Chapter 817: The Little Princesses of the Song Dynasty

Song Qingshu couldn’t help but feel frantic—this task was simply too bizarre. What on earth was Empress Pei Man planning?

‘Is this some harem power struggle? Did she see how beautiful these two young maids are and worry that if the real emperor ever laid eyes on them, he’d become infatuated, causing her to lose favor? So she’s preemptively arranging for someone to take their v!rginity, disqualifying them from imperial favor?’

That was the first thought that crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Emperor Xizong of Jin and Empress Pei Man’s strained relationship was common knowledge. If losing favor was the concern, she had already lost it long ago. Moreover, such an act would be too scandalous—if Emperor Xizong found out, she might even lose her position as empress.

“Why are you standing there dumbstruck? Are you so excited at the thought of playing the role of a man?” Empress Pei Man’s voice dripped with mockery when she said the word “man.”

“Of course I’m excited. I thought this would be an extremely difficult task, but it turns out to be so simple.” Song Qingshu had already made up his mind. Since he couldn’t figure out her motives due to lack of information, he might as well wait and see how things unfolded.

“For a real man, it’s easy. But for you…” Empress Pei Man’s gaze flickered meaningfully toward his lower half before she let out a soft laugh and handed him an object. “If you can’t perform later, use this as assistance.”

When Song Qingshu took it, he realized it was the very same tool Empress Pei Man had used to pleasure herself earlier.

‘This woman has no sense of hygiene. How can she reuse something like this so casually?’

He inwardly sneered, but since she hadn’t realized he was a fake eunuch, he was happy to keep up the act and accepted it without protest.

“It’s almost time. They should be arriving soon. Try to speak as little as possible later to avoid giving yourself away. I’ll be here to assist if needed.” Empress Pei Man still seemed uneasy and couldn’t resist reminding him.

The moment Song Qingshu nodded, movement came from outside. Soon, two palace maidens entered gracefully. Seeing Song Qingshu seated at the head of the room in imperial robes, the two girls exchanged a glance before kneeling in unison.

“This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty! May the Emperor live ten thousand years! This humble servant pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress! May the Empress live a thousand years!”

“Raise your heads. Let Us have a look.” Song Qingshu was genuinely curious—just who were these two maids that Empress Pei Man was going to such lengths to deal with?

Empress Pei Man, seated below, shot him a surprised glance. Not because he had slipped up—on the contrary, his act was flawless. His calm, commanding tone, laced with unquestionable authority, was indistinguishable from a real emperor’s. No, in fact, the real Emperor Xizong’s presence paled in comparison.

She felt a flicker of relief at having chosen this particular eunuch for the task, but at the same time, a sense of wariness crept in. His ability to mimic was extraordinary—if she hadn’t known he was an impostor, she might have been fooled herself.

‘A man like this cannot be allowed to live…’

“As Your Majesty commands!” The two maids responded timidly before lifting their faces.

Their voices were sweet and delicate, instantly earning Song Qingshu’s favor. When they raised their heads, he finally saw their features clearly:

Two snow-white faces, tinged with either fear or shyness, bore a natural flush. With delicate brows and small lips, their bright eyes and pearly teeth made them utterly pitiable and lovable.

They appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen, their features strikingly similar—likely sisters. Both were budding beauties, huddled together timidly, their radiance amplifying each other’s charm.

But what shocked Song Qingshu wasn’t just their beauty—he had seen them before. They were the same two stunning maids who had accompanied Empress Pei Man earlier, the ones who had caught Prince Wei’s lustful gaze.

‘Aren’t they Empress Pei Man’s own attendants?’

His heart tightened.

‘Is this a test? Did she send them to see if I’m capable of carrying out her real plan?’

Suddenly, it all made sense. Today was merely a qualifying round—only if he passed would he be entrusted with the true mission.

“What are your names?” Song Qingshu decided to play along.

“This servant is Zhao Hu’er~”

“This servant is Zhao Yuanyuan~”

“Yuanyuan? Which Yuanyuan?” Song Qingshu mused. There was the legendary Chen Yuanyuan of the past and, in later generations, Gao Yuanyuan—both peerless beauties he had coincidentally encountered. Just the name alone added to this girl’s allure.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant’s name comes from the Chu Ci—‘My heart, entangled in sorrow, knows not where to rest.’” the maid answered.

Song Qingshu’s head spun—it sounded like gibberish to him. The only thing he could confirm was that her “Yuan” wasn’t the same as Gao Yuanyuan’s “Yuan.” A pang of disappointment hit him.

