He had lost his memory.

When Pei Wenxuan opened his eyes in the early morning, he was very clearly aware of this problem.

At this time, dawn hadn’t yet broken. There were sounds of conversation outside. Pei Wenxuan opened his eyes and turned his head to listen to a woman’s lowered voice giving instructions: “Yesterday the Prince Consort was hit on the head by a vase. You must serve him well. Let him rest properly these few days and not worry about official business.”

“What if the Prince Consort won’t listen to advice?”

Someone was quite worried. The woman laughed coldly, full of威压: “Then have him kneel and wait for this palace to return. I’d like to see just how he plans to die.”

With that, the woman left surrounded by attendants.

Pei Wenxuan thought briefly and understood.

He was a Prince Consort. Yesterday he was hit on the head by a vase.

His wife should be a Princess with considerable power. As a woman who still attended morning court, she was extraordinary.

Moreover, his wife seemed to look down on him greatly, showing him no respect whatsoever. Clearly there were no feelings between them.

To become Prince Consort, presumably his status wasn’t low. Now having lost his memory in such an environment, it surely wasn’t by chance. There must be deeper conflicts. He couldn’t expose this weakness. Better to stabilize the situation first.

As Pei Wenxuan thought, he observed his surroundings. After resting in bed for a while, he slowly sat up and called out: “Someone come.”

A young man pushed the door open and entered, respectfully with some joy: “Young Master, you’re awake? Shall I call someone to attend to you?”

Pei Wenxuan nodded with feigned composure. In his heart, he’d already analyzed—this person was probably someone who had followed him before coming to the Princess’s residence, which is why he called him “Young Master.” Relatively speaking, in this overall environment, he was very trustworthy.

But he still needed to observe further.

So he had the other help him up and attend to his washing. He remained silent throughout. The other couldn’t help but find it strange and forced a smile: “Young Master, you’re speaking very little today. Is everything alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Pei Wenxuan took a cloth and wiped his hands, speaking softly: “Today I’ll recuperate at home. Find me a storyteller. I’ll rest and relax.”

“Young Master is quite refined today. Tong Ye will immediately invite the capital’s best storyteller!”

So his name was Tong Ye.

Pei Wenxuan silently noted this in his heart.

Seeing the other rush out energetically, he thought for a moment and added: “Actually, I’ll go with you.”

Right now, finding a completely unfamiliar place would actually be safer.

Pei Wenxuan got up. Led by Tong Ye, they went to a quiet teahouse.

The storyteller below was telling the story most loved by commoners these days, “Domineering Princess.” In this story, Princess Yun Xi secretly loved the capital’s most noble young master Yu Wuyuan. The two were mutually in love, but due to political struggles, she was forced to marry Du Yunxiu, who came from a humble family. Yun Xi didn’t like Du Yunxiu, but for profit, she cooperated with him. She used Du Yunxiu to help her younger brother ascend the throne. After Du Yunxiu became Chancellor, he discovered Yun Xi and Yu Wuyuan were secretly having an affair. In fury, he killed Yu Wuyuan. From then on, Yun Xi hated him to the bone. One was a Princess wielding great power, one was a regent king controlling the court. Nominally husband and wife, actually bitter enemies, loving and killing each other, entangled for a lifetime…

The storyteller spoke with great emotion. The women below cried uncontrollably. Some lamented Yu Wuyuan’s death, some grieved for Du Yunxiu’s deep feelings. They wished they could become Yun Xi and take her place.

Pei Wenxuan listened coldly to this story. Tong Ye secretly glanced at him and said nervously: “Young Master, these are all rumors made up by commoners. Don’t be angry.”

Pei Wenxuan’s hand paused. Seeing Tong Ye’s reaction, he suddenly realized this matter was related to him.

After a moment of silence, he had Tong Ye call the storyteller upstairs under the pretext of giving a reward. After the storyteller came up, Pei Wenxuan dismissed Tong Ye. He picked up his tea and spoke slowly: “Sir, do you know where this ‘Domineering Princess’ story originates?”

Hearing this, the storyteller immediately dropped to his knees with a “thud,” instinctively knowing he’d provoked someone important.

Pei Wenxuan smiled and set down a piece of gold: “Tell me what you know. You won’t be blamed.”

The storyteller knew quite a lot. After chatting with him all afternoon, Pei Wenxuan roughly understood that this story indeed originated from him and that Princess named “Li Rong,” as well as the former capital’s most noble young master, Su Rongqing.

