Chapter 65 : His Bitch Mouth

Song Ying thought that along the way, the only person who might truly understand what she had done was Chen Hong.

But… was it really him?

As soon as she entered Juya Pavilion, she first met Chen Ju, then Chen Hong. He had been cheerful, talkative, and seemed completely genuine, with no hidden agenda…

Wen Jun especially enjoyed watching Song Ying frown in thought.

“Who are you thinking about?” he asked.

Song Ying replied, “Is Chen Hong your man?”

Wen Jun neither confirmed nor denied it. He just wanted to plant suspicion in her heart, to make her uncomfortable, to fill her with doubt and unease. That was what amused him.

But how could Song Ying not see through his malicious intent?

“Sigh. Since Young Marquis Wen insists on placing people around me, how could a weak woman like me stop him? I just hope you’re pleased. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Wen Jun had anticipated her reaction.

She was always like this, hiding her true thoughts so well.

Wen Jun realized he actually enjoyed the process of teasing her. Even when he was about to show his sharp claws, he quickly pulled them back, continuing to toy with her instead.

Seeing the smug and mocking smile on Wen Jun’s face, Song Ying stood up with a serious expression, walked around the table, and said, “I won’t treat you to tea today, so I’ll just take a hundred taels from you.”

Wen Jun: “Are you angry? Fine… okay, forget a hundred taels, a thousand is no problem.”

Song Ying immediately raised her voice so all the guests could hear: “You said it yourself. Waiter, the young Marquis Wen will be covering a thousand taels today. Be sure to write a receipt and go collect the payment from his residence.”

At the end, she deliberately added, “Young Marquis, you seem like such a generous man, you won’t go back on your word, right?”

Wen Jun’s mouth twitched. This woman really had a sharp tongue.

“I really want Yue Shaoyue to see your vulgar side.”

“He’s already seen it.” Song Ying stopped bantering, turned around, and walked downstairs.

Wen Jun muttered in irritation, “Is she a grasshopper or what? Walking off so fast.”

You Yin corrected him: “Grasshoppers jump.”

Wen Jun placed a finger on his chin, not angry nor annoyed, and said casually, “Is that so? If we ever get the chance, let’s tie her to the edge of a cliff and watch her jump like a grasshopper. Haha. Let’s go.”

—

Back at Xiaohanju

After returning to Xiaohanju, Song Ying put Wen Jun out of her mind and refocused on her medicine work.

She kept a small handful of winter grass for herself and asked Faer to deliver the rest to Liu Lingyan.

Song Ying took out her treasure box from under the bed and retrieved a jade bowl with an extremely cold surface.

She filled it with some soil from the yard, added the dirt and stones she had collected, placed it in a shaded spot, and then left it alone, not bothering with it further.

Faer came back after delivering the herbs. “Miss, Miss Liuliu was really happy. She said she’ll treat us to dinner at Shangyue Tower tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Song Ying handed Faer a key. “Go tell Aunt Dong to find a few people to take the newly bought herbs from the warehouse to dry in the yard. Then go ask the medicine shopkeeper to come see me.”

Faer: “Yes, right away.”

The medicine shopkeeper arrived promptly and reported to Song Ying everything that had happened while she was away.

When Song Ying heard that Song Shihe had gone to the pharmacy, she looked up from the ledger.

“He came alone?”

The medicine shopkeeper answered, “Yes, he came to request a certain medicinal ingredient.”

Song Ying asked, “Did you give it to him?”

The shopkeeper replied, “I told the young master that before you left, you said anything the mansion needed could either be purchased or collected with a note personally written by you.”

Song Ying praised him. “Well done. If anyone else from the Marquis’ household comes, just blame it on me, no matter who it is, even the Marquis himself.”

The shopkeeper added, “This time, the young master said it’s the Marquis himself who needs the medicine.”

Song Ying raised her eyebrows. “Father is sick?”

The medicine shopkeeper said, “I asked for details, but the young master couldn’t explain clearly for quite some time.”

Song Ying: “Ha, that bastard has learned to use other people’s names. How many times has he come?”

