Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 72: Did He Say He Wanted This Child?

"It healed a long time ago! You knew that already!"

Song Lianhe replied without a second thought, completely unaware of how intimate her words sounded.

Cao Ying was the closest and was utterly shocked when she heard it.

’Song Lianhe and Prince Qing?’

She had heard from her father that when Prince Qing went to the General Mansion, he happened upon Song Lianhe being disciplined and took her back to his own residence...

She immediately looked at Song Lianhe, her expression a mix of intrigue and displeasure at her betrayal of Prince Ling!

Zhuang Qiaoyue clenched her fists, glaring at Song Lianhe with disgust.

’Vixen! Seducing men everywhere. Isn’t having Prince Ling enough for her?’

Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. "It seems I had forgotten."

Despite saying that, he showed no intention of returning the wine to her. He even glanced at his Shadow Guard, who understood immediately. A moment later, a servant was ordered to bring over a bowl of wheat and red date soup.

Song Lianhe stared blankly at the bowl of soup. Wheat and red dates—nourishing for the heart, calming for the mind, beneficial for the spleen and stomach. It was suitable for those with insomnia and palpitations. It was also highly beneficial for pregnant women, especially in the early embryonic stage, when one should consume more wheat and grains.

’But do I look like I’m suffering from insomnia, nightmares, and emotional instability?’

’Zhou Junlin at least knew to get Song Xilan a bowl of chilled red bean soup. How come when it’s my turn, I get something warm and nourishing?’

She looked up at Zhou Cangyan suspiciously. He didn’t speak, but his sharp gaze was fixed on the bowl of soup.

"..."

Without another word, Song Lianhe picked up the bowl and drank it down. GULP, GULP.

Only then did Zhou Cangyan retract his gaze.

But then he suddenly remembered something his Shadow Guard had been muttering on the way over: ’Looks like it won’t be long before the Old Master can hold his great-grandson...’

Zhou Cangyan’s face instantly darkened. ’What great-grandson! Did I say I wanted this child?’ 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

When he looked at Song Lianhe again, his gaze turned colder, even disdainful.

Song Lianhe sighed helplessly. ’What did I do to offend him this time? Is this some kind of princely affliction? He’s really impossible to please!’

The two only exchanged a few glances, but unbeknownst to them, their interaction had already been noticed by many.

Lady Zhuang whispered to the Prime Minister’s wife beside her, "Could the rumors be true? That Song Lianhe was taken into Prince Qing’s mansion..."

She paused deliberately, her expression saying it all.

Mrs. Zhao quickly interjected, "Lady Zhuang, you mustn’t speak so carelessly. It could ruin Miss Song’s reputation. Besides, she is still engaged to Prince Ling."

Lady Zhuang gave a hollow laugh. "I was just repeating what I heard, just what I heard..." She turned away and shot a disdainful glance.

’What an act!’

At the same time, Fang Xiu was whispering in Empress Chun De’s ear, "Your Majesty, look..."

Empress Chun De had noticed the moment Zhou Cangyan forcibly took the cup from Song Lianhe’s hand.

Unable to contain her excitement, she turned to Fang Xiu. "We didn’t see that wrong, did we? Is Biwu... with that girl..."

Fang Xiu covered her mouth and smiled. "This servant has never seen Prince Qing care so much about anyone, especially a young lady."

"Yes, yes, that must be it!"

Amidst her excitement, Empress Chun De frowned. "But that Song Lianhe..."

Her birth wasn’t low, but she didn’t have a good reputation in Ling’an City. What’s more troublesome is that she’s the fiancée the Holy Emperor assigned to Prince Ling. The intention to win over her family was blatantly obvious.

Given that, the Holy Emperor was already wary of Biwu. This would likely make him even more suspicious.

’But...

’Biwu has been alone for so long. He was sent out of the palace while still in swaddling clothes, separated from his family! To this day, he has no one to care for him.’ Every time Chun De thought of this, her heart ached, and she felt she had failed her dear friend. ’This is Chaoyan’s only bloodline, her only legacy. Without Chaoyan, there would be no Empress Chun De ruling over the imperial harem today!’

Chun De’s gaze gradually became resolute. She lifted her head and said with rare forcefulness, "No matter who she is, if she is the woman Biwu has taken a fancy to, I will help him!"

Fang Xiu looked at her mistress, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Prince Qing has taken an interest in the Second Miss Song, whose fiancé is Prince Ling, but Prince Ling happens to be fond of her older sister... What a tangled mess."

Chun De was taken aback for a moment. "That’s right! If I can just matchmake Ziyin and Song Xilan, wouldn’t that indirectly help Biwu get what he wants!"

’That way, everything would fall into place logically, and it wouldn’t arouse the Holy Emperor’s suspicion!’

’It truly kills two birds with one stone!’

Having figured it out, Empress Chun De turned her smiling gaze toward Song Xilan...

’It would just require some... unconventional methods.’