Chapter 62 : My General Huo

Chen Hong was truly frightened, trembling and unable to utter a word.

Song Ying forcibly pulled Huo Zhen away. “Why are you being so mean to him?”

Huo Zhen said angrily, “It’s obvious just by looking, this guy’s not a good person.”

It’s one thing to be arm in arm, but calling you his ‘little brother Fang’?

Song Ying pinched Huo Zhen’s cheeks, making him look like a pouting fish, and warned him with her eyes: ‘Don’t forget you’re the garrison commander. Don’t act like a child fighting over a toy, your men will laugh at you.’

Huo Zhen pouted, clearly unhappy. “He took advantage of you.”

Song Ying replied, “He doesn’t know I’m a woman.”

Huo Zhen: “So it’s only natural for him to take advantage of you?”

Suddenly, there was a loud gasp from behind. Chen Hong raised his hand and pointed at Song Ying and Huo Zhen, eyes full of disbelief. “You… you are…”

Song Ying realized he’d misunderstood. She released Huo Zhen and smiled gently at Chen Hong. “Sorry, General Huo was just joking with you.”

Chen Hong rubbed his eyes. He wasn’t seeing things, Fang Xiawen had really pinched Huo Zhen’s face. That posture… that tone…

Chen Hong was utterly bewildered.

Suddenly, Huo Zhen had an idea. He simply put his arm around Song Ying’s waist and declared proudly, “Yes, just as you guessed. I like Xiao Fang. He’s mine.”

Chen Hong’s already shaken expression gradually turned to stone.

Also turning to stone was Fu An, who had just seen and heard everything.

“Brother, you…”

Huo Zhen slapped his forehead. ‘This is a huge misunderstanding.’

He tried to explain, but Fu An kept backing away.

“Brother, you don’t have to say anything, I get it. I’m surprised, but…” He glanced at Song Ying, then closed his eyes like a martyr facing death. “But if this is your true wish, Brother, I support you—!”

Before Huo Zhen could stop him, Fu An turned and ran.

Huo Zhen chased after him. “Stop right there—”

Faer clasped her hands together and said, “Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen two grown men chasing each other like this.”

Song Ying tapped her lightly on the head, glanced at the petrified Chen Hong, and said, “Alright, escort Boss Chen back.”

Faer: “Yes. We’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

Song Ying: “No need. I’ll return in a few days. You and Xiaomi stay at the guest house.”

“Okay.” Faer took a few steps, then turned back and asked in a hushed voice, “Miss, do you want to tell Boss Chen you’re a woman?”

Song Ying: “I’ll find a chance.”

“Alright. Oh, one more thing.”

Faer pulled a meatball wrapped in oil paper from the carriage and handed it to Song Ying. “Young Master, try this. It’s really good. I bought it just for you.”

Song Ying: “Good girl. Thank you.”

After watching Faer and the others leave, Song Ying turned and headed back into the camp.

In the main tent, Fu An was sitting on a low stool with one hand supporting his forehead, still dazed by everything that had just happened.

“Is he okay?” Song Ying asked.

Huo Zhen: “He’s fine. I explained everything.”

Fu An looked up at Song Ying, his jaw trembling slightly. He said bitterly, “Sister-in-law…”

Song Ying replied, “No, your General Huo and I aren’t married yet. Just call me Boss Fang.”

Fu An nodded, stood up, and walked out. “I won’t disturb you anymore.”

Once outside, Fu An looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. A relieved smile appeared on his face.

That’s great. My big brother is normal. My big sister-in-law is normal. They’re not crazy… so I don’t have to go crazy either.

—

In the main tent, Song Ying looked at Huo Zhen’s rosy complexion and asked, “Are you feeling better today than yesterday?”

Huo Zhen: “Of course. With you here, I have to be fine even if I’m not.”

Song Ying didn’t respond. She took a letter from inside her robe and opened it.

Huo Zhen: “Who sent it?”

Song Ying: “Manager Yao. I arranged some matters for him before leaving the capital.”

Huo Zhen: “Oh. By the way, the doctor said he’s found a way to control the poisonous mushroom, but it still needs further verification.”

