Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 104: She Is Not Someone the Song Family Can Easily Offend

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: She Is Not Someone the Song Family Can Easily Offend

No matter how furious Song Xingfeng was, he wouldn’t dare provoke Zhou Cangyan.

Even without military authority, the man was still a Prince. Such was the authority of the Royal Family!

He endured the sharp pain in his wrist, gritting his teeth as he glared at Song Lianhe. "Get over here this instant!"

"Sister, don’t make Father angry again," Song Xilan began, her tone stern and righteous, the very picture of a concerned older sister. "My wedding is just around the corner; we can’t afford any more trouble. Even if you don’t care about the Song Family, you should at least consider your own reputation."

Mrs. Liu chimed in with a scolding from the side, "You may not care about your own reputation, but what will people think of your sister? If you’re going to act so indecently, at least don’t drag others down with you!"

Mrs. Liu was naturally happy that Song Lianhe wasn’t marrying Prince Ling, but she also worried he would mistakenly think they were the ones who had sabotaged it.

Because she had unilaterally broken the engagement, the Ling Prince Mansion had already sent someone over, demanding an explanation from the Song Family. It was one thing for Zhou Junlin to despise Song Lianhe, but he couldn’t be the one to be rejected by her. What would that do to his dignity as a Prince?

’Therefore, Song Lianhe will have to be the one to clean up this mess!’

And so, she added angrily, "You will go and explain yourself clearly to His Highness Prince Ling later. Tell him this has nothing to do with your sister and that it’s all your fault. Don’t you dare delay your sister’s marriage any further!"

"Is this really the time for that?!"

Song Xingfeng’s wrist was already swelling, and he was putting on a brave front to hide it. ’This woman...’ he thought, ’To say such things in front of Prince Qing. She has no sense at all!’

"Mother," Song Xilan quickly interjected to smooth things over. "We’re all family. How could there be any talk of delays?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Song Lianhe was sick of the Song Family’s good-cop, bad-cop routine. She retorted irritably, "What exactly does Aunt Liu want me to explain? That I refuse to marry a two-timing scumbag? Is that really necessary? The reason I won’t marry him is perfectly obvious! If he absolutely must have an answer, then..."

She glanced back at Zhou Cangyan, then simply hooked her arm through his and tilted her chin up. "I’ve just fallen for someone else!"

’To hell with it all. I couldn’t care less!’

Zhou Cangyan seemed surprised as well, but he knew she had asked Su Huaqing to play along before to create the false impression that she had a new lover.

’So...’

’This is just an excuse. An excuse where the other person could be anyone.’

Imperceptibly, the man’s expression turned cold again.

When Song Lianhe saw his expression suddenly change, she just assumed he was unhappy about being used as a tool. She quietly tugged his sleeve. "Your Highness, I’m in desperate need of a rescue!"

As she spoke, she even blinked a few times, putting on her most pitiful expression.

But the man’s expression only darkened. He bluntly pulled his arm free. "That depends on whether this Prince feels like it."

’Well, that’s a bit haughty!’

’You already used your military authority as a bargaining chip. Do you really have the room to be unwilling now?’

Song Lianhe took a deep breath. ’His princely sickness must be acting up again.’ Trying to be patient, she sidled closer and said in a pitiable, wheedling tone, "Your Highness, please see your good deed through to the end and help me... please? Besides you, no one else can help me!"

Zhou Cangyan slowly turned his gaze back to her. The look in his eyes was no longer so cold; her words seemed to have had the desired effect.

To outsiders, the sight of them whispering so brazenly to each other made them look incredibly intimate.

Mrs. Liu cursed inwardly, ’Shameless little harlot!’

’So she really did hook up with Prince Qing!’

’But it’s useless even if she has hooked him. Though they’re both princes, Prince Qing is nothing compared to Prince Ling. She knows Prince Ling is devoted to our Lan’er, so she’s just desperately found herself this useless patron. He’s nothing but an empty title.’

Song Xilan was also quite surprised.

Since they had last met in the Imperial Garden, their paths hadn’t crossed. Song Xilan couldn’t help but study Zhou Cangyan with new curiosity.

