Chapter 82: Shared Interests

Chapter 82

Shared Interests

That night, after putting the children to bed, Song Qilin returned to his wife’s side, caressing her gently in their room. He asked about Young Miss Mu and Kang Wang, even though he had a good idea of what his wife was planning. He still couldn’t shake his worries.

"Shuang Shuang, are you trying to play matchmaker? If something happens between them, it could spell trouble for Wuqian. Xian Fei would be furious if he married the niece of her rival, Mu Guifei. You know how meticulous Xian Fei is in selecting her daughter-in-law. And Mu Guifei would be angry too, seeing her plan to send her niece to the palace thwarted by Kang Wang. If that happens, Mu Guifei might lash out at Xian Fei instead. In the end, the Empress wouldn’t need to lift a finger, and both sides would be weakened."

"You’re only looking at the problem from your own perspective. Why not look past the rivalry and see the shared benefits both sides could gain? My intent is to give Young Miss Mu her freedom. At the very least, she won’t have to face the venomous snakes in the inner palace. And it’s not guaranteed that Kang Wang and Young Miss Mu will develop feelings for each other. Kang Wang is simply offering her a place to stay while waiting for her family to fetch her. Once she returns to the capital, they’ll likely remain strangers. But even if they do grow fond of each other, what’s the harm? Young Miss Mu could live quietly in Huangjing, and no one would know who her husband is."

"There are no secrets in this world. If Mu Guifei or Xian Fei finds out, it won’t bode well for Wuqian."

Nie Shuang playfully knocked on his forehead with her finger.

"How are you a General with so many military strategies, yet you can’t think of a solution to this?"

Song Qilin grinned sheepishly.

"If you’ve got a plan, just tell me. Kang Wang and I only know how to fight—we’re no match for you when it comes to these things."

"The Emperor is still in good health, isn’t he? The secret power struggle between Rui Wang and Jun Wang will continue for some time. Neither of them would want to make more enemies right now. Kang Wang has maintained neutrality, and both sides would only want to pull him into their camp. If Xian Fei, his mother, finds out, she can be told it’s part of a long-term strategy—to pull the Mu family into their circle. If Mu Guifei finds out, Kang Wang can simply show favor toward Jun Wang, treating him as a brother-in-law. The Mu family would be pleased. Mu Guifei might even turn around and befriend Xian Fei, thanking her, despite her diminished power. And if neither side learns of it, Kang Wang can quietly live his life with her, without causing any trouble for anyone."

"You really are a master strategist,"

Song Qilin praised, wrapping his arms around his wife and kissing her cheek lovingly. He knew what she was aiming for but hadn’t expected her plan to be this intricate. On the surface, it seemed risky to predict the reactions of Xian Fei and Mu Guifei, but when viewed through the lens of shared interests, it was clear that both women would seize such an opportunity. Nie Shuang knew that Young Miss Mu could become a valuable pawn for Wuqian in the future, so she left room for him to cultivate a connection with her. If he wasn’t interested, they could still claim to have helped her, and that alone would carry weight in the future. Nie Shuang laughed and gently pushed him away.

"Kang Wang’s future won’t be confined to Huangjing. He can’t just remain neutral and keep himself outside the circle. At least one of the factions needs to believe he’s on their side so he won’t be overly suspected."

“My Shuang Shuang is truly cunning. How can a young woman like you have the mind of an old fox?”

Nie Shuang laughed.

"It’s because I’m a merchant. If I didn’t use my brain, how would I make a profit? Unlike you nobles, who can just eat, sleep, and have wealth and fame roll in effortlessly."

Song Qilin laughed at his wife’s playful jab. His heart was filled with happiness. These days, whenever someone called her a merchant, he no longer felt embarrassed—quite the opposite. He felt proud.

“If Wuqian could find someone, it would be good for him. He’s lived a lonely life for too long. And that Young Miss Mu seems to be a virtuous woman. If it weren’t for the rivalry between the two families, she’d be a perfect match for him.”

"Hmph! Now you say that? You were just worried about your friend, afraid I’d cause him trouble. When I proposed the plan, you didn’t say anything."

"Shuang Shuang’s ideas are always the best. How could I ever object? If I have any doubts, I’ll ask you afterward. Can’t you see how much I respect and honor my wife?"

The General shamelessly flattered his wife. The two had already bathed, and he picked her up and placed her on his lap as he sat on the bed.

"Now that we’re done talking about others, let’s discuss us. I did a great job with the tea-for-horses deal, didn’t I? What reward will my Shuang Shuang give me?"

Song Qilin’s eyes softened, and he spoke to her in a deep voice, making Nie Shuang blush. She wrapped her arms around his neck and giggled.

"Mm, you do deserve a reward,"

She whispered seductively. Climbing off his lap and onto the bed, she turned and playfully beckoned him with a finger. Song Qilin could barely contain himself. He swallowed hard and called her name in a hoarse, almost tortured voice.

“Shuang Shuang...”

He quickly crawled onto the bed, ready to pounce, but Nie Shuang raised a delicate finger to his lips.

“Husband...why rush? These things must be done slowly, don’t you think?”

The way she spoke, her tone and gestures, made it almost impossible for Song Qilin to control himself. Her breath brushed against his face, and the sweet fragrance of her body filled his senses, making his heart race.

"You...close your eyes first,"

She spoke while gazing up at him. The young woman leaned in as if to kiss him. Song Qilin, heart racing, closed his eyes, his lips slightly parted in anticipation of her touch. But nothing happened. When he opened his eyes, he saw her lying under the blanket, stifling her laughter.

"Hehehe,"

She giggled at having fooled him. Song Qilin smiled, his gaze softening. His playful little wife—he loved her like this. He turned back to lower the bed curtains and crawled back toward her. His large hand slowly pulled the blanket away from her slender body. Their eyes met, and Nie Shuang blushed, averting her gaze shyly.

He kissed her soft lips, teasing her small tongue until Nie Shuang was left breathless. His rough hand roamed over her smooth skin, lightly grazing her delicate breasts before leaning down to kiss them hungrily. The young woman let out soft moans, gasping as if she was short of breath. Her soft hands roamed his firm body, hastily helping him remove his clothes. Seeing her actions, he chuckled, his chest shaking.

Nie Shuang glared playfully at him, pushing his broad chest back onto the bed. Song Qilin obeyed without resistance, lying flat on the bed. She climbed onto his waist, a smirk forming on her lips.

“Husband, you said you wanted to be heavily rewarded, right? I don’t mind, but are you sure you can handle it? You’ve lost a lot of weight since coming back. I’m worried you won’t have the strength for this battle.”

She teased with a smile, looking down at him with a challenging gaze. The sight of her bare, slender body straddling him made Song Qilin’s heart nearly explode. He wanted to possess her right then but also wanted her to keep teasing and arousing him like this.

“If you think I’m too weak, Shuang Shuang, then go ahead and start. You’ll see soon enough. But if you can’t walk tomorrow, don’t come blaming me.”Nie Shuang deliberately seduced him, slowly possessing him until Song Qilin was nearly driven mad. Even though her pace was slow, the intensity made him feel like he was about to burst into flames. Song Qilin groaned in pleasure, gripping her soft hips firmly. Even when Nie Shuang became exhausted, he remained vigorous. Her sweet cries filled the air, mingling with his deep, guttural groans. The entire night, the bed rocked loudly as if it were about to collapse.