Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 342: If You Feel Wronged, Just Say So. Why Cry?
Zhuang Qiaoyue drew herself up and said in an unfriendly tone, "Prince Qing was merely making a casual remark. It hasn’t been approved by the Ministry of Rites, nor has there been an imperial edict. Do you think a simple promise makes you Princess Qing? That’s ridiculous. We’ve never heard of a Princess Consort like that!"
When Zhuang Fangming heard this, he realized she had a point.
’He’s just like those debauched young masters. When they’re trying to coax a woman, don’t they all promise to marry her as a wife or concubine? Zhou Cangyan, an idle prince like him, is probably no different.’
Zhuang Fangming straightened his back slightly, his attitude toward Song Lianhe becoming more dismissive. He no longer addressed her as "Princess Consort," but said directly, "If you have business with us, then state it plainly."
Seeing how quickly he changed his tune, Song Lianhe immediately applauded him. "Truly worthy of being Da Cheng’s number one turncoat!"
’But then again,’ she thought, ’since I’m the Villainess, I can’t let them down!’
She deliberately put on an arrogant air. "The Prince has promised me that before long, he will throw me a grand wedding! The entire city will be invited!"
Seeing her uncultured act, Zhuang Qiaoyue sneered, "On what grounds? Surely you know that Prince Qing already has someone in his heart!"
’Although Song Xilan hadn’t stated it outright, she had only picked up on a few hints.’
’Normally, she wouldn’t dare to speak so carelessly. After all, that person was Princess Consort Ling!’
But seeing Song Lianhe so brazenly unaware of her own station, she felt compelled to teach her a lesson. "You aren’t even worthy of being a maidservant to the woman Prince Qing loves!"
"You dare spread rumors about Prince Qing? Fine! Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson—"
As Song Lianhe stepped forward, Zhuang Qiaoyue didn’t back down, planting her hands on her hips. "My father is a Second-Grade official of the Court! The Minister’s Mansion isn’t a place just any riffraff can waltz into! You’d better think carefully about the consequences of causing trouble here..."
Song Lianhe’s hand flew up and—SLAP!
She was determined to get payback for Ah Jun, so she put her full strength into that slap!
Everyone was stunned. Zhuang Qiaoyue clutched her cheek, frozen in place. "You... you dare hit me?!"
Lady Zhuang flew into a panic. "You slut, how dare you hit my daughter! Guards—"
His face ashen with rage, Zhuang Fangming immediately stopped his wife.
"Wife, calm yourself!"
Zhuang Fangming approached Song Lianhe, his expression dark, and proclaimed, "According to the laws of Da Cheng, disrespecting a court official is punishable by thirty strokes of the cane for a minor offense, and by imprisonment or exile for a severe one!"
Clutching her face, Zhuang Qiaoyue shrieked hysterically, "Father, why are you wasting your breath on her? Arrest her! Just arrest her! She dared to hit me? I’m going to claw her face to ribbons!"
Song Lianhe shook out her hand, a small smirk playing on her lips. She lifted her chin, looking utterly triumphant. "That’s right, I hit you! So what?"
Zhuang Qiaoyue was enraged. "I swear I’ll kill you today!"
She lunged at Song Lianhe, only to have her collar grabbed. This time, it was two quick slaps in succession! SLAP! SLAP!
"Ah! Qiaoyue!"
"How audacious! Simply audacious!"
Seeing their daughter get hit again, Zhuang Fangming and Lady Zhuang forgot all about Prince Qing. Fiercely protective, they summoned the household guards and footmen and charged forward to apprehend Song Lianhe.
Song Lianhe watched them, the smile on her face slowly widening. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation, and her uncanny expression sent a chill down the spines of all who saw it.
’Come on! Bring it on!’
’The deluxe poison spa package is all ready for you!’
But just as she was about to unleash her ultimate attack, a short sword appeared before her, held by someone from behind.
"Disrespect Princess Qing, and you will be killed without pardon."
Xuan Mei appeared like a divine general descended from the heavens. His aura was glacial, and by simply standing before her, he seemed like an insurmountable mountain.
Zhuang Fangming froze. He still possessed a shred of reason. The reckless woman before him was one thing, but this guard was clearly one of Prince Qing’s men and could not be offended.
