Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 265: Thank You for Not Treating Me as an Outsider
Song Lianhe and Da Xi both jumped, staring blankly out the window.
A mottled falcon was perched on the window lattice. It looked like it was about to flee, one foot already lifted and its wings spread, ready to take off at any moment.
When the window suddenly fell, it looked panicked, too. Its big, round eyes clearly conveyed the message: ’It wasn’t me!’
Meanwhile, Gu Ha, who had just leaped into a tree to begin his surveillance, was also startled.
’Am I... discovered?’
Now that the entire window had fallen out, the scene inside was completely exposed—and so was he!
So, he made a split-second decision, leaping down from the tree and leaving as quickly as possible.
Xuan Mei glanced coolly at the spot where he had been hiding, the corner of her mouth lifting in a disdainful smirk.
"Did... did you see that? The window... just now... suddenly... BANG... CRASH... CLATTER..." Song Lianhe pointed, her words a jumble.
It wasn’t that she was a coward!
Anyone would be terrified if a window crashed down in the middle of a good gossip session.
Da Xi nodded frantically. "Mhm, mhm, mhm!"
That was genuinely terrifying!
Xuan Mei seemed unfazed by such sudden incidents, as if she’d seen it all before. She calmly walked to the door, pushed it open, and went out. "You two stay here. I’ll go find the Xiao Er and get us a new room."
Song Lianhe remained standing before the gaping window, peering outside.
Chun Feng shifted on its little paws, turning in the same direction as her and tilting its head to look out as well.
Clouds obscured the moon overhead, and the surroundings were pitch-black. Nothing was visible.
But at that moment, a dark figure stood on the roof ridge directly above them...
---
Song Xilan shot to her feet. "Sun Shangxiang is... Song Lianhe?"
Gu Ha lowered his head. "Yes."
"It’s her... It really is her..."
Song Xilan’s elegant brows furrowed, and she unconsciously twisted the handkerchief in her hands.
’Of course. How could two people look so alike?’
’The only reason I was willing to believe she was Sun Shangxiang was because I never considered her a threat.’
And yet, this very person I’d never taken seriously, never given a second thought, had somehow become my nightmare. No matter what I do, she gets in my way!
’Like... a natural-born rival.’
"It really is her! Just look at that foxy face—you can tell she’s no good!" The bruises on Man Yue’s face had yet to fade, and she was seething with indignation. "I told you so! I’ve never detested someone so much on sight! So it was the Second Miss from our own General Mansion! But wasn’t she abducted and taken to Sui Bei? How did she end up at Li Zong Pass? Hmph! She doesn’t dare show her real face, so she must be hiding some filthy scheme! Maybe she’s just trying to seduce the Prince..."
"Man Yue!"
Song Xilan cut her off, scolding, "She is still a lady of the Song Residence, no matter what. It’s not your place to slander her."
"Yes, my lady... I was wrong." Man Yue bowed her head and stepped aside. "But, my lady, you treat her like a sister, but she won’t necessarily appreciate your kindness. You’re just too soft-hearted, which is why she bullies you again and again!"
Gu Ha also added, "Princess Consort, there’s something you don’t know. She also went to the E Mansion to see Mrs. E, not long after you left."
Song Xilan froze and turned to look at him. "Why would she go there?"
At the mere mention of Song Lianhe, Man Yue stomped her foot in frustration. "Oh, my lady! What else could she be doing? It’s for the Prince, of course! She must have followed you, found out you went to see Mrs. E, and now she’s trying to copy you to curry favor with the Prince!"
Gu Ha chimed in, "That is indeed highly possible."
Song Xilan slowly sat back down.
Thinking back to Song Lianhe’s behavior during the day, and how she acted in front of Zhou Junlin...
’Actually, what those two said isn’t entirely without reason.’
’I was too naive before, mistakenly thinking Song Lianhe had given up on Zhou Junlin. Now I understand. It was a feint—playing hard to get. In reality, she never gave up on him at all.’
’If that’s truly the case, then this fits my impression of the Second Miss of the Song Residence: someone who never gives up until she gets what she wants, especially when it comes to taking things from her older sister.’
’Especially a man she has loved for over a decade. How could she let go that easily?’
’This would also explain why Song Lianhe appeared at Li Zong Pass and why she went to such lengths to sneak into the E Mansion. It must all be for Zhou Junlin.’
’So our ’chance encounter’ at the inn was also a carefully laid trap!’
Having figured all this out, Song Xilan, contrary to expectation, grew calm and composed.
’Given Song Lianhe’s personality, nothing she does is truly out of character. It was when I couldn’t figure out her words and actions that I was truly vexed.’
Seeing her silent, Man Yue said urgently, "My lady! We can’t let her get to Mrs. E first!"
Song Xilan lowered her gaze and unhurriedly picked up her tea. "It doesn’t matter who it is. As long as someone can get Mrs. E to talk, it will be a blessing for the Prince."
Outside the door, Zhou Junlin stood silently in place.
Every word Song Xilan spoke seared itself into his heart.
At the same time, he felt a pang of guilt.
To think he had, because of Song Lianhe...
Zhou Junlin immediately shook his head, pushing the figure in his mind away.
’Since I’ve already married Song Xilan, I must treat her well for the rest of my life. Only then can I be worthy of her deep affection.’
Song Xilan’s magnanimity and broad-mindedness truly earned Gu Ha’s admiration.
Inside the room, Gu Ha cupped his fist and said, "Princess Consort, you are truly a noble and virtuous person. Gu Ha is full of admiration!"
She smiled. "Gu Ha, I must thank you."
Gu Ha was taken aback. She continued in a soft voice, "Thank you for being willing to tell me these things. Thank you for not treating me like an outsider."
A moved expression crossed Gu Ha’s face. "Princess Consort, please don’t say that. This is all part of my duty."
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Seeing the person who entered, Song Xilan paused, then stood up. "Didn’t you say you had important matters to attend to? Why are you back so early?"
Zhou Junlin’s gaze fell on Gu Ha. The latter hung his head, knowing he shouldn’t have revealed Song Lianhe’s identity.
But Gu Ha just couldn’t stand that woman, and he didn’t want the Princess Consort to be deceived!
Zhou Junlin didn’t answer her. He only said, "Tomorrow, we’re moving to the E Mansion."
---
It wasn’t until the next morning that Song Lianhe learned Zhou Junlin had taken his people and moved into the E Mansion.
"Does Zhou Cangyan know?"
"Yes."
Xuan Mei, dressed as a male attendant, nodded.
"So what did he say? Is he just going to let Zhou Junlin have the home-field advantage? And what about E Jintang? What if Zhou Junlin poaches him? Does he really not want him anymore?"
Compared to Zhou Cangyan, who had been emotionally detached when discussing the matter, Song Lianhe was clearly far more anxious.
"We’ve put in so much effort already. Why should we just hand over the fruits of our labor? No, I won’t allow it!"
Da Xi said, "Maybe... the Young Master just doesn’t want you to be in danger."
"Mm." Before Xuan Mei could nod again, a "TAP, TAP, TAP" sound came from the table.
The three of them looked. It was Chun Hua.
It was tapping the tabletop with its beak, looking like it desperately wanted to speak.
