Chapter 22 : I Waited for You for a Day

After hearing what Liu Lingyan said, Song Ying stood up and asked, “Liuliu, do you even know Huo Zhen? Do you know what the General’s Mansion is like?”

That question stumped Liu Lingyan. She had only thought that Huo Zhen, who loved Song Ying so much right now, was far better than Yue Shaozhi, that cold and indifferent man.

Song Ying continued, “It’s normal for men to have three wives and four concubines. So I don’t really care how many women Yue Shaozhi will have in the future. As long as he tells me, I’ll agree. What I can’t accept is that, as the legal wife, I didn’t even have the right to know.”

“Liuliu… that day was my birthday…”

That day had been Song Ying’s eighteenth birthday. As husband and wife, of course she had hoped Yue Shaozhi would spend it with her. When she told him, he simply said he was busy and didn’t have time.

That night, Yue Shaozhi suddenly returned home, and Song Ying had been quite happy.

The dinner began, and she drank a few glasses with joy. But when she turned around, she couldn’t find Yue Shaozhi. She went looking for him by herself and that’s when she caught him with Song Ruoer…

Later, Song Ying realized that Yue Shaozhi had suddenly come home because he knew she had invited Song Ruoer and had planned to meet her in secret.

It made Song Ying feel sick to her stomach.

Maybe she should’ve listened to her aunt, Song Jinlan, never mention divorce, just pretend not to see anything. If Song Ruoer wanted to marry into the family, she could only be a concubine.

But that was impossible. Her aunt didn’t understand, she didn’t know what Song Ying knew.

This time, Yue Shaozhi was truly in love. He loved Song Ruoer.

So with his personality, he would either continue the affair in secret or divorce Song Ying and marry Song Ruoer outright.

Rather than suffer through it, it was better to just part ways and live separate lives.

Song Ying was now very content with her current life. She no longer had to attend phony social events to fulfill her duties as a wife or please her husband. She no longer had to try to figure out how to keep Yue Shaozhi happy. She no longer had to deal with a mountain of tasks every day that she disliked.

Now, she only had to do what she wanted.

Liu Lingyan hugged her and said, “You’ve really had it rough.”

Song Ying replied, “But your words reminded me, my father won’t let me live like this forever.”

This was what Liu Lingyan feared the most. Song Ying had already been sacrificed once for the interests of the Song family.

Even though Yue Shaozhi was a jerk, at least he had never made life truly hard for Song Ying.

But what if the Song family pushed her into the fire again, just for profit? And who could say for sure that she’d come out unscathed next time?

“All right, don’t worry,” Song Ying said, reaching out to smooth the frown on Liu Lingyan’s forehead. “My father isn’t stupid. He’s extremely picky. Those missing limbs and broken types you mentioned wouldn’t even register on his radar.”

Liu Lingyan knew Song Ying was trying to reassure her but also to reassure herself.

Living alone wasn’t easy for Song Ying either.

Seeing that Liu Lingyan was still frowning, Song Ying smiled and said, “My father already knows about Huo Zhen.”

“He knows?!”

Song Ying nodded. “My father is a very clever man. Even the smallest change, and he can tell where the wind is blowing from.”

Liu Lingyan asked, “So… does that mean your father wants you to be with Huo Zhen?”

Song Ying shook her head. “No. He’s still observing. Waiting for some condition to appear that really excites him.”

Liu Lingyan felt a sharp pang in her heart. In Song Jinzhuo’s eyes, Song Ying wasn’t a daughter, she was a bargaining chip.

“Aying, why don’t you come with me to Chongzhou? Stay far away from your bloodsucking father.”

Song Ying gently squeezed her hand. “Don’t think I’m really free here in Xiaohanju. I don’t even know how many spies he’s planted on this street. If I tried to slip away quietly, I’d be caught before I even made it out of the city.”

Liu Lingyan growled in frustration, “Your father is so—”

“Shh, no more of that.”

Then Liu Lingyan suddenly remembered something. “Oh right, what about your uncle? I remember you have one. Hasn’t he come to see you even once in all these years?”

Although she didn’t know much about the Han family, Liu Lingyan had always felt they were at least warmer than the Song family.

Song Ying said, “My uncle is busy. Besides, he’s just a businessman. How could he possibly go up against someone as powerful as my father? I can’t drag his whole family down because of me.”

Liu Lingyan let out a heavy sigh. “Aying, my heart really aches for you.”

Song Ying: “Okay, enough. You came here to cheer me up, remember?”

Liu Lingyan: “All right, I’ll keep you in good spirits. But… are you really not going to see Huo Zhen tomorrow?”

The topic shifted back to Huo Zhen. Without hesitation, Song Ying shook her head. “No.”

Liu Lingyan sighed. “That’s such a pity.”

Song Ying: “Why don’t you take the kids to see him tomorrow?”

Liu Lingyan: “Why would a married woman like me go see him?”

Song Ying smiled. “Go check on the children, they’re probably awake by now.”

Liu Lingyan: “Yes.”

Song Ying said she wouldn’t go see Huo Zhen, and she really didn’t. She stayed at home and looked after the children with Liu Lingyan.

In the afternoon, the two children started clamoring to go out and play again. Song Ying wasn’t in the mood, so Liu Lingyan took them out on her own.

With the rare moment of quiet, Song Ying went into the study and opened up the account books. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when she heard the sound of heavy footsteps outside. Song Ying lifted her head from the ledger and looked out the window.

At dusk, Huo Zhen stood not far away, gazing at her with a look of grievance on his face.

“I’ve been waiting for you all day.”

Song Ying replied, “Didn’t I say I wasn’t coming?”

Huo Zhen walked up to the window, looking even more pitiful. “I was afraid you might change your mind and come, and then not find me…”

Song Ying was momentarily stunned. Then she asked, “Would you like some tea?”

Huo Zhen nodded eagerly.

Song Ying was about to call Faer over, but Huo Zhen cut her off: “I want to drink the tea you make.”

Song Ying wanted to refuse, but then Huo Zhen added, “I’ve been waiting for you since early morning…”

Song Ying held her forehead and sighed, “All right, wait here.”

Huo Zhen knelt on the low couch, watching Song Ying intently as she moved about on the opposite side.

His thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to the time they first met… 

‘Are you hungry? My mom made this. It’s delicious. Try it.’

‘Are you crying? Does your wound hurt? I’ll ask the doctor to look at it for you.’

‘If you’re so determined to die, then at least give back the buns I gave you.’

‘Ten thousand taels of gold.’

‘What? Too expensive? My mom’s buns are priceless.’

‘Because… I only have one mother.’

…..

“General Huo?”

Huo Zhen snapped out of his thoughts and took the teacup from her hands. His fingertips brushed hers, and his ears instantly turned red. “Uh—sorry.”

Song Ying said calmly, “It’s fine. When you’re done, head back.”

Huo Zhen looked a little disappointed. “Do you really not want to see me?”

Song Ying: “I’m just afraid you’ll stay for dinner.”

Huo Zhen: “Do you think I’m that kind of person?”

Song Ying thought for a moment. “Aren’t warriors known for eating a lot? I mean, how could you win battles on an empty stomach?”

Huo Zhen felt she had a point.

Wait a second… was she actually worried he’d eat too much and she wouldn’t be able to afford to feed him?

Huo Zhen put down the teacup and said solemnly, “I can skip meals.” That way, she won’t complain he’s eating her out of house and home.

Song Ying: “Uh… Actually, you just need to pay for your meals.”

Huo Zhen: ‘She really meant that?!’

Just then, Faer ran in. “Oh no, Miss! The young lady—uh, I mean, General Huo, you’re back again?”