Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Blooming

In her previous life, Pei Xi lived with Liyang for over ten years. Every frown, every slight display of displeasure, and every fleeting smile of Liyang’s was etched into the very marrow of Pei Xi’s bones.

Pei Xi had arrived at Princess Liyang’s manor when she was five. By then, Pei Ming had already disappeared. Before coming to the manor, she had been a beggar in a ruined temple, fighting others for scraps of food and picking up crumbs from the ground.

It was only upon meeting the noble Princess Liyang that Pei Xi truly understood the meaning of beauty. Among the many princesses, Liyang was the eldest. By age eight or nine, she was already learning the affairs of state from the Empress. Years of political life had instilled in her an unyielding spirit—a quiet strength that wouldn’t bend even under the weight of Mount Tai. Just standing there, her posture exuded an innate grace.

Pei Xi gazed at the woman on the bed. Liyang returned her gaze, finally voicing her suspicion: “Today, you are different.”

Pei Xi furrowed her brows. Her wrist was being pulled tighter and tighter by the Princess. Fingernails dug into her skin, causing a piercing pain, but she only offered a faint smile without speaking. She didn’t know what kind of person the original “Pei Chen” was, so she could only explore this identity slowly.

Liyang propped herself up, struggling to get closer to the girl, and whispered in her ear.

Pei Xi’s expression shifted drastically. “Blood can neutralize the poison,” she said.

“Pei Chen, a bowl of blood would be enough to kill you. I do not wish to harm you.” Liyang leaned toward her uncontrollably, her slender, bony hand circling Pei Xi’s waist.

The moment she touched the cold skin of “Pei Chen,” Liyang felt as though a refreshing spring had flowed through a parched field, bringing her immense relief. She finally smiled and said, “Pei Chen, live well. I will cherish your life.”

Pei Chen’s appearance leaned toward that of a sickly beauty. Her illness was deep-seated, yet when she smiled, pear dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth—a look of purity mixed with a hint of innocence. Her body was freezing, like holding a block of ice in winter, making Liyang shiver.

Yet, this coldness was exactly what Liyang needed. Liyang felt as if she were burning; the sensation of being cooked over a fierce fire was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water, allowing her to gradually sink into the relief.

She looked at “Pei Chen”—the girl raised on medicine—noticing the hint of caution in her youthful face. Liyang’s hand settled on the girl’s waist, and she whispered: “Neutralizing the poison still requires your blood… just a few drops will do…”

Pei Xi trembled. The intimate gesture made her heart throb. She knew the method to neutralize the poison…

The shame!

Inside the Pear Garden, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments rose. The combination of the zither and flute felt like a fine, drizzling rain brushing against the face—a feast for the ears.

When the Empress arrived in a hurry, Empress Dowager Gu arrived late. In contrast to the Empress’s visible anxiety, Empress Dowager Gu leaned lazily against her phoenix carriage, looking entirely detached from the frantic crowd.

The Empress did not dare to proceed ahead of her and stepped forward to pay her respects. She was the heir chosen by the late Emperor and the Empress Dowager; she shared no blood relation with either.

“Empress Dowager, you do not seem worried,” Mingzhao spoke cautiously, glancing at the older woman, who had her eyes narrowed as if napping.

After a long wait, just as Mingzhao was about to lose her patience, the Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes and smiled faintly. “Do you remember the circumstances of Pei Chen’s birth?”

“I remember,” Mingzhao replied, confused. The current issue was Pei Chen allegedly poisoning Liyang; it seemed to have nothing to do with her birth.

Empress Dowager Gu sat up straight, looking at Mingzhao’s surprised expression, and said calmly: “Pei Chen was born premature. She was like a tiny kitten. The late Emperor ordered her to be treated. A monk came and said Pei Chen lacked ‘Fire’ in her fate—Fire being masculine energy.

Therefore, he had her, a girl, dressed as a boy to ‘borrow life’ from the heavens. Tell me, if a sickly girl like Pei Chen poisoned your Liyang to take advantage of her, would she even have a life left to live? Beauty is fine, but if you’re dead, there’s no life to enjoy it. Why bother poisoning her?”

Mingzhao was stunned. Empress Dowager Gu added: “This was the late Emperor’s doing. Blame him for forgetting to tell you. Enough, I am tired. Let us return.”

The Empress Dowager lost interest and waved her hand at her attendants. Mingzhao was secretly alarmed and bowed to see her off.

