Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 285: Don’t Interfere with Imperial Aunt’s Official Business
Song Lianhe looked at the woman across from her. "First, I did not take your place. I introduced myself, and the townspeople present are all my witnesses. Don’t you dare try to twist the facts with me—I’m not falling for that! Second, after I revealed my identity, Mrs. E immediately gave the plaque to me and solemnly asked me to clear her husband’s name."
She sneered, "Now that everyone in Li Zong Pass is talking about this, you couldn’t sit still, could you? Song Xilan, if you had even a shred of sincerity, I might have let you handle it. But you know exactly what you’re really planning! This concerns another person’s reputation. Don’t imagine you can just show up and complain, and I’ll let you get involved. You’d best go back where you came from and stop getting in your Imperial Aunt’s way."
She waved her hand in disgust. "Da Xi, see our guest out."
"Yes!" Da Xi stepped forward. "Princess Consort Ling, if you please."
Song Xilan said, unwilling to give up, "My husband was ordered by imperial decree to investigate Governor E’s corruption. What are your intentions, sticking your nose into this? Song Lianhe, everyone knows about your unrequited love for my husband. Is this how you plan to get close to him again? You may be shameless, but my husband still has his reputation to consider! Even if you don’t care about yourself, what about King Qing? Where does that leave him?"
Song Lianhe sneered coldly. "Song Xilan, is petty romance all you can think about? My business with Zhou Junlin is ancient history. I don’t even care about it anymore, yet you keep bringing it up... What’s the matter, afraid I’ll forget about Zhou Junlin? Fine. I wasn’t thinking about it, but if you’re so intent on making it happen, I’ll be happy to grant your wish. Rekindling an old flame doesn’t sound so bad~"
"Song Lianhe! You’re shameless!"
"Is it shameless to have guessed your sordid little thoughts? By that standard, there are hardly any innocent people left in this world."
Song Xilan stared at her, not attacking immediately. Instead, she gave a gentle smile and said slowly, "Don’t forget, your every word and deed will affect King Qing. Heh, right now... he should be on his way back to Ling’an with the army to report on his mission, shouldn’t he? Perhaps... he’s already had an audience with the Emperor~ Are you sure you want to take on the E Family’s case at a time like this? Aren’t you afraid of implicating him?"
Song Lianhe froze.
’Oh-ho, threatening me?’
"My husband and I are a team~ My husband never minds if I do something wrong that might implicate him." She leaned forward, mimicking Xilan’s cloyingly sweet act, and said with a beaming smile, "You have no idea how much my husband pampers me. He never questions whatever I want to do. He says he’s got my back, so I can do as I please and not have to worry about what anyone else thinks~"
’Hmph! As if I don’t have a husband too!’
Da Xi: "!!"
Xuan Mei: "?"
---
"She really said that?"
Zhou Cangyan raised his eyes slightly.
"She certainly did!" the Shadow Guard reported truthfully. "In short, the Princess Consort used you to back her up. She was as arrogant as could be and sent Princess Consort Ling storming off in a huff!"
Zhou Cangyan lowered his gaze, his lips curling into a slight smile.
He propped his chin on one hand, his other hand unconsciously tracing something in a small puddle of water on the tea table. "Now what should be done about this?"
"Exactly! This is clearly a direct confrontation with Prince Ling! We should..."
The man lifted his eyes and said lazily, "She wants to clear Governor E’s name, so... let’s grant her wish."
The Shadow Guard was shocked. "My Lord! But before we find Yin Huan, we can’t..."
Receiving a cold, warning glance from his master, the Shadow Guard immediately fell silent.
But he couldn’t help muttering under his breath, "A few sweet words and you throw all caution to the wind. You’re too easily coaxed~"
Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. "Now you’re lecturing me? It seems you’ve had it too easy for too long... Why don’t you go switch places with Xuan Qi? He just got back from Daisui City."
The Shadow Guard stiffened, then immediately adopted a serious, formal tone. "Rest assured, My Lord. This subordinate will definitely help the Princess Consort clear Governor E of these false accusations!"
The man rose and left.
On the tea table, the name "Wenxin," traced in water, was faintly visible...
---
After returning from her meeting with Song Lianhe, Song Xilan was so furious that she picked up a vase and smashed it to pieces on the floor.
Outside the door, the servants were so terrified they didn’t dare breathe.
They heard that the Prince had ordered Man Yue to be beaten to death, and the Princess Consort was in a rage. Who would dare get on her bad side now?
After all the vases and jars in the room were shattered, a good while later, Song Xilan’s voice came from inside, ordering someone to clean up the mess.
A moment later, she said, "Have Mrs. E come here."
"Yes."
Mrs. E was staying in the adjacent courtyard. The servant sent to fetch her returned quickly, reporting that Mrs. E was feeling unwell and could not receive guests.
"Unwell?" Song Xilan sneered. "Is she unable to receive guests, or unwilling?"
Song Lianhe was one thing—she was Princess Qing, after all, and Song Xilan couldn’t completely burn that bridge.
But Mrs. E dared to disrespect her too? Whose power was she relying on?!
"Man Yue always said I was too merciful, and now it seems she was right. So much so that the mere wife of a convicted official dares to look down on me."
Song Xilan shook her head and laughed at herself, as if mocking her own weakness. She couldn’t even protect her own personal maid, and now even a good-for-nothing with a ruined reputation like Song Lianhe could climb all over her and act so high and mighty. She really was a failure...
Her laughter grew louder and louder until it was uncontrollable.
Seeing the Princess Consort in such a crazed state, the servants didn’t dare make a sound.
Suddenly, she stopped laughing, her expression instantly turning cold. "If she’s feeling unwell, then I have all the more reason to go see her."
By the time Song Lianhe received the news, Song Xilan had already taken people to Mrs. E’s courtyard.
Now, she had ordered her people to drag Mrs. E into the courtyard.
"Mrs. E, you look to be in good color. You don’t look sick at all. Why did you avoid seeing me?" she chuckled, sitting on a chaise lounge a maid had brought for her.
"What business does Princess Consort Ling have with me?"
Mrs. E was tall with a statuesque figure, and her attitude was neither servile nor overbearing. She truly paid the woman opposite her no mind.
Song Xilan took the tea a maid handed her, idly turning the cup in her fingers. Suddenly, she splashed the entire cup of tea on Mrs. E—
"Who gave you permission to speak to me with such an attitude? Men! Slap her face!"
"Yes!"
Two burly maids rolled up their sleeves and were about to step forward.
Mrs. E sneered. With a sudden flick of her arm, a Nine-sectioned Whip appeared in her hand.
She cracked it twice—CRACK, CRACK—intimidating Song Xilan’s maids so much that they dared not approach.
"If any of you have a death wish, come on!"
Mrs. E was from the Huigu Tribe. The Huigu were a nomadic people, and every one of them was a brave warrior. As the daughter of the tribal chief, Mrs. E was one of the very best. If she hadn’t married E Xianwang, she would have been the next chief.
Song Xilan suddenly smiled.
"You dare to defy me? Excellent~"
She looked back, her smile instantly vanishing.
"The wife of Governor E attempted to assassinate me. Kill her."
The guards on either side responded, instantly drawing their swords and stepping forward.
Mrs. E gripped her Nine-sectioned Whip, a cold sneer still on her lips. ’Even if I die, I’m taking a few of them down with me!’
Just then, a clear female voice shouted, "Song Xilan, you’re really pushing it, aren’t you!"
