Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 366: What If It Were Song Xilan?

"Excuse me, is Young Master Huai here?"

Nanny Tian had come to the gates of Prince Qing Mansion, at her wit’s end.

She had already summoned every doctor of some renown in the city, but all of them were helpless. It was only after hearing from her young mistress that this person was at the Prince Qing Mansion that she, for the sake of saving Mrs. Liu, had brazenly come to beg for help.

—

Huai Xu ate the soup Da Xi had prepared for him, his eyes squinting in comfort. "Your mansion’s Miss Da Xi has truly won my heart with her cooking!"

Song Lianhe sat cross-legged on the couch, her cheek resting in one hand, and watched him with a blank expression. "How are you going to get me out of the mansion?"

He smiled. "Rest assured. You did me the kindness of giving me medicine, so I will certainly do what I promised you." He then turned to look at Song Lianhe. "I’m just a little curious. Didn’t you always want to marry him? In just a few more hours, your long-cherished wish will be fulfilled. Why give up now?"

Song Lianhe was silent for a moment before she said slowly, "I’m just a little... homesick."

Huai Xu looked at her. He had never heard her mention her hometown before.

’After all, she’s still a young girl. After being so wronged, it’s only natural that she’d want to go home.’

He couldn’t help but sigh softly and say, "To escape from that snake pit, you must have gone through a life-or-death experience. It’s understandable that you’re angry with Biwu, but as soon as he found out you’d fallen in, he went down to find you without a second thought! I’ve known him for so long, and I’ve never seen him care so much about anyone!"

"What about Song Xilan?"

Song Lianhe looked at him quietly. "What if the person down there had been Song Xilan?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Ah, well..."

"He would have been even more decisive, wouldn’t he?"

"..."

Huai Xu was speechless.

It was true that Song Xilan was the only one who had ever moved Zhou Biwu’s heart.

In fact, as his close friend, Huai Xu couldn’t explain why Zhou Biwu had fallen for Song Xilan, or why he would compromise for her again and again.

’But then again, matters of the heart are rarely understood by outsiders.’

"Heh, I really overestimated myself, comparing myself to the ’chosen one’."

Song Lianhe let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What Huai Xu didn’t understand, she certainly did.

She now understood completely what it meant to be the chosen one—it was a position she could never reach, no matter how hard she tried. ’I don’t blame Zhou Cangyan. If even I can’t change the plot, how could a fictional character like him ever break free from its constraints?’

But she still felt disappointed, still felt dejected.

Especially during that short time in the secret passage—the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. She was without the life-saving items she always carried, surrounded by countless snakes. In that moment, she had truly despaired.

All she could do was fight for her life, forcefully tearing off the snakes that crawled onto her body and turning to hack at venomous vipers hissing right at her face...

The fear the snakes instilled in her was nothing compared to the profound despair she felt at that moment.

Huai Xu wanted to persuade her further, but he didn’t know where to start.

"Lianhe, you..."

"In short, are you going to help me or not?"

Song Lianhe’s patience was wearing thin. The sky was already lightening; in another few hours, it would be broad daylight.

In the end, Huai Xu reluctantly agreed.

"I just hope that when Biwu comes looking for me to hold me accountable, he’ll go easy on me."

"He will," Song Lianhe said calmly. "He’ll even thank you. After all, the world will have one less miserable couple."

Just as the two were discussing how to leave, a Shadow Guard suddenly appeared outside the door.

"Young Master Huai, the master requests your presence."

Huai Xu’s expression stiffened. His first reaction was to look at Song Lianhe. "H-He doesn’t know, does he?"

Song Lianhe gave him a cold look. "If he does, it’s because you leaked it."

"You’re accusing me unjustly!"

The Shadow Guard urged him again from outside. It seemed to be an urgent matter.

Huai Xu didn’t dare to delay. He told Song Lianhe to stay put in the room, promising to return as soon as he was done.

But after Huai Xu left the room, Song Lianhe suddenly stood up.

She opened a wardrobe and took out a simply-sewn backpack. Inside were all sorts of essentials for her escape that she had prepared long ago.

’He let Zhang Yu go for Song Xilan’s sake. Who knows if next time, he’ll drain my blood for Song Xilan? Or cut out my heart?’

’That’s how it’s always written in novels—a classic, heart-wrenching plot device.’

’Before I can protect myself, it’s better to make a graceful exit!’

She then pulled out a servant girl’s outfit from the mansion. ’I really have to admire my own foresight.’

’Be prepared for danger in times of peace. I got all this ready right after I entered the mansion, and now it’s coming in handy!’

She changed her clothes as quickly as possible, put her hair up in a simple bun, and slung the pack over her back before heading out.

The mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners in preparation for the grand wedding.

Song Lianhe couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as she walked. The relationship between her and Zhou Cangyan was hard to define, but everyone in the Prince Qing Mansion, from top to bottom, had always treated her kindly.

Song Lianhe was very familiar with the Prince Mansion’s layout. Taking advantage of everyone being busy, she skillfully avoided the patrolling guards. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.

Huai Xu and Zhou Cangyan were standing together. Across from them, an old woman was crying and pleading with them.

"...The doctors all say the mistress is showing signs of a miscarriage and needs immediate treatment. But she refuses! She won’t let them touch the child, saying she’ll kill herself otherwise!"

"This old servant has heard of Young Master Huai’s brilliant medical skills. I’ve come specifically to beg Your Highness and Young Master Huai. For the sake of my Princess Consort, please save the mistress’s life!"

As Nanny Tian spoke, she dropped to her knees with a THUD and began to kowtow repeatedly to the two of them.

Zhou Cangyan pondered for a moment, then turned his head to look at Huai Xu. "You should go with her."

Huai Xu had a physician’s compassionate heart; he would have helped in this situation regardless of whether it was Mrs. Liu or someone else.

He nodded, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly thought of Song Lianhe!

"Ah, I—I need to get my medical kit!"

’I have to let Song Lianhe know what’s happening.’

Zhou Cangyan glanced at him. "I’ll have someone bring it to you later."

"But..."

Huai Xu was in a difficult position.

His eyes kept darting toward the bedroom.

A strange look flickered across Zhou Cangyan’s cool face, but he remained impassive and said, "Go."

Having received the order, Nanny Tian quickly went to help Huai Xu up, though in reality, she was afraid he’d run off. "Young Master Huai, please come with this old servant to save her quickly!"

Once Nanny Tian had practically dragged the man away, Zhou Cangyan immediately turned and strode toward Song Lianhe’s room.

In that brief moment, Song Lianhe stepped out from the shadows, her expression so calm that any trace of disappointment had long since vanished.

She walked calmly out the main gate. Before the guard could ask any questions, she pointed seriously at Nanny Tian’s carriage and said, "I’m going to deliver Young Master Huai’s medical kit."

Then, she walked confidently up to the carriage, claiming she was Huai Xu’s servant girl, there to deliver his medical kit. The person in charge readily let her board.

Song Lianhe sat properly on the outside of the carriage. As the driver urged the horses on, the Prince Qing Mansion, with its festive red "double happiness" lanterns, receded farther and farther into the distance...

Just as the carriage turned a corner, Zhou Cangyan appeared at the entrance of the Prince Mansion, his expression grim as he questioned a guard about something.

Song Lianhe sat upright, her emotions rising and falling with the galloping carriage, before finally settling into a state of calm.