Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 93: How Could My Dad Have Spare Money to Support Me?
Tanwei Palace, Consort Qi’s bedchamber.
This had also been the residence of Zhou Junlin’s late mother, Consort Jing. Song Lianhe often came here as a child. After Consort Jing passed away, the Holy Emperor, moved by her virtue and also intending to balance the various court factions, brought Consort Jing’s younger sister into the Imperial Palace.
From a low-ranking concubine to the Noble Consort she was today, Consort Qi was just like Consort Jing had been—serene, dignified, gentle, and gracious. She never participated in the harem’s rivalries for favor, single-mindedly focused only on raising her sister’s son. She even feared that if she had children of her own, she might mistreat or neglect her nephew, so she discussed with the Holy Emperor her wish to remain childless.
Emperor Cheng Xiao was deeply moved. After all, what woman in the imperial harem didn’t want to gain status through her son? To be without an heir was to be without backing, tantamount to an early withdrawal from the fight for the throne!
Such magnanimity and integrity made him dote on Consort Qi, and her virtuous name was praised both inside and outside the Imperial Palace.
Zhou Junlin respected and was as devoted to her as if she were his own mother. This time, Consort Qi was unwell, and after several days of treatment from the Imperial Hospital showed no improvement, Zhou Junlin finally sought out Song Lianhe.
However, he was truly astonished to learn that the Medical Woman who had taken Ling’an City by storm in recent days was none other than his own intended Princess Consort.
But Consort Qi’s health was more important than any of that, so he decided to bring Song Lianhe over and take a chance.
If she actually managed to cure her, so be it. If not, he would charge her with the crime of fraud!
Following a palace attendant to Nuanyu Pavilion, Song Lianhe looked up and saw a woman sitting on the edge of the sunken hearth.
Unlike the gentle, stately beauty of Empress Chun De, Consort Qi possessed a subtle elegance, like a lone orchid in a secluded valley—aloof and unconcerned with worldly splendor.
Zhou Junlin took a step forward. "Ziyin pays his respects to you, Aunt." He then introduced Song Lianhe. "This is the owner of the Medical Clinic..."
Song Lianhe immediately took the hint. "This commoner pays her respects to Consort Qi."
Consort Qi looked up, sizing her up for a moment before smiling. "Then I shall be in your hands."
Song Lianhe quickly lowered her gaze. "I am humbled." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
Consort Qi, still seated on the sunken hearth in Nuanyu Pavilion, extended her wrist. Song Lianhe respectfully stepped forward to take her pulse.
Ever since opening the Medical Clinic and taking up her medical practice again, Song Lianhe had spent long hours every night poring over the medical texts of the Da Cheng Dynasty. Her efforts had been quite fruitful.
’If I’d put in half this effort studying for my college entrance exams,’ she thought, ’I could’ve had my pick of the Ivy League. But it’s different when you’re genuinely interested in something. You can truly forget to eat or sleep and still feel full of energy.’
After taking the pulse, she dutifully stepped to the side.
Zhou Junlin couldn’t help but ask, "What exactly is my aunt’s ailment?"
His cold eyes were fixed on her, brimming with suspicion.
Song Lianhe arched an eyebrow slightly, glanced at Consort Qi, then slowly lowered her hands. She hesitated before speaking. "Noble Consort... there is nothing physically wrong with you."
"How is that possible!"
Zhou Junlin snapped in displeasure, "Are your skills so poor that you would make such a baseless diagnosis!"
Song Lianhe paid him no mind. ’Daring to spout nonsense in a field he knows nothing about... what an ignoramus!’
’Why would I argue with an ignoramus?’
She turned to Consort Qi and asked slowly, "Noble Consort, has something been weighing on your mind lately?"
Consort Qi fell silent for a moment, then raised her eyes and gazed at her quietly. "What makes you say that?"
Song Lianhe’s gaze was sincere as she spoke, enunciating each word. "Your Highness, an ailment not of the body has no cure in medicine. Sometimes, it is a blessing to be blissfully unaware."
Zhou Junlin couldn’t listen to any more of this. "Nonsense! Guards, seize her for me—"
"Ziyin."
Consort Qi suddenly stopped him, her expression still serene and distant as she gazed at Song Lianhe.
Unafraid, Song Lianhe continued, "Your Highness is one of heaven’s favored daughters. You have the Holy Emperor who cherishes you, and you have Prince Ling to dote on you..."
