Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 252: She’s Not One to Bully the Weak and Fear the Strong
Song Lianhe shot up from her chair in alarm. "Let’s go, let’s go! We have to go now!"
"I’m afraid it’s too late."
Xuan Mei made a snap decision and pushed her back down into the chair. "Remember, you’re just a rich widow right now!"
With that, the figure vanished with a WHOOSH.
Song Lianhe: "..."
’I could just kill you and your entire family!’
Her face was covered in heavy makeup. She had deliberately made her eyes alluring and bewitching, changed the shape of her brows, and added a beauty mark under one eye. She was the very picture of a seductive siren.
’So many people in the world look alike. But if one’s entire demeanor is different, a mere passing resemblance isn’t enough to connect someone to their past self.’
With nowhere left to hide, Song Lianhe flicked her long sleeves and sat down grandly in the main hall, nonchalantly sipping her tea.
Whether it was her guilty conscience or not, as Zhou Junlin walked in, she could have sworn she felt his gaze flick in her direction.
"Junlin?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind him.
Song Lianhe’s brow furrowed slightly. ’What is *she* doing here?’
’And Zhou Junlin... isn’t he supposed to be in Yu State?’
"Slow down."
Zhou Junlin reached out to catch the person rushing toward him from behind, his eyes filled with a smiling warmth.
The story’s hero and heroine appeared, wreathed in halos, as if they came with their own special flower effects and background music. The scene was perfectly harmonious and easy on the eyes.
Song Lianhe, however, just wanted to sneer at the sight.
’It’s like they’re the only ones in this whole book who deserve to live,’ she fumed. ’All the other characters are just props for their romance!’
She rolled her eyes, picked up a pastry, and popped it into her mouth. Then she grabbed a handful of melon seeds and started cracking them leisurely.
Seeing that there was another guest—a woman, at that, dressed so revealingly and flirtatiously—Song Xilan immediately averted her gaze. She then shot Zhou Junlin a coquettish glare, warning him not to look either.
Zhou Junlin just smiled and gently tapped her on the nose.
’What a loving, celestial couple.’
’Just as you’d expect from the main characters!’
A patch of Chinese roses grew in the inn’s courtyard. Song Xilan was quite taken with them, so Zhou Junlin accompanied her outside to admire the flowers.
Man Yue, meanwhile, strode to the counter and slapped down a bag of silver. "Shopkeeper, we’re booking out this entire inn." As Song Xilan’s dowry maid, Man Yue was now a head maid in the Prince Mansion with considerable influence.
"Ah, well..."
The Shopkeeper glanced hesitantly toward Song Lianhe. "But... we still have other guests. We can’t just kick people out, can we?"
’Li Zong Pass has its own rules,’ the Shopkeeper thought. ’We serve traveling merchants from all corners of the land. How can I discriminate against them for a bit of silver? If I take this money today, I’ll be ruining my own reputation! Who would want to stay at my inn after that?’
Man Yue leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "Shopkeeper, our master and mistress are of the highest nobility. If you offend them, a hundred heads like yours wouldn’t be enough for the chopping block. You’d better think *very* carefully before you answer."
The Shopkeeper was a man who had seen the world. The moment they walked in, he could tell from Zhou Junlin and Song Xilan’s bearing that they were people of extraordinary status.
His life was more important than his business.
After some deliberation, the Shopkeeper gritted his teeth and nodded to Man Yue. He then personally approached Song Lianhe. "Ma’am, ah... our inn has just been booked out by those two distinguished guests, so I’m afraid I must trouble you to find another inn. To show our sincerest apologies, your expenses for the past two days will be on the house. Please, I hope you can accommodate us."
He finished by cupping his hands in a respectful bow.
Song Lianhe was already in a foul mood. Hearing the Shopkeeper’s words, her alluring eyes flashed with anger. ’What is this nonsense? You’re telling *me* to move?’
CLATTER—
The melon seeds in her hand scattered across the table.
Song Lianhe shot to her feet. The Shopkeeper flinched, remembering that this wealthy lady from Chuzhou was also someone he couldn’t afford to offend.
"Ma’am, please calm your anger, please..."
But Song Lianhe wasn’t one to bully the weak while fearing the strong. She leaned to one side, her gaze traveling past the Shopkeeper to fix on the imperious Man Yue standing behind him.
