Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Fight

Today was the 5th; in two days, it would be the 8th. Liyang’s face flushed slightly, but Pei Chen did not linger on the subject. The palace had many eyes and ears; this was a secret between the two of them. If others found out, it would bring harm to the Princess.

The youth walked with a brisk pace, robes fluttering in the wind, back straight as a cedar. This display of youthful spirit caused Liyang to stare in a daze.

So, Pei Chen also possesses the vigor of youth. She is no different from anyone else.

In that moment, hope surged in Liyang’s heart. If Pei Chen could walk this long path by her side, it would be a beautiful life indeed. Liyang let out a soft breath and smiled. “She will live a long life.”

The Token of Love

After they parted, Liyang returned to her manor. Pei Chen had already sent a token, and in the busyness of the past few days, Liyang realized she had forgotten to return the gesture.

She entered her warehouse, where treasures were piled like mountains. After searching for a while, she spotted a cabbage carved from exquisite white jade. The Empress Dowager’s scolding echoed in her ears: “A pig rooting through fine cabbage.”

Liyang stared at the jade cabbage and smiled mischievously. Who is the pig, and who is the cabbage?

She handed the cabbage to a maid. “Send this to the Pei Manor. It is my engagement token for the Young Master.”

The maid looked at the large cabbage. It was fine jade, yes, but as a romantic token… it wasn’t exactly elegant.

Half an hour later, Pei Chen opened the box. She stared at it for a long time. Bailu and Baishuang exchanged a look.

“That golden pig we sent was worth a fortune,” Bailu said innocently. “This white jade looks pretty, but it doesn’t seem… as valuable.”

Baishuang looked at her master’s dazed expression. “Are you sad, Master?”

“Why would I be sad? I’m just wondering who is the pig and who is the cabbage.” Pei Chen grinned, a warmth spreading through her chest. “Bailu, go put it away safely.”

Who cares who the pig is? As long as the days are good.

“Nephew” and “Uncle”

Two days passed in peace. On the 8th, after lunch, Pei Chen prepared her medicinal powders and changed into a fresh apricot-colored robe. As she was leaving, she ran into Pei Ming.

“Little Uncle,” Pei Ming greeted.

“Nephew,” Pei Chen replied, her eyes crinkling with delight. Being called “Uncle” by her former husband made her incredibly happy.

Pei Ming choked on his words. He noticed the youth looked much better—no longer a deathly, withered white, but like polished jade or fresh snow.

“Is Uncle going out?” Pei Ming asked, confused by her sudden cheer.

“Where is my nephew going?”

“I’m going to the palace for my shift. And Uncle?”

Pei Chen wanted to laugh so hard it hurt, but she maintained a dignified “elder” persona and nodded. “I have business to attend to.”

Once she boarded her carriage, she doubled over and laughed until tears streamed down her face. The sound of “Uncle” echoed like a magic spell. But as the laughter subsided, hatred flared in her eyes.

I want to kill him. If she killed him, the Great Zhou would be spared from its future collapse, and Liyang wouldn’t die. She took a deep breath, her gaze turning icy.

The Fight on the Street

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. “Young Master, there’s been a carriage collision ahead. The road is blocked.”

Before she could respond, someone yanked the driver down and kicked the carriage door open. Pei Chen looked up into a pair of strikingly beautiful eyes.

It was Ouyang Yu, daughter of the Imperial Merchant and a persistent suitor of the Third Princess (though the Third Princess only cared for the Ouyang family’s money).

Ouyang Yu, dressed in black, stared at her with cold eyes. “Are you the First Princess’s consort?”

“Are you here for the Third Princess?” Pei Chen asked, her expression unreadable.

Ouyang Yu’s eyes widened. Pei Chen gave a childish, joyless smile. “You like someone, but that person told you she likes me. So, you’ve come to cause trouble, questioning why I am engaged to the First Princess while ‘entangled’ with someone else?”

“You’ve said all my lines for me,” Ouyang Yu frowned. “What’s your explanation?”

“Why should I explain anything to you?” Pei Chen’s expression flipped instantly, and she lunged, kicking Ouyang Yu squarely in the chest.

Ouyang Yu was shocked and leaped back, but Pei Chen followed, her movements fast and vicious. She fought like a gale of wind. Finally, Pei Chen pinned her against a wall, hand tight around her throat.

“Ouyang Yu, who gave you the courage to question me in the middle of the street?”

Ouyang Yu’s face turned purple as her feet left the ground. Her guards rushed forward, but Pei Chen side-stepped a blade, kicked one guard in the shoulder, and flattened another with a punch to the face.

“Stop! Stop! Master Pei, mercy!” Ouyang Yu scrambled up, coughing. “It’s my fault! I was wrong! I’m sorry!”

Pei Chen stood amidst the fallen guards, her robes fluttering, her gaze indifferent. She walked back to her carriage, helped her driver up, and said calmly: “To the Princess’s Manor.”

One in Life and Death

Pei Chen arrived at the manor as the sun was setting. Liyang was in the water pavilion playing Go with Huangfu Yi.

“Your Highness is distracted,” Huangfu Yi remarked as Liyang missed a move. “Thinking about tonight?”

Clack. The piece fell from Liyang’s hand. “It’s nothing, Teacher.”

“Does Your Highness have the Young Master in your heart?”

A koi jumped in the lake, creating ripples. Liyang looked at the board—she was losing badly. “The Young Master and I are… an accident. She is a good person. Teacher, I…” She paused. In her past life, she had given up her ambitions to help the Eighth Prince. Now, she didn’t want to give up.

“Why should you give up?” Huangfu Yi smiled. “Pei Chen is far superior to Pei Ming. Your Highness has already made the comparison in your heart.”

Huangfu Yi stood to leave as Pei Chen approached. “I won’t delay Your Highness any further. Remember: how you and the Young Master walk this path depends entirely on the two of you.”

Pei Chen walked in, looking triumphant. “I have a fun story. Does Your Highness want to hear it?”

Liyang smiled. “Tell me.”

“I got into a fight.”

“Did you win?”

“I won. The other person is in a sorry state. It was Ouyang Yu.”

Liyang chuckled. Pei Chen watched her as the twilight faded.

“Why were you so angry?” Liyang asked.

“If I let her go today, the trouble would never end. She needed to be taught a lesson so she’d never dare block my way again.”

“You have a point,” Liyang nodded.

As the wind blew over the lake, Pei Chen reached out and grasped Liyang’s wrist. Liyang’s skin was dazzlingly white. Memories of the previous month flooded Liyang’s mind, and her face turned as red as a pomegranate. She lowered her head, overwhelmed.

“Your Highness said not to bring medicine, so I didn’t,” Pei Chen whispered.

“Mhm,” Liyang replied, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

Pei Chen leaned in closer. “So… where are we sleeping tonight?”

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