Chapter 84

Chapter 84: I Will Marry You

Song An Lan paused.

He had not expected Prince Chang’an to care for Chun Zhi so deeply that he would be willing, as a prince, to marry a commoner.

Huo Zheng said: “Because you saved Chun Zhi, this prince will not pursue your crime of hiding her, but Song An Lan, do not try your schemes on this prince and Chun Zhi.”

Song An Lan stared for a long moment before coming back to himself.

Huo Zheng did not say more. He rose and went to find Chun Zhi.

Song An Lan sat in the hall for a long while, then lifted a teacup and took a sip of hot tea. He had indeed underestimated the place Chun Zhi held in Prince Chang’an’s heart.

At this time, Chun Zhi was talking with Song Wan’er.

They were in the room, sitting side by side on the bed. Song Wan’er held Chun Zhi’s arm and rested her head on Chun Zhi’s shoulder, then said softly: “Sister, I thought you would never come back.”

Chun Zhi answered with a smile: “How could I not? Wan’er is so sweet. How could I bear not to come back to you?”

Cheered by Chun Zhi’s words, Song Wan’er asked how she had been these days, then said: “Sister, what exactly is going on between you and Prince Chang’an?”

Chun Zhi said: “It’s a long story.”

Song Wan’er straightened at once and said: “Then tell it slowly. I am all ears.”

She loved hearing Chun Zhi talk about the outside world.

Chun Zhi began from when she left the Lu Clan: “That day it poured. I left the Lu Clan and pushed a handcart back to Peach Blossom Lane. At the gate of my little courtyard, I ran into a man and knocked him down. He was badly hurt. I was afraid he would die at my door and I could not explain it, so I brought him inside and treated his wounds.”

As Chun Zhi spoke, Song Wan’er felt as if she were there, walking through those scenes.

When Huo Zheng reached the small courtyard, he looked in through the window and saw Chun Zhi and Song Wan’er leaning together, close as real sisters, talking about what had happened to her and him in Linshui Town. He stopped by the window and listened to Chun Zhi’s gentle voice. In the South City Villa these past days, he had never seen Chun Zhi so relaxed and at ease. She looked like she had in her own tofu workshop.

“So he was lying to you all along?” Song Wan’er would ask now and then.

Chun Zhi did not answer for a moment.

She knew that with Huo Zheng’s status, he could not tell others who he was when traveling outside. But when she learned she was pregnant and then overheard Huo Zheng telling someone that she was only a plaything, it hit her like thunder on a clear day. She wanted to protect the child and cut ties with him, so she left with a broken heart. Now that Huo Zheng had explained that calling her a plaything to Huo Yu was only to protect her, she understood and no longer held it against him. Even so, her child was about to be born, and soon she would not be able to hide it from Huo Zheng.

She was truly afraid he would take the child from her. [No matter if he wants both me and the child or only the child, I cannot accept it.]

Their stations were worlds apart. Huo Zheng could not possibly marry her. Chun Zhi knew this well. So she had decided to cut off the bond between them early.

Chun Zhi had thought she had already forgotten the days in Linshui Town with Huo Zheng. But now that Song Wan’er asked, and she recalled each little moment, her nose stung. [If only Huo Qi were not Huo Zheng.] She and Huo Qi had shared a very sweet time.

Song Wan’er listened, completely drawn in.

As Chun Zhi went on, she found she could not continue. Some memories were too beautiful. Back when she did not know that Huo Qi was Prince Chang’an, they cooked together and sold tofu together, like the most ordinary husband and wife in the world. Now their different identities were a gulf as wide as the sky.

Just from hearing it, Song Wan’er began to cry. She wiped her eyes in front of Chun Zhi.

Chun Zhi handed her a handkerchief, then looked up and saw Huo Zheng standing at the door. She stopped speaking at once.

Song Wan’er pressed on: “What happened then? You two were so good together. How did you leave Linshui Town, fall into the river, and get saved by my elder brother?”

Huo Zheng stood outside and listened.

Chun Zhi did not go on. She took the handkerchief and helped Song Wan’er dab her tears, then said softly: “Enough, don’t cry. It is all in the past. Let’s not bring it up.”

“How can we not bring it up?” Song Wan’er still wanted to hear more, but when she lifted her head she noticed Huo Zheng outside the window.

She was a little afraid of Huo Zheng and also angry that he had taken Chun Zhi away on her elder brother’s wedding day, leaving her without a sister-in-law. Chun Zhi must have stopped talking because he had shown up.

Thinking of this, Song Wan’er did not press Chun Zhi any further. She stood and asked: “Are you hungry? I will have the kitchen make you something good.”

Chun Zhi nodded. Song Wan’er went out to tell the kitchen to prepare food, and when she passed Huo Zheng she even glared at him.

Huo Zheng’s presence was imposing. Song Wan’er felt a bit scared, so after the glare she ran off.

The maids in the courtyard saw this and also withdrew.

Only Huo Zheng and Chun Zhi were left in the quiet little courtyard.

It was the twelfth lunar month, and the red plum blossoms were in full bloom. Huo Zheng snapped a few branches, walked into the room, put them into a vase, and said to Chun Zhi: “Now that you are back in the Song Manor, are you happy?”

Chun Zhi had been very happy, but the moment she saw him, she felt less so.

She did not want to talk to Huo Zheng, but since he had just been alone with Young Master Song, she could not help asking: “What did you say to Young Master Song?”

Huo Zheng walked slowly to her, leaned down, and said: “Do you want to know?”

Chun Zhi did not want him so close. She leaned back a little and said: “Young Master Song is not well. Do not make things hard for him.”

“Not calling him An Lan anymore?” Huo Zheng said this with a small smile.

He had known all along there was nothing between Chun Zhi and Song An Lan.

Chun Zhi paused. [Oh no, I slipped up.] She quickly corrected herself and said: “What did you say to An Lan?”

Huo Zheng asked: “What do you think I would say to Song An Lan?”

Chun Zhi stayed silent. She did not know. Many times, this man’s actions were not what she expected.

Huo Zheng sat down beside her and said in a low voice: “Song An Lan confessed.”

Chun Zhi’s long lashes trembled as she said: “W-what?”

Huo Zheng looked at her, pronouncing each word clearly: “He said the child in your belly is not his. He and you are clean. There has been no crossing the line.”

Chun Zhi’s heart sped up. She did not know if Huo Zheng was telling the truth, but the child indeed was not Song An Lan’s. She had been lying to Huo Zheng from the start. Now that the lie was exposed, she felt flustered.

She tried to stand, but Huo Zheng pressed her shoulder and said: “Why are you moving around?”

Leaning against the bedpost, Chun Zhi said in a small voice: “Don’t be so close to me.”

Huo Zheng did not listen. He pulled her into his arms and said by her ear: “Didn’t you want to know what I told Song An Lan?”

Chun Zhi perked up at once and listened.

“I told Song An Lan,” Huo Zheng said, looking solemnly at her: “I will marry you.”