Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Poison

Aside from the Empress Dowager’s favor, Pei Chen had no power or influence. And with the Empress Dowager having one foot in the grave, how many years of that favor could truly remain?

Her advisors tried desperately to dissuade her, but Liyang remained unmoved. “Third Sister seems quite keen on Pei Chen,” she noted.

“The Third Princess loves wealth. The Pei family’s ancestral property is vast, and naturally, it all belongs to Young Master Pei—but his lifespan is limited,” the advisor said, sounding extremely troubled.

Liyang slowly regained her composure. After careful thought, she said, “Young Master Pei is actually a decent choice.”

If Pei Chen really died, she would have to find Pei Xi… No, that wouldn’t work. Liyang suddenly snapped awake. If the Mother Gu dies, will the Child Gu become masterless? Will I die too?

Liyang shuddered. Seeing this, the advisor stepped forward. “Your Highness, what is wrong?”

“Nothing. Have people keep an eye on Pei Ming. Check if he has any women outside. If you find a pregnant woman, bring her back immediately.” Thinking of Pei Xi, the corners of Liyang’s mouth curled slightly—a moment of clarity after the rain.

The Empress Dowager’s Advice

Five short days passed. Pei Chen went into the palace to see the Empress Dowager.

The Dowager was lying on her rocking chair with a cookbook in her hand. Seeing her grand-nephew approach, she gave a small yawn. “Handled it yet?”

“I have not handled it, Grand-Aunt,” Pei Chen lowered her eyes.

The Dowager was surprised. “You have a hidden move?” It seemed unlikely. Pei Chen had been a “useless A-Dou” for seventeen years; no amount of propping up had ever made her stand tall. Only recently had she shown a bit of spine by making Pei Ming return empty-handed.

“Pei Ming is socially adept and the only other root of the Pei family. If I strike too early, the clan elders will be unhappy,” Pei Chen explained.

“If they’re unhappy, let them be. Are you going to wait until he fathers a son before you kill him?” Empress Dowager Gu mocked. “Just say you don’t have the heart to kill him. No need for excuses.”

Pei Chen choked on her words. She took a step forward and spoke carefully: “Grand-Aunt, killing is easy. Pulling someone down slowly from a high place… that is the true difficulty.”

The cookbook in the Dowager’s hand trembled. She suddenly remembered how the late Emperor had once suffered a loss because he was a step too slow and was schemed against. Feeling a lingering fear, she said, “Do not let your cleverness be your undoing.”

Pei Chen gave a warm smile. “If I fail, I still have you to lean on.”

“Your mouth is sweet today. Tell me, what do you want?” The Dowager squinted. This little thing is no longer simple. How did she suddenly ‘attain enlightenment’?

Enlightenment? The Dowager sat up straight. “Are you truly Pei Chen?” The kind, cowardly, and insecure Pei Chen would never have reached out to save Liyang.

Pei Chen smiled slowly and calmly, her eyes bright and her face showing a healthy glow. “You’re joking, Grand-Aunt.”

“Fine. As long as your blood and bones belong to Pei Chen, it’s enough,” the Dowager muttered, lying back down. She offered her grand-nephew a tip: “Your mother is hopeless. You might as well marry Liyang; the two of you are quite a match. If Mingzhao disagrees, I will speak to her. After all, happiness isn’t something everyone gets.”

At the mention of Liyang, Pei Chen gritted her teeth, remembering the Empress’s dislike of her. “Grand-Aunt, Her Majesty dislikes me. I’m afraid she won’t agree.”

“It’s normal to be disliked. You’re not a silver coin; you can’t expect everyone to love you,” the Dowager snorted. “I’ll have your uncle come over to manage the wedding arrangements. By the way, do you like Liyang?”

Pei Chen’s ears turned red, and she nodded vigorously. “I do. But she is like the moon; I dare not desecrate her.”

“You’ve already slept together. To talk about ‘desecration’ now… don’t you think you’re being a bit hypocritical?” the Dowager said crossly. Pei Chen shared no blood with the late Emperor, so why were their personalities so similar?

She waved her hand. “If you like her, ask her yourself. If she’s willing to marry, I’ll grant the marriage. If she’s not, then keep trying. Be diligent and don’t give up.”

Pei Chen obediently complied. The Dowager gave one last warning: “Go play, but don’t provoke the Second Princess.”

She’s a poisonous scorpion.

The Martial Arts Selection

Liyang arrived first to arrange the selection for the Imperial Guard. The Second Princess, Minglan, arrived soon after. They stood beneath a tree.

Having died once, Liyang found she didn’t hate her annoying sister as much as she used to. They exchanged a few words before Minglan suddenly asked, “What do you think of Pei Ming?”

“Why do you ask?” Liyang was disgusted but kept her face neutral.

Liyang stood in the shade, her waist so slender it looked as though the breeze might break it. Minglan envied her figure. “He is participating today as well,” Minglan said.

“I know.” Liyang’s gaze was cold. Compared to Pei Ming, Minglan was just a small fry. “Stay away from him.”

“Does Big Sister like Pei Chen?” Minglan shifted the topic abruptly. “The two of you have already had… intimate contact.”

