Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Was She Too Disrespectful to Him?

Song Lianhe was badly injured.

Her hands, in particular, were wrapped up like dumplings. Her body was covered in bruises and scrapes, and there was a large, red, swollen patch on her face as well.

Shuang Ye wiped her tears as she applied the ointment. “How could they be so cruel? Do those people have any humanity at all? No matter what anyone says, you’re the General’s legitimate daughter…”

“To hell with being the ’legitimate daughter’!”

It was Cao Ying who spoke.

She strode in carrying a basin of hot water, slamming it onto the table with a CLANG. “I think that General Mansion is toxic. Anyone associated with that family is asking for trouble! We’re done with being the ’legitimate daughter’! Doesn’t that Song Xilan cherish the title so much? Fine! Give it to her!”

When she heard what had happened at the General Mansion, she’d had her brother bring her to the Prince Qing Mansion that very night. Seeing Song Lianhe covered in injuries, she was so furious she’d nearly snatched her brother’s token to summon men and annihilate the General Mansion!

Song Lianhe lay on the bed, every bone in her body screaming in pain, yet a smile still graced her lips.

“Are you worried sick about me, Sister Yingying?”

“Honestly, you’re useless!”

Cao Ying was exasperated with her. “What happened to your old swagger? How could you let them bully you into this state?!”

It was true. The old Song Lianhe was always the bully, never the bullied.

She couldn’t argue with that.

Lying there, she sighed faintly, feeling pathetic herself.

Suddenly, a loud THUD came from outside, as if something heavy had hit the ground.

It was followed by a cold, stern voice.

“I will say this one last time: let her go.”

Cao Ying froze, then immediately got to her feet.

It was the voice of her brother, Cao Jin.

“What’s happening outside?” Song Lianhe asked.

Shuang Ye said hesitantly, “Sister Mei is being punished for failing to protect you properly.”

Song Lianhe grew anxious the moment she heard. “Those bastards are the inhuman ones, what does this have to do with her? Quick, help me up.”

Dragging a body that felt as if it had just been stitched back together, Song Lianhe made her way into the courtyard. Xuan Mei was kneeling on the ground, several bloody welts on her back. Her clothes were torn by a whip, her fair skin and the crimson blood creating a stark visual contrast.

Despite her injuries, Xuan Mei knelt perfectly straight, her pale face devoid of any emotion.

It was as if she believed she deserved this punishment.

Clearly, Cao Jin didn’t agree.

He was dressed in black informal robes today, his long hair bound in a jade coronet. With his ramrod-straight posture, he cut the figure of a spirited young nobleman.

He now stood protectively in front of her, glaring coldly at the man opposite him.

Zhou Cangyan remained seated, lounging indolently. He didn’t even spare them a glance, his magnetic voice low and cold. “Continue.”

The subordinate who had been thrown to the ground earlier scrambled back to his feet. He raised the whip to strike, but Cao Jin caught his arm in a tight grip.

“I have no desire to interfere in your affairs, but leave Xuan Mei out of it.”

The woman kneeling on the ground… her eyelashes trembled, but it wasn’t with gratitude. Instead, her brow furrowed.

It was as if she thought he was being a busybody.

Cao Jin stood before her, his aura flaring with a grim, murderous air.

Cao Ying fretted from the sidelines. ’Why does my brother insist on provoking Prince Qing? There’s a time and place for chivalry!’

Zhou Cangyan slowly raised his eyes. His light-brown irises glinted with an icy light, and a frantic, almost twisted killing intent began to spread from them.

He had truly lost his mind today.

’But so what?’

’He didn’t want to hold back anymore. He would kill whomever he pleased and take revenge on whomever he saw fit!’

’He’d like to see anyone try and stop him!’

Zhou Cangyan’s long, slender, pale fingers lifted slightly…

“Wait!”

Song Lianhe struggled over. Zhou Cangyan tilted his head to look at her, his face darkening with displeasure. “What are you doing out here?”

“Don’t punish Sister Mei. She’d gone after the assassin.”

Song Lianhe’s hair was unbound and her face was pale. Dressed only in a white inner tunic and a cloak, she looked heartbreakingly fragile.

