Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 234: The Brothers All Know, Song Xingfeng Is Your Father-in-Law
Song Lianhe was a little baffled.
He had been fine just before they left, but now he had suddenly turned ice-cold, putting on an air that warned everyone to stay away.
She glanced sideways at Zhou Cangyan in the distance, clicking her tongue and shaking her head.
’Still, the matter at hand is more important.’
Strictly speaking, while there were already many franchised Medical Clinics within the borders of Da Cheng, this was the only directly-owned branch. Naturally, Song Lianhe put in twice the effort, ensuring all medicinal herbs met the standards of Ling’an City.
On the day the new branch opened, Luo Fubang personally attended to offer his congratulations in his capacity as the Sui Bei Warlord, not as the Heir North King, a title bestowed by the Court.
For the first few days, Song Lianhe personally oversaw operations. With the help of Da Xi, Chao Junyu, Da Mei, and Da Tao, everything quickly fell into place.
However, just as Cao Ying had mentioned in her letter, opening this branch meant her identity as the "Divine Doctor Woman" would soon be exposed.
Song Lianhe understood perfectly. If Zhou Junlin knew about this, then Emperor Cheng Xiao surely knew as well.
She might as well use the situation to her advantage, leveraging the good reputation she had recently built to secure a trump card for her own survival.
That way, when she returned to Ling’an City, it would be no easy feat for either Emperor Cheng Xiao or Zhou Junlin to make a move against her.
So, she stopped trying to hide and instead openly admitted her identity.
Outside the Medical Clinic, a man in a black mask sat in a teahouse. A Shadow Guard served him tea while reporting, "News from Yu State. Prince Ling has now taken full command of the Da Cheng Army. His first targets are the cities of Daisui and Fengbai. If those two cities fall, Yu State will be difficult to hold."
The man lifted his cup to drink, his light brown eyes never leaving the pretty, bustling woman across the street in the Medical Clinic.
The Shadow Guard then added indignantly, "This is just blatant favoritism! Back then, all Emperor Cheng Xiao gave you, My Lord, were the old, weak, and sick! Now that it’s his own son’s turn, he directly requisitions twenty thousand elite soldiers from King Li Xiang! King Li Xiang is based in the Southwest; his soldiers are accustomed to the climate there and are all valiant warriors! Forget Prince Ling, even if they sent that drunkard Zhu Yuliang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, they’d still win this war!"
"Why do you think he was so slow to deal with Prince Yongdong? This was supposed to be a golden opportunity Zhou Yang left for his son to build merit. Who would have thought Prince Yongdong would declare himself emperor? Only then did he get antsy."
’As for me?’
’Zhou Yang was just trying to kill two birds with one stone. Any small mistake on my part, like delaying the battle or showing cowardice, would have been enough to get my entire clan executed. Then, he would have sent Zhou Junlin to recapture the lost territory, having lost nothing more than thirty thousand old, weak, and disabled soldiers. For the current Da Cheng, this would even reduce a huge sum in pension payments. Why wouldn’t he be happy to do it?’
’Now, "King Qing" is claiming illness and refusing visitors. Isn’t this exactly what Zhou Yang expected?’
’And Zhou Junlin’s appearance is perfectly timed.’
"A pity for him. He won’t be able to take Fengbai and Daisui."
The Shadow Guard chuckled upon hearing this. "Indeed. How could he possibly know that both cities are already in your pocket, My Lord? With Xuan Qi holding the fort, none of them can break through!"
Zhou Cangyan slowly set down his cup. "In less than ten days, King Li Xiang will cave."
"That King Li Xiang has always been as cunning as a fox. No matter what Emperor Cheng Xiao promises him, without those tens of thousands of elite soldiers and fine horses, he loses his entire foundation! As greedy as he is, he’s sharp enough to understand that. Saying ten days is overestimating him, My Lord. In my opinion, six days at most!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Zhou Cangyan looked up at him, a smile playing on his lips. "Oh? What a brilliant insight, Shadow Master."
