Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 333: Will History Repeat Itself?

’Why is she here?!’

Song Xilan froze in stunned disbelief. She had entered the Imperial Palace under the Empress’s decree, but what about Song Lianhe?

A sudden panic seized Song Xilan. ’Will history repeat itself?’

On the other side, Song Lianhe had just spotted her as well.

Song Lianhe quickly snapped her jaw shut, forcing back a yawn. "What is she doing here?"

Perhaps sensing the contempt and disrespect in her tone, Zhou Cangyan glanced at her. "The Imperial Palace isn’t like other places. Stick close to me later, and don’t wander off."

"I know, I know."

This was, in fact, Song Lianhe’s second time entering the Imperial Palace, so she was perfectly clear on all the rules and etiquette.

Zhou Cangyan led her straight toward East Yang Gate. As they passed Song Xilan, his gaze lingered on her for a brief moment before he slowly looked away.

But even that brief moment made Song Xilan’s heart pound.

She offered a slight curtsy and called out, "Prince Qing."

"Mm."

Song Lianhe, standing right beside him, watched them exchange glances. She snorted irritably at Song Xilan. "What are you looking at? Keep staring, he’s still not yours!"

Song Xilan sputtered, "You—"

Seeing that she’d gotten a rise out of her, Song Lianhe was satisfied.

’So what if Zhou Cangyan likes you?’

’The one standing by his side now is me, Song Lianhe!’

Song Lianhe stuck her tongue out and made a face at her rival, absolutely reveling in the moment.

Just as she turned back, smugly triumphant, her eyes met the cold gaze of the man beside her. She jumped, realizing she might have caused trouble—she’d just provoked his precious darling! She immediately pretended that the wind had blown something into her eyes, squinting and fumbling forward with her hands. "Oh, no! I’ve got sand in my eyes!"

From behind them, a nearly inaudible scoff drifted over on the wind.

"Oh, Prince Qing, where are you? Come help me! I can’t see where I’m going!"

Song Lianhe stretched out her hands, grabbing blindly at the air.

Zhou Cangyan took a deep breath and kept his eyes fixed forward.

"Hey! Prince Qing? Zhou Cangyan? Zhou Cangyan, don’t leave me!"

Song Lianhe threw her arms around his, looked up with her eyes squinted nearly shut, and beamed. "Oh, there you are!"

The corner of Zhou Cangyan’s eyebrow twitched upward. He raised his other hand and poked her forehead with his index finger, pushing her back a little.

But this was Song Lianhe.

’Could she possibly let a duck that’s already in her grasp fly away?’

She beamed, hugging his arm even tighter. "Oh my, the Imperial Palace is so big. A girl could get so scared in here~ You have to take good care of me~"

Zhou Cangyan frowned and tried to pull his arm away, but the girl beside him seemed to have superhuman strength. She held on tightly, without any regard for... for...

Zhou Cangyan’s brow twitched. It was hard to ignore the softness pressing against his arm.

Song Lianhe gritted her teeth, using every ounce of her strength to hold on. She rose onto her tiptoes to whisper a warning in his ear, "She’s watching from behind! Don’t even think about struggling! I’ll die before I let go!"

’Let Song Xilan get what she wants?’

’Not a chance in hell! I won’t even leave her a window of opportunity, let alone a door!’

Zhou Cangyan squinted his pale eyes at her. With her cheeks puffed out and her eyes wide with indignation, she looked like a... talking Jiang Tuna.

He pursed his lips, then suddenly chuckled.

Song Lianhe shot him a dissatisfied glance. "What are you laughing at?"

’I can feel his condescension.’

"It’s nothing."

"Impossible!"

Song Lianhe glared, pouting with such indignation that she truly looked more and more like a Jiang Tuna.

Zhou Cangyan’s eyes crinkled with amusement as he continued walking. "I already told you, it’s nothing."

"It’s not nothing just because you say so! It’s definitely something!"

