Chapter 940: Measure for Measure

Ensuring the loyalty of Wanyan Chongjie and her mother solely through the coercive control of the Three Corpse Brain Holy Pill was unreliable. Song Qingshu had no intention of keeping such a time bomb by his side, as there was no telling when it might backfire on him.

The best approach was to make them part of his own interest group. However, after much thought, Song Qingshu still couldn’t come up with a viable solution for the time being.

As the saying goes, one should balance kindness with severity. Having already applied enough pressure, it was now time to employ more benevolent tactics.

“I promised to help you take revenge on Wanyan Liang, and now I have fulfilled that promise. Not only has Wanyan Liang been utterly disgraced, but his entire family has also been doomed to eternal suffering,” Song Qingshu remarked. He couldn’t help but marvel at how Wanyan Liang had been a blessing in disguise—first by sending his wife to him, and now by helping him gain goodwill. Truth be told, he almost felt reluctant to let Wanyan Liang die.

“Thank you, young master. You are the benefactor of our mother and daughter. Please accept our bow,” Pucha Alihu said, pulling her daughter down to kneel.

Song Qingshu hurriedly helped them up. “You flatter me, madam. My actions against Wanyan Liang were not solely for your sake. I had my own interests at stake as well, so I hardly deserve your gratitude.”

He knew she was a perceptive woman. Behind her enchanting and charming appearance lay a mind that could see through everything. Trying to play too many tricks in front of her would only backfire. It was better to be straightforward, which would leave a more sincere impression.

Pucha Alihu withdrew her hand somewhat awkwardly, her cheeks slightly flushed. “Young master, you need not be so modest. Regardless of your motives, the fact remains that you avenged us. We will not forget this kindness.”

In his previous life, such physical contact would have been considered normal, even in a professional setting. Song Qingshu hadn’t paid it much mind earlier, but her uncomfortable reaction made him realize the inappropriateness. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation—her hand was as soft and smooth as a young girl’s.

Over the years, Pucha Alihu had developed a sharp eye for such details, and Song Qingshu’s subtle change in demeanor did not escape her notice. This only made her feel even more self-conscious.

Song Qingshu coughed lightly to diffuse the awkwardness and quickly changed the subject. “Wanyan Liang is currently imprisoned in the palace. I imagine you would be very interested in seeing him.”

“Of course! That scoundrel’s father caused my grandfather and father to be wrongfully executed, and he bullied my mother. I have a score to settle with him,” Wanyan Chongjie said through gritted teeth.

Song Qingshu nodded. “Don’t worry. Your grandfather and father were falsely accused of treason by Wanyan Zonggan. Now that Wanyan Liang has been convicted of rebellion, everyone associated with him will be investigated, including Wanyan Zonggan. I will also issue an order to clear your father’s name and posthumously rehabilitate him.”

“Really?” Wanyan Chongjie looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

Seeing her sparkling gaze, Song Qingshu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you?” During their first few encounters, she had always appeared as a cool, aloof female assassin, making him almost forget that she was still just a young girl.

“Thank you,” Wanyan Chongjie said, suddenly looking somewhat embarrassed. “I’ve been secretly cursing you all this time. I’m sorry.”

Song Qingshu raised an eyebrow. “What exactly have you been cursing me about?”

Wanyan Chongjie’s cheeks flushed, and she stammered, “Nothing much, just some complaints…” Noticing Song Qingshu’s skeptical look, she steeled herself and blurted out, “Hmph! You used such a vicious dr*ug to control my mother and me. Can’t I curse you a few times?”

“I don’t mind,” Song Qingshu shrugged. He wasn’t one to hold a grudge against a young girl. Besides, plenty of people in the world cursed him—what difference did one more make?

Pucha Alihu, worried that her daughter’s bluntness might offend Song Qingshu, quickly interjected, “Benefactor, I have a presumptuous request. I wonder if you would be willing to grant it.”

Song Qingshu smiled slightly. “Please speak, madam. If it is within my power, I will certainly do my best.” He was currently looking for ways to bring the mother and daughter onto his side and wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to earn their goodwill.

“By the way, madam, there’s no need to address me as ‘benefactor’ from now on. Just call me Qingshu.”

“As you wish, benefactor,” Pucha Alihu replied with a noncommittal smile.

“Well then…” Song Qingshu sighed inwardly but decided not to press the issue. “What was it you wanted me to help with?”

Pucha Alihu hesitated for a moment. “This matter is neither too difficult nor too simple. I’m just afraid you might be unwilling to intervene.”

“What is it exactly? Please, do tell,” Song Qingshu asked, his interest piqued by her hesitation.

Pucha Alihu’s chest rose and fell slightly as she gathered her emotions. After a long pause, she finally spoke. “Benefactor, you are aware of the hardships I’ve endured. Wanyan Liang is the root cause of all my suffering. He destroyed my family and ruined my happiness. This hatred runs deeper than the ocean. Now that he has been convicted of treason, the court will subject him to the cruelest punishments. If I were to focus on physical t0rture, it would be like showing off in front of an expert—it wouldn’t truly harm him.”

Song Qingshu began to understand. “What do you mean, madam?”

Pucha Alihu pursed her lips and said slowly, “Since physical t0rture won’t truly hurt him, I will destroy him psychologically.”

“Psychological destruction?” Song Qingshu was taken aback. “How do you plan to achieve that?”

Pucha Alihu’s cheeks flushed. “That’s why I need your help, benefactor.”

“How can I help?” Seeing her embarrassed and hesitant expression, Song Qingshu felt the conversation was taking an unusual turn.

“That beast Wanyan Liang… vi0lated me in front of my husband’s spirit tablet. He even pointed at my late husband’s memorial tablet and said many… many unspeakable things. So, I want to repay him in kind! Since he enjoyed vi0lating another man’s wife in front of her husband, let him taste the same bitterness.”

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Song Qingshu finally understood, looking at her in shock. “Madam, you don’t mean for me to… with Tudan Jing…”

Pucha Alihu dropped to her knees, her voice choked with emotion. “I know this request is highly inappropriate, but I truly cannot think of any other way to exact revenge. I beg you, benefactor, to grant me this wish.”

Song Qingshu felt extremely awkward. Although he had occasionally indulged in similar fantasies, acting on them would be crossing a line.

Despite his occasional unscrupulous behavior, he always maintained certain boundaries. For instance, with the Golden Serpent Camp and Jiao Wan’er, he had ensured Luo Liru remained unaware of the truth. Though it might seem hypocritical, this approach had minimized the harm to both Jiao Wan’er and Luo Liru afterward.