Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 358: What a Treasure the Imperial Uncle Lost
E Jintang had passed out.
Given his size, it took six or seven attendants to carry him into a room together.
Song Lianhe moved quickly. She first cut open his clothes, then had Yin Huan help clean the wound.
Although Yin Huan had started out crying her eyes out, she knew what was important and was used to such scenes. After wiping her tears, she took a linen cloth, dipped it in water, and began cleaning the wound bit by bit.
Song Lianhe sterilized a silver needle in a candle flame, threaded it, and began to suture the wound.
Watching the silver needle pass through flesh and skin, Gu Ha felt his scalp tingle. Yet Song Lianhe’s hand didn’t even tremble.
Zhou Junlin watched her quietly. Her calm composure and the determination in her eyes were particularly captivating.
Not until night fell did Song Lianhe finally wipe the sweat from her brow.
"Done."
His wounds were deep and numerous, making the suturing a true test of skill.
Song Lianhe hadn’t treated many external injuries before. Working on him now, she felt her skills had improved significantly.
Yin Huan also let out a sigh of relief. She sat by the bed, watching over him, her face filled with guilt.
"It’s because I was greedy that I got him hurt."
Song Lianhe looked at her and suddenly said, "Your feelings for Jintang..."
Yin Huan looked up at her. "What?"
"...Nothing."
’Some things aren’t necessarily better when brought to light.’
After finishing with E Jintang’s wounds, Song Lianhe took the initiative to find Gu Ha.
"Take me to see your injured men."
Gu Ha was somewhat surprised, but then he lowered his head and mumbled a soft "yes."
Song Lianhe spent another hour treating all the injured Golden Feather Guards before slowly walking out of the room, massaging her shoulder.
Unexpectedly, Zhou Junlin was standing right at the door.
As he sensed the woman approaching, the air filled with the medicinal scent from her clothes. Zhou Junlin lowered his gaze slightly.
She hesitated, then slowly walked over. "About my grand-nephew... I misunderstood you."
Zhou Junlin tilted his head slightly, looking at her with amusement. "So, in your mind, just how utterly evil am I?"
"Well, it’s not that exaggerated."
’I can’t very well tell him that our positions are different,’ Song Lianhe thought. ’From the perspective of a cannon fodder female side character, he’s more terrifying than a Rakshasa.’
"E Jintang is Governor E’s only son. Governor E died for Da Cheng. How could I possibly abandon him?"
Song Lianhe raised her head and stared at him blankly, as if she were truly understanding him for the first time.
After a moment of silence, she said, "Zhang Yu had ill intentions toward me. I nearly died at his hands. I was so furious I couldn’t let it go, which is why I didn’t want Princess Consort Ling to take him away."
This served as an explanation for her previous actions.
As for Zhang Yu’s true identity, she didn’t say a word, because she still didn’t trust him.
’However, for Zhou Junlin to make such a big move, he must have already known.’
Zhou Junlin looked at her. What she said was no different from what he had learned.
Neither of them spoke again, and the atmosphere became strangely silent.
Song Lianhe knew very well the fundamental reason for this situation...
Zhou Junlin pressed his lips together and glanced away.
"Let me send you back to the mansion."
"...I’m not going back."
Song Lianhe turned her face away, clearly sulking.
Zhou Junlin raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Had a fight?"
"Does me having a fight make you happy?"
He smiled. "Of course not."
Song Lianhe shot him a glance. Perhaps tired of standing, she squatted down. "You might not believe this, but he used to be very good to me."
"Oh?"
The look in his eyes was as if he were looking at the ultimate lovesick fool and delusional fantasist.
"Sigh, forget it."
These things happened so long ago that she couldn’t help but wonder if they had ever really happened at all.
"If you don’t return to the mansion tonight, where will you go?"
"I..."
Song Lianhe suddenly realized she was homeless!!
’Reality is just this sad, this cruel!’
But the more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She refused to believe that she had nowhere to go besides the Prince Qing Mansion!
"I’ll stay in an inn! A thatched hut! A dilapidated temple! Anywhere but the Prince Qing Mansion!"
Song Lianhe stood up and began to rummage through her small pouch, only to realize that in her haste to leave, she hadn’t brought a single copper coin.
Her hand fumbled inside for a long time before she slowly pulled it out. Her cheeks flushed a little. "Um... can I borrow some Silver?"
’I could sleep on the streets, but E Jintang is still injured!’
’Yin Huan and my grand-nephew both left because of me. I can’t let them suffer with me!’
Zhou Junlin looked at her, then suddenly let out a soft chuckle. "What a treasure my Imperial Uncle has lost!"
Song Lianhe frowned. "How about I pawn something with you?"
She made a move to take off her pearl hairpins and jade pendants, but Zhou Junlin raised a hand to stop her arm. "No need."
He called Gu Ha over and said, "The Southern Official has been seized. For now, place it under the care of Princess Qing."
"Yes."
Song Lianhe’s eyes lit up. She pointed to herself in disbelief. "This place is mine now?"
The corners of Zhou Junlin’s lips curved up. "I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble Princess Qing."
"Oh, not at all, not at all! It’s all for the good of the country and its people!"
The weight in Song Lianhe’s heart was finally lifted. She had a place to stay. Looking around, she liked the place more and more, having long forgotten she had nearly lost her life here.
Seeing her delighted expression, Zhou Junlin’s mood lifted as well.
’Who would have thought that something that was a small effort for me could make her so happy?’
Gu Ha looked at his Prince. He felt that the Prince was being exceptionally agreeable today, granting almost every request! He almost felt like lighting three incense sticks and making a wish to the Prince himself!
Just then, a guard came to report something.
Although his voice was low, Song Lianhe was standing so close that she couldn’t help but instinctively prick up her ears.
"...The Princess Consort has returned to the mansion."
After hearing this, the emotion in Zhou Junlin’s eyes flickered, and he gave a faint "Mm."
Song Lianhe knew that Song Xilan had just met with Zhou Cangyan. Her anger had subsided, and she now felt a bit of sympathy for Zhou Junlin.
’I can no longer see the protagonist’s halo, but if I could, I’m sure his head would be faintly glowing green right now...’
’But in the original novel, the male and female leads had a great relationship. They were perfectly in sync when it came to their ambitions. Otherwise, how would the villain have ended up being pierced by ten thousand arrows? I guess this current stage is just a conflict created by the author to deepen their bond.’
Zhou Junlin left with his men. Most of the male courtesans at the Southern Official had already departed, and those who remained were the ones with nowhere else to go.
They knew Song Lianhe’s identity and were utterly respectful, at her beck and call.
Thankfully, they helped take care of E Jintang, allowing Song Lianhe to finally catch her breath.
Just as she was organizing them to prepare dinner, a loud BANG BANG BANG came from the main gate.
The male courtesans all panicked, afraid that another Prince was at the door.
’I never realized Ling’an City produced so many Princes before!’
"Don’t panic."
Song Lianhe was about to go check when someone yanked her back.
"I’ll go see."
Yin Huan pulled her back and walked forward, holding a curved knife.
She was clearly smaller than Song Lianhe and had a baby face like an innocent young girl, yet at this moment, she gave Song Lianhe a profound sense of security.
