Chapter 33 : Try

Huo Zhen spoke so earnestly he looked like he was about to raise his hand and swear an oath.

But Song Ying didn’t touch the box and simply said, “Take it back.”

Huo Zhen immediately deflated, his earlier confidence completely gone.

“What have I done that still hasn’t satisfied you?” He couldn’t figure it out.

Song Ying stared at him without saying a word, making Huo Zhen so nervous that his palms were sweating and he stumbled over his words.

“W-What’s wrong?”

Song Ying suddenly laughed. “Nothing. General Huo is doing just fine.”

Huo Zhen: “Since you think I’m good, why won’t you agree?”

Song Ying lowered her gaze and stared at the box on the table in a daze for a while.

“General Huo, why do you want to marry me?”

“Because I like you.”

Huo Zhen answered without hesitation, and Song Ying replied just as directly, “But I don’t like you.”

Now it was Huo Zhen’s turn to be confused, hurt, and downcast…

Even though the weather was beautiful, Huo Zhen felt like he was drowning in despair.

Song Ying felt a bit reluctant, but some things had to be made clear.

“General Huo, do you know why I ended up with Yue Shaozhi?”

Huo Zhen: “Of course. Your father married you off for political gain.”

Song Ying: “Exactly. You also know how calculating my father is. Now you come to me full of passion, do you think he’ll agree?”

Huo Zhen: “Why would I need his agreement?” He paused, then said, “I get it. Don’t worry. If your father won’t agree to you marrying me, then I’ll marry into your family. Who would reject a free son-in-law?”

Song Ying was amused by how straightforward he was. “General Huo can do whatever he pleases, but I can’t.” At least not yet.

“You always say you don’t care about your father and that you’d marry into my family just to be with me. But have you really considered the consequences? After all the gossip and contempt, can you still stand by me like you do now? Will you regret it?”

Huo Zhen had never thought about these things and didn’t want to.

Huo Zhen: “I won’t regret it. Since I made the decision, I’ve already thought it through. Aying, I won’t do anything I’d regret!”

Song Ying’s lips moved, but in the end she just sighed. “You have to be clear about this once we’re together, the pressure you’ll face won’t just come from your father or mine…”

Huo Zhen looked at her with even more determination.

Huo Zhen: “Aying, if I were afraid of what others thought, I’d have married someone else long ago. Heaven gave me this chance, and if I’m still scared, then I’m not a man.”

Song Ying’s clasped hands tightened slightly.

Song Ying: “Your father will beat you to death.”

Huo Zhen laughed: “Ha! It wouldn’t be the first time he tried.”

Then he suddenly dropped to one knee in front of her, gazing up with a sincere, fiery look, even tinged with pleading.

“I know that bastard broke your heart,” Huo Zhen said.  “How about this, try being with me first. If it doesn’t work out, you can throw me away. I won’t cling to you.”

Maybe it was the sunlight being too bright, but Song Ying half-closed her eyes, not daring to look straight at him.

Song Ying raised an eyebrow. “Do you even know what you’re saying? that I can just throw you away if I say so?”

Huo Zhen: “Hey, I’m whatever you say I am.”

Song Ying sighed and pushed his things back to him. “At the palace banquet, I could already tell your father doesn’t like me.”

Although General Huo Leiming didn’t say much that day, she could feel his disapproval. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have whipped Huo Zhen and made him miss the banquet.

Huo Zhen stood up slowly. “I understand. I’ll go back and talk to the old man.”

Song Ying stopped him. “I don’t know the general, and you’re too impatient. You can’t force this.”

Huo Zhen: “Don’t worry. I’ll try reasoning before resorting to force.”

He pushed the box back on the table.

Huo Zhen: “This is yours. Whether you want it or not, it’s yours.” Then he climbed over the wall and left.

Song Ying glanced at the wall he had climbed, then picked up the box, turned around, and went inside. She placed it under her own bed.

—

That night, Huo Zhen didn’t show up.

Song Ying wasn’t particularly bothered, convincing Huo Leiming would not be easy, after all.

Three days later, Faer came trotting in, “Miss, I heard some good news.”

Song Ying put down the account book and asked, “What good news?”

Faer walked up to her and bent down, “I heard that Young Marquis Wen is not in the capital.”

“Do you know where he went?”

Faer shook her head. “That’s not clear. Anyway, he’s not in the capital, so you don’t have to worry about him causing trouble.”

Song Ying nodded, “Indeed.”

Faer said, “Hehe, this is good news.”

Song Ying replied, “Not bad.”

Faer asked, “Just ‘not bad’?”

Song Ying said, “After all, he’ll return to the capital eventually, won’t he? It would be good news if he died on the way.”

Faer walked around outside and came back in. “Miss, has it been a long time since General Huo came to climb over your wall?”

Without even looking up, Song Ying replied, “He’s not a lizard. Why would he keep climbing over my wall?”

Faer said, “Oh, I just feel like I haven’t seen him for a while. Maybe he doesn’t want to be with you anymore?”

Song Ying asked, “You want him to be with me that much?”

“Of course. General Huo is a very sincere person. He’s not like the Regent, cold and silent, just staring at people.” As she spoke, Faer even imitated Yue Shaozhi, and he did resemble him a little.

“Be careful saying that. If someone hears you, the Regent might throw you in jail.”

“Hmph, I’m not afraid. In eighteen years, I’ll still be your daughter.”

Song Ying always doted on Faer, “In eighteen years, I could be your grandmother.”

Faer leaned her head on Song Ying’s arm, “Hey, will you still be good to me then?”

“I’m your grandmother now, so of course I’ll spoil you to the skies.”

Pink blossoms seemed to bloom in her hair. “Miss is the best.”

While they were chatting and laughing, Xiaomi came to report that there were guests visiting.

Faer grew nervous: “Could it be the Young Marquis?”

Xiaomi replied, “No, it’s a young man, about 18 or 19 years old. He just said he wants to see the young lady.”

Song Ying tidied herself slightly and went to the central hall.

The man stood in the middle. When he saw Song Ying arrive, he greeted her politely, “Hello, Miss Song.”

“Who are you?” Song Ying found him somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall where she had seen him.

The man introduced himself, “My name is Huo Ran. I’m Huo Zhen’s second brother.”

Hearing this, Song Ying remembered.

“Please, have a seat.”

Huo Ran waved his hand, “No need. I’m just here to deliver a message on my brother’s behalf. He was inconsiderate before and ended up delaying Miss Song. I want to apologize to you on his behalf. From now on, let’s not disturb each other anymore.”

Song Ying merely smiled faintly and said, “Let Huo Zhen come and tell me that himself.”

Huo Ran seemed to have expected this response and said, “He has already left the capital.”

Song Ying replied, “Oh, I see. Alright, I understand. Please send my regards to General Huo.”

Huo Ran’s eyes froze for a moment, then he nodded, “I will. Goodbye.”

Song Ying said, “Faer, see General Huo second son off.”

Little Faer, in perfect sync with her, smiled and replied, “Yes.”