[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess":3,"chapter-rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-chapter-419":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1576226,2040,"Chapter 419: It’s Quite Pathetic","rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-chapter-419",419,"\u003Cp>Outside the palace walls, Song Lianhe sat in her carriage, arms crossed and face sullen as she stewed in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei’s voice came from outside the carriage. \"Do you want to go in? We can use the East Yang Gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe hadn’t expected this. Sister Mei was truly a loyal friend, actually going to find Cao Jin for her sake!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But while she’d been fuming just a moment ago, Song Lianhe lost her nerve now that it was time to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was devoid of energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person outside fell silent for a moment, then said, \"The Prince’s heart belongs only to you, Princess Consort. He is definitely not meeting her for a private affair. You don’t need to worry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Cangyan had been willing to die for her. How could she not understand the depth of his feelings?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But Song Xilan is the female lead. And what is a female lead? By definition, she’s the one who gets a happy ending with the male lead. She might not have many scenes, she could be a mere accessory, but in the end, she’s always the one who captures the male lead’s heart!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’And the one manipulating all of this is the author. Whatever the author decides, all the characters must obey.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Ever since she’d seen Zhou Cangyan’s plot armor, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t panicking. This invisible pull from the story would eventually drag them all toward the scripted ending!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"AHHHH!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’I’m going to explode!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the woman’s scream from inside the carriage, Xuan Mei glanced faintly ahead, her own brow furrowing slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What could they possibly be discussing for so long?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Xuan Mei turned to face the person approaching from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jin was clad in golden armor, a tiger-head helmet on his head. He walked toward her, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei hesitated for only a moment, then stood her ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cao Jin drew near, he glanced at the carriage. \"This doesn’t seem like Princess Qing’s typical behavior.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the battle at Sishui City, his perception of Song Lianhe, the former second daughter of the General Mansion, had changed. A woman of such grand character shouldn’t be bogged down by matters of the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei instinctively defended Song Lianhe. \"The Princess Consort is only thinking of the Prince. After all, he’s a married man. Meeting an unrelated woman would lead to gossip. She’s here to protect the Prince’s reputation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person inside the carriage broke into a nervous sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Now that’s a ride-or-die best friend!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jin listened without further comment, simply giving a slight nod. \"If there’s nothing else, I’ll head inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had come out specifically to check on them, and was relieved to see they were fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait,\" Xuan Mei said suddenly. \"Did Emperor Cheng Xiao give you a hard time? Deserting the Imperial City is a capital offense!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The esteemed Commander of the Imperial Guard feigning illness to leave the Imperial City for several days—how could Emperor Cheng Xiao possibly not know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cao Jin replied calmly, \"My merits in repelling the enemy offset my transgression. I’ve been restored to my original post.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei’s brows knitted together. \"That’s it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...He won’t make a move on me until he has complete control of the imperial guard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the carriage, Song Lianhe understood as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’The Cao Family maintains a neutral stance in the court, unaffiliated with any faction. With the crown prince only recently appointed, the Cao Family’s neutrality is like a weight that could tip the scales of power.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Rather than holding Cao Jin accountable, it’s better to indebt him with a show of grace, ensuring the Cao Family’s unwavering loyalty. Besides, Cao Jin left the Imperial City without permission for a righteous cause—to defend against an external enemy! Even if Emperor Cheng Xiao knows about his relationship with Zhou Cangyan, at this critical juncture, any wise person would choose to turn a blind eye.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case... if you run into any trouble, feel free to come find me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Song Lianhe’s eyes lit up, and she immediately pressed her ear against the carriage wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Oho, looks like Mr. Cao’s romantic spring has arrived!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s no small feat to warm up a stone-cold heart like Sister Mei’s!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the carriage, Cao Jin stared intently at the strikingly heroic young woman and smiled. \"Then I’ll be counting on Heroine Xuan’s protection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei’s expression was earnest. \"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Cao Jin’s footsteps had faded did Song Lianhe leap from the carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was about to suffocate in there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hopped up and down, looking around. Spotting Cao Jin’s retreating figure, she nudged Xuan Mei with her elbow. \"I want Heroine Xuan’s protection too, you know,\" she teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a rare show of awkwardness, Xuan Mei turned her face away. \"I was just...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I get it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe said with mock seriousness, \"Commander Cao has protected us many times. We must repay his kindness! So, Sister Mei, there was absolutely nothing wrong with what you said!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei coughed lightly. \"I’m going to go check on things over there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh heh, go on, go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People always act busy when they’re shy or embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched Xuan Mei go, a proud, motherly smile on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who are you looking at?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice that suddenly came from behind her made her jump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned. The man who appeared before her was as gentle and refined as ever. Dressed in a white robe under the night sky, he looked like an immortal banished to the mortal realm, his handsome face graced with a warm smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him, Song Lianhe fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Care for a walk with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe looked at him and slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He must have remembered everything about me by now,’ she thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Princess Consort!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei immediately stepped forward, silently cursing herself for her lack of vigilance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe said calmly, \"Prince Ling must be here to escort Princess Consort Ling home. I’ll just have a quick chat with him. You don’t need to follow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei replied, then stood her ground, her gaze fixed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Gu Ha came up beside her, munching on a pear he’d swiped from somewhere. \"Don’t be so tense,\" he said. \"My Prince just wants to have a word with your Princess Consort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even glancing at him, Xuan Mei took a step to the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, why are you so petty? You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ha obediently stayed put, not daring to take another step closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, he might have dared to challenge Xuan Mei, but now, he wouldn’t dream of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a moment ago, he had seen Cao Jin and Xuan Mei together and had been confused, until Prince Ling had enlightened him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can’t you tell? Commander Cao has feelings for her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who? Xuan Mei?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ha felt as if his world was collapsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person he admired most in this world, aside from his own Prince, was Cao Jin. He deeply respected heroes who were as upright and resolute as him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought that Xuan Mei was the object of his idol’s affection made Gu Ha instinctively more subdued in her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sneaking another glance at Xuan Mei, Gu Ha couldn’t help but shake his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’What on earth does Commander Cao see in her...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Mei paid no mind to what he was thinking. Her eyes were fixed vigilantly on the pair walking together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe walked along the palace wall, her hands clasped before her, with Zhou Junlin following her every step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing his cautiousness, she turned her head to look at him. \"You... weren’t like this before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Junlin chuckled. \"In the past, I must have made you despise me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe shrugged and said frankly, \"Given everything you’ve done to me, Your Highness, were you expecting me to thank you for the character development?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh...\" He let out a laugh, tilting his head to look at her. \"But you should know, that wasn’t my true intention.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? So someone forced you?\" she asked sarcastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shouldn’t you, of all people, know the answer to that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Lianhe stopped in her tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She slowly turned her head to look at him. He was still the same noble and magnanimous Prince Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the bamboo forest of the Prince Qing Mansion, he had said that she knew he was the Chosen One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’So now, he’s laying all his cards on the table.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Junlin’s expression remained serene, a faint smile playing on his lips. \"The very thought that my entire life has been controlled by another’s pen... fills my heart with utter unwillingness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Junlin smiled at her. \"It’s quite pathetic, isn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1476,"2026-06-06T08:32:01.872Z",1,"novelbin.me","2e0061da74438ff63baeca6a96f0d022324f7386ceedd8e7da7d975afd3c5cb6","rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-chapter-420","rebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-chapter-418",444,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frebirth-after-becoming-the-villainess-cover.jpg"]