Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 146: He Never Asked for Anything, Only Song Lianhe
Song Xilan left Tanwei Palace in a daze, Consort Qi’s words still echoing in her ears.
"If you are willing to dissolve the engagement yourself, you can at least preserve your reputation. I will take you as my goddaughter and will surely find you a good match."
She stopped short and turned to look back at Tanwei Palace, resentment, disappointment, and indignation swirling within her...
Overwhelmed by a tangle of emotions, she suddenly dropped to her knees—
A palace maid returned to report that a Miss Song was kneeling outside the gates of Tanwei Palace.
Consort Qi, a book in her hand, lifted her tea and took a sip.
"If she wants to kneel, then let her."
Meanwhile, in Chongzheng Hall.
"The Empress has arrived!"
With the announcement, Chun De appeared in the Imperial Study Room.
"Why has the Empress come here so late at night?"
Emperor Cheng Xiao feigned surprise.
Chun De had always been gentle and virtuous, but now her face was stern and her eyes cold. "What is the meaning of this, Holy Emperor? You clearly issued a decree betrothing Song Lianhe to King Qing, so why are you going back on your word?"
Perhaps it was her accusatory tone that displeased Emperor Cheng Xiao, for his expression immediately turned cold. "Has the Empress come here to condemn me?"
"I wouldn’t dare. I simply wish to ask for an explanation from the Holy Emperor on King Qing’s behalf."
"Empress!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao slammed his hand on the table, clearly enraged.
Seeing this, Lu Shunfu repeatedly said, "Calm your anger, Holy Emperor," and then hurried to placate Chun De. "Your Majesty the Empress, when the Holy Emperor issued the marriage decree, he only said ’a Miss Song’... He never specified it was the Second Miss Song..."
Chun De suddenly realized. "So, the Holy Emperor had this planned all along?"
Emperor Cheng Xiao’s expression grew grim. He stared at her coldly and said, word by word, "Empress, you are too insolent!"
A chill ran through Chun De, and she looked at him in disbelief.
"Holy Emperor, you know how much Biwu has suffered all these years. He has never once asked for any favors. Song Lianhe is the only thing he has ever wanted. Can the Holy Emperor not even grant him this?"
Emperor Cheng Xiao looked at her with cold eyes and said slowly, "Empress, I know of your bond with Chaoyan, and that you treat Biwu no differently than Sui’an. But do not forget, you are the Empress of Da Cheng. Everything you do must be for Da Cheng, not for any single person!"
——
Inside the Prince Qing Mansion, Song Lianhe was still unaware that the question of "who she was going to marry" was turning the Imperial Palace upside down. Instead, she was sitting in the courtyard with Shuang Ye and the others, grilling food.
She had someone make a simple copper brazier and was grilling fatty pork belly that sizzled on the fire.
"The soul of barbecue lies in the perfect balance of fat and lean meat~" Since her hand was injured, Song Lianhe used a copper fork to pick up a piece, dip it in sauce, and pop it into her mouth, her expression one of pure bliss.
Although ancient people were "eating skewers" tens of thousands of years ago, and ceramic grills existed in the Neolithic era, it was still a novelty in the Da Cheng Dynasty.
Here, grilling was mostly reserved for seafood and game. This was the first time anyone had seen someone like Song Lianhe use pork, beef, and lamb, marinate it beforehand for flavor, and then serve it with dipping sauces. She even skewered and grilled vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu!
"Mm! Delicious!"
Uncle Liang was full of praise after tasting it.
Shuang Ye couldn’t help but ask, "Miss, how do you know how to grill like this?"
"I learned it from a book."
Song Lianhe said without a second thought.
Several grills were set up in the courtyard, creating a lively, smoky, and bustling scene. Song Lianhe looked around. "Where’s Ah Jun?"
’I haven’t seen that kid since last night. Who knows where he’s run off to.’
Shuang Ye said, "Perhaps he went to the clinic."
Just as they were speaking, Chao Junyu happened to walk over.
"Ah Jun, where have you been?" Song Lianhe asked, motioning for him to sit next to her. "It’s almost ready. Come and eat."
Chao Junyu studied her intently. A faint blush, like a wash of fine wine, colored the young man’s face, and the corners of his lips curled up uncontrollably.
Seeing him hesitate, Song Lianhe awkwardly held out a skewer of meat to him and whispered, "I didn’t prepare enough today. There are many wolves and little meat. If you don’t eat now, it’ll all be gone."
Chao Junyu hummed softly in response.