Only when she saw Song Lianhe did Xuan Mei’s expression show a trace of guilt. She lowered her head. “It is not my lord’s fault. I am the one who deserves punishment.”

“Who said you deserve to be punished?”

“The hell you do!”

Cao Jin and Song Lianhe said in unison.

After they spoke, they exchanged a look. Song Lianhe was surprised to see what looked like a flicker of gratitude on his perpetually glacial face.

Song Lianhe had no time to analyze him now. Raising her heavily bandaged hands, she shielded Xuan Mei. “No one should be held responsible for another person’s safety. Ultimately, the Song Family is my own personal trial. Even without this Xin Haiyun, there’d be a Zhao Haiyun or a Wang Haiyun… In any case, Xuan Mei wasn’t the one who hurt me. She’s protected me for so long—I don’t have enough ways to thank her!”

Kneeling on the ground, Xuan Mei slowly lifted her gaze to look at her.

Though her expression remained impassive, for a rare moment, her eyes were visibly moved.

Zhou Cangyan’s eyes narrowed into sinister slits. He rose slowly and approached her, one step at a time.

Seeing how angry he looked, Song Lianhe belatedly realized her mistake. ’Have I… been too disrespectful to him?’

’He’s a Prince, after all! And he’s saved me time and again. He even forged an imperial edict to do it! How incredibly noble is that?’

’And what about me? Not only have I not said a word of thanks, I’m now rebuking him in front of all his subordinates…’

’In the original book, Zhou Cangyan was anything but good-tempered. He’s just lying low and biding his time right now. Once he lets his true self loose, he’s the kind of person who could flay a man alive without batting an eyelid!’

’And I dared to offend him?’

’I must have a death wish!’

Song Lianhe immediately lost her nerve.

Unable to stop herself, she took a frightened step back and stammered, “I… I didn’t quite mean it like that…”

The Shadow Guard knew his master’s temper all too well. Fearing their lord would do something irrational, one of them quickly stepped in front of Song Lianhe. “My Lord…”

“Get out.”

“Yes!”

The Shadow Guard retreated without a moment’s hesitation, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Cao Jin’s brow furrowed, a layer of frost seeming to settle over his handsome face. He too stepped forward, shielding the petite woman behind him.

Zhou Cangyan raised an eyebrow. The reddish tint at the corners of his eyes added a sinister, demonic charm to his aura.

“You’re right,” he said abruptly. “Every wrong has a source, and every debt a debtor.”

Song Lianhe froze. ’What does he mean by that?’

Without another word, Zhou Cangyan turned and walked away. “Take her back to her room.”

Shuang Ye, who had been terrified all this time, came over trembling. “Second Miss, let’s go back and rest.”

Song Lianhe glanced at Zhou Cangyan’s retreating back, then turned to help Xuan Mei up. But Xuan Mei refused her aid, gritting her teeth and forcing herself to her feet.

Cao Jin glanced at Xuan Mei, then turned to Song Lianhe and offered a solemn, fist-in-palm salute. “Thank you for what you did today. I will remember this.” With that, he hurried off in the direction Zhou Cangyan had disappeared.

He knew what Zhou Cangyan was about to do. If someone didn’t stop him, that man would undoubtedly turn all of Ling’an City upside down.

Cao Ying came running over, holding up her skirts. “That was terrifying!”

Her heart was still pounding with fear. She asked Song Lianhe, “Aren’t you afraid of Prince Qing at all? The look in his eyes just now… it was like he wanted to eat someone alive!” Just thinking about it made her shiver.

“Your brother was just as intimidating.” Song Lianhe even suspected that if Zhou Cangyan hadn’t backed down, Cao Jin would have drawn his sword and attacked the very next second, regardless of his status as a Prince.

’So, he seems to hold Xuan Mei in high regard. He even thanked me.’

’So what’s his story, that he’d thank me on her behalf?’

’The original novel barely mentioned this character, so Song Lianhe didn’t know much about him. She only knew that, like Zhou Cangyan, he was another restless soul.’

’Still, the Commander of the Imperial City Guard and the villain’s personal guard… what an amazing ship!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep