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

Wei Nanxun never imagined that Pei Ji would be so different from what she had imagined.

Whether it was him as a child who resembled a little girl, or him being told he didn't look like the late emperor, or him refusing to cry even when bleeding.

Each one filled her with curiosity and novelty, while also fueling her desire to explore and a touch of heartache she was unwilling to admit.

It turns out that he wasn't born powerful or high above others; all his current glory and power were earned with his own blood and sweat.

Faced with ***'s statement that he had no ill intentions, Wei Nanxun fell silent for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Undeniably, she had feelings for Pei Ji, perhaps even more than just feelings.

If she were a naive young girl experiencing love for the first time, she would definitely throw herself at him like a moth to a flame, regardless of the consequences.

But she was different. She knew that a man's affection came at a price; he might like her for her looks, but he could also like other women.

I regret teaching my husband and son-in-law to seek the title of marquis.

Moreover, the other party is Pei Ji, the Prince of Su of Great Yan. Just because he doesn't have wives and concubines now doesn't mean he won't in the future. Wasn't Pei Yuyan in the same situation back then? She has already been deeply entangled in the intrigues and power struggles of the Eastern Palace her whole life, and she doesn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

Pei Ji is good in every way, except that his status is too high.

She had already said these words when they parted that day; they were not spoken out of spite, but from the bottom of her heart.

Qi Da is not a suitable match for her; she is not good enough for him.

She didn't want to wait until he stopped liking her next year, and then regret it while she was suffering in the cold palace waiting for him.

"Your Highness, this humble woman..."

She was momentarily at a loss for words to express her unease, fearing she would be perceived as arrogant and ungrateful.

***, however, seemed to see through her struggle at a glance, and straightened up with a smile: "Don't feel pressured. I just told you so much because I feel a connection with you and I was afraid you would make a mistake."

Self-inflicted error?

Wei Nanxun bit down on the two words, not understanding their meaning for a moment.

But he still said sincerely, "Thank you for your words today, Your Highness."

"No need to thank me, thank yourself."

The image of the little girl, disheveled yet with a resolute gaze, appeared before ***'s eyes.

'I am but a concubine's daughter, not of any great value. But even if I am as worthless as grass, I will not allow those people to mistreat me. My only recourse is to remain unmarried for the rest of my life.'

I don't plan to get married either.

When Lingxi spoke, she wondered what kind of woman could utter such bold words.

It was exactly the same thought she had before. Who says a woman has to get married and entrust her whole life to a man?

She was a princess who possessed the world and had such a vision, while she, a mere concubine's daughter, had such ambition, which she admired from the bottom of her heart.

Wei Nanxun, unaware of these things, thought it was because she had saved Pei Ji earlier, so she gave a slight curtsy to thank her for the guidance.

"You're so lovable. If you really don't like my brother, how about you consider my silly son? If you marry into the Northwest, I won't be bored anymore."

Wei Nanxun felt embarrassed and ashamed when she thought that she had actually mistakenly believed that the person who saved her was the Crown Prince of the Northwest. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

This once again caused *** to giggle repeatedly.

When the two returned to Cining Palace, it was already lunchtime.

Now that things have come to this point, even if Empress Dowager Jiang had not initially intended to have Wei Nanxun dine with her, there was no reason for her to turn him away now, so she naturally decided to have him stay and dine with her.

The Empress Dowager and her daughter sat at the head of the table, while Wei Nanxun sat to the left of the Empress Dowager, facing Wei Mingzhao.

Adhering to the principle of not speaking while eating or sleeping, she ate the food on her plate in small bites, trying to minimize her presence.

Inside the hall, only the Empress Dowager and her daughter were speaking, mostly polite words like "try this" and "try that."

Then a eunuch came in, carrying a transparent, narrow-necked bottle.

"What is this?"

"Upon hearing that His Highness was dining with the Empress Dowager here, the Regent specially sought out fine wine to entertain His Highness and the Empress."

*** immediately laughed: "I was just thinking the food was bland, but he knows my temperament. Bring it over quickly."

This was the first time Wei Nanxun had ever seen such a transparent wine pot. The color of the wine inside was clearly visible, making the contents of the pot appear crystal clear and even more fragrant.

*** sniffed the wine in his glass, and just then noticed her gaze. He raised an eyebrow and said, "This is a crystal pot, and the wine inside is a tribute from the Western Regions. Would Miss Wei like to try some?"

Wei Nanxun loved alcohol, and upon hearing this, her mouth watered instantly, but she still remembered the consequences of drinking alcohol on the two previous occasions.

Especially the wine we drank in the palace last time, which almost led to a serious mistake.

Although she was tempted, she shook her head. Before she could even utter a word of refusal, *** had already instructed Lingxi to pour her some wine.

Lingxi had been kind to her, and she and *** had gotten along quite well, so she had no chance to refuse.

The ruby-red liquid poured out from the slender neck of the bottle, immediately filling the air with its rich aroma.

Wei Nanxun was already tempted, and then, enticed by the wine he had never seen before, he lowered his guard a little.

Consort Xian and *** are different; she should be safe in the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace.

"Try it, this wine isn't strong, it tastes especially sweet and mellow. How strong can wine made from grapes be? It's just a fruit wine."

She was like a donkey with a carrot dangling in front of her, hooked by the carrot and slowly ensnared.

The slightly cool liquid entered my mouth, and instantly a fruity and wine-like flavor spread between my lips and teeth. Just as *** had said, the wine was rich in aroma and very easy to drink.

Wei Nanxun finished his drink without realizing it, and Lingxi thoughtfully refilled it.

This liquor isn't very strong, but it has a pretty powerful aftereffect.

After three cups, Wei Nanxun was already slightly tipsy, her cheeks were flushed, and she felt lightheaded.

Lingxi noticed that her complexion was off and asked softly, "Miss Wei, are you feeling unwell?"

Seeing that the lady at the head of the table was still in high spirits, Wei Nanxun really didn't want to spoil the mood or cause any trouble, so she quickly shook her head.

"No, I'm fine. I just drank a few too much. I'll be fine after a while."

However, the little commotion between the two was still noticed by the Empress Dowager above. She covered her mouth and laughed, "Mother, your son has caused trouble again."

"He coaxed the young girl until she was drunk."

Empress Dowager Jiang doted on her daughter and was happy for her to act coquettishly like this. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "The young lady has a low alcohol tolerance and it's her first time drinking this wine, so it's understandable that she's not used to it. She can rest in the side hall for a while to sober up, and she'll be fine soon."

Wei Mingzhao had been keeping an eye on Wei Nanxun, and was overjoyed to see this: "Grandmother, why don't you let me take Seventh Sister back to the East Palace to take care of her? There's no reason for me to bother you here."

Empress Dowager Jiang also felt it was polite, and that it was more reasonable for the elder sister to take care of the younger sister.

Before she could agree, *** smoothed her hair at her temple and said, "People who have been drinking should not be exposed to the wind. There is a long way to go to the East Palace. If you catch a cold, you may get a headache. Then it will really be me bullying you."

Wei Mingzhao was about to suggest using a sedan chair, but before he could speak, the Empress Dowager had already nodded.

"Then let's stop making a fuss and rest in the side hall at the back."

Wei Nanxun wanted to refuse, but the aftereffects were indeed strong, and she soon felt tipsy. Helpless, she could only help Lingxi up, give a slightly apologetic bow, and follow Lingxi to the back.

She sat down on the chaise longue in the side hall, leaning her upper body against the kang table. Lingxi went out to fetch some sobering tea and hot water.

No one noticed that a tall figure slowly walked into the Cining Palace.