Zhou Junlin: "..."
"You ought to be happy and carefree! If there’s truly a problem you can’t solve, don’t just bottle it up. Delegate to your subordinates; don’t spoil them! In short, please remember this commoner’s words: Whatever you do is right, Your Highness. The ones at fault are the people who say you’re wrong!"
Consort Qi watched her for a long moment, then suddenly broke into a laugh. "This girl... I haven’t seen you in years, and you’ve become quite the clever one. Ziyin, you brought Wenxin here just to cheer me up, didn’t you?"
Song Lianhe froze. ’Wait, when did the Noble Consort recognize me?’
Zhou Junlin was also taken aback.
Sensing their confusion, Consort Qi, in a rare good mood, smiled and pointed to the jade pendant hanging from Song Lianhe’s neck.
"I recognize that pendant. You’ve never taken it off, not since you were a child."
Song Lianhe subconsciously covered the jade with her hand—
’Still, I was careless.’
She quickly knelt. "Your Highness, I did not mean to deceive you. Please forgive me..."
Zhou Junlin also tried to explain, but Consort Qi just smiled, unconcerned. "I know you both acted out of filial piety. How could I possibly blame you? But Wenxin, when did you open a Medical Clinic?"
Song Lianhe could get away with feeding Zhou Junlin some far-fetched story about a "Medical Immortal visiting her in a dream"—she didn’t care if he believed it or not—but that wouldn’t work on Consort Qi.
So, she answered honestly, "To be truthful with Your Highness, I’ve loved medical books since I was a child. It’s just that my father always compared me to my older sister. I grew so resentful that I decided I might as well become the unlearned, worthless daughter he ’expected’ me to be! But I truly do love medicine, so I hid it from my family and studied in secret. Later, I was fortunate enough to meet an itinerant physician who passed on his life’s knowledge to me, which is how I came to be the Medical Clinic Owner I am today."
Her explanation was sincere and matched Song Lianhe’s known temperament, making it highly credible.
Even Zhou Junlin couldn’t help but shoot her a sideways glance, the suspicion in his eyes replaced by surprise. Given Song Lianhe’s previously ostentatious personality, it was truly remarkable that she could have acquired such skills and kept them hidden until now.
Consort Qi lifted her teacup and took a sip. "If you didn’t want anyone to know, why stop hiding your abilities now?"
At her words, Zhou Junlin’s gaze sharpened as well.
"In response to the Noble Consort, it’s because I need money."
"The distinguished daughter of the General Mansion needs to show her face in public to earn money?"
"Your Highness may not be aware, but while it’s true my father is a Great General, his stipend is limited, and he still has to support his concubine and my sister. How could there be any spare money for me? If my maternal grandparents hadn’t been helping me all these years, I’m afraid I wouldn’t even have enough silver for a box of rouge. I’m a perfectly capable person; how could I keep asking my elders for silver? After thinking it over, I realized I have no skills other than medicine, so I scraped together some silver and opened this Medical Clinic."
Song Lianhe admitted to herself that she had artistically embellished her speech, but it was largely based on facts.
Song Xingfeng doted on Mrs. Liu and her daughter, sending any and all fine things to Die Cui Pavilion. Only when he occasionally remembered his other daughter would he send over some scraps—always the leftovers that those in Die Cui Garden had picked over and disdained.
The original owner of this body was obsessed with saving face, so she would throw the items out of her garden every time, hurling insults after them. Mrs. Liu would then report this to Song Xingfeng, adding her own embellishments. Over time, why would Song Xingfeng, as a father, continue to invite such unpleasantness?
After listening, Consort Qi gave a slight nod.
She believed Song Lianhe’s words.
A man’s personal passions and his grander devotions were never mutually exclusive. Song Xingfeng could be a great hero who defended the nation, and he could also be a callous man who rushed to elevate his concubine shortly after his official wife passed away.
Zhou Junlin, however, frowned as he listened. But upon careful reflection, he realized there were signs.
Every time he had seen Xilan in the past, she was always dressed in new clothes of fine material. As a concubine’s daughter in a prominent family, she had certainly never been mistreated. In fact, thanks to Mrs. Liu’s influence, her life was quite comfortable.
In contrast, there was Song Lianhe...
His eyes swept over her attire. He remembered this dress—it was the same one she had been wearing that day at the Prince Qing Mansion...
For reasons he couldn’t quite name, Zhou Junlin felt a strange vexation rise in his heart.
