Chapter 191 – Double Rebirth 1

 

In the 19^th year of Jingshun, in the middle of Sixth Month, dawn.

Chen Mansion, Sizhi Hall.

In the semi-dark inner room, a sudden burst of rapid gasps came from the bed, like a drowning person finally rushing out of the water, trying his best to plunder the air that could save his life.

After a long, long time, the breathing returned to calm.

Chen Jingzong lay on the bed with sweat all over his body, his eyes looking at everything familiar around him, his hands with thin calluses stroked his neck inch by inch, and touched it several times, but there was no wound.

Chen Jingzong couldn’t understand.

He was clearly in Baihe Ridge, and he clearly saw the soldiers of Daxing Left Guard fall one by one in the hands of the rebels, until finally, all the rebels rushed to him.

He couldn’t fight his way out of the heavy encirclement, nor would he be taken hostage by the rebels to threaten the court.

Or was it because all the people he couldn’t let go before his death were here, and after he died, his ghost directly came here?

That’s quite convenient, being a ghost is not so bad.

Chen Jingzong smiled self-deprecatingly, and then looked at the front yard of Siyi Hall where he had slept for several years. He had an idea and wanted to go to the backyard.

Judging from the sky outside, she should still be sleeping now. He didn’t know if she could see him in his ghost state. It was better not to see him, otherwise she would get scared.

But Chen Jingzong tried to move with his mind for a long time, but his ghost body was still lying straight on the bed.

It seemed that being a ghost was just like this, there was no powerful magic.

Chen Jingzong sat up helplessly. When his feet touched the ground, the touch was still felt real.

After all, he had never been a ghost before, and Chen Jingzong didn’t know if this was normal. His eyes fell on his naked upper body, and Chen Jingzong suddenly frowned.

Why did he look thinner and not as strong as when he was on the battlefield?

Could it be that after a person dies, he would shrink a little when he became a ghost? Because he didn’t know whether others could see him, Chen Jingzong still put on the middle coat hang on the screen.

He came to the side room and saw Fu Gui lying on the couch and still sleeping soundly.

This kid also become a ghost?

Thinking of Fu Gui’s tragic appearance before his death, Chen Jingzong did not disturb him and walked out directly.

It was quiet everywhere, and the faint sunlight did not seem to hurt him. Chen Jingzong went straight to the backyard. The small door was not locked, and there was no one in the backyard.

It was a bit strange, but Chen Jingzong did not think much about it. He tried to push the door of the main room and opened it.

But the furnishings inside were not right. They were too simple, just like the way they looked before he got married. If it was after marriage, she would decorate this place magnificently.

Chen Jingzong strode to the inner room, and sure enough, there was not even a bed inside!

His ears rang with the words his mother said when she took him to visit Siyi Hall when he returned to the capital at the age of eighteen: “You are still young now. When you’re going to get married, Mom will add good furnitures here. Otherwise, if we buy it now, it will become old when you get married, and we will have to buy new ones again.”

He said, “I know, you just don’t want to waste money on me.”

Then he was hit by his mother.

Chen Jingzong didn’t care about the furniture, but what about Hua Yang? There should be a luxurious bed here, and her precious gauze curtains should be hung here. There should be a princess who has a bad temper but as beautiful as a fairy on the bed!

Chen Jingzong turned around and walked out.

When he arrived at the front yard of Siyi Hall, he finally saw two servants cleaning the yard. Before Chen Jingzong could prepare himself for whether he would scare them, they both looked at him and saluted together: “Fourth Master.”

Chen Jingzong:…

What Fourth Master? Since he became the son-in-law of the emperor, everyone around him changed his calling to prince consort!

Then, Chen Jingzong saw his own shadow.

Do ghosts have shadows?

Are there really people who see ghosts but not afraid?

Until this moment, Chen Jingzong finally realized that something was wrong.

He returned to the side room and pulled the quilt off Fu Gui.

Fu Gui was startled. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Fourth Master was standing beside him with a sullen face, staring at him intently.

Fu Gui rubbed his eyes, sat up lazily, and wondered: “It’s a rare day off, why did Fourth Master wake up so early?”

Chen Jingzong: “What year is this?”

Fu Gui: “Nineteenth of Jingshun, why do you suddenly ask?”

