Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 261: That Night at Huaxu Square, I Wronged You
Song Lianhe slowly raised her eyes to look at the man before her.
Zhou Cangyan looked back at her. He was as composed as a great Buddha statue enshrined on an altar. His placid gaze was as tranquil as still water, yet it seemed to encompass everything.
"...You came to Li Zong Pass this time to find Governor E, didn’t you? Or... is it related... related to his murder?"
Zhou Cangyan’s lips quirked into a faint smile. "What, you suspect I killed him? What good would killing him do me? To take Li Zong Pass?"
Song Lianhe had, at the very least, received a compulsory education, so of course she knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
Never mind that the Court would dispatch a Supervisor to monitor the every move of the city’s commanding general and his subordinates, reporting directly to the Emperor. The annual supply of grain and medicine couldn’t be cut off either!
Li Zong Pass, much like Sui Bei, had barren land unsuitable for growing crops. The city’s populace relied mostly on grain supplied from other regions.
If the Court grew displeased, it could cut off their provisions, so taking a city was no easy feat.
"Compared to all that, what I’m more curious about is..."
At some point, Zhou Cangyan had stood up. He planted his hands on either side of her chair, his body leaning closer and closer. "How is my Princess Consort so certain that I want to take Li Zong Pass? And you also mentioned something when you were teaching people how to plant sweet potatoes in Sui Ning City... Ah, thinking back on it now, the grain, the medical supplies, the horses... they were all procured through your planning for me. So..."
He smiled. "My Princess Consort, are you helping me commit treason?"
HISS!!
Song Lianhe shot her hand out and covered his mouth. "Stop talking!"
’Don’t you have any idea what you’re doing?! And you still have the gall to ask?!’
’Are you not afraid the walls have ears?’
Zhou Cangyan’s gaze was dark and unreadable as he looked at her. He smiled again, gently taking her wrist and pulling her hand away.
"Heh, so you really do know everything."
Song Lianhe’s expression tightened. She immediately shook her head and said earnestly, "I’m not that clear on the details."
He nodded with feigned seriousness. "Then what should be done? Now that you’ve discovered such an incredible secret, should I perhaps..."
She shot to her feet, her expression one of utmost sincerity. She grabbed his hands with both of hers, her grip earnest and strong. "How could you kill me to silence me? A man of great ambition shouldn’t get bogged down by trivialities like me! Think about it, Your Highness. I may seem insignificant, but perhaps I can be of assistance to you! How could you just kill me so carelessly? That would be rash. Very, very improper."
The man didn’t speak. His gaze grew increasingly cold as he stared at her without blinking.
His stare made a cold sweat break out on her back. The congenial smile plastered on her lips was about to freeze solid.
His expression suddenly turned grim, and he pulled his hands away.
Staring at her now-empty hands, Song Lianhe quickly dropped hers to her sides and stood at attention.
’At your service.’
"Kill you to silence you... Hehe, how did I not think of that? I should thank my Princess Consort for the reminder."
Song Lianhe stared at him, dumbfounded. ’I’ve pried into a matter that could get my entire clan executed, and he’s this unconcerned?’
"Are... Are you upset?"
Zhou Cangyan shot her a glance and snorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well now, my Princess Consort can actually tell when I’m upset. You’ve really made some progress."
To be honest, Song Lianhe was a little upset herself.
"If you’re not going to kill me, then don’t. Why be so passive-aggressive about it? It’s not like I begged you not to..."
Zhou Cangyan took a deep breath and smiled. "You’re right. Why would I be reluctant to kill you? I should kill you, to eliminate any future trouble."
"You yourself just said it, Your Highness! From the grain to the medical supplies, to the horses—which of those wasn’t my achievement? Even if you wanted to kill me, Old Man Luo wouldn’t let you get away with it!" Song Lianhe had figured it out by now. If he truly wanted her dead, would she still be here, alive and kicking?
He glanced at her again but said nothing.
"Fine, fine, go ahead and kill me..." Song Lianhe craned her neck, presenting it to him. "It’s all yours, go on... Sigh, who was it that made my dear Prince upset? When you’re upset, you have to be coaxed, don’t you?"
Zhou Cangyan stared at her with a cold expression, watching as she, like a little stray cat faking an injury, extended her slender, pale neck and kept bumping against his chest.
The cold curve of his lips slowly relaxed. He finally turned his face away, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, though his hand pushed her away as if in disgust.
He chided softly, "Nonsense!"
Song Lianhe lifted her messy head, blinking her big, clear, and bright eyes at him. "...Then I’ll stop messing around if you give me a smile."
Zhou Cangyan glared at her. "Have I been too pleasant with you?"
She waved her hand with an air of good humor. "Alright, alright. If you don’t want to smile, you don’t have to. Why be so fierce?"
"..."
"Then say you’re not angry anymore."
"Song Lianhe!"
"Okay, okay, I won’t say it, I won’t say it..."
In the inner room, his men stared, completely dumbfounded.
Gently lowering the curtain, a Shadow Guard pondered for a moment before saying, "No one is to speak of what happened today, lest you tarnish the master’s reputation!"
Everyone nodded in silent agreement. "...Understood!"
Leaving the silk shop, the two of them sat in the carriage.
Zhou Cangyan had his eyes closed, resting, and paid her no mind.
It was clear he was still somewhat displeased.
Song Lianhe, for her part, was also reflecting. ’Where exactly did I go wrong?’
’Could it be...’
She propped her cheek on her hand, sitting opposite him and staring without blinking.
"Zhou Cangyan," she said suddenly. "You... you never once thought about killing me, did you?"
The man’s eyelashes trembled slightly. He slowly opened his eyes, his amber pupils gradually focusing on her.
"This whole time, you... you never planned to kill me? Right?"
The man glanced at her, then closed his eyes again. "Heh, finally figured it out?"
She silently lowered her head, her fingers twisting the corner of her robes. "I guess... I’m just afraid of dying."
"...Mm, I know."
"Clinging to life and fearing death... it’s pretty pathetic." She gave a self-deprecating laugh and murmured, "For someone who has died once before, nothing and no one is more important than being alive. Can... can you understand that?"
Song Lianhe just wanted to live, and to live well!
It was the only thing she had wanted to do since she transmigrated into the book.
But she was also afraid—afraid that in her struggle to live, she would lose herself...
’Died once before?’
He opened his eyes again. Reflected in his light brown pupils was the image of her, softly trying to convince herself.
He pondered for a moment, then casually flicked his sleeve. His voice was low and languid. "There’s nothing wrong with looking out for yourself. With me, you can just focus on staying alive. There’s no need to blame yourself or change a thing."
Song Lianhe stared at him, stunned. A faint, cautious flutter of joy stirred in her chest.
She bit her lip. Perhaps it was because the moonlight was too beautiful tonight, or because the atmosphere in the carriage was too peaceful, but she impulsively blurted out, "Zhou Cangyan, I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while. That night at Huaxu Square... I’m sorry! Let’s just pretend nothing happened, okay? I was drugged and couldn’t control myself, and you just happened to be there and helped me! So we don’t have to be awkward with each other anymore. We can just go back to how things were before!"
The atmosphere in the carriage abruptly cooled. The ease of a moment ago felt like an illusion.
He slowly raised his eyes and looked at her with indifference. "As you wish."
With that, he casually averted his gaze, a chilliness filling the depths of his eyes.
Song Lianhe pressed her lips together, her fingers twisting her robes forcefully. His indifference was exactly what she had hoped for, wasn’t it?
So why did her heart feel like it was being weighed down by a stone, making it hard to breathe...?
