Chapter 72 : What Have You Done to Us?

After hearing the news Faer had found out, Song Ying asked, “Why was Shihe made to kneel?”

Faer replied, “I asked Xiaoduo from the mansion. It seems he falsely accused you, so the Marquis spanked him and carried him to the ancestral hall. Madam Zhou even cried, but it was no use this time.”

Song Ying: “He reported me?”

Faer: “Xiaoduo’s ears aren’t as sharp as mine, but I heard some scattered words like ‘wild’ and ‘lacking virtue,’ but he was punished before he could finish speaking.”

Song Ying: “What about his studies? His father actually allows him to slack off?”

Faer: “I’m not sure. The Marquis doesn’t check his homework. I think just keeping the young master locked up in the study is enough for him.”

Song Ying understood in her heart, Song Shihe had been abandoned.

“Why did you say Song Ruoer won’t be able to keep the baby?”

Song Ying pushed all the desserts Aunt Dong had brought to Faer.

The little girl was delighted. She took a bite and said, “Ever since she had a quarrel with Princess Ziyang, her pregnancy has been unstable. The palace imperial physician has come several times, but there’s been no improvement.”

“I heard Miss Ruoer had a nightmare last night, and the prince rushed back from the palace overnight.”

“Also, the prince is sending people everywhere to look for Master Yu.”

“Master Yu won’t come.” Song Ying stood up and began pacing the room.

Faer asked, “Miss, what are you doing?”

Song Ying: “Have you finished eating? Come with me to help digest the food.”

Faer: “Alright.”

It was drizzling outside. Faer held an umbrella for Song Ying.

The master and servant went to the herbal medicine shop and unexpectedly ran into Chen Hong.

Chen Hong had his back to the door, speaking with the Shopkeeper about Fang Xiawen, so he didn’t see Song Ying enter.

“Boss, where did your Boss Fang go? Did you tell him?”

It was the shopkeeper who noticed Song Ying first. He was about to speak, but Song Ying gestured with her hand for him not to.

However, this subtle motion still caught Chen Hong’s attention. He turned and saw Faer.

“Xiaofa!”

Faer trembled all over and quickly denied, “I’m not.”

Chen Hong walked over with a grin. “It’s not good for a little girl to lie with her eyes wide open. Eh? And this is…”

When his gaze landed on Song Ying, he felt she looked familiar.

“May I ask your name, young lady?”

Song Ying only smiled and shook her head.

Faer quickly jumped in: “Boss Chen, are you looking for my boss Fang? He’s not here. He left the city early yesterday morning and won’t be back for several months.”

“Huh?! Gone again?!”

Taking advantage of Chen Hong’s disappointment, Song Ying and Faer quickly slipped out of the medicine shop and hid in a tea shop across the street.

After seeing Chen Hong walk far away from the shop, the two returned.

The shopkeeper welcomed Song Ying into the back room.

Song Ying took out a letter and handed it to him. “Deliver this message to Master Yu.”

The shopkeeper took the envelope and nodded solemnly. “Understood.”

After giving a few more instructions, Song Ying left.

—

Three days passed.

Faer returned from outside. “Miss, Manager Yaoleft you a message.”

Taking the small piece of paper and reading its contents, Song Ying smiled.

She turned to Faer. “I’ll have to trouble you again. Go find out the Regent’s schedule for the next few days.”

Faer: “Okay.”

Moving like the wind, Faer used her special skills and returned in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

“The prince is in the palace.”

Song Ying looked up at the sky and asked, “Do you know when he’ll leave the palace?”

Faer: “Pretty late. These past few days, he’s been leaving around midnight or 12 o’clock.”

Song Ying lowered her eyes and thought for a moment. “Wear something warmer, we’re going to keep watch.”

Faer: “You want to see him?”

Song Ying: “Yes, I have something to talk to him about.”

In Faer’s opinion, Song Ying always had her reasons for everything she did, she wouldn’t seek someone out without purpose.

The master and servant parked their carriage in a dark, hidden spot where they could see Nangong Gate from afar.

“Miss, how long are we waiting?”

“If he doesn’t come out by midnight, we’ll go home. I can’t stay longer than that.”

“Okay.”

Song Ying dozed off on a cushion, while Faer kept watch by the window. When she saw movement, she quickly woke Song Ying.

“Miss, the prince has come out. Oh, Young Marquis Wen is with him too.”

Without hesitation, Song Ying said, “Let’s go home.”

Faer: “Alright.”

—

Meanwhile

Yue Shaozhi noticed Wen Jun paused and asked, “What are you looking at?”

Wen Jun rubbed his eyes and pointed. “I keep feeling there’s something odd over there.”

Yue Shaozhi looked toward the dark spot beneath the tall wall ahead and motioned for Yu Liang to check it out.

Yu Liang quickly returned. “Your Majesty, there’s nothing unusual. No one’s there.”

Yue Shaozhi glared at Wen Jun. “Stop being paranoid.”

Wen Jun chuckled, “I’ve been so exhausted keeping you company the last few days. How do you plan to thank me?”

Yue Shaozhi: “I’ll let you babysit the little emperor for a day.”

Wen Jun’s smile widened, but his words turned icy. “Aren’t you afraid I might kill the little emperor? Then you’ll be scrambling to pick a new one.”

Yue Shaozhi: “I’ll execute you first, then pick one.”

Wen Jun pouted playfully, “So heartless! I’ve followed you this far, and now you’d kill me over some useless brat.”

Yue Shaozhi rubbed his tired brows, stepped onto a stool, and got into the carriage. “Do you want a ride?”

Wen Jun waved him off. “Forget it. Go home and be with your sweet little wife. If you’re any later, she might cry again.”

Yue Shaozhi frowned. “I don’t care about you.”

After they parted ways, Wen Jun walked over to the dark area under the tall wall.

There was nothing.

He squatted and examined the faint wheel tracks under the dim moonlight.

Based on his experience, they were fresh marks clearly, a carriage had just been there.

Wen Jun stroked his chin in thought. “Who was it? Who would wait here this late…? Are they that eager to see me?”

—

The Next Day

Song Ying slept until noon. She hadn’t even finished her soup when a servant rushed in to report that Wen Jun had arrived.

“Tell him I’m dead. Let him burn some paper offerings.”

A familiar voice called out clearly, “No can do. I have no self-control, what if I burn your house down?”

Outside, the servant at the door scolded, “Young Marquis, how can you just barge in?”

Song Ying leaned over and looked toward Wen Jun. “What did you do to my door?”

Wen Jun: “You raised the walls and hammered in nails, so I had to break in through the back door.”

Another servant ran up and cried, “Miss! Something terrible, our back door’s been chopped down!”

Song Ying opened her door with a heart full of despair. “What are you doing here?”

Wen Jun pushed aside the servant blocking the door with his palm, walked in, and sat across from Song Ying. “Guess who I saw after leaving the palace last night? A ghost woman who’s been admiring my looks for a long time.”

Song Ying lost her appetite. “Then go find the ghost woman. Why are you here?”

“I followed the ghost’s shadow, and it stopped right in the alley behind your house. I got worried she might be haunting you, so I came to check on you.”

Wen Jun spoke with such sincerity that it made Song Ying’s hair stand on end.