Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 552 Little Vermilion Bird

Chapter 552: Chapter 552 Little Vermilion Bird

The sound of Xiao Chen’s words fell, and cries erupted from the execution platform, as several people were hoisted up by the soldiers for execution.

The entire process of execution by lingchi was extremely long and painful, and the cries from the marketplace were continuous.

Finally, as night fell, the second branch of Zhan Family and Li Changlong’s family were executed by lingchi, their bodies hung in the marketplace.

...

Zhan Lan’s carriage passed by the marketplace, and she saw the blood-covered corpses of Zhan Xincheng, Madam Wang, Zhan Liluo, and others. They had all died tragically; she had her revenge.

She coldly put down the curtain, and Little Anzi immediately looked at the coachman, "Back to the palace!"

Inside the carriage, Xue Lingling looked at Zhan Lan, "Lan, are you taking me to play in the palace?"

Zhan Lan smiled faintly, "If you like it, you can stay for a while longer."

Xue Lingling responded excitedly, "I like it, Lan is in the palace, Xiao Tao is also in the palace, the palace must be very interesting!"

Zhan Lan nodded, and Xue Lingling lifted the curtain to see Vermilion Bird riding ahead, guarding Zhan Lan.

She let down the curtain and asked, "Is Xiao... Vermilion Bird also living in the palace?"

"Yes, he lives in the Dark Guard Camp in the palace."

"Oh!" Xue Lingling felt it would be even more fun knowing Vermilion Bird was also in the palace.

Zhan Lan took Xue Lingling into the palace, and Xue Lingling sat alone by the lake enjoying the scenery when she overheard two passing palace maids chatting.

The two palace maids seemed unaware of Xue Lingling’s presence, speaking softly, "Have you heard? Recently, His Majesty set up the Dark Guard Camp, and the men living there are quite masculine-looking."

"No way! Besides His Majesty, where are there men in the palace? Everyone’s a eunuch!"

The two palace maids chatted happily, completely oblivious to Xue Lingling’s existence.

Xue Lingling grasped the point: besides His Majesty, who was Lan’s husband Mu Yan, there were no men in the palace.

She blinked her big, watery eyes, having learned something previously unknown to her.

That night, she asked Zhan Lan for many river lanterns, lighting them one by one and putting them in the lake.

She heard that by making a wish to the flowing river lanterns, her desires would come true.

Xue Lingling clasped her hands and closed her eyes, saying, "I hope to eat delicious food every day, to be happy every day, and for the people who are kind to me to be happy as well."

Suddenly, she heard someone behind her say, "If you say your wishes, they won’t come true."

Xue Lingling snapped open her eyes, frowning at Vermilion Bird who came under the moonlight.

"Impossible, you’re lying to me, right?"

Vermilion Bird sneered. Did he need to deceive a foolish girl who wasn’t too bright?

"If you don’t believe it, fine!" Vermilion Bird said, about to leave.

Xue Lingling hurriedly caught up, and in the moonlight, she untied her clothing, causing Vermilion Bird to quickly shut his eyes. Was this girl truly foolish, to undress in front of a man?

Unexpectedly, Xue Lingling pulled out two silver notes from her clothes and then tied the belt again.

She handed the silver notes to Vermilion Bird, "Little Vermilion Bird, I borrowed some silver from you last time, I have silver now, I can return it to you!"

Vermilion Bird glanced at the two silver notes, indifferently saying, "There’s no need to repay."

After speaking, he was about to leave.

Xue Lingling did not comply, clutching Vermilion Bird’s hand and stuffing the silver notes into his hand.

"No, money owed must be paid back; otherwise, there will be consequences!"

Vermilion Bird looked helplessly at this stubborn girl, pulling out one of the hundred-tael silver notes and handing the remaining one back to Xue Lingling.

"Alright, I’ve accepted it." Vermilion Bird shook his head.

Xue Lingling’s face immediately beamed with smiles.

"Little Vermilion Bird, you are a good person!"

Vermilion Bird glanced at her, his lips slightly curling, "It’s late; don’t linger here. Better to go back quickly!"

Xue Lingling walked back with her hands folded behind her, "Alright, I’ll light all these river lanterns and put them in the lake and then I’ll leave."

Vermilion Bird nodded slightly, preparing to leave; just as Xue Lingling was waving him goodbye, suddenly, Xue Lingling slipped, falling into the lake with a scream.

Vermilion Bird frowned; the girl was indeed too foolish. He immediately jumped into the lake.

Xue Lingling was splashing in the icy lake water; she had been talking with Vermilion Bird so happily, she carelessly slipped into the lake.

She accidentally drank several mouthfuls of icy lake water; the night was so dark. If not for the river lanterns and moonlight, Vermilion Bird wouldn’t have found Xue Lingling. He braved the icy, bone-chilling lake water to search for her, afraid a delay would cause something bad to happen to Xue Lingling.

Finally, he found Xue Lingling in the water and pulled her onto the shore.

Lying flat on the ground, Xue Lingling’s face was pale, her red clothes clinging to her skin, with some strands of waterweed on her.

Seeing her unconscious, Vermilion Bird immediately helped her by pressing on her chest, his pressure increasing in speed, his heart also racing, repeatedly thinking she had just arrived at the palace today, nothing must happen!

He hadn’t realized he was worried.

"Foolish girl, wake up quickly!"

He exerted himself with pressing, his brows furrowing.

Under the moonlight, Xue Lingling’s face was extremely pale, showing no sign of waking.

Vermilion Bird put his ear to her heart to listen, seemingly no heartbeat was evident.

Vermilion Bird panicked, his mind racing, coming up with a way to save her.

His palm unconsciously clenched; if he did mouth-to-mouth to give her breath, such intimate contact, would Xue Lingling dislike him upon awakening?

The two little people inside him were fighting fiercely.

One little person said to quickly save her, otherwise Xue Lingling would die, worrying about propriety between men and women no longer mattered.

The other little person said, Vermilion Bird, you’re too shameless, taking advantage of the girl, could you be responsible for her?

Finally, the latter overcame the former, after all rescuing was most important. He closed his eyes, gathering courage as he focused on Xue Lingling’s lips, ready to breathe for her.

Just as he adjusted Xue Lingling’s face and bent down, suddenly, Xue Lingling’s chest heaved violently; she abruptly sat up, her head bumping heavily into Vermilion Bird’s forehead.

Their lips didn’t meet, but their heads collided audibly.

Vermilion Bird grimaced, clutching his head, "Xue Lingling, you..."

Xue Lingling vomited a large mouthful of water, holding her chest as she looked at the soaking wet Vermilion Bird, immediately understanding the situation.

She had carelessly fallen into the water; this was the second time Vermilion Bird rescued her from the water.

"Little Vermilion Bird, I’m sorry; this is all my fault—I didn’t see clearly where I stepped..."

Vermilion Bird frowned, glad Xue Lingling hadn’t noticed what he was about to do; not knowing whether it was due to shame or awkwardness, he coldly said, "Next time you make a wish, can you wish not to fall into the water again, little aunt?"