Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 332: This Woman Changes Her Mind a Little Too Quickly
As the legendary "key player," Song Lianhe had no idea she had become a figure of great importance overnight.
Back in the Prince Qing Mansion, she slept incredibly well.
Zhou Cangyan hadn’t returned to the mansion with them. Seeing old acquaintances and having to pretend it was their first time meeting was truly exhausting.
But with her endearing personality and silver tongue, combined with that faint, inexplicable sense of familiarity, even someone as cautious as the butler, Pang Jiliang, found it difficult to keep his distance.
And that was to say nothing of people in the mansion like Little Doudou, Shuang’er, Da Zhu, and Xiao Wu. There was nothing a free clinic couldn’t do to win them over!
Seeing how she was thriving in the Prince Mansion, Yin Huan, a fellow "newcomer," couldn’t help but ask her, "Is it too late for me to start studying medicine now?"
Song Lianhe patted her shoulder with a grin. "Little Huan, just stick with me. I’ll have your back."
Yin Huan scoffed and shrugged her hand off, only to turn around and bring her a cup of tea. "Here, Sis, drink your tea~"
"Heh, good girl~"
Song Lianhe closed her eyes in comfort, enjoying the gentle courtyard breeze.
She might have gone from Princess Qing to Doctor Song in an instant—a drop in status faster than a roller coaster—but Song Lianhe was still very happy.
It was just a title, anyway. In her eyes, the latter held more value than the former. After all, "Princess Qing" was a title bestowed by others, while "Doctor" was a respectable position she had earned for herself.
After a busy half-day, she finally returned to her room to rest.
Now, she needed to plan for the future.
Sitting at her desk, she picked up a brush and wrote two words on the paper: Medical Clinic.
With no foundation to stand on, she would have to build a business from scratch for the second time. But with the experience from her first success, this second attempt was sure to be much easier.
To open a clinic, she first needed to assemble a team.
She wrote down another name: Cao Ying.
As her business partner from her last transmigration, Cao Ying was indispensable.
However, the thought of that girl still being infatuated with Zhou Junlin gave her a headache. She tapped the end of her brush against her temple.
’Sigh, being so love-struck is a real curse.’
’Nothing like me, a true career woman!’
As for Shuang Ye, Chao Junyu, and the others, it wasn’t the right time to reunite with them yet.
So, aside from Cao Ying, she would need to find other helpers.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Doctor Song, Young Master Huai Xu is here to see you."
’Huai Xu!’
Song Lianhe’s eyes lit up. ’Talk about perfect timing! It’s like getting a pillow just when you’re feeling sleepy.’
She hurried outside and saw the refined gentleman standing in the garden, a mix of complicated emotions welling up inside her.
’Seeing all these familiar faces again really feels like it’s been a lifetime.’
"You must be Doctor Song?"
She replied immediately, "I am Song Lianhe."
Huai Xu clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "I am Huai Xu."
As fellow physicians, the two hit it off immediately and spent time exchanging medical knowledge. In the end, Song Lianhe even gave him a stalk of five-split yellow gentian.
Huai Xu accepted it and thanked her solemnly. "My thanks, Doctor Song."
"Not at all. You’re too kind, Young Master Huai." Song Lianhe’s tone shifted as she looked at him with a grin. "Actually, there is a matter I was hoping you could help me with."
"Please, Doctor Song, go on."
...
When Huai Xu left, Song Lianhe personally saw him out of the mansion.
Before boarding his carriage, Huai Xu gave her a small smile. "Rest assured, Doctor Song. You can leave this matter to me."
"Then I owe you my thanks, Young Master Huai!"
Song Lianhe was delighted, standing in place and watching Huai Xu’s carriage until it disappeared from sight.
’Tsk, tsk. What a nice guy!’
She was so absorbed in watching him leave that she failed to notice the carriage that had been waiting behind her for some time.
"Doctor Song is staring for quite a long time, isn’t she?"
