‘A charming widow raising an unbelievably beautiful daughter all alone—tsk tsk, who knows how many men are eyeing them covetously…’ Though Song Qingshu had never met her mother, judging by Gebi’s looks, if the woman was once hailed as the number one beauty of the Jin Dynasty, she must have been devastatingly gorgeous.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Auntie, but I never found the right opportunity. Today, I happened to run into Prince of Wei, so I tagged along,” Wanyan Chongjie said with a sweet smile, though her eyes flickered toward Song Qingshu with deliberate subtlety.
Song Qingshu found it strange—why was this girl staring at him so much? Combined with that eerie sense of déjà vu, he grew even more puzzled.
Gebi pulled Wanyan Chongjie down to sit beside her and asked casually, “Chongjie, do you know why Prince of Wei came today?” She couldn’t help but be curious. After all, Prince of Wei rarely visited her these past years. His sudden appearance surely meant he had an ulterior motive.
“I… I don’t dare say,” the girl replied hesitantly, casting a meaningful glance at her.
Gebi was slightly taken aback. “We’re family—what could possibly be so hard to say?”
“I’m afraid it’ll upset you, Auntie.” The girl blinked her large, doll-like eyes innocently, though Song Qingshu keenly detected a flash of mischief deep within her gaze.
“Go ahead. I promise I won’t be upset,” Gebi assured, now thoroughly intrigued.
“Well…” Wanyan Chongjie paused, glancing at Song Qingshu before continuing, “Prince of Wei said he couldn’t bear to see Auntie being deceived by a scoundrel, so he came to warn you.”
“Because the scoundrel is you, Uncle Tang Kuo!” The girl’s smile was sweet and pure, but her words nearly made Song Qingshu choke. “Uncle Tang Kuo, how was the courtesan from Autumn Fragrance Pavilion last night?”
Song Qingshu’s face flushed. “What does a little girl like you know about such things?”
“Courtesan from Autumn Fragrance Pavilion?” Gebi looked at Wanyan Chongjie in confusion.
“Oh? So Uncle Tang Kuo didn’t tell Auntie?” Wanyan Chongjie feigned innocence before recounting the previous night’s events—how a group of men had splurged fortunes competing for the courtesan, only for “Tang Kuo Bian” to emerge victorious and take her home.
Song Qingshu’s expression darkened.
This girl might seem naive, but she was deliberately sowing discord between him and Gebi. Prince of Wei had already left, yet she was now doing exactly what he had intended. Song Qingshu suspected Prince of Wei’s visit had been instigated by her in the first place.
He braced himself for Gebi’s anger—after all, he hadn’t returned until nearly dawn. With Wanyan Chongjie’s provocation, it was only natural for Gebi to be upset.
But her reaction nearly made his eyes pop out of his head.
She remained perfectly calm, smiling gently. “Men occasionally seeking entertainment is only natural. Prince of Wei is making too big a deal out of it.”
“Uh…” Song Qingshu was speechless.
With a wife like this, did Tang Kuo Bian save the world in his past life?
Wanyan Chongjie was equally stunned. The scene she had imagined hadn’t played out at all—she hadn’t expected Gebi to take it so lightly. But she recovered quickly and added, “Exactly! I doubt Prince of Wei was acting out of righteousness. More likely, he was just bitter that Uncle Tang Kuo snatched the courtesan he wanted, so he came to cause trouble first thing in the morning.”
Gebi smiled softly, revealing a row of pearly teeth, but didn’t engage further. Instead, she sighed. “I actually pity that courtesan. Once a high-ranking princess, now reduced to a plaything for men… Ah…”
Song Qingshu was moved by her compassion, though he didn’t know how to respond.
Wanyan Chongjie, however, scoffed. “Those Song people were just weak. Why pity them?”
Gebi shook her head. “No. The Song Dynasty was weak then, and our Jin Dynasty was strong, so their princesses became captives. But if one day the Jin Dynasty weakens and the enemy storms Daxing Prefecture, how would our fates be any better than hers?”
“The strong prey on the weak—that’s the law of the world,” Wanyan Chongjie replied coldly, though Gebi’s words had clearly struck a nerve. She fell silent, her expression darkening.
Seeing the two women in low spirits, Song Qingshu laughed. “Don’t worry. We men will protect our homeland.”
Gebi gazed at him tenderly, her smile warm.
But Wanyan Chongjie retorted icily, “Those Song women were sold out by their own men.”
“Ahem—” Song Qingshu coughed awkwardly. Why does this girl have it out for me? Did Tang Kuo Bian offend her somehow?
Realizing she had overstepped, Wanyan Chongjie quickly excused herself. But before leaving, she suddenly asked, “Oh, by the way—Auntie, Uncle Tang Kuo, will you be attending Qiucao’s coming-of-age banquet tonight?”
“Qiucao? Coming-of-age banquet?” Song Qingshu was utterly lost.
Gebi, however, nodded. “Of course. The eldest daughter of the Pucha clan’s coming-of-age ceremony—our Tang Kuo clan must attend.”
Wanyan Chongjie inexplicably brightened at this and skipped away cheerfully.
Seeing Song Qingshu’s confusion, Gebi explained, “You’ve been so elusive lately that I accepted the Pucha family’s invitation on your behalf. Today is Qiucao’s fourteenth birthday. Since our three great clans have always been closely connected, we naturally must attend. I’ve already prepared the gifts, so no need to worry, husband.”
“Is Qiucao the daughter of Pucha Ahute or Pucha Ahudie?” Song Qingshu asked directly. Given Qiucao’s young age, it made sense Tang Kuo Bian wouldn’t know her well. Currently, the Pucha family was led by the brothers Pucha Ahute and Pucha Ahudie—the Left and Right Deputy Commanders of the Palace Guard, respectively—effectively controlling the imperial capital’s defenses.
“Honestly, your memory…” Gebi rolled her eyes playfully. “Qiucao is Pucha Ahute’s daughter.”
*****
Meanwhile, at the Pucha estate…
A delicate young girl hurled vase after vase at a middle-aged man. “I refuse to marry that cripple Yang! My future husband must be the most heroic warrior in the entire Jin Dynasty—I won’t settle for some useless invalid!”
“Stop smashing those! That cloisonné was a gift from my friend in the Qing Dynasty—it’s priceless!” The man winced at the shattered porcelain littering the floor. “This isn’t about what you want! Your marriage was arranged before you were even born!”