Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 319: An Affinity with a Sister

"That’s my business."

Song Lianhe spread her hands and said unhurriedly, "Since you don’t need my help with your problems, then we’ve said all there is to say. We’re even. Prince Qing, you may leave now. A lone man and woman in a room together... if anyone were to see, it would ruin my reputation."

She turned her back to him and waved a hand dismissively. "I won’t see you out."

There was no sound from behind her for a long moment. When she finally couldn’t resist turning back, Zhou Cangyan was already gone.

’Tch. He really just left like that?’

She hung her head and kicked idly at the floor, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Outside the open window, a man stood on the roof ridge of the opposite pavilion. His eyes were cold, his profile as exquisite as carved jade.

Inside, the woman sat down and opened the medicine Zhou Junlin had given her. She brought it to her nose for a sniff and seemed satisfied. Then, facing the bronze mirror, she began dabbing the ointment onto her forehead, wincing in pain from time to time.

A gust of wind lifted the man’s raven-black hair.

His light brown eyes swept over the porcelain bottle by her hand, and a turbulent darkness began to surge within his pupils.

His thin lips pressed together, his handsome face seeming to frost over.

"The magnificent Heavenly Kill Slash, the invincible Prince Qing... since when did you become a common voyeur?"

Without turning his head, Zhou Cangyan asked, "When do we depart?"

The person behind him answered, "After one incense stick burns."

—

Cao Jin led his squad of elites back to Ling’an City.

Song Lianhe stood before the E Mansion, watching the figures of the Golden Armor Guards recede into the distance.

Huaxu Square had been destroyed and Zhen Niang was nowhere to be found, meaning Zhou Junlin’s intelligence network in Li Zong Pass had been dismantled.

Meanwhile, Zhou Cangyan had obtained Governor E’s poetry collection. It seemed everything here had come to a close...

Song Lianhe turned and glanced up at the lintel of the Governor Mansion. As she slowly lowered her gaze, her eyes met those of Mrs. E, who was standing just inside the entrance.

Mrs. E’s expression was unreadable. She stood there quietly for a moment, then turned and walked away.

Song Lianhe’s heart clenched.

She had not forgotten her promise to Mrs. E and her son to clear Governor E’s name!

Nor had she forgotten taking the plaque inscribed with the words "A Grievous Wrong Unrighted" from Mrs. E’s hands.

She could be forgotten by this world, but she could not forget the promise she had made.

Song Lianhe gritted her teeth, gathered her skirts, and ran inside.

She was all too familiar with the layout of the E Mansion. Back when she used bait to lure snakes and insects to surround Song Xilan’s bedroom, she had cased the place in advance.

So, in just a few moments, she found her way to the private courtyard where Governor E had lived.

E Jintang’s eight giant hounds were lazing about the courtyard. Xiaoyi and Xiao Er, who were lying by the entrance, wagged their tails when they saw her.

Song Lianhe showed not an ounce of fear. As she passed Little Four and Xiao Liu, who were gnawing on watermelon, she even took a moment to pat their heads. "You two need to take care of your teeth. Can’t have too many sweets."

Little Four and Xiao Liu immediately rolled over, exposing their bellies to her.

Song Lianhe didn’t linger, arriving at the study like a gust of wind.

"Zhou Cangyan? Prince Qing?"

She did a full turn. The room was empty.

Outside the study, a Shadow Guard asked suspiciously, "How is she so familiar with this place? Even Xiaoyi and the others act like they know her so well!"

Beside him, Xuan Mei frowned. "...She used to live here."

’Perhaps, before we arrived,’ Xuan Mei thought.

Finding no one in the room, Song Lianhe turned to the doorway. The moment she looked up, she saw him standing there and immediately strode forward. "Zhou Cangyan, I was just looking for you!"

Zhou Cangyan gave her a cold look. "Who gave you permission to barge in here?"

Song Lianhe ignored his accusation. "Zhou Cangyan, what do you plan to do about Governor E’s case?"

He frowned. "What about Governor E’s case?"

"Clearing his name, of course! He was a good official. He can’t be allowed to suffer such an injustice!" she said righteously, her gaze firm.

Zhou Cangyan seemed somewhat surprised, then looked her up and down. "And what does that have to do with you?"

"Because I promised to clear his name!"

"Who did you promise?"

"...That’s my business."

’It’s so unbelievable. How could I possibly explain it?’

’Even if I explained, he wouldn’t believe me.’

Zhou Cangyan suddenly asked, "Have you been to the Li Guan Sect before?"

