CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 144 EYES LIKE KNIVES

Cheng Yanzhao stopped in his tracks, glanced at Chang An beside him. Chang An went out to make tea, while Cheng Yanzhao retraced his steps back to sit on the chair.

This time he didn’t speak, instead suspiciously watched Song Xian, staring until Song Xian raised his head.

Four eyes met, but Song Xian still didn’t speak.

Cheng Yanzhao’s eyes flickered: "Why can’t I go?"

Song Xian said: "Where have Mr. Li and the others reached? Did they discover any spies on the way? The news from the Capital City should arrive soon, right?"

Cheng Yanzhao was not easily distracted. On the contrary, he appeared more serious than usual: "A Xian, don’t you think Miss Xie is different from ordinary women? She’s very smart, starting from selling herbs to the paper workshop till now... I wish to visit Chen Family Village more often, to see what she might come up with next."

Song Xian’s jaw tensed.

Cheng Yanzhao’s eyes narrowed. An angry Song Xian was still quite intimidating, exuding a murderous aura, making people feel out of breath beside him.

Since Cheng Yanzhao dared to bring this up, he had to continue with determination: "You know, my mother is also different from ordinary women, she doesn’t usually like attending banquets, just loves staying at home doing her own calculations. Do you think... my mother would really like Miss Xie?"

This time Song Xian raised his eyes.

Cheng Yanzhao shivered, if he were the enemy general now, he would turn tail and flee, begging to spare a dog’s life.

Being able to scare someone to death on the battlefield is no lie.

"What’s wrong?" Cheng Yanzhao swallowed a bit, "Is there something off?"

Song Xian said coldly: "I’ve told you long ago, stay away from her."

Cheng Yanzhao didn’t budge an inch: "Why?"

At the door, holding the tea and eavesdropping all the while, Chang An couldn’t help but light a stick of incense for Mr. Cheng, and pay his respects.

Song Xian put down the pen in his hand.

Cheng Yanzhao continued: "Previously you mentioned, and I didn’t ask in detail, you asked me to stay away from Miss Xie, fearing that Chen Family Village might not do a good job for you, what if I guarantee there’d be no problem? Would you still mind then?"

Song Xian’s eyes seemed to have a layer of frost: "For whatever reason, don’t get involved, this matter ends here, don’t ever mention it to me again."

Cheng Yanzhao carefully watched Song Xian for a while, finally nodding in understanding, the seriousness on his face vanished completely, returning to his usual playful demeanor.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "A Xian, you’re different towards Miss Xie than others, did you realize that? Not just because she might be your lifesaver, right?

If you like her, say it early, this is not like a war, it needs confidence before taking action."

Song Xian frowned: "What nonsense are you talking?"

"You didn’t see your own expression just now," Cheng Yanzhao coughed, "You see, even Chang An is hiding at the door not daring to enter. If what you were holding wasn’t a pen but a sword, I’d be afraid you’d stab a hole in me."

After saying this, Cheng Yanzhao lowered his voice: "If you don’t dare or don’t know what to do, why not tell me, I can give you some advice.

What’s your current situation? Does Miss Xie have any feelings for you? Even if a man has feelings but the woman doesn’t, it’s fine, I see that Chen Family Village at least trusts you a lot, after all, Old Mrs. Chen is Miss Xie’s elder, you could start by pleasing Old Mrs. Chen."

Song Xian listened to Cheng Yanzhao’s words, unwilling to ponder those nonsense deeply, yet those words persistently crept into his ears.

Finally unable to tolerate any longer, Song Xian stood up from the chair with a stern face.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "You’re good at fighting, but you’re not as good in these matters. Although I’m unmarried, I’ve seen and heard more than you, I can wholeheartedly assist you. If it were someone else asking for my help, I wouldn’t even bother."

Song Xian glanced at Cheng Yanzhao, only a fool would believe the words Cheng Yanzhao said.

Song Xian said: "In half a month, you’re going to Yizhou for military training."

Cheng Yanzhao shivered, already feeling the chill of the north wind: "Didn’t you say you’d take the household general there?"

Song Xian said: "I need to go to Zhaozhou, and then to Xingzhou to check out the iron furnace."

Cheng Yanzhao couldn’t believe: "You’re not making me train just because of what I said earlier, are you?"

Song Xian’s expression was clear and bright, without a shred of treachery: "No."

Cheng Yanzhao struggled: "I have chronic leg pain."

Song Xian said indifferently: "You’ll still have to lead troops into battle in the future, just as well, get used to it."

Cheng Yanzhao sighed again, suddenly missing the earlier times, even if he ate toad oil, at least he had something to eat. With Song Xian’s demeanor, although he won’t admit it now, but...

It’s probably not that easy to eat the meals personally cooked by Miss Xie.

The door opened, and Chang An placed the tea in front of Song Xian and Cheng Yanzhao.

Cheng Yanzhao picked up the tea bowl, earlier when he mentioned that his mother might really like Miss Xie, he truly felt in that instant that he wouldn’t be able to drink this cup of tea.

"Sir," Chang An said softly, "it’s snowing outside, do you want to use a piece of pig fat?"

Cheng Yanzhao perked up: "What pig fat?"

Chang An said: "It’s from Miss Xie, for treating your shoulder’s old injury."

"I also have an old injury, from falling off a horse last time and landing on my butt, it’s still not healed." Cheng Yanzhao said, "Quick, let me use it too."

Song Xian gestured for someone to come in to escort Cheng Yanzhao out, then entered the inner room to sit on the Jinwu.

Chang An warmed the pig fat over the fire, applying it to Song Xian’s shoulder.

The warmth spread from the pig fat to his shoulder. Song Xian dressed and walked out of the inner room, turning his head to look out the window, large snowflakes were falling from the sky, yet gave him an illusion, as if they would be melted by a warmth before reaching the ground.

Thinking of Cheng Yanzhao’s words made him irritable once more.

"It’s cold," Song Xian said. "Arrange for a carriage to send the people from Chen Family Village back."

Chang An responded.

...

When Xie Liangchen, along with Chen Yongyi and Hei Dan, stepped out of the blacksmith shop, the snow had almost covered their feet.

Xie Liangchen had just shivered in the snow when she saw Chang Yue approaching.

Chang Yue usually wouldn’t show up unless Song Xian had other instructions.

"Miss Xie," Chang Yue said, "the lord knows you’ve brought the wind box to the blacksmith shop. Seeing the heavy snow, he feared the roads might be tough to navigate, so he asked me to take you back in a carriage."

A carriage was parked not far away.

Hei Dan and the others’ gazes had long been drawn to the carriage. If it weren’t for Xie Liangchen and Chen Zigeng, they would have gone over to check out the carriage.

Since Song Xian arranged it this way, Xie Liangchen couldn’t refuse, she said softly, "Much obliged, please convey our thanks to the lord."

Chang Yue invited Xie Liangchen and the others to board the carriage.

Once Hei Dan and the others learned they were really going to ride the carriage back, they quieted down. Sitting in the carriage for a while, Hei Dan still hadn’t come to his senses, his mind was full of the horse drawing the carriage.

The horse was pure white, not as majestic as the one General Song Xian rode, but indescribably beautiful, and now they were sitting in the carriage it was pulling.

Chen Yongyi was sitting outside with the driver, marveling in his heart, that General Song could be so good to Chen Family Village because of the wind box, a person truly needs talent.

Chen Yongyi mused randomly as the carriage passed pedestrians on the street. He felt the envious gazes from others; he was benefiting from Liangchen’s glow. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even dream of sitting in a Song Family carriage, not to mention having General Song give him a second glance this lifetime.