Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Rebirth

A beauty beneath the moon, her skirt fluttering with the wind, trailing across the ground as her long hair cascaded like a waterfall.

In the depths of the night, the music of the Pear Garden rose slowly, its melodious rhythm striking the heart. A woman stood atop a drum, her waist supple as a willow, her silk sleeves dancing in the wind. She curled her lips into a shallow smile, standing barefoot with a red string tied around her snow-white ankle.

The wind brushed the dress from her shoulders, revealing porcelain skin and exquisite collarbones. Her long hair blew across her chest, veiling her fullness.

She suddenly lifted a foot, the curve of her calf graceful as her jade-like toes lightly tapped the drumhead, light as a snowflake, elegant as the wind.

Pei Xi watched the silhouette of the Eldest Princess Liyang, her heart thumping like a drum. The high-hanging bright lanterns cast light upon her; in an instant, she was as startling as a frightened swan. The scene in the night was like an unfolding scroll. As the Princess moved, her toes tapped the drumhead as if tapping directly into Pei Xi’s soul.

It turned out the ethereal, jade-boned Princess was so moving when she danced… The beauty of the deep night was magnificent; the beauty’s waist and jade feet became a splendid scene. The horizon was dark, but before her was a beauty like a painting—the slender waist, the charm of bare feet.

This scene was deeply etched into her mind. Pei Xi suddenly snapped back to reality, met with unfamiliar surroundings. She was dead, but she had been reborn as Pei Chen—a sickly youth whom everyone could bully.

Pei Xi sat by the window, idly watching an insect crawling in the corner. She didn’t know the name of the bug, but soon enough, she lifted her foot and stepped on it.

The insect was crushed to death.

She smiled slightly.

She was originally Pei Xi, the daughter of Pei Ming. Her mother’s identity was unknown, but she was raised by her father’s legal wife, the Eldest Princess. Later, Pei Ming committed regicide to seize the throne and killed the Princess. Pei Xi had loved the Princess deeply for many years, but in the end, she couldn’t protect the woman she loved even in death.

Later, she killed her father to take the throne, selected a virtuous monarch, changed the national title, and returned the empire to the old dynasty.

She committed suicide by drinking poisoned wine. The moment she woke up, she was lying on an unfamiliar bed in an old palace. The palace maids called her “Little Young Master.”

The strange environment left her feeling powerless, made worse by the frailty of this body. She looked at herself in the bronze mirror; sickness was deeply etched into her features, and her pale skin made the illness even more apparent. She lowered her eyes to look at her slender fingers, dry and weak. She suddenly laughed. A maid’s voice came from her side: “Little Young Master, if you are awake, you should go out for a walk.”

The afternoon light was bright. It was time to go out, familiarize herself with the environment, and discover the true state of this body.

The palace was the one she used to live in—largely similar, but different in some places. She lived in Shou’an Palace, the residence of the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager’s surname was Gu. Strangely, the previous Emperor was also a woman. It seemed she had traveled into history and become an unknown person.

Pei Xi was in a good mood. She left the palace attendants behind and walked slowly toward the garden. She was familiar with this place. History said the founding Emperor of Great Zhou was a woman who made the founder of the women’s academy, Lady Gu, her Empress. The two had an excellent relationship, and the people loved Empress Gu.

This body was too weak; she was panting after walking for only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. The smile on Pei Xi’s lips faded. From Empress Dowager Gu’s age, she deduced that the Eldest Princess Liyang was currently only the Emperor’s eldest daughter—the first child the Emperor had adopted.

It had rained last night. The rain hit the crabapples, and the scent of green grass lingered in the dust. Unknowingly, she reached the water’s edge, took a deep breath, and leaned against a tree.

“If you lure her here, I will reward you handsomely.”

Pei Xi stood under the tree in a daze. There were too many unspeakable things happening in the palace.

She closed her eyes. Her nose seemed to catch the scent of the Princess. She loved her—the passion of that night.

The Princess had held her, tearing her clothes open, gripping her wrists. “Pei Xi, you love me.”

She had nodded. The Princess laughed like a madwoman—a laugh that was charming and alluring, yet beautiful and dignified. Charm and coldness merged perfectly, causing Pei Xi to lose her reason. She had pinned the Princess to the pillows and kissed her frantically.

Pei Xi suddenly smiled, but a shadow suddenly appeared before her. “Little Uncle, why are you here?”

The smile on Pei Xi’s lips froze. She stared blankly at the young man before her, who looked about eighteen or nineteen. It was because he looked exactly like her scumbag father, Pei Ming—only younger.

In that moment of daze, the other spoke again: “Uncle, you don’t recognize your nephew? I am Pei Ming.”

It really was Pei Ming.

Pei Xi felt disgusted. Suppressing her confusion, she nodded slowly. The Pei Ming before her was tall and handsome, his luxurious robes reflecting the nobility of a high-ranking youth. After observing, she suddenly recalled the title Pei Ming used: Little Uncle…

Pei Ming only had one “Little Uncle”—Pei Chen, the legitimate son of the General’s Mansion who died of illness before reaching twenty.

She had transmigrated as Pei Chen—her scumbag father’s uncle. Her seniority had jumped up. Pei Xi couldn’t believe it, staring blankly at Pei Ming. The next breath, Pei Ming suddenly knelt. “Uncle, how has your nephew displeased you?”

As he knelt, many noble youths emerged from the surroundings, mostly eighteen or nineteen years old. They stood not far away, pointing and whispering at “Pei Chen.”

“It’s that useless Pei Chen again. Why is he always bullying Pei Ming?”