Chen Jingzong was silent, then looked at his body again. No wonder he felt like he had shrunk. It turned out that this body was his body when he was twenty years old. He was twenty-four when he died!

“What month is this?”

“Sixth Month 20th, Fourth Master, are you alright?”

Fu Gui jumped to the ground and wanted to touch his master’s forehead.

Chen Jingzong slapped his hand away and walked back to the inner room.

Chen Jingzong lay down on the bed again.

So, he didn’t become a ghost after he died, but returned to the age of twenty?

Why?

Chen Jingzong couldn’t figure it out, anyway, he just return.

.

Chunhe Hall.

Chen Bozong’s and Chen Xiaozong’s families was here.

Every morning on a day off, the family would gather together to eat.

Chen Tingjian glanced into the yard. His expression gradually turned cold.

Sun shi didn’t know what to say for the Old Four. Even his nephews and nieces didn’t dare to sleep in on such a day, the Old Four was already twenty years old, why he was still late for breakfast?

“Wait another quarter of an hour. If he doesn’t come, we’ll set the table first.” Sun shi said.

Chen Bozong made excuses for his fourth brother: “Fourth Brother is a military attache. He is usually training hard. It’s inevitable that he will sleep a little longer on his days off.”

Chen Tingjian glared at him: “According to what you said, the soldiers on the border are working even harder, does everyone have to sleep in? Then the enemy only needs to attack at dawn, wouldn’t they win the siege?”

Chen Bozong:…

Chen Xiaozong lowered his eyes to hide his smile.

“Fourth Uncle is here.” Wan Yi smiled and broke her father’s embarrassment.

Everyone looked out and saw the only military attache in the mansion who had arrived late.

Chen Jingzong walked to the door of the hall and paused when he saw the familiar faces of his relatives inside.

It took him some time to restrain himself from losing his composure after a life-and-death reunion.

Chen Tingjian was annoyed by his son’s pause: “Why are you still standing there? The whole family is waiting for you!”

Chen Jingzong glanced at the old man quietly, said nothing, and sat down next to his two brothers.

During the meal, Chen Jingzong silently looked at everyone again, except for the two young and beautiful sisters-in-law, so as to avoid misunderstandings from his eldest and third brother.

“What is Fourth Uncle looking at?” Wan Yi asked curiously.

Chen Jingzong: “You’ve been watching me?”

Wan Yi’s cheeks turned slightly red. Fourth uncle was the most handsome, so what was wrong with her looking at him a few more times.

Chen Jingzong smiled and said to the children: “Fourth Uncle is in a good mood today. I will take you out to play later.”

The children were very happy.

Sun shi: “In a good mood? Did you pick up some silver? Honor me then.”

Chen Jingzong smiled but said nothing.

Picking up some silver was nothing. He picked up a life!

.

Chen Jingzong played with his nephews and nieces for a whole day. The next day, he had to go to work. If Fu Gui hadn’t given him the official uniform of the Jinyiwei Commanding Officer, Chen Jingzong would still have been thinking about going to Daxing Left Guard.

He didn’t like working in the Jinyiwei at all. This job was completely given to him by Emperor Jingshun to give the old man face. What kind of career would it be to rely on the old man’s fame?

Chen Jingzong thought of his previous life.

If it weren’t for Empress Qi suddenly wanting to marry her daughter, a princess who looked like a peony fairy, to him, he might have gone to the border this year.

When he arrived at the Jinyiwei, Chen Jingzong was still thinking about his marriage to Hua Yang.

At the end of this month, Empress Qi would bring up the marriage with the old man again, and the old man would bring the news home.

In his previous life, Chen Jingzong entered the palace because he couldn’t openly offend the emperor and the empress. He wanted to deliberately show some shortcomings so that the emperor and the empress and Princess Hua Yang, who sounded difficult to serve, would look down on him, and the marriage would be called off. Unfortunately, he was not experienced enough and was fascinated by the peony fairy.

Now, he already knew what kind of person the peony fairy was. But it was inevitable to see each other, so should he act according to the original plan and deliberately ruin the marriage, or get married again?

Chen Jingzong had been thinking about this question all day.

