After the Second Playthrough, the CP-Less Female Lead Kneels and Begs Me for Forgiveness [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 29

It seemed that something was suppressing those sinister, ghostly entities.

No wonder Pei Qing had been desperately heading toward this courtyard last night like a madman; being here likely suppressed the evil things clinging to his body.

Pei Ming had arrived at the Pei residence last night, and she was the one who had used the bell to control Pei Qing.

That was why Pei Xi had encountered her—she had been waiting for Pei Xi on that stretch of road.

Shao Xibei heard the sound of a door opening. The courtyard wasn’t particularly large, so sounds traveled easily.

She said to Pei Xi, “Someone is coming, but it might not be Pei Qing.”

Pei Xi looked uneasy, as if she had suddenly realized something. She opened her mouth, her voice dry: “Auntie Shao, my… my mother wants to harm you.”

Shao Xibei remained silent for a moment before saying slowly, “So, are you doing this for your mother?”

Pei Xi wanted to say something, but the door was suddenly pushed open. Turning her head, she saw her mother and her eldest sister.

The Madame did not expect to see Pei Xi here, but she only gave her a glance before looking away. Her gaze landed on Shao Xibei, who was sitting composedly nearby.

The Madame raised an eyebrow. “What a beautiful face. Ming’er, look at this delicate, willow-like appearance. Even I, as a woman, can’t help but feel pity for her, let alone those men.”

Shao Xibei gave a gentle smile. “You flatter me, Madame.” The primary wife had come to her door; it seemed something had happened to Pei Qing.

The Madame stepped forward slowly, sizing Shao Xibei up from head to toe with a condescending look. “Quite clever. You knew who I was at a single glance.”

Shao Xibei didn’t move. She didn’t stand up or offer a greeting; she simply sat in her original spot and repeated, “You flatter me.”

Pei Ming watched silently from behind, her eyes fixed on Shao Xibei’s face.

She frowned imperceptibly. A dying person—no, a person who was already dead.

She could not see any Qi (life force) within Shao Xibei’s body.

The Madame reached out her hand, slowly moving to touch Shao Xibei’s face.

Before Shao Xibei could react, Pei Xi shouted from the side, “Mother!”

The Madame stopped her movements and withdrew her hand, looking at the daughter she had always disliked.

“Xi’er, I don’t intend to ask why you are here. I have already sent someone to the Wang family with a letter to have them come and discuss your marriage to their Third Young Master.”

Pei Xi froze. She stammered, “But Mother, the Wang family…” The Third Young Master was notoriously brutal; he had beaten many people to death, including his own wife.

The Madame interrupted her. “Xi’er, go outside for a moment.” Turning her gaze back to Shao Xibei, she added, “I need to have a proper chat with this one.”

Pei Xi lowered her eyes in silence but remained rooted to the spot, not moving an inch.

Seeing this, the Madame’s brow furrowed, and she raised her hand as if to strike her daughter’s face. “Are you refusing to listen to me now?”

Shao Xibei reached out directly and caught the Madame’s hand.

With only a slight exertion of her pale, slender fingers, the Madame found herself unable to move.

Seeing this, Pei Ming stepped forward and gave Shao Xibei a shallow bow. “Please… Auntie, release my mother.” Since the Madame had written in her letter about the concubine Pei Qing had taken, Pei Ming addressed her as such.

Shao Xibei glanced at Pei Ming and said with a faint smile, “Then please ask this Madame to stop raising her hand so freely.”

Hearing this, the Madame’s heart flared with anger, and she sneered mockingly, “What does my hitting my own daughter have to do with you? You’re just a meddling busybody.”

The Madame had a sharp tongue, and her temperament had grown increasingly eccentric over the years.

Shao Xibei did not get angry at these words. She maintained her gentle, smiling demeanor, but the strength in her grip gradually increased. “Madame Pei, be careful that your words don’t bring you trouble.”

The Madame’s expression grew pained. Seeing this, Pei Ming frowned and reached out, attempting to grab the hand that Shao Xibei was using to hold the Madame.

Pei Ming’s movements were swift, but Shao Xibei was faster. She released the Madame, causing Pei Ming to grab nothing but air.

Pei Ming supported the Madame, asking, “Mother, are you alright?”