Silence fell over the Pear Garden. The Empress’s face was dark. Pei Ming, watching the Empress Dowager leave, couldn’t help but wipe away sweat. When he looked at the Empress again, he was even more cautious. Just as he was about to speak, he heard her say: “Pei Ming, leave the palace. Do not enter unless summoned.”

“Your Majesty, I spoke the truth! You cannot because—”

“Impudent!” Mingzhao was furious. She glared at Pei Ming. “I know your heart. I will spare you once. If there is a next time, I will pull your bones apart.”

Pei Ming broke into a cold sweat. The Empress swept away, her attendants following in a hurry. Two eunuchs stepped forward to drag him out.

The Pear Garden was quiet once more. The manager cautiously closed the gates. When the Empress is angry, bodies fall by the millions; lowly performers like them didn’t dare get in the way.

In the silence, the sounds coming from the resting room became somewhat prominent. The manager, acting as if she heard nothing, continued her patrol.

After an unknown amount of time, a door opened. The manager immediately stepped forward—the noble guest requested water for a bath.

The manager didn’t dare look up. A faint fragrance lingered in the air. She smelled it but quickly departed, acting as if nothing had happened.

Liyang bathed, the warm water covering her shoulders and hiding a faint red mark there. She glanced at it and quickly looked away.

The room was quiet, the sound of flowing water drowning out Liyang’s breathing. She slowly relaxed her body, trying to calm herself. The pleasure from moments ago felt familiar—so familiar it reminded her of that girl. Calculating the time, that girl hadn’t even been born yet.

The hot water eased her fatigue and allowed Liyang to slowly settle her emotions.

When she returned from her bath, the bed was empty. Pei Chen had fled—or rather, scrambled away.

Liyang gave a silent, shallow smile. Pei Chen was shy and lacked strength, yet she had… “techniques.” It seemed as though it wasn’t her first time…

Quickly, she let it go. She and Pei Chen were using each other; there was no need to worry about unnecessary matters. She looked at the red marks on her wrists, and her heart slowly sank. She had too many things to do.

When Pei Xi escaped back to the Palace of Longevity and Peace, she was lightheaded. She collapsed onto her bed and fell into a deep, unconscious sleep. The palace maids were frantic and rushed to call the Imperial Physician.

Inside the main hall, Empress Dowager Gu lay on her rocking chair, swaying back and forth. Listening to the hurried footsteps outside, she narrowed her eyes, then let her head fall back, choosing not to intervene.

The physician arrived in a hurry. After a while, he returned to report to the Empress Dowager, his face looking troubled. “The young master’s illness… illness…”

“Enough, say no more. I know. Just prescribe some tonics to nourish the body,” Empress Dowager Gu replied. She found it quite extraordinary—the “iron tree” had finally bloomed.

After the physician fled, the Empress Dowager fingered her prayer beads, turning them slowly. After a moment, she tossed the beads out of the hall.

Such a big scene had been made. If she didn’t give the Empress an explanation, the Empress would be uneasy.

A maid picked up the beads and offered them back. The Dowager looked at them, took them, and threw them out again. “Don’t bother. Let them stay out in a rainstorm before bringing them back. I pray to them every day, yet I don’t see A-Chen’s health getting any better.”

She closed her eyes and instructed her maids: “Find out exactly what happened.”

Half a day later, she added: “Tell Liyang to come have lunch with me tomorrow. And ask if your ‘Young Master’ can get out of bed. If she can’t, I’ll arrange a marriage for Liyang.”

Body is weak? Weak, my foot.

The message reached Pei Xi, but she hadn’t woken up yet. The massive physical toll had drained her vitality. In her daze, she heard the weeping of her maids and the voice of the Princess.

Muddled, she suddenly saw the Princess in purple robes. That year, she had been only five years old.

Back then, she was a child who would bite into dirt out of hunger, but then she was given sweet flower nectar and milk-scented pastries. A woman sat in the primary seat.

The woman said: “I can give you silk clothes and fine food, but you must listen to me.”

“What is ‘silk clothes and fine food’?” she had asked, bewildered.

The woman had a cold aura, her pale skin signaling her detachment. Little Pei Xi was afraid, but she still reached out to grab a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth. The fragrant, sweet taste overwhelmed her senses. She began to succumb.

The woman said: “Pretty clothes, delicious snacks. If anyone dares to bully you, I will strike them back for you. Do you… understand?”

The woman’s tone was light and slow, indifferent, yet Pei Xi felt as if a heavenly net had been cast over her.

Pei Xi was smiling in her sleep when a voice suddenly reached her ear: “The Empress Dowager asks if you can get out of bed. If you can’t, she will arrange a marriage for Princess Liyang.”

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