It didn’t matter what he did. With an ancestor like her, it was worth it for him to sleep with her even for one night. But she looked down on people like him. She didn’t want to sleep with him, and didn’t want to live a good life with him. She agreed to the marriage because she couldn’t refuse Empress Qi, and when she really married over, she was unhappy.

Then why not fulfill her wish? As long as he didn’t look presentable, Empress Qi would not force her to marry.

Then which cabinet elder’s son would Empress Qi marry her to?

Chen Jingzong secretly inquired about the situation of several cabinet elders, but it seemed that there was no suitable one, either too old or not good-looking.

Before Chen Jingzong could really make a decision, the end of the month arrived.

As expected, the old man called all three brothers to Chunhe Hall in a serious manner, and after glaring at him for several times, he mentioned that Empress Qi intended to grant a marriage.

After Chen Tingjian finished speaking, there was silence in the hall for a long time.

In the end it was Sun shi who spoke first: “Did you truthfully tell Niangniang about the Old Four’s temper?”

Chen Tingjian glared at his son again, unable to hide his anger: “I did, but Niangniang probably thought I was being modest.”

He was really not being modest. He knew the Old Four’s temper very well, and Princess Hua Yang almost grew up under his care. How could the Old Four be worthy of the princess!

Sun shi sighed: “It’s no wonder that Niangniang misunderstood. You shouldn’t mention it. Niangniang has met the Old One and Old Three, she must think the Old Four can’t be that much worse.”

Chen Jingzong: “What are you saying? How am I worse than Eldest Brother and Third Brother? I’m not as good as them in studying, and they’re not as good as me in martial arts. So we’re evenly matched.”

Sun shi: “In terms of ability, you are indeed as good as them. It’s just your temper. Even your mother can’t stand it, how can a princess tolerate you?”

Chen Jingzong sneered: “If she doesn’t want to tolerate me, then I don’t need to tolerate her either. One cabinet elder has driving me crazy. If there’s another princess, I might as well go back to Lingzhou.”

Chen Tingjian slammed the table: “Don’t be rude to the princess!”

Chen Jingzong got up and left.

Chen Xiaozong quickly grabbed his brother and pushed him back to the chair. He turned around and said to the old man, “Father, since Niangniang is interested, our family certainly can’t just refuse. Why don’t you tell Fourth Brother about the good things about the princess? If he likes it, he might even change his bad temper.”

Chen Tingjian glared at him, “The princess is good in every way. Even if there’re shortcomings, it’s not his turn to be picky.”

Chen Xiaozong couldn’t help but complain in his heart. Where are you going to marry a daughter-in-law, you’re obviously choosing a son-in-law for your daughter!

Sun shi coughed and said to her husband, “I am also curious about the princess. Pick two things to tell me.”

Chen Tingjian gave his wife face, stroked his long beard, and said: “The princess is naturally noble. When she was six or seven years old, she already has the majestic presence of a princess, but the princess was not arrogant. She treated all the ministers with courtesy.”

Chen Jingzong pinched his wrist. Yes, she was very polite to the old man and eldest brother and third brother. Her arrogancy was only used on him, a rough man, and her majestic presence was even more incredible!

Sun shi: “How does the princess look?”

Chen Tingjian: “As bright as the moon in the sky.”

Chen Jingzong: “You’re praising other women like this, aren’t you afraid that Mom will get jealous?”

Chen Tingjian:…

Sun shi:…

Seeing that the couple were about to scold him at the same time, Chen Jingzong quickly ran away.

Looking at her son’s back, Sun shi said with a headache: “Can’t we think of a way to refuse Niangniang? Otherwise, I’m afraid that the marriage will turn into an enmity. The Old Four’s mouth is too offensive.”

Chen Tingjian: “I’ll try again.”

The next day, Chen Tingjian entered the palace and confessed to Emperor Jingshun and Empress Qi again that his fourth son was to naughty and unbearable, and he was afraid that Princess Hua Yang would be wronged.

Emperor Jingshun said with a smile: “Cabinet Elder Chen, you don’t have to be modest. It’s not like the Empress and Zhen haven’t seen Jingzong before. He is more handsome than his two brothers. He simply didn’t take the imperial examination’s route.”

Empress Qi: “Yes, and we have already mentioned it to the Princess. The Princess is willing to give it a try. Does Cabinet Elder want to refuse again?”

