Chapter 5 Is Rebirth Just a Joke?

An hour later.

Dou Wenyi changed her clothes, wrung out her hair, and took Zhang Cheng'an, who had almost drowned, to the Zhang residence.

Upon hearing what had happened, Zhang Chengxian rushed out to greet him. After confirming that his younger brother was unharmed, he ordered the wet nurse to take him away.

Zhang Chengxian had long eyebrows and a straight nose, and a sharp and edgy air about him. He was a notorious playboy in the capital, with an eccentric personality, clear likes and dislikes, and a vengeful nature.

To be fair, they had quite a few grudges; she had even once held a dagger to his neck.

This time, he had at least saved her life, so he shouldn't be frivolous with her.

As expected, Zhang Chengxian got straight to the point, "Dou Wenyi, my Zhang family owes you a life. If you need it, just ask."

Dou Wenyi snapped out of her thoughts and smiled gently, "Young Master Zhang, you flatter me. It was just a small matter."

Zhang Chengxian suddenly froze.

She had red lips and white teeth, and her eyes were like pools of water. Her face, without any makeup, looked bright and beautiful. She was simply too beautiful.

The lake behind is deep and has undercurrents. Even an adult man who can swim might not have the courage to risk his life to save her. It is truly remarkable that a woman would dare to risk her life to save someone.

"Dou Wenyi, it's been years, and you're still as boring as ever. Tell me, what do you want? I don't want to owe you anything!" Zhang Chengxian picked up his teacup and lazily took a sip.

Dou Wenyi stopped being polite and asked, "I heard that the Imperial Kitchen is recruiting female servants. Could you get me a spot in the preliminary examination?"

Zhang Chengxian nearly spat out his tea, his jaw dropping in astonishment. "The Dou family can't afford to support you anymore? They want you to go to the palace as a servant? Or do you want to go to the palace and become a concubine?!"

"No, I want to be a physician. The Imperial Kitchen's initial screening will involve selecting women based on their chastity..."

"Stop! How could you..."

Zhang Chengxian's ears turned bright red. How could a delicate noblewoman like her dare to discuss such matters with a stranger like him?

"Regarding the temple... I need an opportunity to prove my innocence," Dou Wenyi said frankly.

Zhang Chengxian had been keeping a close eye on the Dou family's movements, never expecting that the Dou family could stir up such a trivial matter into such a huge uproar.

He picked at his ear. "Your fiancé doesn't care? I always said Xie Guidu is a heartless bastard. You treat him like a treasure every day. Don't you want to call off that lousy engagement?"

“Indeed, it should be withdrawn.” Dou Wenyi smiled faintly.

In her previous life, she hated Zhang Chengxian, mainly because he always spoke ill of Xie Guidu in her ear.

Looking back now, he hadn't actually done anything to harm himself; on the contrary, it was Xie Guidu...

"I'll pass on a message to your aunt for you. You can go back and wait for news." Zhang Chengxian readily agreed.

“These cherries are for you. If the young master wants some in the future, just tell him to come find me. Don’t climb the tree anymore,” Dou Wenyi said, pointing to the basket on the table.

After saying that, she got up, took her leave, and departed.

Zhang Chengxian gulped down several mouthfuls of tea, his mind filled with the thought: she wanted to break off the engagement.

He didn't even notice a figure suddenly appear and sit down opposite him.

"Your eyes are glued to her, you've fallen for her?" Pei Siyan's face was pale, and his voice was nonchalant.

He wore a dark brocade robe with gold thread embroidered with exquisite animal patterns. His handsome face had sharp features, but his expression was cold, and his deep black eyes concealed a hint of ruthlessness.

Zhang Chengxian's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly glanced around. "My lord, what are you doing out here? Prince Rui's men are still searching for assassins!"

The Empress died young, and Consort Zhang was like a sister to her, always looking out for the Crown Prince. Although they were not brothers, they were closer than blood brothers.

Pei Siyan, as the crown prince, should have inherited the throne, but Emperor Muzong became increasingly incompetent, favoring Consort Tan and showing bias towards Prince Rui, causing chaos in the court.

During this period, the Crown Prince should have stayed in Jiangzhe to supervise the salt inspection, but he finished his business early and secretly returned to Tianning City day and night. In a brothel, he took advantage of Prince Rui's unpreparedness and stabbed him in the back.

"It's only polite to return the favor, it's a pity he didn't die, he got off easy!" Pei Siyan sneered.

The last time he was chased and seriously injured, including his eyes, it was Prince Rui who did it.

"who is she?"

Zhang Chengxian had no way to deal with him and said helplessly, "Dou Bochang's daughter, Miss Dou, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, oh dear, she's the Crown Princess's sister, your sister-in-law, don't you recognize her?"

"Sister-in-law?" Pei Siyan raised his hand and touched his wrist, where there was a faint teeth mark. "Why should I know her? If you like her, why don't you snatch her away? Coward!"

Zhang Chengxian's face was a mix of emotions. "I didn't..."

"No, how could she hold a dagger to your neck? We both studied under Zong Rui, I know your skills." Pei Siyan said with disdain.

“She was ruthless to begin with…” Zhang Chengxian swallowed hard.

He was a playboy, but not a fool. "I'm not the top scholar, and I'm terrible at literature, so she wouldn't even look at me."

"Useless!" Pei Siyan was exasperated and wanted to curse him, but his head was throbbing with pain.

"Damn, this head!"

This is his chronic ailment, and the local physicians can't cure it at all.

"I'll send someone to get the medicine." Zhang Chengxian was extremely anxious and turned to leave.

——

Dou Wenyi was halfway there when she realized that she hadn't made things clear with Zhang Chengxian.

She wasn't really going to enter the palace; it was just a formality. What if Zhang Chengxian pulled strings and got her in? Wouldn't she have to spend her whole life in the palace?

She followed her memory to Zhang Chengxian's study.

With a creak, Dou Wenlianyi pushed open the door and entered, "Zhang Chengxian—"

The room was dimly lit, and a strange fragrance wafted into the air. The man who was leaning over the table suddenly looked up, and a face as pale as snow came into view.

His bright red lips had a bewitching color, exactly like the symptoms of someone who had taken Five-Stone Powder!

"ah--"

Before she could even see how he moved, the man had grabbed her from behind, a large hand pressing firmly against her lips.

"Fourth Miss, you're such a persistent ghost, do you have a death wish?"

Dou Wenyi trembled slightly; that voice…

He was the thug who kidnapped her that day!

Pei Siyan raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face. "What, you want to bite me again?"

That day at the temple, he covered her lips, and she bit his wrist. Finding it in the way, he simply knocked her unconscious.

His gentle tone made Dou Wenyi feel a strange sense of pampering.

No, it's not about spoiling; more accurately, it's about having the ease to control life and death when teasing prey.

Dou Wenyi's long eyelashes trembled, and she dared not make a move.

Who is this person who acts so recklessly and disregards human life?

Pei Siyan glanced at the peonies blooming outside the house and asked, "I've heard that flowers nourished by corpses are even more beautiful. Where would you like to be buried after you die, Fourth Miss?"

Dou Wenyi tried hard to control her trembling.

She remembered him; he was Pei Siyan, the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou!

Even if a spoiled brat were to use Five-Stone Powder, he might only die young. But he is the crown prince, the foundation of the nation. If his political enemies were to discover this weakness, it would surely lead to a bloodbath.

She even managed to uncover such a secret; no wonder he was tempted to kill her.

Heavens above!

Could it be that her rebirth was just a joke?

She just wanted to see the despicable side of this crazy prince, and now she's going to meet the King of Hell?