Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 287: This Is a Capital Offense, Is It Your Turn?
But just as Song Lianhe was still reeling, Song Xilan suddenly grabbed her hand—
Then, a dagger mysteriously appeared in her hand, and the next instant, it was slashing toward Song Xilan...
Song Lianhe was horrified. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and pulled her hand back, so the blade only grazed Song Xilan’s arm.
"Song Xilan!"
Song Lianhe was utterly stunned.
’What is she doing?’
’Framing me so brazenly?!’
In the original novel, Song Lianhe was impulsive and foolish, which served to highlight Song Xilan’s calm, intelligent nature. As the female lead, she wouldn’t do anything too outrageous.
But the crazed actions of the woman before her truly terrified Song Lianhe!
"Princess Consort!"
With a sharp scream from Song Xilan, all her attendants swarmed over.
And when they looked at Song Lianhe, she was still holding the bloody dagger...
Zhou Junlin rushed back as soon as he received the news.
The physician was bandaging Song Xilan’s arm. Her face was pale, and she had lost a lot of blood. The nearby bronze basin was filled with bloody water, and the fine cloths were stained with shocking splotches of red.
"Lan’er!"
Zhou Junlin’s expression changed, and he strode forward.
"My Prince~"
Seeing him, Song Xilan tried to get up.
"Don’t move!" Zhou Junlin came to her side, his thick brows knitted together. "How is the Princess Consort’s injury?"
The physician first glanced up at Song Xilan. She put on the appearance of being gravely injured and shot him a look from the corner of her eye. The physician wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve and hastily said, "The Princess Consort... the knife wound has reached the bone, damaging the humerus. It is a severe injury and requires careful recuperation, otherwise, it may lead to chronic ailments..."
Song Xilan immediately snapped, "Nonsense. I am perfectly fine."
"Yes, yes, of course." The physician dared not say more. He quickly finished treating her wound and left in a hurry.
Only after he was out the door did the physician finally catch his breath. He couldn’t help but recall the scene he had witnessed earlier. He never would have thought Princess Consort Ling was so ruthless—
She had taken the knife in her own hand and sliced deeper into the already shallow wound. Instantly, blood gushed out, soaking her entire arm...
The physician broke out in a cold sweat. This was no place to linger. He scurried away.
***
"This matter started because of me. If Prince Ling wishes to pursue this, I will bear full responsibility!" Mrs. E said solemnly.
"No! I will!"
E Jintang took a step forward, shielding his mother. "If someone has to be killed or punished, it will be me!"
"N-no... you can’t... no, no..." Little Nine frantically tugged at the corner of his sleeve, murmuring, "No, not Jintang..."
She was a tiny thing, looking like a helpless, chirping fledgling next to the tall E Jintang.
Before Mrs. E could speak, Song Lianhe shot him a harsh glare. "Get back! This is a matter of beheading. What do you mean, ’it will be you’? Is it your place to step up?"
E Jintang was frantic. "But..."
"No buts!" Song Lianhe said decisively. "If something happens, it’s not for a junior like you to take the fall. Your Granny is still here!"
Mrs. E looked at her, then at her son, and said, "They are targeting you, Princess Consort, because I want to seek justice for my husband."
Song Lianhe waved her hand. "Mrs. E, you’re overthinking it. The outcome would be the same with or without you. Song Xilan will never let me go. We are mortal enemies."
’This is our fate, mine and the female lead’s.’
Mrs. E had an easygoing nature; she wasn’t one to be fussy or indecisive. Hearing Song Lianhe’s words, she nodded. "But she is injured, after all. Prince Ling will definitely investigate."
"Then let him."
Song Lianhe took the handkerchief Da Xi offered and carefully wiped the blood from her hands.
She gave a self-deprecating smile. "It wouldn’t be the first time."
Just then, Xuan Mei came in. "Prince Ling is here."
"He’s here to demand an explanation already." Song Lianhe slowly wiped her hands, then casually tossed the handkerchief to the floor as if it were some repulsive piece of filth.
At that moment, Zhou Junlin had already walked into the flower hall.
"Song Lianhe, I need you to give me an explanation..."
Before he could finish his question, a cup of hot tea, lid and all, was thrown in his direction.
Zhou Junlin reacted instantly, sidestepping to avoid it.
Gu Ha immediately stepped forward, using his back to block the splashing tea.
Everyone was stunned, their gazes snapping in unison to Song Lianhe.
Da Xi was long accustomed to her Princess Consort’s behavior. She stood quietly to the side, ready at a moment’s notice to act as a human shield for her... After all, she made enemies far too easily!
Little Nine was so frightened she shrank behind E Jintang, not daring to peek out.
"Song Lianhe—"
Before Zhou Junlin could lash out, Song Lianhe shot to her feet and said furiously, "Zhou Junlin, have I been too easy on you?!"
Zhou Junlin froze, a layer of frost gradually covering his handsome face. "Say that again!"
Song Lianhe sneered, planting her hands on her hips and taking two steps forward. "Zhou Junlin, you’re here because of Song Xilan, aren’t you?"
His gaze grew colder, and he bit out each word, "You. Stabbed. Her."
"Hah. I stabbed her... Did you see it with your own eyes?"
"I saw her wound. How could it be fake?"
Song Lianhe nodded, then without another word, she abruptly twisted the skin on her own arm.
Her skin was fair and delicate, bruising easily. With that forceful twist, a purple-blue mark immediately appeared.
Zhou Junlin’s gaze fell upon it, his eyes tightening abruptly.
"What are you doing?!"
Song Lianhe rolled up her sleeve, revealing her dazzlingly white arm right before his eyes. "I say, Song Xilan did this."
Zhou Junlin’s dark eyes narrowed dangerously. "Do you take me for a fool?"
Song Lianhe lowered her gaze and gave a faint smile. "Am I wrong? You know that Song Xilan and I have never gotten along, ever since we were children. Before today, I never hurt her in such an extreme way. Now, I am the legitimate granddaughter of the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion and the main wife of Prince Qing. Do I need to personally stab her? Forget stabbing her, even taking her life wouldn’t be difficult! Zhou Junlin, if you weren’t a fool, you wouldn’t have come here demanding an explanation!"
’Most importantly, as the female lead of this book, there’s no way I could have actually hurt Song Xilan.’
’But I can’t let anyone know that, or I’d be thrown into a fire for spouting superstitious nonsense!’
Zhou Junlin’s gaze was profound, his pair of pitch-black eyes like a dark, unfathomable abyss.
Song Lianhe walked up to him, her clear, cold eyes fixed on his. "Zhou Junlin, I wasn’t going to explain myself to you. But more than being slandered, I hate falling into that person’s trap!"
She carried a mixed fragrance of various herbs, a scent unique to her, which was somehow even more unforgettable than the rich, cloying aroma of flowers.
Zhou Junlin’s eyes were half-lowered, his expression as still as water, but it felt as though a pebble had been tossed into his heart, disturbing the calm lake within.
He was silent now. Song Lianhe knew he was already wavering, but she wasn’t about to let him off the hook.
She took another step forward, rising onto her tiptoes to close the distance between them.
Zhou Junlin’s heart skipped a beat.
Gu Ha’s eyes widened. ’How dare this woman openly flirt with the Prince?!’
Just as he was about to step forward and intervene, Xuan Mei appeared like a phantom to block his path.
’The Princess Consort was certainly unorthodox, but she always had her reasons. No one was to interfere until she said so!’
