Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 257: Young Master, Don’t Break the Madam’s Heart
Song Lianhe tilted her head at him, then suddenly craned her neck to look behind him. "Your wife?"
Zhou Junlin froze, instinctively taking a few steps back.
When he looked up and met Song Lianhe’s teasing smile, his brows furrowed. A flicker of anger rose within him—the indignation of being made a fool.
But as a martial artist, he should have been able to hear that there were no footsteps behind him. It was only because of the sliver of guilt lingering in his heart that his judgment had failed him for a moment.
After all, he knew perfectly well what kind of feelings he harbored for the woman before him.
Song Lianhe reached out a finger, poking him on the shoulder and pushing him back bit by bit. "I can tell your wife truly adores you. You mustn’t break her heart."
With that, she let out a delicate laugh, flicked her flowing sleeve, and turned to go. Her slender waist was tantalizingly visible through the thin fabric.
Zhou Junlin was thoroughly vexed.
Vexed with her. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
And even more vexed with himself.
The moment Song Lianhe stepped out of the inn, Xuan Mei fell in step behind her.
Song Lianhe glanced back, thought nothing of it, and faced forward again. A moment later, she whipped her head back around. "Whoa there, lady! Who are you?!"
"Xuan Mei."
Xuan Mei’s curt tone and uniquely cold voice left no doubt that it was her.
But what was with this face, which looked more like a common housewife than an actual common housewife? And her figure, which had clearly put on some weight, and this coarse, floral-patterned dress?
"I’m refining my Disguise Technique."
It clicked for Song Lianhe.
She raised a finger in praise. "You’re on your way to mastery. It’s only a matter of time."
And so, the two of them—one plain, one enchanting—grabbed a handful of melon seeds and began to wander the main street.
"Oh my~ I heard his face was smashed beyond recognition~ What a horrible death!"
"Bah! Serves him right! After embezzling so much of our silver and abandoning his wife and child, he actually ran off with his wife’s younger sister. Death was too good for him!"
"Sigh... For all these years, the Governor has been a kind man. How could he do something so foolish?"
"Kind man? Hah! That was all an act to squeeze every last penny from us common folk! I bet bandits had their eyes on him the moment he left the city!"
The murder of E Xianwang, the Governor of Li Zong Pass, had become the talk of the town.
Song Lianhe chose a crowded outdoor teahouse, found a seat, and ordered a pot of tea.
Seeing Xuan Mei still standing there stiffly, she reached out, pulled her down into a seat, took a deep breath, and began to lecture her like a concerned mother, "Disguise requires you to become one with your role. It’s about embodying the character’s core! Don’t think you can just slap on a new face and call it a day!"
She pointed to herself. "Look at me. I’m not wearing a mask, just using simple makeup techniques. Even when Zhou Junlin was standing right in front of me, he didn’t recognize me, did he? You know what that is? That’s getting into character! It’s what they call ’method acting’."
Xuan Mei nodded seriously. "That makes sense."
"So learn it. The skill will be yours to keep."
As she cracked open melon seeds, she listened to the lively chatter from the nearby tables. Soon, unable to contain her curiosity, she picked up her teapot and moved over to join them.
The men, who had been speaking with great fervor, all froze when they saw such a stunning woman approach.
"Don’t mind me, gentlemen. Please, continue your conversation. I just wanted to listen in on the excitement... Hey, proprietor! Two more pots of tea and some snacks over here. Put it all on my tab!"
"Ah! A kindred spirit! Thank you, madam!"
"Our thanks, madam!"
Amidst a chorus of thanks, Song Lianhe waved her hand dismissively. "Don’t stop now. Please, continue."
The setting sun, like molten gold, slowly cast its lingering rays down from the high city gates.
Song Lianhe stretched languidly as she and Xuan Mei walked side-by-side down the street.
"According to the townspeople, this E Xianwang was a decent official on most days. He never took a concubine or kept a mistress, and his only son is E Jintang..."
’E Jintang?’
Song Lianhe stopped dead in her tracks.
