Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 309: She Said She Wants to Marry You

Chapter 309: Chapter 309: She Said She Wants to Marry You

Song Lianhe lifted her skirts and ran into the garden. She had already learned from the latest Chapter that Jiu’er was Yin Huan!

Song Lianhe didn’t believe for a second that the Poetry Collection wasn’t on Yin Huan’s person.

Now that the plot was gradually getting back on track, Yin Huan leading Xuan Mei and the others to the instrument storeroom at Huaxu Square was definitely no simple matter. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Yin Huan was being tracked by all sorts of people, yet she’d cleverly disguised herself as a beggar and was loitering in front of Huaxu Square all day without being discovered. It just went to show how bold and quick-witted she was!

It wasn’t that she was a conspiracy theorist, but analyzing the plot’s setup and the character’s personality, it was clear. Besides wanting to throw people off her trail, Yin Huan definitely had another motive!

Song Lianhe put herself in Yin Huan’s shoes. ’If I really had that Poetry Collection, where would be the safest place to hide it?’

’A secret room!’

Zhen Niang would never have dreamed that the very thing she was obsessed with was right under her nose the whole time.

Besides, she recalled from reading the book that there was no mention of the Poetry Collection. However, she did remember Gu Ha reporting to Zhou Junlin about a secret room in Huaxu Square, and Zhou Junlin’s reaction had been one of obvious anger and regret.

From this, she deduced that he had likely lost something important.

’It was probably the Poetry Collection.’

Just then, she arrived in the garden and realized Yin Huan was burning joss paper.

Dressed in plain mourning clothes, Yin Huan knelt on the ground before a bronze basin. She tossed sheets of paper money into the fire one by one. The flickering flames illuminated her round, expressionless face.

Song Lianhe didn’t go forward to disturb her, observing quietly from the side instead.

This "Jiu’er" was like a completely different person from the timid little girl she had rescued.

When Yin Huan got to her feet, she turned and looked at Song Lianhe warily, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Are you one of Prince Ling’s people?"

The E Mansion was divided in two by King Qing’s and Prince Ling’s men, and every move was monitored by the other side.

So, they had long known that Zhou Junlin had brought back a woman, and that this woman had even saved Song Xilan.

Before, Song Lianhe had stayed here under the guise of being Princess Qing. Now that her character was gone from the picture, the plot had changed. By a twist of fate, Zhou Cangyan’s men had rescued Song Xilan from the Fengming Gang’s leader, Kong Yu, while passing the Genosa River. They then escorted her to Li Zong Pass, which was how she came to stay at the E Mansion with them.

In short, it was just insane.

To highlight the heroine’s halo and advantages, the entire plot had begun to revolve around her.

Song Lianhe sighed inwardly. ’It seems the heroine is a native of this world. How can a side character like me, who’s just here to pad the word count, possibly compete with her?’

Yin Huan looked at her suspiciously. "What do you want with me?"

Song Lianhe quickly pulled herself together. ’After all, wallowing in self-pity will only hold me back. I’d better focus on my career!’

She didn’t answer right away, instead glancing at the bronze basin. "This is for..."

"My parents."

Yin Huan didn’t try to hide anything, her expression unchanging.

Song Lianhe froze. She hadn’t expected her parents to be written off so quickly. It was rather sad.

But for someone who had just lost her parents, she showed not a single trace of grief on her face.

At that moment, Yin Huan had already taken off her mourning clothes and tossed them casually into the fire basin, then brushed the dirt from her clothes.

As if sensing Song Lianhe’s confusion, she said unhurriedly, "They were my adoptive parents. They weren’t very capable, just ran a smithy and earned Silver through hard labor. I also had a brother. He was a lot like E Jintang, actually—simple-minded, to the point he didn’t even know when people were bullying him. Later, I fell into the water. To save me, even though he couldn’t swim, he foolishly jumped in after me... and never came back up."

She continued, "My parents treated me well enough. After that bitch Zhen Niang captured them, they hanged themselves together, afraid they’d be a burden to me. Now I’m finally free. There’s no one left who can threaten me."

Song Lianhe’s brows tightened as she listened to Yin Huan recount the cause of her adoptive parents’ death in a cold, monotone voice.

"...Are you close to E Jintang because of your brother?"

Yin Huan let out a laugh. "Probably because he’s easier to fool. He believes whatever I say."

Song Lianhe stared at her. "Is that all?"

The smile on Yin Huan’s cheeks slowly faded, her expression turning cold, devoid of any of her previous meekness. "And what about you? Are you, as they say, Zhou Junlin’s mistress? Or a traveling physician? Or... were you sent by the Court?"

As she spoke, she took a step closer. Compared to Song Lianhe, who knew no martial arts, it would only take one move for Yin Huan to send her to meet King Yan!

’It was precisely because I posed no threat and was a stranger that she let her guard down for a moment.’

Just as Yin Huan was a step away, she suddenly stopped. She slowly lowered her head to look at the silver needle stuck in her Jianjing acupoint. All the strength instantly drained from her body. She raised a hand and pulled the needle out, her gaze dark. "You ambushed me?"

Song Lianhe smiled. "Just wanted to let you know that I’m not some helpless damsel. You’d better think twice before trying anything."

Yin Huan frowned and, sure enough, didn’t move again.

Song Lianhe’s smile vanished. "I know you hid the Poetry Collection in the secret room."

Yin Huan started, her pupils instantly dilating.

That small reaction completely gave her away.

Song Lianhe inwardly rejoiced. She had gambled correctly.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She tried to leave, but Song Lianhe blocked her. "Well then, what do you suppose will happen if Zhen Niang and Zhou Junlin find out?"

Yin Huan suddenly slammed her against a tree trunk, a dagger appearing in her hand from out of nowhere. "Then I’ll just have to make sure you can never speak again."

Song Lianhe caught the dagger between her fingers and gently pushed it aside. "So impatient, young one. Don’t worry, I’m not one of Zhou Junlin’s people, and I certainly wasn’t sent by the Court."

Yin Huan immediately retorted, "Are you one of Zhou Cangyan’s people?"

’One of Zhou Cangyan’s people...’

For some reason, those few words made Song Lianhe blush.

"Not yet."

She gave an ambiguous answer.

But compared to her decisive denial of working for Zhou Junlin just now, this already made her stance clear.

Yin Huan sneered. "I heard Zhou Junlin treats you quite differently. I really couldn’t tell. King Qing is more capable than I thought, managing to plant someone by Zhou Junlin’s side without anyone noticing, and even earning his special favor!"

Behind the rockery, Cao Jin silently turned to look at the supposedly "capable" Prince Qing. The latter was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed in rest, looking like an old monk in deep meditation, unconcerned with worldly affairs.

But Cao Jin knew he must have heard.

Just then, the young woman behind the rockery said unhurriedly, "Don’t spout nonsense. There’s nothing going on between Zhou Junlin and me. The so-called ’special favor’ is just because I can save Song Xilan. I’m going to marry Zhou Cangyan in the future. I don’t want my future husband to get the wrong idea. He’s the only one in my heart."

Cao Jin froze and turned his head back to Zhou Cangyan.

After a moment’s hesitation, he lowered his voice and said, "She said she’s going to marry you."

After a long moment, the man lazily opened his eyes. "My ears aren’t broken."