Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 152: Marquis Xuan Chang, Lin Yuanzhong
Lu Shunfu, stealing a glance at the Holy Emperor’s face, began to berate the men at his side. "The imperial guard! What are you all standing there stunned for? Hurry up and seize the County Princess... no, escort her away!"
As the surrounding imperial guard moved forward on command, Song Lianhe kept backing away nervously, babbling, "Zhou Cangyan, don’t be afraid! This pair of Emei Needles was a gift from the former Emperor to my mother! If they push me too far, even if I can’t kill them, don’t you think I can at least hold these to my own throat? I’ll force them to let you go then. Don’t worry, they won’t dare do anything to me..."
’In truth, I don’t even know what I’m saying. My heart is pounding, and my body is shaking, but I still remember who protected me, time and time again, after I arrived all alone in this flimsy, fictional world!’
’And that’s why, this time, I can’t back down!’
The man behind her was silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.
Song Lianhe started to speak, wanting to tell him to stay hidden behind her, but just then, the palace attendant whose arm she had injured earlier suddenly charged forward—
"AH—"
Song Lianhe let out a small cry, shut her eyes tightly, and raised the Emei Needles with both hands—
Suddenly, an arm wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her swiftly backward. The next moment, a large hand settled on her arm, gliding down her smooth, delicate skin to her fingers, and gently took the Emei Needles from her grasp...
A few drops of blood suddenly splattered onto her face.
Song Lianhe froze. The man across from her, the one who had tried to ambush her, now had a bloody hole in his neck from which blood gushed freely. His eyes were stretched wide in disbelief as he stared at her. Then, with a THUD, he collapsed, falling stiffly to the ground.
A tremor ran through Song Lianhe.
The scene shocked everyone present!
Cao Ying even let out a frightened cry and threw herself into her mother’s arms. Lady Cao’s face turned ashen as well.
’To kill someone in the Holy Emperor’s presence is a capital offense. What are they going to do now?!’
Jarred back to reality by the screams and clamor around her, Song Lianhe realized what had just happened.
The body was still lying on the ground. ’This is bad,’ she thought. ’Now we’ve truly offended Emperor Cheng Xiao!’
The arm around her waist released its hold.
Zhou Cangyan began to use the hem of his robe to wipe the Emei Needles, cleaning off the bloodstains bit by bit.
Although his face was very pale, his movements were methodical, without a trace of panic.
Once it was clean, with a flick of his wrist, he slid the Emei Needles into the sash at his waist.
Turning back to Song Lianhe, he spoke as if no one else were present. "A royal gift from the former Emperor, forged from Snow Mountain Sky Iron. It’s no ordinary weapon. It’s too sharp for you. Next time, I’ll find you something lighter."
He spoke these seemingly nonchalant words, but his cold eyes swept across the room, and his entire being exuded a dangerous aura.
Only then did Cao Jin seem to finally react, as if he were arriving late to the scene.
He glanced at the body on the ground, his brow tightly knit. Turning his head to look at his men, he gave a slight wave of his hand, and they immediately closed in.
He himself stepped forward and said in a cold voice, "Prince Qing, you’ll have to forgive me."
Then he barked, "Seize them!"
The imperial guard responded, "Yes, sir!"
"..."
’It was only at this moment that I truly understood what it means to be a villain.’
’It wasn’t just about the literal definition; it included a deeper meaning... something like ’a person who enjoys courting death.’’
’I’m really about to cry. Does he have to push things to such an irreversible point?’
’In the original book’s plot, this was the point where the Emperor started to grow wary of him. I’m afraid that now, in the eyes of his Emperor brother, he’s no longer just seen as arrogant.’
She stared nervously at the guards on either side, sidled closer to him, and whispered, "You have another move up your sleeve, right? You must."
’Based on what I know of Zhou Cangyan, he’s a deep and calculating person. He never fights a battle he isn’t sure of winning. He must have had a detailed plan before acting.’
’Maybe this whole thing was just one part of his ’play’!’
"Another move, hmm?" the man murmured, before shaking his head quite decisively. "Nope."
Song Lianhe gasped in disbelief. "You don’t have one and you’re still acting this brazen?!"
Just then, Chun De cried out anxiously, "Biwu! Kneel down and beg the Holy Emperor for forgiveness at once!"
