Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 226: Just Trying to Survive

Late at night, at the entrance to an alley in the western part of the city.

"Absolutely not!"

Zhou Junlin grabbed Song Lianhe’s wrist. "You can’t stay here! You have to leave with me!"

Behind him, Gu Ha rolled his eyes, speechless.

’Oh, my Prince!!’

’When has he ever been so indecisive and sentimental?!’

’In my opinion, it’s all this woman Song Lianhe’s fault. I knew nothing good ever came from running into her!’

Song Lianhe looked at him in surprise. "I..."

"Heh heh."

Kong Yu crossed his arms, chewing on a piece of straw as he enjoyed the show, happy to stir the pot. He said in a roguish tone, "This young master is so insistent. Princess Qing, don’t refuse. Just go with him."

Song Lianhe shot him a glare. "Shut up!"

Unperturbed, Kong Yu simply shrugged with a wicked grin.

She looked away from him and said earnestly, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Shen Wu, but if you’re all to escape unscathed, I must stay behind to buy you time."

Hearing her finally say something that made sense, Gu Ha quickly added his own plea, "Right, right! Young Master, Miss Song’s current identity is Princess Qing, the Young Master’s Wife of Sui Bei! If she comes with us, it’s no different from having a target on our backs! I urge you to reconsider, Young Master!"

Song Lianhe was so exasperated she almost laughed. ’Just how much does this Gu Ha hate me?’

Still, she went along with him. "Young Master Shen Wu, your attendant is absolutely right! Don’t let me delay your journey."

"Miss Song..."

"Also, I didn’t realize before that you were one of Prince Ling’s men. Now that I know, could I trouble you to pass a message to Prince Ling?"

Zhou Junlin’s voice softened unconsciously. "What do you want to say to him?"

Song Lianhe lowered her gaze and said slowly, "Tell him... if I’ve done anything to wrong him, it was only because I wanted to survive."

Zhou Junlin froze.

"Heh, I know. It’s just a coward’s excuse for wanting to live. But, if there’s a next life, or if we end up in some other, unknown world..." She lifted her head and smiled. "Then it’ll be his turn to torture me."

Zhou Junlin stared at her without blinking, his chest swelling with overwhelming affection for her.

’Is the "wronging him" she mentioned about her marrying my Imperial Uncle?’

’But how could she be blamed for that?’

’An imperial edict is hard to defy. And with her girlish temperament, she agreed to the marriage in a fit of pique out of jealousy for her sister.’

’But now, everything she does is for my sake. How could I not be moved by such selfless love?’

Zhou Junlin was famous for his handsome looks. Combined with his status, he was long accustomed to the awe and adoration of women.

But Song Lianhe was different!

’Her love is scorching hot, open and pure. To have such a woman in this lifetime—what more could a man ask for?’

’How could I possibly betray her deep affection again?’

In that instant, Zhou Junlin made a swift decision. He suddenly pulled her close. Caught completely off guard, Song Lianhe stumbled into his arms and looked up at him, bewildered. "Young Master Shen Wu..."

"Miss Song, I must take you with me!"

"Oh, no, no, really, you don’t have to! You..."

He said, word by word, "If you don’t go, I won’t go either!"

Song Lianhe: "..."

From the side came a whistle.

Kong Yu: "Nice one!"

Song Lianhe felt like she couldn’t even cry if she wanted to.

’The original owner of this body chased him for so long, and he avoided her like the plague. Couldn’t he have just kept that up? Was he really won over by just a few words from me? Already tangled up in affection? Where are his principles and self-awareness as a male lead?!’

"Uh, I don’t..."

"I said, if you don’t go, I won’t go either."

Looking at Zhou Junlin’s resolute gaze, Song Lianhe could have died from frustration!

But time waited for no one. Zhong Shimin had everything arranged and was just waiting for the man himself. If they missed this chance today, Zhou Junlin would definitely grow suspicious.

Opportunity knocks but once. She couldn’t delay any longer.

Song Lianhe took a deep breath and said decisively, "Fine, I’ll go with you!"

At her words, the light in Zhou Junlin’s eyes instantly brightened, his gaze becoming even more scorching.

The expression on Kong Yu’s face grew even more excited.

’Interesting!’

’Truly interesting!’

Gu Ha was at his wit’s end. ’My Prince has always been someone who understands sacrifice, someone capable of shouldering great responsibility! But now look at him—acting so rashly for a woman, and a woman he had utterly despised before, at that!’

---

「Outside the city, by Yanxi Gate.」

Zhong Shimin stood on a tree branch, his body leaning against the trunk, his gaze piercing through the dense leaves to watch Yanxi Gate.

A carriage emerged.

According to the original plan, Zhou Junlin would use the waist token Song Lianhe had "stolen" for him and, if all went well, leave the city at this very moment.

Now, upon seeing the carriage, Zhong Shimin raised his hand slightly. There was a series of SWISHING sounds from the surroundings as the branches on both sides rustled, and the men lying in ambush here dispersed.

The eyes hidden behind his mask were deep and cold.

Just then, the carriage curtain seemed to be lifted by a gust of wind, revealing a small opening.

A delicate, fair hand reached out from inside and pressed the curtain back down...

Zhong Shimin’s gaze sharpened.

Inside the carriage, Song Lianhe held the curtain firmly in place. It looked as if she were guiltily trying to hide their tracks, but her little scheme didn’t escape Kong Yu’s eyes.

He narrowed his sinister, dark eyes at her again, a cryptic smile on his lips as he watched her mockingly.

Song Lianhe pretended not to see him.

’Zhong Shimin is lying in wait outside the city. I have to let him know I’m in this carriage, so he can find a way to get me out of this!’

’And then there’s the man sitting in the middle, his gaze always seems to drift over to me. I wonder if he’s getting suspicious...’

Zhou Junlin appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but he couldn’t control his gaze, which kept involuntarily darting to the person beside him.

Noticing her nervousness, he offered some words of comfort. "We’re already out of the city, so there’s no need to worry. I’ve already made all the arrangements. Even if they give chase, they won’t be able to find us."

Song Lianhe was taken aback. ’He’s made all the arrangements?’

’I knew he had a backup plan, I just don’t know if Zhong Shimin’s side can handle it!’

"I’m not worried about myself," Song Lianhe said softly, choosing her words carefully. "I’m just afraid these horses are too conspicuous."

"Hah, who are you looking down on?" Kong Yu pursed his lips smugly and said with arrogance, "The hawks I’ve trained are no joke! As long as no one pulls any tricks, we’ll get these warhorses out of here safely!"

It wasn’t that Song Lianhe wanted to assume he was talking about her, but his words were so pointed that she couldn’t even pretend to be oblivious.

"Pulling tricks? Absolutely not," she said with a sweet smile. "At most, I’m just helping to keep an eye on things. These horses are like people, you know. We can’t let them go down the wrong path!"

"Song Lianhe, are you determined to argue with me or what?"

Kong Yu rolled up his sleeves again, but Song Lianhe wasn’t afraid of him anymore. A dog that bites doesn’t usually bark.

At that moment, Zhou Junlin smiled slightly and said in a serious tone, "I have witnessed Master Kong’s hawk-taming skills firsthand. With their help, we will certainly escape."

"Ha!" Kong Yu said, full of pride. "Hear that? Someone who knows quality when he sees it!"