Chen Tingjian smiled bitterly: “Then let this minister’s dog son have a try. But if the princess knew his true character, she would definitely not like him.”

This time, Chen Tingjian returned from the palace and brought back the date of the meeting.

After hearing this, Chen Bozong and Chen Xiaozong came to Siyi Hall together.

Chen Xiaozong: “Fourth Brother, tell us the truth, are you feeling joyful right now? That’s His Majesty’s most beloved princess, and her beauty is renowned both inside and outside the palace as unmatched anywhere in the world.”

Chen Jingzong: “Do you think I am you, choosing a wife only based on appearance? I want to marry a gentle and virtuous woman. If I tell her to go east, she dares not go west.”

Chen Bozong: “If you go to see the princess with this idea, it’s better to let father take you directly to the palace to apologize.”

Chen Jingzong: “I can’t even think about it? I haven’t really done it.”

Chen Xiaozong: “Brother, don’t pay attention to him. He is showing off in front of us. When he sees the princess, his bones will definitely be softer than noodles.”

Chen Jingzong sneered. He had never gone soft in front of her.

Because Chen Jingzong refused to cooperate, Chen Bozong and Chen Xiaozong’s persuasions were unable to get any results. They sat for a while and left.

At night, Chen Jingzong put his hands behind his head, and all he thought about was her.

“Get out!”

“I’ll count to three. If you don’t stop, I’ll call for help!”

The fairy princess that the peony flower turned into was obviously very charming, but she was so delicate that she had never let him fully enjoy it once.

If Chen Jingzong was a cruel man, he could ignore her, but he couldn’t do such a beastly thing.

If he married her again, she would be unhappy and he would suffer in vain.

So, should he marry her or not?

.

On the fifth day of Seventh Month, Chen Jingzong and several other Jinyiwei were taken to the martial arts field in the palace by the commander, Liu Shou.

Not long after, the emperor and his family arrived. Emperor Jingshun and Empress Qi walked at the front, while the seventeen-year-old Princess Hua Yang walked behind with the nine-year-old crown prince.

Chen Jingzong looked over.

When the four imperial family members walked towards the east side under the sunshine, he finally saw the peony princess who sometimes made him mad with love and sometimes made him want to vomit blood.

He couldn’t remember if she had been wearing the same clothes in the previous life, because at that time he was only staring at her glowing fair face.

If her face was this fair, how fair must her body be?

With just this one thought, an extremely vulgar thought, he decided to be a prince consort.

Hua Yang led her brother and walked attentively until they sat down on the martial arts viewing platform. She then casually looked at the two rows of Jinyiwei below and quickly recognized Chen Jingzong among them.

Seeing that face again after three years, Hua Yang’s heart began to sour.

She lowered her eyes and slowly calmed down.

No one knew that she was a reborn person, and she knew all the major events that would happen from now until the twelfth month of third year of Yuanyou.

Those major events included Chen Jingzong’s death on the battlefield, her father-in-law’s death from illness, and the raiding of the Chen family by her brother.

In addition to the major events, there was also her four years of married life with Chen Jingzong, a married life with almost no laughter and fond memories.

Hua Yang knew very well that she still disliked some of Chen Jingzong’s bad habits, but Chen Jingzong also had his good points. He would give her the most-timely help when she needed it, and he would also leave silently when she didn’t need it. Although he relied on her father-in-law, Chen Tingjian, to easily got the official position of commander of Daxing Left Guard, he was smart, brave and resourceful, and finally died on the battlefield as a hero.

Hua Yang couldn’t bear for him to die young again, and couldn’t bear her father-in-law and the entire Chen family to experience the suffering of the previous life again.

Therefore, she was willing to marry Chen Jingzong again, and she would try to live a good life with Chen Jingzong.

“Sister, which one do you think is Chen Jingzong?” The little prince turned sideways and asked his sister quietly.

Hua Yang smiled lightly: “I can’t guess.”

The little prince stared at one of them and said, “I guess the most handsome one. He also looks a bit like Cabinet Elder Chen.”

Hua Yang looked at Chen Jingzong again.

It happened that Chen Jingzong was also looking at her.