Her impression of him had never been particularly strong, especially when compared to Zhou Junlin, who made Zhou Cangyan seem even more insignificant. Rumor had it that Zhou Cangyan wasn’t interested in women, yet he was willing to trade his most important possession for one! ’She knew that even Zhou Junlin might not be willing to do the same.’

’It would be a lie to say she wasn’t envious. But Song Xilan didn’t understand. What did Song Lianhe possibly do to earn such special treatment from him?’

Suddenly, Song Lianhe’s face appeared in her line of sight.

Like a mother hen protecting her chick, Song Lianhe planted her hands on her hips, shielding Zhou Cangyan. She looked at her sister coldly, her head held high, as if Song Xilan’s secret thoughts had been completely exposed.

Song Xilan was taken aback for a moment, then calmly withdrew her gaze.

’This jealous display is just like how she used to be, fighting for Zhou Junlin’s affection.’

’She sneered inwardly. When she and Song Lianhe stood together, anyone with eyes could distinguish a pearl from a fish’s eye.’

’How could Zhou Cangyan possibly be interested in her?’

Song Xilan couldn’t help but look at Zhou Cangyan again.

Song Lianhe shot her a glare, then pulled Zhou Cangyan aside and warned in a low voice, "Don’t let her look at you. It’s bad luck!"

’She wasn’t exactly lying. In the original story, after getting involved with the female protagonist, Zhou Cangyan started down the villain’s path and never turned back, ultimately meeting a tragic end—death by a volley of arrows to the heart. If that wasn’t bad luck, what was?’

In Zhou Cangyan’s cold and distant eyes, a trace of gentle warmth gradually appeared. He lowered his gaze to look at her, his vision filled with nothing but her.

"Alright," he said.

The expression on Song Xilan’s face grew even more impassive.

’Never before had a man ignored her so completely. It was as if he didn’t even see her!’

She lowered her gaze and said softly to Song Xingfeng, "Father, we should take Sister inside. It’s unseemly for us to be standing out here."

Song Xingfeng’s face was grim. "Prince Qing, forgive this official, but I have family matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave."

He turned and gestured for his men to bring Song Lianhe over.

Emboldened by the General’s presence, his subordinates moved to surround Song Lianhe like a wall. "Second Miss, if you please."

Zhou Cangyan clasped his hands behind his back, his languid gaze sweeping over them. His words, however, were for Song Lianhe. "If you don’t want to stay here, I will take you away. No one will dare stop me!"

Song Lianhe looked up at him, the corners of her mouth slowly curving into a smile.

’It feels great to have someone watching your back. She could already imagine how blissful her future of just coasting through life would be!’

’Song Xingfeng clenched his jaw so hard he felt his molars might shatter. Was this man trying to steal his daughter right in front of him?’

’That Zhou Cangyan!’

"Your Highness, Prince Qing..."

He had just begun to speak when the prince’s cold gaze swept over him, his aura overwhelming. "General Song, I am speaking to the County Princess."

He rarely called Song Lianhe by her name. By addressing her with her official title now, he was reminding the Song Family that she was not just the Song Family’s Second Miss; she was the County Princess, personally invested by the Holy Emperor! She was not someone they could afford to offend!

Song Lianhe couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh.

’So this was the advantage of having so many powerful titles. Any one of them could shield her from the storm.’

Song Xingfeng was seething. Song Xilan took a step forward, her attitude neither servile nor overbearing. "Your Highness, she may be a County Princess, but she is also Father’s daughter. As the Sage said, ’True filial piety and fellowship with one’s brethren are the very essence of governance.’ If she dares to defy her own father’s command, she is being unfilial. And if a child is unfilial, how can they be loyal to the Holy Emperor? Such a disloyal and unfilial person will not be tolerated by society!"

Those words greatly mollified Song Xingfeng, and he looked at his eldest daughter with relief and pride.

’Thank goodness he had one daughter who was well-read, sensible, and obedient.’

Song Lianhe rolled her eyes. ’Does she get withdrawal symptoms if she doesn’t get to flaunt her protagonist halo for a day?’ Sure enough, when she looked again, the halo above her sister’s head was back...