Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 143: Father Emperor, I Don’t Want to Break Off the Engagement
「The Ministry of Justice.」
"My Lord! Prince Qing has returned!"
Someone rushed in to report.
Zhen Yongming’s expression grew taut, and he immediately led his men to see.
A formidable group of people strode in through the main gates.
Zhou Cangyan walked in the center, clad in black robes. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, powerful legs. Behind him were Shen Fu and the others, all clad in black armor, their presence imposing and stern.
This group was his personal guard, said to be Death Warriors who had followed him since their days on the battlefield. They were known as the "Chi Xiao."
The Holy Emperor had revoked Zhou Cangyan’s military authority, but he had never forbidden him from keeping a personal guard. The Chi Xiao, in particular, were famously secretive. Most were masters of disguise—some posed as his attendants, others as servants. It was said that even the cooks in the rear kitchen could be Chi Xiao!
In fact, this was the first time Zhou Cangyan had ever appeared so openly with the Chi Xiao.
When Zhen Yongming saw the procession, he thought that if someone claimed they were here to break a prisoner out, people would believe it.
"Your Highness, Prince Qing."
He stepped forward to offer a salute.
Shen Fu brought over a chair and placed it squarely in the center of the hall. Zhou Cangyan swept aside the hem of his robes and sat down.
He lifted his gaze to glance at Zhen Yongming and said languidly, "Lord Zhen, I am here. What are you dawdling for? Let’s get on with the interrogation."
How could Zhen Yongming not understand what was happening?
He had already received a report that Prince Qing had gone to the Ling Prince Mansion, retrieved the County Princess, and then immediately returned to the Ministry of Justice, bringing his personal guard, the Chi Xiao, with him. Wasn’t it obvious that he was here to stand up for the County Princess?
—
「Chongzheng Hall, the Imperial Study Room.」
"This is utter nonsense!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao flew into a rage, flinging a pile of court memorials at Zhou Junlin. "Open your eyes and take a good look! These are all memorials denouncing you!"
Zhou Junlin stood with his gaze lowered, saying nothing and allowing his Father Emperor to vent his fury.
"Look! Just look! They accuse you of endangering the nation over a petty rivalry!"
Another teacup came flying, splashing freshly brewed hot tea all over Zhou Junlin.
Beside them, Lu Shunfu was so frightened he fell to his knees. "Holy Emperor, please calm your anger..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
"You... You are truly... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Emperor Cheng Xiao was suddenly overcome with dizziness, steadying himself only by clutching the edge of his desk.
"Father Emperor!"
Zhou Junlin immediately rushed forward to support him.
"Get away from me!"
Lu Shunfu hurried to attend to him. "Holy Emperor, please, calm down. I’m sure Prince Ling did not mean for this to happen..."
"He meant no harm? I think he’s brainless!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao was so furious he pointed a finger at him. "First, you told me you didn’t want to marry that girl from the Song Family. Then you said you wanted to marry their other daughter! Fine, fine, I granted your every wish! And what is the result? You abduct the girl and drag her back to your mansion? And-and in front of everyone from the Ministry of Justice! Don’t you know that I have already betrothed her to your Imperial Uncle? She will be your elder. In the future, you will have to greet her with respect! Must you cause a feud between uncle and nephew and invite nothing but scandal?"
Zhou Junlin stood there, his brow tightly furrowed. The image of Song Lianhe standing with his Imperial Uncle made his chest constrict, and even breathing became difficult.
Without even thinking, he blurted out, "Father Emperor, I regret my decision! I don’t want to annul the engagement with her!"
Lu Shunfu’s face fell in alarm. "Oh, Your Highness, how can you be so foolish...?"
Just as he feared, Emperor Cheng Xiao was so enraged he picked up an inkstone, about to hurl it at him. "You defiant whelp!"
Zhou Junlin did not dodge. He let the inkstone strike him, leaving a black stain on his robes. He immediately swept his hem aside and knelt. "Father Emperor! I do not want to break the engagement!"
"You... You..."
