Chapter 106

Chapter 106: You Are the One in My Heart

Chun Zhi’s next words were cut off by Huo Zheng’s kiss.

[She had wanted to say that the Empress cared about saving face and did not make her kneel and recite rules the moment they met.] [Or maybe Huo Zheng arrived too quickly, and Empress Wang had no time to show her power.]

The streets of the Capital were lively; as the carriage passed through the crowd, the wind lifted the curtain a little.

Huo Zheng’s kiss made Chun Zhi’s cheeks burn. She tried to push him away, but she could not.

After a long while, the carriage stopped at the gate of Song Manor. Only then did Huo Zheng let her go and say: “You are not some village girl. You are the one in my heart.”

Chun Zhi smiled and said: “I am the one in your heart, and I am also a village girl. It is just the truth; there is nothing I cannot say.”

When they got down, Huo Zheng wanted to carry her, but she quickly refused, saying: “I will walk on my own.”

If Song Wan’er saw, she would secretly laugh at her.

Besides, her legs had only gone weak right after leaving Wutong Palace; she was fine now.

She was only a little dizzy from Huo Zheng’s kisses.

Huo Zheng stepped down first and held out a hand to steady her.

Inside Song Manor, the siblings Song An Lan and Song Wan’er were waiting in the front court. Seeing Chun Zhi come in with Huo Zheng, they hurried up to meet them.

Song Wan’er whispered: “Sister, you are finally back. I was worried to death.”

Chun Zhi said: “I am fine. You can relax.”

Song An Lan said: “Since the Prince escorted Chun Zhi back, there must be no trouble. The kitchen is already preparing dinner; please stay and eat with us, Prince.”

This was a reminder that Huo Zheng could not spend the night at Song Manor.

Since returning to the Capital, Huo Zheng had been very busy, arranging matters inside and outside the palace. Earlier, Song An Lan had worried the Emperor would not issue a marriage decree and had even avoided letting Huo Zheng visit Song Manor often.

Now that the Imperial Edict for the betrothal had come today, he again hinted, openly and quietly, that staying overnight here was not proper.

Huo Zheng understood but pretended not to. He answered, “Alright,” then went with Chun Zhi back to the courtyard to see Little Xing Hui.

Little Xing Hui usually clung to his mother, but when he saw his father he also reached to be held.

The three of them enjoyed a warm family moment indoors.

Little Xing Hui was sleepy; after just a short time in Huo Zheng’s arms, he wanted to sleep.

Chun Zhi carried him to the bed and, after helping him fall asleep, turned to see Huo Zheng hooking a finger under the thin sash at her waist, slowly playing with it.

The gesture was too intimate, and Chun Zhi felt her face heat up.

Huo Zheng bent down to kiss her…

At that moment, Qing Ye knocked outside and said: “Miss, Prince, the young master invites you both to come dine.”

Chun Zhi hurried to her feet and tugged Huo Zheng up with her.

They straightened their clothes and walked out together.

It was already early March; clothes grew lighter, buds were sprouting, and the residence was full of spring.

Even the evening breeze held only a slight chill.

Dinner was set in the flower hall. When Chun Zhi and Huo Zheng arrived, the Song Clan siblings were already seated, waiting to begin.

Song An Lan, who rarely drank, opened a jar of fine wine to drink with Huo Zheng and celebrate that the Emperor had granted the marriage for him and Chun Zhi.

Huo Zheng drank three cups in a row.

Song Wan’er looked tempted and said to Song An Lan in a low voice: “Elder brother, pour me a cup. I want to taste it too.”

Song An Lan did not let her drink.

Song Wan’er was a bit unhappy.

Chun Zhi ladled a bowl of sweet soup and handed it to Song Wan’er, saying: “Wine is not that good anyway; sweet soup tastes better.”

Song Wan’er said: “Since sister knows wine is not good, you must have drunk it before.”

Of course, Chun Zhi had. The first time she and Huo Zheng crossed the line had been a night of drunken desire. But this was something she could never tell Song Wan’er.

She could only say to Song Wan’er: “When we find a good fruit wine one day, I will let you try it.”

Song Wan’er said, “I will remember that,” then added while drinking the sweet soup: “Sister, you must not trick me.”

Chun Zhi nodded and said: “I will not.”

After dinner, Song Wan’er went back to her room to read storybooks.

Song An Lan had also said almost everything he needed to say to Huo Zheng.

Though Huo Zheng did not want to part from Chun Zhi, customs were customs: before the wedding, the bride and groom could not meet often, and spending the night together was absolutely forbidden.

After dinner he returned to the Prince of Chang’an Manor, and Chun Zhi walked him to the door.

The two lingered at the gate, reluctant to part.

Chun Zhi said to Huo Zheng: “Go on back. I will stand here and watch you leave.”

Huo Zheng said: “You go in first. Once you are far enough, I will head back.”

Unable to win against him, Chun Zhi had to turn and go back first.

Huo Zheng stood at the door watching her figure vanish into the covered corridor, then climbed into the Prince of Chang’an Manor carriage and said in a low voice: “Return to the manor.”

At the same time, in the Lu Residence.

After returning to the Capital from Nanzhou, Lu Jing Yun entered the Hanlin Academy. Hanlin scholars were honored; his post was Sixth Rank, so he did not have to attend court and spent his days buried at his desk.

Today he invited his fellow graduates to a banquet at home. Someone mentioned that the Emperor had issued a decree granting marriage to Prince Chang’an and the Song Clan miss.

At the table, everyone discussed the match, saying: “Everyone thought that Prince Chang’an, already twenty-five and still unmarried, was waiting to choose the finest noble lady from a great family.”

They added: “Who knew that after all the choosing, he would end up marrying a merchant’s daughter.”

Official Feng was speaking when he tried to recall the name and said: “What is that Song Clan miss called again? Song… Song Chun Zhi!”

Hearing this name, Lu Jing Yun stood up at once, sobered by half, and said: “Brother Feng, what did you just say? What is the name of that Song Clan miss?”

Official Feng, startled by Lu Jing Yun’s reaction, said: “Song… Song Chun Zhi. Brother Lu, what is this? Do you perhaps know that Song Clan miss?”

Lu Jing Yun murmured: “Chun Zhi,” as if his soul had left him.

The others kept drinking and trading verses.

Lu Jing Yun had lost all mood for the feast. Using the excuse of drink, he left the table and splashed his face with water.

During the time when Prince Chang’an was confined, he had gone back to Nanzhou to search for Chun Zhi and had not given up for over half a year.

Yet upon returning to the Capital this time, he suddenly wanted to marry a merchant’s daughter.

Lu Jing Yun did not believe Huo Zheng would change his heart so quickly.

The only possibility was that the Song Clan miss was Chun Zhi.

He just did not know why Chun Zhi now bore the surname Song.

With his mind in a whirl, Lu Jing Yun went to the study, wrote a calling card, and sent someone to deliver it to Song Manor.

No matter what, he had to see this Song Clan miss.

But he did not expect that after the card was sent, there would be no reply.

For three days in a row, he wrote a calling card each day and sent it to Song Manor, but each one vanished like a stone sinking into the sea.

On the fourth day, unable to endure it, Lu Jing Yun went to Song Manor in person.

But the timing was unlucky. The steward of Song Manor said the master was not in and asked Lord Lu to return first.

For the next two days, Lu Jing Yun came every day, but each time he failed to meet the master of Song Manor.

With no other choice, Lu Jing Yun stationed someone at the gate of Song Manor. As soon as the Song Clan’s women went out, they were to report at once.

And he really did wait until Chun Zhi and Song Wan’er went out together…