Song Lianhe dragged her exhausted body back to the General Mansion. Upon transmigrating into the book, she also inherited some of the original owner's memories. The mansion's layout and her relationships with everyone in it appeared clearly in her mind.
The courtyard was currently filled with gifts.
She suddenly remembered that in three days, it would be the birthday of the book's protagonist—the General Mansion's eldest young miss, Song Xilan.
Although Song Xilan was a concubine's daughter, she was a talented beauty renowned throughout Ling'an City. Blessed with a protagonist's halo, she was like the "white moonlight" that appears in every man's life—a vision of perfection that inspired deep yearning.
With such a contrast, Song Lianhe became a smear of mosquito blood on the General Mansion's pristine white walls—an eyesore everyone instinctively wanted to wipe away.
Nanny Tian, who was in charge of cataloging the gifts, gave a perfunctory curtsy when she saw Song Lianhe enter. "Greetings, Second Young Miss."
Then, she turned and ordered the servants, "All of you, be careful! These are gifts from Prince Ling for our Eldest Young Miss. They're all extremely valuable!"
Nanny Tian's voice was loud, and she shot several glances at Song Lianhe as she spoke.
Due to the military merits of Song Lianhe's late mother, the Holy Emperor had betrothed her to Prince Ling, Zhou Junlin. However, Zhou Junlin's heart belonged to the story's protagonist, Song Xilan.
This had filled the original Song Lianhe with jealousy, causing her to repeatedly frame her older sister. Fortunately, Prince Ling was always there to protect Song Xilan. This, however, only ignited the protagonist's fighting spirit. After each of Song Xilan's clever counterattacks, it was Song Lianhe who was left humiliated, her already poor reputation worsening with every incident.
Thus, as the protagonist's governess, Nanny Tian was deliberately trying to embarrass her and knock her down a peg.
'So what if the Holy Emperor himself decreed the marriage?'
'Isn't she still despised by Prince Ling?'
The original owner of this body probably would have picked a fight by now. But Song Lianhe had just narrowly escaped with her life; all she wanted was to go home, take a bath, and eat a huge meal to calm her nerves. She had no energy to waste on this kind of nonsense!
Nanny Tian spoke again. "Second Young Miss, please watch your step. It would be a small matter if you were to trip, but if you damage these gifts, the Prince will hold me accountable."
"You got it."
Song Lianhe replied good-naturedly, even thoughtfully taking a detour around the courtyard to avoid causing trouble.
'As an excellent insurance agent, I must always remember that a friendly attitude brings business. Anyone could be a potential client!'
Her reaction, however, left Nanny Tian stunned for a long moment. She stared in disbelief, her expression quickly shifting to one of horror.
'Such a drastic change in personality... Could the Second Young Miss have... gone mad?'
On a nearby veranda, a man in white watched everything unfold, his face expressionless.
Beside him, a handsome man in a dark green robe drawled, "Ziyin, where were we? Oh, right. Countless women in Ling'an City are infatuated with you, and your fiancée is chief among them. But from what I'm seeing just now..."
A grin played on Su Huaqing's lips as he turned to look at Prince Ling, a rare glint of schadenfreude in his eyes.
Zhou Junlin's handsome face remained a mask of frost, showing no change in expression as he tore his gaze away.
"Heh. Well, if she's this sensible, it'll save you a lot of trouble. It'd be even better if she took the initiative to annul the engagement herself. Wouldn't you say so, Your Highness?"
Zhou Junlin said nothing. His jaw tightened, and he turned to walk toward Die Cui Pavilion.
Su Huaqing called after him, "In that case, I won't tag along to see your sweetheart! I beg your forgiveness, Prince Ling!"
——
Peiyue Building, the grandest courtesan house in Ling'an City.
Downstairs, goblets clinked and music drifted through the air. Princes and nobles, surrounded by beautiful women, spent fortunes in a single night.
In an elegant private room upstairs, a man in black stood by the window. Half his body was cloaked in shadow, and his sinister, grim gaze was gradually swallowed by the night.
"My lord, I've found her."
A figure in black materialized behind him, murmuring, "The woman is Song Lianhe, the legitimate daughter of the National Guardian General."
The man's dark eyes narrowed, and the air around him grew cold and treacherous. He let out a low, chilling laugh.
"Song. Lian. He."
'I will tear her to pieces!'
——
Song Lianhe had to lie in bed for two full days before she finally regained her strength.
'That day in the dilapidated shack, the man was clearly incapacitated, like someone whose pressure points had been struck in a wuxia drama. But that didn't stop him from having incredible stamina!'
'And I was the one who paid the price for it. My back felt like it was going to snap!'
'Right now, I have only one prayer: Please, please don't let me be pregnant!'
Just then, the lively sound of drums and music erupted from the courtyard.