’No wonder that name sounded so familiar! I was so caught up in the gossip that I overlooked such an important detail!’
’E Jintang—the number one general of Da Cheng, hailed by readers of the novel as the "Li Yuanba of Da Cheng," who wielded a pair of copper hammers weighing over a thousand pounds!’
’He was one of Zhou Junlin’s mightiest generals. The original novel mentioned that he was the son of a disgraced official. It was Zhou Junlin who saved him and his mother from the suffering of exile, and from that day forward, E Jintang served under him with unwavering loyalty.’
’She remembered that Shen Fu, who also wielded a pair of Meteor Hammers, was killed by E Jintang! He had his arms literally ripped from his body and was left to be trampled to death by warhorses...’
A shiver went down Song Lianhe’s spine.
’Zhou Junlin’s presence here can’t be just for this case!!’
’I can’t let him get his hands on E Jintang!’
She spun around and grabbed Xuan Mei’s arm. "Where is Zhou Cangyan?"
"Our master is attending to urgent business."
Knowing that Xuan Mei wouldn’t take her to him so easily, Song Lianhe grasped both of her hands, stared into her eyes, and said, word by word, "I have to see him about something incredibly important. Sister Mei, can you trust me?"
Xuan Mei watched her in silence, then slowly turned her back.
Song Lianhe froze. "Sister Mei..."
’After all this... all these days we’ve spent together, does she still not trust me?’
’What was it I said before? That I’d be good to her? And this is the result?’
"Our master is at the E Mansion," Xuan Mei’s voice drifted back to her. "Someone’s been tailing us ever since we left the inn. I’ll lead them away. You... you’ll be all right on your own?"
Song Lianhe’s eyes instantly lit up. She nodded repeatedly, forming a finger heart with her hand. "Sister Mei, I love you!"
—
The E Mansion had been cordoned off by soldiers. A crowd of onlookers had gathered, pointing at the residence and shouting all manner of curses.
Just then, a THUMP, THUMP, THUMPING sound came from the ground. A hulking man, well over eight feet tall and built like a moving volcano, strode up to the mansion gates in just a few steps. "What are you looking at? Scram!!"
The roar was like that of a savage beast, instantly scattering the terrified crowd.
Song Lianhe, hidden amongst the chaotic crowd, recognized him in a single glance—E Jintang!
And at that very moment, a horse-drawn carriage was approaching.
’It’s Zhou Junlin!’
’No, I can’t let them meet!’
’At least, not now!’
Looking back at E Jintang, she saw he was already turning to cross the threshold. Without a second thought, Song Lianhe snatched a rock from the ground and threw it, hitting him squarely on the back of the head. He reached up, felt a large lump forming, and whirled around, demanding angrily, "Who was that? Who did that?!"
His eyes immediately fell on a small beggar crouching beside the stone lion. The child was filthy from head to toe, their small face smudged with dirt like a stray kitten.
He gritted his teeth. Not wanting to lower himself to arguing with a beggar, he started to turn back toward the entrance.
Seeing the carriage drawing closer, Song Lianhe grew frantic. Steeling herself, she opened her mouth and stammered out a curse, "Y-You’re a b-big dummy..."
Her voice was quiet, full of hesitation.
E Jintang faltered for a second. He only frowned, his nostrils flaring slightly like an angry bull.
But even then, he still refused to stoop to her level.
"Y-Your dad’s a big dummy..." As soon as the words were out, Song Lianhe mentally clasped her hands together and started praying. ’Please don’t be offended, dear ancestor! Please don’t be offended!’
"You’re asking to die!!"
Sure enough, E Jintang exploded.
His father was E Jintang’s one weakness. He would never tolerate anyone slandering or insulting him. With a furious roar, he spun around and charged after her!
The moment he took off, the carriage arrived.
Gu Ha brought the carriage to a stop. Zhou Junlin stepped out, followed by Song Xilan.
The two of them stood before the mansion. Zhou Junlin took her hand and said softly, "In a moment, I’ll have someone escort you to Mrs. E’s courtyard."
Song Xilan smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I will not fail you."