Hua Yang avoided it as if nothing had happened. Chen Jingzong had never concealed his obsession with her beauty, and it would be strange if he didn’t look at her at this time.

After several competitions, it was Chen Jingzong’s turn.

The commander stood on the stage and pretended to introduce Chen Jingzong’s identity to the emperor and the empress.

The little prince winked at his sister.

Hua Yang was still looking calm and composed.

Chen Jingzong started to spar with his opponent, fighting with spears.

Hua Yang looked at his figure and weirdly thought of the fight she saw at her aunt’s place. If this match was arranged by her aunt, Chen Jingzong would have to take off his clothes, right?

The princess’s thoughts flew to certain nights again.

Chen Jingzong was good-looking, and his figure was also heroic and upright, with broad shoulders and narrow waist. It was just that Hua Yang didn’t know how to appreciate it at that time, and couldn’t learn to engage herself, which made her feel uncomfortable every time they done it and eventually drive him away.

Chen Jingzong, who was in the middle of sparring, also divided his attention to the Peony Princess on the viewing platform.

When he couldn’t see her, he hesitated about whether to go through with it. But now that he saw her, Chen Jingzong suddenly didn’t want to let go.

He just didn’t believe it. If he couldn’t warm her heart in one lifetime, he refused to believe he couldn’t do it in another!

With a “clang”, the spear in the opponent’s hand was knocked away by Chen Jingzong!

After that, Chen Jingzong won seven games in a row.

Emperor Jingshun and Empress Qi looked at their daughter with a smile.

Hua Yang pretended not to notice.

Not long after this meeting, Emperor Jingshun officially issued an imperial decree to grant marriage, and the wedding was scheduled on Eleventh Month.

.

After the marriage was granted, the princess had the Ministry of Rites to help prepare for the wedding, and the Chen family also had to make corresponding preparations.

Chen Jingzong ignored those mundane affairs and only proposed that he would go back to Lingzhou and bring the old lady over to drink his wedding wine.

Chen Tingjian: “Your grandmother is old, and she’s not used to the climate in the capital, especially in autumn and winter. Why bother?”

Chen Jingzong knew that, but the old lady only had a few months left to live. Before she passed away, if she could see him getting married, if she could see the children and grandchildren around her, certainly she would be more content than in his previous life. Besides, when the old lady came to the capital, they could ask famous doctors or even imperial doctors to look after her health. If they could take care of her, she might live a few more years.

It was rare for him to have such filial piety. Chen Tingjian agreed to fetch the old lady to the capital, but he did not agree to let the Old Four go himself, fearing that something might happen on the way and delay the wedding in Eleventh Month.

Chen Bozong was a vice minister in the Dali Temple and could not leave. But Chen Xiaozong was in the Hanlin Academy, so it was no problem for him to take a four-month leave.

Chen Xiaozong set out in mid-Seventh Month, often traveling day and night, saving the journey on the way there, and arrived in Lingzhou after Mid-Autumn Festival.

The old lady was so happy when she heard that her grandson was going to marry a princess. She was so happy that she didn’t think it was burdensome to go to the capital, and immediately asked people to pack up.

Of course, Chen Xiaozong also had to invite his second uncle’s family to the capital for the wedding banquet.

With so many people, especially to take into account the old lady’s health, the return journey was very slowly, and they arrived in the capital five days before the wedding.

Hua Yang knew nothing about the changes on the Chen family’s side.

She only worried about her wedding night with Chen Jingzong.

In her previous life, Chen Jingzong had such a miserable fate, dying in battle on his birthday. Hua Yang felt pity for him, but this pity could not make her forget the suffering she had on her wedding night.

“You’re about to get married, why is Panpan still frowning?” Princess Anle came to the palace to see her niece and saw her niece’s vague uneasiness.

Hua Yang had thicker-skin now than when she was seventeen in her previous life. Since it was a big issue of whether it hurt or not, she did not hesitate and pulled her aunt to the inner room to confide her worries.

Princess Anle nodded: “This is a problem. With the family tradition of the Chen family, Chen Jinzhong must be a green boy who could hurt you by accident.”

Hua Yang: …

It actually didn’t hurt, because Chen Jingzong had been driven out by her before that point.