The Shadow Guard could hardly watch anymore. "Even if Young Master Huai is as gentle as jade and popular with the ladies, she’s the one who swore she’d marry no one but the Master! And what happens? Look who she’s been meeting with! First it was Prince Ling, now it’s Young Master Huai! This woman’s affections change far too quickly!"
Zhou Cangyan sat ramrod straight in the carriage, a chill seeming to emanate from his face. His fingers toyed with the Bone Ring as he murmured, his eyes half-closed, "Huai Xu?"
"Who else! Master, you should have seen them. They were so reluctant to part..."
Before he could finish, the carriage curtain was thrown open, and the man stepped out.
Meanwhile, Song Lianhe had just finished a rough calculation of the capital she’d need. She was about to head back inside to figure out exactly how long she’d have to run a street stall to earn that much...
And so, with a frown on her face, she walked straight past the black-clad man standing by the gate.
Zhou Cangyan: "..."
The Shadow Guard was incredulous. "She actually dared to ignore the Master! And after the Master went to the Ling Prince Mansion at night to stand up for her! He even... Ugh! Never mind! It just makes me angrier to talk about it!"
Zhou Cangyan pressed his tongue against the back of his teeth, the corner of his mouth twitching into an audible laugh.
’No one had ever dared to make a fool of him like this!’
Hearing that laugh, the Shadow Guard felt a chill run down his spine and couldn’t help but shiver.
’That laugh... it promised a swift and deadly end!’
’Looks like someone had better watch her own back.’
Just as he was about to enter the mansion, the Shadow Guard whispered, "Master, it’s a carriage from the Imperial Palace."
---
At the Ling Prince Mansion, the atmosphere remained tense because of the incident with Master Chen’s injury, which put Song Xilan in a foul mood.
So, Kong Qing suggested they go for a walk in the streets. They could also buy some fabric for the Princess Consort, as it was time to have some new lined clothes tailored for the season.
Song Xilan wanted to get out and clear her head as well, so she agreed.
But before she could even leave the mansion, an imperial edict arrived.
The Empress was summoning her to the Imperial Palace for an audience.
Song Xilan dared not delay, and immediately had Kong Qing help her dress and do her hair.
’Speaking of which,’ she thought, ’Song Lianhe used to be a favorite of Empress Chun De. Now, I bet the Empress doesn’t even know who she is!’
The thought brought a feeling of immense satisfaction to Song Xilan.
’Although Empress Chun De isn’t a key character in this novel,’ she mused, ’she is still the Empress. Before Zhou Junlin takes power, winning her approval would be a huge advantage. Especially since everyone knows the Empress’s own son gave up his claim to the throne long ago.’
With this in mind, Song Xilan became even more motivated, and she prepared an especially lavish gift for the Empress.
Arriving at East Yang Gate, she dismounted from her carriage to proceed on foot, as was required by protocol.
Kong Qing carefully helped her down from the carriage, then whispered in her ear, "Princess Consort, it’s Prince Qing!"
Hearing his title, Song Xilan’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned her head.
Her heart began to race, and a secret joy quietly filled her chest once more.
’She hadn’t even realized how much she’d been looking forward to seeing him.’
This was the Imperial Palace, and with so many eyes on them, Song Xilan naturally knew to conceal her emotions.
She remained the picture of a dignified, gentle, and proper Princess Consort Ling.
Zhou Cangyan’s carriage was entirely black, both spacious and steady. Four uniquely crafted White Jade Bells hung from its corners, chiming with a crisp, pleasant sound.
A smile bloomed on Song Xilan’s face, her gaze fixed on his carriage with an unconcealable fervor.
Just then, the carriage door opened, and Zhou Cangyan’s tall figure emerged.
After stepping down from the carriage, he clearly saw Song Xilan as well.
But after only the slightest pause, he turned back, said something to the person still inside the carriage, and a moment later, Song Lianhe emerged with a yawn.
