Rebirth on the Day She Was Poisoned by an Aphrodisiac - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: The Devil

The assassins came with overwhelming force. Duanqing, finding herself outmatched, watched in fury as they closed in on the carriage. She fought desperately to cut them down, but as she reached the vehicle, she discovered an assassin already lying dead on the ground. A dagger was buried in his chest, and the sword in his hand had been snapped into several pieces.

Inside the carriage, Liyang sat upright, her breathing ragged. Her eyes were fixed on Pei Chen, scanning her up and down in disbelief before shifting back to the fallen assassin.

Pei Chen lowered her gaze to her trembling right hand. In that moment of crisis, she had used a clever burst of strength to snap the blade, but her wrist couldn’t withstand the recoil. She used her left hand to steady her shaking right and gave Liyang a small smile. “Your Highness, I told you… I am not a burden.”

Liyang’s face remained expressionless, her eyes like a deep, silent well. A strange, eerie silence settled both inside and outside the carriage.

“Is your hand injured?” Liyang finally found her voice. For a split second during that life-and-death struggle, she felt as though she had sensed the presence of Pei Xi.

But it was gone in an instant. She felt a wave of disappointment, while Pei Chen tightened her grip on Liyang’s hand and chuckled softly, “As long as Your Highness is safe.”

Liyang withdrew her hand and looked toward Duanqing outside the curtain. “What of the assassins?”

“That one is still alive; the blade missed his heart by a few inches. Find a doctor to save him,” Pei Chen said, looking down at Duanqing before adding, “Your defensive capabilities have regressed quite a bit.”

Duanqing felt a surge of guilt. Pei Chen’s voice carried a weight that made one’s heart tremble.

The carriage soon set off again. Duanqing stayed behind to handle the aftermath. Pei Chen suddenly fell silent, closing her eyes in deep thought.

After fifteen minutes of travel, a horse neighed sharply. Pei Chen abruptly lunged forward and pulled Liyang into her arms. Startled, Liyang instinctively clung to her.

Amidst the flash of cold steel, Pei Chen carried Liyang as they leapt from the carriage. The vehicle exploded behind them. They tumbled across the ground for a moment before a swarm of assassins converged upon them.

On the silent street, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The Princess’s guards stepped forward to fight, but they were vastly outnumbered, and the guards fell one by one. Pei Chen pushed herself up from the ground, coughed twice, and shielded Liyang behind her. “Stay behind me. Don’t move.”

As she spoke, an assassin swung a blade at them. Pei Chen kicked a sword up from the ground, caught it mid-air, and charged forward like a bolt of lightning.

“Pei Chen!” Liyang cried out in terror.

The only response was the ring of clashing steel. Liyang watched in a daze as the figure darted between the black-clad men. It turned out that a person’s skill had nothing to do with their illness.

Pei Chen was weak, yet she could shoulder such a burden.

The Princess’s guards continued to fall. The sword in Pei Chen’s hand turned crimson; blood seeped through her fingers. Liyang held her breath, her heart in her throat as she watched the youth.

Pei Chen felt no fear; instead, she felt a strange sense of gratification. The sight of blood served as a wake-up call—a reminder to stay vigilant even in times of peace.

Once the last assassin fell, she snapped out of it. She stared at the blade in her hand—the edge was notched, and it was drenched in gore. Liyang practically sprinted toward her.

“Pei Chen…” Liyang’s lips trembled, her eyes shimmering with tears in the moonlight. Pei Chen smiled at her and promptly dropped the sword. “Just a few assassins. Don’t be afraid.”

Don’t be afraid. This is nothing.

Both of them let out a breath of relief. The sound of hooves echoed from the distance. They turned together, and as they did, Pei Chen instinctively hid Liyang behind her, her gaze turning sharp and vicious.

It was the City Patrol. Upon seeing the corpses littering the ground, the commander was shocked. He dismounted and barked, “Who goes there?”

“I am Princess Liyang.” Liyang stepped out from behind Pei Chen. Tall and composed under the moonlight, she stood in front of Pei Chen. “The assassins are dead, and only now do you appear? The City Patrol truly does a ‘fine’ job.”

The commander immediately knelt to beg for forgiveness. At the same time, Duanqing arrived. Heartbroken at the sight of her fallen subordinates, she hurried to Liyang to confess her failure.

Liyang waved her hand. “Your punishment will be discussed when we return.”

The night was as dark as ink. More than thirty bodies guards and assassins alike lay scattered across the road, the scent of blood overpowering.

The Patrol Commander was speechless. The capital was usually peaceful; they had never seen such a bloodbath. The two survivors looked as if they had walked out of a sea of blood—especially Pei Chen. Her face was pale, she was splattered with gore, and her entire body was soaked in blood, looking like a devil from the depths of hell.

Pei Chen calmly shed her bloodied outer robe and tossed it to Duanqing. She walked to Duanqing’s horse, mounted it in one fluid motion, and looked at Liyang. “Tonight is not safe. I will escort Her Highness home. The Commander will handle the rest.”

The commander bowed and accepted the order.

Liyang looked at Pei Chen. The bloodstains on her pale face were vivid under the torchlight. Liyang slowly reached out her hand, and Pei Chen pulled her onto the horse. They rode back together.

