Chapter 13 : Why Are You Climbing My Wall Again?

Aunt Dong smiled at Song Ying and said, “Miss, I think General Huo is quite a good man.”

Song Ying waved her hand dismissively. “Aunt Dong, don’t judge people by appearances. Go get busy.”

Aunt Dong replied, “Alright, I’ll go now and make something delicious for the young lady tonight.”

Faer chimed in, “Aunt Dong, I’m still here too!”

Aunt Dong laughed, “Alright, alright, I’ll cook for everyone.”

Everyone was in high spirits after Song Ying moved to Xiaohanju.

The twenty servants she brought with her were all from Han’s dowry. Loyal to both Han and Song Ying, returning to Xiaohanju felt like coming home to them.

Once the side yard was repaired, Song Ying gave everyone their tasks and then returned alone to the backyard.

The courtyard she lived in now had once belonged to her mother, Han. 

The wall on the left side of the yard was thick and high. Since the neighboring house had long been unoccupied, ivy had grown over the top and crept into her yard.

Standing beneath the wall, Song Ying pondered whether to purchase the neighboring property and tear down the wall, merging the two backyards.

Just then, she heard a rustling sound from above. She frowned, took a step back, and looked around for a stone she could use.

A hand pulled aside the ivy, followed by another then a head appeared.

Huo Zhen looked at Song Ying preparing to throw a stone and said hurriedly, “Don’t, it’s me.”

Song Ying held the stone up and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Huo Zhen shot back, “Why did you tell the craftsman to return my money?”

Song Ying tilted her head and looked at him. “No merit, no reward. Besides, I can afford something this minor.”

Huo Zhen, eager to sit on the wall, forgot about the ivy. The moment he sat, pain shot through him. He clamped his legs together, only making it worse.

“Hiss…”

Seeing his pained expression, Song Ying asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Through gritted teeth, Huo Zhen replied, “I’m dying…”

Song Ying raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

Too embarrassed to explain, Huo Zhen simply jumped down right onto a ball of soft mud.

He heard Song Ying inhale sharply and turned around. “What’s wrong with you? You look upset.”

Song Ying suppressed her frustration. “I just loosened this soil today… I planted Ji Yuefang’s seeds here…”

“Oh no! I’m so sorry!” Startled, Huo Zhen jumped forward but slipped on some stones and fell backwards, right into the dirt.

For a moment, silence.

“…Ah.” Song Ying’s mood was completely ruined. “Get up. Now.”

“Sorry.” Huo Zhen moved with extreme caution this time, pausing after each shift to make sure he didn’t damage any of the flower seeds.

Song Ying pointed. “The door’s over there.”

Huo Zhen replied, “Okay,” and began to walk off with his head lowered. But after a few steps, he paused, turned back, and said, “Wait, that’s not right.”

Song Ying asked, “What now?”

Huo Zhen slapped his own head. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I came over the wall from next door?”

Song Ying played along. “Alright then. Why did General Huo climb over the wall instead of using the front gate?”

With a grin and a touch of pride, Huo Zhen said, “I bought the house next door. From now on, we’ll be neighbors.”

Song Ying said nothing.

At that moment, Faer entered the courtyard. She was going to ask Song Ying something, but upon seeing Huo Zhen, she let out a surprised gasp.

“General Huo! You’re climbing over my lady’s wall again!”

Huo Zhen smiled, “Yes, I am.”

Song Ying looked silently at the two baffled people before turning to Faer and asking, “What did you want?”

Faer reported, “It’s the Madam who has come. She’s sitting in the main hall now.”

Zhou had come, for reasons unknown.

Song Ying said, “Alright, I’ll go see her. Escort General Huo out…”

But Huo Zhen was already heading toward the corner of the wall. “No need, I’ll see myself out.”

This time, he carefully avoided the spot where the Ji Yuefang seeds were planted. With arms outstretched and legs kicking off, he leaped over the wall gracefully. His movements were smooth and fluid.

Faer exclaimed, “General Huo is so powerful! Why doesn’t he just use the front door?”

Song Ying ignored him, her mind focused solely on how to deal with Zhou when they met later.

Zhou sat in the main seat, holding a teacup in one hand while gently blowing away the tea leaves drifting toward her face with the other.

Madam Feng, Zhou’s dowry maid, noticed Song Ying hadn’t arrived yet and couldn’t help but comment, “Now that Eldest Miss has moved out, even knowing you’re coming, she’s in no rush to greet you.”

Zhou gave her a sharp glare and reprimanded, “Don’t talk too much in Xiaohanju.”

Madam Feng immediately slapped her own mouth and said, “Yes, I was wrong.”

Not long after, Song Ying arrived. She first offered an apology and then said, “There are many things in the residence that require my personal attention. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

Zhou wasn’t upset about the delay. She replied warmly, “The Marquis asked me to come and check in on you. If there’s anything you need help with, don’t hesitate to say so.”

Song Ying responded, “It’s just a small courtyard, no need to worry about me. But Ying’er has already taken care of everything.”

Zhou gave a small nod, then took a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Song Ying. “This is a letter from Miss Liu.”

Liu Lingyan was Song Ying’s childhood friend. Though she came from a merchant family, her relationship with Song Ying had always been close and harmonious.

Before they married, the two had studied and traveled together. Later, Liu Lingyan married into a family in Chongzhou. Though they rarely met, they kept in touch by letter.

Song Ying had originally planned to write to Liu Lingyan about her divorce and move after she had fully settled in but it turned out Liu Lingyan had written first.

Song Ying took the letter and said, “Thank you, Mother.”

Zhou smiled and said, “You’re my daughter too, no need to thank me.”

Faer turned her face aside and pouted silently. ‘Like mother, like daughter. Hmph.’

Just then, Xiaomi entered and said, “Miss, there’s a woman outside claiming to be Madam Hu. She says she wants to see you.”

Zhou looked puzzled. “Madam Hu? How did she know I was here?”

Song Ying also knew Madam Hu, a notorious gossip who loved playing cards and prying into other people’s business. She could spread a story faster than a blink.

Song Ying had moved out of the Marquis’ Mansion quietly, with few people aware. And those who did know weren’t exactly trustworthy.

If Madam Hu found out that Song Ying often stayed at Xiaohanju, it wouldn’t be long before the entire capital’s high society knew.

Zhou, clearly concerned, said, “I’ll go deal with her. You stay inside.”

Song Ying nodded. “Alright.”

A while later, Xiaomi came back to report that Zhou and Madam Hu had both left. Song Ying asked, “Did Madam Hu say anything before leaving?”

Xiaomi replied, “Nothing. Madam just took her away.”

Song Ying frowned, feeling uneasy it likely wouldn’t end that simply.

Sure enough, the next day, rumors began circulating in the streets: that Song Ying, a divorced woman, had been kicked out of the Marquis’ Mansion.

Faer was so furious she shadowboxed the air and stomped her feet. “Will these people ever shut up?! Miss clearly divorced on her own terms, and they’re twisting it like this, it’s outrageous!”

She marched over to Song Ying, eyes burning with rage. “Miss, you can’t let them slander you like this. I’ll go teach them a lesson right now!”

“And how exactly do you plan to teach them?” Song Ying asked.

Faer paused to think, then said, “I’ll slap them all in the face!”

Song Ying held Faer’s face gently in her hands. “My dear girl, what if you hurt your hand?”

Faer’s eyes reddened. “Even now, you’re still thinking about my hand. I really feel so sorry for you…”