Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 391: He Abandoned Her, Beyond Reproach
"Doctor Song, you saved my life. I promise I will not harm you."
Duan Shanmian’s tone was incredibly detached, as if the life he owed her was the most trivial thing in the world.
"Fine."
Song Lianhe was blunt. "Let him go, and I’ll go with you."
"No! Sister..." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"Ah Jun, if you still consider me your sister, then listen to me."
"I..."
Song Lianhe turned to look at Yin Huan and E Jintang. "Yin Huan, I’m leaving these two in your care."
Yin Huan bit her lip. "But if something happens to you, how can I possibly answer to the Prince?"
"Nothing will happen."
Song Lianhe turned back, her gaze sweeping over Duan Shanmian. "City Lord Duan wouldn’t go back on his word."
Duan Shanmian gave her a polite nod. "Thank you."
Song Lianhe followed Duan Shanmian out of the clinic. The main street was deserted.
Just then, the door of the small noodle shop across the street CREAKED open. The owner poked his head out and, mustering his courage, asked, "You... where are you taking Doctor Song? Doctor Song is a good person..."
Duan Shanmian rarely made public appearances, so the townspeople didn’t recognize him. He glanced sideways at Song Lianhe, a pensive look on his face.
Song Lianhe reassured him, "Uncle Tian, I’m fine. You and Auntie should stay safe inside. Don’t come out."
"Then... be careful, Doctor Song."
"I will! Don’t worry."
The noodle shop door closed softly again.
"Let’s go."
Song Lianhe walked straight ahead, utterly fearless.
Duan Shanmian watched her for a moment before clasping his hands behind his back and slowly following.
He didn’t take her back to the City Lord Mansion, but went straight to the city gate.
A cold, damp northwestern wind howled. Outside Sishui City, a dark, crushing mass of about a thousand soldiers and warhorses stood clad entirely in black armor. It was the palpable, oppressive weight of a besieging army.
A splash of crimson appeared on the battlements, her embroidered sashes fluttering in the wind.
Song Lianhe stood upon the gate tower, a striking figure in her flowing robes and snow-white pleated underskirt, a stark contrast to the gloomy, cold darkness all around.
She strained to get a clear look at Zhou Cangyan, but he was too far away. From her vantage point, all she could see was the glint of steel and the might of an armored cavalry, their momentum unstoppable.
The general at the head of the formation was a man in a silver mask.
Judging by his upright posture, he had to be a young man.
’Is that him?’
"Emperor Cheng Xiao himself decreed the marriage between Princess Qing and Prince Qing. For the prince to lead an army into battle on his very wedding day... such loyalty and patriotism is truly admirable."
Behind her, Duan Shanmian spoke, his words slow and measured. "I personally admire Prince Qing. It’s just that we each serve our own master."
A small smile touched Song Lianhe’s lips. "At least he wouldn’t stoop to kidnapping another man’s wife."
"True." Duan Shanmian didn’t get angry. Instead, he admitted frankly, "Anyone who could do such a thing is indeed a scoundrel."
Song Lianhe couldn’t help but glance at him. His expression was placid, his eyes like stagnant wells.
She suddenly asked, "Are you indebted to Prince Yongdong?"
Duan Shanmian’s gaze fell. After a long moment, he said, "Without him, I would not be the man I am today."
Song Lianhe nodded. "I see. A debt for his patronage." She then gave a short, open-hearted laugh. "Then you certainly should repay it in full."
He lifted his gaze and stared at her.
"But while you’re repaying your personal debt, what about the people of this entire city you’re dragging into it?"
The smile on Song Lianhe’s face slowly vanished. She stared at him and said coldly, "Duan Shanmian, whatever debt you owe him, you are the City Lord of Sishui City. The people here only want to live in peace. They’ve entrusted their lives and livelihoods to you, yet you’re using their safety to repay a personal favor? It’s absurd! If I were you, I’d sooner repay the debt with my own life!"
"Shut up!"
Zhu Liao quickly interjected from the side, "City Lord, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s one of Zhou Cangyan’s people, she’s trying to shake your resolve!"
Duan Shanmian kept his gaze lowered, his thoughts unreadable.
But Song Lianhe just sneered. "Your City Lord isn’t a complete fool. He understands all this perfectly well without me having to say it."
Duan Shanmian looked up again. "You’re right. I deserve to be sent to the deepest hell. But Sishui City cannot be lost."
He glanced at Zhu Liao, who immediately stepped forward to Song Lianhe’s side, drew a blade, and pressed it to her neck. Staring at the young general below, he bellowed, "Prince Qing, take a good look! This is your Princess Consort! If you don’t want to see her blood splattered on these gates, then retreat at once!"
Song Lianhe stood there, her expression fearless, her back ramrod straight.
She watched the man below. Little Lan, coiled around her wrist, seemed to sense the threat and was already stirring restlessly.
She reached over with her other hand to gently soothe it a few times, keeping Little Lan from crawling out.
’If Duan Shanmian can try to force Zhou Cangyan to retreat in front of everyone, I can do the same to him. I just have to take him down first!’
’But there will only be one chance. I have to wait for the perfect moment!’
Below, the Black Cavalry Army remained motionless.
But the young general slowly raised the bow in his hands...
Song Lianhe stared at him in a daze.
Zhu Liao noticed as well and shouted, "Zhou Cangyan! Look closely! This is your Princess Consort!"
She had assumed this was just a standoff, a strategic stalemate between the two armies. Who would have thought that with a SWISH, an arrow would leave the bowstring, flying straight for Song Lianhe—
Song Lianhe’s pupils dilated. The arrow was incredibly fast, cutting through the biting wind as it shot fiercely toward her!
Duan Shanmian’s expression changed in an instant as he violently yanked her down.
Song Lianhe didn’t even blink, watching as the arrow shot past right in front of her eyes.
’He...’
’Just now, did he... disregard whether I lived or died?’
In the instant she fell into Duan Shanmian’s arms, her eyes were vacant with shock.
’Her mind even scrambled to find an excuse for him. He was the Heavenly Kill Slash. He had spent years on the battlefield, slaughtering countless enemies. How could he be swayed by sentiment?’
’He couldn’t possibly sacrifice all his soldiers for her sake alone, could he?’
’So... for him to abandon her was understandable.’
’Still, she was heartbroken.’
’Utterly heartbroken.’
Duan Shanmian let her go, glanced down at her without a word, and then handed her over to his subordinates.
It was clear he truly had no intention of harming her.
This, paradoxically, only made Song Lianhe feel worse.
’Or had Zhou Cangyan calculated that Duan Shanmian wouldn’t actually hurt her, and that’s why he fired that arrow?’
’But no matter how many excuses she made for him, she knew with absolute certainty that the Zhou Cangyan from before would never have done this...’
Below the gate tower, the war drums began to beat. Duan Shanmian immediately ordered his men to defend the city to the death.
The Da Cheng Army below had clearly come prepared, vowing to take Sishui City today!
Soldiers used battering rams to reach the base of the walls and swarmed up the siege ladders. The defending soldiers, armed with long spears, stabbed them one by one as they appeared! But the attackers were all Death Warriors, throwing themselves forward in endless waves, impossible to kill completely!
Duan Shanmian drew his sword. He looked at the soldiers around him, his eyes narrowing slightly.
’Who, exactly, stood to gain from this battle?’
’It certainly wasn’t these soldiers, nor was it the common people.’
With a flick of his wrist, he stabbed an enemy soldier who was swinging a blade at him. He then calmly withdrew his sword, his gaze turning to ice.
Things had come to this. He had no way out.