“What does that mean?” he asked casually. Since he was impersonating Emperor Xizong—a Jurchen ruler infamous for his lack of literary refinement—there was no risk of exposure even if he played dumb.

The maid parted her lips to answer, but the other girl, Zhao Hu’er, subtly tugged at her sleeve. Zhao Yuanyuan immediately caught herself, her face paling slightly.

Though their exchange was discreet, Song Qingshu caught it clearly. “Why did you stop?”

“This servant dares not speak,” Zhao Yuanyuan whispered, her lovely face now ashen with regret for her earlier slip.

“Speak. We pardon you.” Song Qingshu took a leisurely sip of tea.

Empress Pei Man was even more astonished. His every gesture exuded imperial majesty. The exchange had flowed so naturally that she hadn’t even been able to interject. Is he really just a eunuch?

Biting her lip, Zhao Yuanyuan finally replied in a small voice, “It means, ‘My heart is bound by endless sorrow, lost and unsure of where to turn.’”

Before Song Qingshu could react, Empress Pei Man erupted. “‘Endless sorrow’? ‘Unsure of where to turn’? Your mother gave you such a name, clearly pining for your fallen Dynasty and showing disrespect to our Great Jin! Have you forgotten the fate of Li Houzhu?”

“Forgive us, Your Majesty! Forgive us!” The two maids trembled, kowtowing desperately.

Song Qingshu suppressed an exasperated sigh.

‘D*mn these ancients and their cryptic, allusion-laden speech. If I hadn’t known the reference, I’d be completely lost.’

When the Southern Tang Dynasty fell to the Northern Song, its last emperor, Li Yu (Li Houzhu), and his consort, Xiao Zhou, surrendered. Emperor Taizong of Song, a notorious lecher, frequently summoned Xiao Zhou to the palace for his amusement. Humiliated and powerless, Li Yu poured his despair into poetry, penning the immortal line: “How much sorrow can one man hold? As much as a river of spring waters flowing east.” But these very words sealed his fate—Taizong, interpreting them as nostalgia for his lost kingdom, had him poisoned.

Now, these two girls’ names betrayed a similar longing for their fallen homeland and fear for their uncertain future—mirroring Li Houzhu’s plight.

“Zhao Hu’er, Zhao Yuanyuan… both surnamed Zhao…” Song Qingshu’s eyes narrowed. Earlier, he had found it odd—their names and cultured demeanor were far beyond ordinary maids. Only after Empress Pei Man’s outburst and her use of Li Houzhu’s fate as a warning did it click.

These girls’ extraordinary beauty and refinement… they must be the Song Dynasty princesses kept in the Laundry Court! No wonder the Yellow-Skirted Woman had intervened when Prince Wei harassed them.

‘If the Northern Song still stood, they’d be revered princesses, wouldn’t they?’

Watching the two trembling girls, Song Qingshu marveled at fate’s irony. Emperor Taizong had once humiliated Li Houzhu—who could have guessed his own descendants would suffer the same a century later?

As Empress Pei Man continued berating them, Song Qingshu coughed. “Enough. We already pardoned them.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy!” The two maids kowtowed in relief.

Empress Pei Man shot him a strange look. His tone had been uncannily like Emperor Xizong’s.

‘Hmph, this dog of a eunuch is really getting into his role. Enjoy it while you can. Once my plan is complete, I’ll deal with you properly.’

“Since His Majesty has spoken, We shall not pursue this further,” she said coolly. “Serve him well, and perhaps one day he’ll decree clemency for your sisters, sparing them further suffering.”

Song Qingshu frowned. So Empress Pei Man was using the other imprisoned women as leverage to ensure these two served the emperor willingly.

Seeing the determination in the girls’ eyes, he sighed inwardly. So naive. They’re being sold off and don’t even realize the ‘emperor’ they’re serving tonight is a fake.

Empress Pei Man seemed pleased with their reaction. Her gaze dropped to their robes. “You’ve bathed, as instructed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” they answered softly, cheeks tinged pink.

“Good. Now remove your outer robes.”

Song Qingshu nearly choked on his tea.

He had been too focused on deciphering Empress Pei Man’s scheme to notice earlier, but now he saw the maids weren’t wearing standard servant attire. Instead, their garments resembled… something akin to a Japanese onsen yukata.

The two girls exchanged a glance, resolve flashing in their eyes. With a tug, their loose robes slipped to the floor.