But Zhuang Qiaoyue couldn’t be bothered with such subtleties. She pointed at Song Lianhe and screamed, "You filthy, low-born wench! How dare you hit me! You’re courting death! Guards! Seize them!"
Song Lianhe peeked out from behind Xuan Mei, grinning as she fanned the flames. "Hah, you want to arrest me? I belong to Prince Qing. Do you dare?"
"Why wouldn’t I dare?! My father is the Minister of the Ministry of Industry! So what if you really are Princess Qing? Do you think I, Zhuang Qiaoyue, am afraid of you? He’s just an idle prince with a title but no real power. What can he possibly do to me?!"
Zhuang Fangming’s face turned pale. "You insolent girl!" he hissed. "Shut your mouth!"
Song Lianhe continued her provocation, but as she saw someone slowly descending from the covered veranda, the amusement in her eyes deepened.
"My, what’s all the commotion?"
With his hands tucked in his sleeves, Zhou Cangyan sauntered over.
The moment he saw him, Zhuang Fangming was so frightened he fell to his knees with a thud. "Prince Qing! My daughter has a loose tongue. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness!"
Zhou Cangyan gave a cold laugh. "I am but an idle prince with a title and no power. What right do I have to find fault with Minister Zhuang?"
Zhuang Fangming grew even more panicked. "Your Highness! It is I who have failed in raising my daughter..." He turned and yanked his daughter down with him. "You insolent girl! Kneel and beg His Highness for forgiveness at once!"
Zhuang Qiaoyue’s face had turned deathly pale the moment she saw Zhou Cangyan, and her mind finally snapped back to reality.
’Damn it! That slut provoked me and I forgot everything! No matter what, he’s still the Holy Emperor’s biological younger brother! And with his infamous "Heavenly Kill Slash" reputation, if I anger him, he might actually cleave me in two!’
She knelt, trembling. "Forgive me, Prince Qing... This humble daughter was insulted and beaten, and in a moment of grief and indignation, I spoke without thinking. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness..." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Song Lianhe had no intention of giving her a chance to make excuses. She stepped out from behind Xuan Mei and shot him a meaningful glance. He took the hint and departed at once.
She moved to Zhou Cangyan’s side. "Quite a ’moment of grief and indignation’! Zhuang Qiaoyue, every other word out of your mouth is about how your father is a high-ranking official favored by the Holy Emperor, to the point where you don’t even show an ounce of respect for Prince Qing! Heh, Minister Zhuang certainly wields his authority with a heavy hand!"
"Your Highness! Your Highness, please see clearly! I have been wrongly accused!"
Song Lianhe continued, "As you said, my Prince has a title but no real power. Is that why a mere official’s daughter like you feels you can slander and despise him? Who, exactly, gave you that audacity? Was it Mr. Zhuang?"
Zhou Cangyan glanced at her. She returned his gaze with a look that seemed to say: ’I know what you’re up to. Just leave it all to me!’
Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Zhuang Fangming knelt on the ground, wiping away beads of sweat in terror. Seeing this, Lady Zhuang threw a hysterical fit. "You’re trying to frame my husband! My husband is an upright and incorruptible official; he cannot suffer such an injustice! This empire belongs to the Holy Emperor, and the Holy Emperor is a wise ruler who will surely see that justice is done! This humble wife will go to the Ministry of Justice and strike the Injustice Bell! I will stake my life on getting justice for my husband and my daughter!"
Zhou Cangyan looked down on them, his presence as imposing as a cliff face. His thumb stroked the Bone Ring on his index finger, his gaze chillingly serene, utterly unconcerned.
Suddenly, Song Lianhe dropped to her knees before Zhou Cangyan with a thud. She gave her thigh a hard pinch, and the pain instantly brought tears to her eyes.
Pouting, she began to sob pitifully. "My Prince, you must get justice for me as well..."
Zhou Cangyan watched her with amusement. "Oh?" he said, his voice slow and lazy, the sound lilting upward. "If you’ve been wronged, just say so. What are you crying for?"
As he spoke, he helped her to her feet, not sparing a single glance for the Zhuang family, who were on the other side, sobbing to the point of near collapse.
