Chapter 94 : Returning Home

Returning Home Day

Song Ying held Huo Zhen’s hand as she stepped down from the carriage.

Even Huo Zhen could sense the subtle but natural change in her demeanor.

He clasped her hand and reassured her, “You’ve already married me. As long as I’m here, you can be whoever you want to be. Don’t worry about the rest.”

Song Ying smiled and squeezed his hand in return. “If possible, I wouldn’t want to come back at all. And… in the Song family, there’s only the eldest daughter of the Song family.”

Huo Zhen understood what she meant and entered the Marquis’ Mansion with her.

Inside Yuan Hall, Song Ruoer sat beside Zhou. Yue Shaozhi was nowhere to be seen, but Song Shihe had already been released early.

He was still the same, with that ever-present disdainful and arrogant expression.

Song Ying and Huo Zhen approached Song Ruoer. “Greetings, Princess.”

Song Ruoer remained seated, one hand on her belly. “Sister, we’re at home now. There’s no need for such formalities.”

Song Ying responded politely, “Thank you, Princess.”

Song Jinzhuo spoke up, “Sit.”

The whole family sat down. Faer and the other servants served tea and water to each of their masters before quietly stepping aside.

Huo Zhen, who was used to being carefree and relaxed at home, clearly looked uncomfortable in the Song household.

Song Ying noticed and leaned toward him, whispering, “Just eat a little. Once we leave, let’s call Uncle and Liuliu’s family to Shangyue Tower for a proper meal.”

Huo Zhen kept a straight face and nodded, “Alright.”

Song Shihe, hearing their whispers, let out a snort of displeasure.

Huo Zhen immediately glared at him, scaring Song Shihe into looking down and not daring to make another sound.

Zhou cursed her son silently for being a coward. Just as she was thinking of how to start the conversation, Song Ruoer suddenly stiffened beside her and dropped her chopsticks.

Zhou was startled. “Ruoer, what’s wrong?”

“My stomach… ah!” Sweat beaded on Song Ruoer’s forehead. Her face went pale, and she leaned limply onto Zhou.

“Quick! Call the court doctor!”

“Ruoer! Ruoer! Don’t scare your mother…”

“Someone, go fetch the Regent!”

Song Ruoer clutched Zhou’s hand weakly and said, “Mother… please go invite Master Yu.”

Zhou said urgently, “Quickly! Come with me to the palace and invite Master Yu!”

Song Ying and Huo Zhen silently watched as Song Ruoer was carried into another room.

“What now?” Huo Zhen asked in a low voice.

Song Ying made a swift decision. “Let’s go. Now.”

Huo Zhen: “Let’s go!”

“Aying.”

Tsk. Song Jinzhuo called her.

Song Ying took a deep breath and turned around. “Father.”

Song Jinzhuo said, “Now that your sister is in trouble, is it really appropriate for you to leave like this?”

Song Ying lowered her head and remained silent.

Huo Zhen spoke up, “Father-in-law, Aying and I won’t be of any help if we stay. We’d only be a hindrance to the Princess’s treatment.”

Just as Song Jinzhuo was about to speak, Song Shihe chimed in, “Father, there’s no point in keeping them here. They’ll just get in the way. Let them leave.”

Song Ying and Huo Zhen immediately turned their heads toward Song Shihe, eyes gleaming with admiration, and gave him a thumbs-up. “Good brother.”

Song Shihe: ???

What is wrong with this couple?

“Father-in-law, we’ll take our leave.”

Watching Song Ying and Huo Zhen walk away cheerfully, Song Jinzhuo turned to Song Shihe, face dark. “From today onward, you’re grounded in your room for two months. Get out.”

Song Shihe: ???

Why?!

He was just being considerate of his dear sister. What did he do wrong?!

—

As if a flood or a beast were chasing them, Song Ying and Huo Zhen practically flew toward the front gate.

Faer: “Princess, watch your skirt!”

Song Ying: “Ah!”

“Be careful.” Huo Zhen quickly steadied Song Ying, then without a second thought, picked her up.

Song Ying wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Isn’t this a bit much?”

Huo Zhen carried her and kept walking briskly. “What’s too much? I wish I could hold you like this forever.”

Song Ying teased, “Aren’t you worried I’m too heavy?”

Huo Zhen replied, “With your weight? You’re lighter than Wangcai…no, you’re as light as a feather.”

Song Ying poked his Adam’s apple and said, “Quick comeback.”

Just as they were about to reach the gate, a carriage bearing the character “Yue” pulled up and stopped beside theirs.

Huo Zhen and Song Ying exchanged a glance, hurried their pace, and rushed toward their own carriage before anyone from the other one could get out.

But…

Wen Jun rolled down the carriage window and said, “Oh, General Huo is quite eager in broad daylight.”

Huo Zhen & Song Ying: …

Wen Jun stepped out of the carriage with Yue Shaozhi and looked at the two still embracing. He joked, “What’s going on here? Are you two glued together?”

Song Ying gave a fake smile. “No one’s clingier than you, Young Marquis. Wherever the Prince Regent goes, there you are. So elegant.”

Wen Jun smiled back. “Aying, you always try to provoke me like this. I like it. You’re interesting that way, right, Shaozhi?”

Yue Shaozhi frowned, glanced down at Song Ying’s feet, and asked, “How is Ruoer?”

Song Ying replied, “Your Highness, instead of asking me out here, why not go inside and check on her yourself?”

Wen Jun added, “Now that she’s a princess, she’s grown more sharp-tongued. Wonderful.”

Yue Shaozhi cut him off bluntly. “If you keep your mouth shut, no one will think you’re mute.”

“Hiss!” Wen Jun rubbed his mouth, pretending to be aggrieved. “Prince Regent, you’re obviously siding with your ex-wife. General Huo, don’t misunderstand. They were husband and wife, after all. You know what they say, one day as a married couple, a hundred days of affection…”

Song Ying felt Huo Zhen’s arms tighten around her. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Forgot what I told you? How to deal with Wen Jun when you meet him?”

Huo Zhen calmed himself, let out a long breath, and copied Song Ying’s fake smile. He said to Wen Jun, “The Young Marquis is right. A day of marriage is a hundred days of affection. What Aying and I want isn’t just a day but a lifetime, generation after generation. Young Marquis, can you help us calculate how much affection that adds up to?”

Song Ying added, “Don’t trouble the Young Marquis, he doesn’t have enough brains for that. Let’s go. Goodbye, both of you.”

Without giving Wen Jun or Yue Shaozhi a chance to react, Huo Zhen picked up Song Ying and carried her into the carriage. Then they rode off.

Wen Jun shook his head with a laugh. “Aying’s married now. With her husband’s support, she doesn’t even care about you anymore. What do you think? Why don’t we find something for the Huo family to do to dampen their arrogance?”

As soon as Yue Shaozhi raised his hand, Wen Jun immediately jumped aside, “You want to slap me again, Yue Shaozhi, are you a child?”

Yue Shaozhi said coldly, “I should be asking you that. If you can’t shut up, I’ll have someone sew that mouth shut.”

Wen Jun crossed his fingers and placed them on his mouth. “Alright, alright, no more trouble. I’m afraid of you. Go in and see your lovely wife.”

—

Inside the room, Song Ruoer lay half-conscious on the bed. Her expression softened only when she saw Yue Shaozhi.

“Shaozhi…”

Just then, Zhou entered with a flustered expression. “Your Highness! Good, you’re here. I went to your residence to ask for Master Yu, but the servant said he wasn’t there. Where did he go?”