The medicine shopkeeper said, “Just this once.” He added, “He left angrily and said he would drive me away.”

Song Ying made a note in the account book and smiled, “Next time he comes, tell him if he wants medicinal herbs, he can come to Xiaohanju first to get a beating. That’s my message.”

“Yes.” The medicine shopkeeper paused, then continued, “The third shopkeeper from Juya Pavilion said the day before yesterday that he wanted to order a batch of medicinal ingredients from us. I told him we’d wait for your return to discuss it.”

Song Ying: “What kind of medicine?”

The shopkeeper pulled a list from his sleeve.

Song Ying studied it carefully and said, “Tell the third shopkeeper that all our stock has already been reserved by others. He’ll need to find someone else.”

The shopkeeper, knowing their actual inventory, asked confusedly, “Aren’t we taking this deal?”

The third shopkeeper had offered a very good price.

Song Ying didn’t even look up. “From now on, when anyone from the Chamber of Commerce comes to place orders, tell them everything’s already been reserved.”

The shopkeeper was surprised. “Why?”

Song Ying set down her pen and sighed, saying only, “That Chamber of Commerce is too complicated.”

The shopkeeper asked, “Won’t we lose the tax exemptions promised by the court if we do this…?”

Song Ying replied, “Don’t worry about that. But after this incident, we should have nothing to do with the Chamber of Commerce anymore.”

The shopkeeper said, “Understood.”

After the conversation, Song Ying was tired and went to bed early. The next night, she went to Shangyue Tower to meet with Liu Lingyan and her family.

“Auntie…”

Xiaoli was the first to run up and hug Song Ying’s legs. Her small eyes darted around as she asked, “Auntie, where’s Uncle?”

Song Ying knew she meant Huo Zhen. “Uncle is busy and couldn’t come.”

Dali added, “We wanted to go mountain climbing with Uncle.”

Liu Lingyan knocked her son lightly on the head and twisted it. “Mind your manners.”

Dali held his head and pouted, “Uncle said he’d take us climbing. Daddy’s short, it’s no fun climbing with him.”

Yang An felt like he’d been stabbed in the heart.

Liu Lingyan: “Alright, stop making a fuss, sit down and eat.”

Yang An looked after the children while Liu Lingyan ate and chatted with Song Ying.

“While you were gone, I’m telling you, there was a lot of drama in the capital.”

Song Ying: “Anything entertaining?”

Liu Lingyan: “Hahaha, you’ll love this. You still remember Princess Ziyang, right?”

Song Ying: “Of course. She didn’t like me, and I didn’t like her either.”

Liu Lingyan covered her mouth, giggling. “Well now your sister is the Regent Princess , so Princess Ziyang tried to latch onto her and cozy up to the regent. Guess what happened?”

Song Ying: “Let me guess, she got turned away and completely snubbed?”

Liu Lingyan: “Not quite. Your sister held a flower-viewing banquet with most of the noble ladies of the capital invited. She even invited the princess. The princess thought your sister wanted to make nice, but somehow, something went wrong, and your sister…”

Liu Lingyan couldn’t stop laughing again, “Wait, let me laugh for a bit first…hahahaha.”

“Stop gasping and finish the story.” Song Ying was too intrigued to let it pause at the climax.

Liu Lingyan: “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. Your sister is amazing. She humiliated the princess in front of everyone, called her father incompetent, her husband useless, and basically trashed her whole family.”

Song Ying raised an eyebrow. “Looks like Yue Shaozhi gave Song Ruoer plenty of confidence.”

“Exactly. Princess Ziyang was furious. She said…” Liu Lingyan leaned in and whispered into Song Ying’s ear, “…she said Song Ruoer was a shameless woman who seduced her own brother-in-law.”

Song Ying’s eyes lit up. “Let me guess. Song Ruoer cried, Yue Shaozhi got angry, and Princess Ziyang got in trouble?”

Liu Lingyan chuckled, “Song Ruoer nearly had a miscarriage. Princess Ziyang got so scared, she ran to the Empress Dowager for help.”