’It’s only been a few days, and this maid is already acting just like her former mistress from the General Mansion.’
"Shopkeeper, are you afraid I can’t afford the silver, or is someone just throwing their weight around?" she asked, her voice taking on a deliberately affected, lilting tone.
Out in the courtyard, the man admiring the flowers tensed. He slowly turned, his sharp gaze piercing through to the woman instigating the argument inside.
"What’s wrong?"
Song Xilan’s hearing wasn’t as sharp as his, so she hadn’t caught what was said inside.
"It’s nothing."
He smiled and turned back around.
Inside, the Shopkeeper was breaking out in a cold sweat. "Er... well..."
Song Lianhe shoved the man aside and sauntered over to Man Yue with a faint smile. "You want to book out the inn? Ah, but what a shame..." She put her hands on her hips, leaned in close, and enunciated every syllable: "I. Don’t. Want. To. Move."
Man Yue jutted out her chin. "Hmph! Do you have any idea who my master is?"
"I have no idea! Why don’t you enlighten me? What makes your master so special? I’d be happy to help spread the word for him... I’ll just say that a certain ’Master So-and-So’ throws his weight around, preys on the weak, and bullies the common folk..."
Man Yue panicked. "Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare slander my master!"
"Heh, weren’t you the one saying how special your master is? I’m merely helping to cement his glorious reputation!" Song Lianhe pulled over a chair and sat down with an air of command, crossing her arms. "So, go on. Tell us what great deity your master is. Dazzle us."
"He is..."
Seeing the trap, how could Man Yue dare reveal his identity now? That would just tarnish the Prince’s name!
"Not talking?" Song Lianhe sneered, then glanced at the Shopkeeper. "See that? She’s just putting on a brave face. What are you so afraid of?"
The Shopkeeper could only continue to wipe away his sweat.
"Nonsense! I am not just putting on a brave face!"
"Then tell us. Who is your master?"
"He is..."
Man Yue bit her lip, seething with frustration.
Song Lianhe gestured to the Shopkeeper with an open palm. "See? Just putting on a brave face."
’She knew Zhou Junlin was meticulous about his reputation. Especially before becoming the Emperor, he would never allow any blemish on his name. This was a man who had once executed his own uncle in the name of so-called justice and honor. How could he possibly allow a mere servant to run wild and cause trouble under his banner?’
Furious, Man Yue rolled up her sleeves and lunged forward to slap her.
"I’ll teach you a lesson, you little harlot!"
"Stay your hand!"
Before she could even get near Song Lianhe, Zhou Junlin strode into the hall, his face grim.
Song Xilan looked just as shocked. "Man Yue! What are you doing?"
Song Lianhe, her back still to them, didn’t even flinch.
Man Yue dropped to her knees with a THUD, her eyes instantly welling with tears. "Master, Mistress, your servant was only trying to book out the inn! The Shopkeeper asked this lady to leave, but not only did she refuse, she cursed at me and humiliated me!"
Song Xilan’s brow furrowed. She hadn’t had a good impression of the woman in the corner from the moment she walked in.
’How could a woman from any respectable family dress so shamelessly?’
So, she instinctively believed her maid’s words and said sternly, "Miss, if you don’t wish to move, then you may stay. But why must you be so insolent and insult my servant?"
Song Lianhe shook her head with a derisive laugh.
She rose slowly, turning to face them inch by inch.
Zhou Junlin stared at her, his eyes fixed, as the hand he held behind his back slowly clenched into a fist.
Song Xilan froze. The woman looked somewhat familiar... she looked so much like...
Before she could place the resemblance, Song Lianhe spoke, her expression bewitching. "My Lady, you must be deeply adored by your servants!"
Song Xilan didn’t understand the comment, but she continued to watch her with a cold expression.
Man Yue jumped in to answer, "Of course she is! Our mistress treats us servants better than anyone!"
Song Lianhe smiled. "Indeed. Without hearing any insolence with your own ears, without seeking any other verification, you immediately place all the blame on me based on a servant’s brief account... If I had a master like that, I’d adore her too."
"..."
Song Xilan froze. This time, she understood the jab.
’She’s calling me weak-willed and easily manipulated!’
