Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 79: Who Doesn’t Know You’re Jealous of Lan’er

Song Lianhe had just jumped down from the carriage, but before she could turn to thank him, Zhou Cangyan said, "Go."

"Yes, sir."

The Shadow Guard drove the carriage away, vanishing as quickly as a gust of wind.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

’A prince’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea!’

Back at the manor, Shuang Ye and Ah Yu immediately rushed over to her.

"My lady, you scared me to death!" Shuang Ye was on the verge of tears. "You were perfectly fine, and then you suddenly vanished... If anything had happened to you, how could I possibly go on?"

"Alright, alright, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?"

Although Ah Yu said nothing, his lips were pressed into a thin line, the anxiety and lingering fear in his eyes plain to see.

Song Lianhe smiled and patted his head. "I’m really okay."

The three of them started back toward Xubai Small Building, but were stopped halfway by the butler.

"The Master and Madam request the Second Miss’s presence."

Song Lianhe scoffed inwardly. ’I know what this is about. News of what happened at the Imperial Palace must have reached the manor.’

What’s meant to come, comes. She simply followed the butler without any fuss.

’I’m someone who dares to use my own head as a hidden weapon; what’s there to be afraid of?’

Sure enough, the atmosphere in Die Cui Pavilion was oppressive. Song Xingfeng sat at the head of the main hall, his expression grim.

Before he could even speak, Mrs. Liu shot to her feet. "Where is my daughter!" she demanded.

"Heh. Perhaps she found the scenery in the Imperial Garden too exquisite to leave. But speaking of scenery, nothing could compare to the rockery there. It was truly... serene and elegant. Perfect for a little heart-to-heart at night."

Song Xingfeng already knew what had happened to Xilan at the Imperial Palace, and his face turned ghastly upon hearing those words.

"Shut your mouth!"

Mrs. Liu dropped all pretense, pointing a finger at her as she shrieked, "This is all your fault! All of it was your scheme! You can’t stand to see my Lan’er happy, so you target us, mother and daughter! I can’t believe someone so young could have such a venomous heart... Husband! Husband, you must stand up for me and Lan’er!"

Song Lianhe sneered. "Aunt Liu, you must be hysterical and confused. My scheme? Pray tell, how did I manage this ’scheme’? Did I force my future husband to have a tryst with my own sister in the Imperial Palace? Let me ask you: if they didn’t harbor such filthy intentions themselves, could I have possibly held a knife to the great Prince Ling’s throat? Or could I have deceived my oh-so-intelligent and courteous sister, whose fame resounds throughout all of Ling’an? You think far too highly of me, Aunt Liu."

"That’s just an excuse! Everyone knows you’re jealous of Lan’er! You’re jealous that she has Prince Ling’s affection, while you do nothing but disgust him!"

"Heh. Aunt Liu, you can say such things at home, but if you go outside with that loose tongue of yours, you’ll be a laughingstock! People will only say that Aunt Liu is so used to being a concubine that she’s pushing her own precious daughter to follow in her footsteps, dead set on seducing her future brother-in-law! Not only do you feel no shame, you’re actually pleased with yourself, proud that your daughter has a talent for being a mistress!"

"You little harlot! How dare you insult my Lan’er! I’ll rip your mouth to shreds!"

Mrs. Liu was practically gnashing her teeth in hatred. She lunged, hands outstretched to claw at Song Lianhe’s face, but before she could get close, Ah Yu and Shuang Ye stepped in front of their mistress. They each seized one of her arms and slammed them down onto the table.

"Agh! Let go! You wretched servants! Is this a rebellion?! Someone, help! Someone, quickly..."

Nanny Tian was on leave for a matter concerning her son, so the one attending Mrs. Liu was a young serving girl. The girl was terrified by the commotion. She had only just timidly edged closer when Shuang Ye shoved her away with brute force.

Song Xingfeng slammed his hand on the table. "Enough of this ruckus! Haven’t you brought enough shame upon this house?!"

Song Lianhe added fuel to the fire. "Well, I’m not the one who was sneaking around in a rockery with a man."

Mrs. Liu gritted her teeth, then burst into sobs. "Husband..."

"You, be quiet!"

Song Xingfeng’s head was pounding from the noise. He glared at Song Lianhe and demanded, "Xilan is your older sister! When something like this was happening, why didn’t you stop her or warn her?"

Song Lianhe let out an incredulous laugh. "Father," she said slowly, "please, enlighten me. How was I supposed to warn her? Was she supposed to inform me ahead of time that she planned on seducing my fiancé?"

Song Xingfeng was left speechless.

"Sob..."

Mrs. Liu covered her face with a handkerchief and threw herself aside, sobbing until Song Xingfeng was utterly vexed.

He looked again at Mrs. Liu, and a sense of resentment began to well up inside him. ’Xilan has always been so well-behaved and obedient. How did she turn out like this?’

He suddenly recalled the time right after he had married Shuniang. Mrs. Liu, unable to enter the manor openly, had cast aside all her reserve, seeking him out for passionate trysts in all sorts of secluded places...

To Song Xingfeng, then in the prime of his life and full of vigor, Mrs. Liu had been as gentle as water—far more alluring than Lin Shuniang, a woman who only knew how to wield a sword. She had been utterly irresistible.

’How were Xilan’s actions today any different from those of the young Liu Wanqing?’

At these thoughts, Song Xingfeng’s brows drew together, and his gaze fell upon Mrs. Liu, dark and somber.