Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 371: I Won’t Let the Princess Consort Run Away Again
Pang Jiliang was pacing back and forth in front of the mansion gate, fraught with anxiety.
"Why isn’t she back yet? Ugh!"
When he saw Song Lianhe jump down from the carriage, he was so happy he slapped his thigh. "Leave it to the Prince!"
"Uncle Liang."
Song Lianhe felt a little guilty seeing him. "I..."
"Princess Consort! It’s good that you’re back! It’s just good that you’re back!" He turned his head and shouted, "Da Xi! Quickly, take the Princess Consort inside to get ready!"
"The Princess Consort is back!"
Da Xi came over at a trot. As she passed Pang Jiliang, he grabbed her and urged in a low voice, "You must stay by the Princess Consort’s side at all times! There can be no more mistakes!"
Da Xi understood immediately. "Don’t worry, Uncle Liang. I won’t let the Princess Consort run away again!"
Song Lianhe: "..."
’Did she have to say it so loudly? Was she afraid I wouldn’t hear?’
As she followed Da Xi inside, she couldn’t help but look back at the man still standing behind her.
His tall, slender figure stood against the faint morning light. He had a naturally cold and distant air about him, yet he was breathtakingly handsome.
Song Lianhe sighed quietly in her heart. ’He’s so good-looking. I could look at that face forever and never get tired of it!’
’Actually, I don’t need to be so serious about everything.’
’If I think about it like a player, why do I need his heart? His body is more than enough! And I know all about Zhou Cangyan’s... physical prowess.’
Thinking of certain indescribable scenes, her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.
"Princess Consort, are you not feeling well? Why is your face so red?" Da Xi asked with concern.
"Is it?" She immediately raised a hand to cover her cheeks and couldn’t help but quicken her pace.
After watching her figure disappear, Zhou Cangyan signaled for a Shadow Guard to approach.
"What’s the situation with the Southern Official?"
"Suspicious individuals have appeared in the vicinity. They’re likely Zhang Yu’s accomplices."
"Don’t alert the enemy. Just have someone keep an eye on them."
"Yes, sir."
The Shadow Guard added, "Prince Hang has already gone to the palace for an audience with the Holy Emperor." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Zhou Cangyan’s lips curled into a mocking sneer. "With Zhang Yu’s identity as a Nanchen spy confirmed, he naturally wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. Besides, his mother was a Nanchen princess sent for a political marriage. Even if it weren’t to deal with Ziyin, he’d want to prove his own innocence."
"Then won’t Prince Ling be in a lot of trouble? And..." The Shadow Guard glanced cautiously at his face. "And Princess Consort Ling will surely be implicated."
Zhou Cangyan froze for a moment, then a flicker of faint anger crossed his face. He walked into the Prince Mansion without another word.
He hadn’t considered this problem until now.
Whether or not Song Xilan would be implicated was something he had naturally assumed was Zhou Junlin’s problem to worry about.
His annoyance, however, stemmed from a sudden realization: he had been thinking about his own Princess Qing more and more lately. Whether she was provoking him or infuriating him, she always managed to vividly and forcefully demand his full attention!
’When it came to Song Xilan, I could still manage to control my heart. But with *her*, I keep miscalculating, one time after another. It’s truly frustrating!’
Just then, Huai Xu also got out of the carriage behind him. Seeing Zhou Cangyan still standing at the gate, it was too late to run.
"Er... Biwu, look, you’re busy today. How about we..."
Zhou Cangyan suddenly turned, a corner of his lips lifting into a smirk, his gaze sharp. "Young Master Huai, if you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll burn your entire herb garden to the ground."
He smiled. "And I do what I say."
"Zhou Biwu! You’ve gone too far!"
Huai Xu treasured his herb garden more than anything. He would fight to the death anyone who dared to touch it.
Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow. "Want to try me?"
"You... Fine, fine, fine!"
Huai Xu walked over dejectedly. "I owed her a favor and had to repay it. She said she wanted to leave the Prince Mansion and didn’t want to marry you. What was I supposed to do? Break my promise to a lady? Besides, you’ve always had someone else in your heart. Her staying by your side would only cause more trouble, so I simply helped her out."
A chill spread across Zhou Cangyan’s face, and his eyes looked like they were about to spit fire, yet he was so angry he laughed.
"You ’helped her out’? What were you going to use to do that? Your herb garden?"
"Zhou Biwu! Didn’t you just say you wanted an explanation? Why are you bringing up the herb garden again? Aren’t you the one who should be reflecting on this the most? If you had treated her properly, would she have needed to ask an outsider like me for help? Just look at yourself whenever you see Song Xilan. I’m serious... I even feel bad for Lianhe!"
Zhou Cangyan ground his teeth, then nodded slowly. He saw it all clearly now.
He glanced back and called someone.
"Xuan Qi."
"Yes."
A scholar in green robes appeared suddenly behind them.
Even though Huai Xu was no stranger to him, he was still startled by the man’s ghost-like appearance.
"Xuan Qi, can you make some noise with your footsteps next time? Only ghosts walk without a sound! You’re terrifying!"
Xuan Qi ignored him.
Without turning his head, Zhou Cangyan said, "Watch him. Let him out after the ceremony is complete."
"Understood."
Huai Xu was stunned for a moment, then he shook his head and let out a laugh.
’How unexpected.’
Seeing the Prince and Princess Consort return, the mansion instantly became lively again.
Song Lianhe realized that as soon as she stopped obsessing over whether she was the one in his heart, her mindset relaxed. ’Actually, this outcome isn’t so bad. It’s not like I haven’t married him before. I get a home to return to and the entire Prince Qing Mansion to back me up. Why not get married?’
So, she compliantly did whatever Da Xi asked of her.
This made Da Xi feel very uneasy!
"I want to go see Yin Huan and Jintang first," she said while Da Xi was combing her hair.
Da Xi immediately grew tense. "Princess Consort, you can’t run away again! The Prince losing face is a small matter, but if the Holy Emperor holds it against you, not even the Prince can protect you!"
"I know, I know." Song Lianhe grinned at her reflection in the mirror. "I just want to go see them. If you’re worried, you can come with me."
Da Xi thought for a moment, then turned and pushed the door open.
Soon, Xuan Mei came in.
"Where do you want to go? I’ll accompany you."
And just like that, with Da Xi and Xuan Mei on her left and right, Song Lianhe was escorted to a side courtyard.
"...Ah, there are bugs biting me! It hurts! Ahh..."
"Jintang, those aren’t bugs! Get down from there..."
Hearing the voices from the courtyard, Song Lianhe’s expression changed. She hurried inside, with Xuan Mei and Da Xi close behind her.
She saw E Jintang perched on top of a wall, his hands flailing about as if swatting at something. He was clearly in a delirious state.
Afraid he would fall, Song Lianhe quickly called out, "Sister Mei!"
Without a word, Xuan Mei tapped her toes on the ground, executed her Qinggong, and flew up, kicking him straight off the wall! Then, without a second glance at him, she returned to Song Lianhe’s side.
Song Lianhe: "...S-Sister Mei, wasn’t that a little too rough? After all, he’s just a kid..."
Yin Huan immediately rushed to help him up, shooting a reproachful glare back at Xuan Mei. "If he’s hurt, I’ll never forgive you!"
Xuan Mei just shrugged nonchalantly.
’Be my guest.’
Song Lianhe also went to check on E Jintang. "Grand-nephew, are you hurt?"
E Jintang was hurt from the fall. He sat on the ground, refusing to get up, mumbling "it hurts" unclearly.
Song Lianhe made a swift decision. "Help him up, let me see!"
