Chapter 20

Nianxi walked back in a daze.

Xing Yue said, “Miss, you’ve been gone too long. Madam has urged several times. Master and Young Master have returned, and the main courtyard has already set the table.”

In the Wen residence, the family typically dined together. Unless someone felt unwell, meals were never taken in their courtyards.

Nianxi nodded absentmindedly. Under the tree earlier, she had spent a long time unraveling all the inconsistencies—

Gu Ci and Pei Jian were clearly friends. With Gu Ci’s exceptional character and charm, few in the capital could compare. Yet in her past life, until her death, she had never seen or heard of Gu Ci.

And Duke Zhen’s family. For a household so distinguished and noble, during her years as the prime minister’s wife, she had never once interacted with them.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t suspected anything. But the concept of reincarnation itself felt like a dream—Zhuang Zhou dreaming of being a butterfly. Who could definitively say what was real and what was not?

Perhaps it was a lapse in memory. In her past life, she had been entirely focused on Pei Jian, paying little attention to the outside world. But what if she hadn’t remembered incorrectly?

Pei Jian wasn’t the type to speak recklessly. Even she had to admit that Pei Jian was exceptionally stable and reliable when it came to important matters. Especially regarding events yet to come—he had no reason to lie to someone as unrelated to him as she was. This left only one possibility—Pei Jian had already experienced these events once before.

He, too, had been reincarnated. That’s why his tone was so resolute.

Nianxi’s breathing quickened.

Gu Ci, still carrying the bright and untamed spirit of youth, was about to face a major upheaval in his life. He would have to take on the heavy responsibility of his family, traveling alone to the northern frontier, never to return in this lifetime.

Just fifteen minutes ago, she had planned to distance herself from Gu Ci because of the engagement. But now, knowing the path ahead for this man was so heavy and difficult, her heart was filled with an overwhelming emotion. She couldn’t tell if it was pity, guilt, sadness, or helplessness.

Pei Jian had spoken a harsh truth. If that day ever came, she knew she could never leave her parents and family behind to follow Gu Ci to the northern frontier.

She was a selfish person. In love, she weighed the pros and cons, treating Gu Ci as a remedy for her heartache. She indulged herself, even tempting Gu Ci into loving her while being stingy with her own sincerity.

She was more aware of this than anyone else. She was using Gu Ci but was unwilling to give him her heart in return.

Lost in thought, Nianxi walked back to the main courtyard in silence.

The voices of her parents and brother drifted through the air—

“Why isn’t she here yet? The food’s getting cold. That girl! She disappears when you start talking about serious matters, leaving the whole family waiting for her.”

“With this heat, it’s better if the food cools down a bit before eating. When Nian’er gets here, don’t scold her,” her mother added.

“That’s right, Mother. Besides, we’re not exactly starving…”

Madam Li chuckled in exasperation at her overprotective husband and son. “You spoil her too much. When she marries into her husband’s family someday, if she still behaves this way, she’ll suffer for it.”

Wen Yuanqiao and Wen Qingheng couldn’t bear hearing such remarks about Nianxi facing hardship. Both frowned and said nothing.

With his sharp eyes, Wen Qingheng spotted Nianxi standing at the doorway. He quickly waved her over. “Sister, come quickly! The kitchen made your favorite Eight-Treasure Duck today.”

Nianxi walked in and joined the family at the dining table.

The Wen family didn’t strictly adhere to rules about silence during meals. Father Wen and Wen Qingheng discussed potential essay topics for tomorrow’s examination and current political events at the table. Seeing Nianxi’s distracted demeanor, Madam Li asked, “No appetite?”

Her eating resembled counting grains of rice one by one.

Hearing this, the Wen father and son paused their conversation. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“You don’t look too good either,” Father Wen added.

With the entire family’s eyes on her, Nianxi calmed her thoughts and forced a smile. “I’m just a little tired. The steps in front of Sanqing Temple are so high.”

Surrounded by her family’s concern and care, she couldn’t help but think of Gu Ci’s family. Nianxi had never met Gu Ci’s two elder brothers, though she often heard him talk about their childhood.

Gu Ci’s two brothers had gone to the northern frontier for training once they turned fifteen. Whenever Gu Ci mentioned them, he did so with deep admiration.

Gu Ci had said, “Outsiders only see the prestige of Duke Zhen’s household. But this honor was forged through generations of the Gu family’s sons, who fought and bled to guard the northern frontier. Now, this heavy responsibility rests on my two brothers’ shoulders.”

Feeling that the father and son were overly talkative, Madam Li addressed Nianxi, “If you’re tired, don’t push yourself. Go back to your room and rest. I’ll have the kitchen prepare a bowl of bird’s nest porridge and send it to you later.”

“If there’s anything else you’d like to eat, just let your brother know,” Wen Qingheng added as Nianxi was about to leave.

…

Nianxi sat alone at her dressing table, lost in thought. Since her rebirth, she had developed a new habit—looking at herself in the mirror.

It had to be said that age never lied. Life experiences left their marks on one’s face.

At twenty-eight, though Nianxi had lived a life of privilege, she often carried a melancholic air. Her figure was as slender as bamboo, her complexion pale as white silk and faint lines had already appeared between her brows. It was a stark contrast to her fifteen-year-old self, brimming with vitality. Her face was like a freshly peeled egg—flawlessly beautiful.

Indeed, youth was a blessing.

Nianxi had initially approached her rebirth with a playful mindset, treating each day as a bonus and thinking that this dreamlike experience could shatter at any moment. But now her perspective had shifted. Especially after reencountering Pei Jian, she realized she wanted to take life more seriously and begin planning her future earnestly. Because the life she now lived felt tangible and real, filled with the presence of her parents, her brother, friends, and someone who loved her.

Nianxi had thought she alone was given this chance at rebirth, but unexpectedly, Pei Jian had also been reborn. Had he also died unjustly?

Since her return, Nianxi had been avoiding one crucial question—Who was responsible for her death in her previous life?

She hadn’t made any enemies. In her final years, she had even grown weary of socializing and largely avoided attending gatherings. Mainly because whenever she did, she would inevitably run into Xu Wanxin.

It wasn’t Xu Wanxin’s fault that her husband harbored feelings for another woman. But Nianxi often, intentionally or otherwise, ended up overhearing or seeing things from her cousin that revealed too much about her husband.

For instance, Xu Wanxin’s favorite color was lake green. On many important occasions, she would wear dresses in this shade. Once, when Marchioness Yongyi asked her why, Xu Wanxin had replied, “An old friend adored this color. He said I looked best in it, vibrant like spring.”

The already ambiguous remark and the emotional look on Xu Wanxin’s face left the Marchioness visibly uncomfortable. She glanced awkwardly at Nianxi, who was standing behind her, and refrained from asking further.

On another occasion, Pei Jian’s jade fan pendant was seen adorned with pearls and gemstones, repurposed as a jade waist ornament hanging from Xu Wanxin’s belt.

Occurrences like these piled up. Nianxi began to feel that Xu Wanxin was deliberately showing these things to her. Yet, every time, she couldn’t help but feel humiliated and hurt.

Her love and marriage to Pei Jian felt like a cruel joke.

Looking at the youthful and radiant girl in the mirror, Nianxi was struck by a chilling thought: Would Pei Jian kill her for Xu Wanxin?