Chapter 64 : You Really Made Me Wait

Chen Hong didn’t know much about medicinal herbs, he was just curious. “What kind of medicine is Phoenix Eye? The name sounds pretty rare.”

Song Ying replied, “You could say it’s extremely precious.”

Chen Hong exclaimed in surprise and looked at the wealthy businessman. “Brother Fu, you…”

The rich businessman said, “Hey, don’t misunderstand. I just want Boss Fang to keep an eye out for it. If he happens to come across some, I’d like to buy it, price is negotiable.”

Chen Hong looked at Song Ying again. “What do you think?”

Song Ying nodded. “Of course. I promise Master Fu that if I find it, I’ll bring it to you personally. But I’m afraid it may take quite some time to locate.”

The rich businessman replied, “That’s fine. I know how rare it is. I’d just like to trouble you, Boss Fang, to keep it in mind.”

Song Ying said, “Alright.”

After obtaining the winter grass, Song Ying immediately hurried to the river the businessman had mentioned to look for dirt stones, and then without pause, set off toward Nanyue.

Chen Hong yawned and asked, “We haven’t fought with Nanyue, but our relations aren’t great either. I feel like we’re going to get a cold shoulder this time.”

When they reached the border, Song Ying got out of the carriage and said, “You and Xiaofa wait here. Xiaomi and I will be back soon.”

Chen Hong was tired from the journey and didn’t want to go any further. “Alright, we’ll wait here for you.”

After the carriage door closed, Chen Hong turned around to look at Faer, who was dozing off in the corner, and said, “Little Xiaofa”

Faer groggily responded, “What is it, Boss Chen?”

Chen Hong snorted twice. “I know.”

Faer tilted his head. “Know what?”

Chen Hong tapped his own hair with his fingers and raised his eyebrows. “I know the secret between you and Brother Fang.”

Faer immediately sobered up, trying to act innocent and composed. “What secret?”

Chen Hong shook his head. “You’re a girl, aren’t you?”

Faer widened her eyes and shook her head quickly, denying it flatly. “No.”

Chen Hong: “Oh, come on, stop pretending. Look at you, fair-skinned, soft-spoken. You don’t look like a guy at all. You’re way too cute, must be a girl.”

Faer pinched his cheeks with both hands. “Am I really fat?”

Chen Hong: “Just a little chubby. Very cute.”

Faer blinked. “Really cute?”

Chen Hong: “Super cute!”

Faer giggled. “Young Master said I was cute too.”

Chen Hong: “And you still call him ‘Young Master’?”

Faer immediately gave him a guarded look.

Chen Hong continued, “You’re actually Brother Fang’s concubine, aren’t you? I’ve always wondered why he favored you more than Xiaomi, since both of you are his servants. Then I thought, if you’re his concubine, it all makes sense.”

“Oh my, I never expected Brother Fang, who always looks so serious, to be so romantic. I admire him even more now.”

Faer lowered her head in silence.

Chen Hong took that as confirmation.

“It’s fine. There’s no one else here. I won’t tell anyone.”

Faer glanced out the window. “They’re back.”

Chen Hong looked and saw Xiaomi carrying a mountain of items on his back and in his arms, sandwiched in the middle like a flattened sheet of paper.

Chen Hong got out of the carriage to help load the goods. “What’s all this?”

Song Ying replied, “A bit of everything. We can return to Beijing now.”

Chen Hong: “Why not shop a little more?”

Song Ying: “No need, I’ve already bought everything I need.”

Heading eastward, after a month on the road, Song Ying and her group finally returned to Beijing.

Looking at the familiar city gates and streets, Faer couldn’t help but sigh, “We’re finally back.”

Chen Hong laughed, “Didn’t you say yesterday that you wanted to stay out a few more days? And now you’re homesick?”

Faer replied, “Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today.”

Chen Hong spread his hands. “Alright, whatever you say.”

Song Ying said, “I’ll take you home first.”

“No need. I need to go see my uncle. It’s been a long trip, you go back and get some rest.”

The carriage stopped at a street corner, and Chen Hong said to Song Ying, “Once you’re done with your business, come by my place. I’ll let you try some of the wine I brewed.”

Song Ying replied, “Did you forget? I don’t drink.”

Chen Hong smacked his forehead. “Right, right! Look at my memory. Then I’ll drink the wine and you can try the tea.”

Song Ying: “Alright.”

Chen Hong turned around and was about to get out of the carriage, but suddenly thought of something. He glanced at Faer, then at Song Ying, and finally couldn’t help but say, “Brother Fang, when you go out in the future and talk about men’s business, you don’t need to bring a girl along, right?”

Faer had already secretly told Song Ying that Chen Hong believed she was his concubine.

Song Ying nodded, “Okay.”

After saying goodbye, Xiaomi drove the carriage toward Xiaohanju.

Faer happily poked her head out, “Miss, we’re going home!”

But just as the joy was beginning, Faer’s expression suddenly changed. She shrank back nervously and said, “Miss, the young marquis is sitting at our doorstep.”

Song Ying’s face also darkened.

Xiaomi slowed the carriage and asked, “Miss, what should we do? Should we just run the young marquis over?”

Song Ying admired Xiaomi’s boldness. “I’d love to, too. But… the guards on his left and right would tear your neck apart first.”

Faer frowned. “How about I get down and tell the young marquis that you haven’t come back yet?”

Song Ying: “Good girl, but he’s not blind. Let’s just park the carriage for now.”

The carriage came to a stop.

Before getting out, Song Ying wiped the scar on her face.

She stepped down from the carriage with Faer.

Wen Jun was sitting on a lounge chair, holding a book in one hand and a teacup in the other. When he saw Song Ying, he put the book down and leaned lazily against the back of the chair.

“Song Ying, you really kept me waiting.”

Song Ying kept a ten-step distance between them. “Young Marquis, is something the matter?”

Wen Jun waved casually. “I haven’t seen you in so long, I missed you. Come here, let me see if you’ve gotten prettier.”

Song Ying ignored him and instructed Faer and Xiaomi to go through the side door to bring people out to unload the goods.

Wen Jun didn’t stop them, he just kept his eyes on Song Ying.

He watched as the people from Xiaohanju moved the items from the carriage one by one.

“What are you all standing around for like idiots? Go help Miss Song.”

Once the moving was nearly finished, Wen Jun called out to his guards.

Song Ying said, “No need, thank you for the offer, Young Marquis. How about I treat you to some tea instead?”

Wen Jun: “Sure. I have a lot to talk to you about.”

Song Ying invited him to her teahouse.

They went up to the second floor and sat in a quiet corner.

Song Ying personally poured him a cup of scented tea. “This is a small teahouse, and the offerings are humble. I hope the Young Marquis won’t mind.”

Wen Jun took a sip without any politeness and clicked his tongue. “Still awful.”

Song Ying sat down across from him. “What does the Young Marquis want to say to me?”

Wen Jun glanced at the patch of makeup still visible on her right cheek. “What did you wipe on your face?”

Song Ying replied, “A new pattern I designed.”

Wen Jun: “You were already ugly, now you’ve made yourself even uglier. Who’d want you?”

Song Ying just smiled calmly.

Wen Jun tapped the table with his index finger. “Did you go see Huo Zhen?”

Song Ying wasn’t surprised. “How did the Young Marquis know I was going to see him?”

Wen Jun gave her a sly smile. “Not only do I know you met with Huo Zhen, I also know you killed someone from Xiyue, and what happened after you left the military camp…”