“Pei Chen is kind and warm-hearted. With the Gu family of Yuhang behind her, she isn’t a bad choice.” Liyang paused, feeling a pang of pity for that sickly youth. In her previous life, Pei Chen had died young, and the Pei manor had fallen into Pei Ming’s hands, fueling his power.

In this life, I must cut off Pei Ming’s foundation first.

The sisters were joined by the Third and Fourth Princesses, with a hangdog Pei Chen trailing behind them.

As they sat down, the Third Princess, Mingyun, whispered to Pei Chen. Pei Chen’s brow was deeply furrowed; she was truly afraid of this “Third Aunt.”

Mingyun said, “I’ve thought it through. After we marry, I’ll let you take concubines. As many as you want! I definitely won’t be jealous.”

Pei Chen smiled with elegant decorum. “I do not like you.”

Mingyun looked at the straight-backed, stubborn Pei Chen. “Why? I don’t even mind your poor health. I’m so beautiful—where do I fall short of your expectations?”

Pei Chen gave another dignified smile. “Because I have a better candidate in mind.”

Mingyun’s face was flushed from the sun, and a surge of annoyance rose in her. She stepped hard on Pei Chen’s foot. “Just wait until my Big Sister abandons you. Then you’ll see how good I am.”

Pei Chen’s body was fragile; she winced in pain, her face flushing an unnatural red. Liyang, hearing the gasp, turned back.

The Third Princess was huffing with anger, and Pei Chen was in too much pain to walk. Fearing her eldest sister, Mingyun quickly said, “The Young Master sprained her ankle.”

Pei Chen: “…” Clearly, you stepped on me.

Pei Chen’s face was flushed as if wearing rouge, looking a bit better than her usual sickly self. Liyang glanced at her, and Pei Chen found it hard to breathe.

Since the Empress hadn’t arrived, they sat in a row. Pei Chen, having come on a whim, had no seat. Minglan spoke first: “Young Master can sit with Big Sister.”

Mingyun was indignant. “Why can’t she sit with me?”

“You’re too ugly. Are you as beautiful as Big Sister?” Minglan sneered.

Pei Chen was caught in the crossfire. She knew the Second Princess was mocking her for being swayed by beauty. No wonder she had such a tragic end, Pei Chen thought.

Sitting beside Liyang, Pei Chen whispered, “The horses you sent me… they’re all dead.”

“I know. I had someone poison them,” Liyang nodded, the elegant curve of her jaw revealing a faint pulse against her white skin.

Pei Chen was speechless with rage, her eyes wide. She had planned to participate in the selection! Seeing her reaction, Liyang’s mood suddenly brightened. “Are you so eager to show off that you want Pei Ming to find a way to kill you?”

Pei Ming was insidious; how could Pei Chen compare? Her priority should be self-protection. As long as the legitimate heir Pei Chen lived, Pei Ming could never become the master of the Pei family or claim Pei Kai’s influence.

“You are too much!” Pei Chen’s neck turned red with anger. She glared at Liyang. “I… I’m going to be angered to death by you!”

“What?” Liyang froze. That girl from her past had often said the exact same thing when she was furious: I’m going to be angered to death by you!

She turned to look at the youth. Under the canopy that shielded them from the sun, a breeze swept past, and she smelled a familiar fragrance. Pei Xi loved incense—a light pear blossom scent. Pei Chen had it too. Was it a coincidence?

Liyang snapped back to reality as the person beside her grabbed her wrist. “Don’t you think you’re being excessive?”

“I only want my benefactor to live a few days longer.” Liyang looked down at the slender hand on her wrist and curled her lips coldly. “You are quite stupid. You’ve already surpassed Pei Ming a thousand times over just by existing; why bother competing with him?”

She spoke with such self-righteousness that Pei Chen’s head throbbed. She blurted out, “I want to prove to you that I won’t easily faint or cough up blood anymore. At least… I won’t faint easily during that matter!”

Liyang trembled and instinctively covered her ears, not wanting to hear such “filthy” words. Pei Chen was also furious, grabbing Liyang’s hands to pull them down. “Don’t look for me on the 8th of next month!”

The two of them scuffled, leaving Minglan and Mingyun dumbfounded. Mingyun clenched her fists and was about to intervene, but Minglan stopped her. “What right do you have? Can’t you see Big Sister is enjoying herself?”

“Enjoying what?”

“Enjoying flirting with a man.”

Liyang’s nerves were taut. Hearing their conversation, her face burned with shame. She immediately pushed Pei Chen away. “Don’t be so touchy-feely!”

“You poisoned my horses! I worked hard to exercise for days just for today!”

“They were my horses!” Liyang retorted, her words outrunning her reason. She immediately regretted it—why was she bickering like a child?

Pei Chen was different. Her soul was only sixteen; she didn’t realize bickering was inappropriate. The two locked eyes, and Pei Chen suddenly deflated. She couldn’t bring herself to resist Liyang. “I won’t argue with you,” she said dejectedly. “On the 8th, I will come find you.”

Minglan and Mingyun covered their ears at the scandalous implication. Liyang pursed her lips and told Pei Chen, “I will send you some more fine steeds.”

Mingyun seized the chance: “Big Sister, I want some too!”

Liyang’s face darkened. “No.”

“You value beauty over your own sister!” Mingyun grumbled.

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