After learning this, Pei Wenxuan’s first reaction was fury. Li Rong actually so openly cuckolded him—this was simply a tremendous humiliation!

How could he have liked her so much before? Shameful!

Fortunately, he’d now seen the light. According to this storyteller, he and Li Rong were now bitter enemies in court, just unable to finish each other off.

Understanding this, Pei Wenxuan looked at the sky and stood to leave.

Li Rong would be returning to the residence. He still had to keep up the act.

Pei Wenxuan returned to the residence with matters weighing on his mind. As he walked, he pumped Tong Ye for information. Tong Ye was simple-minded. Soon Pei Wenxuan had thoroughly figured out the Princess’s residence.

After waiting a while, Pei Wenxuan heard noise outside. Li Rong had returned.

As soon as Li Rong returned, she lost her temper in the room: “Look at those mad dogs under your command!”

Li Rong seemed to have suffered grievances in court, cursing at him: “They keep targeting Cui Yulang relentlessly. When Cui Yulang went to inspect Bingzhou and executed Li Nan first without reporting, that was his mistake. But he wouldn’t have made it back alive if he hadn’t killed. Can’t the Censorate give him some leeway? Must they have Cui Yulang beheaded before they’re satisfied?!”

Pei Wenxuan listened quietly, understanding this must be them having a conflict.

Li Rong was angry in her heart. After venting her fire, she saw Pei Wenxuan sitting at the table, apparently waiting for her to eat. Her heart softened a bit as she waited for Pei Wenxuan to coax her.

In court he wouldn’t give in to her, but at home he always coaxed her. She sat down. Seeing him not speak, she added: “Did you hear me? Tomorrow you go talk to the Censorate. It’s not a big matter. Give me some face.”

“The court has its own laws and regulations,” Pei Wenxuan figured out the most appropriate attitude. As a Prince Consort in name only, facing Li Rong’s outburst, he had to show an impartial refusal—”Your Highness can go talk to the Censorate yourself. Why look for me?”

Hearing this, Li Rong’s eyes widened: “What did you say? You dare speak to me like this?!”

As expected, she was very domineering.

Pei Wenxuan reached this conclusion in his heart. He smiled coldly, stood up, and swept his sleeves as he left.

Li Rong gripped her chopsticks and turned to look at Tong Ye beside her. Tong Ye broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said: “Today Young Master went out to hear stories and heard that ‘Domineering Princess’…”

Hearing this, Li Rong’s expression changed. She had heard of this story.

She raised her eyes to look outside. Pei Wenxuan had already gone far.

Su Rongqing…

He still minded after all.

Li Rong felt deflated for a moment. She didn’t dare criticize Pei Wenxuan’s sudden tantrum anymore.

She ate a few bites, went to the study to calm down for a while, thought about it, and finally decided to apologize to Pei Wenxuan that night.

Pei Wenxuan always had a good temper. To be this angry, he must be feeling stifled inside.

After deciding this, she finished her serious business, then went to the bath to wash herself until she smelled fragrant. Her spirit soothed, she casually took a thin shirt and draped it over herself before entering the room.

Pei Wenxuan was in the room contemplating what to do next. Hearing the creaking sound of the door, he raised his head and saw Li Rong wearing a thin gauze garment, running her fingers through her hair as she walked in.

The clothing was very thin—one could almost see the bellyband underneath through the fabric.

Though this woman was shrewish, her figure was first-rate. Dressed like this, pretending to casually run her fingers through her hair as she entered—this combination of purity and desire, the spring feelings revealed without revealing too much, was most enticing.

Pei Wenxuan felt some reaction. Remembering what the storyteller said about “Du Yunxiu,” he felt somewhat resentful.

This woman must have used these methods to control him in the past. But now that he no longer was infatuated with her, he was very clear-headed!

Li Rong entered the room. Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s cold face, she knew he was very angry. She coughed lightly and pretended to show concern: “Um, not asleep yet?”

“It has nothing to do with Your Highness.”

Pei Wenxuan lowered his head, looking at the documents before him.

Li Rong sat across from him, a pair of eyes quietly gazing at him.

Those eyes were very beautiful. Just looking like this made one’s heart wander. Pei Wenxuan felt he must have been firmly controlled by her in the past. At least his body was controlled to death by her.

This made him very angry and embarrassed. He kept a cold face without speaking. Li Rong reached out her hand, grabbed his clothing, and shook it: “Brother Pei~”

Pei Wenxuan froze. Li Rong acted coquettish: “Look at me. Don’t be angry anymore.”

