They've already breached the palace, yet all they ask of me is an edict of self-reproach.

On the other side, within the inner city of the imperial city.

Pei Residence.

The atmosphere inside the mansion was extremely heavy at this moment.

News of the Southern Barbarian King's rebellion has spread throughout the capital.

The Pei family was the most apprehensive.

The reason is simple: His Majesty recently bestowed the eldest daughter of the Pei family upon the King of the Southern Barbarians, and now the King of the Southern Barbarians is plotting a rebellion.

Although the two families have not yet formally formed a marriage alliance, His Majesty's word speaks volumes about the relationship between the Pei family and the King of Nanyi.

At least that's how it appears to outsiders.

Secondly, a servant in the manor had just reported that the court session had ended, but Pei Yuanwu had not yet returned, which plunged the entire Pei household into a state of panic.

"The Pei family has fallen to this state because of you, you little vixen."

Inside the hall, a noblewoman pointed coldly at a fairy-like young girl.

The noblewoman is the second wife of the Pei family, and the young girl is Pei Lingxi, the eldest daughter of the Pei family, who is rumored to be the most beautiful woman in Dali.

In the past, the second wife of the Pei family would not have dared to speak to Pei Lingxi like this, after all, she was the future Princess Consort of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom.

But things are different now. The Pei family is doomed, and all of this is because of Pei Lingxi. As the current matriarch of the Pei family, the second wife of the Pei family naturally doesn't have a good attitude towards her.

Moreover... the second wife of the Pei family didn't have much affection for Pei Lingxi, their eldest daughter who was as beautiful as a fairy.

Why is it that the vixen's daughter is so beautiful, while her own daughter is so ordinary?

Pei Lingxi is indeed the legitimate daughter of the Pei family, but because her mother died early, Pei Yuanwu was busy with official business all day and rarely cared about family matters. Therefore, Pei Lingxi, the nominal legitimate daughter, was often targeted by the second wife's family.

Faced with her second aunt's accusations, Pei Lingxi lowered her head and ignored them.

"Hmph, sister, you're such a jinx! Not only did you kill your own mother, but you're going to kill our whole family too. Whoever marries you will be doomed."

Seeing Pei Lingxi feign silence again, Pei Ruolan said sarcastically.

"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!"

Pei Lingxi suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at her younger sister.

You can talk about her, but you can't talk about her mother; that's Pei Lingxi's bottom line.

"So what? If it weren't for you, would our whole family be like this? You jinx, why didn't you die with your mother back then?"

Pei Ruolan persisted relentlessly.

"you……"

Pei Lingxi was not good with words to begin with, and she was so angry that she was on the verge of tears.

"What do you mean, 'you'? Outside, you're a fairy admired by the world, but in the Pei family, you're nothing."

Although the two are half-sisters, Pei Ruolan inherited neither her father's genes nor her mother's unremarkable beauty. Instead, she looks like a maid dressed as a young lady.

At home, she was a little princess, but once she stepped outside, Pei Ruolan felt utterly inferior.

Once, when she and Pei Lingxi were out on the street, a group of young men mistook her for Pei Lingxi's maid, which infuriated Pei Ruolan.

Therefore, Pei Ruolan hated Pei Lingxi, and hated that face didn't belong to her.

Pei Lingxi did not refute, but instead gave a cold smile.

Pei Ruolan hated Pei Lingxi's arrogant attitude the most, and immediately became angry: "You jinx, what are you laughing at?"

Pei Lingxi didn't remain silent this time: "Before I die laughing, I'll drag your whole family down with me."

Pei Lingxi had had enough.

She was treated coldly by her family from a young age and received no love whatsoever. As she grew up, she was treated like a commodity and passed around, ultimately ending up in such a state.

Everyone admired her beauty, but Pei Lingxi hated it. If it weren't for this face, her life might not have been so miserable.

"You bitch, what did you say?"

Snapped!

Upon hearing this, the second wife of the Pei family completely lost her composure and immediately slapped Pei Lingxi across the face, which was considered to be a scourge to the nation.

Pei Lingxi took the slap squarely, but instead of being angry, she laughed and stared coldly at the second madam of the Pei family.

