Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 145: You Bullied My Person and Expect to Get Away Unscathed?
’Pregnant?’
Zhou Cangyan lazily lifted his gaze, the corners of his lips slowly curving upward.
The others had mixed reactions to the news.
Zhen Yongming had initially suspected it was merely an excuse. He never imagined that Mrs. Liu was actually pregnant.
With this development, it would be difficult to proceed with the trial.
While the laws of Da Cheng were strict, they prescribed lighter sentences for women and expectant mothers, especially one from an official’s family.
He immediately gestured for a subordinate to go to the Imperial Palace for instructions.
Zhou Cangyan narrowed his pale eyes and gave a subtle lift of his finger. Without a word of command, one of his men had already begun to trail them.
Hearing the physician’s diagnosis, Mrs. Liu was dazed. She touched her lower abdomen in disbelief.
She had dreamed of giving her husband another son, but her body had failed her, getting Song Xingfeng’s hopes up for nothing on several occasions. So when she noticed her monthly courses were a few days late, she hadn’t thought much of it. She only mentioned it offhandedly to her daughter, figuring she would see a physician first before making any announcements. Who could have known this whole mess would erupt?
’As it turned out, the heavens had blessed her, and her wish had truly been granted!’
——
Mrs. Liu was personally escorted back to the General Mansion by Jing Ye.
Upon learning of the pregnancy, a delighted Song Xingfeng immediately ordered for rewards to be distributed.
However, Mrs. Liu’s external injuries were severe, including several broken bones. Her pulse was therefore weak, and she required careful nursing, to which Song Xingfeng agreed without hesitation. Considering she had been dragged to a graveyard by Zhou Cangyan’s men and beaten so brutally, it was a miracle the baby had survived. But this only made Song Xingfeng’s hatred for Zhou Cangyan grow.
Song Xilan was both shocked and overjoyed when she found out. ’I can’t believe my gamble paid off!’ she thought. If her mother could give her a younger brother, she would finally have some backing in the family. She could hold her head high in the mansion from now on.
Her first thought was to share the good news with Zhou Junlin. After all, when the pregnancy was first announced, anyone could see it was likely just an excuse, yet Zhou Junlin had still accompanied her to the Ministry of Justice.
’Now everything is fine. I have to let him know that I never used him!’
So, she ordered Man Yue to prepare a sedan chair and rushed to the Ling Prince Mansion, only to be told that Zhou Junlin was not in residence.
After making inquiries, Man Yue returned. "They said Prince Ling was summoned to the Imperial Palace and hasn’t returned yet."
’He took Song Lianhe away in front of so many people. It’s only right that the Imperial Palace would demand an explanation.’
Song Xilan had known that people from the palace were coming; that was precisely why she had left the Ling Prince Mansion to avoid them in the first place.
"Miss, should we go inside and wait for the Prince?"
"No need. Let’s return to the mansion."
"Yes."
They were soon to be wed. If it weren’t for her mother’s situation, they shouldn’t be meeting privately, as it was improper.
Song Xilan sat in the carriage, her heart finally at ease.
’Now, all I have to do is peacefully wait to become his bride.’
「Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Justice.」
Zhen Yongming saw off Lu Shunfu, who had come to announce the decree, then instructed Jing Ye, "This case is closed for now. You can escort Prince Qing back to his mansion first."
Jing Ye froze, his clear eyes filled with confusion. "Weren’t we supposed to... to do something about Prince Qing...?"
Zhen Yongming shot him a glare. Realizing his slip of the tongue, Jing Ye asked cautiously, "The case isn’t closed, and we’re just letting him go? How is the Ministry of Justice supposed to account for this? The victim is General Li Hua, after all..."
"General Li Hua is a pillar of the state, but she is also Song Xingfeng’s wife, Lin Shuniang. This makes the case a conflict between a wife and a concubine within a grand household—a family matter." Zhen Yongming looked at him meaningfully. "And as for how it’s ultimately defined, that’s not for you or me to decide."
With his superior speaking so plainly, how could Jing Ye not understand?