The Madame shook her hand and her head, glaring fiercely at Shao Xibei. “I’m fine. Ming’er, who would have thought this frail body on the verge of death would have such strength?”

Shao Xibei simply said, “If you are finished, please leave. You are disturbing my rest.”

A sudden metallic sweetness rose in her throat. Shao Xibei quickly pulled out a handkerchief to cover her mouth.

“Cough, cough-cough-cough.”

Seeing the blood on Shao Xibei’s handkerchief, the Madame was startled. To her, someone coughing up blood was usually a sign of someone gravely ill.

Shao Xibei wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and caught the Madame’s expression. “Madame Pei, as you can see, I truly must rest. Please leave.”

The Madame’s expression shifted several times before she took Pei Ming’s hand. “In that case, we shall return for today.”

As they were leaving, the Madame seemed to remember Pei Xi’s presence. She called back, “Xi’er, what are you still doing there?”

Pei Xi was a girl of few words and remained silent, but she didn’t move, offering a form of silent rebellion.

Seeing that the Madame was about to get angry again, Pei Ming spoke up. “Mother, if Sister Xi likes it here, let her stay.”

Pei Ming walked over and patted Pei Xi on the shoulder, leaning in close to her ear. Pei Xi forced herself to suppress the urge to recoil. She heard Pei Ming whisper: “Xi’er, no need to use the poison anymore. Leave it to me.”

Pei Ming spoke so softly that only Pei Xi could hear.

Having said her piece, she returned to her mother’s side. “Let’s go, Mother.”

The Madame nodded.

After the two left, Shao Xibei picked up a cup of tea and began to drink.

Pei Xi stood there for a moment before she started clearing the dishes from the table.

Shao Xibei said in a low voice, “Pei Xi, you are very afraid of them.” She spoke with certainty.

Pei Xi had no rebuttal; she simply nodded her head slightly.

Shao Xibei didn’t ask why. It was easy enough to guess; Pei Xi’s physical condition, which was far less healthy than others her age, was proof enough.

Shao Xibei changed the subject. “The Madame mentioned just now that she is arranging your marriage. Do you know that Young Master of the Wang family?” To be honest, she felt Pei Xi was far too young to be married, but perhaps that was the way of this era.

This era? Suddenly, something flashed through Shao Xibei’s mind, but it vanished like a shooting star, leaving her thoughts empty when she tried to grasp it again.

Pei Xi finished tidying the bowls and chopsticks, picked up the food box, and said in a muffled voice, “I know him.”

Shao Xibei spoke again: “Then, do you like him?”

Pei Xi remained silent for a long while before saying, “What use is liking him? What use is disliking him?” She had no right to decide her own destiny.

This was likely the longest sentence Shao Xibei had heard from Pei Xi since they met.

Within those light-colored eyes, obscured by messy bangs, there was only the stillness of stagnant water.

Shao Xibei stood up and walked over to Pei Xi. She took the girl’s chin in her hand, applying a gentle pressure to make her look up.

Pei Xi’s body stiffened, trembling slightly as a reflexive physical response, but she did not pull away. Instead, she whispered, “…My eyes are ugly.”

Shao Xibei paused. She slowly tilted Pei Xi’s head back and gently brushed aside the messy bangs, revealing the girl’s features.

Long brows, phoenix eyes—even before she was fully grown, one could catch a glimpse of her future elegance and grace.

Pei Xi’s eyes were not the common brown, nor were they as pitch-black as Shao Xibei’s own. Instead, they were as clear as amber, yet even paler and more translucent.

Faint sunlight filtered into her eyes, reflecting a unique brilliance within those crystal-clear depths.

Pei Xi could not stop her eyelashes from trembling; she was incredibly nervous.

Everyone who had ever seen her eyes disliked her because they were too different from ordinary people. Her parents even doubted she was their biological child because of them. Her childhood playmates would always gossip behind her back, wondering if her different eyes meant she was a monster.

She was terrified that the person in front of her would also grow to loathe her because of her eyes.

Shao Xibei looked closely, her gaze making Pei Xi feel exceptionally anxious. Her chest felt constricted, as if something was blocking her breath.

Suddenly, Shao Xibei smiled—a look of genuine happiness.

She lowered her hand and patted the head of the girl, who was a head shorter than her. The hair beneath her palm was somewhat dry, so Shao Xibei gave it a firm rub.

