Rebirth of the Crown Princess as the Unrivaled

  "Bang—"

  In the backyard, a clear sound of falling water rose, splashing water flowers and startling a lake of waterfowl.

  "What a gentle and virtuous young mistress of the Wan family, what a third-rank imperial lady! Pei Yuangong stood on the shore, looking down at Pei Yuange in the water with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Look now, how can you be so disheveled and unattractive? It's really heartbreaking!"

  "Why?" Pei Yuange struggled to float up to the surface, and as soon as he opened his mouth, the murky lake water rushed in.

  It's said that Third Sister and her husband had a falling out, but she didn't care about her frail body after just giving birth, suppressing the pain of losing her child to come comfort her. Moreover, fearing it would pierce Third Sister's eyes, she repeatedly chose plain and elegant clothes, not even wearing a single piece of gold jewelry. With such meticulous care and concern, how could she have expected to be pushed into the lake by Pei Yuanrong?

  "Why?" Pei Yuanyong gazed down at Pei Yuange in the water, whose hair was disheveled and stuck to her pale face, looking extremely wretched. She felt a great sense of pleasure in her heart and let out a series of giggles. "Of course it's because you're standing in my way, so you must die! If you don't die, how can I become the legitimate young mistress of the Wan Manor and the third-rank lady of the imperial court? You were delighted to see me leave, weren't you? Did you want to come before me and show off? But do you know why the Li family was sued? Why did I divorce?"

  Pai Yuansong's heart was shrouded in a layer of gloom, but he still gritted his teeth and asked: "Why?"

  The voice trembled with cold, unsure whether it was due to the chill or the fear in his heart - the fear of an unknown answer.

  "Because," Pei Yuanyong's smile deepened, and she looked even more pleased with herself. Finally, one day, she could see Pei Yuange, the legitimate daughter, in such a miserable state. Finally, one day, as a concubine-born daughter, she could seize everything that belonged to Pei Yuange, including her life. How could she not be pleased? Thinking of this, Pei Yuanyong's eyes shone even brighter, and with the most gentle and affectionate tone, she slowly said, "I'm pregnant, it's Guan Lang's, your brother-in-law, the third-rank cavalry general Wan Guanxiao!"

  "Nonsense!"

  Pei Yuange's angry voice scolded, and as soon as she opened her mouth, the turbid lake water surged in, causing her to cough repeatedly. Her pale face suddenly turned bright red. Her husband had always been respectful and considerate towards her, how could he...

  "Don't believe me? Then take a look at this!" Pei Yuangong slowly took out an exquisite silk pouch from her bosom, and then slowly pulled out a transparent jade bangle. She was savoring the process, so every movement was slow, and each expression on her face was clear. "You should recognize this jade bangle that has been passed down through generations of the Wan family? Only given to the legitimate wife! Guess why it's in my hands? And this sachet, you can't not recognize it, right?"

  Pei Yuansong was like a thunderclap on top of his head, and his mind was almost blown into a blank slate.

  How could she not recognize it? It was the one she had embroidered with her own hands and personally given to Wan Guanxiao, asking him to keep this jade bangle. At that time, he said: "Yuange, let me take care of this bangle first! This is a bangle passed down to the legitimate wife of the Wan family, when I see it, it's like seeing you! I will put it in my sachet and carry it with me, just like you are by my side!"

  The words are still in my ears, but the sachet and bangles have already been on another woman's hands.

  And that woman was her own sister!

  "You——" Pei Yuange was stunned, and for a moment she even forgot to struggle, sinking heavily into the water. Countless amounts of water poured in through her eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, making it hard for her to breathe. Suddenly, she began thrashing about like a madwoman, desperately trying to reach the surface, desperate to grasp at any chance of survival.

  In the chaos, her hand seemed to have touched the edge of the lake, she clung to it desperately, broke through the water surface, and barely hung on the slippery lakeside.

  "You think you can kill me and become the young mistress of the Wan family? Even if you have a private relationship with my husband, I am his first wife. Today, I came to visit you, and he knows about it too. If something happens to me here, do you think you can escape responsibility? Even if Auntie finds out, she won't let you off!" Pei Yuange glared at Pei Yuanrong with anger, her words sharp as a knife.

  "You didn't think about it, who told you the news that I was in this other courtyard and let you come to visit me?" Pei Yuanyong didn't show any surprise at all, but instead became even more pleased with himself. He leaned down, looking at Pei Yuange, speaking softly and gently, like a lover's whisper, "It was Guan Lang who wanted you dead, otherwise how would I dare to take action?" The embroidered shoe took another step forward, putting all its weight on Pei Yuange's slender hand that was trying to save her life, trampling it heavily while also twisting his right foot.

  "What...what did you say?" Pei Yuange looked at Pei Yuanrong in disbelief, not even noticing the pain in his hand.

  Husband... he... does he want her dead?!