Two different faces in public and private—she really could lower herself.

Pei Wenxuan sneered inwardly. He already knew her intentions. He raised his head with some mockery as he looked at her: “Want me to help you settle the Censorate?”

Li Rong quickly nodded, thinking this was Pei Wenxuan signaling reconciliation.

The Censorate wasn’t really a big matter. But if Pei Wenxuan wanted to help her, wasn’t this reconciliation?

Pei Wenxuan put down his brush and leaned back against his chair: “If you want to seduce me, you need to show some sincerity.”

Li Rong was somewhat bewildered.

Pei Wenxuan patted his lap, his eyes full of mockery and cold pride: “Come up. Move yourself.”

Li Rong’s expression looked very ugly. The way she looked at him was beyond words.

“Looks like Your Highness is only so-so,” Pei Wenxuan spoke mockingly. “I thought Your Highness could really lower herself. You think past matters can be so easily written off? Li Rong,” Pei Wenxuan sneered, “from today on, stop dreaming. I’m no longer the Pei Wenxuan of the past who let you bully him.”

It was over, over, over.

Li Rong felt cold sweat emerging. She wondered what exactly that storyteller had made up to provoke Pei Wenxuan like this.

Seeing her face turn pale, Pei Wenxuan felt his goal was achieved. He stood up to leave.

Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan getting up. She quickly stood, pressed him back down, and hurriedly said: “I’ll move, I’ll move myself. Don’t lose your temper.”

“What are you doing!”

Seeing Li Rong pulling at his clothes, Pei Wenxuan grew nervous. Li Rong pressed him in the chair, pulling at his clothes while straddling him.

Pei Wenxuan panicked and struggled: “Let go! Don’t touch me! Shameless! Li Rong!”

Li Rong tugged at him. He couldn’t push a woman like Li Rong—she wore too little, touching anywhere was inappropriate. Moreover, there was some unknown resistance that made him instinctively not want to hurt her.

Seeing Pei Wenxuan still constantly considering her welfare at such a time, Li Rong knew there was hope. She quickly used various methods. Amid Pei Wenxuan’s curses, she got the deed done.

“Li Rong, you’re shameless! You’re indecent! Don’t touch my clothes! Let go of me! Don’t touch there! Don’t you…”

The deed was suddenly done. Pei Wenxuan abruptly stopped speaking.

The room suddenly fell quiet. Li Rong raised her hand to wrap around his neck, exerting effort herself, and asked with a smile: “Don’t I what?”

Pei Wenxuan couldn’t speak.

He gripped the chair’s armrests tightly.

He finally understood how he’d fallen before. This woman… this woman!!

Pei Wenxuan ultimately still briefly surrendered to his own desires. He thought—first grasp the present. The future is long.

Pei Wenxuan deeply reflected on his mistakes.

Beauty misleads people—he finally understood.

He didn’t even know how he’d agreed to help Li Rong settle the Censorate matter. By the next day’s morning court, it was already a foregone conclusion.

Though he and Li Rong were bitter enemies, having promised, he had to fulfill it. He still had this gentlemanly bearing.

He gradually figured out his usual life habits and faction, then issued instructions about Cui Yulang’s matter. The people in the Censorate who followed him sighed and only said: “My lord has still bowed his head to Her Highness.”

“This is the last time.”

Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan immediately spoke up, making a promise to everyone: “No more exceptions. In the future, I will never again be bewitched by that seductress.”

All the ministers: “???”

“Don’t worry,” Pei Wenxuan patted the shoulder of the minister closest to him. “In the future, I won’t show her any mercy.”

But you’ve never shown her any mercy before.

Everyone held back for a long time, really wanting to ask Pei Wenxuan—in the past, he’d never made concessions to them because of emotional matters. Today he actually broke precedent. Looking at his spring-flushed face and energetic appearance, his marital feelings had clearly deepened. Yet he dared say “won’t show mercy in the future”?

Their relationship was probably getting better and better, right?

But everyone held back these words, not daring to ask. Whatever Pei Wenxuan said was what it was.

Seeing everyone silent, with many wanting to speak but holding back, Pei Wenxuan thought—everyone probably still doesn’t trust him enough.

No matter. In the future, he would prove to them that he was no longer the Pei Wenxuan who bowed to love.

Men—how could they humiliate themselves for love?

