Volume One, Chapter 6: She Will Make Those People Pay Blood for Blood

Xiao Xuanyu’s face paled in shock. He was so close that he nearly reached out to stop her. The dagger scraped across the webbing of his hand, and bright crimson blood dripped onto Pei Yueshu’s nightgown, resembling blooming red plum blossoms.

“Don’t do anything foolish. I will leave!” he said.

Xiao Xuanyu’s expression darkened, but seeing Pei Yueshu weep so sorrowfully, the fire of anger in his heart slowly died down.

He had been too hasty. Knowing full well her fierce nature and deep feelings for Yu Hechuan, yet he chose this moment to provoke her.

“Consorts who harm themselves commit a grave sin. I promise you, I will not come again before you enter the palace.”

Xiao Xuanyu threw the dagger aside, his words laced with implicit threat. In a stern voice, he called for Hu Guangfu, who stood guard outside.

Hu Guangfu, hearing the tone, knew something was terribly wrong. Seeing the blood on His Majesty’s hand, he felt as if the sky were collapsing.

“Your Majesty! Where are you hurt? I will fetch the imperial physician immediately.”

“Silence. Bring some gauze.”

Hu Guangfu swallowed hard and nodded repeatedly. After confirming the wound was not serious, he swiftly sent someone around the courtyard to find medicine and bandages.

The wound on Xiao Xuanyu’s hand was small but the bleeding would not stop.

He paid it little mind and continued to watch Pei Yueshu’s expression.

At last, she was willing to look at him directly, but her gaze was cold. “I am not your consort.”

“But you agreed, didn’t you?” Xiao Xuanyu smiled with an air of assured victory.

Pei Yueshu’s body trembled slightly, as if deeply wounded.

“Shu’er, my only intention in bringing you to the palace is out of concern. You are still so young; you should not live your life a widow. My feelings for you have long been deep-rooted. Now, I simply want to take you into the palace as my wife.”

“Marry?” Pei Yueshu’s expression turned mocking.

Only the Empress is truly married and welcomed with ceremony. For her, it would be nothing more than taking a concubine.

This so-called deep affection was nothing but a revenge for her father’s refusal to accept the marriage years ago.

Xiao Xuanyu said no more while Hu Guangfu tended to his hand.

Once the blood was cleaned and the wound dressed, he stood before Pei Yueshu and gently lifted her chin.

Looking at that breathtakingly beautiful face, Xiao Xuanyu felt pleased.

“There is already an Empress in the palace. Shu’er, you must settle for being a consort. Tell me, whatever rank you desire, I will grant it.”

As he spoke, Pei Yueshu’s face remained unchanged, but Hu Guangfu’s expression shifted drastically.

Look at this—before even entering the palace, she is already so favored. It seemed a consort unmatched by any other was about to emerge.

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Pei Yueshu stared at him silently, uttering no word.

Xiao Xuanyu was not surprised by her demeanor nor angry; rather, he found it immensely entertaining.

In the palace, women—except for the Empress—regardless of their background, flattered and fawned over him, employing every means to win his favor.

Perhaps others enjoyed this thoroughly, but Xiao Xuanyu did not.

This woman was like a wild horse—only by taming her personally would it be truly interesting.

“Rest assured, I will give you all the dignity you deserve. No woman in the palace will dare look down on you. Take good care of yourself; I will wait for you in the palace.”

Xiao Xuanyu gently pinched her cheek before leaving with Hu Guangfu.

Pei Yueshu’s gaze returned to calmness. She looked down at the blood on her nightgown, a wave of vengeful satisfaction flooding her entire body.

Long after, she summoned someone to help her change clothes.

“Miss, what you asked Qiu Kui to do has already been completed,” Iris supported Pei Yueshu to the bed.

Pei Yueshu nodded and had paper and brush brought to her, on which she wrote several names and brief descriptions.

“Give these to Qiu Kui. She knows what to do.”

