Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Shameless

The deaths of Zhang Chen and Liu Shu reached the ears of the Emperor, who was so enraged she smashed her inkstone. Liyang and Minglan knelt in the hall, silent and motionless.

The Empress slumped back into her dragon throne, exhausted by fury. “You two stood there and watched court officials lose their lives, then had the audacity to continue the match? Minglan, you have a massive heart indeed—and who gave you permission to institute a life-and-death waiver?”

“It was Third Sister,” Minglan said, sounding incredibly aggrieved. “She said blades have no eyes. They entered the ring of their own free will; no one forced them.”

“The moment Zhang Chen died, you should have terminated the match!” the Empress barked.

Liyang, however, spoke up: “When Liu Shu took the stage, his every move was aimed at killing Pei Chen. She was merely defending herself. As for Zhang Chen, he signed the waiver. His death is the result of his own incompetence. He was useless, yet he dared to covet things that did not belong to him. He deserved to die.”

“Presumptuous!” The Empress slammed her desk and stood up. “Listen to yourself! What do you mean ‘deserved to die’?”

Liyang raised her head, meeting the Empress’s gaze calmly. “If the one dead was Pei Chen, would you still be this angry? They died under her spear in an open and honorable duel, without schemes or trickery. What exactly is it that makes you so furious?”

The palace fell into a heavy silence. Mother and daughter locked eyes, neither willing to back down. Minglan was too terrified to speak as she watched the Empress’s sky-shattering rage slowly simmer down into a cold embers.

Liyang added pensively, “Pei Chen’s spearplay far exceeds that of any other Pei family member. That is what displeases you, isn’t it?”

“Liyang!” The Empress’s fury flared again. “Are you provoking me?”

“I wouldn’t dare. The match had a signed waiver; their deaths are their own responsibility, not Pei Chen’s nor Second Sister’s. The tournament must continue, or you will have no way to explain this to the people. Simply prohibit Pei Chen from participating further.” Liyang smiled faintly, her gaze turning cool as she stood up slowly.

She had lost her patience. Success and failure were part of life; the Empress was making a mountain out of a molehill. “Pei Chen proved herself to the world in her own way. She does not have the road paved for her by a late Emperor or an Empress Dowager; she must fight for every step herself.”

The Empress’s expression shifted. The late Emperor and the Dowager had indeed paved every inch of her own path; Liyang was mocking her.

Liyang took a deep breath, her hands clenched inside her sleeves, her face as cold as jade.

“Do you still have any respect for me as your sovereign?” the Empress hissed.

“Your Majesty, I am merely pointing out an injustice. It is as if you are handing out sweets but pointedly refusing to give one to Pei Chen.” Liyang studied her mother’s face. Was it shame? Or rage?

She shook her head. “Second Sister and I are both at fault. We shall return to our manors and reflect behind closed doors. We will not leave without a decree.”

Minglan was shocked. “I never said I wanted to reflect—”

“Shut up, you idiot,” Liyang hissed under her breath.

The Bribe and the Madman

Outside the hall, Minglan chased after Liyang. “Why did you provoke her like that?”

“I told the truth. She hates hearing it, so I chose to speak it.” Liyang slowed her pace.

“If you want to seek death, don’t drag me with you!” Minglan cried, blocking her path. “What are you actually trying to do?”

Liyang looked at her sister. Minglan was a bit foolish, but her heart wasn’t entirely rotten yet. “You should stay quiet. The Empress has had her own plans for a long time.”

“What plans?” Minglan asked urgently, but Liyang only offered a cryptic smile and walked away.

Liyang then went to the Ouyang manor, dragged the Third Princess, Mingun, into a carriage, and drew a dagger. Mingun panicked instantly. “Let’s talk! I have no money and my life isn’t worth much! Big Sister, I was wrong!”

“Wrong about what?” Liyang sighed.

“I shouldn’t have listened to Pei Chen and egged on Second Sister to hold that tournament!” Mingun confessed. “Pei Chen is a lunatic. I regret it already. Please, don’t tell the Empress!”

Liyang raised an eyebrow. Pei Chen’s actions weren’t just obsessive; they were tinged with madness. “Why did you agree to help her?”

“She gave me ten thousand taels! That’s years of my salary!”

Liyang stared at her, fist clenched. It wasn’t coercion; it was pure greed. “I will give you ten thousand taels to keep your mouth shut. If this ever leaks, Mingun, I will kill you myself.”

“Another ten thousand?” Mingun’s eyes sparkled. “I love this job!”

Lunacy and Love

Liyang arrived at the Pei Manor. Pei Chen, who had been unconscious after coughing up blood, was now awake but weak. Seeing an angry Liyang push past the maids, Pei Chen instinctively pulled the covers up.

“Where is all that killing energy from yesterday?” Liyang barked. “Why are you hiding now?”

She had hoped Pei Chen could be as kind as Pei Xi, but she was realizing Pei Chen was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“Fine, I won’t hide,” Pei Chen said, throwing back the covers and revealing her pale, rounded toes. She wiggled them cutely.

Liyang froze, then reflexively pulled the blanket back over her. “Liu Shu was already leaving the stage. Why did you chase him down and kill him?”

“He learned the Pei Family Spear, so he deserved to die,” Pei Chen said, a hint of paranoia on her pale face. “I don’t know who taught him, but if he isn’t a Pei, he shouldn’t know it. If he knows it, he dies.”

Liyang was speechless. Pei Chen sat up and patted the edge of the bed for Liyang to sit.

As Liyang sat, Pei Chen reached out to twirl a lock of Liyang’s hair, leaning in close. Liyang tried to turn away, but Pei Chen followed until their noses almost touched. She watched Liyang’s long lashes tremble.

“Did Your Highness come to punish me?” Pei Chen whispered, her arm sliding around Liyang’s waist with bold possessiveness.

Liyang struggled, her face heating up. “Pei Chen!”

“I simply like you, that’s all. What are you afraid of?” Pei Chen laughed, releasing her and tucking her hands behind her back. Her smile was as warm as the sun, showing no trace of the killer from the day before.

“You’re afraid you can’t control me, aren’t you?” Pei Chen pinned her with a gaze. “I told you: I like you. That is all.”

Liyang’s heart was in turmoil. Pei Chen was ruthless, but the way she looked at Liyang was incredibly intense. Does she really love me? Liyang almost believed it. But then she found a flaw: “What does liking me have to do with killing Zhang Chen and Liu Shu?”

“They were Pei Ming’s brothers. Pei Ming bullied you; naturally, I had to avenge you. Furthermore, I had to prove to the Empress that I am capable of leading the infantry. Is there a better way to prove strength than this?”

Liyang grew quiet. It was true—after that fight, no one would ever look down on Pei Chen again.

Pei Chen lay back down. “I’m weak and need to rest for a few days. Please keep an eye on the new house for me. There’s only half a month left until the wedding, and ‘detoxifying’ is going to be exhausting work.”

Liyang: “…” Shameless!

She turned to leave, but Pei Chen grabbed her hand. Liyang shook her off. “Behave yourself!”

“Take care of yourself, Your Highness. I hear ‘love toxins’ react poorly to emotional swings. Who knows, you might have an outbreak before the 8th.”

Liyang’s face turned scarlet. She wanted to gag her. But as she looked back, she saw a look in Pei Chen’s eyes that was identical to the devotion Pei Xi once showed her.

She believed Pei Xi loved her. Therefore, she chose to believe Pei Chen loved her too.

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