Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 53: Even at Her Worst, She Is Still This King’s Unwed Wife

This mother-daughter pair always acted meek and obedient in front of Song Xingfeng. The original owner, however, was stubborn. Believing herself to be of noble birth, she disdained the thought of fawning over him as they did, which resulted in an utterly incompatible relationship with her father.

’It wasn’t that Song Lianhe particularly wanted to fight for that pitiful scrap of fatherly love. She simply couldn’t stand this mother-daughter pair! She was going to defeat a white lotus with a white lotus’s own magic!’

"Father, you’ve misunderstood Mother!"

Song Xilan hurriedly explained on her mother’s behalf, determined not to let Zhou Junlin get the wrong idea.

Song Lianhe looked up and saw the halo above Song Xilan’s head begin to coalesce. She raised an eyebrow. ’Is she about to unleash her female lead’s halo?’

As the story’s female lead, Song Xilan was the chosen one, blessed by the author with immense luck. In other words, she could accomplish things no one else could. While another person might meet King Yan after a single sword wound, she could be stabbed until she was full of holes and still be saved.

The halo above her head was a clear sign the female lead was about to make her move. How could Song Lianhe possibly give her that chance?

She curled her lip and said unhurriedly, "In this General Mansion, whenever someone does wrong, there’s always someone to protect them. Never mind Aunt Liu—even a servant like Nanny Tian has someone to stand up for her, clamoring to have me punished! I, the legitimate daughter, am apparently worth less than a servant... From childhood to now, all I have ever known are accusations and insults... How can someone like me possibly be compared to my older sister, who grew up showered in our parents’ love? Father, you are asking the impossible."

Song Xilan suppressed her rage, her tone sharpening despite herself. "Lianhe! You’re deliberately making yourself sound so pitiful. Aren’t you just trying to win Father’s pity?"

"That’s right!" Mrs. Liu finally caught on and began wailing to Song Xingfeng, "Master, don’t be fooled by her! She’s just trying to slander and frame me!"

Song Lianhe chuckled softly. "Heh, you see? If I want to win Father’s affection, I have to resort to all these tricks and schemes..." She took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she looked up. "My sister and Aunt Liu are right. I am doing it on purpose. But what choice do I have, when Father has never once truly seen me as his daughter?"

Song Xilan was completely stunned, her face a mask of disbelief.

Mrs. Liu was also shocked. She never expected the girl’s tongue to be so sharp! ’She’s said it all, twisting black into white!’

Mrs. Liu had never been forced to suffer in silence like this before. Glaring at her, she lost all restraint. "You little hussy, seducing strange men and stirring up trouble! Don’t you dare spout any more nonsense! Watch your mouth, or I’ll rip it to shreds!"

Zhou Junlin’s expression darkened. When he looked at Mrs. Liu, his eyes were filled with disdain.

’Mrs. Liu came from a minor family; her father was merely a Sixth-Grade Camp Thousand Commander. Previously, on account of Xilan, Zhou Junlin had never looked down on her. But now, it seemed a woman from such a minor house was truly unpresentable.’

"Enough!"

Song Xingfeng roared, pointing at Mrs. Liu as he fumed, "Look at you! Do you have any semblance of a mother left?"

"Husband..."

"Shut up!"

"Mother, don’t say any more..."

In truth, Song Xilan wasn’t as enthusiastic about these battles of wits with Song Lianhe as Mrs. Liu was. The few times she had engaged, it was only because Lianhe had offended her first, leaving her no reason not to strike back.

Right now, her primary concern was Zhou Junlin. She was terrified that a few words from Song Lianhe would tarnish his impression of her.

’That was why she had stopped her mother. Her mother’s petty tricks were fine for dealing with Father, but if her opponent was deliberate, it would take only a little effort to provoke her into walking right into a trap.’

Song Xingfeng turned to Zhou Junlin, bowing with his hands clasped. "I have been lax in managing my household and have made a fool of myself before Your Highness."

Zhou Junlin lowered his gaze, his demeanor growing perceptibly colder. "This is the General’s family affair, and it is not my place to interfere. However..."

His tone shifted as he raised his eyes to Song Lianhe. "Regardless of her shortcomings, she is still, in name, my betrothed. If she is mistreated, it means someone holds no respect for me, and that would be a disgrace to my name."

Song Lianhe raised an eyebrow.

’Well now!’

Supporting her mother, Song Xilan pressed her lips together tightly, terrified of letting any misleading emotion show on her face.

’She was the eldest young miss of the General Mansion, the paragon of ladylike virtue in Ling’an City. She must not be jealous!’

Besides, there was sound logic in what Zhou Junlin had said.

’He was the Holy Emperor’s most favored son, a man of incomparable status. Even if he disliked Song Lianhe, he still had to protect his own reputation.’