"I have already told you, it is nothing."

"That won’t do! There has to be something! Or... or you could just make something up."

"..."

"Go on, make something up!"

"...I don’t know how."

"Then learn!"

"..."

The palace maids and eunuchs who passed by all bowed to Zhou Cangyan before covering their mouths to hide their chuckles.

’Where did this young lady come from? She’s certainly amusing!’

It was rare to see Prince Qing being "tormented" like this.

However, from the way they were clinging to each other, it was easy to see that they must have an intimate relationship.

But no matter how close they were, walking through the Imperial Palace like this was still a bit too brazen.

Watching the two of them "flirt" as if no one else existed, Song Xilan clenched the handkerchief in her hand in pure hatred.

"Princess Consort," Kong Qing said cautiously, "we should go inside."

Song Xilan took a deep, forceful breath to compose herself. ’I am a Princess Consort,’ she thought. ’I cannot lose my composure in front of others.’

She then followed them through East Yang Gate.

Song Lianhe wasn’t entirely without a sense of propriety. Seeing that they were about to enter the Empress’s Kunyi Palace, she let go of his arm and walked properly beside Zhou Cangyan.

"Why did the Empress summon me?"

She had actually asked on the way here, but Zhou Cangyan had ignored her.

Now she asked again, her tone somewhat complex.

She actually quite liked Empress Chun De, but in this life, she was practically an undocumented person here. Empress Chun De certainly wouldn’t remember her. ’So, why would she summon me to the palace? It can’t be to arrange another marriage, can it?’

The man at her side glanced over, assuming she was nervous. He said slowly, "I don’t care what your previous status was. From now on, you are my legal wife."

"Okay, I’m your leg...al... wife?!"

Song Lianhe was so shocked she froze on the spot.

Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to think Zhou Cangyan had come to his senses or had fallen for her again. That was precisely why she was so shocked!

"Do... do you have some kind of plan?"

They were standing right at the entrance to Kunyi Palace. She couldn’t help but lower her voice, her expression already anxious.

Zhou Cangyan stared at her, a slight smile touching his lips. "What, scared now? When you were spinning that colossal lie, did you never imagine this day would come?"

Seeing his mocking, teasing expression, Song Lianhe was so angry she slapped his chest. "I’m worried about you, and you’re making fun of me? Fine, then! I wash my hands of you. I’ll go right in and tell the Empress that I’m the wife your family patriarch married you off to in Sui Ning! Tell her that you can’t stand the sight of me, but I’m so head-over-heels for you that I chased you all the way here!"

She was just spouting nonsense in a fit of pique, so she never expected Zhou Cangyan to actually consider it seriously before nodding. "That could work." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Song Lianhe was even more stunned.

’It could work?’

She immediately rose onto her tiptoes, trying to whisper in his ear.

But he was too tall, and she was wearing flats, which lacked the commanding presence of high heels. She had to strain on her tiptoes, her hands instinctively landing on his shoulders for support as she forced herself closer to his ear. "Is this plan of yours really important?" she whispered.

Her deliberately hushed, breathy voice carried on her warm breath, tickling his ear and making his heart itch.

Zhou Cangyan instinctively moved to push her away, but Song Lianhe was prepared and pulled his hand aside. "What I mean is, if your plan is that important, I’ll definitely play along!"

She finished with a wink, her smile brimming with confidence.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got your back!"

He turned his head to look at her, his gaze lingering for a long moment.

Finally, a soft cough interrupted them.

"Ahem... Prince Qing, the Empress has been waiting for quite some time now."

Startled, Song Lianhe quickly stepped aside. Only then did she see the woman waiting at the entrance: Empress Chun De’s head attendant, Fang Xiu.

Zhou Cangyan nodded and followed Fang Xiu inside.

After a few steps, he noticed she hadn’t followed. He turned back to look at her. "Are you going to stand there like a door guardian?"