The rest of the journey was peaceful.

The Pact

At the Princess’s manor, Pei Chen jumped down and helped Liyang off the horse. They shared a silent look before Liyang looked away. Pei Chen gave a faint smile.

The manor’s household manager rushed out, astonished. Liyang, ever composed, ordered a bath to be prepared. “The hour is late,” she said to Pei Chen. “Young Master, stay the night. Clean up and get some rest. I will handle the rest.”

Exhausted, Pei Chen didn’t refuse. She glanced at her blood-stained hands and curled them into fists; she felt as though a residual strength still lingered in her body.

Liyang frowned as she watched her. She felt she had picked up a “treasure.” Pei Chen was a bottomless pit—someone she couldn’t see through.

Fortunately, she is not an enemy.

After seeing Pei Chen off, Liyang immediately sought out her advisor, Mr. Huangfu.

Huangfu Yi was a female scholar in her thirties. A maid led her into the Princess’s bedroom. By the time Liyang returned from her bath, Duanqing had arrived as well.

Huangfu Yi was examining a piece of evidence Duanqing had found on an assassin—a token from the underworld. There were many sects; hiring assassins was not unusual. After looking it over, Huangfu Yi shook her head. “Any survivors?”

“One. He is being treated,” Duanqing replied.

“Save him first.” Huangfu Yi turned to Liyang. “What does Your Highness think?”

“Those who try to kill me cannot be left alive. I want the mastermind,” Liyang said.

Huangfu Yi nodded. “Men of the underworld value loyalty; he won’t give up the buyer. Furthermore, those executing the order might not even know who the buyer is. Your Highness might as well have the entire sect destroyed.”

“Duanqing, see to it,” Liyang decided quickly.

The Price of a Wish

Huangfu Yi leaned back slightly, looking at the Princess. “Did Your Highness gain anything tonight?”

“I assume you’ve heard, teacher. Pei Chen held off ten men. Without her, I would be dead. I have decided to go through with the marriage with the Pei family. What do you think?” Liyang’s tone was solemn. She had considered this deeply; based on Pei Chen’s unfathomable skills alone, she wouldn’t be the one losing out.

Huangfu Yi studied the cold, dignified Princess. “Your decision is sound, especially with the Empress Dowager’s support.” She nodded. “However, I feel Young Master Pei is deeper than she appears. Your Highness must not let your guard down.”

Smart people were often devious, especially one like Pei Chen who had hidden her strength for years. Such deep calculation at such a young age was not simple.

“I prefer being with smart people,” Liyang said, relieved. Tonight, she and Pei Chen had walked through a sea of blood together.

Huangfu Yi gave a cold smile. “This matter still requires a decree from the Empress Dowager. The Second Princess’s marriage to the heir of the Marquis of Jinyang has already been set.”

“If Minglan thinks that man is a treasure, let her be happy.” Liyang didn’t have time for her. In her previous life, Minglan hadn’t married him. That heir was a natural predator, a bully. With Minglan’s pride, she would never have shared a man with others.

The two consulted until midnight. In the guest courtyard, Pei Chen was so tired she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and didn’t wake up until Liyang returned from the morning court session.

As she regained consciousness, a wave of soreness and pain tore through her body. She gasped. Liyang helped her up as a doctor entered to take her pulse.

Pei Chen leaned against Liyang, feeling weak. She noted how soft Liyang felt and how fragrant she smelled.

“The Young Master is suffering from extreme fatigue,” the doctor said. “Two or three days of rest will suffice. I’ll prescribe some tonics. Just… don’t exert yourself like that again.”

Pei Chen didn’t quite understand. What did he mean by ‘exerting’ myself?

Liyang helped her lie back down. “I’ve sent word to Lady Gu at the Pei manor. You will rest here for a couple of days.”

“Mhm. Today is the 3rd… Should I wait until after the 8th to leave?” Pei Chen muttered as she drifted off.

Liyang froze instantly and fled the room as if escaping for her life.

Pei Chen: “…” I was just telling the truth. Resting for three days makes it the 5th or 6th. That leaves only the 7th in between. I might as well stay past the 8th. Her math was perfectly sound.

Soon, the pain became too much for her to think. Her body felt as if it were being dismantled, and her wrists were useless. She had truly become a “useless person” again.

After two days in bed, she finally struggled to get up. A maid thoughtfully provided a wheelchair.

Pei Chen stared at the wheelchair for a long time, gave it a glare, and chose to walk out by leaning against the wall. Stepping over the threshold and breathing the fresh air under the eaves felt like a rebirth.

She took two deep breaths, only to see a woman approaching. She narrowed her eyes. It was Huangfu Yi.

The Huangfu Yi who, in my previous life, was pierced by ten thousand arrows.

Pei Chen stood straight. Huangfu Yi approached slowly and bowed. The maids brought over a table and stools. Once they sat down, everyone else withdrew.

Pei Chen sipped her tea elegantly. She looked at the thirty-year-old Huangfu Yi, suppressed her pity, and asked with a smile: “Did Teacher come to find me on behalf of Her Highness?”

“Her Highness went to the Empress to beg for a marriage decree. She was punished and is currently kneeling outside the palace gates.”

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