Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 237: Traitors Don’t Deserve to Speak

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Traitors Don’t Deserve to Speak

Zhou Junlin wore a grim expression as he emerged from the commander’s tent.

"Your Highness..."

Song Xingfeng stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "How could King Qing have been poisoned? The timing is so strange!" He couldn’t help but worry. "What should we do now?"

’When we first arrived at the border of Yu State, Zhou Cangyan advocated for a preemptive strike, but I was the one who repeatedly found excuses to delay and procrastinate.’

’Now, this is just great. Zhou Cangyan was suddenly, inexplicably poisoned, and has been for several days! It’s still unknown who would dare poison a Prince, but regardless of whether the culprit is found, as the Vice Marshal, I’ll inevitably be held responsible!’

’If my sworn enemies, those Officials at Court, find out, there’s no telling what kind of stories they’ll fabricate about me. That Old Duke Xuan Chang will surely be the first one to come after me.’

’Damn it!’

’I thought I could pin the blame on him for delaying military action, but how did he end up poisoned?!’

Zhou Junlin stopped, his eyes deep and profound. He enunciated each word, "Yes, this poison... is indeed very suspicious."

Just then, a report came: Young Master Huai had arrived.

"Huai Xu?"

Song Xingfeng said, "His medical skills are superb. I hear he’s always by King Qing’s side."

’Even he’s been summoned. The poisoning must be real.’

Without a word, Zhou Junlin looked up to see Chi Xiao’s Silver Armor Guards escorting a young man in white.

Huai Xu was walking briskly, his brow tightly furrowed. He hurried all the way here, even forgetting to bow as he passed Zhou Junlin, and directly lifted the tent flap to go inside.

Gu Ha snapped, "How rude!"

"It’s fine," Zhou Junlin said calmly. "He is just concerned for my Imperial Uncle. There’s no need for formalities."

Gu Ha couldn’t stand seeing his Prince ignored. In a gruff voice, he grumbled, "You’re always so lenient, Your Highness. It lets these disrespectful people walk all over you!"

Zhou Junlin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the heavy tent flap.

—

At the horse grounds outside the city, hooves flew and yellow sand filled the air.

Song Lianhe stood on a carriage, squinting hard to see into the dusty haze. "Ah Jun! You can do it!"

In the middle of the grounds, a slender youth clung tightly to the reins of a large, black stallion. Faint muscles bulged on his arms, his knuckles were white, and the reins had already cut bloody marks into his palms, but the boy still held on, refusing to let go.

Song Lianhe’s heart tightened as she watched, breaking into a cold sweat for Chao Junyu.

The brothers from the Qiongqi Escort Agency were all around, cheering him on. "Kid! You got this! We’re betting on you!!"

"Hmph~"

An ill-timed scoff suddenly rang out.

Song Lianhe turned her head and glared at the person lying on a nearby haystack.

Kong Yu had a piece of straw dangling from his mouth, his arms folded behind his head. He was lazing with his eyes closed, and he snorted with laughter. "You people are really heartless, sending a kid to his death! You really think just anyone can tame these horses?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Song Lianhe shot him a fierce glare. "Traitors don’t get to talk!"

"Hey!"

Kong Yu scrambled to a sitting position, his narrow eyes squinting. He snapped, "Who are you calling a traitor? Did I sell myself to you people? You captured me, and now I’m not even allowed to try and escape?" He then spat. "Pah! Don’t you dare compare me to a traitor!"

"Pah, pah, pah! You backed out at the last minute after we had an agreement! And you still say you’re not a traitor?"

Kong Yu was so angry he leaped to his feet, planting his hands on his hips and glaring at her. "I am not a traitor!"

"You are too!"

"I am not!"

"Dammit! I’ll say it again! I am not a traitor!!"

"You are, you are, you totally are!!!" Song Lianhe was getting angry too. ’A shouting match, is it? I’ve never lost one of those!’

Kong Yu was so furious he rolled up his sleeves, but just as he was about to lash out, a slap sent him stumbling to the side.

He clutched his head, completely bewildered.

A tall man had suddenly appeared before him, dressed in tight-fitting clothes. He had broad shoulders and long legs, and radiated a chillingly dangerous aura.

A gaze landed on him, filled with icy intimidation.

He froze for a second before blurting out, "Zhou Cangyan?"

Zhou Cangyan walked straight to the carriage. His towering height allowed him to look the girl standing on it right in the eye. "Come here."

"Hm?"

Song Lianhe leaned forward, and he took the veiled hat in his hand and placed it on her head.

Standing to the side, Da Xi couldn’t help but glance over.

’She had never seen the Young Master treat anyone with such care.’

His long, slender fingers personally adjusted the veiled hat on the girl’s head before tying the ribbon for her.

They were so close that Song Lianhe felt a little shy. "I left in a hurry and forgot how dusty it is here."

Zhou Cangyan lifted his gaze. Though he didn’t scold her, he raised his hand and gave her newly-donned hat a light tap.

Song Lianhe gave an embarrassed laugh and whispered, "Thank you."

"It’s dangerous up there."

As Zhou Cangyan said this, his hands were already on her soft waist. He simply gripped her by the waist and lifted her down.

Song Lianhe instinctively grabbed his arm. The muscles her fingers touched were hard as rock.

She immediately snatched her hand back as if she’d been burned.

After her feet touched the ground, her heart was still beating erratically.

Zhou Cangyan then took her hand and led her to the viewing platform on the perimeter.

Only then did Kong Yu react. "Zhou Cangyan, you..."

SMACK—

He instantly took another blow to the head.

"Dammit! Which bastard dares to hit me again?!"

"Make way."

He instinctively turned his head.

Without even glancing at him, Xuan Mei walked straight past with a deadpan expression.

Seeing it was a female guard, Kong Yu took several deep breaths. "Fine! Fine, fine, fine! You’re lucky. I don’t hit women!"

Xuan Mei came to stand behind and to the side of Song Lianhe. Looking at the youth in the horse grounds, she also grew nervous.

To be able to hold his ground against the fierce horse for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn showed that the youth in the ring truly had some skill.

Even Kong Yu couldn’t help but take a few more glances, the disdain in his eyes gradually fading. But he still snorted, "That’s the lead stallion. Not just anyone can tame it..."

The words had barely left his mouth when a roar of applause erupted from all around!

He froze. Taking a closer look, he saw that the youth had seized the opportunity, pushed off the ground with his toes, and vaulted onto the horse, landing squarely on the stallion’s back.

The lead stallion began to buck violently, kicking its hind legs and occasionally rearing up on its front ones. When it found it couldn’t throw the person off its back, it started galloping madly around the ring!

Several times, it nearly bucked its rider off. It was a truly perilous sight!

Song Lianhe held her breath, her hands clenched into fists.

’No, this is too dangerous. If Ah Jun isn’t careful and falls, he could be half-dead!’

Song Lianhe couldn’t care about anything else. She shot to her feet and shouted to the youth in the ring, "Ah Jun! It’s too dangerous! We won’t tame this horse... We’ll stop!"

The youth still clung tightly to the reins, his situation precarious.

Song Lianhe grew frantic. "Sister Mei... Sister Mei! Go save Ah Jun!"

Xuan Mei’s heart was in her throat. Hearing Song Lianhe’s command, she was about to vault into the ring without a second thought—

An arm suddenly shot out, blocking her path.

Zhou Cangyan narrowed his light brown eyes, his gaze fixed on the stubborn youth in the ring. "He wouldn’t want you to give up for him."

Xuan Mei froze, then lowered her gaze and stepped back. "Yes."