Pei Lingxi had always suspected that her mother's death was related to this woman, but she couldn't find any evidence, and her father's bias also contributed to the problem...

But none of that matters now; the Pei family is finished.

"You little bitch, how dare you look at me like that, I..."

Madam Pei made a move to slap her again, but a furious shout suddenly came from outside the door.

"stop!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and were overjoyed to see that Pei Yuanwu had returned.

"My lord, you're finally back! I was so worried about you."

When the second wife of the Pei family saw Pei Yuanwu return, she dared not continue to reprimand Pei Lingxi, that little slut. She immediately put on a frightened and tearful expression and rushed to greet him. The other children did the same, but Pei Lingxi remained standing still.

When Pei Yuanwu saw the look in his daughter's eyes and thought of the slap he had just received, he inwardly cursed his bad luck.

Although His Majesty is not fond of women, his daughter is so beautiful. If His Majesty were to favor her even once on a whim, and his daughter were to whisper sweet nothings in His Majesty's ear, given His Majesty's intolerant nature, he would likely not let their family off easily.

"Sending my daughter into the palace not only leaves me with no support, but also creates an enemy. What kind of situation is this?"

Pei Yuanwu felt a chill run down his spine when he thought about it.

Although his daughter usually appeared very weak, Pei Yuanwu knew that she took after her mother and was actually very opinionated.

With this in mind, Pei Yuanwu immediately made a decision.

"master……"

The second wife of the Pei family rushed into Pei Yuanwu's arms, but instead of her husband's comfort, she received an even louder slap, which knocked her to the ground, leaving her stunned.

The other children were terrified and fell silent for a moment.

They didn't know why their usually gentle and easy-going father would suddenly become so angry.

Pei Lingxi was also somewhat surprised.

The father doted on this stepmother, so why did he slap her without saying a word today?

Could it be because her stepmother was about to hit her?

Pei Lingxi thought it was impossible; given her father's personality, how could he possibly hit her stepmother for her sake?

"My lord, what have I done wrong? Why are you so angry?"

The second wife of the Pei family was filled with fear and unease.

The master is usually very gentle with her in bed, but what's wrong with him today?

To use such a heavy hand.

"Apologize to Lingxi!"

Pei Yuanwu said coldly, leaving no room for argument.

Lingxi will soon enter the palace and be made a concubine. Then Lingxi will be the mistress and they will be the servants.

There is no reason in this world for a servant to beat his master.

Moreover, if Lingxi wants revenge in the future, she and her mother will likely be doomed.

"Master, do you know what that little bitch just said? She cursed our whole family to die."

The second wife of the Pei family was not satisfied. How could she possibly lower herself to apologize to the daughter born to that vixen?

Pei Yuanwu was trembling with anger. He was too lazy to explain any further and simply said coldly, "His Majesty has decreed that Lingxi be sent to the palace tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The face of the second wife of the Pei family, who had just been defiant, gradually stiffened.

Pei Ruolan was extremely jealous.

They're both daughters of the Pei family, so why is it that this vixen Pei Lingxi gets all the love and attention from men outside, while she can only stay in the Pei family as an unknown nobody?

Seeing that his wife seemed stunned by the news, Pei Yuanwu could only walk up to Pei Lingxi and force a smile:

"Lingxi, your father apologizes on behalf of your second mother. We're all family, so please don't hold a grudge against your second mother."

At this moment, the second wife of the Pei family, having regained her senses, quickly got up from the ground, came to Pei Lingxi's side, and apologized meekly:

"Lingxi, it was your second mother's fault just now. Your second mother shouldn't have hit you. Your second mother was wrong."

As she spoke, Madam Pei slapped herself in front of everyone.

Pei Lingxi glanced at the faces of the crowd with disgust, remained unmoved, and turned back to her room.

"Is this the power of authority?"

Pei Lingxi walked and thought.

The mere news that the emperor wanted to summon her to the palace caused everyone in the Pei family to instantly change their attitude towards her.

From swaggering and domineering to begging for mercy.

"Power, yes, I want power, I want to climb to the top step by step!"

"Only in this way can I avenge my mother."

After more than a decade of confusion and being bullied by her family, the stunningly beautiful woman seems to have finally found her purpose in life.