Pei Xi looked up and saw the dimples blooming at the corners of the woman’s mouth. It was a sweet sight, and she felt as if she had seen it somewhere before.

“These are clearly a pair of beautiful eyes. If they think it’s strange, it’s only because their understanding is too limited.”

A pair of beautiful eyes. This was the first time anyone had ever praised her. Pei Xi thought to herself silently.

Suddenly, Shao Xibei’s expression turned serious. Her tone was low and gentle: “If you don’t like it, you must learn to refuse and to resist. If you always silently accept the pain others bring you, you will only push yourself toward destruction.”

Pei Xi blurted out, “But resistance is useless.” It would only invite more severe punishment.

Shao Xibei laughed softly. “Sometimes, leaving is also a form of resistance.”

Leaving?

Pei Xi gazed at the red mole directly beneath Shao Xibei’s left eye. She didn’t know what she was thinking, but finally, she only said, “I’m going back now. I’ll come again tonight.”

Shao Xibei patted Pei Xi’s head. “Go on. I’ll be looking forward to dinner. Remember not to add any ‘extra ingredients’ again.” Shao Xibei said this purely to tease her.

But when Pei Xi heard it, her heart felt heavy. She was truly a bad person. To make her mother feel she was still useful, she had actually intended to poison someone to death.

The moment Pei Xi stepped out of the room, Shao Xibei said, “Pei Xi, you are not inferior to anyone else.”

“Also, your eyes are the most unique treasure Heaven has given you. Don’t hate them.”

Pei Xi didn’t look back. “I don’t hate them. They are beautiful.” Because you said they are beautiful.

Shao Xibei smiled with satisfaction; the feeling of guiding someone was quite nice.

…

The Madame pulled Pei Ming directly into her bedroom.

Closing the door, the Madame hurriedly asked, “Ming’er, did you see anything just now? Is that wench about to die? I saw her coughing up blood.”

Pei Ming replied, “Perhaps my skills are lacking, but that person’s countenance is something I cannot decipher.”

The Madame stomped her foot. “Damn it! Where on earth did Pei Qing find such a person that even Ming’er can’t see through her?”

“Tell me, could she be a monster in disguise?”

Pei Ming slowly shook her head. “Mother, don’t think too much. Perhaps I simply misjudged.”

The Madame sat down in a chair. “Ming’er, you must find a way to extract her secrets. Looking at Pei Qing’s state, I don’t believe he hasn’t left anything for that woman.”

“Everything in the Pei family must belong to me.”

Pei Ming lowered her eyes and gave a faint response. “I will certainly do my utmost to fulfill Mother’s wishes.”

The Madame broke into a smile, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes becoming visible. “Good, good. My dear Ming’er, it is truly my blessing to have you.”

This scene of motherly love and daughterly filial piety hadn’t lasted long before a servant’s shout came from outside.

“Madame! The Master seems to be having an episode! He keeps shouting ‘Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi!’ Please, come quickly and take a look!”

The Madame’s face dropped instantly.

“That damned thing! Even in that state, he won’t stay quiet. Ming’er, there couldn’t be a problem with your spells, could there?”

Pei Ming replied, “No.” At the time, she had placed a curse on Pei Qing. As long as Pei Qing took a human life, ghosts would haunt him and merge with his Qi.

She knew Pei Qing well, which was why she had used this specific spell. Pei Qing’s current state was merely the consequence of his own actions.

Haunted by a multitude of ghosts, he felt as if he were carrying a weight of a thousand pounds whenever he walked. Ill-omened energy had entered his body, slowly saturating his entire being, leading toward his ultimate death.

The two of them arrived outside Pei Qing’s room once again.

Before even entering, they heard Pei Qing’s raspy shouts: “Xiao Xi! I want Xiao Xi! Find Xiao Xi for me immediately!”

Seeing them arrive, the servants bowed and moved aside.

The Madame waved her hand. “All of you, leave.”

“Yes, Madame.”

The two entered the room, and a servant thoughtfully closed the door behind them.

Pei Ming took out a small bell from her waist and began to chant an incantation that the Madame did not understand.

The small bell let out a crisp ring, and Pei Qing, who had been screaming on the bed, suddenly fell silent.

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