Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 269: You’re Going to Be an Idol in the Future
Song Lianhe and E Jintang sat down. There were no maids in the courtyard, only a young male servant who served tea before retreating, leaving Xuan Mei to stand guard outside.
Song Lianhe looked at him and said gravely, "Grandnephew, if you want to clear your father’s name, you must tell me everything you know."
E Jintang nodded.
In truth, he knew very little about his father’s affairs.
He didn’t care for studying; he preferred practicing with swords and spears, and raising dogs. Before the E Mansion’s incident, he was out in the mountains catching crickets!
However, he had seen that "concubine" who had supposedly "eloped" with his father a few times in the mansion.
E Jintang had once asked his mother about it, but Mrs. E was tight-lipped and forbade him from asking any more questions.
E Jintang had always been obedient to his mother, so if she told him not to ask, he wouldn’t.
But one incident left a deep impression on him. His pack of dogs had once encountered the concubine in the mansion. The normally ferocious giant dogs had all avoided her, making wide detours. After they returned, Er Hu’s and Four Hu’s noses were bothering them, and they couldn’t stop sneezing.
After hearing this, Song Lianhe said doubtfully, "A dog’s sense of smell is extremely sensitive. Could they have been allergic to a certain scent? Or perhaps she was wearing some kind of special spice?"
’Spices?’
E Jintang suddenly slapped his forehead. "Ah, I remember now! She smelled just like the Dancing Girls in Huaxu Square!"
"Huaxu Square? Dancing Girls?"
His words made Song Lianhe remember something as well.
When she had gone to Huaxu Square, she had encountered the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Ah Qi Beauties. The scent they wore was indeed unusual.
However...
Song Lianhe narrowed her eyes at E Jintang. "You went to Huaxu Square?"
’As the future number one warrior of Da Cheng, he can’t afford to go astray!’
"Yeah!" E Jintang said readily. "I went to see my brother! His name is Shu Fengli, he’s my best friend!"
"Oh, so that’s how it is~" Song Lianhe looked at him and couldn’t help but lecture, "Grandnephew, you must understand that you have a limitless future ahead of you. You’re destined for great things, to become a hero people admire! Don’t let a moment of temptation leave you with a pile of scandalous material~ Just think, when you become a hero, a bunch of young girls will surely like and worship you. If they dig up that you visited places like pleasure quarters, theaters, and brothels in your youth, wouldn’t their image of you be shattered? Since you’re going to be someone’s idol, you should be a positive role model!"
E Jintang seemed to only half-understand, not quite grasping what "scandalous material" or "idol" meant.
However, he knew that what his Granny said must be right.
"Yes! Jintang will remember!"
Speaking of Huaxu Square, Song Lianhe couldn’t help but become more vigilant.
’That’s the male lead’s territory. For that Shu Fengli to be friends with E Jintang... it’s probably not that simple.’ 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Since he’s your brother, he’s our friend. How about we go have a drink with him?"
"Okay!"
E Jintang grew a little worried again. "But my mother..."
Song Lianhe patted his shoulder. "They won’t do anything to your mother until they get what they want."
’Besides, Zhou Junlin is the male lead, after all. If he knows that E Xianwang was a good official, he would never make things difficult for his widow.’
The two decided to leave right away, but the guards in the mansion originally wouldn’t allow it.
But to E Jintang, that was all bullshit!
"Get out of the way!"
He slammed his shoulders left and right, forcefully knocking the gate guards down the steps, then turned back to usher Song Lianhe out.
"Mmm~ Good boy~"
Song Lianhe walked in front, looking quite imposing.
But her pride only lasted until they approached Huaxu Square. Then, she wilted.
Song Lianhe stood outside the entrance. The place was still bustling with people, filled with laughter and chatter—a truly lively scene.
But Song Lianhe’s feet seemed to have taken root, unable to move a single step inside.
E Jintang came back out from the main hall. "Granny?"
