Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 77: County Princess, Don’t Do Anything Foolish
「Ningrui Pavilion.」
Xuan Mei dropped to her knees. "I have failed in my duty."
"Administer the punishment yourself."
"Yes."
Without another word, Xuan Mei rose and left.
Just as she turned, someone else walked in.
Xuan Mei’s gaze remained fixed forward as she brushed past him.
A pair of black military boots came to a halt.
Cao Jin turned slightly, just in time to catch a glimpse of the woman’s slender, dashing figure from behind.
He looked away and strode into the pavilion.
"My sister brought her in."
Zhou Cangyan poured a cup of tea and slowly pushed it across to him. "So? How do you plan to account for this to me?"
Cao Jin didn’t bother with pleasantries. He sat, picked up the cup, and drank. Only after setting it down did he speak. "Leave Second Miss Song’s safety within Ling’an City to me."
Zhou Cangyan looked at him. "She is my person. Do you think I can’t protect her myself?"
Cao Jin pointed out bluntly, "If you get involved, Your Highness, it will only create more trouble."
Zhou Cangyan said nothing, simply pouring him another cup.
This time, after Cao Jin finished his tea, he rose and bowed. "I shall take my leave."
Once he had gone, the Shadow Guard finally caught on. "So, Commander Cao deliberately had his sister follow Second Miss Song so he’d have a legitimate reason to step in and protect them? Tsk, tsk. Just what you’d expect from him!"
Zhou Cangyan didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "What of the situation with the Empress?"
"Oh, Second Miss Song is throwing a fit."
Seeing his master raise an eyebrow, he quickly elaborated, "She’s trying to force Prince Ling to swear an oath that if he marries Song Xilan, he’ll be disemboweled and rendered impotent. How could Prince Ling ever make a vow like that? So Second Miss Song started crying and screaming, and before you know it, the two of them were fighting right in front of the Empress."
CRACK.
The teacup hit the stone table with too much force and shattered.
A sacrificial red-glazed cup, a piece known as a "treasure among a thousand kilns," was shattered just like that.
Zhou Cangyan sneered. "She can’t bear to let him go that much?"
The Shadow Guard saw nothing wrong with her behavior. "Everyone in Ling’an City knows that Second Miss Song is in love with Prince Ling. Her love for him is as strong as her hatred for Song Xilan..."
Before he could finish, Zhou Cangyan was already on his feet, striding out of Ningrui Pavilion.
「Imperial Garden, Wanyan Hall.」
The arguing in the hall made Empress Chun De’s brow furrow in annoyance.
Song Lianhe had no intention of letting Zhou Junlin off the hook. ’He’s the one who wronged me, but he’s standing there with that self-righteous look on his face. It’s disgusting! He can’t blame me if my hands are itching to rip him to shreds!’
"Zhou Junlin! You still won’t admit to what you’ve done? Fine! Then swear an oath right here in front of Her Majesty the Empress!"
"How ridiculous! Why should I swear an oath? Are you even worthy of it?"
"Heh. I’m not worthy? I suppose *she* is!"
Song Lianhe pointed at Song Xilan, who stood to the side with tears in her eyes and a haggard expression.
Song Xilan glanced over timidly before lowering her head again, looking as if she had no strength left to argue.
’In truth, the more unhinged Lianhe became, the more at ease Xilan felt. Only then would things proceed in the direction she desired.’
Zhou Junlin had already lost his patience. Seeing her bully Song Xilan again sent a fresh wave of anger through him. "This is between you and me! Why do you have to drag an innocent person into it?"
"An innocent person? You mean the ’innocent person’ you were whispering sweet nothings to behind the rockery?"
"Song Lianhe! She’s your sister! How can you spout such slander and disregard her reputation?!"
"Am I the one disregarding her reputation, or are *you* the one ruining it, Your Highness? Let me tell you something, Zhou Junlin! Don’t think you can do whatever you please just because you’re a prince! We have a marriage contract. I am your future Princess Consort! If you don’t give me a proper explanation today, you can forget about sweeping this under the rug! Worst-case scenario, I’ll take this matter before the Holy Emperor himself! I’ll see what he has to say! Are you telling me that someone of royal blood can just trample over the truth, call black white, and do as they please?!"
Zhou Junlin’s face turned livid with rage. "You’re a shrew! Utterly unreasonable!"
The Empress lifted her gaze slightly, and Fang Xiu immediately spoke up. "County Princess, please mind your words."
"Yes, yes, yes, it’s all my fault! Who on earth have I offended? I came to Her Majesty’s banquet so full of joy, only to discover my fiancé and my own sister sneaking behind a rockery together! And what happens? I haven’t received a shred of justice, and I’m the one being told off!"
Song Lianhe completely lost it, plopping down on the floor and sobbing uncontrollably. "Fine, fine, fine! It’s all my fault, is that what you want to hear? I’m an eyesore to all of you! I’ll get out of the way right now so you two lovebirds can be together forever!"
She then postured as if to slam her head into a nearby pillar. The Empress was terrified. ’Never mind that she is the future Princess Consort Ling; she is Biwu’s beloved! She absolutely cannot be harmed!’
"Fang Xiu! Quickly—"
Fang Xiu and the palace maids rushed to stop her. "County Princess! Don’t do anything foolish!"
But at the last second, Song Lianhe changed her trajectory and rammed her head straight into Zhou Junlin’s stomach!
