My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

Wang has also had a rough couple of months, her mood has been on and off.

It should have been a good thing for her daughter to marry into the Eastern Palace and become the Crown Prince's wife, but who could have known that the Crown Prince would choose not her daughter, but the concubine's daughter from the second wife's side.

Aside from her alluring face, she had nothing else to offer. Her parents were lowly merchants, so what did they have to compete with her daughter for?

If it were just a matter of liking someone, that would be fine. It's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, let alone someone who will become emperor in the future. With three thousand beauties in the harem, having an extra Wei Nanxun wouldn't be a problem.

Despite her disgust, Wang coaxed her daughter and decided to let it go by marrying the man into the family as well.

Her daughter is the Crown Princess and is pregnant with the Emperor's eldest grandson, so it wouldn't be difficult for her to control Wei Nanxun, her concubine.

But to everyone's surprise, Wei Nanxun actually escaped.

Entering the Eastern Palace is something other women would rather die for, not to mention the Crown Prince is so handsome and dashing. If you asked any of the many unmarried women in the Wei family, they would all want to enter the palace.

But her abilities are unique and different from others.

They escaped, which is actually a good thing for them, mother and son.

But she underestimated Wei Nanxun's importance in the Crown Prince's eyes. She would never forget the look in the Crown Prince's eyes when he stared at her, a look filled with murderous intent.

She was certain that if she hadn't been the wife of the Wei family, she might really have died.

The Crown Prince's dislike for her was so blatant that he even went so far as to arrange for someone to take his place on his wedding day.

She was truly afraid, and even more afraid that her daughter would be mistreated in the Eastern Palace, so she had no choice but to send people to search high and low for that vile woman.

During these days of searching, she was thinking about finding her as soon as possible so that the Crown Prince would treat Wei Mingzhao better, while at the same time she also hoped that she would die out there and never be found again.

Just as he was tossing and turning, Wei Nanxun appeared; he had come back on his own.

She was starting to suspect that this vile woman didn't actually want to escape, but was just using a feigned retreat to lure the Crown Prince away.

Therefore, as soon as they heard that she was back, they couldn't sit still any longer. They didn't even care that they were elders, and they came over with their families.

When they met, they saw that apart from a little worry and fatigue, Wei Nanxun's face showed no signs of the hardships she had endured. Not only had she not become uglier, but her features even looked more delicate and three-dimensional, and her eyebrows and eyes were more charming and feminine.

And her clothes and appearance were not like someone who had run away from home and looked disheveled; on the contrary, they were fresh and elegant, which was refreshing.

This further convinced Wang that this vile woman had no good intentions, and that her so-called escape might just be part of her plan to win favor.

It was her poor daughter who was too naive and actually believed her lies.

Thinking this, Wang's expression became less friendly.

She might spare that wretched woman out of consideration for the Crown Prince, but she still had to get her revenge.

“Xun’er, you’re finally back. You have no idea how worried your uncle and I have been these past few days. Your grandmother was so scared when she found out you were missing that she almost fainted and couldn’t eat or sleep properly for days.”

Wei Nanxun forced a dry laugh. In her past life, she might have believed such nonsense. Now, she only found it laughable.

"It is my fault for being unfilial and causing my elders to worry."

"You too, why did you run away from home all of a sudden? But what have I done wrong as your aunt?"

Wei Nanxun's smile vanished instantly. To be honest, she didn't care that much about her reputation.

Having been given a second chance at life, nothing is more important than living freely. She doesn't even need to get married, so what does fame matter to her?

But her father had to live a good life, and her younger brother would have to get married in the future. She didn't want them to be gossiped about behind their backs because of her.

More importantly, she didn't want to be lectured by people like Wang.

If it weren't for Wang colluding with Pei Yuyan to sell her as a concubine and imprison her in her own courtyard, she wouldn't have had to run away.

Now they're acting like an elder, showing concern for her running away from home. It's ridiculous.

The room wasn't just occupied by these few mistresses; all the maids and servants were listening intently.

Wang's words were so vague and suggestive that if she were to admit to running away from home, she was certain that by tomorrow the entire Weifu would be spreading the word that she had eloped with a man.

Even Wei Heyu, a young man who usually only knew how to study, sensed something was off about what Wang Shi said: "My elder sister didn't run away from home..."

Wei Nanxun patted his hand reassuringly, looked straight into Wang's eyes, and smiled, "Auntie, you really are a person of high status who has a bad memory. I caught a cold earlier and my body was covered with rashes. It was because you were afraid that I would infect others in the mansion that you had someone send me to another courtyard to recuperate."

"You mean well, but the servants are awful. They just left me and Zhixia there and walked away."

"The villa had been abandoned for a long time, with no food or medicine. Fortunately, Zhixia's condition was milder, so she used her savings of many years to carry me to town to find a doctor."

