Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 29: Walk the Night Road Too Often and You’re Bound to Meet a Ghost
This was, after all, the National Guardian General’s private family matter, so Zuo Yong didn’t press the issue. After escorting Song Xingfeng back, he took his men and departed.
The butler summoned a physician, who found Song Xingfeng’s injuries rather strange upon examination. In the Da Cheng Dynasty, corporal punishment by caning had long since been changed from striking the back to striking the buttocks. Yet, judging by his wounds, all twenty-some strokes of the imperial cane had landed squarely on Song Xingfeng’s back. Fortunately, the executioner was highly experienced; each blow had avoided the vital spinal column, saving him from being crippled. The pain, however, would be agonizing, and he likely wouldn’t be able to leave his bed for three months.
Song Xingfeng lay prone on the couch, already drenched in a cold sweat from the pain.
Mrs. Liu was beside him, wiping away tears and cursing Song Lianhe. This was all because she had brought out Lin Shuniang’s memorial tablet!
Song Xilan, however, stared at the wounds on her father’s back. ’Perhaps I’m overthinking it,’ she thought, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something strange about this caning. The location of his injuries was identical, down to the inch, to where Song Lianhe had been struck by the Tiger Tail Whip that day.
’The thought was bizarre, yet incredibly strong.’
Meanwhile, at the Prince Qing Mansion, Song Lianhe was sunbathing in the courtyard. When she heard her dear father had been caned, she showed little reaction, merely remarking coolly, "Walk down enough dark alleys, and you’re bound to run into a ghost..."
Before she could finish, a terrified Shuang Ye clamped a hand over her mouth. "Miss! Miss, you can’t say the Holy Emperor is... is..."
Song Lianhe let out a pair of playful laughs and pulled her hand away. "So what if I say the Holy Emperor is a ghost?"
"Miss! You... you, you, you..."
"Hehe. Even if the Holy Emperor *is* a ghost, he’s a good ghost—one who strikes terror into the hearts of all treacherous villains! Some people in this world are merely human in appearance, wolves in sheep’s clothing who commit inhuman deeds. Their evil hearts are what truly rival those of vengeful spirits. But the Holy Emperor is different! He didn’t show favoritism just because my father is the National Guardian General. Instead, he stood up for a helpless little orphan girl like me. What kind of magnanimity is that? That is a heart that cares for all people! Now *that’s* a truly good Emperor—diligent in his governance, loving of his subjects, and dedicated solely to the welfare of the common folk! To have a monarch as brilliant as the Holy Emperor is truly the great fortune of our Da Cheng!"
At the decorated gateway, Emperor Cheng Xiao, dressed in simple clothes, stood with his hands behind his back. Listening to the young lady’s string of praises from within, the corners of his tightly pressed lips curved up slightly.
Zhou Cangyan, who was beside the Emperor, had at first knitted his brow deeply when he heard Song Lianhe’s unguarded words from inside.
Only now did his brow relax. He glanced over to where Song Lianhe was lounging lazily, her small feet kicked up and swinging back and forth, looking conspicuously white in the sunlight.
’Song Lianhe had a silver tongue. When it came to praising people, she always took an unconventional approach. After all, her skills as a top sales champion were undeniable!’ 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
She popped a grape handed to her by Shuang Ye into her mouth and said unhurriedly, "I’m telling you, Shuang Ye, I’m so grateful I could just about set up a longevity tablet for him. I’d have to burn three sticks of incense for him every morning and night..."
Suddenly, a somewhat sharp voice called out from the decorated gateway, "Princess Cheng Hong, His Majesty is here. Come and greet him at once."
’H-His Majesty?!’
Song Lianhe was so startled she jolted, nearly falling off her lounge chair.
"M-Miss..."
Shuang Ye scrambled to steady her mistress.
Song Lianhe stood there properly, stealing a glance at the approaching middle-aged man.
Emperor Cheng Xiao was dressed in simple clothes and wore a jade coronet. Possessing a graceful, imperial air, he strolled toward them against the light.
’What a... magnificent Emperor, doomed to die young!’
’In the original novel, Emperor Cheng Xiao didn’t get much page time. Right now, it seemed to be a time of peace and prosperity, but everything would change in half a year when he suddenly fell gravely ill.’
’Tsk, tsk, tsk. He’s only just past forty. What a shame.’
At the same time, Emperor Cheng Xiao was also studying the young woman before him.
"You are Shuniang’s daughter? In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big. When you were little, I even held you in my arms."
Song Lianhe stared at him blankly, having completely forgotten to reply.
’This was a real-life ancient Emperor, the supreme ruler! Even with the original owner’s memories, seeing him in the flesh was something else entirely!’
Beside Emperor Cheng Xiao stood a Eunuch dressed in a round-collared, narrow-sleeved robe and a curled official’s cap.
In the Da Cheng Dynasty, the highest rank a eunuch could hold was third-grade. Fourth-Grade officials and higher wore purple robes. It wasn’t hard to tell from the eunuch’s own robes that his rank was not low.
Seeing she was still standing there in a daze, Lu Shunfu prompted, "County Princess, are you not going to greet His Majesty?"