“Yes, Miss.”

After she left, the room was again empty except for Pei Yueshu.

Recalling her previous life, having already lost all hope, she only wished the palace consorts would end her misery sooner. She could not bear for the maids and attendants who had followed her since childhood to accompany her into the palace to await death.

Thus, she arranged for them all to go elsewhere, entering the palace alone.

In the end, palace women still sought her out. They dared not take her life but were bold enough to threaten those she cared for.

Pei Yueshu felt foolish—why fight against herself? Those who harmed them were the ones who deserved to die.

After her rebirth, the second thing Pei Yueshu did was to secretly house Qiu Kui in an estate outside the city under the pretense of marriage, bribing trustworthy individuals to act on her behalf.

This time, she vowed to make those people pay their blood debts.

After the Emperor’s visit, the servants who had been gossiping about Mingyue Residence fell silent—they dared not speak out. But Yu Youxin was different.

She tried to barge in to confront Pei Yueshu, to ask if she had some illicit affair with the Emperor before her formal entry into the palace.

But she was intercepted by Pei Yueshu’s dowry maids and thrown out.

“You wretch! Why did my young lady agree to enter the palace for someone like you? Your Duke’s household cannot even protect a daughter-in-law. If my young lady marries into your family, it would be the worst misfortune imaginable!” Pei Yueshu’s wet nurse, Madam Du, scolded, pointing at Yu Youxin’s nose.

---

“You! You vile slave, how dare you insult me? You’re just as worthless as your mistress—both of you are lowborn!” Yu Youxin shot back.

But Madam Du feared no one now, not even Lady Yu, and showed no restraint.

She shoved Yu Youxin to the ground and spat on her harshly.

Yu Youxin, unaccustomed to such filth, broke into tears immediately.

“Wretched woman! You betrayed my brother. I curse you to meet a cruel death in the palace!”

Madam Du worried Pei Yueshu would be upset if she heard this and quickly sent someone to cover Yu Youxin’s mouth, but at that moment Lady Yu’s servants arrived.

Seeing this, they said nothing and silently took Yu Youxin away.

With the Emperor’s personal visit today, the Yu couple understood the extent of Emperor Tianxi’s favor for Pei Yueshu. Naturally, they dared not cause her distress and only hoped she would enter the palace soon so their lord’s official position could be expedited.

As for their dignity—if it were to be lost, it would be that of the Emperor and the Pei family. Their own family was unafraid.

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“Did Xiao Xuanyu touch you?”

That night, Huo Chi did not rush into bed but instead grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

Though Xiao Xuanyu had come quietly during the day, the Huo family’s far-reaching influence meant nothing escaped their notice.

“Jealous, young master?” Pei Yueshu’s lips curved slowly, her enchanting peach blossom eyes fluttering slightly, framed by long, thick lashes that enhanced her allure. Clad in a thin nightgown, her figure was slender yet full in all the right places, her rosy cheeks fairer than snow, her enticing eyes like silk threads.

Huo Chi scoffed from his throat. “Before you enter the palace, don’t let him touch you. I would find it filthy.”

Pei Yueshu’s smile faded. She looked at him silently for a moment before suddenly leaping up to entwine her arms around his neck.

Her red lips lifted in a seductive curve, softly pressing against his.

The alluring fragrance and sweet breath enveloped him. A fire kindled in Huo Chi’s abdomen, a surge of irresistible impulse flooding his heart. Though he had intended to push her away, somehow his hands came to encircle her slender waist.

When it was over, Huo Chi dressed silently and left without a word.

Pei Yueshu did not mind in the least. She caressed her abdomen, fully aware of why Huo Chi had humiliated her so mercilessly.

In this game of power, he considered himself the victor, yet he feared that if she truly bore his child, she might wield the Emperor’s authority to command lords. So he sought to suppress and crush her in advance.

But who would ultimately be defeated remained to be seen. Pei Yueshu eagerly awaited that day.