"Yes, I understand."
Zhen Yongming said, "Go and escort Prince Qing out. *Sigh*... just try not to stir up any more trouble."
He was getting a headache himself. He had no desire to get involved in the household drama of the rich and powerful, especially when a case involved a thorny character like Prince Qing. He didn’t want to waste his time on such tedious affairs.
Following Zhen Yongming’s orders, Jing Ye escorted Zhou Cangyan and his Chi Xiao Guard Team to the gates of the Ministry of Justice Mansion.
Jing Ye glanced back warily, then calmly stepped forward to report, "The Holy Emperor’s intention is to downplay this incident until it disappears. But how could he pass up this perfect opportunity? How could he let Your Highness off the hook? Is it just because Mrs. Liu is pregnant?"
Zhou Cangyan unhurriedly stroked the Bone Ring on his index finger. His perpetually languid gaze lowered slightly, and a cryptic smile touched his lips.
"Why would he care about a mere Mrs. Liu?"
Jing Ye recalled something else. "Prince Ling was reprimanded in the Imperial Study. Consort Qi had to rush over and plead for him to spare him from punishment. It was probably because he took the County Princess away."
"Consort Qi?"
Zhou Cangyan slowly raised his gaze. "She rarely involves herself in matters like this. Unless..."
Jing Ye frowned. "Unless there’s something else?"
Zhou Cangyan scoffed. A boundless chill spread through his seemingly desolate eyes as he raised the corner of his mouth into a sinister, wanton smile. "Whatever it is... bullying my people and expecting to walk away unscathed? There’s no sense in that~"
Just then, a rider on a fast horse galloped up.
Shen Fu immediately moved to stand in front of Zhou Cangyan.
The man dismounted, bowed low before Zhou Cangyan, and presented a letter. "Commander Cao ordered me to deliver this to Your Highness."
It was the imperial guard, one of Cao Jin’s men.
Shen Fu took it and then presented it to Zhou Cangyan.
As he read the letter, Zhou Cangyan’s eyes turned cold and his jaw tightened. Then, he let out a short laugh. The languor in his eyes was gone, replaced by a layer of frost.
Zhou Cangyan slowly tightened his palm, crumpling the letter until it was a ball.
’Times change, but some things never do.’
’The Royal Family’s cold-blooded cruelty is just as I remember. And I am always the one who is abandoned.’
"To the Imperial Palace."
He gave an order, grabbed the saddle, vaulted onto the horse, and took the lead, heading straight for the Imperial Palace.
——
It was after returning to her mansion that Song Xilan was secretly summoned to the Imperial Palace.
"Your subject, Song Xilan, pays respects to the Noble Consort."
「Tanwei Palace, Nuanyu Pavilion.」
Consort Qi was sensitive to the cold. It was only early autumn, but she was already holding a hand warmer. She glanced down and said, "Rise."
She then ordered a servant to offer her a seat.
A palace maid brought over a brocade stool and placed it in front of the heated couch. Song Xilan said her thanks, then rose and obediently sat down.
Consort Qi was Zhou Junlin’s maternal aunt. Zhou Junlin regarded her as a mother, so Song Xilan naturally respected her greatly as well.
"I didn’t summon you for anything important, I just wanted to ask about your marriage to Ziyin." Consort Qi lifted her gaze to meet Song Xilan’s. "After what your mother has done, do you believe you are still qualified to marry him as his main wife?"
Song Xilan’s head snapped up, her face a mask of disbelief. "Noble Consort... what do you mean?"
"Miss Song, you are an intelligent woman. You should be well aware of the disparity between you and Ziyin. The Holy Emperor holds Ziyin in high regard, and I already had a preferred candidate in mind to be Princess Consort Ling. It was Ziyin’s insistence on marrying you that led to today’s disaster. Not only can you not help him, you have become a liability. Ziyin may not blame you, but I cannot ignore it. So today... I don’t mind playing the villain."
Consort Qi spoke unhurriedly, but the color had already drained from Song Xilan’s face.
