He had wronged her, thinking she was that person, but it turned out to be a mistake. Now that they were married, with all the groundwork laid out, he had no choice but to play the role of a debaucherous husband until the day the net closed in on Nanjing.

This woman named Liu Changning shared the same name as that person, even resembling her in appearance and age. When the secret guards presented this information in the study of the Ming De empress’s residence, he believed there was a high likelihood that she was the one.

But after a month of living together…

Pei Yuanshao couldn’t say he was particularly disappointed. He knew that in the vast sea of people, it wouldn’t be easy to find that person from his previous life to “repay the kindness.”

A year ago, when he was reborn, he had already begun to lay out his plans. Living a second life with foreknowledge, he finally understood that his downfall and his sister’s loss of power weren’t as simple as a broken stone tablet.

The dynasty’s collapse had been orchestrated by someone long before his rebirth. With the court officials deeply entrenched in factions, it became increasingly difficult to eliminate the crisis upon his return.

So, in this life, he learned from his mistakes. He no longer acted as the decisive, aloof, and perfect figurehead. Instead, he joined forces with his younger sister to plan, enduring humiliation and retreating to advance.

Thereafter, after the Ming De empress fell from power and awakened, she indulged in debauchery, oppressing women and dominating men. Her residence was filled with countless male favorites as she spent her days indulging in pleasure and female company, her reputation utterly ruined.

Later, due to forcibly taking away the young daughter of a Jingzhao official, she was reported and imprisoned.

The empress had committed a crime and was punished like a commoner. The Ming De empress was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Huashi Town.

Using the strategy of retreating to advance, he had laid out all the plans, even drawing “Liu Changning” into this scheme.

Everything was in place, but there was a flaw. After a month of living together following their arranged marriage, he realized that this person was not the one he sought.

But it didn’t matter. Three years later, that person would still appear in the imperial court. At that time, repaying the “kindness” with her body wouldn’t be a bad idea. After all, she had no love, and he had no feelings. To silence the gossiping mouths, they could make do with each other while repaying the past favor of gifting clothes.

The only issue was that it would be unfair to this honest and simple village woman.

In the stifling noon heat, people’s moods grew irritable.

The cicadas were relentlessly screeching. Pei Yuanshao snapped out of his thoughts, the expression at the corner of his lips fading slightly.

Not far away, in a bush, a figure in green was hiding. Perhaps unable to endure the scorching sun, after keeping watch for half an hour, it silently retreated from the bush and gradually disappeared.

Pei Yuanshao glanced at the bush, a cold glint flashing briefly in his clear peach blossom eyes.

The nearby peasant woman had an awkward expression. She pointed at the courtyard and stammered, “She… She!”

Engaging in intimate acts with a married man in broad daylight – if caught, it wouldn’t be surprising for the wife-master to give her a beating.

They were all from the same village, bound to run into each other sooner or later.

Even if this woman from the Liu family lived up to the rumors of being a cowardly wife-master, being caught red-handed like this would be unforgivable if word got out to her husband, leading to endless trouble at home.

Thinking of the tigress waiting at home, Li Daniu’s lustful heart trembled. Realizing that she wouldn’t gain any favors today, she decided not to linger.

With a fawning smile on her swarthy face, her thick, dark lips seemingly coated with honey, she bid farewell, “Young Master Shao, since your wife-master is back, I won’t stay any longer. Let’s meet again after dusk next time!”

Pei Yuanshao curled his lips in a half-smile, half-smirk. “Good!”

The upturned corners of his eyes were enough to captivate one’s mind and soul.

Li Daniu froze for a moment, her face flushing red, her heart fluttering. If she stayed any longer, she would be utterly seduced by this alluring creature, her desires unquenchable. Thinking of her brutish husband at home, she turned around and swiftly made her way back, her feet moving as if they were coated in oil.

Pei Yuanshao leaned against the door, the summer breeze blowing away the coquettish charm from his face. If anyone were to look back, the young man in the wind would no longer possess even a hint of the earlier flirtatiousness.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, his eyes piercing with a coldness that reached the heart.

The swiftness of his change in expression was like that of an actor on stage, skilled in the dance of long sleeves.