Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Eve

The weather in late June grew increasingly sweltering. The sun hung high, and the cicadas buzzed incessantly.

Pei Chen climbed a tree and caught a basketful of cicadas. She sent them to the kitchen to be deep-fried and sprinkled with sugar, then delivered them to Pei Ming. As expected, Pei Ming ate them in front of the servants with great relish. He was truly a master at concealing his emotions.

Hearing this from her maid, Pei Chen let out a profound smile. Beside her lay a report on the movements within the capital; she had become a target, and many likely wanted her dead. Soon, the report was reduced to ashes. She sat before the mirror, staring at her reflection—delicate brows, a face that lacked sharpness, beautiful but tinged with a lingering frailty. It was undeniable how much she resembled Pei Xi.

“Master, your complexion is much better,” Bailu and Baishuang chatted happily. “Look, there’s a flush of pink. Do you think they were drugging your medicine before?”

“Ever since we started watching the pots ourselves, your health has improved daily. It must have been their doing,” Baishuang added.

Pei Chen didn’t care. If they had succeeded before, it was only because the original owner was weak. She felt her strength returning day by day.

The Princess’s staff had already begun taking over the management of the new bridal wing. Pei Chen knew little of household affairs, so she let them do as they pleased. Her sights were set elsewhere. In the Great Zhou, women could enter the court as officials and could even initiate divorce. She liked this era—it was comfortable, provided one systematically pruned the families that would eventually support Pei Ming.

One question lingered: Had the “me” of the previous life been born yet? She didn’t know her own birthday. She had grown up in the wild, sleeping in ruined temples, fighting for a scrap of food.

The Uncle from the South

On the eve of the wedding, the Pei Manor was decorated with lanterns and streamers. Gu Chaoyin, the eldest brother of Lady Gu, finally arrived from Yuhang. Unlike the calm Pei Chen, her uncle was travel-worn and apologetic about the delays caused by “unrest on the road.”

Gu Chaoyin was a refined scholar, a master of calligraphy and painting. He brought more than ten carriages of gifts. Pei Chen smirked; so much for the “poverty” of the scholarly Gu family.

After lunch, the nephew and uncle went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager. Having been an Emperor in her past life, Pei Chen could easily read people, but her uncle seemed genuinely elegant and spoke cheerfully throughout the journey.

At the palace, the Dowager greeted her nephew warmly. Pei Chen observed Gu Chaoyin’s every move—he was gentle, but he didn’t make a single mistake. He was cautious, not a reckless academic. She wondered if she should reveal her political ambitions to the Gu family.

As the sun set, the Empress arrived. Gu Chaoyin’s brow furrowed slightly. When the Empress entered, she looked at him first, but he refused to lift his head.

Pei Chen took the chance to study the Empress and noticed the strange look she gave her uncle. After a few brief words, Gu Chaoyin moved to leave, seemingly unwilling to talk to the sovereign.

“Pei Chen,” the Empress called out as they turned to go. Pei Chen bowed. “Your marriage to Liyang is something you both sought. Whether you are happy or not depends on you. I know you are calculating and skilled, but I warn you: do not become arrogant because of the favor you receive.”

The Dowager sat nearby, a smile on her face that looked both mocking and weary. She never once looked the Empress in the eye.

The Tangled Past

As they walked out of the palace, Pei Chen decided to probe her uncle about the Empress and her mother.

The carriage was quiet as they started moving. Gu Chaoyin remained silent for a long time before looking at the youth across from him. “The Empress and your mother were once lovers,” he said eventually. “Later, your aunt died. Your mother followed the imperial decree to marry Pei Kai. The Empress tried to win her back several times, but your mother never changed her mind.”

“Why did my mother have to marry just because my aunt died?” Pei Chen asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Did my aunt and mother look alike?”

“Identical. They grew up in the palace under the Dowager’s care, so even I could barely tell them apart.”

“So… you don’t even know if my mother is Gu Shangxue or Gu Shanghan?”

Gu Chaoyin jumped, shocked. “Birth order matters! Your mother is Gu Shanghan.”

“Who issued the marriage decree back then?” Pei Chen pressed.

“The late Emperor, of course.”

“The late Emperor knew of the Empress’s feelings and still issued the decree? Uncle, your story is full of contradictions,” Pei Chen pointed out.

Gu Chaoyin looked dazed. “Then… then it was your aunt, Gu Shangxue, who was in love with the Empress… Oh, I can’t distinguish them anymore!”

Pei Chen: “…” What a bookworm.

When they arrived at the manor, a group of handsome young men in official robes greeted Gu Chaoyin as “Teacher.” Pei Chen slunk inside, realizing her uncle’s influence was far greater than he let on.

The Night Before

That night, a toddler was sent from the palace to “press the bed” (a fertility ritual). The chubby child rolled around on the bed before stopping in front of Pei Chen and extending a hand. “Money.”

Earning a living at such a young age… Pei Chen laughed and gave him a red envelope. “Whose child are you?”

“I’m… I’m…” the toddler stuttered, then glared. “None of your business!”

He stomped out with his red envelope. Later, court ladies scattered dried longans, peanuts, and red dates on the bed to symbolize “bearing children early.” Pei Chen found the whole process fascinating.

Before sleep, Pei Chen visited the family temple. The doors were locked. Even though her brother had arrived, Lady Gu refused to come out. Pei Chen couldn’t understand what kind of love could turn someone so cold that they would hide behind a Buddhist altar and torment themselves.

It was nearly midnight when she returned to her room. She stood under the eaves, watching the bright moon.

At the same time, Liyang stood under the same moon at her own manor. She wasn’t marrying for love, but for the best strategic partner. Unlike her past life’s anxiety, she felt she was making the right choice. However, her thoughts kept drifting to Pei Xi—the girl who had been her everything for ten years.

Her maids forced her to bed. “You must be the most beautiful bride tomorrow. Sleep now.”

But Liyang couldn’t sleep. She got out of bed and walked barefoot to the door. In her past life, on the night before her wedding to Pei Ming, Pei Xi had stood outside this very door and played the flute half the night.

Liyang pushed the door open. To her shock, a figure stood in the moonlight.

The person held a flute and was gazing at her. The figure looked gentle and modest, with a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

Liyang stood frozen. As the figure walked closer, the features shifted into those of Pei Chen.

She was startled, confused, wanting to cry out—but Pei Chen was already standing before her.

Support Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac