Chapter 50 : Set off to meet him

“Yunchun, you saw it just now, he didn’t even bring it up.”

After Yue Shaozhi left for the palace, Song Ruoer sat by the window, gazing out at the night with a sorrowful expression.

Yun Chun tried to comfort her. “Princess, don’t overthink. His Highness probably didn’t mention the eldest lady because he was afraid it would upset you.”

Song Ruoer turned to look at her. “If he had mentioned her, I would’ve been happy. That would mean he’s being honest and transparent about Song Ying.”

Yun Chun truly had Song Ruoer’s best interests at heart and gently suggested, “Why don’t you ask His Highness directly? That would be better than you torturing yourself like this.”

Song Ruoer was silent for a moment. “I… I’ll find a time to ask him.”

—

Late at night.

The less you know, the better.

The room was dark, and Song Ruoer lay on her side facing the wall.

She listened carefully to the man’s movements, then lifted the quilt slightly and nestled into his arms.

The man had just finished bathing, and his body was still warm and damp. Song Ruoer turned around and buried her face against his chest.

“You’re still awake?”

Yue Shaozhi’s deep voice sounded beside her ear. Song Ruoer inhaled his faint scent and whispered back, “I was waiting for you.”

Yue Shaozhi slightly raised his head, gazing at her delicate figure under the dim light. “What’s wrong?”

Song Ruoer hesitated several times before finally asking, “Do you regret it? Regret divorcing my sister?”

Yue Shaozhi frowned slightly and replied, “No regrets.”

Song Ruoer snuggled closer. “Really?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them, she was questioning him, and Yue Shaozhi would surely be unhappy.

Just as she was about to explain herself, she heard him repeat: “No regrets.”

Song Ruoer wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

At that moment, she chose to believe him.

—

After handling the medicinal herb arrangements, Song Ying returned to the Marquis’ Mansion to report to Song Jinzhuo.

After all, she would be away for many days it was proper to inform him.

“Miss, what if the Marquis doesn’t allow it?”

Faer was a little worried. Song Ying had made this decision without asking for permission first.

She was genuinely afraid the Marquis might lock her up with a single command.

Song Ying replied confidently, “He’ll agree.”

Faer glanced around, then whispered, “Does the Marquis know the real purpose of your trip is to meet General Huo?”

Song Ying deliberately dragged out the word “Yeah,” and said, “He must know.”

Just as they approached Song Jinzhuo’s study, Song Shihe also stepped out.

When the siblings met again, one wore a frosty expression, the other a sour one clearly neither could stand the sight of the other.

Faer silently started counting to see how long the two would stare at each other.

Six… seven… ten…

Snort!

As expected, the young master lost first.

Faer stayed outside the study, while Song Ying entered alone.

The moment she stepped in, she could feel Song Jinzhuo’s lingering anger. It didn’t take a genius to guess that Song Shihe had just made him furious.

She greeted respectfully, “Father.”

Song Jinzhuo’s temper eased slightly. “What is it?”

Song Ying said, “Your daughter will be traveling to Wucheng with the Chamber of Commerce in the coming days.”

Silence…

Even Batler Hu Bo and Faer outside the study held their breaths.

“Wucheng?” Song Jinzhuo narrowed his eyes and stared at her sharply. “Since you moved to Xiaohanju, you’ve become more and more willful.”

Song Ying remained calm. “If Father disapproves, I won’t go. But since I’ve already agreed, someone must go in my place. What does Father think of Uncle Hu going instead?”

Hearing his name suddenly mentioned, Butler Hu’s beard and eyebrows trembled.

Miss, please don’t drag me into this!

Seeing Song Jinzhuo’s dark expression, Song Ying asked again, “Then… Father, will you go instead?”

Song Jinzhuo snapped, “Outrageous!”

Song Ying immediately shut her mouth.

Outside the study, Faer was breaking into a cold sweat for her.

