Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 190: Would It Be Too Cowardly to Beg for Mercy Now?

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Would It Be Too Cowardly to Beg for Mercy Now?

Song Lianhe was, at times, just that kind of difficult person.

She was clearly terrified of death, more than anyone, but when that stubborn streak of hers took over, not even nine bulls could pull her back!

The dungeon guards were trying to force her to press her fingerprint on a confession admitting she was an Evil Witch, but she kept her fists clenched so tightly they couldn’t pry her fingers open!

Cheng Xidian sneered.

"Did you think this would stop me? Song Lianhe, I was rescued from a pile of dead bodies by the Young Master. I’ve followed him onto the battlefield ever since. What haven’t I seen?"

She toyed with a dagger, the tip gently prodding Song Lianhe’s wrist. "Tell me, what if I were to sever the tendons right here..."

Song Lianhe lay sprawled on the ground, her body covered in lash marks, a truly wretched sight.

Hearing Cheng Xidian’s words, she instinctively tried to pull back her clenched fist. But Cheng Xidian simply lifted her foot and slowly pressed it down on her hand...

"Nngh—"

’It hurts so much.’

It hurt so much that Song Lianhe wanted to cry.

’This is all Zhou Cangyan’s fault!’

’If it weren’t for him, how could I be suffering like this?’

’The female lead is the one who should be enduring all this, so what does it have to do with a side character like me?!’

"Song Lianhe! I’m talking to you! Didn’t you hear me?!"

Seeing that she still dared to ignore her at a time like this, Cheng Xidian flew into a rage, snatched the whip from a guard’s hand, and lashed it viciously across her body!

"Who the hell do you think you are? You dare to marry him?!"

"You lowly bitch! Is he someone you can touch?"

Cheng Xidian swung the whip, her eyes gradually turning red as her curses dissolved into choked sobs. "How could you... How could you dare?! You think you’re worthy?!"

’The whip is just too painful!’

This time, Song Lianhe actually wanted to beg for mercy, but she had neither the chance nor the strength to speak.

In a daze, she recalled the time in Chongzheng Hall when Zhou Cangyan had also been sentenced to a flogging. The palace attendant carrying it out was malicious, using a whip soaked in saltwater and covered in barbs.

She remembered his back being flayed open, flesh and skin torn, yet he had still held her protectively against his chest...

’He must have been in even more pain then than I am now, right?’

’If I beg for mercy now, won’t I seem like a total coward? Zhou Cangyan would definitely look down on me.’

’And the people in this book, too... why does everyone love whipping people at the drop of a hat? This thing feels like it’s scraping off a layer of skin when it hits. It’s just so... painful...’

Seeing the person on the floor go still, the guards began to panic. They exchanged a look and quickly moved to stop the now-frenzied Cheng Xidian.

"Qian Chang! Qian Chang! If you keep going, you’ll kill her!"

"That’s right, she is the Young Master’s wife, after all..."

Cheng Xidian violently threw them off, glaring at them with bloodshot eyes. "She is not! The Young Master was just deceived by this woman!"

"Yes, yes, the Qian Chang is right! But... but she can’t die here..."

"If the Warlord finds out, we don’t have enough lives to pay for it!"

Cheng Xidian was acting out of jealous hatred and wished nothing more than for Song Lianhe to die!

But the others knew very well that even if Song Lianhe deserved to die a thousand deaths, the punishment had to come from the Warlord or the Young Master. This was, after all, an internal matter of the Luo Family, and no one else had the right to interfere.

Cheng Xidian had calmed down by now, especially after seeing Song Lianhe lying motionless on the ground, her back a dense crisscross of lash marks. The sight brought her a sense of cathartic satisfaction.

"Make her press her fingerprint."

The two guards exchanged a look and, with a practiced understanding, walked over. One held the so-called confession, while the other went to pry her fingers open.

The man whispered, "Why won’t they open?"

His partner quickly gestured for him to try the other hand, but it was the same. Who would have thought a woman could be so strong? If they used brute force, her fingers would break.

"Useless trash!"

Cheng Xidian berated them. "If you don’t do it, do you want me to snap your hands myself?!"

She didn’t care if Song Lianhe’s fingers broke; she had to get that confession today! With it, the Warlord would order her to be dealt with, and by then, it would be too late for even the Young Master to save her.

The two men looked at each other, gritted their teeth, and were just about to make their move when the heavy dungeon doors were pushed open.

Cheng Xidian squinted at the entrance. "Zhong Shimin, what are you doing here? This isn’t under the jurisdiction of your Tiger Beak, is it!"

Zhong Shimin descended the steps without a word. His gaze swept across the dungeon, landing on the figure lying on the floor, covered in wounds. Her hands were being held by the guards, revealing a pale, slender arm marked by a single lash, likely from when she’d tried to protect her head.

’Zhong Shimin?’

Song Lianhe faintly heard the name and let out a barely audible scoff.

But Zhong Shimin’s hearing was exceptionally sharp.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, walked straight into the cell, and glanced down. "I was the one who brought her back."

Cheng Xidian laughed coldly. "What, you want to protect her?"

"And why can’t I?"

Zhong Shimin suddenly kicked out, sending the two guards holding Song Lianhe flying. He reached down, scooped up the person on the floor, and effortlessly hoisted her onto his shoulder.

Mmph~

The movement pulled at Song Lianhe’s wounds. She furrowed her brow slightly; she truly didn’t even have the strength to cry out in pain.

’Heh, Cheng Xidian, is it? I’ll remember this debt!’

Cheng Xidian rushed in front of Zhong Shimin, blocking him with her sword. "You can’t take her!" she said angrily.

"Move." Zhong Shimin’s gaze was impatient as he walked straight past her.

Cheng Xidian pursued him relentlessly. "Zhong Shimin, I know you’ve never respected anyone besides the Old Master, but don’t you forget that my godmother, Nanny Gui, did Yu Suya a great favor! If my godmother hadn’t bought Suya, she would have become some idiot’s child bride!"

Sure enough, at the mention of that name, Zhong Shimin paused.

Song Lianhe’s head was spinning, but she still heard Cheng Xidian’s words.

’Suya...’

’That name sounds so familiar. I think it was mentioned in the original novel.’

’But why can’t I remember?’

Seeing Zhong Shimin stop, Cheng Xidian sneered and moved to stand before him. "Suya is your fiancée, after all..."

Before she could finish, Zhong Shimin’s sword was suddenly unsheathed. As it swept towards her, Cheng Xidian’s expression changed, and she hastily dodged. "Zhong Shimin! You dare draw your sword on me?!"

Although she was fast, she wasn’t faster than his sword.

He methodically shook a strand of hair from his blade, sheathed it, and fixed her with an icy gaze. "One more word, and next time, it’ll be your life."

Cheng Xidian’s Martial Arts were by no means weak, but compared to the leader of the Yu Chui, she probably couldn’t last three moves against him.

Song Lianhe couldn’t care less how those two fought. ’God, I feel so awful right now~’

With great effort, she lifted a hand and poked Zhong Shimin. ’Can you please take me to get treated first? I don’t want to just croak like this!’

Zhong Shimin suddenly stiffened. The spot on his lower back felt tingly, as if brushed by a feather.

He took a deep breath and quickened his pace, leaving the dungeon.

"Zhong Shimin!"

Cheng Xidian was furious and immediately chased after him with her guards.

But who would have known that just as she reached the dungeon entrance, her path would be blocked by two masked men in black.

She gritted her teeth and demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Our Tiger Beak has no intention of making an enemy of the Thousand Commander, but we do not fear it either."