Chapter 420: Chapter 420: The Princess Consort is Truly Charming

Song Lianhe slowly raised her head. The halo above his head was long gone, leaving it just as empty as her own.

’Is this a sign that a character has awakened?’

At this moment, she truly didn’t know what to say. All their past grievances seemed trivial now.

Anyone who discovered their entire life had been controlled by another would question their fate, and in turn, question themselves.

’What meaning is there in such an existence?’

"Song Xilan told you?"

"I’m not entirely clueless."

His lack of a denial was as good as a confirmation.

Song Lianhe sighed, patting him lightly on the shoulder. She spoke with the wisdom of experience, "You don’t have to worry so much. At least your status and background are incredible. You’re worlds better off than all that cannon fodder!"

Zhou Junlin slowly shook his head.

"I would rather have none of this than be a puppet on a string. I just want to make my own choices."

"Oh, come on. Look at the bigger picture. Who can say their life isn’t controlled by something? Whether it’s fate or our parents... For all I know, even I am just a character from someone’s pen. I can’t be bothered to think about it. As long as you’re happy, who cares whose will you’re following!"

"But what if... I’m not happy?"

Song Lianhe eyed him suspiciously again. ’Why has he become so temperamental after his ’awakening’?’

"You’re not happy? You’re the Emperor’s son! A Prince! The designated Crown Prince, the Overlord! What more could you possibly want?"

Zhou Junlin let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Those are just the things that the ’Zhou Junlin’ in the book wanted, not me."

Song Lianhe pursed her lips in resignation. "But you’re one and the same. You can’t be separated."

"Who says we can’t be?"

Zhou Junlin’s gaze burned as he looked at her, and he suddenly took a step forward. "As long as I stop being Prince Ling, as long as I refuse to follow the path others have laid out for me, then I can be free."

"..."

’The original male lead wants to quit?’

’This is a real mess!’

’If I didn’t know Zhou Cangyan had become the male lead, it would be one thing. Then, no matter how much Zhou Junlin wanted to shirk his role, it would be useless! He was fated to be the male protagonist!’

’But things are different now. The villain has become the male lead. From this perspective, the original protagonist’s attempt to shirk his role might just be part of the author’s plan!’

Song Lianhe felt like her brain would shut down if she thought about it any further.

All she could do was try to placate him for the moment. "You just found this out, so it’s hard to accept all at once. You’re just feeling a bit rebellious! Give yourself some time to adjust. You’ll be fine."

"Is that so?" 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Zhou Junlin gazed at her, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

Song Lianhe frowned. ’He’s already stepped down from the male lead role, so why is he still wearing that classic protagonist smile?’

She changed the subject, asking, "What are your plans for Prince Hang?"

Zhou Junlin lowered his eyes and continued walking alongside her, carefully maintaining a respectable distance between them.

"If he wants to be the target, then let him be one for a while."

Song Lianhe shook her head as she watched him. "Tsk, tsk. You really are devious."

’As expected. With a persona like that, he was never going to be an ordinary man.’

"Then you and Prince Qing..." She trailed off.

’Their relationship really is complicated. The male lead awakens, the villain becomes the new lead... I have no idea where the plot will go from here. But one thing is for sure: I’m on Zhou Cangyan’s side!’

As if reading her mind, Zhou Junlin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "What, are you afraid I’ll harm him?"

"Heh. Can you honestly say you never thought about it before?"

’It’s so much better to have everything out in the open!’

’We can speak freely, no more hiding or holding back!’

Zhou Junlin laughed. "He and I now have a common enemy."

Song Lianhe immediately pressed, "And after that?"

He looked at her, suddenly stepping forward to close the distance. Gazing down at her, he asked, "Are you, even a little bit, worried about me?"

Song Lianhe froze, unsure how to react for a moment.

Just then, she felt someone rush up and yank her away from his side.

Zhou Cangyan, radiating a biting chill, stepped in front of her. He then turned to face her. "Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at the clinic?"

Song Lianhe felt a flash of guilt when she saw him. But she quickly straightened her posture and lifted her chin. "I was just worried people would talk, so I came to lend you some support! You can chat for as long as you like! So? Am I not a considerate Princess Consort?"

’The excuse Xuan Mei came up with for me really worked.’

Zhou Junlin looked at the two of them, his face still holding a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Imperial Uncle."

Zhou Cangyan acted as if he had only just noticed him, finally shifting his gaze in his direction. "Ziyin, are you here to escort Princess Consort Ling?"

Just then, Song Xilan also drew near. Her eyes turned icy the moment she saw Song Lianhe, but her gaze swept right past, refusing to look at her again.

"My Prince." She gave Zhou Junlin a slight curtsy.

Zhou Junlin took her hand. "Yes. It’s getting late, so I came especially to escort the Princess Consort home."

Song Xilan said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."

"There’s no need for such formalities, Princess Consort."

And just like that, the two of them left, hand in hand.

From a distance, they truly looked like a respectable, devoted couple—the envy of all who saw them.

’But Song Lianhe couldn’t shake the feeling that the two were far too polite with each other, their interactions growing stranger by the day. And for him to remain so calm after finding his own Princess Consort having a private meeting with his Imperial Uncle... how much must he trust her?!’

Just then, Zhou Cangyan narrowed his light-colored eyes and drew close, whispering suddenly in her ear, "So, you don’t trust me?"

Song Lianhe turned to face him and pointed a finger at his chest. "Well, have you had a change of heart?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Zhou Cangyan shook his head. "Of course not."

She looked up, her eyes filled with a smile she couldn’t suppress. "Then what do I have to worry about?"

But the smile quickly vanished from her lips. "However... I heard Emperor Cheng Xiao let you go a long time ago. What were you two talking about for so long?"

Xuan Mei led the horse carriage over to their side.

Zhou Cangyan chuckled, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her onto the carriage.

"It’s cold out. Let’s talk inside."

Once he was aboard as well, he gave the order to return to the manor.

He pushed open the carriage door and stepped inside to find Song Lianhe already there, arms crossed and chin slightly raised as she eyed him. "I had no idea you and my dear sister were on such good terms! You’d only just returned, and she was already so eager to see you!"

The man let out a low laugh and said nonchalantly, "And your relationship with Ziyin isn’t so bad either, is it? The two of you seemed to be having a perfectly pleasant chat out here in the cold wind."

’Cold wind?’

’How cold can a night in May possibly be?’

’Not nearly as cold as the chill radiating from him!’

"Zhou Junlin was here to pick up his precious Princess Consort. I merely ran into him by chance, and we only exchanged a few words. And speaking of which, I have Prince Qing and Princess Consort Ling to thank! If it weren’t for you two, I never would have had such an opportunity!"

Zhou Cangyan sat down beside her. "Do you really believe he was here to escort his Princess Consort?"

"Heh. Don’t tell me he came all this way just to see me?"

As she said it, Song Lianhe suddenly froze. When she looked again into the man’s unreadable eyes, she seemed to understand something.

"So... he really did come here just to see me?"

Zhou Cangyan propped his head on his hand and watched her, remarking slowly, "My Princess Consort is quite the charmer." He smiled. "It seems I’ll have to keep a close eye on you."