So the young lady’s earlier confidence, that the Marquis would definitely agree had only been to calm her down.

Inside the study, no one spoke. Outside, Faer and Butler Hu couldn’t help but quietly perk up their ears to listen.

At last, Song Jinzhuo let out a long sigh. “You’re going to see Huo Zhen.”

It wasn’t a question, it was a direct statement.

Song Ying didn’t deny it. “Seeing him is just incidental. Wucheng is a border city, close to Xiyue. I want to take a look. Maybe I’ll find something useful.” 

And it would also help her avoid Wen Jun, that walking disaster.

Song Jinzhuo asked, “What exactly do you hope to find?”

Song Ying replied, “Medicinal herbs.”

A flash of interest lit up Song Jinzhuo’s eyes, and the oppressive air about him gradually dissipated.

“Do you realize the dangers you might face on this journey?”

Song Ying responded, “Everything carries risk. The key is whether it’s worth it.”

Song Jinzhuo nodded, clearly pleased. She was his daughter, after all. His only regret was that she wasn’t a son.

“You… really think you’ve set your heart on Huo Zhen?”

Song Jinzhuo never asked straightforward questions, he always probed for information. Song Ying knew this well, so she would never give clear-cut answers.

It had become their usual way of communicating.

“I have no engagement with General Huo,” she said calmly. “But I want to help him. He’s led Dayin’s soldiers to fight for the people. He deserves it.”

Song Jinzhuo suddenly laughed aloud. “If only Shihe were half as capable as you.”

Song Ying replied, “Shihe has improved a little. He’s just lacked the proper training.”

‘If possible, he should be thrown straight onto the battlefield and see what hell on earth really looks like.’

After considering a moment, Song Jinzhuo said, “Then take Shihe with you.”

Song Ying nodded. “Yes.”

But she knew, Song Shihe would rather die than go, especially if it meant going with her.

Zhou, who doted on her son, naturally wouldn’t allow it. She immediately went to find Song Jinzhuo.

“Shihe just got back, and the Marquis wants him to go to such a dangerous place like Wucheng…”

Before she even finished, Zhou was already wiping tears from her eyes.

“I’ve heard that the place is damp and humid, crawling with snakes, bugs, rats, and ants and those people from Xiyue are always up to filthy tricks… Shihe is our only son… If anything were to happen to him, I…”

Song Jinzhuo was getting annoyed by her crying, but when he turned and saw her delicate, tear-streaked face, he held back his scolding.

In the end, he softened his tone. “If you don’t want him to go, then he won’t.”

Zhou immediately smiled through her tears and stepped forward to take his hand. “Thank you, my Lord.”

With Song Shihe out of the picture, Song Ying could now act more freely.

When she brought Faer and Xiaomi to the gathering point outside the city, she unexpectedly ran into Chen Hong.

“Boss Chen, you’re coming too?”

Chen Hong said, “Unlike my eldest nephew, I need more experience. I want to see the world outside the capital.”

Song Ying cautioned, “It’s dangerous over there.”

Chen Hong shrugged. “What’s there to be afraid of? Worst-case scenario, I die and get buried right there. Then when my family visits my grave during the holidays, they can enjoy the scenery along the way.”

Song Ying chuckled, “At least you’re considerate of your family.”

Chen Hong treated her like a brother. He slung an arm around her shoulders and led her toward a carriage.  

“Come on, ride with me. We’ll look after each other on the way.”

The carriage arranged by the Chamber of Commerce was quite spacious. In addition to Chen Hong and Song Ying, two other people were inside.

After Chen Hong’s introductions, Song Ying learned that the other two were rice shop owners.

This caravan was led by the third steward of Juya Pavilion. A few dozen people were official members, and the rest, like Song Ying, had joined voluntarily.

Altogether, including guards and escorts, the entire group totaled no more than two hundred people.

Faer excitedly waved her hands and said, “Let’s go meet General Huo!”