He was the son Emperor Cheng Xiao valued most, and ordinarily, Zhou Junlin was always so sensible.
’Who would have ever imagined he would do something so foolish!’
Just then, an attendant announced the arrival of Consort Qi.
Before she could be summoned, Consort Qi hurried into the Imperial Study Room. "Holy Emperor!"
She moved in front of Zhou Junlin, shielding him with outstretched arms. "If you must strike or punish someone, Holy Emperor, let it be me. Whatever mistake Ziyin has made, it is because of my poor guidance! I have failed you, Holy Emperor, and I have failed my sister..."
The mention of Zhou Junlin’s mother was a direct blow to Emperor Cheng Xiao’s soft spot.
Furthermore, he held Consort Qi in high regard. She never came to Chongzheng Hall on her own initiative unless it concerned Zhou Junlin.
Now, he could neither strike nor scold him. Seething, he could only stand aside and glare at this defiant whelp.
"Ziyin, quickly, get up."
Consort Qi’s heart ached for him. She turned and helped him to his feet. "Can’t you speak to your Father Emperor properly? Look how angry you’ve made him. Hurry and apologize to your father."
She repeatedly shot him meaningful glances, but Zhou Junlin was conflicted. ’This is my only chance to fix this,’ he knew.
’If I apologize now,’ he thought, ’it means I’m giving up on Song Lianhe by default.’
At the thought of Song Lianhe, a dull ache spread through his chest. Of course, he refused to admit that it was because he had fallen for her.
He told himself he was just indignant.
’By what right can she just walk away whenever she pleases? Were all the things she said to me before lies? Who does she take me for, some kind of fool to be deceived?’
’Does she think she can get the better of me just by finding a patron in my Imperial Uncle?’
’Well, I refuse to let her get what she wants!’
"Ziyin? What are you thinking about? Hurry up and admit your mistake to the Father Emperor!"
Consort Qi urged from the side, while Emperor Cheng Xiao snorted coldly and turned away, unwilling to look at him any longer.
Zhou Junlin suddenly knelt again. "Father Emperor, I am serious! I wish to fulfill the marriage contract established with the Song Family and the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion."
The meaning behind his words was perfectly clear: he wanted to marry Song Lianhe.
Consort Qi covered her mouth with a handkerchief in astonishment, asking in disbelief, "Ziyin! Do you have any idea what you are saying?"
"Aunt, I am fully aware of what I’m saying. No matter how Father Emperor and you choose to punish me, I am going to marry her!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao clutched his chest, muttering "defiant whelp" and "what a scourge," while Lu Shunfu either poured him tea or fanned him frantically. "Holy Emperor, the Imperial Physician warned you not to get agitated again."
Emperor Cheng Xiao immediately pointed at the kneeling figure, his finger trembling so much that for a long while, he couldn’t utter a single word.
Zhou Junlin had made up his mind. He knelt with his back ramrod straight, utterly silent.
Consort Qi said urgently, "Ziyin, you are being utterly preposterous! Never mind how you resisted this marriage before, causing a scandal throughout the entire city and displeasing the Old Marquis. As it stands now, she is your Imperial Uncle’s betrothed Princess Consort!"
Zhou Junlin replied evenly, "Aunt, as you said, she is ’betrothed.’ That means she is not his Princess Consort yet."
"What difference does that make? The Holy Emperor’s decree has been issued! If it weren’t for this incident today, it would have already been announced to all the court officials!"
"Precisely for that reason. Don’t you think this might be fate, Aunt?"
Hearing this, Emperor Cheng Xiao’s anger flared anew. "Fate? What fate? Don’t you dare use fate as an excuse! You were the one who rejected her, and now you want to take her back. Have you considered the honor of the Song Family and the Old Marquis? Have you considered my honor?!"
Zhou Junlin pressed his lips together and kowtowed respectfully. "Father Emperor, I have been willful this time. But from childhood until now, this is the only time I have ever acted on a whim. I implore you to grant my wish."
"You..."
Emperor Cheng Xiao stared at him, completely at a loss for what to do.