The moment she got close to this place, memories of that day flooded her mind.
Her cheeks flushed, her skin grew hot all over, and her heart began to thump wildly in her chest.
’Ahhh! This is so humiliating!’
’The buried memories are coming back to torment me!’
"You have to face it sooner or later."
Xuan Mei’s voice suddenly came from behind her.
Song Lianhe: "..."
...
In a private room on the second floor, the window was pushed open, offering an unobstructed view of the scene below.
A man leaned languidly against the railing, a wine cup in one hand. His profile was as handsome as cold jade, and his light brown eyes glanced faintly at the woman who had just walked in.
His previously indifferent gaze suddenly sharpened, and he leaned forward slightly. "What happened to your face?"
"CHIRP! CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP! CHIIIRP—"
On the window lattice, a falcon facing a balding crisis excitedly hopped up and flapped its wings, slapping itself in the face with every beat.
"Oh? Someone hit you?" The man merely lifted his eyes. His desireless gaze seemed placid, but a hint of viciousness could occasionally be glimpsed within it.
"CHIRP!"
Jeez, that really tired out Chun Hua.
Downstairs, a group of beautiful Dancing Girls was on the center of the stage. In the middle was a scantily clad Ah Qi Beauty, standing barefoot on a giant floral drum, the silver bells on her feet making a crisp, pleasant sound.
E Jintang led Song Lianhe inside, his gaze fixed forward, intent only on seeing his good brother.
Song Lianhe took a deep breath. The rich, intoxicating fragrance, combined with the vibrant and sensual young men and women all around, created an environment where one’s desires could be infinitely amplified.
Although she hadn’t studied spices much, she figured it was similar to pharmacology; different blends and ratios would produce different effects.
For instance, they could repel insects, control beasts, or act as aphrodisiacs.
"Fengli!"
E Jintang found his friend in the viewing area to the right.
"Brother Jintang, what are you doing here?"
Song Lianhe followed the voice to look at the man. He had a fair complexion and a polite, humble demeanor, looking quite scholarly and gentle.
Like a pale-faced scholar.
Standing next to him, E Jintang looked even taller and more rugged. The two were complete opposites; it was hard to imagine they could be friends.
At the same time, the other man was sizing her up. "And this is..."
"My Granny!"
E Jintang had wholeheartedly accepted Song Lianhe’s identity as his "Granny" and felt no hesitation in introducing her as such.
"Granny?"
Shu Fengli’s gaze held a trace of hesitation.
"Hehe, Mr. Shu, you’re too polite~ But since you’re Jintang’s brother, it’s only right that you call me Granny too."
Shu Fengli was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to so brazenly take advantage of him.
E Jintang didn’t know her true identity, but he knew it very well!
He pressed his lips together, then smiled. "Granny."
Song Lianhe, seemingly addicted to collecting grandsons, put on an air of seniority and smiled slightly. "Good grandson."
Shu Fengli’s expression faltered slightly. He turned to the side and changed the subject. "Jintang, what did you come to find me for today?"
"I came to ask you to find someone."
"Who?"
E Jintang beckoned a servant and asked for a brush and paper.
In a few quick strokes, he sketched a portrait. He looked at it with satisfaction. "It’s her!"
Song Lianhe hadn’t expected him to have this skill, so she also leaned in for a look...
"Is this... a sentient soy-braised egg?"
Shu Fengli also shook his head and chuckled in amusement. "Brother Jintang, how am I supposed to find anyone with this?"
"You can’t tell? It’s so easy to recognize!" E Jintang was very pleased with his artwork. "How about I draw another one?"
"Well... have you all eaten yet?"
"Ah, no, we haven’t! What do you recommend?"
Shu Fengli really didn’t want to try finding someone based on an egg with a nose and eyes, and Nie Ci also automatically skipped the topic.
"What a coincidence. A fresh batch of delicious perch has just arrived."
"Then we must be the first to try it!"