The Shadow Guard quickly said, "I wouldn’t dare, My Lord. You praise me too highly!"
He then asked, "How are things with Tong Bin?"
"Rest assured, My Lord. All he has to do is lie on his couch and ignore everyone who comes to see him. He won’t blow his cover. I hear the National Guardian General gets a splitting headache from anger every time he deals with him. He calls for a military doctor the moment he steps out of the command tent!"
"Song Xingfeng?" Zhou Cangyan tilted his head slightly, just in time to see Song Lianhe casually lift a hand to massage her shoulder. He slowly stood up. "Tell Tong Bin not to anger him to death."
The Shadow Guard grinned. "The men all know that, no matter what, Song Xingfeng is the Princess Consort’s father. He’s your father-in-law, so they know how to handle it! That’s why they’re only putting his portrait up around the city for the common folk to worship, you know, to pray for sons or a good marriage."
Zhou Cangyan shot him a look that was not quite a smile. "Xuan Qi would never come up with such an idea. It was you, wasn’t it?"
The Shadow Guard scratched his head. "That’s why you’re the one with the discerning eye, My Lord."
Zhou Cangyan walked out of the teahouse and went straight into the Medical Clinic.
Seeing that Song Lianhe was truly exhausted, Chao Junyu helped her to a seat at the side. He was just about to massage her shoulders when someone grabbed his wrist.
Chao Junyu froze, looking up at the man who stood a full head taller than him.
’Compared to him, I’m just too skinny and frail,’ he thought. ’Forget about protecting her, I don’t even look like a proper man.’
Chao Junyu lowered his eyes, slowly backed away, and gave up the spot.
Song Lianhe’s eyes were half-closed. She had woken up too early and was already feeling tired before noon.
As she was drifting off, a pair of large hands landed on her shoulders. Her body tensed instantly, and she whipped her head around.
"P-Prince?"
She hadn’t expected it to be him, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
Zhou Cangyan’s hands didn’t stop their rhythmic kneading and pressing. "Aren’t you a doctor? How did you let yourself get into such a sorry state?"
The pressure from his massage was so precise and perfectly soothing that Song Lianhe’s initial impulse to resist began to crumble.
"...Haven’t you ever heard the saying ’a physician cannot heal himself,’ Prince? Besides, I’m not made of iron. It’s normal for me to get tired."
"Then stop doing it."
Hearing how casually he said it, Song Lianhe couldn’t help but laugh. "How could I do that? Since I’ve opened this Medical Clinic, I have a responsibility to the patients who come here. The saying ’a doctor must have a benevolent heart’ isn’t just empty words. Besides, this is Sui Ning City—your hometown, Prince. These people are your fellow townsfolk. Of course I have to treat them even better."
The hands on her shoulders suddenly stopped.
Song Lianhe had just been starting to relax. When he stopped, she couldn’t help but look back at him. "What’s wrong? Did I... Did I say something wrong again?"
The man’s pale, glass-like eyes slowly focused on her. "Because of me?"
She nodded dazedly.
’There’s nothing wrong with pleasing your sponsor!’
He looked down again and let out a chuckle, its meaning inscrutable. "I understand."
His hands gradually eased their pressure, his palms cupping her rounded shoulders.
In early August, the daytime temperatures in Sui Bei were extremely high, and the baking sun made one feel drowsy.
His hands, however, were icy. Through the thin layer of her gauze robes, she could clearly feel the coarse friction of his palms.
Song Lianhe froze. As his fingers began to wander, her skin started to burn.
She shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, you really don’t have to..."
"Sit still."
The man’s voice carried an innate authority.
She instinctively sat up straight. Deep down, she was still a coward and didn’t dare to defy him.
’Her delicate bones felt ridiculously fragile in his hands, as if he could snap them with the slightest bit of force.’
’The urge to destroy, to break, was intense. It grew especially strong when he traced her slender collarbone. The skin beneath his palm was so tender and smooth that a mere graze left a clear red mark...’
’Zhou Cangyan’s thoughts drifted back to that day in the ruined temple...’
