Chapter 35 : Die Together

Unlike the last time, when he directly ordered Song Ying to get married, this time Song Jinzhuo took a more subtle, probing approach.

What was certain was that Song Jinzhuo had added Huo Zhen to his “list of potential husbands” for his daughter.

Song Ying looked down at her hands, like a well-behaved student attending a lecture. “General Huo disagrees.”

Song Jinzhuo stroked his beard, his eyes glinting. “What about Wen Jun?”

Song Ying took a deep breath and said, “If Father insists I marry him, then he’ll have to become a widower.”

Meaning: either she and Wen Jun would die together or Wen Jun would die.

Song Jinzhuo glanced at her and said, “You’ll have to get married eventually.”

Those words all but determined Song Ying’s ultimate fate.

Marriage…

Song Ying suddenly had the urge to make Huo Zhen marry into her own family instead.

But her father would likely prefer to hang Huo Zhen out to dry rather than let him do that.

“Your aunt has a connection with Huo Leiming.”

Seeing Song Ying’s puzzled expression, Song Jinzhuo explained, “Your aunt should have married him back then.”

“Then why didn’t she?”

When talking about the past, Song Jinzhuo showed no hesitation. “Because your grandfather didn’t like him.”

Song Ying’s grandfather, Song Yunshan, was now practicing Taoism in Nanshan.

Although deeply immersed in his spiritual path, her marriage to Yue Shaozhi had also been influenced by his preferences.

“So this time, has Grandfather chosen Huo Zhen?”

Song Ying asked directly. But instead of answering, Song Jinzhuo changed the subject. “Shihe is coming back.”

Song Shihe, Zhou’s son, had a poor relationship with Song Ying. He was a troublemaker who only ever called her by name when they met. Currently, he was accompanying Song Yunshan in his meditation retreat.

“Your grandfather says his personality has mellowed a bit, so he’s letting him return.”

“Oh.”

Seeing her indifferent reaction, Song Jinzhuo added, “Once he’s back, you should come home too. Family should be together.”

“I understand.”

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

After leaving the Marquis’s Mansion, Faer noticed that Song Ying looked downcast and carefully asked, “Miss, did the Marquis scold you again? Or did he force you to get married?”

Song Ying replied bitterly, “Worse than scolding or forcing me to marry, Song Shihe is coming back.”

“What!?” Faer screamed so loudly it could be heard outside. She quickly covered her mouth and said with a bitter expression, “Young Marquis Wen just left, and now Young Song Shihe is returning. How annoying.”

It really was annoying.

“Back when you were the regent’s wife, he didn’t dare act up in front of you. But now that you’re divorced, he’ll definitely run wild right under your nose.”

Exactly.

If Song Shihe really turned into a good, obedient young man, then Song Ying would take his surname instead.

“Well, never mind. If he dares to come to Xiaohanju, just throw him out.”

It’s perfectly normal for an older sister to discipline her younger brother.

Especially since they weren’t even real siblings, it should be done even more ruthlessly.

Faer vowed to protect Song Ying. “Understood! I’ll go back and prepare a thin willow branch, it’ll really sting!”

Song Ying patted her and said, “Good girl, save your strength for then.”

Faer: “Yeah!”

Song Ying leaned out the window, looked at the road ahead, and said to the coachman, “Go to the Chengyang Marquis Mansion.”

Faer asked, “Miss, are you going to see the Marchioness?”

“Mhm.”

There was, of course, a reason why Song Jinzhuo had suddenly brought up Song Jinlan and Huo Leiming.

If Song Ying was going to choose Huo Zhen, she needed to understand the Huo family thoroughly.

She suspected that even Huo Zhen himself didn’t know what had happened between Song Jinlan and Huo Leiming.

After entering the guest hall of the Chengyang Marquis’s Mansion, Song Ying had just finished a cup of tea when Song Jinlan arrived slowly.

“You’re quite the rare visitor. Tell me, what brings you here?”

Song Ying said, “I met Father today.”

Song Jinlan responded lazily, “So, he sent you to me?”

Song Ying: “Father mentioned something about your younger days.”

Song Jinlan’s expression changed instantly. She waved all the servants out of the room, then frowned and looked at Song Ying with a sharp tone. “What exactly are you here for?”

Song Ying stood up and sat beside Song Jinlan, deliberately lowering her voice. “Aunt, do you think I should marry Huo Zhen?”

Song Jinlan frowned even deeper. She had heard about the affair between Huo Zhen and Song Ying. But as the wife of the Chengyang Marquis, she no longer concerned herself with Song family matters.

“What do you mean, what do I think? If you want to marry him, then marry. If you don’t, then don’t. I’m not your biological mother.”

Song Ying smiled. “Aunt, Huo Zhen was quietly sent away by his father. Do you think it has something to do with the past between you and Huo Leiming? Is he still holding a grudge?”

Song Jinlan’s face was already filled with anger. “Why blame the younger generation for the past? What’s the point of marrying into the Huo family?”

Song Ying: “Huo Zhen gave me all of his belongings.”

Song Jinlan raised her brows, sounding a bit doubtful. “He really gave you everything?”

Song Ying: “Yes. I’m only telling you, Aunt.”

Song Jinlan: “So you’ve made up your mind about Huo Zhen?”

Song Ying: “I thought his father had agreed. But the next day, he didn’t show up. Later, I found out he had been sent away by the old general overnight.”

Upon hearing that, Song Jinlan burst out laughing and cursed, “You’re crazy!”

Song Ying handed her the teacup she had been using. “Shihe is coming back.”

Song Jinlan took the teacup, then put it down on the table with a loud clunk.

“That brat is coming back? Wouldn’t it be better if he became a monk with the old man?”

Song Ying couldn’t help but laugh. “After all, he’s Father’s only son.”

Song Jinlan rolled her eyes. “Maybe your father has another one out there.”

“Aunt, don’t say that, if Mother hears, she’ll throw a fit.”

Song Jinlan sneered, “Everyone knows what your father is like. If it happened once, it’ll happen again second, third, who knows how many times. Maybe one of those people who suck up to Song Shihe now is just like him.”

Since getting married, Aunt Song Jinlan had grown bolder in her words. She said whatever she pleased in her own house.

“Listen, Song Ying, I blame the Song family. If you weren’t Han’s daughter, I wouldn’t even see you. If you think Huo Zhen is worth it, then marry him. If not, forget it. Huo Leiming is just a paper tiger. If he were really tough, he wouldn’t have…”

At this point, Song Jinlan abruptly changed the subject. “Don’t be like your mother, always hesitating and going back and forth. It’s frustrating to watch. Anything else? If not, then go.”

Her tone was harsh, but every word she said hit the mark.

Song Ying had already figured things out and helped her aunt to her feet. “Aunt, take your time.”

“Enough with your tricks. I know exactly who you are. Off you go.”

“Well then … goodbye, Aunt.”

After leaving the Chengyang Marquis Mansion, Song Ying felt significantly more at ease.

“Miss.” Faer helped her into the carriage. “Did the Marchioness scold you again?”

“Just the usual lecturing.”

Faer felt bad for her. “The Marchioness has never liked you since you were little. Every time she talks to you, it sounds so sarcastic that people think you’re fighting.”

Song Ying smiled and said, “Aunt still cares about me.”

But all her softness had already been worn away by certain things.