Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 212: What Decent Man Would Show His Face in Public?
Luo Fubang had heard she’d run into a bit of trouble at the Drunken Immortal, so he had rushed over immediately.
"I’m fine, really."
"Really?"
Luo Fubang couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, "That kid repeatedly warned me before he left. He said I had to take good care of you, that not even a single hair on your head could be harmed."
Song Lianhe didn’t quite hear him. "What did you say?"
Luo Fubang grumbled back, "Nothing."
’To think that he, the magnificent King of Sui Bei, had been reduced to babysitting a little girl!’
"Oh, right, Old Man Luo, I actually have something to discuss with you."
Song Lianhe told him about her encounter with Kui Lang, then said, "The warhorses from Wu Qi Country are the best of the best. If Prince Yongdong isn’t fortunate enough to get them, then we should make a move!"
In the past, Luo Fubang would have definitely said she was daydreaming and talking nonsense.
’The Genosa River? What kind of place was that?’
’A place where the Three Kingdoms converged, known as a living hell!’
’Who would dare to have designs on a place like that?’
But for Song Lianhe to dare say such a thing now, she must have some degree of confidence.
However, the very name "Genosa River" was enough to make people give it a wide berth. He really couldn’t imagine what kind of plan she could have.
Luo Fubang frowned. After a moment of contemplation, he looked up at her. "What do you plan to do?"
Song Lianhe smiled. "I know the Genosa River is treacherous. Rushing in recklessly would be suicide."
Luo Fubang gave her a look that said, "So you do know that much."
Song Lianhe said slowly, "We don’t have to go in. We can make the people inside come out!"
Luo Fubang was taken aback. "You mean... the people from the Fengming Gang?"
The Fengming Gang, the Overlord of that desert wasteland.
Not a single passing merchant caravan had escaped suffering at their hands.
Song Lianhe said, "The Genosa River is their territory; we don’t stand a chance fighting them head-on. But no matter how formidable they are, they’re still human. And humans need to eat, and humans get sick!"
She walked over, grabbed Luo Fubang’s arm, and led him into the garden. Watching the craftsmen who were busy digging up flowers with great enthusiasm, she said, "Let me tell you a story. There once was a merchant caravan that was passing through the Genosa River and happened to be robbed. Who would have thought that the very same night, members of the Fengming Gang would start showing symptoms of poisoning! This poison is one that no ordinary person can cure. To get the antidote, they must trade two hundred warhorses from the Wu Qi Country for it! Not a single horse less."
As Luo Fubang listened to her "story," his eyes filled with astonishment and admiration!
"HAHAHA!"
He suddenly threw his head back and laughed. "This story is very much to my liking! HAHAHA!"
The next day, a merchant caravan arranged by Luo Fubang set out.
Calculating the time, the round trip would take about three days.
During the day, Song Lianhe left the mansion with Da Xi. Nanny Gui, having received a report, asked with her eyes closed, "Do you know where they went?"
"To a teahouse. They met a man."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Gui’s eyes snapped open and her voice rose. "A man?" She immediately gave the order, "Have someone tail them at once!"
Inside the teahouse, Song Lianhe saw the young master in white from the day before.
He was seated by the window, his posture elegant. A paper fan swayed in his hand, and every movement exuded an air of nobility.
The men of Sui Bei were mostly rugged and boisterous; it was rare to see such a gentle and refined young master. In terms of looks, he was merely above average, but an indescribable nobility added to his charm.
"Miss?"
Da Xi saw that she had stopped walking and was staring intently at the man. She immediately frowned. "Miss, have you forgotten that you are a married woman!"
Hearing this, Song Lianhe looked at her with amusement. "Heh, haven’t you always said that your Young Master belongs to your Sister Suya?"
Da Xi froze for a moment, her cheeks flushing slightly, then became completely flustered. "Th-that’s different! In any case, s-since you’ve already married our Young Master, you can’t just meet with strange men anymore!"
Song Lianhe was amused by her earnest expression and chuckled. "I’m meeting him because I need to pay back his silver. As for why I was staring at him, I just thought he looked like someone I know, but I can’t recall who."
As she spoke, Song Lianhe had already walked forward. "My apologies for the wait, Young Master."
Zhou Junlin looked up at her.
She had walked all the way here. The temperature difference between morning and night was significant, and the daytime sun was harsh. Her cheeks were flushed red from the sun, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead.
’She walked here?’
’Her life here must be difficult. Although the Prince Si Mansion allows her to go out, she’s being followed and monitored, and she doesn’t even have a carriage for her outings.’
Zhou Junlin couldn’t help but furrow his brow. He picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of cold tea.
"Thank you."
Song Lianhe was genuinely thirsty and drank it down as soon as she picked it up.
"Mmm~ delicious!"
’Delicious?’
The crease between Zhou Junlin’s brows deepened. This was just ordinary cold tea, the kind you could find anywhere in the small teahouses of Ling’an City. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
’Just what kind of life is she living here?’
He silently poured her another cup.
Song Lianhe looked at him as she drank. "Young Master, you..."
"Shen Wu."
"Hm?"
"It’s my name."
’It sounds like an alias.’
But Song Lianhe didn’t mind. They were just strangers who had met by chance; a name was nothing more than a label.
"Song Lianhe."
She gave her name freely.
"Miss Song, you’re not from around here either, are you?"
"My husband’s family is here in Sui Ning City."
Song Lianhe’s answer was very natural, as if she had long since accepted her status as a married woman.
But the man across from her raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Husband’s family?"
Song Lianhe thought she had seen wrong, but when she tried to get a closer look, the man had already returned to his cool and pleasant expression. He ignored her last remark and asked, "Judging by your accent, Miss Song, you seem to be from the Ling’an area."
"Yes, I’m from Ling’an. What about you, Shen Wu?"
Zhou Junlin casually named a small town near Ling’an. Song Lianhe smiled. "No wonder. Your accent sounds so familiar."
It was clearly just a pleasantry, but Zhou Junlin said, "Are you always this friendly with men, Miss Song?"
Song Lianhe: "..."
’This guy... does he even know how to talk?’
Song Lianhe held her hand out directly to Da Xi, who passed her the silver bag.
Without even looking, she pushed the entire bag across the table. "This should be enough to repay your silver. Consider the rest a token of my gratitude for saving me."
She stood up. "Da Xi, let’s go."
"Yes!"
’Da Xi had taken a disliking to this pretty boy from the start. What kind of man from a respectable family would show his face in public like this?!’
Zhou Junlin frowned and, without thinking, reached out and grabbed her arm. "That’s not what I meant..."
Song Lianhe looked down at the hand grabbing hers. He realized his impropriety and immediately let go, then said with great sincerity, "I was raised under a very strict household. I have not had much interaction with women. If I have overstepped my bounds, I hope you will forgive me, Miss."
Song Lianhe turned back around. "Young Master Shen Wu, I don’t like being indebted to people. Let’s just consider us even. I have other matters to attend to, so if fate permits, we shall meet again."
Seeing her turn and leave without a hint of reluctance, Zhou Junlin’s expression turned a little sour.
Not until the figures of the mistress and her maid had completely vanished did Gu Ha step out. "Your Highness, the scouts report that a group disguised as a merchant caravan left the Prince Si Mansion this morning."
After hearing the report, Zhou Junlin withdrew his gaze and said doubtfully, "To think she actually convinced Luo Fubang..."