"Mmm..."

Song Lianhe answered vaguely, "I came here with my family as a child and heard some things about Governor E..."

Not wanting him to press the issue, she quickly changed the subject. "You’ve already gotten what you came for, so you can just wash your hands of this and leave. But what about the people left behind? Have you given any thought to Mrs. E and Young Master E? For every day you fail to clear their name, they have to stay here and endure endless gossip and slander. Even Governor E’s descendants, burdened by this stain, can forget about ever serving the Court! Do you know what you call this kind of behavior? Burning the bridge after you’ve crossed it!"

Zhou Cangyan looked down at her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her flushed cheeks, red from the passion of her argument. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"To you, maybe this was just a mission, just another important tool! But to me, all of that is meaningless. The people who are still living are what’s most important. Governor E came to this place willingly, all for his wife and son! Even at the very end, when villains were threatening him, his first thought was of his family. Otherwise, he could have just defected! I don’t know if he possessed some kind of great, selfless love, but I know he must have loved his family very, very much!"

Zhou Cangyan remained silent, his expression unreadable. Then he slowly stepped aside.

Seeing the person standing behind him, Song Lianhe froze. "Mrs... Mrs. E?"

She flailed, at a loss for words. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interfere in your family’s affairs..."

Smiling through her tears, Mrs. E said nothing and walked straight over to embrace Song Lianhe.

Song Lianhe stood frozen.

"Thank you." Mrs. E hugged her tightly, then slowly released her arms, saying word by word, "I never imagined there was anyone left in this world who would remember the Governor."

Song Lianhe felt a little embarrassed. "Please don’t say that, Mrs. E. I just wanted to do what little I could to help."

Mrs. E looked at her and said with great solemnity, "You are a good girl." She then glanced at the giant hounds scattered around the courtyard and added meaningfully, "They know it best of all."

With that, she smiled and turned back. "But regarding the Governor’s case, you’ve truly misunderstood His Highness. He has already made proper arrangements. He’s even taking Jintang back to Ling’an with him."

"Really?" ’So it seems everything is happening the same way it did last time.’ Song Lianhe glanced cautiously at Zhou Cangyan. "Um... I guess I misunderstood you. I’m... I’m sorry."

’Admit it when you’re wrong!’

It was one of Song Lianhe’s most cherished virtues!

Zhou Cangyan shot her a glance, said nothing, and walked straight into the study.

"You—"

She was about to go in after him but was stopped by Mrs. E.

"My dear sister, I feel a kinship with you. I would like to give you a gift."

Song Lianhe quickly waved her hands. "No, no, Mrs. E, you’re too kind. I haven’t been able to help with anything..."

Mrs. E smiled gently, unclasped the pair of snake head gold bracelets she was wearing, took Song Lianhe’s hand, and fastened them onto her wrist.

"The Governor’s salary wasn’t large, and he often gave what he had to help others. I don’t own many valuable things. This pair of bracelets was part of my dowry. Now, I’m giving them to you. It feels like I’m finding a destined new owner for them."

The pair of snake head gold bracelets were a little loose on Song Lianhe’s wrist, but they looked exceptionally exquisite and beautiful.

Song Lianhe typically had little interest in jewelry, but strangely enough, she felt an immediate connection to this pair of snake-head bracelets.

"I can’t possibly accept this! Mrs. E, they’re too valuable!"

Song Lianhe truly didn’t dare to accept. ’I have nothing to my name right now. If I accept such a gift, what could I possibly give in return?’

Mrs. E, however, didn’t care for such formalities. She insisted on giving them, but Song Lianhe was genuinely too embarrassed to accept.

As the two of them went back and forth, a dagger was suddenly tossed into her arms.

It had a white jade hilt and a solid gold sheath inlaid with gemstones. The entire dagger was crafted in the shape of a court lady—the very picture of elegance!

Confused, Song Lianhe looked up toward the study. "This is..."

Mrs. E was an expert in valuables and blurted out, "A lady’s dagger!"

Zhou Cangyan’s somewhat impatient voice came from inside. "Does Mrs. E find that dagger to her liking?"

Mrs. E was by nature straightforward and unpretentious. She answered immediately, "An object this rare and exquisite? Of course I like it!"

"Then I shall gift it to you, madam."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Mrs. E smiled as she took the dagger from Song Lianhe’s hands. She then refastened the snake-head bracelets on her wrist and gave her a wink. "Since Prince Qing has already offered a return gift on your behalf, you can accept these bracelets with a clear conscience, my dear sister."