Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 204: I Am the Master, You Are the Servant
"A schemer? And where might this schemer be? Oh, surely Nanny Gui isn’t referring to me?" Song Lianhe gave her no opening for such veiled insults. With a faint smile, she said, "Nanny Gui, if you have something to say, just say it plainly. Go on, show me that same imperious air you had when the Young Master wasn’t around! My, it was truly awe-inspiring! Even I was frightened of you."
Zhou Cangyan’s expression darkened again.
When it came to Song Lianhe, he made no effort to conceal his feelings.
"You’re talking nonsense!" Nanny Gui was trembling with rage. "Don’t think you can get away with twisting the truth and stirring up trouble just because the Young Master has returned. The Young Master won’t fall for your lies!"
"Heh. He won’t believe me, so he’ll believe you instead?" Song Lianhe rose and circled her, clicking her tongue. "Nanny Gui, let’s put aside who’s distorting the facts for a moment. There’s one thing you’ve done that has crossed a major line."
Zhou Cangyan looked up. Only when his gaze fell on her did it hold any warmth; the corners of his mouth were even curving up slightly.
Cheng Xidian saw this and clenched her fists in resentment, her face a mask of bitterness and disappointment.
"When we were at the Prince Qing Mansion, I told you: I am the master, and you are the servant. What right do you have to stand here and question my actions? Who gave you the audacity to so thoroughly disregard the hierarchy?"
Luo Fubang immediately turned his head. "Not me. I didn’t do it."
Zhou Cangyan watched his grandfather with amusement. ’A man so accustomed to ordering death and destruction is this desperate to absolve himself...’
’Just how afraid of his Little Wenxin is Grandfather?’
Nanny Gui took up her handkerchief again to dab at her tears. "That’s right. You are the master, and I am the servant. But just because I am a servant, does that mean I must endure being slandered and framed? I would dare to argue my case with you even in front of the Old Master and the Young Master! Pity me, at my advanced age, being falsely accused by you of having an illegitimate son. You’ve twisted my unwavering loyalty to the Master into a sinister plot... I’ve served the Master and the Young Master for so many years, and never have I suffered such humiliation!"
"An il...legitimate son?"
Zhou Cangyan glanced sideways at Song Lianhe.
Song Lianhe, not to be outdone, shot back, "Nanny Gui, you should get your facts straight before you start crying. Zhou Cangyan is my husband, and I am his lawfully wedded Princess Consort! Is he supposed to side with an outsider over me, his darling wife? Nanny Gui, what are you playing at? Let’s not even mention that you’re just a servant. Even if you were his concubine, doting on a concubine while neglecting the official wife is grounds for public condemnation!"
Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow at her, signaling her not to go too far.
’First it’s an illegitimate son, now it’s doting on a concubine and neglecting the wife...’
’The things she comes up with.’
"Utter nonsense! You... you’re just..."
"I’m what? Think carefully before you speak, Nanny Gui! If you say another insubordinate word in front of the Young Master, even he won’t be able to save you."
Luo Fubang, however, had relaxed completely. He leaned back in his chair, casually picked up a peanut from the table, and began to shell it, the very picture of someone enjoying a good show. He even shot his grandson a glance brimming with schadenfreude.
Song Lianhe had no intention of letting Nanny Gui off the hook. If the old woman had chosen to let things lie, Song Lianhe wouldn’t have pressed the issue. But this woman had brought the bullying right to her doorstep. She couldn’t very well let her walk all over her!
Nanny Gui glared at Song Lianhe out of the corner of her eye. Though her heart was filled with hatred, she knew she couldn’t let herself be led around by the nose. Thus, her voice softened, and she spoke in a weak, defeated tone, "Miss Song, you are the Princess Consort, the master. This servant is just a servant, my life as insignificant as a weed. Whatever you say, goes. This servant will not argue with you any further."
’A tactical retreat?’
Song Lianhe sneered, "That’s more like it!"
She lifted her chin, mimicking Nanny Gui’s earlier, insufferably arrogant air. "Since you know you’re a servant, then don’t cross me in the future! You stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours. You’ll remain the Young Master’s wet nurse and the steward of this Prince Mansion. Otherwise, you’ll find that there’s no place left for you in all of vast Sui Bei."
Nanny Gui stared at her, stunned. She was astonished that Song Lianhe dared to be so brazen in front of the Old Master and the Young Master!
She looked toward the Old Master, but Luo Fubang simply shifted in his seat, making it painfully obvious he was avoiding any involvement.
Then she turned to Zhou Cangyan. He was staring at her unblinkingly with his perceptive eyes, and the chill in his gaze made her blood run cold.
At this point, how could Nanny Gui not understand?
’It was just as Song Lianhe had said. Between the two of them, the Young Master would surely favor his Princess Consort. Why would he spare a thought for a mere wet nurse?’
Nanny Gui took a deep breath, slowly sank to her knees, and performed a deep bow to Song Lianhe. "This servant will carefully follow the Young Madam’s instruction."
"You may rise." Song Lianhe turned to face Luo Fubang. "Old Master, Nanny Gui is getting on in years. The role of steward is quite taxing. Perhaps we should assign someone sharp to help her out."
Nanny Gui froze. "Old Master, this servant..."
Luo Fubang feigned ignorance, mumbling indistinctly around a mouthful of peanuts, "You’re the Young Madam now, lass... Why are you still asking me about the affairs of the Prince Mansion?"
Song Lianhe smiled faintly. "Isn’t that the truth."
Luo Fubang: "..."
’Heh, this girl never misses a chance to take advantage!’
"Ah, then Da Xi will be fine." Song Lianhe nodded after she spoke. "I think she’s a good choice." She then turned her head to ask Zhou Cangyan, "What do you say?"
Zhou Cangyan sat with his eyes closed in repose. He didn’t so much as lift an eyelid at her words. "It is for the Princess Consort to decide." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Upon hearing this, Nanny Gui’s face went deathly pale. Yet she swallowed all her feelings, bowed to those seated above, and said with a tremor in her voice, "This servant will train Da Xi well."
Zhou Cangyan merely waved a dismissive hand. "Leave us."
Nanny Gui gritted her teeth, tears swimming in her eyes as she departed.
’So this is how good it feels to throw your weight around!’ Song Lianhe thought as she watched the nanny’s retreating figure. ’It almost makes me want to stick to the original villainess’s script.’
"Come here."
Zhou Cangyan opened his eyes and beckoned to her with a finger.
"Coming."
Song Lianhe gathered her skirts and trotted over lightly, sitting right beside him. She whispered, "Was I too harsh just now?"
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "Satisfying?"
"Very!"
The man nodded. "Then it wasn’t."
Song Lianhe lowered her gaze, embarrassed. "You’re going to spoil me until I’m completely lawless."
"So what?"
Zhou Cangyan was unconcerned. "The people who belong to me, Zhou Cangyan, need only consider what they want and what they like. The one thing they never have to worry about is the consequences."
"Zhou Cangyan, you just keep getting better and better."
Song Lianhe stared at him with wide, doe-like eyes, her tone tinged with a strange mix of regret and complication. "But..."
’But he’s the villain, after all. His destiny belongs to the story’s heroine.’
’And I’m just an accident in this book. My entanglement with these fictional characters is probably just a way to move the plot forward.’
’Song Lianhe found herself starting to resent his kindness. Why couldn’t he just be a proper, straightforward villain? He was making her... He was making her lose her peace of mind.’
