Chapter 68 : No Way Out

Song Ying’s inn was located on the road leading to the General’s Mansion.

The curiosity in Faer’s eyes was brimming, and Song Ying said, “If you want to go take a look, then go. Just make sure you only look from a distance.”

Faer: “Okay.”

Song Ying waited in the inn, counting the people coming in and out of the restaurant out of boredom. By the time she counted to the thirties, Faer returned.

Faer: “Your servant has returned.”

Song Ying: “Did you see anything?”

Faer: “Yes. There were two people sitting in the carriage, a lady and a girl. Both looked very refined. I also heard Master Huo Ran call the lady ‘Aunt.’”

Song Ying replied calmly, “Let’s go back.”

When they returned to Xiaohanju, Song Ying stood at the door and gently pushed it open.

Faer poked her head in first and asked the gatekeeper, “Has the young marquis left?”

“He left not long after the young lady did.”

Only then did Song Ying dare to open the door fully and step inside.

She asked the gatekeeper, “Did he break anything?”

“No, but he didn’t leave through the gate. He just flew away.” The young man even demonstrated a flying motion with his arms.

Song Ying let out a sigh of relief. “Looks like we need to raise the courtyard wall.”

She was someone who acted quickly. The next day, she hired a bricklayer to raise the wall by half a foot, and she even had nails hammered into the top of the wall.

It took two days to finish, and then Faer suddenly thought of something. “What if General Huo comes and climbs over the wall?”

Only then did Song Ying remember him.

“I don’t think he’ll do that again. Besides, he can always use the front door.”

Faer replied, “I think General Huo would rather climb the wall than walk through the door.”

Song Ying: “Why?”

Faer: “Climbing over the wall makes him look more… fit and impressive.”

Song Ying: …

In the days that followed, Wen Jun never returned, and no one from the Marquis’s Mansion came to urge Song Ying to return either.

Just as Song Ying was focusing all her energy on developing her medicine, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared at her door.

“Princess, what brings you here?”

Princess Ziyang had arrived without warning. After not seeing her for some time, her former pride was gone, she now looked exhausted and haggard.

Song Ying poured her a cup of tea and had the servants dismissed.

Yue Miaoxi held the teacup in her hands to warm them before setting it down.

The way she looked at Song Ying was no longer filled with hostility, but rather held a hint of humility.

“Song Ying, I was wrong about what happened before. I’m here to apologize.”

Song Ying said, “As the princess said it’s all in the past. An apology now is too late.”

Yue Miaoxi’s expression changed, she knew Song Ying wouldn’t accept it.

But she had come to ask for help, so she swallowed her pride and said, “The regent is a lunatic. Not only did he strip my husband of his position, but he also wants my father to hand over all his wealth. He’s trying to drive our entire family to ruin!”

Song Ying looked at Yue Miaoxi, whose eyes were red.

“You insulted the princess and almost killed the heir. Yue Shaozhi was merciful not to beat you to death.”

Yue Miaoxi’s face turned pale. “But…”

Song Ying interrupted, “Why come to me now? The one you should be asking is Song Ruoer. Yue Shaozhi treasures her like a gem. As long as she’s willing to speak on your behalf, at the very least Prince Xian wouldn’t have to worry about money.”

Yue Miaoxi blurted out, “I’d rather die than beg her! That wretch…”

She was royalty, yet Song Ruoer had humiliated her. She could never forgive it.

Song Ying replied, “Then how do you expect me to help? I’m just a powerless, discarded woman even my father won’t look at me. What can I possibly do for you? Princess, finish this cup of tea and go back. Don’t waste your time here.”

Yue Miaoxi grabbed Song Ying’s hand and said, “I’m truly desperate. I even went to see the Empress Dowager, but she refused to see me. You don’t know how terrifying Yue Shaozhi is. He locked me in a dark dungeon…”

It was a nightmare of an experience.

Seeing Yue Miaoxi’s pale lips, Song Ying poured her another cup of hot tea. “Drink some.”

Yue Miaoxi shook her head and withdrew her hands, once white and delicate like scallions, now dry and cracked.

The princess, who had been pampered and well-dressed since childhood and had never witnessed the darker side of life, was already on the verge of collapse from just a bit of hardship.

Song Ying said, “At least you’re still alive. Princess, since you’re unwilling to ask Song Ruoer for help, then spend money to avoid disaster.”

“I…” Yue Miaoxi looked at Song Ying again, but the words caught in her throat, she couldn’t speak.

Song Ying called Faer over. “Please see the princess out.”

Faer stepped forward and gave a small bow. “Princess, this way, please.”

Yue Miaoxi stood up, looking defeated.

She hadn’t really expected Song Ying to help, but something in her heart had still driven her to come.

It was as if by finding Song Ying there would be a way out of this dead end.

“Princess,” Song Ying’s voice came from behind.

“As the saying goes, if you lose money, you can earn it back. But if you lose your life, everything is truly over. Make up for it while you still can. There’s nothing worth clinging to.”

A sudden spark of clarity flashed in Yue Miaoxi’s mind.

She turned back and saw Song Ying sipping her tea calmly.

Yue Miaoxi tidied her disheveled hair and clothes, then gave a small bow toward Song Ying. “Song Ying, I suppose we were never meant to be friends in this life.”

Song Ying smiled. “I never intended to be friends with you.”

Yue Miaoxi: “Goodbye.”

Song Ying: “Take care.”

After Faer had escorted Yue Miaoxi out, she returned and said to Song Ying, “Miss, the princess really had no one else to turn to. I can’t believe she actually came to you.”

Song Ying replied, “She’s never experienced anything like this before. Just a bit of pressure and she completely lost her resolve.”

Faer said, “I noticed something changed about her between when she arrived and when she left. She must’ve taken what you said to heart.”

Song Ying said, “The princess is greedy when it comes to her father and her husband. Asking them to give up their wealth is more painful to her than death.”

Faer: “Is Prince Xian that rich? Is he richer than the Regent?”

Song Ying thought for a moment. “The bed Prince Xian sleeps on is made of solid gold. What do you think?”

Hearing this, Faer’s mouth fell open wide enough to swallow an egg.

“A bed made of gold… Isn’t that uncomfortable?”

Song Ying: “If you’re that rich, comfort probably isn’t an issue.”

After that day, Princess Ziyang completely changed her ways. She stopped running around asking others for help and went with her father to personally apologize at Yue Shaozhi’s residence. She also handed over all of Prince Xian’s household wealth to the national treasury.

After that, Princess Ziyang, her husband, and Prince Xian all moved out of the capital.

After relaying the news, Faer took a sip of water to moisten her throat. “I heard the princess and her family went to Danzhou. The princess’s mother is from there.”

Song Ying reclined in a rocking chair, closed her eyes, and said, “After this calamity, the princess will probably be more restrained in both words and actions.”

Faer tilted her head and puffed her cheeks. “But it was the princess who started all this. She’s the one who shouldn’t have suffered like this.”

Song Ying opened her eyes. “Yue Miaoxi’s mistake was that she talked back.”

Faer: “?”

Song Ying said, “If Yue Miaoxi had just endured it, then the only one in the wrong would’ve been Song Ruoer.”

“Sometimes, you don’t have to fight back right away. When two people are not on equal footing, swallowing your anger in the moment is a kind of self-protection. That way, you can safely retreat and when the time is right, strike back when they least expect it.”