Princess Anle: “Auntie will help you find a way to ensure that everything is ready before your wedding.”

In this regard, Hua Yang still trusted her aunt very much.

“By the way, Auntie, I don’t want to get pregnant too early.”

“Smart, young couple, it’s only right to live happily for a few more years. Don’t worry, Auntie will prepar everything for you.”

.

The wedding day came in a blink of an eye.

The ceremony was the same as in the previous life, nothing new. By dusk, Hua Yang had already sat in the bridal chamber of Siyi Hall.

Chen Jingzong picked up the lacquered steel and lifted the red veil on the princess’s head.

Hua Yang looked at him, then glanced at the guests who were watching with ease. Except for Yu Xiu, Luo Yuyan and the children, she had no impression of the others.

Chen Jingzong did not show any surprise, and completed all the etiquette of the bridal chamber with her in a proper manner.

After that, Chen Jingzong went to the front to toast the guest, and the womenfolk were also dispersed.

Chen Jingzong arrived at the front yard and looked at Fu Gui first.

Fu Gui nodded vaguely.

Chen Jingzong smiled and entertained the guests as happily as every groom.

He was busy drinking, while Chen Bozong kept an eye on the overall situation. Noticing that the Shizi of Marquis Wuqing, Qi Jin, left in a hurry and never returned, Chen Bozong felt a bit puzzled and asked the servant who had seen Qi Jin off, “Where did the Shizi of Marquis Wuqing go?”

The servant’s expression was strange. “Shizi went to the restroom. He might not be feeling well, he has been there for quite a while…”

Chen Bozong: …

Is there something wrong with the food?

Because of this, Chen Bozong was worried throughout the banquet. It was not until the banquet ended and the guests dispersed one after another, and no one else had any problems, that Chen Bozong felt relieved.

Siyi Hall.

Chen Jingzong brushed his teeth again and again.

Fu Gui: “Fourth Master, it’s clean enough. If you brush your teeth again, you will peel off your skin!”

Chen Jingzong cursed vaguely: “You know fart!”

In his previous life, he was stubborn and made her dislike him for some trivial matters. In this life, he would clean himself up and let see what faults she could still find.

After taking a bath and burning incense to get rid of the smell of alcohol, Chen Jingzong finally came to the back yard.

Chao Yun and the other three maids happily receive the prince consort.

Chen Jingzong only looked at the princess in red. When would they go to bed tonight, it was entirely up to the princess.

Hua Yang then asked the maids to leave.

She looked at Chen Jingzong again and said, “On the table there’s fine wine from the Western Regions that my aunt gave me. Go and help me pour it.”

Chen Jingzong followed her line of sight and saw that there was indeed an exquisite wine pot and an exquisite small wine cup on the table.

It seemed that there was no such thing in his previous life.

But it didn’t matter. It was just that the princess was too stingy and didn’t want to share a few sips of fine wine from the Western Regions with him.

Chen Jingzong walked over, holding the small wine cup in one hand and the wine pot in the other. When pouring, he turned his back to her, quietly poured some into his palm, and then licked it off quickly.

Well, there was nothing special about the fine wine from the Western Regions.

He then handed the wine cup to the princess by the bed.

Hua Yang looked at his slender and broad hands. She began to feel weak even before she drank the wine.

When she took the wine cup, her fair and slender fingers trembled slightly.

Chen Jingzong felt strange.

But Hua Yang had already taken the wine cup, covered her face with her sleeves, and drank it all in three gulps.

The wine with the sour and sweet smell of fruit rushed down, and wherever it passed, there was a spark of heat.

At first, she could still bear it. When Chen Jingzong sat next to her again, seemingly respectful but actually secretly looking at her, the sparks in Hua Yang’s body instantly spread like wildfire.

Hua Yang closed her eyes and said inconspicuously: “You can sleep with me.”

Chen Jingzong:…

Why it feels like her words are more domineering than what she said in his previous life?

But he knew that she was a liar. She would never allow him to sleep with her for more than a quarter of an hour, and she wanted to kill him every time!

The author has something to say:

The double rebirth extra only talks about love, and the plot is all glossed over. After all we already know the main story.

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Translator’s note:

Oh my God that’s so long! I decided to add one more chapter this week, so that I can hurriedly finish this novel.