"It was my fate to die, and I actually met a wandering miracle doctor. After several months of recuperation, I was able to get out of bed not long ago. Look, the rash on my face has all gone away."

Whether others believed it or not is another matter, but Wei Heyu truly believed it. His face, which was still pale from illness, immediately turned red with anger: "Sister, you've suffered so much."

She looked at Madam Wang with a mixture of grievance and resentment: "Aunt, you can cut back on my food and clothing, you can treat me harshly, but why do you have to torment my sister like this? My father is away doing business all year round, does our Wei family not even have enough money to hire a doctor?"

In Wang's memory, her second niece was the most timid and fearful, always shrinking to the back of the crowd without making a sound.

She thought that manipulating such a person would be an easy task.

Unexpectedly, this silent dog bit people.

Wang felt several gazes fixed on her, and her face flushed instantly.

She has been in charge of the Wei family for so many years, and everyone says she manages the household well. If word gets out, what will become of her reputation?

"Such a thing has happened. My good child, you have really suffered. It must be that old woman Wang, who is outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. When she sent Xun'er out of the manor, she thought that the comings and goings of people in the manor would disturb her illness. I specifically instructed old woman Wang to accompany her and take care of her. Doctors and servants have all been arranged."

"She must have embezzled the money I gave her and gone off to have some fun somewhere. When she couldn't find her, she told me that you had run away from home. It's all my fault, Auntie. I was deceived by that wicked servant and made you suffer so much."

"Come here, drag Wang Po away, give her thirty lashes, and then kick her out of the mansion."

If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. Wang really hugged her, both comforting her and scolding Wang Pozi.

In her heart, she had already cursed Wei Nanxun a thousand times over. This old woman, Wang, was her personal maid, one of the few extremely caring and trustworthy people in the mansion.

It was precisely because this matter was private that Wang Pozi was personally sent to handle it.

Now, things have turned out badly. Wei Nanxun failed to grasp the situation and instead lost the people around her.

Just as Madam Wang was feeling simmering with anger, she heard the young girl opposite her speak softly and weakly again: "Thank you, Auntie. By the way, there's something else. Why do all the servants in my courtyard look so unfamiliar? Where have all the maids I used to work for disappeared?"

"I've been away from home for so many days, I almost thought I'd come to the wrong place."

Wei Heyu chimed in at the opportune moment, "Sister is right. I almost mistook the house when I came back from the academy."

The young man was gentle by nature, but that didn't mean he was without temper. He couldn't help but say, "Anyone who didn't know better would think that our second branch of the family had no one left, and that the West Garden had become the domain of the first branch."

Having managed the household affairs for so many years, Wang knew all too well that with so many mouths to feed in the Wei family, her husband's meager monthly salary was simply not enough.

She naturally wanted to save her own money for her son's wedding; how could she possibly use it for public purposes?

The Wei family's prosperity and prestige are largely thanks to the Second Master, Wei Rongde. Although his business dealings are not respectable, without his annual shipment of silver to the mansion, the entire family would have been starving long ago.

Therefore, it was agreed long ago that the second wife would manage the West Garden herself, and all her food, clothing and daily necessities would not be paid from the public account.

Even though the second brother's wife died young, the second master's steward was in charge of taking care of her.

Even though she had always coveted the Xiyuan warehouse, she couldn't reach that far, and this incident wasn't her idea either.

It was Wei Nanxun, whom the Crown Prince wanted to imprison, who detained everyone in the West Garden. She then took the opportunity to replace everyone inside and outside the garden with her own.

Even if she had some selfish motives, she wouldn't have time to do anything yet. If word got out that she was taking advantage of her second son's absence to bully the siblings and try to seize the second son's family business, she would have no recourse.

Madam Wang chuckled twice: "Yu-ge'er, you wouldn't dare to talk nonsense. Don't you know what kind of person your aunt is? I am the matriarch of the Wei family and I manage the Wei family. It's just that since you are all not at home, and there seem to be some slackers and lazy servants in the West Garden, I had someone give them a heads-up."

"Since you and your siblings are both at home, it's more to your liking for the elders to take care of you. Just have them come back in a bit."

What bad luck! She came here to deflate this little brat's arrogance, but instead, she ended up getting humiliated herself.

Looking at the brother and sister again, Wang found one shrewd and the other foolish, their coordinated actions creating a perfectly synchronized attack that disgusted her so much that she couldn't stand it for even a moment longer and hurriedly got up and left.

Zhixia was very perceptive; she went out to see the guest off and closed the door behind her.

With no one in the way, the siblings were finally able to have a proper chat.

Wei Nanxun didn't want her younger brother to worry, but he was eleven years old this year and no longer a child who could be easily fooled.

