Chapter 902: A Chain of Deception

Song Qingshu chuckled, “That man owes you a debt he could never repay in a lifetime. Yet, when you mention him, I don’t see much anger in your eyes. It seems you intend to make him repay it with his flesh.”

Zhao Min flushed. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Song Qingshu merely smiled and didn’t respond. He glanced around the secret chamber but found nothing unusual. Zhao Min was truly extraordinary—most women would have gone mad after being confined for so long. “Have you been comfortable here, Miss Zhao?”

Zhao Min rolled her eyes. “Why don’t I lock you up for this long and see how you like it?”

Song Qingshu felt a pang of guilt. As a noblewoman, she had never suffered such hardship. He had been too preoccupied lately to attend to her, though at least he had remembered to send her food and water—otherwise, she might have starved to death.

“My apologies for the poor hospitality these past days. If you have any requests, feel free to voice them now. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll grant it,” Song Qingshu offered.

“Then let me go. Will you agree to that?” Zhao Min smirked disdainfully.

“Anything but that,” Song Qingshu shook his head.

Zhao Min fell silent. Just as Song Qingshu assumed she was protesting with her silence, she suddenly spoke: “I want to bathe and change clothes.”

“Eh?” Song Qingshu was momentarily caught off guard. He had expected her to seize this chance to devise an escape plan, but her first demand was simply to freshen up.

“Didn’t you hear me? I want to bathe and change,” Zhao Min snapped. “After being locked up by you for so long, I reek!”

Song Qingshu thought to himself that he had just passed by her and detected no foul odor. Still, he understood that women prized cleanliness—even a single day without bathing could make them feel uncomfortable.

“Very well, wait here.” He stood up and eyed the chamber’s entrance, frowning. “This place is too cramped. A bathtub would be difficult to bring in.”

“Then take me to a room upstairs,” Zhao Min said matter-of-factly.

“Upstairs?” Song Qingshu’s brows furrowed. Zhao Min was notoriously cunning—was she scheming something again?

“You’re so highly skilled in martial arts. Are you really afraid I’ll escape?” Zhao Min retorted, as if reading his thoughts.

“Fine. Wait here for now. I’ll go upstairs and have the maids prepare hot water.” Song Qingshu had kept Zhao Min hidden here to prevent leaks, never allowing any servants near her. Naturally, no outsiders could gather any information.

*****

A short while later, Song Qingshu led Zhao Min out. She hurried to the window, flung it open, and took a deep breath of fresh air, her face alight with bliss. “Finally, I see the light of day again. The scent of flowers and grass is so nostalgic.”

Song Qingshu pointed at the steaming bathtub and said dryly, “The hot water’s ready. Go ahead.”

Zhao Min froze. “Wait—you’re staying here?”

“Obviously!” Song Qingshu shot back. “If I don’t keep an eye on you, how can I be sure you won’t run?”

Zhao Min’s face flushed red and then paled. “I’m a woman bathing here! How can you, a grown man, shamelessly stand by and watch?”

“There’s a screen over there. Pull it around, and I won’t see a thing,” Song Qingshu replied dismissively.

“Absolutely not!” Zhao Min’s cheeks burned. Back in the Prince of Ruyang’s residence, even her maids were forbidden to stay in the room while she bathed—let alone a man. If he harbored ill intentions, what good would a flimsy screen do?

“If you don’t want to bathe, then forget it,” Song Qingshu walked up to the tub and eyed the steaming water. “But it’d be a waste to discard this after the maids worked so hard to prepare it. If you won’t use it, I will.” He made a show of loosening his robes.

“Go ahead and bathe if you want.” A glint of delight flashed in Zhao Min’s eyes. Once he stripped and got into the tub, she would bolt immediately. Surely he wouldn’t chase her naked!

Song Qingshu saw right through her. “Don’t bother scheming. If you refuse, you can just return to the secret chamber.”

Zhao Min snorted. “Who said I refuse? Move!” She shoved him aside. The thought of returning to that dark chamber sent a chill down her spine.

“But you really can’t stay here,” she added quickly when she saw his frown. “There must be propriety between men and women. If you’re worried about me escaping, have your wife watch over me instead.”

After a moment’s consideration, Song Qingshu conceded that his presence was indeed inappropriate. “Fine.” He hid Zhao Min first, then summoned a maid to call Gebi over.

Gebi, who had been nearby, arrived promptly. Even Zhao Min, upon seeing the legendary beauty of the Jin Dynasty, was momentarily stunned.

‘How can a woman be this stunning? That scoundrel Tang Kuo Bian has unbelievably good luck.’

As Zhao Min studied Gebi, the latter did the same. Gebi had seen Zhao Min before when she was unconscious, but now, despite her pallor from confinement, her breathtaking beauty remained undeniable.

‘I wonder what her relationship with Song Qingshu is?’

Gebi mused. Though she and Song Qingshu were only pretending to be husband and wife, their daily life was no different from a real couple—eating together, sleeping together… The thought brought a faint blush to her cheeks.

“Out, out!” Zhao Min shooed Song Qingshu away the moment Gebi arrived.

“Alright, alright, I’m going.” Before leaving, Song Qingshu sealed several of Zhao Min’s acupoints and instructed Gebi, “Her martial arts are completely suppressed now—she’s weaker than an ordinary woman. Just stay alert, and she won’t be a threat. If anything happens, call for me. I’ll be right outside.”

“Enough already!” Gebi laughed brightly. “She’s a lady about to bathe—why are you fussing like this? I’ll keep an eye on her.”

She ushered Song Qingshu out and deftly locked the door before turning back to Zhao Min with a smile. “Now you can relax, Miss Zhao.”

Zhao Min gave a soft hum of acknowledgment. The sight of the steaming bath was too tempting to resist. After a hesitant glance at Gebi, she blushed and began undoing her robes.

Gebi felt as if the room had brightened. “Miss Zhao, your figure is exquisite. I wonder which man will be fortunate enough to enjoy it someday.”

Zhao Min’s face turned crimson as she quickly slipped into the tub. Only then did she regain her usual composure. “My figure pales in comparison to yours, sister. The one who gets to enjoy a beauty like you every day—that man, Song Qingshu, is the luckiest in the world.”