Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 57: All of This, Should Have Been Yours

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: All of This, Should Have Been Yours

The Empress was hosting a hairpin flower banquet, and Song Xilan was on the list of invitees.

Although her biological mother had been promoted from a concubine to the official wife, the presence of the famous General Li Hua meant that she and Mrs. Liu were always overshadowed. In the eyes of the officials’ families friendly with the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion, she was still just the daughter of a concubine.

Then there was Song Lianhe, who had always proclaimed herself the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion. Even with her terrible reputation, no one could deny her status as the firstborn legitimate daughter. By comparison, Song Xilan’s position was incredibly awkward.

What comforted her, however, was that Zhou Junlin was very considerate. He had sent a carriage early in the morning to take her to the palace.

Yesterday, while feeling displeased with Mrs. Liu, his compassion for Song Xilan had only grown.

Before getting into the carriage, Song Xilan glanced back in the direction of the Xubai Small Building.

Man Yue urged, "Miss, we should hurry. This is a banquet hosted by the Empress; it wouldn’t be good to be late."

"Mm."

Song Xilan suppressed the unease in her heart and ducked into the carriage.

’I don’t even know when all these changes started. Junlin and I used to understand each other perfectly, our love unbreakable, yet I feel more and more insecure. It’s as if... things are heading in a bad direction.’

’Maybe it started the day Song Lianhe drugged me.’

’Maybe it started when the way Zhou Junlin looked at Song Lianhe began to change.’

’In any case, this feeling of losing control came on too strangely. It was like a devil’s seed, taking root and sprouting in the depths of my heart, forcing me to fight back.’

It was as if a voice was constantly whispering in her ear, tempting her: ’All of this should have been yours...’

*

"Miss! Miss!"

Shuang Ye came jogging back to the Xubai Small Building. "Haha, let me tell you something funny... When I was in the kitchen, I heard from Zhang Xi that Nanny Tian got a ’ghost shave’ overnight—not a single strand of hair left!"

Song Lianhe was eating soup dumplings. She looked up in surprise at her words, her first instinct to glance at Xuan Mei.

He remained silent for a moment before saying coolly, "If it were me, it wouldn’t have been so troublesome."

Just then, Ah Yu pushed the door open and came in.

Shuang Ye couldn’t resist telling Ah Yu the news as well.

He just said, "Oh," not sounding very excited. Then he placed some freshly picked bayberries from the courtyard on the table. The purplish-red berries looked plump and juicy at a glance.

Xuan Mei’s gaze fell on him, lingered for a second, then shifted away.

"Miss, the bayberries are ripe."

"Bayberries! These are wonderful!"

Song Lianhe picked one up. "Bayberries can stop diarrhea, cure headaches, stanch bleeding, and promote tissue regeneration. A decoction made from the bark and roots of the bayberry tree, used as a bath, can treat malignant sores and scabies..."

As she spoke, she trailed off and froze.

Then she silently put the berry back down.

’I remember when I used to live in the mountains with my grandfather and grandmother. Whether we were eating or playing, Grandfather would always teach me about pharmacology. While other children were reciting nursery rhymes and the Three Character Classic, I was memorizing the Four Natures, the Five Flavors, the Six Aged Herbs, the Song of Seven Emotions...’

’Every word was carved onto the wheel of my memory. No matter where I went or who I became, as long as the gears of life kept turning, I could still see and hear them.’

Seeing her put the berry down, Ah Yu thought she didn’t like it and immediately said, "I’ll go pick some other fruit then."

"Heh, no need." She looked up, her lively and charming face filled with a smile. "I was just reminded of... a very important person."

She ate one and exclaimed in delight, "Delicious!"

Then she invited everyone to try some.

At that moment, Zhang Xi arrived.

"Shuang Ye! Shuang Ye!"

He stood in the courtyard, calling for Shuang Ye through the doorway.

"Coming."

Shuang Ye pushed the door open and went out, handing him the water chestnut cakes she had prepared earlier. "I made these myself."

The two were from the same hometown. Both of their families had fled floods in their grandparents’ generation and eventually made their way to Ling’an City.

When Shuang Ye first joined the mansion, Zhang Xi had looked after her quite a bit. Back then, the Second Miss was harsh with the servants, leaving Shuang Ye penniless, so she had always felt indebted for his kindness.

But things were better now. Her Miss was like a changed person, treating them all incredibly well. She had received some silver yesterday, so she went out first thing this morning to buy ingredients and specially made water chestnut cakes for Zhang Xi.

People who are far from home have a deep-seated love for the food of their hometown.

Zhang Xi took a piece and popped it into his mouth, his face lighting up with surprise. "Mm! Delicious!"

Shuang Ye smiled. "If you like them, I’ll make them for you again."

"Mhm!"

Zhang Xi ate two pieces, then suddenly remembered the news he’d just heard. He quickly leaned close to Shuang Ye’s ear and whispered, "I just heard from the Guard Commander that Nanny Tian’s son—who knows who he offended out there—had both his legs broken! When Nanny Tian heard, she fainted on the spot!"