With Wang Shi's commotion, she no longer concealed the truth, omitting her past with Pei Ji and only saying that her aunt wanted her to become Pei Yuyan's concubine.

Wei Heyu initially thought that her sister was just being bullied because she was sick and had no one to take care of her. However, when she suddenly learned that the Crown Prince was involved, she subconsciously fell silent.

"Won't you think I'm ungrateful?"

When Wei Nanxun saw that he didn't speak, she couldn't help but hesitate. After all, the Crown Prince's status in the hearts of scholars was different. Before she met the Crown Prince in her previous life, her younger brother had spoken well of him, showing admiration and respect.

"How could that be! Although I think the Crown Prince is very good, humble and knowledgeable, he is just a role model for me to learn from and admire. He can't be my brother-in-law. If you want to marry my sister, you must at least be like Father, only loving Mother and having no concubines or maids."

“I was just thinking that the Crown Prince holds a high position and great power. If he were a gentleman, that would be fine, but he has clearly not acted like one. I’m afraid he will soon come up with another trick, and my uncle and aunt will definitely choose to sacrifice my sister. We should make plans as soon as possible.”

Wei Nanxun felt a warmth in her heart. He really was her brother. He shared the same thoughts as her, and what he said reflected her concerns.

Especially since Pei Yuyan chased her all the way to Pingzhen, he clearly had no intention of letting her go. She was now at his mercy.

"Sister, let's persuade Father to divide the family property."

Wei Nanxun was suddenly stunned; this was a method she had never considered before.

But upon closer reflection, it makes perfect sense. As long as they are separated from the Wei family, they are just ordinary merchants and don't need to cater to the eldest son's wishes.

Without his aunt's help in committing evil, how could Pei Yuyan still forcibly abduct women?

If he really dares to do that, she can simply go to the Dali Temple to file a complaint with the emperor and see who is more shameless.

"But, will Father agree?"

His father was an illegitimate son in the family and was raised by his grandmother since childhood. He was used to living at the mercy of his stepmother and elder brother, and he was humble and obedient. Otherwise, he would not have been manipulated and used by the Wei family.

His greatest act of rebellion in his life was probably marrying his mother.

"Yes, Father loves my older sister the most. He always tells me to grow up quickly so that I can protect her. If he knew that my older sister had suffered such a great injustice, he would be even angrier than I am."

Thinking of his father, Wei Nanxun smiled sincerely, as if all the frustration and grievances of the past few days had suddenly disappeared.

She is no longer alone; she has family.

"By the way, tell me more carefully, was there anything else strange when you fell?"

Wei Heyu thought for a moment and said, "Only my uncle's twins were there that day. Now that I think about it, it's as if they knew I would pass by and deliberately told me to provoke me into making a move."

Just as she had thought, Pei Yuyan dared not act personally and had to rely on others. He also wanted to maintain the perfect image of the Crown Prince and would never dare to force her to enter the palace in public.

"Oh, right, the person who saved me was quite tall, with dark yellow skin, like a martial artist. I was wondering why a martial artist would come to the academy looking for our teacher, but unfortunately, people surrounded us, and I didn't have a chance to talk to him..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhixia knocked on the door.

"Miss, we have a guest."

Wei Nanxun clicked her tongue subconsciously, wondering why this was never going to end: "Come in."

Unexpectedly, as soon as the visitor entered the room, it was Wei Heyu, who was on the bed, who spoke even more eagerly than she did: "Yes, benefactor!"

Wei Nanxun looked at the man; he was tall and burly, with yellowish-black skin, and looked very much like a martial artist…

Is it the wind?!

She had a vague thought before: if Pei Ji had lied to her, and Ji Feng and Ji Yun were also fake, then what was the so-called return to her hometown in Jiangnan might actually be a return to the capital.

Unexpectedly, her guess came true.

He indirectly helped her again.

This person must be doing it on purpose; he's only satisfied when she owes him something.

"Greetings, Miss Wei."

Eloquent and articulate, his speech is impaired—is this what he calls mental impairment? She really believed his lies.

There isn't a single good person among those surnamed Pei; they're all lies, not a single word of it is true.

Wei Nanxun was angry and didn't give Ji Feng a friendly look. She said politely but distantly, "I have nothing to say to your prince. Tell him not to bother. I will not go to see him."

Ji Feng grinned, revealing eight teeth, and said, "Miss Wei, rest assured, our Prince is a man of his word. Since he said he wouldn't bother you recently, he will keep his promise."

"He came to deliver this to you not because he intended to upset you, but because you left something behind and our prince asked me to do so."

Wei Nanxun's delicate brows furrowed. What trick was she playing now?

Then Ji Feng handed her a brocade box, which she opened without thinking.

Inside the box was a very familiar and exquisite belt.

Isn't this the belt she lost when they first met?

Wei Nanxun's face flushed red instantly.

That scoundrel!