Her desire to save Zhou Cangyan was so obvious, yet he seemed completely oblivious. He turned to face Emperor Cheng Xiao and Chun De, merely clasping his hands in a perfunctory salute. His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant. "Imperial Sister-in-law, your younger brother has just executed a spy. What crime has been committed?"
"You... Even if that person really was a spy, it is for the Holy Emperor to decide! How could you be so impulsive and insolent!"
At this, Emperor Cheng Xiao let out a cold laugh and questioned in an icy voice, "King Qing, in your eyes, do We even exist? Cao Jin! Why haven’t you seized these two for Us yet! Take them to the great prison immediately!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Cao Jin acknowledged the order and, expressionless, personally led his men forward.
"Mother! What should we do?" Cao Ying was beside herself with anxiety. "How can Brother be so cold-hearted?"
"Stop your nonsense!" Lady Cao immediately grabbed hold of her.
This was the Imperial Palace; one must be careful with their words and actions at all times.
What’s more, in a situation like this, even Cao Jin was powerless.
’King Qing openly defied the Holy Emperor, and he still looks completely unrepentant. That’s the Holy Emperor! Does His Majesty not care about his own dignity?’
On her side, Song Lianhe kept her eyes glued on Cao Jin while tugging at the corner of Zhou Cangyan’s sleeve. "Quick, think of something! If they really throw us in the great prison, we’ll never get out! They’ll just cook up some evidence, slap you with a ’treason’ charge, and order an immediate execution. What’s the use of having forces deployed in Sui Ning? Distant water can’t put out a nearby fire! We’ll both be dead and gone before your men can even reach Ling’an City!"
Zhou Cangyan’s eyes suddenly narrowed. "How do you know I have forces deployed in Sui Ning?"
"I..."
’It’s over. I got careless!’
"Heh." He gave a soft chuckle, the glint in his eyes as sharp as a blade. "It seems you know quite a lot about me."
"..."
Song Lianhe could only play dumb. This wasn’t the time or place for this conversation.
Cao Jin walked over. "Prince Qing, if you please."
Zhou Cangyan withdrew his gaze from her and looked up at Emperor Cheng Xiao. "Holy Emperor, I’m the one who killed him. It has nothing to do with her."
Song Lianhe faltered. Looking at his back, lacerated and dripping with blood from a whipping, she felt her chest tighten, as if something were lodged in her throat.
’Zhou Cangyan is the villain of the entire book, but to me, he’s been incredibly loyal! Anyone else can abandon him, but not me! I can’t!’
His unrepentant, almost defiant behavior made Emperor Cheng Xiao’s face darken. "Are you trying to teach Us how to rule? Heh. You spent years garrisoning the border. Out of brotherly affection, We permitted your return to the Capital City. Is this how you repay Us?" He glanced to either side. "What are you all waiting for? Take them away!"
The light in Zhou Cangyan’s pale eyes slowly condensed into frost.
Just then, a booming, vigorous voice rang out from outside the main hall: "This old subject, Lin Yuanzhong, requests an audience with the Holy Emperor!"
Hearing this voice, everyone was startled. Emperor Cheng Xiao was also surprised, but his brow immediately furrowed again.
Following this, an old man clad in armor and war boots strode in. His steps were firm and resounding, and though he walked alone, he carried the aura of a mighty army.
Lin Yuanzhong had white hair and brows, but his eyes were piercing and full of spirit. A veteran who had weathered countless battlefields and shattered enemy ranks, he was over sixty years old, yet his bearing remained resolute and his aura formidable.
Lin Yuanzhong?
Song Lianhe was overjoyed. ’This is him! The original owner’s legendary, fiercely protective maternal grandfather, the Old Duke Xuan Chang!’
Lin Yuanzhong strode forward and dropped to one knee before Emperor Cheng Xiao. "Your subject, Lin Yuanzhong, greets the Holy Emperor!"
"Marquis Lin..."
Before Emperor Cheng Xiao could even bid him to rise, Lin Yuanzhong was already on his feet. He turned and marched straight toward Song Lianhe. Seeing the guards on either side of her, he didn’t say a word before raising a foot and kicking them clear across the floor!
"Who dares lay a hand on this old man’s granddaughter? I’ll flay ’em alive!"
