Chapter 12 : Aying, here I come

Facing Song Jinzhuo’s question, Song Ying simply replied calmly, “Mother and Ruoer always believe that I still care about them. As long as I stay in this house, they’ll continue to worry. It’s better if I move out then everyone can have peace. Don’t you think so, Father?”

Song Jinzhuo’s gaze darkened, but then he smiled for the first time.

“Alright, as you wish. Xiaohanju in Tingyun Lane, on the east side of the city, was bought by your mother. Why don’t you move there?”

Song Ying stood up and bowed.

“Thank you, Father.”

Song Jinzhuo asked, “When will you move?”

“In two days.”

He nodded, said no more, and turned to leave.

Faer stood on tiptoe to make sure Song Jinzhuo had exited the courtyard before turning back to Song Ying.

“Miss, are we really moving out? Will we ever come back?”

“Why? You don’t want to leave?”

Faer replied, “Wherever you go, I’ll follow. I’m just curious, why did the Marquis agree so easily? He used to be so strict, but now that you’re divorced, it’s like he doesn’t care anymore.”

Song Ying leaned on the table, fiddling with the tassel on her collar. “Because he loves his wife, and he’s afraid I’ll hold a grudge and secretly harm her.”

Faer put her hands on her hips, fuming. “How could the Marquis think that way about you? It’s clearly Miss Ruoer’s fault! Why doesn’t he consider that she might use her status as a princess to harm you?”

Song Ying rested her chin in her hand and murmured, “She already has. She used her power as a princess to make trouble for me.”

Faer blinked. “Miss, what did you say?”

Song Ying smiled at her. “I said, it’s time to tidy up. Go on.”

“Okay!” Faer looked toward a corner of the courtyard. “Miss, what about Ji Yuefang? Are we taking her with us?”

Looking at Ji Yuefang, whom she had cared for personally, Song Ying replied,

“No, we’ll leave it as it is.”

Faer. “Alright, I’ll get started then.”

—

Three days later, the news of Song Ying’s move to Xiaohanju reached Huo Zhen.

He slammed the table in excitement.

“Wonderful! Hahahaha!”

Yang Hu and Mo Qi were startled.

Yang Hu asked, “Brother, what’s so great about this?”

Mo Qi gave him a light smack on the head. “Dummy, this means Brother can finally climb Miss Song’s wall in peace.”

Yang Hu suddenly understood. “Ohhh! Since she’s moved out, Brother, you should just go visit her!”

Mo Qi chimed in,”Exactly! Now that she lives alone, she’s the only one calling the shots. Climbing over her wall every day is too exhausting anyway.”

Huo Zhen began seriously considering the idea. “But this is still the capital, not the countryside. If someone sees me, she’ll be dragged into gossip.”

The problem wasn’t rejection, he could handle that. The real issue was public perception. People wouldn’t think he was chasing her. They’d just assume Song Ying was trying to seduce a man.

Mo Qi suggested, “How about this, Brother, move into the house next to hers. Become her neighbor. I’ve heard that back when she was the Regent Princess, she offended a lot of people on Yue Shaozhi’s behalf, and to spare him from worry. Now that she’s alone, those people will definitely look for revenge. If you live next door, you can protect her and get closer to her. Over time, she’ll see you as someone reliable.”

Yang Hu cheered, “That’s a brilliant plan! You already saved her once at Qiuyan, and she thanked you. Let her thank you a few more times, and she might just thank you in the bridal chamber!”

Huo Zhen’s eyes lit up. He slapped his brother’s shoulder.

“Hahaha, you’re right! I’m so lucky to have you guys! Ahahahaha!”

Aying, here I come…

—

That night, Song Ying had a dream.

In it, her new home was destroyed by a bear.

Even her Ji Yuefang flower was wrecked by the bear, left barely clinging to life.

Song Ying was furious. She raised the crossbow in her hand and fired at the bear. Each shot hit its mark, and soon the bear looked like a hedgehog. But the bear was tenacious. It managed to knock her down and at that moment, Song Ying woke up.

“Miss, are you awake?” Faer’s voice came from outside the room.

Song Ying replied, “I’m up. Come in.”

After washing up and having breakfast, Song Ying instructed Faer,”Today, have Xiaomi find a craftsman to repair the side yard. Aunt Dong said they’re short on tools. Give her some money to buy them. Also…”

She gave several more instructions. After that, Song Ying personally scattered Ji Yuefang’s seeds in the garden, then returned to her room for a nap.

About an hour later, Faer woke her up.

“Miss, something’s happened.”

Still a bit groggy, Song Ying rubbed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“The craftsman Xiaomi hired said he didn’t want payment. But Xiaomi insisted on paying him, and the two of them ended up arguing.”

Song Ying blinked, still trying to process it.

“There’s someone who doesn’t want money? That kind of good person still exists?”

Faer asked, “Do you want to go take a look?”

Song Ying got dressed and headed to the side yard.

Before she even reached it, she could already hear the arguing voices of Xiaomi and the craftsman.

“I already told you, someone else paid me! Why do you still insist on giving me money?”

“No. My lady taught me not to take advantage of others. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You must accept this money.”

“Ugh, why are you so stubborn?”

Song Ying stepped into the yard and asked, “You just said someone already paid you. Who was it?”

The craftsman shook his head. “I don’t know. He didn’t say his name. He just told me that if anyone from Xiaohanju needed work done, I should go help, and then he handed me the money.”

Faer asked, “Do you remember what he looked like?”

The craftsman thought for a moment. “Tall, well-built, dark-skinned, big bright eyes… looked a bit fierce when he wasn’t smiling…”

“Alright, stop. I know who it is,” Song Ying said. She took the silver from Xiaomi and handed it to the craftsman. “Take this. I’ll come to you for future work. But you’ll need to return the money that man gave you.”

The craftsman nodded in agreement for the sake of a long-term client. “Alright.”

After the craftsman left, Aunt Dong returned followed by two unfamiliar men.

Flushed with excitement, she came back empty-handed and happily exclaimed,”Miss, I bought everything! Come and take a look.”

Song Ying pointed at the two strong young men behind her. “So you went out and brought back two sons for free?”

Aunt Dong burst out laughing. “Oh, Miss, always so playful! They’re good lads. They saw an old woman like me struggling with heavy things and offered to help. Come, come in and see for yourself, Miss.”

Yang Hu and Mo Qi carefully placed the items down, then politely bowed.

“Greetings, Miss Song.”

Looking at the two of them, Song Ying suddenly remembered a certain overly rough face.

“Are you friends of General Huo?”

Yang Hu answered in a raspy voice, “Miss Song truly has a sharp eye. I’m Yang Hu, and this is Mo Qi, we’re Brother’s men.”

Song Ying smiled and thanked them. “Thank you for your trouble. Why not come in for a cup of tea and rest a while?”

Yang Hu waved his hand. “No need, no need. Just doing what we should. We’ve got other errands, so we won’t trouble you. Farewell!”