Chapter 56 : Beast

At first, Huo Zhen refused, thinking it would damage her reputation for a man and woman to sleep in the same room alone.

Song Ying: “Why didn’t you think about that when you climbed over my wall?”

Huo Zhen was speechless.

The night was deep and dark.

Huo Zhen had no intention of sleeping.

The light streaming through the window landed just right on the screen, casting a silhouette of Song Ying’s sleeping form behind the bed curtain.

Huo Zhen just sat and watched, feeling more peaceful than he ever had before.

His life had always been about bloodshed and battles, but this moment was different.

It was his first time sharing a room with Song Ying, the first time he let her touch his body, the first time he ever felt desire for her.

Brute!

Huo Zhen raised his hand and slapped himself.

The crisp sound naturally woke Song Ying, who had only been lightly asleep.

“What are you doing?”

Huo Zhen lied: “Killing a mosquito.”

“Mosquito?”

There was insect repellent burning in the room, where would the mosquito come from?

“Is the itch too much?”

Seeing Song Ying about to get up, Huo Zhen quickly said, “No, no, don’t come over. I’m fine. Just… overly attached to the bed, that’s all.”

Song Ying sat on the bed, gazing at the man lying on the couch through the screen.

His chest was wrapped in gauze, and neither of his arms was uninjured.

If he didn’t take better care of himself, he’d suffer badly in old age.

Song Ying lay down again. “Go to sleep. I’ll come to your camp tomorrow.”

“Huh? You’re coming tomorrow?”

Song Ying: “Why, I can’t?”

Huo Zhen, of course, wanted her by his side all the time, but!

“It’s not that you can’t. It’s just that the camp is full of rough men. They don’t know how to act properly. I’m afraid they’ll scare you.”

Song Ying: “I need to observe how you’re recovering. I just made this new medicine if anything’s off, I can tweak the formula.”

Huo Zhen: “Oh… so that’s it…”

Song Ying added, “Just tell everyone I’m the boss of the Chamber of Commerce’s medicinal materials department. I’ll return to the guesthouse once I confirm the medicine works.”

Huo Zhen looked confused: “Boss Fang?”

Song Ying: “Yes, I used a fake name. Remember it. Don’t mess up and expose me.”

Huo Zhen: “No problem, I’ll follow Boss Fang’s orders faithfully, hehe.”

Song Ying smiled faintly. “Now go to sleep.”

“Okay!”

Soon after, loud snoring could be heard in the room. Song Ying covered her ears and sighed. She regretted it she should’ve had him share a room with Xiaomi instead…

While Huo Zhen slept soundly through the second half of the night, he woke up naturally at dawn.

Maybe it was the new medicine, but he felt much more relaxed, and the itching had completely subsided.

Song Ying hadn’t slept as well. She got out of bed groggily, dressed, and went to wake Faer.

Faer rubbed her eyes and yawned like her. Still half-asleep, she asked, “Miss, was there thunder last night? My ears were buzzing.”

Song Ying: “No.”

Huo Zhen looked a bit embarrassed: “Sorry.”

He had fallen asleep almost immediately after saying good night to Song Ying the night before.

“Brother Fang, I’m all better now!”

Chen Hong’s voice startled both Song Ying and Faer awake.

Xiaomi even rushed over to block the door.

Chen Hong pushed on the door. “Huh? Why’s it still locked? Brother Fang? Boss Fang? Get up already—!”

Huo Zhen frowned. “Who’s that?”

Song Ying pulled him toward the back wall and said, “Go back to camp first. I’ll come find you later. Go!”

“Okay…”

She stuffed a coat into his arms. “Don’t dawdle. Don’t let anyone see you. Hurry!”

“Got it.”

Huo Zhen was already much better. He didn’t need help or a chair. With one smooth motion, he leapt over the wall.

Over the wall, he shouted in a hoarse voice, “Aying, I’m waiting for you” then rode back to the camp.

