He had held high position and power, honored throughout the world, possessing a status of supreme glory. But in his heart, he knew that all the honor was just a facade. As a man, even with outstanding power and exceptional abilities, self-disciplined and following propriety, in the eyes of the court officials, he was ultimately just a young man unacceptable to society.

Young men didn’t need to be talented or beautiful. They only needed to serve their wives and teach their children.

In his first life, Long Diqing had not accepted this. In his second life, after seeing the death trap set by the Empress herself.

He finally understood that for a man, being outstanding was original sin. The flawless and powerful Long Diqing was the source of calamity.

Later, the woman who had viewed him as an equal died.

This reputation was now useless to him. Returning to the court to rule from behind the curtain, he might as well use this notorious reputation to conceal his sharp political strategies.

In this vast Forbidden City, with the emperor’s wariness and the power struggles between close relatives, he didn’t want to experience it a second time.

Before his imperial sister’s wings were fully fledged, he had to completely remove the emperor’s suspicions.

How could a Long Diqing with a reputation for being naturally wanton and depraved rule the country in place of a woman? An unchaste and impure young man should be unacceptable to the world.

Fortunately, while the world wouldn’t allow him to have a rebellious nature, that person had accepted him, respected him.

In that person’s eyes, he was a man, but also someone equal to her.

She had ordinary looks, was illiterate, and lived in poverty.

In every way, she couldn’t compare to the Prime Minister Liu who shared her name, but in his heart, she was irreplaceable.

The twinkling light in Pei Yuanshao’s eyes instantly faded. His lips curled into a bitter and despairing smile.

All the joys and sorrows of human life were displayed on his face, yet all were quickly concealed.

“Is there dirt on my face? Has the young master had enough of staring?”

A cold question, like snow on a mountain, came from above.

Pei Yuanshao leaned most of his weight against the wooden door frame. His peach blossom eyes flickered, his smile habitually curling upwards as he flirtatiously said, “Not at all. The lady’s beauty is captivating. Ziyuan was momentarily stunned!”

He played with his falling hair, the jet-black strands entwining around his slender fingers, the black and white intertwining, becoming increasingly improper.

Liu Changning frowned, the pity that had suddenly risen in her heart vanishing without a trace. She ground her back teeth.

She thought to herself that she had perhaps been too kind to this person in the past. After two years apart, his flirtatious behavior towards others had been honed to perfection, even more so than before.

If it weren’t for their close proximity, allowing her to fully capture the lifeless, aloof look in his eyes, she might have been fooled by this man’s feigned frivolity.

Liu Changning crossed her arms, pointing at the silver mask in his hand, saying with a half-smile, “Oh? This one’s heavenly beauty is indeed quite eye-catching. Have you looked your fill? If so, perhaps you could return this one’s mask.”

Pei Yuanshao choked on his breath. Liu… the future otherworldly, immortal-like Prime Minister Liu, why was she… speaking like this?

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but her words seemed to express considerable dissatisfaction with him.

Pei Yuanshao fingered the long whip at his waist, lightly coughing, his lips parting as he was about to respond.

Suddenly, an angry shout came from afar: “Audacious commoner girl, why do you not kneel upon seeing the Long Diqing?”

Pei Yuanshao had not yet reacted when the mask in his hand was snatched away, the warmth at his fingertips vanishing in an instant.

The silver mask was quickly seized by the woman in front of him, who skillfully covered her face with it.

Pei Yuanshao was stunned for a moment, following her line of sight as he turned to look behind him.

The woman who had just reprimanded them was striding towards the two of them.

Zhou Huaijin had seen Long Diqing rush out of the second-floor private room through the back door of the teahouse from a distance. Curious, she had followed to the doorway.

Unexpectedly, she heard a woman’s voice talking to His Highness.

Feeling jealous in her heart, she called out a reprimand from afar.

She had loved Long Diqing for a full ten years. Five years ago, His Highness had strictly adhered to etiquette and was unacquainted with matters of love, so she had no chance.

Later, His Highness fell from his horse during a hunt. After waking up, he indulged in women and kept favorites.

His reputation in Jinling City was ruined, and she had even less of a chance. As the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis’s family, her mother would certainly not allow her to marry someone like Long Diqing.

Three years ago, he returned to Jinling City. Although his behavior in public was restrained, he still lacked the propriety and shame of a man.

In court, he had returned to being the once formidable and strategically brilliant Long Diqing, but after returning to the Mingde Long Diqing Manor, he still indulged in male favorites.

But because he held great power in his hands, if her mother wanted Long Diqing’s influence to help, she might still have a chance.

Originally for this imperial examination, her mother had promised her that if she could achieve the top scholar position, she would shamelessly ask the Empress for this marriage at the Qinglin Banquet.

To stand out in this imperial examination, she had made full preparations. But she hadn’t expected that Huainan would produce a genius like Liu Cangyun, whose talent and strategy far surpassed hers.

Now it seemed hopeless to achieve the top scholar position.

Zhou Huaijin felt anxious in her heart. The man she had thought about for a full ten years was within reach, but because of the sudden appearance of a poor scholar, she couldn’t achieve the top scholar position and thus couldn’t obtain His Highness.

She couldn’t accept this.

However, there was no other way, she could only take a different approach. If she could attract his attention with her talent today, and then make him fall in love with her, there would be no need for her mother to plead before the Empress.

Thus, in the teahouse today, she had originally intended to stand out with her knowledge, making him see her in a different light.

Even though she was using Liu Cangyun’s insights, with her status and position among the group of poor scholars, no one would dare reveal the truth. Unexpectedly, Jia Ziyun appeared here, thoroughly embarrassing her.

As her emotions were fluctuating, she didn’t expect that person to rush down from the second floor.

Zhou Huaijin narrowed her eyes, quickly walked up close, stood behind Pei Yuanshao, turned sideways and knelt, saluting him, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Liu Changning was a bit bewildered. She suddenly looked up, towards the man leaning obliquely against the wooden door.

She saw him arrogantly glance at the kneeling lady, his crimson lips parting to accept the greeting, saying in a low voice, “Rise.”

This person addressed him as “Your Highness”?

Under the heavens, there was indeed one Highness whose behavior was out of bounds and who indulged in women: the Long Diqing – Pei Yuanshao.

Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao. No wonder the names were similar.

A flash of shock passed through Liu Changning’s eyes.

She never expected that her convenient husband was the current Long Diqing, the Long Diqing who served as a night chamberpot!!!