Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 278: Such an Insolent Servant Should Be Beaten to Death

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Such an Insolent Servant Should Be Beaten to Death

After all, Zhen Niang had been with Zhou Junlin for many years and had willingly squandered her prime waiting for him at the Li Guan Sect.

Zhou Junlin knew full well of her devotion.

Zhen Niang had managed affairs at the Li Guan Sect for years. Now that he needed to resolve the E Mansion matter and find that certain item, her help was indispensable.

Besides, in a situation like this, if he remained indifferent, it would surely dishearten his followers.

After a moment of deliberation, Zhou Junlin glanced back at Song Xilan. "What’s going on here?"

Song Xilan was taken aback. "Husband, what do you mean?"

Without turning his head, Zhou Junlin pointed at Xi Que.

Zhen Niang was visibly startled. ’She hadn’t expected Zhou Junlin to stand up for her and her servant.’

A trace of humiliation flickered across Song Xilan’s delicate features. She also hadn’t expected Zhou Junlin to raise such a fuss over a mere servant.

She bit her lip and replied, "The servants here are ill-mannered. Their words were so offensive that I couldn’t bear to listen, so I had Man Yue step forward to teach them a lesson."

Indignant, Xi Que retorted in a choked voice, "But you’re the ones who started cursing! You called my mistress a prostitute and a procuress..."

"Xi Que! That’s enough!"

Zhen Niang felt deeply wronged as well. She fought back tears as she silenced her maid.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Junlin’s face darkened. He slowly turned to Song Xilan. "Is what she said true?"

Before Song Xilan could explain, Xi Que dropped to her knees. "Everything I said is true! If I’ve uttered a single lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a miserable death!"

A chill slowly emanated from Zhou Junlin. Song Xilan froze, her first instinct to apologize.

But with Zhen Niang watching, she gritted her teeth. ’I can’t bow my head now!’

"What an audacious servant!" Zhou Junlin snapped. Man Yue, already pale with fright, dropped to her knees with a thud. "Prince, this servant knows she was wrong! I beg for your mercy, Prince!"

Song Xilan saw this and was about to speak up for Man Yue, but to her surprise, Man Yue suddenly lifted her head and looked at her. "Prince, please don’t blame the Princess Consort! It was all this servant’s fault for speaking carelessly. This has nothing to do with the Princess Consort!"

Song Xilan’s expression grew complex; Man Yue was trying to shoulder all the blame for her. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"What a devious servant, throwing her weight around and deceiving her mistress! Men! Drag her away and cane her to death."

Song Xilan trembled, looking at him in disbelief.

Zhou Junlin averted his gaze, refusing to look at her.

Zhen Niang was also surprised. She looked at the man she had always adored, and her moribund heart seemed to slowly revive.

’For my sake, he’s disregarding the Princess Consort’s dignity to have her maid caned to death. He really does treat me well. What more could I ask for?’

’If he asked me to walk through fire for him right now, I would do it willingly.’

"Prince, spare me! Prince, spare me! This servant will never dare again!"

Horrified, Man Yue’s voice trembled as she kowtowed repeatedly, her forehead hitting the floor with loud THUDS.

Gu Ha gritted his teeth and gestured for the guards behind him to step forward and drag her away.

"Miss... Miss! I can’t serve you anymore! Please take care of yourself, Miss! Miss... I’m going now... I’ll repay you in my next life!!"

Downstairs, drums and music erupted. The Ah Qi Beauty, dancing barefoot upon a giant drum, earned a thunderous ovation from the crowd.

Upstairs, the color had drained from Song Xilan’s face.

No longer caring about her own dignity, she knelt. "Prince, I beg you to spare Man Yue! She’s been with me since she was a child. No matter her faults, the failure is mine as her mistress for not teaching her properly. If you must punish someone, punish me... I... I will accept the punishment!"

"Xilan, why must you put yourself through this?"

Zhou Junlin helped her up, his voice gentle. "I know you’ve always been kind-hearted. It is precisely because of this that these devious servants dare to deceive their mistress."