Song Ying’s eyes paused on the last few lines of the letter. Her expression tightened, and she quickly put it away. “That’s good. I’ll be returning to the capital in a few days.”

Huo Zhen nodded and didn’t try to stop her. “Go. This place isn’t right for you to stay long anyway.”

There were still urgent matters in the camp, so Huo Zhen left for the main command tent.

Song Ying opened the letter again. The last few lines mentioned that Wen Jun had been sitting in the pharmacy for the past three days, asking the pharmacist three times a day, “Has Song Ying come back?” He smiled at everyone he met, which scared off the customers, and the pharmacist had now closed the shop.

After burning the letter, Song Ying let out a breath.

Wen Jun was deliberately trying to force her to return to the capital.

That night, Song Ying helped Huo Zhen change his medicine and said, “You’re almost recovered. It looks like this medicine is effective.”

While getting dressed, Huo Zhen asked, “Can we give it to the brothers?”

Song Ying replied, “Yes. I’ll write out the prescription tomorrow, and you can hand it to the doctor for me. The herbs can be found in the medicine package the Chamber of Commerce sent.”

Huo Zhen asked, “Why don’t you give it to the doctor yourself?”

Song Ying said, “Just tell the doctor you got this prescription from a doctor in the capital and ask him to prepare it for the patient.”

Huo Zhen replied, “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”

Song Ying added, “I’ll be leaving early the day after tomorrow.”

Huo Zhen said, “I’ll take you.”

But that didn’t feel like enough for him, so this time Huo Zhen didn’t ask he directly hugged Song Ying and said, “Wait for me. I will definitely win, and then I’ll ask the emperor to grant us a marriage.”

Song Ying looked up and asked, “Why don’t you talk it over with your father?”

At the mention of Huo Leiming, Huo Zhen became irritated. “I don’t want to waste time talking to him. I’ve already arranged the marriage myself, in case he suddenly goes back on his word.”

Song Ying thought of the young emperor and the empress dowager in the palace…

“Let’s talk about it after you win.”

Huo Zhen stared at her. “You don’t have faith in me?”

Song Ying replied, “Of course I’m confident. When General Huo takes action, success is certain.”

Huo Zhen said, “Then… hug me?”

Song Ying raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist. “Is this good enough?”

Huo Zhen grinned, showing his white teeth, and tilted his cheek. “Kiss me too?”

Song Ying said, “General Huo, don’t push your luck.”

Huo Zhen muttered, “You insisted on staring at my butt last night, and I didn’t even say anything.”

Song Ying replied, “I’m a kind-hearted doctor.”

Huo Zhen said, “This is pre-war encouragement. It’s very important.”

Song Ying rolled her eyes and turned to fiddle with her medicine bottles.

Huo Zhen sighed, “I’m going to Fu An’s place.”

Song Ying said, “Alright, go ahead.”

Huo Zhen paused and asked, “You’re not going to ask me to stay?”

Song Ying asked back, “Should I? Are you sure you won’t disturb me by falling asleep next to me?”

Huo Zhen slumped his shoulders and said, “Got it. I’ll go squeeze in with Fu An.”

Song Ying chuckled and took his hand. “Stay.”

Huo Zhen hesitated. “Forget it. It’s bad luck to be distracted before battle. I won’t be able to sleep lying next to you.”

It would be far too uncomfortable.

—

At dawn, Faer and Xiaomi arrived in a carriage to pick up Song Ying.

Huo Zhen was reluctant to let her go. “If anything happens when you’re back, find Yang Hu or Mo Qi. They’ll help you.”

Song Ying smiled and said, “What could happen to me? Oh, and I’ve labeled the medicine bottles I left with your accountant. Most of them are for detox and parasite removal.”

Huo Zhen replied, “Got it. I’ll give them to the doctor. He’ll know what to do.”

Song Ying said, “Alright, I’m leaving now.”

Fu An reminded him, “Brother, it’s time for morning training.”

Huo Zhen escorted Song Ying to the carriage and finally couldn’t help but say, “What if I fail…?”

“No.” Song Ying gently held Huo Zhen’s face, her voice filled with trust and determination. “My General Huo will not fail.”