Pei Wenxuan sneered inwardly and walked out. Just as he left the Censorate, he saw an elegant young man standing at the entrance.

He had good looks, the type women liked. Seeing Pei Wenxuan come out, he quickly greeted: “Lord Pei!”

Pei Wenxuan stopped and looked at him. Cui Yulang stepped forward respectfully: “Cui is grateful to Lord Pei for taking the trouble.”

Pei Wenxuan immediately guessed and nodded: “It was nothing.”

“Having received help, I must still repay the favor.”

Cui Yulang smiled. He took a box of pills from a case: “About that matter we discussed last time.”

Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at him. Cui Yulang smiled: “This medicine dissolves in water, colorless and tasteless. Her Highness won’t notice after drinking it. Only heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know. I know Her Highness has been busy lately, which has damaged your relationship. Whether to use it or not is up to you,” Cui Yulang placed the medicine box in Pei Wenxuan’s hand. “Sometimes using extraordinary means isn’t wrong. You needn’t be too rigid…”

“I understand.” Pei Wenxuan cut off Cui Yulang’s persuasion.

If he hadn’t understood what these pills meant at first, how could he not understand now?

This must be poison he’d asked Cui Yulang to obtain to kill Li Rong, now that he and Li Rong were bitter enemies.

He was no longer the naive person he once was. He definitely wouldn’t be soft-hearted.

He raised his head and looked coldly at Cui Yulang: “This medicine only needs to be put in water?”

“How long before it takes effect?”

“Almost immediately.”

“Is there an antidote?”

“No. Rest assured, this matter will definitely succeed.”

“What’s the reaction after it takes effect?”

“First, difficulty breathing, flushed face and rapid breathing, body heating up, then…” Cui Yulang’s gaze was meaningful. “No need for me to say more, right?”

Pei Wenxuan understood. Death was never easy to speak of.

“Any other precautions?”

“This…” Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s bitter and vengeful expression, Cui Yulang felt something wasn’t quite right. For a spring tonic, why be so serious?

Previously, Pei Wenxuan had chatted with him about how Li Rong had been too busy lately with no mind for romance. Only then did he think of this method. But when he first mentioned it, Pei Wenxuan had cursed him back. Now accepting it… was also a major change. Being serious about it was normal.

So Cui Yulang patted Pei Wenxuan’s shoulder and consoled: “It’s nothing really. Just don’t have too much psychological burden.”

He said not to have too much psychological burden, but when Pei Wenxuan saw Li Rong enter the room, he still felt hesitant.

After all, she’d been his wife for so many years. Though she deceived and harmed him, had affairs with others, and hated him to the bone, still…

Pei Wenxuan looked at the cup beside him where he’d already placed the medicine. His heart ached somewhat.

He seemed to… still have feelings for her.

But he couldn’t be like this.

Pei Wenxuan’s face turned cold. This woman had a vicious heart. If he didn’t eliminate her, there would be endless troubles ahead. Since he’d already planned the assassination with Cui Yulang beforehand, he should execute it.

Having decided in his heart, Li Rong entered the room. She removed her outer garment, turned to look at Pei Wenxuan, and couldn’t help but smile: “Why still unhappy?”

“Nothing. Just thinking about court matters.”

Pei Wenxuan raised his head and smiled: “Last night I was wrong. Let me apologize to you.”

With that, Pei Wenxuan picked up the tea cup with the medicine: “Please drink this cup of tea, Your Highness, as forgiveness.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan apologize and coax her, Li Rong smiled softly: “It’s not a big matter. I didn’t expect you’d actually help me settle the Censorate.”

As Li Rong spoke, she took the tea cup. Without any suspicion, she drank it directly.

Pei Wenxuan was stunned. All the explanations he’d prepared went unused. She actually trusted him this much!

Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat at a loss. But since he’d already prepared to kill her before losing his memory, he must have made his decision. He couldn’t be confused.

Li Rong saw Pei Wenxuan staring blankly. She waved her hand before his face: “What’s wrong with you?”

“Let’s…” Pei Wenxuan raised his eyes to look at her, some sadness in his eyes. “Chat one last time?”

Li Rong was bewildered: “Last time?”

“You’re going to die.” Pei Wenxuan looked at her very seriously.

Li Rong frowned: “Why do you say this?”

“Do you feel difficulty breathing?”

As Pei Wenxuan spoke, Li Rong felt herself heating up. Her breathing couldn’t help but become somewhat rapid. Her body began showing unusual reactions.

