Chapter 70

Chapter 70: What crazy thing is Huo Zheng doing?

Chun Zhi froze, then rushed to explain: “No, that’s not it.”

Song An Lan had not expected this misunderstanding and said at once: “Wan’er, do not be rude.”

“Not it?” Song Wan’er sounded a little disappointed.

The young lady her elder brother had brought back was very pretty. Standing among the maids, she looked especially striking.

Song Wan’er whispered: “Elder brother was gone for so long this time, I thought you found me a sister in law.”

“Wan’er,” Song An Lan called her again.

Song Wan’er blinked and said: “Even if she isn’t my sister in law now, maybe one day she will be my sister in law.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Song An Lan stepped forward, tapped his sister’s nose, then turned and gave Chun Zhi an apologetic smile.

Song Wan’er sneaked another look at the beauty her elder brother had brought home.

Chun Zhi noticed that Miss Song was slim, with pale lips, and looked not very healthy. The Song siblings both seemed quite frail.

Chun Zhi did not mind Song Wan’er’s teasing. She met Wan’er’s eyes for a moment, and then Wan’er turned back to chat with Song An Lan.

The brother and sister seemed to have been apart a long time, with much to say.

Song An Lan arranged for Chun Zhi to live in a south-facing courtyard and sent Qing Ye to wait on her.

Chun Zhi had planned to work for Young Master Song to cover her room and board, and to earn a small monthly wage if possible.

But Song An Lan was a gentleman. He not only saved her, he treated her as half a guest.

Why half a guest?

Because the other half was a friend.

The Song Clan kept their own physician to care for the siblings. Song An Lan asked the physician to take Chun Zhi’s pulse too and nurse her back to health so the child in her belly would grow stronger.

Whenever Chun Zhi tried to work, Qing Ye stopped her. With no choice, she followed what Song An Lan had said earlier and spent more time keeping Song Wan’er company.

Song Wan’er was thirteen and had never left Dongzhou City. She longed to see the south.

So Chun Zhi told her about the customs of Nanzhou and the daily fun of Linshui Town.

Each time, Song Wan’er listened, completely absorbed.

Chun Zhi also found different ways to make Nanzhou dishes for her. She was a good cook, and her food tempted the usually low-appetite Song Wan’er to eat much more.

Song Wan’er then pulled Song An Lan to eat with them.

The siblings spent time with Chun Zhi every day. They would not let her do chores, and since Chun Zhi could not stay idle, she focused on cooking tasty food for the two of them.

Time flew by. In a blink, more than a month passed.

Chun Zhi had recovered and could leave the Song Clan.

Song Wan’er could not bear it: “Chun Zhi sister, please don’t go. Stay here and keep me company.”

The Song Clan was the richest family in Dongzhou. Because Song Wan’er’s health was poor, she rarely went out. Most people who wanted to be close to her were only after money.

Miss Song hardly ever met someone as purehearted as Chun Zhi.

If Chun Zhi had not already been married and pregnant, Song Wan’er would have tried her best to make Chun Zhi her sister in law.

Since that could not be, being sisters in heart was also very good.

For Chun Zhi, Dongzhou was already far enough from Nanzhou.

She liked Song Wan’er very much. Her days at the Song Clan had been peaceful and warm. But she feared that staying might bring trouble to the siblings.

So once she was well, she decided to leave.

After soothing Song Wan’er, Chun Zhi went to find Song An Lan.

He was in the pharmacy discussing a prescription with the physician. Chun Zhi waited outside for a while. Young Master Song saw her through the window.

“Let us do it this way for now,” Song An Lan said to the physician. Then he stepped out and walked toward Chun Zhi: “You came to see me. Is something the matter?”

“Young Master Song,” Chun Zhi said softly, “I have already stayed at Song Manor for many days. It is time for me to leave.”

“You living here is not a disturbance,” he replied.

Chun Zhi fell silent.

Song An Lan added: “Since you came, Wan’er has been much happier… and so have I. No physician could have done that.”

“I…” Chun Zhi wanted to say more, but when she met Song An Lan’s eyes, the words would not come.

Young Master Song was truly kind. During her stay at Song Manor, Chun Zhi had never felt like she was living under someone else’s roof.

Because of that, she felt she should leave sooner. If her staying brought harm to such good people, she could not forgive herself.

“I only did what I could,” Chun Zhi said. “Young Master Song and Miss Wan’er are both good people. You will find the right treatment and live long, healthy lives. I… I have kept something from you. In truth, I am a huge trouble…”

She could not bring herself to speak of what happened with Huo Zheng.

Song An Lan did not make her say it: “Miss, please don’t speak of yourself like that.”

His voice was as gentle as always. He said: “When we left Nanzhou, the ships were stopped and searched.”

Prince Chang’an had lost his beloved and gone mad. He sent out the Nanzhou Navy to seal the river, intercepting every passing boat. If any boat had rescued someone from the water, Prince Chang’an went in person to check.

Song An Lan’s ship was large, with many cabins, so they hid Chun Zhi inside. The searchers did not find her.

At the time, Song An Lan only wanted to avoid trouble. After returning to Dongzhou, he sent people to ask around and learned that Prince Chang’an had a sweetheart in Nanzhou who fell into the river and went missing.

Chun Zhi’s looks were striking. Putting the clues together, he quickly understood.

But since Chun Zhi did not speak of it, he did not ask.

During her month at Song Manor, Song Wan’er had already treated her like a sister.

Song An Lan cherished his sister. Seeing that Chun Zhi never mentioned Prince Chang’an, he also never brought up how Prince Chang’an was searching for her like a madman in Nanzhou.

Now that she wanted to go, Song An Lan told her the truth. He said: “The people looking for you have not given up. If you leave Song Manor now, I fear…”

He did not finish the last line.

But Chun Zhi understood.

“Chun Zhi sister,” just then Song Wan’er came over and clung to her arm, acting spoiled: “If you really must go, then take me with you.”

Chun Zhi had no words: “…”

Song An Lan said: “Wan’er cannot be without you right now, and you are pregnant, so traveling is not wise. How about this: I will have people watch the situation in Nanzhou. Once those searching give up, it won’t be too late for you to leave.”

Chun Zhi thought it over. What he said was indeed safer, so she nodded: “Then I will stay a little longer…”

“Not a bother, not a bother,” Song Wan’er leaned on Chun Zhi’s shoulder, full of joy: “I wish you would stay much longer, the longer the better.”

Chun Zhi, however, could not help thinking: [What crazy thing is Huo Zheng doing? How has it already been more than a month, and he is still looking for me?]