He lowered his gaze and was about to reach for it when he suddenly noticed a bloodstain on his cuff. His expression changed slightly, and he discreetly lowered his hand, accepting the skewer with his other one.
Cheng Xidian stood outside the arched gateway, watching them with a cold glare.
"Miss Cheng?"
Huai Xu approached. "Miss Cheng, aren’t you going in?"
Cheng Xidian said dismissively, "What’s so special about a mere barbecue? It’s something we grew tired of eating long ago on the border."
Huai Xu gave a polite smile and said no more.
But just as he was about to enter, Cheng Xidian stopped him. "Young Master Huai, there is something I’d like to ask you."
"Please, feel free to ask, Miss Cheng."
Back in the courtyard, when Uncle Liang saw Song Lianhe’s surprisingly good appetite, he felt the wrinkles around his eyes crinkle into a broad smile.
He murmured, "It’s good that she can eat, it’s good that she can eat."
A short while later, Huai Xu walked over, cast a suspicious glance at Song Lianhe, and suddenly said, "Uncle Liang, Miss Cheng just asked if Second Miss Song is..."
"Is what?"
Uncle Liang was in a good mood, and even his gaze was full of mirth.
The matter concerned a woman’s reputation. Huai Xu thought for a moment, then shook his head. "It’s nothing."
Shuang Ye came over with a delicate plate. "Young Master Huai, my miss grilled this for you."
Huai Xu was flattered. "Thank you, Second Miss Song!"
With that interruption, he put the earlier matter aside and took a taste of the "barbecue" that Second Miss Song spoke of.
Under the eaves of the corridor, Cheng Xidian stared intently at Song Lianhe.
’So, she isn’t pregnant after all. It was all a lie!’
Hatred filled Cheng Xidian’s eyes. ’I knew this woman was trouble, daring to deceive even the Young Master!’
’Song Lianhe is fawning over Huai Xu now. She must not have expected that he already told me the truth.’
’Huai Xu probably doesn’t know the whole story, or else why would he have told me so easily?’
’There’s no time to lose.’ She immediately returned to her room to send a message to her master by carrier pigeon. She would make Song Lianhe pay!
The people in the courtyard gradually dispersed. Worried she would overtire herself, Uncle Liang also urged her to go back to her room and rest.
"Uncle Liang, why hasn’t the Prince returned yet?" Song Lianhe looked up at the sky and asked uneasily, "Nothing has happened to him, has it?"
This whole affair started because of her, so she was naturally anxious.
"Please rest assured, the Prince will certainly be fine."
"I hope so."
Song Lianhe wasn’t one to worry unnecessarily. As the great villain of the entire book, Zhou Cangyan was quite capable; he just hadn’t shown his true colors yet.
She had eaten a bit too much barbecue, so she went back to her room to let her food digest.
Chao Junyu was about to follow her in, but Shuang Ye grabbed him and pulled him aside.
"Ah Jun, where were you last night?" Shuang Ye asked sternly. "And... what’s with the bloodstain on your clothes?"
She had seen it too.
Chao Junyu lowered his gaze and said slowly, his voice soft, "I was going to the clinic last night, but I ran into some drunkards causing trouble on the street. I went to break up the fight, and the blood must have gotten on me then."
"Really?"
Shuang Ye felt that she was finding it harder and harder to understand this boy.
He always did whatever Miss told him. For him to not be by her side last night when such a huge incident occurred just didn’t make sense.
Chao Junyu nodded, his eyes sincere as he asked, "Sister Shuang Ye, you don’t believe me?"
"It’s not that I don’t believe you..." Shuang Ye shook her head. "Never mind. In any case, just don’t cause any trouble before Miss and King Qing are married."
Chao Junyu’s long, thick lashes trembled slightly. "Miss is... getting married?"
"It’s the Holy Emperor’s decree. How could it be false?" Shuang Ye sighed. "You know it too. Miss broke off her engagement with Prince Ling. Who knows how many people in Ling’an City are laughing at her behind her back!"
Then she smiled again. "But it’s all for the best now! Prince Qing has a discerning eye, and he’s far more responsible than that Prince Ling! Our Miss won’t be Princess Consort Ling, but she’ll be Prince Ling’s aunt. Don’t you think that’s satisfying?"
Chao Junyu said nothing. He lowered his head, turned, and left.
"Ah Jun? Where are you going?"
Shuang Ye watched him suspiciously, feeling that he was acting strangely.
随即又耸耸肩,推开门进去了.
