Chapter 31 : Open the Door

As the girls cried out, Song Ying’s horse dashed straight into the woods.

Wen Jun laughed maniacally behind her, eyes fixed on Song Ying, waiting to see when she would fall off the horse…

Hearing this, Liu Lingyan slammed the table in fury. “That Wen Jun is insane!”

Song Ying took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. “Then he insisted on taking me into the mountains to hunt bears. And the result was…”

“What happened? You must’ve made him suffer somehow, and now he holds a grudge, right?”

Song Ying nodded. “I secretly put a special perfume on his clothes. Once the bear smelled it, it started chasing him. His guards were too busy protecting their master, so I took the chance to escape.”

Liu Lingyan clutched her stomach and laughed. “Hahaha! Serves him right! I used to say it was boring watching you mess around with bottles and jars, but I take it back you’re incredible.”

Song Ying: “I originally brought that stuff to keep wild animals from coming near our camp. I didn’t expect to end up using it on Wen Jun.”

Liu Lingyan: “That beast was Wen Jun. You used it perfectly.”

Song Ying: “Later on, I returned to the capital. The next time we met was on the day I married Yue Shaozhi.”

Liu Lingyan seemed to recall something. “No wonder you were distracted that day when I was talking to you. You were worried he’d recognize you?”

“Yeah.” Song Ying propped up her chin. “But he didn’t mention anything afterward, so I thought he had forgotten. Now that I think about it, the reason Wen Jun didn’t take revenge was probably because I was Yue Shaozhi’s wife.”

Liu Lingyan looked worried. “Now that you’re divorced and no longer have Yue Shaozhi as a shield, what will you do?”

Song Ying wasn’t fazed. “It’s fine. Worst case, I get chased by a bear again. He always uses fear to get his way.”

Liu Lingyan was about to say something when Xiaomi came over to report that she had finished applying medicine to Huo Zhen.

Song Ying asked, “How is his injury?”

Xiaomi recalled the wound on Huo Zhen’s back and shook her head. “It looked really bad. The bandages were soaked through with blood.”

Liu Lingyan: “How could he get hurt like that?”

Song Ying: “I’ll go take a look.”

As soon as she entered the room, the scent of medicinal ointment filled the air.

Huo Zhen had already gotten dressed. When he saw Song Ying come in, his face lit up with a smile. “How did you find out?”

Song Ying asked, “Was it the old general who beat you?”

Huo Zhen nodded. “That old man is so stingy. He just hit me a few times to teach me a lesson. It’s no big deal.”

Song Ying said, “He found out you climbed over the wall into my courtyard, didn’t he? So he punished you as soon as you returned to camp. But instead of staying put to recover, you came running to the palace. Am I right?”

“You, you…” Huo Zhen wanted to ask how she knew all that.

Song Ying handed him the medicine bottle. “Apply it once a day. Now go back.”

Huo Zhen held the bottle, paused, and asked, “If I leave now, what about Wen Jun? He said he’d come to propose marriage, was that real?”

So he still remembered that…

Song Ying replied, “He was just joking. He won’t marry me.”

But Huo Zhen didn’t believe that. He was a man and men know men best.

That look in Wen Jun’s eyes before he left was serious. That bastard really wanted to marry Song Ying, only to torment her.

Huo Zhen looked straight at her. “I haven’t told you what I wanted to say last time.”

Song Ying sat down and said calmly, “Then go ahead and say it.”

Huo Zhen took a long time to gather his thoughts.

The longer he thought, the more frustrated he became. Finally, he stood up and squatted down in front of her.

“I know you think vows are meaningless. Yang Hu, Mo Qi told me to give you time but I really can’t wait anymore.”

“My mother died young. Besides that old man, I have two younger brothers. They’re both unmarried and have followed him on his campaigns.”

Song Ying: “So you’re saying there are no mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, or sisters-in-law in your Huo family?”

Huo Zhen nodded and said, “It’s just rough men at home. The inner courtyard matters are handled by the housekeeper. If you don’t want to live with them, we can move out. If you can’t bear to leave Xiaohanju, then we’ll live here. I won’t let you worry about anything.”

Song Ying understood, this man was explaining his family situation.

Song Ying: “Will your father agree to you marrying a divorced woman?”

Huo Zhen snorted, “I don’t care if he agrees or not. I’m marrying you and living with you.”

Song Ying: “Aren’t you afraid your father will tie you up and stop you from seeing me?”

Huo Zhen: “He won’t. I’m not his only son.”

In other words, General Huo had already given up on Huo Zhen?

Song Ying shook her head. “Go back. You’ll pay the price for being impulsive.”

Huo Zhen: “Are you kicking me out?”

Seeing the grievance in his eyes, Song Ying patiently said, “You’ve already been gone for a while. If you don’t go back, the old general will punish you again. I worked hard treating your wounds, I don’t want that medicine going to waste.”

Huo Zhen: “You’re worried about me?”

Song Ying pushed him toward the door. “I’m worried about my medicine. Go, or don’t even think about climbing over my wall again.”

Huo Zhen’s eyes lit up. “Okay, I’m going!”

After taking a few steps, he turned back. “But Wen Jun really…”

Song Ying: “I’ve been dealing with him for a long time. I have experience. Go back.”

Huo Zhen: “Alright… I’m really leaving now?”

Song Ying: “Go, use the main gate. Climbing the wall will only reopen your wound.”

Aying is concerned about my injury!

After watching Huo Zhen leave, Song Ying went to find Liu Lingyan again.

Song Ying: “Are you going back to your own house tomorrow?”

Liu Lingyan understood that Song Ying didn’t want her to get involved. No one could predict what Wen Jun might do if he truly lost it. She had her child with her, staying here would only burden Song Ying.

Liu Lingyan: “Alright. I’ll take the child back first thing in the morning. Is there anything I can do?”

Song Ying: “Yes.”

—

Wen Jun really came.

But he didn’t come to propose marriage, he said he came to reminisce with Song Ying.

He came alone. Song Ying stood behind the door and spoke through it. “What do you want to say?”

Wen Jun smiled gently. “If you won’t open the door, what can I say?”

Faer held a stick in her hands, and Xiaomi and the others were also ready for anything.

Song Ying: “I’m a woman with a bad reputation. I shouldn’t cause trouble for the Young Marquis.”

Wen Jun replied through the door, “Hey, how can you say that about yourself? Shaozhi and I already handled those who spread rumors about you. Be good and open the door.”

Song Ying: “Oh, no thanks.”

Wen Jun: “Hahaha, Song Ying, you’re still just as annoying as before.”

Song Ying: “And you’re still the same as ever.”

Faer leaned close to Song Ying’s ear and whispered, “Miss, remember what Miss Liu said before leaving, be timid when you need to be. Fighting with a madman will only hurt yourself.”

Song Ying nodded. “You’re right.”

Wen Jun: “You’re really not going to open it?”

Song Ying: “…I’ll only open it if you take off all your clothes.”

Wen Jun smiled again. “Alright, alright, I get it.”

Faer pressed her ear to the door and whispered nervously, “He’s not really going to take off his clothes, is he?”

Suddenly, a dark figure dropped from the sky and landed steadily on the ground.

Xiaomi shouted, “Protect the lady!”

All the servants rushed to surround Song Ying, raising whatever was in their hands, ready to fight.

Wen Jun was amused. These people weren’t even as threatening as shrimp.

With his hands behind his back, Wen Jun leisurely walked toward Song Ying.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Song Ying and all the servants rushed out, standing right there on the street facing Wen Jun.

Pedestrians stopped in their tracks, clearly there was drama about to unfold.