“He’s from the legitimate line, but his health is bad and he can’t see people. Pei Ming is so excellent; naturally, he’s jealous.”

“Shameful. Come, let’s go help Brother Pei. He can’t bully people just because he has the Empress Dowager’s favor.”

“I heard Pei Chen begged the Empress Dowager not to let Brother Pei enter the court. Such a narrow-minded person—no wonder the doctor said he won’t live past twenty.”

Pei Ming knelt quietly and devoutly. Pei Xi understood the gist of it and knew the identity of this body. She was sixteen when she died, and the owner of this body was seventeen.

By this calculation, she had lost one year of life…

Pei Xi turned to leave. Her body felt light, and she could barely walk. Passing by the noble youths, she stopped and curled her lip.

Brainless pigs!

Cursing them in her heart, she turned back to look at Pei Ming. She curled her lips coldly and said, “Eldest Nephew, do you happen to like Her Highness, Princess Liyang?”

In the past, Pei Ming had used a “Love Poison” on Princess Liyang. He used his own blood as the Mother Gu; the victim of the Child Gu would be consumed by lust when it flared up, and they would need to drink the blood of the Mother Gu holder.

Or, the two would have to have intercourse to pacify the fire within the body.

Princess Liyang chose blood. Pei Ming blackmailed her into making him her Consort. The Love Poison flared once a month, causing agonizing lust, and Pei Ming gained more power each time. The Princess loathed Pei Ming and forbade him from entering her room. After Pei Ming got what he wanted, he disappeared, and the Princess found Pei Xi. As Pei Ming’s daughter, her blood could cure the poison.

One bowl of blood on the fifteenth of every month. And when she gave the first bowl of blood, Pei Xi was only five years old.

The Princess raised her and gave her a life of luxury, and Pei Xi gradually fell in love. The Princess was gentle and loved to smile, often leaning against a soft couch with her long hair hanging down, pure as ice and bright as the moon.

When Pei Xi was in pain, the Princess’s eyes were filled with guilt.

The mist lingered by the water. Pei Xi couldn’t hold on anymore; her strength seemed drained. Under Pei Ming’s startled gaze, she said coldly, “Take off your clothes.”

Pei Ming was shocked. Pei Xi smiled innocently, while the people around them grew even more indignant—some even rushed forward to hit her.

Pei Xi looked coldly at these “piglets.” “If you dare touch me or help him, I will be sure to put in a ‘good word’ for you before the Empress Dowager.”

The crowd suddenly stopped. Pei Xi took a step closer to test Pei Ming. “Hand over the Love Gu, or I will report you.”

Pei Ming looked up in disbelief at his uncle, who was so weak he could barely walk. The usually cowardly useless person had completely changed. He clenched his teeth and refused, looking at the noble youths he was friends with. But under Pei Xi’s pressure, no one dared to speak. Who would dare offend the Empress Dowager’s grand-nephew for the sake of a concubine’s son?

“Take it off.” Pei Xi suddenly raised her voice. she was testing him, and Pei Ming’s reaction made her increasingly afraid. He had indeed done something evil today. Where was the Princess right now? Had she been poisoned?

How could she let others trample upon the woman she loved? Thinking of the Princess’s gentle demeanor, she suddenly kicked Pei Ming’s shoulder. Unfortunately, she had too little strength. Pei Ming groaned but recovered quickly, refusing to budge.

Anxious, Pei Xi shouted: “Go invite Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!”

With this roar, the crowd scattered. It was no secret that the Empress Dowager favored Pei Chen.

“Uncle… I’ll take it off.” Pei Ming bit his tongue, his face tight. He slowly pulled a box from his sleeve and smiled coldly. “She is already poisoned. Your nephew has no luck to enjoy her, so I might as well give her to you, Uncle. You better take care of your health.”

Hateful! Pei Xi was so angry her face flushed an abnormal red, and her head spun. She quickly took two deep breaths and asked him: “Where is she?”

“The Pear Garden.”

Ignoring everyone’s reaction, Pei Xi took the box and sprinted. Her Highness loved dancing and often performed; the Pear Garden was where dances were choreographed.

The woman who used a drum as her stage and whose dance could topple cities… she would smile and brush Pei Xi’s hair, asking what kind of man she liked.

Pei Xi had said: “I like Your Highness.”

The Princess laughed for a while and said: “I am old; how can I bind your life?”

Every time the Love Poison flared, she didn’t dare see anyone. Amidst the boiling heat of her blood, she would look at Pei Xi with obsession.

She didn’t know how long she ran. Pei Xi was exhausted and swaying, cursing this body for being so useless.

Her chest felt like it was on fire, and her throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton. But she didn’t dare rest, running toward the Pear Garden with all her might. Every moment she delayed, the Princess was in mortal danger. She didn’t know if Pei Ming’s feelings for her were love or exploitation.

The Princess was poisoned, yet he could still laugh and talk with others—it was clearly exploitation. He intended to take advantage of her when she couldn’t hold on anymore. Scumbag.

Reaching the Pear Garden, her fading consciousness slowly cleared. She leaned against the door to steady her breathing. She pushed the door open and walked in; the vast Pear Garden was unexpectedly empty. She searched but couldn’t find anyone.

Her steps were unsteady, her breathing rapid, and she was drenched in a cold sweat. Pei Xi cursed her broken body again.

The Pear Garden was named so because of the pear blossom forest; the Princess loved going there. She followed her memory to search. Pear blossoms were everywhere, layered like snow falling upon the world.

Her feet stepped on the pear blossoms, soft and weak. She held her breath and walked ten steps before hearing a low moan.

The sound of passion.

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