Reborn Four Gorgeous Consorts

A moan escaped, and as Zhao Li's consciousness gradually returned, her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was vacant as she looked ahead, and a face appeared in her line of sight. It was as large as a basin, with dark, coarse skin, which drew ever closer, until the blemishes upon it and its thick, protruding lips were all too clear to her... Grass! Grass! Grass! Grass! Grass! Zhao Li's pupils constricted, momentarily forgetting her physical weakness, and in a panic, she scrambled backward, narrowly avoiding an intimate encounter with those plump lips. "I..." Before she could utter a word, a shadow loomed, and in the next instant, she felt a heavy weight as someone embraced her tightly. "Beloved, I am relieved that you are unharmed; you have caused me such worry..." The voice beside her ear was soft and seductive, a male tone that made one's bones melt with its allure. Before Zhao Li could react, the woman who had intended to bestow a kiss upon her exclaimed, "Oh, it seems your wife is quite fortunate, surviving even after nearly drowning. I shall return to my woodcutting." "My gratitude to Aunt Zhang for your assistance," came a gentle voice, and Zhao Li turned to see a youth, whose simple attire did not diminish his handsome features. However, Zhao Li's gaze was fixed on his clothing, and her pupils narrowed as a realization struck her, causing her thoughts to whirl, making her oblivious to all else, including the person still holding her. It was only a firm, masculine voice, laced with disdain, that brought her back to the present. "Zhao Li, this drowning is of your own doing. Had you not forced us into the river to catch fish due to the lack of food at home, and then, unsatisfied with our pace, taken matters into your own hands, this would never have happened!" The speaker stepped forward, eyeing her coldly. Though clad in tattered garments, his visage was a masterpiece of beauty, yet his words, though harsh, failed to inspire revulsion. "You will not use this incident as an excuse to torment us!" he declared. Another voice, colder and more aloof, chimed in from behind him: "Nor will you feign illness to swindle money from us." Unlike the first, this man's demeanor was ethereal, his almond-shaped eyes, though they should be full of passion, held a chilling emptiness, regarding Zhao Li with an icy detachment. Amidst the barrage of accusations, Zhao Li's mouth gaped, her head throbbing. Wait, what exactly was happening? She wished to speak, but the man clinging to her seemed unwilling to remain silent, encircling her neck with his arm and turning to address the brothers, his voice silky and sweet: "Eldest Brother Gu, Second Brother Gu, do not speak so. Our wife has just regained consciousness and is not fully recovered. Do not upset her further." As he spoke, he tenderly stroked Zhao Li's chest, ostensibly to comfort her. But his unfamiliarity, despite his striking appearance, left her feeling uneasy, and she instinctively pushed him away. The man's eyes widened in surprise, and the one called Second Brother Gu sneered at his reaction. At that moment, Zhao Li, regaining some strength, stood up and met the gazes of the four men. "Um..." She coughed lightly, adjusting her expression to one of confusion. "Perhaps due to the drowning, my memories are in disarray, and I... have forgotten certain things..." Upon hearing this, their expressions varied. The stern-voiced man frowned, interrupting her before she could continue: "What mischief are you planning now?" Zhao Li: "I..." "If you intend to use this as a ruse for money, forget it. We have none," said the cold-voiced man. Zhao Li: "No..." "Beloved, has the drowning truly affected your mind?" asked the seductive man, his face a mask of concern and astonishment. Zhao Li: "..." Enough! Could they let her finish? Perceiving her rising frustration, the gentle-voiced youth finally offered solace: "Do not fear, Beloved. This may well be a consequence of the drowning, and your memory may return with proper care." His gaze, while evasive, conveyed a sincerity that contrasted with the others' disdain or false concern. "Should you have any questions, feel free to ask us." Zhao Li was profoundly moved. However, given the attitudes of the other three, she found it wiser to seek answers from the harmless-seeming youth, reminiscent of a puppy. As they walked, damp and uncomfortable, each eager to change, Zhao Li questioned the youth, confirming her suspicions. Indeed, she had traversed time and space. The promising young medical professor, Zhao Li, from the early 21st century, perished in a car accident, only to awaken in the body of a drowned woman, in an ancient era. This realm, known as the Divine Empress Empire, was unlike any dynasty she knew, for it was a matriarchal society. Women were the breadwinners, and men tended to domestic duties and child-rearing. Relieved that she would not be confined, Zhao Li's relief was short-lived, as she realized the implications of being addressed as "wife" by the men. Could she manage the demands of such a life? And then, a peculiar thought crossed her mind—could women suffer from such debilities? Turning to the youth, dressed in a faded blue robe, his youthful countenance could not hide his tender age. —She simply could not bring herself to harm him! Sensing her unease, the youth, apprehensive, offered: "Beloved, if my actions have wronged you, I will make amends..." His fearful, bashful eyes, coupled with his innocent, wet-puppy look, softened Zhao Li's heart, and she reached out to console him. But the stern-voiced man, ever watchful, halted and swiftly turned, slapping away Zhao Li's hand. Slap. Pain shot through Zhao Li, and as the man whisked the youth away, she saw the open contempt in one brother's eyes and the false smile of the other. Zhao Li: "..." Suddenly, she feared not for her constitution, but for her very survival.