Song Qingshu gazed at the woman before him, her clothes perfectly arranged, and couldnât help but marvel inwardly:
âThe more beautiful a w0man is, the better she liesâand does so without batting an eye.â
However, Da Xingguo was no fool either. Unfazed by her words, he replied, âRest assured, my lady. This humble servant is but a eunuch. Even if I were to see anything, it would not tarnish your virtue.â
Song Qingshu nearly gave him a thumbs-up.
âTruly, one learns until old age! So this is how you take advantage of a w0man⊠Wait a minute! Didnât I pull something similar with Zhao Yingluo?
â His cheeks flushed slightly at the memory.
Hearing Da Xingguo insist on entering, the Purple-Robed Dragon King, Daiqisi bit her lip. There was no way he could see the scene insideâif he discovered the emperor unconscious, not only would her safety be at risk, but her years of effort would be wasted.
As Da Xingguoâs hand slowly reached for the bed curtain, Daiqisi clenched her teeth and swiftly loosened her outer robe.
The sight of her jade-like, snow-white skin nearly made Song Qingshu spit blood.
âWhat kind of w0man just strips without warning? Whatâs the meaning of this?!â
Noticing his gaze, Daiqisiâs face burned crimson. She yanked the quilt over herself while shooting him a fierce glare, warning him to stay silent. Then, she pushed him down into the bedding, exposing Emperor Xizong.
Just then, Da Xingguo lifted the curtain and caught sight of Daiqisiâs back. The smooth, fair skin of her shoulders stirred even his eunuchâs heart.
âNo wonder the emperor is so infatuatedâshe truly is a peerless beauty.â
From her position, Daiqisi could still see Song Qingshu smirking at her from under the covers. Humiliated and furious, she had no choice. Without her usual makeup, she couldnât risk revealing her true face to Da Xingguo, so she had to keep her back turned. But facing away from him meant facing Song Qingshu directly. Though she still wore a thin undergarment, exposing such an intimate side to a stranger was maddeningâespecially with his eyes shamelessly roving, making her feel as if she were completely bare!
âHow much longer does the eunuch intend to stare at me?â Daiqisi said coldly.
âThis is all that d*mned eunuchâs fault! If he hadnât barged in, I wouldnât have resorted to this.â
âThis servant wouldnât dare!â Da Xingguo hastily averted his gaze, inwardly chastising himself.
âA eunuch, entranced by a womanâs beautyâwhat a disgrace to eunuchs everywhere!â
Seeing her turned away, he found it odd but dismissed it.
âAs the wife of Prince Changsheng, serving the emperor must be humiliating for her. No wonder she wonât face me.â
Just as he was about to leave, he recalled the earlier noise and couldnât resist asking, âDid my lady hear any sounds in the room earlier?â
âNo,â Daiqisi replied icily, willing him to vanish.
âHow strange.â Da Xingguo frowned and stepped closer. âYour Majesty? Your Majesty?â
âWhat are you doing?â Daiqisi tensed, her fingers gripping the quilt so tightly it might tear.
Suddenly, she felt Song Qingshu gently pat her hand. Assuming he was taking advantage, she nearly fainted from rage, her face turning deathly pale.
âAfter all this talking, His Majesty should have woken by now.â Hearing no response from Emperor Xizong, Da Xingguoâs tone turned suspicious.
Daiqisiâs mind went blank, unsure how to answer.
As Da Xingguo drew nearer, about to discover Emperor Xizongâs unconscious state, she debated whether to strike first and subdue him by surprise. But rumors spoke of his unfathomable martial skillsâeven with the element of surprise, her chances of success were slim.
Just as she hesitated, a familiar voice rang in her ear.
âYou d*mned slave! Must you keep yammering? Canât you let this emperor rest?â The voice was Emperor Xizongâsâyet Emperor Xizong was still unconscious. Glancing down, she saw the man under the covers wink at her.
âItâs his doing.â
âThis servant deserves death! Forgive me for disturbing Your Majestyâs restâIâll leave at once!â Peering past Daiqisi, Da Xingguo vaguely saw Emperor Xizong lying beside her. Hearing the emperorâs voice, his doubts vanished. He bowed repeatedly, apologizing.
âLeave. And do not enter again without this emperorâs command,â âEmperor Xizongâ said impatiently.
âYes, yes! May Your Majesty enjoy himself. This servant takes his leave.â Chuckling nervously, Da Xingguo backed out of the room and carefully shut the door.
Witnessing the manâs miraculous performance, Daiqisi was stunned. She could alter her voice tooâback when she disguised herself as the Golden Flower Granny, no one suspected a woman in her seventies was actually a beauty in her thirties. But she could only change her tone, never perfectly mimic a specific personâs voice without slight discrepancies.
Yet this man had replicated Emperor Xizongâs voice flawlessly, even capturing the emperorâs authoritative aura so convincingly that even a fox like Da Xingguo was fooled.
âIncredible!â
âHow did you do that?â she asked once Da Xingguo was gone.
Song Qingshu shook his head, grinning. âFirst, tell me who you really are.â
âAhâ!â Only then did Daiqisi realize she was still half-exposed. Flustered, she hastily covered herself. Seeing Song Qingshu still staring unabashedly, she flushed with anger. âAre you still looking?!â
Song Qingshu shrugged. âSuch a breathtaking sightâitâd be a crime not to look.â
Daiqisi froze, stunned by his shameless reply. At a loss, she finally spat, âYouâre the most despicable Central Plains man Iâve ever met!â
âAnd youâre the most stunning Western Region woman Iâve ever seen,â Song Qingshu countered with a smile.
Her breath hitched. She raised a hand as if to strike but ultimately lowered it.
Noticing, Song Qingshu asked, âNot going to attack?â
âI canât defeat you. Why humiliate myself further?â Daiqisi had regained her composure, her voice soft once more.