Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 290: She Is the Protagonist of the Story
As the lanterns were lit, Huaxu Square once again burst into a lively scene.
Graceful young women danced elegantly at the entrance, beckoning to passersby.
Across the way, a group of porters and beggars were taking advantage of the cool night air, gathered together playing dice and shouting from time to time.
Suddenly, a scream erupted from upstairs, and then all the men and women inside ran out in a panic.
The crowd looked over curiously. "What’s going on? What happened at Huaxu Square?"
"I don’t know!"
Soon, a disheveled man ran out in terror. "Ah! A ghost! A ghost!!"
As night fell, Zhen Niang arrived at the E Mansion.
She knelt, her face filled with shame.
Zhou Junlin lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable.
Zhen Niang raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping discreetly over his sharp, elegant jawline. "This subordinate has failed. I ask for the Prince’s punishment."
"What happened?"
"Reporting to the Prince, someone at Huaxu Square saw... Governor E."
Zhou Junlin’s head snapped up, his gaze instantly turning sharp. "You mean E Xianwang?"
"Yes."
At that moment, Song Xilan was being blocked outside the room.
Gu Ha looked troubled. "Princess Consort, the Prince has a guest..."
"A guest?"
Song Xilan looked up at him. "What kind of guest needs to visit in the dead of night?"
Xi Que, who had accompanied Zhen Niang, stepped forward. "The Prince is speaking with my mistress. No outsiders are to disturb them."
’An outsider?’
Song Xilan’s eyes narrowed. Without another word, she raised her hand and slapped her.
Xi Que took the full force of the slap, gritting her teeth, her face a mask of indignation.
Gu Ha was stunned as well.
But he could understand. Man Yue’s death had been a huge blow to the Princess Consort, causing her personality to change so drastically.
Song Xilan stared at Xi Que and sneered, "What a forgetful servant. If we’re talking about outsiders, it should be that pale imitation you call a mistress."
Xi Que clutched her cheek, glaring at her with hatred.
’Her masters were Zhen Niang and the Prince; Xi Que had never given the Princess Consort a second thought. So what if she’s the Princess Consort? Pale imitation? We’ll see who has the last laugh!’
"But we are here under the Prince’s orders!"
Song Xilan scoffed. "Get out of my way!"
She couldn’t be bothered to argue with a servant and pushed the door open without another word.
"Princess Consort..." Gu Ha couldn’t stop her, either, and could only watch helplessly as she went inside.
The moment she saw Zhen Niang, Song Xilan’s eyes filled with hatred.
’If it weren’t for her, Man Yue wouldn’t have died!’
The Song Xilan of today had "awakened." She clearly knew her own identity; just as that strange voice had told her, she was the protagonist of a storybook.
’Since I’m the protagonist, this world should revolve around me!’
Although the "dream" had already revealed Zhen Niang’s identity to her, she hated the way this woman looked at her husband. ’What right does she have to covet my husband?!’
"My lord..."
Zhou Junlin was currently agitated. "Why are you here? Go back to your room and rest. This Prince has important matters to discuss."
He offered no explanation, his tone filled with unconcealed irritation.
Zhen Niang stood to the side, looking at Song Xilan with cold eyes. Her initial meekness and embarrassment were gone, replaced by a smirk that seemed to mock her.
Song Xilan bit her lip. In all the scenes from her "dream," she and Zhou Junlin had been deeply in love, working hand-in-hand to overcome one obstacle after another. He had never treated her like this.
’Where did it all go wrong?’
Seeing Zhen Niang’s triumphant expression, Song Xilan grew even more resentful.
’A mere substitute, who only gained Zhou Junlin’s favor because she bears some resemblance to me, now dares to think she can lord it over the original?’
However, Song Xilan knew when to advance and when to retreat, especially since she had foreseen Zhen Niang’s end—a life of unrequited love until death.
At this thought, the tightness in her chest eased slightly. She then gave Zhou Junlin a graceful bow and said softly, "In that case, I will take my leave. My lord should also rest early and take care of his health."
Zhou Junlin merely grunted in acknowledgment.
A short while later, Zhen Niang left the E Mansion with Xi Que.
Seeing the red mark on Xi Que’s face, she asked with a pained expression, "Does it still hurt?"
"It doesn’t hurt." Xi Que said smugly, "That Princess Consort Ling can only throw her weight around with a servant like me. I see that the Prince doesn’t even spare her a glance now. He’s paying more and more attention to you, my lady!"
"Don’t speak such nonsense!" Zhen Niang quickly chided, but her eyes couldn’t hide her bashful delight.
She had also noticed Zhou Junlin’s attitude toward Song Xilan just now. It was nothing like before, when his eyes would fill with tenderness just at the mention of her name.
Zhen Niang said softly, "But she is Princess Consort Ling, after all."
"So what? With the Prince’s status, he’s bound to have many wives and concubines in the future! Perhaps it won’t be long before you’re on equal footing with her, my lady!"
"You silly girl..." Zhen Niang’s cheeks gradually flushed red, and her heart couldn’t help but flutter.
Zhou Junlin was highly regarded by the Holy Emperor and popular both in the court and among the people. Moreover, the Prince was secretly cultivating his own power base. It was only a matter of time before he was named the heir and installed in the Eastern Palace.
When that time came, the imperial harem would be filled with countless consorts, and perhaps there would be a place for her among them.
Zhen Niang didn’t dare hope to monopolize his favor; as long as she could stay by his side, she would be content.
News of Governor E’s ghost appearing in Huaxu Square spread through the streets and alleys of Li Zong Pass that very day.
All sorts of rumors circulated. The most outrageous one claimed that Governor E had lived a miserable life, too afraid of the termagant at home to indulge himself. Unsatisfied in death, he had come to Huaxu Square to finally have some fun.
These rumors were told with such convincing detail that some even said the person he had "eloped" with wasn’t his sister-in-law at all, but a Dancing Girl who had escaped from Huaxu Square! He had gone there just to get a glimpse of his lover...
Early the next morning, a roar echoed from the E Mansion.
"I’ll kill him!"
"Mother, Father is already dead..."
"Then I’ll kill him again!!"
A moment later, Mrs. E stormed out of the mansion, brandishing her Nine-sectioned Whip with a murderous air. E Jintang trailed reluctantly behind her.
Because of their connection to Song Lianhe, no one dared to imprison them or even block their way. The steward immediately sent someone to inform Song Lianhe.
By this point, Huaxu Square was in complete disarray.
The Nine-sectioned Whip in Mrs. E’s hand CRACKED as she swung it. "Get your ass out here!"
"E Xianwang! You old bastard! How dare you come to a place like this even after you’re dead?!"
"Jintang! Smash it! He wanted to find his lover, did he? Let’s see how he finds her now!"
E Jintang said nothing. In short, wherever his mother told him to smash, he smashed.
And so, mother and son once again brandished their weapons. Mrs. E’s whip shot out with a CRACK, wrapping around a crystal lamp and smashing it to the ground.
E Jintang’s pair of thousand-pound hammers were even more destructive. With one slam, dust flew everywhere, and a giant crater was instantly smashed into the floor.
He seemed to have the inexhaustible strength of an ox. As he swung his arms, a series of deafening BANGS rang out, followed by a tremor that shook the entire building.
By the time Song Lianhe arrived, the main hall was utterly unrecognizable.
