Double Rebirth: The Scumbag Heroine is Terrified of the Yandere Prince! - Chapter 37

“How could this be?!”

Shen Ruoli murmured to herself, her body swaying as she nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Shen Rufeng caught her in time. “Lier, are you alright?”

Yun Yue also hurried forward to help her sit down.

Seeing Shen Ruoli so visibly shaken, Qing Ying finally broke into a triumphant laugh. Only by witnessing Shen Ruoli’s pain could she find a modicum of relief. Suddenly, her own wounds didn’t seem quite so unbearable.

“Shen Ruoli, do you understand everything now? Did you truly believe the Prince’s affection for you was sincere? If you didn’t look like me, do you think he would have ever given you a second glance?”

Because Shen Ruoli had violently ripped the human-skin mask from her face, Qing Ying’s visage was now a bloody, raw mess—a truly gruesome sight.

Yet, Qing Ying seemed unable to feel the pain. She let out a series of raspy, “giggle-giggle” laughs. “Being able to resemble me even slightly is your—”

Before she could finish, Yun Yue lost her temper. She lunged forward and delivered a stinging slap that sent blood spraying from Qing Ying’s face!

“You lowly wench! Being able to resemble my Crown Princess even a little is a blessing earned by eighteen generations of your ancestors! How dare you speak such nonsense? Since when does the grandson resemble the grandfather?”

The slap left Yun Yue’s palm coated in a layer of sticky blood and flesh. Grimacing with disgust, she wiped her hand clean with a handkerchief before throwing the stained silk over Qing Ying’s face, covering the mangled mess.

“Don’t come out looking like this just to scare people! I don’t want my Crown Princess having nightmares tonight because of you!”

Shen Ruoli slowly recovered from her shock. However, she didn’t care about the fact that she and Qing Ying shared some resemblance. Her first instinct was…

“Brother, Zi Yan doesn’t know about this yet, does she?”

Even though Zi Yan was a master of disguise and mimicry, she had no idea that Qing Ying was also wearing a mask. If Xie Xuansong discovered the truth… Zi Yan would be in grave danger!

“I will send word immediately.” Shen Rufeng understood her meaning, and his expression turned deathly serious.

“Realizing it only now? It’s too late!” Qing Ying was still laughing, her expression growing more distorted and terrifying. “Shen Ruoli, you never should have betrayed the Prince! You thought you could control him? Don’t forget how the Prince fought his way to where he is today!”

“You think you’re so clever with your little tricks, but in the Prince’s eyes, you are nothing!”

Shen Ruoli turned slowly to look at her. “And what about you? What are you to him?”

Qing Ying froze. “What do you mean?”

“If Xie Xuansong truly harbored deep affection for you, how did you end up in my hands?” Shen Ruoli sneered. “Xie Xuansong used me, but I refused to be a passive victim. In his eyes, you don’t even have the value of being a pawn!”

Shen Ruoli hadn’t intended to waste words on her. The person she wanted to destroy was Xie Xuansong; Qing Ying wasn’t worth her repeated attention. Yet, the woman lacked self-awareness and insisted on provocation.

Shen Ruoli was no pushover either!

“Did you truly think that by carrying his flesh and blood, you could stand on equal footing with Song Xuerou?” Shen Ruoli sat down in front of her, her voice dripping with mockery. “How naive and pathetic! Knowing Xie Xuansong has no heart, you actually thought you could bind him with a child?”

“Qing Ying, Xie Xuansong did indeed want to be the first to produce an Imperial Grandson. Too bad… the one he wanted that child from has always been Song Xuerou! Even if you were pregnant, your child would have been nothing but a shameful bastard who could never see the light of day. He would only be ashamed of you! So, what exactly are you so proud of?”

Every word struck a nerve. Recalling the conversation she had overheard between Xie Xuansong and Zi Yan, Qing Ying’s composure shattered. Under the weight of Shen Ruoli’s ridicule, she found herself speechless.

After a long silence, she squeezed out through gritted teeth, “And what of you? At least I carried the Prince’s child! What are you? At most, the Prince has only ever held your hand!”

“Even if you are throwing a little tantrum this time, the Prince won’t indulge you anymore! Shen Ruoli, the only reason you’re acting so intimate with the Crown Prince is to provoke the Prince and make him jealous, isn’t it?”

Shen Ruoli was so incensed she laughed. So, in the minds of Xie Xuansong and Qing Ying, her relationship with Xie Xuanjin was just a cheap tactic to make Xuansong jealous?

“Thank heavens—I should thank his ancestors for eighteen generations—that he never touched me! Even that one time he held my hand makes me feel utterly disgusted, as if I have a criminal record on my skin!”

Shen Ruoli gave a cold laugh. “You think you’re unique in Xie Xuansong’s heart?”

“I wonder what would happen if these words reached the ears of the Consort of Chu…”

The moment she said this, Qing Ying’s face turned ashen! Others might not know Song Xuerou’s true nature, but as a personal maid, how could she not? To the public, Song Xuerou was gentle and kind, but Qing Ying knew just how selfish, ruthless, and terrifyingly jealous that woman was.

Shen Ruoli and Song Xuerou used to be close friends, after all! If Shen Ruoli handed her over to Song Xuerou…

With Xie Xuansong away from the capital, Song Xuerou held all the power in the Chu Estate. Qing Ying would die for certain. And it would be a miserable death.

Qing Ying began to tremble uncontrollably.

Watching her shake with fear, Shen Ruoli smiled with satisfaction. “I was wondering how to make you suffer more. It seems you’ve found a perfect destination for yourself.”

She tilted her chin up slightly. “Yun Yue, summon the Consort of Chu to the Crown Prince’s Estate for a gathering. Tell her I have ‘good news’ to share with her.”

The Chu Estate.

After hearing the servant’s report, Song Xuerou’s expression turned odd.

“Strange. Why would Shen Ruoli suddenly want to see me?” She paced the room.

Ever since she was a child, she had lived in Shen Ruoli’s shadow. She was obsessed with stealing everything from her, including her men! But she also knew Ruoli’s temper better than anyone. When Xie Xuansong said he wanted to marry her, she was overjoyed to finally win, but that was followed by endless worry and dread.

She was afraid of Shen Ruoli.

On her wedding day, Ruoli hadn’t shown up to make a scene, nor had she done anything to her since. Song Xuerou had thought about seeing her, but had always been blocked. She thought they would become strangers, so why the sudden invitation?

“Could it be that after holding it in for so long, she finally wants to settle the score?” Song Xuerou paused, her heart growing uneasy. “What news from the Prince? When exactly is he returning? He left such a mess for me to handle!”

“No! I can’t go. Go to the palace immediately and say that I am unwell…”

“But Princess Consort, the girl Yun Yue from the Crown Prince’s Estate is waiting outside!” The maid lowered her head.

This meant Shen Ruoli would not take no for an answer today.

Song Xuerou bit her lip, knowing she couldn’t hide. “I will go. Go to the Prime Minister’s estate immediately and tell my father. If I haven’t left the Crown Prince’s Estate in half an hour, have him come to the palace to fetch me!”

Thinking she had secured a backup plan, she followed Yun Yue into the palace with a heart full of trepidation. Throughout the journey, she had a premonition that today would be the day she died at Shen Ruoli’s hands.

She never imagined that today would not be her end, but her “rebirth.”