Zhao family in their prime and abandoning them in their downfall. We’d be scorned!”

Pucha Qiucao hesitated briefly before lifting her chin defiantly. “I don’t care! This is your problem. I won’t marry a cripple!”

Pucha Ahute waved his hands anxiously. “Xiao Cao, listen to me. I’ve met that Yang Guo. Though he’s lost an arm, he’s undeniably handsome, and his martial arts are exceptional. He’s quite renowned in the Central Plains’ martial world!”

“Hmph! What good is being handsome if he’s still a cripple? If his martial arts were truly that impressive, he wouldn’t have lost an arm in the first place!” She snorted disdainfully.

“Well… I heard there were special circumstances behind his injury, but I’m not entirely sure…” Pucha Ahute frowned, lost in thought.

“Hmph! If you can’t give me a good reason, I’m tearing this painting right now!” Pucha Qiucao raised the scroll again, threatening to rip it apart.

“Wait, wait!” Inspiration struck Pucha Ahute, and he quickly said, “How about this? Tonight is your coming-of-age banquet. I’ve invited all the prominent figures in the capital, and Yang Guo will be among them. You can take a discreet look at him then. If you’re truly unsatisfied, I’ll swallow my pride and annul the engagement for you. How’s that?”

“That’s more like it.” The girl finally lowered the priceless painting with a smug sniff, thinking to herself:

‘Even if that Yang fellow is devastatingly handsome, I’ll still tell Father I’m not interested. How could a one-armed man possibly charm me at first sight?’

*****

Meanwhile, Song Qingshu remained blissfully unaware that a young woman was setting herself up for a classic reversal. Instead, he was smiling at his stunning wife, Gebi, who blushed under his gaze. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“I’m just surprised by your reaction. Aren’t you angry?” Song Qingshu chuckled.

“Of course I am!” Gebi pouted playfully before bursting into laughter, revealing pearly white teeth. “But I’m not stupid. Chongjie was clearly trying to manipulate me. Did she really think I’d fall into her trap?”

Song Qingshu raised an eyebrow. “I never realized my wife was so sharp-witted…”

“Are you calling me dumb in a roundabout way?” Gebi bit her lip, glaring at him.

“Not at all—it’s genuine praise!” He laughed.

“Hmph, you’re lucky I’m letting you off the hook.” Gebi’s expression turned thoughtful. “But why is Chongjie targeting you? Did you offend her somehow?”

“I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’ve never even met her before.” The moment he said it, he realized his slip—but fortunately, Gebi was too preoccupied to notice.

“Did you harass her mother?” Gebi suddenly gave him a suspicious look. “She and her mother have had a hard life these past years. I’ve heard many vile men have tried to take advantage of her mother, and Chongjie despises that kind of thing.”

“Absolutely not!” Song Qingshu nearly facepalmed at Gebi’s wild speculation. He’d only heard of Chongjie’s mother in passing and had never even seen her.

“Yeah, that doesn’t seem likely.” Gebi chuckled, trusting her husband on this matter. “Never mind. Maybe Chongjie was just in a bad mood today.”

Song Qingshu nodded, though Chongjie’s lively eyes lingered in his mind. He was certain he’d seen that gaze somewhere before—but where?

“Oh, I almost forgot—what about that courtesan? Was she beautiful?” Gebi suddenly smirked at him.

“Well… she was quite attractive,” Song Qingshu admitted, then quickly added when Gebi’s expression shifted, “but nowhere near as stunning as my wife.”

“You always know how to flatter me.” Though she knew he was buttering her up, she couldn’t help but feel pleased.

“Besides, an assassin showed up and rescued her. Nothing happened between us.” Song Qingshu silently added:

‘Though nothing happened with her, quite a lot happened with the empress…’

“Were you hurt?” Gebi’s face paled at the mention of an assassin, and she immediately checked him over.

“If I were injured, wouldn’t you have noticed last night?” Song Qingshu grinned suggestively.

“Ah!” Gebi’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Last night, he had been as vigorous as an ox—hardly the picture of a wounded man.

Just as they were lost in their banter, a servant announced the arrival of an envoy from Prince of Hailing, Wanyan Liang.

“What does he want with you?” For some reason, Gebi instinctively disliked Wanyan Liang.

“No idea.” Song Qingshu shook his head and allowed the envoy inside.

The messenger relayed Wanyan Liang’s invitation—he wished to host Song Qingshu to “ease his shock” over last night’s events.

“Surely he hasn’t forgotten his promise to let me pick any of his concubines?” Song Qingshu’s expression turned odd. He knew Wanyan Liang’s true target was Gebi—but with Song Qingshu operating in the shadows, he was confident the prince would end up losing more than he bargained for.

“I’m coming with you.” Before Song Qingshu could ponder further, Gebi spoke up firmly.