Chen Hong was still knocking on the door. It wasn’t until Song Ying nodded at Xiaomi that he finally opened it.

Due to momentum, Chen Hong almost stumbled through. Seeing Song Ying and her servant already in the courtyard, he asked in confusion, “You’re awake? Why didn’t you answer me?”

Song Ying replied, “You were too noisy.”

Chen Hong chuckled and said, “Sorry, sorry. I’m feeling much better now and in a great mood, so I thought I’d come see you earlier.”

Noticing the chair by the wall, Chen Hong pointed and asked, “Why is that chair under the wall?”

Faer quickly carried the chair back inside.

Song Ying explained, “I accidentally tossed something over the wall last night and forgot to bring the chair back.”

Chen Hong said, “Ah, I see. By the way, Brother Fang, let me tell you, the blind bean water really works! I slept through the night and now I’m completely fine.”

Song Ying said, “Congratulations.”

Seeing that Song Ying looked a bit off, Chen Hong reached out to touch her forehead. “Are you sick too?”

Song Ying stepped back a few steps. “I’m fine, thank you for your concern. I just didn’t sleep well. If there’s nothing urgent, I’m going to catch up on some rest.”

Naturally, Chen Hong didn’t want to disturb her. “Alright then, go get some more sleep.”

After he left, Song Ying wiped her forehead and told Xiaomi, “Close the door and lock it.”

Click.

Xiaomi: “It’s locked.”

The master and her two servants made up for their lost sleep and didn’t wake until midday when their stomachs growled.

Faer and Xiaomi went out to get food, and when they came back, Chen Hong followed them again.

“Have you eaten?” Song Ying asked.

“I already ate ages ago.” Chen Hong looked her over and said, “Hmm… you look a lot more refreshed than this morning.”

Song Ying was busy eating and didn’t bother responding. Chen Hong didn’t mind and continued sharing his gossip.

“I found out, the cold-faced general’s name is Fu An. He’s Deputy General under General Huo Zhen.”

“General Huo Zhen also has a military advisor named Yang Gu, but I heard he’s sick. The Third Shopkeeper even sent one of our doctors to help.”

Song Ying asked, “Don’t they have doctors in the camp?”

Chen Hong replied, “They’re too swamped. I don’t know what’s going on lately, but the soldiers keep falling ill. And…”

Chen Hong suddenly became mysterious, leaning in to whisper, “I heard General Huo Zhen is also sick, seriously ill. To keep morale up, they’ve been hiding it.”

Song Ying swallowed a bite of her steamed bun. “Where did you hear that?”

Chen Hong shook his head proudly. “I have my sources. Hey, when we get back to the capital, want to go into business together? Let’s open a wine shop.”

Song Ying said, “You trying to steal business from your nephew?”

Chen Hong grinned, “As long as we’re not on the same street, it doesn’t count as stealing.”

Song Ying said, “I sell medicinal herbs. I don’t know anything about wine.”

Chen Hong: “That’s fine. I know enough. You just need to invest.”

Song Ying: “Okay.”

Chen Hong was stunned. “You’re agreeing just like that?”

Song Ying said, “I trust Boss Chen. If I invest in you, I won’t lose money.”

Chen Hong’s face went from shocked, to thrilled, to tearful. Eventually, he was so overwhelmed that he ran forward, hugged Song Ying tightly, and patted her back. “Brother Fang, I’m so touched. My own family doesn’t believe in me but you, you’re the only one who gets me…”

Just then, Faer appeared and forcefully shoved Chen Hong away. “Don’t hug my young master!”

‘General Huo hasn’t even gotten to hug him yet.’

Chen Hong stumbled and fell to the ground, smacking his chin.

“Ow… you little brat…”

“You okay?”

Song Ying was just about to bend down to help him up when she turned and saw someone entering through the door.

“Boss Fang, the Third Shopkeeper wants to see you.”