"Prince, it’s my fault, it’s my..."

Zhou Junlin cut her off. He watched her quietly, then smiled. "My Princess Consort is speaking nonsense again. You are my Princess Consort. How could you possibly be at fault?"

Song Xilan faltered, the words she was about to say catching in her throat.

Zhou Junlin was hinting at something. Or perhaps, he was warning her.

Even if it was her fault, killing Man Yue was the greatest punishment he could inflict upon her.

In that instant, a chill ran through her. She stared blankly at the man before her.

By publicly siding with Zhen Niang, Zhou Junlin had effectively thrown her dignity to the ground and trampled on it.

Zhen Niang stood to the side, looking down demurely as if she were a mere bystander.

Xi Que, being young, was not as good at hiding her feelings. Despite her best efforts to suppress it, triumph danced in the corners of her eyes.

’So what if you’re the Princess Consort? You can’t even protect a single maid. Unlike my mistress, who has the Prince’s protection.’

Song Xilan left Huaxu Square in a daze. When Gu Ha moved to help her into the carriage, she pushed him away.

"Where is Man Yue?" she asked in a low voice.

Gu Ha, feeling a pang of pity, answered quietly, "The back courtyard."

"Take me there."

"Princess Consort..."

Song Xilan slowly lifted her gaze. Her bloodshot eyes were terrifying. "I said, take me there."

In the end, Gu Ha nodded.

When they reached the back courtyard, she pushed open the gate and saw a body lying on the ground, covered only by a straw mat.

Song Xilan slowly walked in.

After a moment’s hesitation, Gu Ha stood guard outside, thoughtfully closing the gate behind him.

Pulling back the straw mat, she looked at the young girl, who had been beaten so badly that she bled from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Song Xilan could no longer contain her grief and, clutching the body, broke down in gut-wrenching sobs.

Hearing the sounds of weeping from the courtyard, Gu Ha frowned and silently tightened his grip on his sword.

About fifteen minutes later, the door opened from the inside.

Song Xilan emerged, her posture once again composed and dignified. Aside from her red, swollen eyes, there was no other sign of what had transpired.

"Princess Consort..."

"Gu Ha, I’ll have to trouble you to arrange for a coffin. Make sure it’s made from the finest wood."

"Yes."

Song Xilan returned to the carriage and calmly climbed inside.

’It was only then that she truly understood: Man Yue’s death was entirely because of her own powerlessness!’

Once inside the carriage, she commanded, "Go."

"Ah, Princess Consort, are we not waiting for the Prince?"

"We’re not." Song Xilan’s face was ashen, her expression blank.

The carriage sped away.

Inside Huaxu Square, Zhen Niang knelt directly before Zhou Junlin.

"This is all my fault. All of it. I failed to properly discipline those under me. Please, Prince, punish me!" She lowered her body, prostrating herself.

"Get up." Zhou Junlin rubbed the bridge of his nose. "This has nothing to do with you. There’s no need to blame yourself."

But Zhen Niang remained prostrated. "But I truly feel guilty. In the end, it was I who caused the discord between the Prince and the Princess Consort. I cannot escape responsibility!"

"I’ve already told you, it has nothing to do with you. As for the Princess Consort, she was merely deceived by a devious servant. If she caused you any offense, please, for my sake, do not take it to heart."

"I am humbled."

"Enough. Get up."

Zhou Junlin reached out, taking her by the elbow to help her up. Then, he abruptly changed the subject. "Hasn’t Yin Huan been found yet?"

Zhen Niang shook her head. "The night she abducted E Xianwang from the E Mansion, she was ambushed. When my men arrived, they found a marker she’d left, so we know she succeeded. But we’ve been searching for this long without finding her; she must have been delayed. Nanchen spies have been lying in wait in the E Mansion for a long time. Now that E Xianwang is dead and the item is in Yin Huan’s hands, she’s bound to be their next target."

Zhou Junlin’s expression turned grave. "Prince Hang has already left the Nanchen Kingdom and is on his way back to Ling’an. I don’t care what methods you have to use—you must find her."

"I accept your command!"