Chapter 2 : Can’t Steal

Along the way, the servants still treated Song Ying with respect, but there was a hint of melancholy and regret in their eyes.

Song Ying understood this well. Marrying the regent, second to the emperor, was an honor that many noble ladies in the capital longed for. Yet she, not knowing what was good for her, had asked for a divorce.

She felt that Faer’s worries were justified, her father must be furious.

“My lord, the young lady is here.”

Upon hearing the words “Come in,” Song Ying straightened up and stepped into the studyroom as if walking toward her execution.

“A daughter pays respects to her father.”

Song Jinzhuo stood beneath the plaque inscribed Taile Kangju, hands behind his back, his eyes blazing as he stared at Song Ying so intently that she didn’t dare lift her head.

Would he scold her?

Song Ying quietly clenched her fists inside her sleeves and stared at the ground, barely daring to breathe.

She had always feared her father. In her memory, he was an authoritative and stern figure. The only time he had shown her any warmth was on her wedding day, when he urged her to take good care of Yue Shaozhi.

She had followed his instructions, dutifully serving her husband and managing the household. No one, inside or outside the palace, could find fault with her. Yet the marriage still ended in divorce.

Song Ying’s legs were growing sore from standing. She lifted her eyes slightly for a glance at her father, then quickly looked away.

Finally, Song Jinzhuo spoke. “Now that you’re back, just stay at home.”

No scolding. No punishment. Not at all what she had expected. Song Ying looked at her father in disbelief.

Was this really her father?

His face remained expressionless, and he had been standing the entire time.

Song Ying bowed and replied, “Yes. Your daughter will take her leave.”

Only when she had walked some distance from the studyroom did she let out a sigh of relief. But a trace of disappointment followed. After all, her father had always been indifferent toward her.

“Miss.”

Seeing Faer approach, Song Ying quickly composed herself, smiled, and stepped forward to help her remove the leaves from her hair. “Did you finish moving everything?”

“Yes, we’ve finished.”

Song Ying nodded and walked toward her courtyard. But at the end of the corridor, she ran into Song Ruoer, who was walking toward her.

“Sister.” Song Ruoer. Petite, graceful, and gentle in every movement, her blue-white dress made her look like a celestial being.

In that moment, Song Ying suddenly understood. Not to mention men, even she herself couldn’t help but want to protect this sister every time she saw her.

“Are you going to see Father?”

“Yes.” Song Ruoer kept her eyes lowered, her long lashes trembling gently, as if begging to be touched or teased.

Song Ying resisted the urge to reach out by pinching her fingers and coughed softly. “Then go quickly.”

“Yes, sister. I’ll be going now.”

Watching her delicate figure leave, Song Ying thought, ‘Such a gentle beauty. No wonder Father always smiled at her. No wonder Yue Shaozhi was so easily swayed by her.’

“Miss, Miss Ruoer was so cold today,” Faer whispered after they had walked a few steps.

“Oh?”

Faer nodded. “Before, Miss Ruoer would always smile sweetly when she saw you. But today, she didn’t even look at you. Just kept staring at the ground. I thought maybe there was gold down there.”

Song Ying chuckled at that. “Maybe there really is gold.”

The innocent Faer immediately looked down and scanned the ground. “Really? When did our mansion get so rich?”

“Hahaha.” Song Ying laughed. “I’ll take you to Zui Xiang Lou for crispy duck some other day.”

Faer’s eyes lit up like gold. “Okay!”

Before long, the news of Song Ying and Yue Shaozhi’s divorce had spread through every alley and street in the capital. Even the aunties out grocery shopping whispered about it when they crossed paths.

Song Ying brought Faer out for crispy duck and overheard snippets of gossip along the way.

After Faer finished eating a duck leg, she suddenly remembered something important. “Miss, if we sneak out of the house and the Marquis finds out, will he punish us?”

Song Ying took a sip of wine and said calmly, “No.”

As long as they didn’t draw attention by wearing men’s clothes, even if her father found out, he wouldn’t say anything.

Faer believed what her mistress said, so she continued eating without worry.

Song Ying didn’t have much of an appetite, so most of the dishes had been ordered for Faer.

“Did you hear? The reason the Regent divorced her was because he fell in love with the former wife’s sister.”

Faer paused, but her mouth didn’t. She perked up her ears and started eavesdropping while munching.

Song Ying watched her with amusement, but she too was curious about what stories were circulating about her divorce.

“If the Regent liked the wife’s sister, why didn’t he just tell his wife? I heard she’s a generous person, she probably would’ve agreed.”

Song Ying nodded. If Yue Shaozhi had asked her directly, she would indeed have agreed.

“You just don’t get it. A wife is never as appealing as a concubine, a concubine can’t compare to a secret lover, a secret lover loses to a prostitute, and a prostitute isn’t as exciting as someone you can’t have. Hah!”

Song Ying tilted her head thoughtfully. So this was the kind of thing Yue Shaozhi liked?

“If you ask me, Marquis is the real winner in life. Both of his daughters caught the Regent’s eye.”

Song Ying frowned. If her father thought the same way, he would definitely try to marry Song Ruoer to him.

“But what if the Regent doesn’t marry Song Ruoer?”

Song Ying began to think seriously, could Yue Shaozhi really not know what he was doing? No, he definitely knew.

The details she had previously chosen to ignore began to come together in her mind… The way Yue Shaozhi looked at Song Ruoer those focused, tender eyes, it was as if she were the only woman in the world.

‘Cough.’

Faer pulled her ears back and asked softly, “Miss, are you alright?”

“It’s just a bit stuffy. Hurry up and eat before the food gets cold.”

“Okay.”

After paying the bill, Song Ying suddenly didn’t feel like going back to the Marquis’ Mansion. She even thought staying somewhere else for the night might be nice.

Faer gently tugged her sleeve. “Miss, it’s Miss Li.”

Outside the inn, Li Xingrou was stepping out of her carriage. Song Ying brushed back her hair and hid behind the crowd, slipping away quietly.

She and Li Xingrou had never gotten along since childhood. Every time they met, they clashed. Now that she was divorced, Li Xingrou was probably grinning from ear to ear.

“Hahaha! I told you Song Ying wouldn’t stay as a regent wife for long. You lost the bet, time to treat me to a good meal!”

That arrogant voice made Song Ying clench her fists in anger. Li Xingrou had actually made a bet about her downfall.

Faer puffed up her cheeks and pretended to turn back. “I’ll teach her a lesson for you.”

Song Ying held her back and continued walking. “If you cause trouble, you’ll be punished. You don’t want to be eating spoiled pickled vegetables every day, do you?”

Faer touched her stomach and muttered, “Then… can we teach her a lesson later, when we get the chance?”

“Of course.”

Faer was the only one around Song Ying who truly cared about her.

When they reached the alley behind the Marquis’ Mansion, Faer skillfully opened the small back door, checked that no one was around, let Song Ying in, then locked it behind them.

“Miss, will we get caught sneaking back like this?”

Just as she said that, the area suddenly lit up, Butler Hu Bo was leading several servants holding lanterns, surrounding them.

Faer shrank behind Song Ying in fear and whispered, “Miss, I really don’t want to eat rotten pickled vegetables.”

Butler Hu Bo signaled someone to pull Faer aside, then gestured politely, “Miss, the Marquis would like to see you.”

Song Ying straightened her back, gave Faer a reassuring look, and followed him.

Before Song Jinzhuo could speak, she said, “Father, I know I’ve embarrassed you, so I want to move to a house in the mountains.”

Song Jinzhuo was slightly startled. A faint snort escaped his nose. “So now you’ve learned to take the initiative.”