Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 262: He Has the Protagonist’s Halo, I Don’t Need to Worry About Him
To ease the tense atmosphere, Song Lianhe quickly changed the subject. "Governor E... are you familiar with him?"
"We’ve played chess a few times," he said, adding, "The man is a poor sport. He’s always taking back moves, and when he loses, he gets angry and refuses to admit it."
With that, he looked at her again. "Why are you so invested in Governor E’s case?"
"I just feel... if he was a good official, he shouldn’t have met such an end. And there’s E Jintang. I feel sorry for him, too."
"Heh. There are so many pitiful people in this world."
He showed little emotion when he spoke of the E family’s plight.
Let alone their acquaintance, the death of an upright minister alone was a lamentable affair.
’He really is cold-hearted by nature.’
"But he’s different! If you show him a drop of kindness, he’ll repay you with a gushing spring!"
Seeing her recommend E Jintang so unreservedly, he couldn’t help but suspect she had some ulterior motive, if he hadn’t already known that E Xianwang’s son was indeed born with great strength.
He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Do you truly want to help the E Family?"
She immediately said, "If I can."
Zhou Cangyan nodded. "Actually, not long after Zhou Junlin left Ling’an City, the defense map for Li Zong Pass was stolen from the Ministry of Justice. And the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice is one of Zhou Junlin’s men. At a critical time like this, when good men are needed, Zhou Junlin would never let anything happen to him. That’s why Liu Weijun later came forward with an accusation. It gave the Court a legitimate reason to send someone down to investigate."
With his explanation, Song Lianhe understood everything.
"So that’s how it is! No wonder Zhou Junlin came all the way out here!"
Emperor Cheng Xiao had used his grave illness as a pretext to summon Zhou Junlin back to Ling’an, but in reality, he ordered him to come to Li Zong Pass in secret to investigate this case.
"Then E Xianwang’s murder at this time was most likely meant to alert the enemy!" She frowned. "If the killer’s target was also the defense deployments for Li Zong Pass, then they aren’t the same group that stole the defense map earlier. But Zhou Junlin can just pin the blame on them!"
She quickly asked, "Then do you know who murdered Governor E?"
"That’s something Prince Ling should be worrying about." He slowly closed his eyes again. "Are you worried for him?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Song Lianhe pouted. "He has plot armor; he doesn’t need me to worry about him. Oh, right, you said you needed my help earlier. What do I need to do?"
Zhou Cangyan lifted the curtain and looked outside the carriage. The E Mansion was not far away.
Lowering the curtain, he said slowly, "E Xianwang’s death isn’t that simple. Mrs. E likely knows something."
Song Lianhe snapped her fingers. "Leave Mrs. E to me!"
He looked at her again, only speaking after a long moment. "Mrs. E is no ordinary woman."
"Heh, it’s not like she’s going to eat me, is it?"
Song Lianhe was unconcerned.
To her surprise, Zhou Cangyan actually nodded slowly. "That’s not impossible."
Song Lianhe: "..."
The E Mansion. Heavily guarded.
After what had happened, not even a fly could get into the E Mansion now.
The carriage stopped in a small alley.
Song Lianhe knelt on the seat, cautiously poking her head out to look.
In the cramped space, the man was enticed by the suddenly stronger feminine fragrance and slowly opened his eyes.
Before him was the woman’s soft, supple waist as she leaned over. She was now practically lying beside him, peeking out the window.
His gaze followed the contours of her body, lingering bit by bit, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Utterly wanton.
When Song Lianhe saw Song Xilan emerge from the mansion gates, her eyes suddenly lit up. "She’s coming out!"
"...Mmm."
The man merely gave a lazy response, his gaze now brazenly fixed on the softness of her chest...
As she moved, it swayed back and forth before his eyes.
The slightest mishap, and it would brush against his cheek.
The man’s eyes were half-closed, as if covered by a crimson haze.
Zhou Junlin came out with Song Xilan. Her brow was furrowed, her expression serious and tinged with resentment. She was saying something as they walked, and even shook her head in resignation.
Finally, Zhou Junlin helped her into the carriage, and the two of them left together.
Song Lianhe let out a triumphant snort. "Now, it’s our turn!"
She pulled her head back, and as she looked down, she saw the man’s incomparably beautiful face.
Noticing his gaze, she slowly lowered her own, only then realizing her torso was hovering right over his face. The tip of his nose was just a breath away from her chest, and his stare upon it was both wanton and utterly unabashed.
Without a word, Song Lianhe immediately retreated to the opposite seat and sat up perfectly straight, her hands subconsciously covering her chest. Her cheeks were completely flushed.
Zhou Cangyan looked up, his eyes already perfectly clear.
That indifferent, cold, and righteous air about him seemed to be subtly accusing her of trying to seduce him just now!
’That scheming hypocrite!’
"My lord, you can go in now."
"Mm."
Zhou Cangyan looked at her and instructed, "If things look wrong, leave immediately. No delays."
"I know, I know."
Just then, a Shadow Guard handed in a package. "Clothes."
Knowing she needed to change, Zhou Cangyan stood up and got out of the carriage.
A short while later, Song Lianhe, now dressed as a physician’s attendant, also got out of the carriage. She had also applied something to her face to cover her flawless, pale skin.
Zhou Cangyan’s gaze swept over her. She was slender, but she was certainly not lacking in the areas that were meant to be full, so he made a point of glancing at her chest.
Song Lianhe froze, glaring at him with a mix of shame and anger. But she didn’t hide or shy away. Instead, she deliberately put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. "What are you looking at?!"
She was wearing a chest binding, so even when she puffed it out, it was still flat as a plain. She wasn’t afraid of him looking.
The Shadow Guard tactfully retreated, so as not to interrupt the lord and Young Madam’s flirtatious bickering.
Zhou Cangyan reached a hand back, and the Shadow Guard quickly took the medicine box from the doctor waiting nearby.
He lifted it and frowned slightly. "Why is it so heavy?"
"Hea... heavy?"
The Shadow Guard said in a low voice, "Aren’t medicine boxes always packed this full..."
"Ah, it’s fine, give it to me. I’m strong!"
Song Lianhe was a healer; she knew exactly what was in the medicine box, and every item was essential.
And as an attendant, it was naturally her responsibility to carry the medicine box for her master.
Zhou Cangyan ignored all that and simply tossed the medicine box back to the doctor. "You carry it."
"Yes, yes."
The doctor didn’t dare object and immediately and obediently shouldered the medicine box.
Song Lianhe didn’t say anything, but after they left the alley, she quietly took the medicine box from him and slung it over her own shoulder.
"Oh my! Madam, I’m afraid this isn’t appropriate..."
"It’s fine. Just walk."
"Er, this... yes..."
The doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked toward the E Mansion with his head hanging.
After some questioning, the butler confirmed that this doctor had been coming to make house calls for over a month, so they were allowed in smoothly.
All along the path to see Mrs. E, there were guards standing watch with predatory eyes. Song Lianhe pretended to be timid and unsophisticated, hunching over as she followed behind the doctor.
Before they even entered the courtyard, they heard several miserable screams.
Then, two men flew right over Song Lianhe’s head and out of the courtyard—
"Oh, Madam, those are Prince Ling’s men..."
From within the courtyard came a furious roar, loud as a great bell.
"Get out!"
The butler’s expression immediately became subdued. He obediently said, "Yes," and then quickly ran off without looking back.
