Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 76: It’s All Xilan’s Fault

’At this point, was there anything left to misunderstand?’

Song Lianhe just hadn’t expected that Song Xilan was truly willing to risk it all!

Events had long since started to deviate from the original story. The stars of this Hairpin Flower Banquet were supposed to be Song Xilan and Zhou Cangyan; it was one of the female lead’s most glorious moments. But now, she and Zhou Junlin had appeared from behind a secluded rockery, their clothes a mess. They could hardly have been just admiring the moon and stars.

Whether in the original story or from her own experience as a reader, Song Xilan should never have done something that would ruin her own reputation, especially at a banquet hosted by the Empress.

Unless...

’She wanted to force the issue.’

At first, Zhou Junlin was uncomfortable. He even considered trying to talk his way around the situation.

It was true that he genuinely loved Song Xilan, but with the political situation still unstable, it wasn’t the right time to acknowledge their relationship. However, when he heard Song Xilan disregard her own reputation and take all the blame to avoid implicating him, Zhou Junlin was suddenly overcome with guilt. The look he gave her was filled with tender affection.

He turned around without a second thought, held his head high, and declared, "Mother, please understand. Xilan and I were merely chatting under the moonlight. We have done nothing wrong!"

Song Xilan’s body stiffened, and her face grew even paler.

She subconsciously clutched the lapels of her dress, burying her head even lower.

Song Lianhe couldn’t hold it in and let out a snicker.

That snicker was like a dud firecracker suddenly exploding. Zhou Junlin instantly whipped his head around to glare at her with hatred and disgust. The pent-up resentment in his heart had finally found an outlet. He demanded loudly, "Song Lianhe, what is the meaning of this?!"

Song Lianhe raised an eyebrow.

’Oh, please. He has the nerve to ask me?’

"It means nothing. When I see something funny, I laugh."

She glanced at him as if she’d seen something foul, then immediately looked away, staring straight ahead. She might as well have tattooed the word "contempt" on her forehead.

’The female lead has "sacrificed" so much, yet he can still claim, without so much as a blush, that they were just "chatting"? I know the male lead has his schemes, but it’s a fact that right now, he’s choosing to abandon her reputation for the sake of power.’

At this moment, Chun De sighed and said slowly, "Ziyin, you are, after all, an engaged man..."

Her single sentence was the final verdict. She had dismissed everyone else earlier, so those left were considered "family." There was certainly no need for pretense.

Zhou Junlin wanted to argue further, but when he heard Song Xilan’s faint sobs, he couldn’t bear it. He grit his teeth and remained silent.

And so... it was a silent admission.

Song Xilan sobbed, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. Everything is my fault."

Chun De’s gaze swept over her. To think she’d previously had a good impression of Song Xilan. She never expected the girl to be such a scheming, formidable character.

’Living in the rear palace, what sort of schemes hadn’t she seen? How could Song Xilan’s petty little tricks possibly escape her notice?’

’Chun De had originally thought she would need to scheme a little, but she never expected the girl would be so impatient as to serve up this opportunity on a silver platter. How could she not take advantage of it? In a way, she was even helping her get what she wanted.’

Chun De’s gaze grew cold, her voice carrying an authority that needed no anger. "Coveting your future brother-in-law. Committing such a filthy act right here in the Imperial Palace. You truly deserve to die."

Song Xilan trembled all over. She kowtowed to the Empress and said, word by word, "The fault is mine. I beg Your Majesty to punish me. This has nothing to do with Prince Ling."

Zhou Junlin, also overcome with emotion, lifted the hem of his robe and dropped to one knee. "Mother, it is not her fault. It was I who could not control my feelings."

Tears welled in Song Xilan’s eyes. Full of deep emotion, she cried out, "Your Highness..."

Chun De said in disappointment, "Ah, Ziyin, you are so foolish! If word of this reaches your Imperial Father, forget you—even I will be implicated because of this mess!"

Since they had both confessed, Zhou Junlin dropped the pretense. He said frankly, "I have implicated you, Mother. But I truly love Xilan, and I hope Mother will grant us her blessing."

Song Lianhe was stunned.

She hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily!

’Just as I thought. He’s head over heels.’

Chun De rubbed her temples, looking as if she had a headache. "You... you truly are... Ah, forget it. Who can I blame? I share some of the responsibility. As for your Imperial Father, I will go and speak to him myself."

Zhou Junlin’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Mother!"

Song Xilan also wept with joy, unable to contain her excitement.

’To get this outcome, everything had been worth it!’

Only Song Lianhe was not pleased.

’The three of them just decided everything like that?’

’Did anyone bother to ask for my opinion?’

She suddenly dropped to her knees with a THUD and declared loudly, "Your Majesty the Empress, I have something to say."