Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Right in Front

Song Wan’er slammed into the carriage wall, then ignored the pain and lunged to shield the pregnant Chun Zhi.

Chun Zhi almost struck the paneling. Before she could react, Huo Zheng’s face suddenly appeared at the window. She nearly cried out, then forced her hand over her mouth. Her head veil had been knocked askew; the white gauze hanging from it barely hid half her face.

Huo Zheng’s gaze lingered inside the carriage for a long moment, and Chun Zhi did not dare move.

Bracing herself, Song Wan’er drew Chun Zhi behind her. She had just opened her mouth when the wind snapped the curtain down, shutting Huo Zheng’s view.

Chun Zhi’s heart climbed into her throat. She didn’t make a sound, terrified he would notice she was right in front of him.

Song Wan’er whispered, voice shaking but gentle: “Don’t be afraid, sister-in-law. Don’t be afraid.”

Chun Zhi dared not speak. She asked with her eyes if Song Wan’er was hurt anywhere.

Song Wan’er steadied her and helped her sit: “I’m fine. Sister-in-law, did you get hurt?”

Chun Zhi shook her head.

The carriage had stopped in time. She had almost hit the wall, but Song Wan’er caught her, so she was uninjured and the baby was safe.

“Sister-in-law is safe, good. Stay here in the carriage, I’ll handle things outside,” said Song Wan’er.

She straightened Chun Zhi’s veil, then climbed out. Facing the horseman, she bowed to Huo Zheng: “I am the Song Family Lady of Dongzhou. Thank you, hero, for your rescue.”

She knew he was a noble but didn’t dare say it, so she called him hero.

In that brief instant when the curtain flew up, Huo Zheng had seen the woman inside. Even with her face veiled, he felt a sharp sense of familiarity.

Seeing him still staring at the curtain, Song Wan’er added: “My sister-in-law is inside. She is pregnant and cannot rise. I thank you on her behalf.”

Huo Zheng said nothing. He only watched the curtain lift and fall in the wind.

Inside, Chun Zhi held her breath, cold sweat beading at her temples.

Song Wan’er was just as nervous. She snuck a glance at Huo Zheng and began: “Hero…”

Before she could say more, a Shadow Guard rode up and spoke low to Huo Zheng: “Prince, there is news of Miss Chun Zhi.”

“Go,” said Huo Zheng.

His expression shifted. He pulled his gaze back, turned his horse, and rode down the mountain into the wind and snow.

Song Wan’er let out a long breath. Her knees went weak and she sank down in front of the carriage.

Uncle Li had just helped two maids who had tumbled from the step. Seeing his young lady fall to the ground, he hurried over: “Miss…”

The two maids, Jin Shu and Luo Shang, were bruised but not badly hurt. They climbed back into the carriage and helped their mistress inside.

Song Wan’er had barely left the house a handful of times in her life. She had never faced an imposing noble before. The thanks she managed to say had come from the storybooks she liked to read.

Helped into the carriage like a limp shrimp, Song Wan’er sat across from Chun Zhi and asked: “Sister-in-law, are you all right?”

[The one hunting for my sister-in-law is truly frightening,] she thought. [No wonder she keeps hiding from him.]

“I’m fine,” Chun Zhi answered, her voice squeezed from her throat.

“Good. Let’s go home,” said Song Wan’er.

She touched Chun Zhi’s hand. It was icy. She quickly snatched up the hand warmer and held it together with Chun Zhi, and the two of them shared the heat.

Then Song Wan’er told the maids: “Jin Shu, Luo Shang, both of you sit too.”

Jin Shu and Luo Shang obeyed and sat.

The coachman soothed the horses and took up the reins again. The carriages that had collided ahead were already clearing out. With the mountain road open, he guided their carriage slowly downhill.

Back at Song Manor, Song Wan’er sent the two maids to the physician, then tugged Chun Zhi along to see Song An Lan.

She said she had been badly frightened today and needed her elder brother to coax her. She added with a bright look: “Sister-in-law was frightened too. I’ll have elder brother coax you as well.”

Chun Zhi was speechless.

These two days, Song An Lan had improved a little. He was going over the ledgers with the stewards, speaking now and then and coughing lightly from time to time.

At least there was no blood.

Peeking in from the window, the sisters caught his eye. He closed the accounts at once and dismissed the stewards.

The room fell quiet.

Song Wan’er led Chun Zhi inside. As they walked to his couch, she said: “Elder brother, my sister-in-law and I went to Wanhua Temple to offer incense today. We ran into the man who has been looking for her. Our carriage nearly tipped on the way down the mountain.”

She sat at his bedside as she spoke.

Song An Lan looked at his sister with gentle eyes: “The road is slick on a snowy day, and carriages are hard to control. Did either of you get hurt?”

“Jin Shu and Luo Shang were thrown and bruised, but sister-in-law and I are fine,” said Song Wan’er. “When the carriage almost went over, the man who keeps searching for sister-in-law pulled his reins in time and stopped it. I held on to sister-in-law and kept her safe.”

Song An Lan lifted his gaze to Chun Zhi. Her small face was pale; clearly she had been badly scared. He was about to speak when Song Wan’er hurried on: “Sister-in-law was almost discovered by that man, but I stood in front of her and fooled him.”

She had been terrified then. Now, telling her elder brother, she could not help a small note of pride.

[How clever I am,] she thought. [I protected sister-in-law right under that noble’s nose.]

Chun Zhi said softly: “Today I owe everything to Wan’er.”

Hearing that, Song Wan’er tipped her chin even higher.

Song An Lan smiled: “Wan’er has grown up. She can protect others now.”

“Of course,” said Song Wan’er, beaming like a little girl. She told him: “I even drew a supreme fortune at Wanhua Temple for elder brother today. The lot says your life is not at its end. Maybe after you marry sister-in-law, your illness will get better.”

“With Wan’er’s supreme fortune, I will surely be free of every illness,” Song An Lan said warmly.

Song Wan’er loved to hear that. She tugged his sleeve and pleaded: “I was scared out of my wits today. Elder brother, please coax me.”

She leaned her head toward him, a move she had clearly practiced since childhood.

Song An Lan raised his hand and patted her head: “Elder brother pats your head, and Wan’er has no worries.”

“Elder brother is the best,” she laughed, satisfied at last. Then she stood up and said: “Let elder brother and sister-in-law talk a while. I’ll go check on Jin Shu and Luo Shang.”

At the door she turned back: “Elder brother, sister-in-law was frightened too. You should coax her.”

Chun Zhi had no words.

Song Wan’er skipped off.

Looking at Chun Zhi, Song An Lan said gently: “Come sit.”

Chun Zhi moved to the edge of the couch.

“Closer,” he said in a warm voice.

She scooted nearer.

Outside, snow drifted on the wind. Inside, the brazier glowed and the room was full of quiet warmth.

Song An Lan lifted his hand and lightly patted Chun Zhi’s head, saying softly: “Elder brother pats your head, and Chun Zhi has no worries.”