Chapter 70 : Suffocating

The carriage was small and plain, able to seat at most two people.

A small bundle of dried mugwort and calamus hung from the roof.

“That’s it!” Chen Hong suddenly slapped his fist into his palm. “Brother Xiao Fang, why haven’t you come to play with me yet?”

Unable to wait any longer, Chen Hong went to Pingletang early the next morning and saw the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper thought he was there to buy medicine. “What kind of medicine does this customer need?”

Chen Hong replied, “I’m looking for your boss, Boss Fang Wenfang.”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Fang isn’t here. What do you need? I can help pass on the message.”

“He’s not here? Has he left the capital?”

The shopkeeper was about to reply when Song Shihe suddenly walked in, his voice sharp: “Where’s Song Ying? Tell her to come out and see me.”

The shopkeeper came out from behind the counter and tried to calm him down. “Hey, young master, what are you doing? If you want to see Miss Song, you should go to her home.”

Song Shihe wasn’t stupid. If he went to Xiaohanju, he’d get treated like a turtle and probably get smacked.

“What are you babbling about? Go call her now, or I’ll go home and tell my father she’s being unfilial!”

Now that Song Ying was back, the shopkeeper couldn’t use excuses anymore. He could only say, “I can’t call her unless Miss Song instructs me. That’s the rule.”

“Ridiculous! You think I’m a three-year-old?”

Chen Hong, listening from the side, started getting annoyed. He didn’t even know who this “Miss Song” was.

When he saw Song Shihe getting more aggressive, Chen Hong couldn’t stand it anymore and snapped, “Hey, young man, what are you yelling about? If you disturb someone’s business, be careful you don’t get struck by lightning!”

“Who the hell are you?!” Song Shihe glared. “Daring to butt into my business?”

The shopkeeper quickly intervened to keep things from escalating. “Boss Chen, please go back for now. I’ll make sure to pass on your message to Boss Fang.”

But Song Shihe had sharp ears and caught the words “Boss Fang” from the shopkeeper.

Once Chen Hong left, he pressed the shopkeeper: “Who is Boss Fang? Besides you and Song Ying, are there other owners of this place?”

The shopkeeper calmly replied, “Aren’t you here to see the young lady?”

Song Shihe waved his hand. “Don’t change the subject. Who is this boss?”

Shopkeeper: “Of course, the boss is the boss.”

Song Shihe: “Hey, don’t play games with me. Let me ask you, what’s the relationship between this Boss Fang and Song Ying? And between him and that man just now?”

The shopkeeper gave a polite smile, took a deep breath, and then launched into his explanation:

“Boss Fang and that gentleman are friends. Boss Fang and the young lady are also very good friends. They’re all very good friends with Boss Fang. Boss Fang is also their good friend. Everyone is friends here. We all talk, we all connect, so that gentleman came for Boss Fang, and Boss Fang knows Miss Song too. Everyone knows each other, so we all talk to each other, I ask you, you ask me, then we all become good friends.”

Song Shihe’s eyes widened as he watched the shopkeeper’s mouth move nonstop. Every word was like a date pit pounding into his ears and even his forehead.

“You—stop a second…”

Couldn’t this guy even take a breath? Song Shihe almost suffocated.

Seeing him holding his head, the shopkeeper kindly stepped forward to help. “Hey, what’s wrong, young master? Come, let’s get you some air…”

Still dazed, Song Shihe asked, “Where are you taking me?”

As soon as they reached the door, the shopkeeper gave him a gentle shove and closed the door behind him.

Click. The door shut tight.

Song Shihe stood outside holding his head, staring blankly at the closed door. It took a long time for him to come to his senses.

“Manager Yao, you tricked me!”

No matter how he banged or kicked, the door stayed shut, with no signs of life inside.

“Manager Yao, just wait for me! I’m definitely coming back!”

Song Shihe stormed off angrily and somehow ended up at Tingyun Lane, with Xiaohanju right in front of him.

Still fuming, he planned to kick the door to let out some steam.

But just as he rolled up his sleeves and was about to charge forward, he saw a man on horseback riding quickly toward him from the distance. The rider finally stopped at the gate of Xiaohanju.

Song Shihe quickly ducked behind the stone lion and watched as the man dismounted, ran up the steps, and knocked on the door.

After a while, the door opened and the servant let the visitor in without asking any questions.

Song Shihe walked up to the horse and circled it twice.

Wow, this horse doesn’t look like an ordinary one.

It looked a bit like a warhorse.

A military horse?!

Song Shihe’s eyes widened in realization, he seemed to have uncovered something extraordinary.

Boss Fang? The man who came to see Boss Fang? The man riding a military horse?

All signs pointed to one thing.

Song Ying had found herself a strange man! No—several of them!

She couldn’t even stand being alone for long after the divorce. What a shameless woman!

Song Shihe spat in front of the door, made a nasty face at the military horse, then swaggered off with his hands behind his back.

“Song Ying, you’re really something. Just wait till I get home and tell Father. You’re in for a beating.”

Thinking of Song Ying’s miserable expression, Song Shihe felt pleased with himself and walked off laughing.

This odd behavior caught the attention of passing pedestrians, people started wondering who had let another lunatic out.

—

Taking Huo Zhen’s letter from Mo Qi, Song Ying opened the envelope with great composure and drew out the contents.

The first page, as usual, carried Huo Zhen’s minimalist style, just three words: January, return.

Mo Qi said, “We’ve received word. Though the battle was tough, they’ve found a way to neutralize Xiyue’s medicine. We just need to hold out a little longer to break through.”

Song Ying nodded and opened the second page. Faer was the first to laugh out loud. “General Huo can write poetry now? Morning and evening?”

Mo Qi looked a little embarrassed. “Well… I once lent him a book of poems…”

Song Ying tucked the letter away with a smile. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Mo Qi replied, “It’s nothing. I still have duties at the camp, I won’t take up more of your time.”

Song Ying said, “I’ll walk you out.”

After seeing Mo Qi off, Faer turned to Song Ying with a grin. “When General Huo returns, will he bring loads of betrothal gifts to marry you? Should I go find an embroiderer now to make your new wedding dress?”

Song Ying scrunched up her nose. “Of course we don’t need to prepare the dress now but the person who’s supposed to should be preparing it.”

Faer asked, “Who? Madam?”

“She?” Song Ying’s tone ended with playful disdain.

When she married Yue Shaozhi, the wedding dress had been sent directly from the palace.

Now that Huo Zhen had won a major battle, he would surely be granted a title and rewards.

As for the wedding dress, Han had already left one for her.

However, that wedding dress wasn’t at the Marquis’ Residence, nor at Xiaohanju.

After entering the study, Song Ying picked up a brush and wrote a few concise lines on a piece of paper, sealed it, and called for Xiaomi.

“You’ll deliver this letter personally to your uncle. He’ll definitely ask about how I’ve been doing, just answer honestly. Tell him whatever he asks. The more he asks, the more details you give.”

Xiaomi slipped the letter into his pocket. “Understood. I’ll leave right away.”

Faer caught up and added, “Brother Xiaomi, don’t be in such a rush. Come with me to see Aunt Dong for some dry rations first.”

Watching the two of them leave, Song Ying thought: the moment Xiaomi left the city, her father, Song Jinzhuo, would soon get the news.

But that was exactly what she wanted.