Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 279: Sister Mei! Kill Someone for Me
E Jintang walked out carrying a wooden basin, all eight of his beloved dogs trailing behind him with wagging tails.
He set down the wooden basin. "Eat."
A basin of raw meat, still on the bone and stained with blood.
E Jintang sat nearby. Only when watching these dogs of his did his face show any discernible sign of ease and pleasure.
Up in the attic, a Shadow Guard first brought water for the Prince to wash his hands, then served him his customary tea.
Song Lianhe stood across from him, hardly daring to breathe.
Chun Hua stood at her feet, its head drooping as well.
"Where is he?" Zhou Cangyan asked, taking a light sip of his tea.
"I... I let him go."
"And where did you let him go?"
"I... I just sent him back to Huaxu Square."
Zhou Cangyan’s hand paused. He lifted his gaze slightly, glancing at the Shadow Guard.
The guard nodded, turned, and withdrew.
He set down his tea, his gaze finally settling on her.
"What did you find out?"
At the mention of this, Song Lianhe’s spirits lifted. Gathering her skirts in both hands, she trotted to his side and whispered, "Besides the Defense Map for Li Zong Pass, something else was lost along with it!"
Zhou Cangyan said, "Oh?" and arched an eyebrow at her.
"A poetry collection from a master of a past dynasty!"
Zhou Cangyan simply looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"It’s no ordinary collection of poems! According to Shu Fengli, there’s a list hidden inside! It concerns factional strife, so of course, it’s a matter of great importance!"
Reaching the crucial point, she glanced around the room.
Only she and Zhou Cangyan were in the room, along with Chun Hua, who was craning its neck to get a better listen...
"The thing Zhou Junlin is really after is that list!" Song Lianhe shot a glance at Chun Hua and lowered her voice even more. "It contains the names of all of Da Cheng’s active undercover agents, both within the borders and those sent abroad!"
Whoever obtained this list would essentially be taking control of Da Cheng’s entire clandestine network. In the hands of an enemy, that network could be uprooted completely!
’How thrilling!’
’No wonder Zhou Junlin was so motivated.’
’It’s just that this detail wasn’t mentioned in the original story, which is why I must have overlooked it.’
But from Zhou Cangyan’s completely unruffled reaction, it seemed like he...
"You already knew?"
Zhou Cangyan nodded. "She told me after we rescued Mrs. E."
Song Lianhe froze, her sense of accomplishment instantly deflating.
"You should have said something! Then I wouldn’t have had to threaten Shu Fengli and play the bad guy for no reason."
"It’s not like he didn’t deserve it."
"What do you mean?"
Zhou Cangyan raised his eyes to look at her but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Chun Hua, who had a preternaturally sharp sense for gossip, tiptoed closer, craning its head nearer still.
It was afraid of missing a single word.
"Huh?"
Song Lianhe still didn’t get it.
Zhou Cangyan spoke slowly. "That day, in the private room upstairs..."
Song Lianhe gasped, her cheeks burning. She stared with wide eyes, momentarily unsure how to react.
"He was the one behind it."
Those simple words from Zhou Cangyan were enough to reignite Song Lianhe’s murderous rage!
She took a deep, centering breath and roared, "Sister Mei! Kill someone for me!!"
—
「In a dark alley」
Shu Fengli staggered forward, clutching his wounded abdomen.
His face was drained of color, his hair was a mess, and his steps were faltering.
Behind him, several figures in black pursued him relentlessly.
His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
He had used the last of his strength just to get this far. He turned, panting heavily as he watched the assassins approach.
Knowing his time was up, he let out a derisive laugh. "A member of the imperial family, breaking his word! How unexpected! Song Lianhe! I, Shu Fengli, will never forgive you, not even in death!!"
A blade flashed. He clutched desperately at his neck as blood spurted like a fountain. His lips trembled, his eyes wide and unseeing.
As he collapsed, the figure opposite him pulled down their black mask. He stared, stunned, at a face so familiar it was impossible...
It was Xi Que.
She turned her head to the side and said in a low voice, "Mistress, he’s dead."
"...Dead? Heh. That’s not enough."
Shu Fengli’s eyes slowly closed.
—
Shu Fengli was dead.
His body was discovered in a back alley of Huaxu Square. It was a gruesome sight; his lower body was soaked in blood. Rumor had it he’d been castrated with a single slice...
Zhou Junlin stood in the empty main hall, his expression grim and his eyes dark.
Before him lay a corpse shrouded in white cloth.
Leaning on Xi Que for support, Zhen Niang approached. Her face was pale and her eyes were red, clear signs she had been crying for a long time. The sight of Shu Fengli’s corpse, however, made fresh tears well up, and her voice was thick with emotion when she spoke.
"It was my negligence that led to Guard Shu’s..."
She gazed at the body on the floor, unable to go on, and raised a handkerchief to dab at her tears.
"Mistress, how can this be your fault?" Xi Que couldn’t help but defend her. "Everyone here knows Guard Shu liked to keep to himself. Who he met with, whether he had enemies, or if he was seeing some girl... we were completely in the dark! It was a tragedy, but how could you have possibly foreseen it? You mustn’t take all the blame upon yourself."
Zhen Niang turned and chided, "Xi Que! Do not speak out of turn!"
Xi Que pouted and muttered under her breath, "But I wasn’t wrong..."
Throughout it all, Zhou Junlin kept his gaze lowered, saying nothing. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
"Your Highness!"
Gu Ha entered and reported, "Your Highness, last night, one of King Qing’s personal guards was seen leaving the E Mansion."
Zhen Niang’s eyebrow twitched, but she remained silent.
Zhou Junlin suddenly gave a cold laugh. "King Qing... my dear Imperial Uncle!"
"Your Highness, he dares to kill our men right here! This is an open provocation! Should I take some men and..."
"Unnecessary."
Zhou Junlin said slowly, "Our priority right now is finding Yin Huan."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Your Highness," Zhen Niang stepped forward. "I have not yet found Yin Huan, but I located her parents. They have been brought to Huaxu Square."
Zhou Junlin’s expression finally softened, and he seemed quite pleased with Zhen Niang. "You have always been reliable. Spread the word that her parents are here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Zhen Niang gave a soft acknowledgment and then withdrew with Xi Que.
"Your Highness," Gu Ha was still fuming. "King Qing has gone too far! He’s trying to force an open break with you!"
But Zhou Junlin just scoffed. "The killer wasn’t necessarily him."
"It wasn’t?"
Gu Ha was confused. "Then who could it be? Could it really have been one of Guard Shu’s old enemies? But his Martial Arts were more than enough to handle a few street thugs. How could he have been killed by them?"
Zhou Junlin said nothing. At some point, a pink object had appeared in his hand, and he tossed it to Gu Ha.
Gu Ha caught it instinctively. "What’s this?"
When he held it up to get a better look, his face flushed a deep crimson. "Th-this... This is a woman’s bodice!"
Gu Ha knew the Prince wouldn’t have given him such a thing without reason, so he examined it closely. It was spattered with bloodstains. He turned it over and, in a discreet spot over the chest, discovered a character embroidered in gold thread: "Zhen."
He froze. "This is..."
Zhen Niang’s undergarment.