  At first, she was the only legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion, while Guan Xiao was just a small Jinshi. She brought 124 sedan chairs as her dowry and married into the Guan family with great fanfare. She was filial to her parents-in-law, considerate of her husband, took care of her younger sister-in-law, managed household chores, and everyone praised her for being gentle, virtuous and talented. In just four short years, Guan Xiao rose from a Jinshi to a third-rank general, while the Wan family transformed from an unknown household in Jiangnan to the largest merchant family in Jiangnan, becoming both wealthy and noble. How much effort did she put into this?

  However, she never became arrogant because of this. When Wan Guanxiao was working in the capital, she managed the household in Jiangnan, was filial to her parents-in-law, and even endured heartache to take in three concubines for him, sending them to the capital to serve him.

  Four years, day after day, she was gentle and considerate towards him, meticulous in every detail, but he... actually wanted to kill her!

  "Do you think Guan Lang really loves you? He's just taken a liking to your status as the legitimate daughter! Do you still think the cancellation of the engagement with the Town National Duke's household was a coincidence? As for my mother..." Looking at Pei Yuansong, who was shocked and hurt, Pei Yuanrong felt extremely pleased, as if the dissatisfaction and resentment that had been building up over the years were all resolved in this moment. Her smile was sharp as a knife. "Your lowly, short-lived birth mother was killed by my own mother's hands. Tell me, would my mother truly care about you? Cutting off flesh to cure illness, humph! Only a fool like you would believe that!"

  Pei Yuange's pupils suddenly contracted, and his pale lips were bitten almost to the point of bleeding.

  Her mother... was actually killed by Zhang Yiniang! At the beginning, it was also Zhang Yiniang and Wan Guanxiao who collaborated to design her failed engagement in the capital, which made her lose face completely! Her whole life was ruined by these two people! Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her mind, Pei Yuange's eyes blazed like fire as she raised her head: "My child..."

  "You're not that stupid, how could Guan Lang want your child? Besides, how would I allow your child to be above my own?" Pei Yuanyong stroked his belly, where the flesh and blood destined to enjoy boundless glory were growing, and smiled brightly. "Originally, I was thinking of taking advantage of the childbirth to get rid of both of you at once, but unexpectedly you had a big life, and actually managed to survive. No choice, so I'll take action myself!"

  Ruined her mother! Ruined her life! Killed her child!

  Pai Yuange only felt the anger and pain in her chest almost bursting, suddenly she didn't know where the strength came from, she grabbed Pai Yuanrong's foot which was near at hand, and dragged it into the water with all her might. Even if she had to die, she would take Pai Yuanrong down with her!

  "Ah——" Bae Won-yong didn't expect Bae Won-ka to suddenly attack, and he panicked for a moment, shouting in a shrill voice, "Someone! Save me!"

  "Miss, what's wrong? Miss!"

  Just then, Pei Yuange's wet nurse, Gui, and maidservants Bai Wei and Bai Ji's anxious voices came from the doorway. It was only then that Pei Yuange remembered she had brought people with her. Presumably they had heard the commotion in the garden and rushed over. Saved by a hair's breadth, Pei Yuange almost wept with joy. With them here, she wouldn't die unjustly. If she could survive this, she would never let go of these people who plotted against her!

  However--

  "Gui... Bai Wei? Bai..." The last word "Gui" was almost shouted out by Pei Yuange, she stared wide-eyed as the three familiar figures pried open her fingers one by one, because she held on tight, and even had four of her fingers broken off. Then, they pushed her into the lake with all their might, constantly comforting the frightened Pei Yuanrong...

  This time, she didn't ask why anymore.

  Isn't all this clear enough before your eyes? Gu Yuzhi, Bai Wei and Bai Zhi, their young mistress, isn't her!

  "Hahahahaha——"

  Looking at the absurdity in front of him, which was almost unreal, Pei Yuange suddenly burst out laughing. His voice was originally very low, slowly rising to a high pitch, finally becoming sharp and piercing, filled with resentment and hatred, unwillingness and curses, making those who heard it tremble with fear.

  It's all fake, everything is fake!

  From a young age, she took care of her nurse and maid, loved her aunt, straightforwardly and intimately with her third sister, gently entwined with her husband, prosperous and glorious, but in the end, it was all just an illusion! Pei Yuange, Pei Yuange, how foolish are you? For twenty years, what kind of self-righteous fantasy have you been living in?

  The laughter grew sharper and sharper, until she slowly seeped out fresh blood from her seven orifices, spreading across her pale and resentful face, with eyes burning like flames, looking like a fierce ghost from the underworld, staring fixedly at the people on the shore. Finally, exhausted of energy, she slowly sank into the water, her black hair scattering open, the bright red bloodstains slowly floating to the surface of the water, layer by layer, dyeing it crimson, the scene was desolate and cruel.

  Until her death, she kept her eyes open, staring in the direction of the shore.

  She stared intently at the person in front of her, she had to remember everything that happened today, every word she heard, not a single detail could be forgotten, forever remembered, absolutely, absolutely cannot let these people go!

  If there is an afterlife...

  Even if she enters the underworld and becomes a fierce ghost, never to be reborn for eternity... She will still drag these people down to hell with her!

  The setting sun slants westward, casting a layer of crimson twilight over this secluded courtyard...