She wanted to step back and sit down. As soon as she stepped back, her legs went soft.

Pei Wenxuan instinctively caught her and supported her. He saw her raise her head, her eyes glistening with moisture: “What… did you give me?”

“Poison.”

Pei Wenxuan had Li Rong sit in a chair, a pair of eyes quietly gazing at her as if looking at someone about to die.

Li Rong gripped the armrest, amused by his anger.

This was really the first time she’d seen this kind of poison.

But her instinct told her something was wrong with Pei Wenxuan. She didn’t expose him. She just stared at him and said: “Oh?”

“You think I won’t kill you?” Seeing some mockery in her expression as if she didn’t believe, Pei Wenxuan grew angry. He raised his hand to grip her chin: “Based on what? This face of yours?”

“Why… are you killing me?”

The medicine was quite potent. Li Rong could barely speak smoothly. Looking at Pei Wenxuan before her was like a starving person seeing a piece of fatty meat—she wanted to pounce and devour him.

But she was always self-controlled. So she continued cooperating with Pei Wenxuan. Hearing this, Pei Wenxuan laughed coldly: “You dare ask me? You had an affair with Su Rongqing, used me, now oppose me, constantly thinking of killing me. You humiliate me in every way in daily life. As your husband, I receive not the slightest care. Shouldn’t I kill you?”

This series of questions left Li Rong bewildered. She closed her eyes, paused for a moment, then raised her head and stared at Pei Wenxuan: “Where did we make love for the first time in this lifetime?”

“You think if you seduce me, I’ll let you go?”

Pei Wenxuan sneered: “Give up hope. I have no feelings for you anymore.”

Hearing Pei Wenxuan’s words and recalling his recent actions, a thought surfaced in Li Rong’s mind.

She stared at Pei Wenxuan: “Did you damage your brain?”

“Heh,” Pei Wenxuan mocked. “Still trying to extract information from me?”

Seeing Pei Wenxuan’s appearance, Li Rong closed her eyes.

Can’t get angry.

Don’t get angry with someone who has brain problems.

After a long while, she slapped the armrest and shouted: “Someone come! Call the physician!”

“Give up hope,” Pei Wenxuan stood up, quite pitying. “This poison has no antidote.”

“No antidote?”

Li Rong was sweating profusely, as if fished from water. She stared fixedly at Pei Wenxuan. Pei Wenxuan looked at her gaze. His heart ached somewhat, also felt uncomfortable.

At this moment, Jing Mei pushed the door open and entered, respectfully saying: “Your High—”

Before finishing, she was stunned by the scene in the room.

Pei Wenxuan stood in the room looking at Li Rong, chin slightly raised in an arrogant gesture, his eyes both pitying and pained.

Li Rong sat in the chair, tightly gripping the armrests, covered in sweat, staring fixedly at Pei Wenxuan.

“Your Highness?”

Jing Mei was somewhat hesitant. Li Rong gritted her teeth: “Tie the Prince Consort to the bed for me. Immediately!”

Jing Mei knew something was wrong and immediately went out to call people.

Pei Wenxuan sighed: “Why struggle? You’re going to die anyway.”

Hearing this, Li Rong laughed coldly. Guards rushed in and tied up Pei Wenxuan securely to the bed. After tying him up, Li Rong had everyone withdraw.

Pei Wenxuan frowned, watching Li Rong undress while walking over. He felt uneasy.

“Why aren’t you dead yet?”

Li Rong sneered: “When your brain clears up, I’ll see how you die!”

After experiencing a round of passion, he felt he’d nearly died on this woman.

Why hadn’t this poison killed her?

Pei Wenxuan lay in bed, savoring the recent feelings, still somewhat confused.

Li Rong got up and dressed, calling servants in to fetch a physician.

“Last time the vase damaged his brain.”

Li Rong lowered her voice: “Have Divine Physician Xue take action.”

Pei Wenxuan sneered coldly. Knowing he had amnesia, she wanted to deceive him with this method?

He wasn’t a three-year-old child.

They put on quite a complete performance.

Before long, an old man came in, examined him, and finally determined that he had blood clots in his brain and had lost his memory. There were two methods—either through external stimulation to naturally remember, or acupuncture to restore memory.

“But acupuncture is very dangerous… It’s best if he can remember naturally. Follow his thoughts and help awaken his memory together.”

After Divine Physician Xue’s simple suggestion, Li Rong made her decision.

She naturally couldn’t let Pei Wenxuan take risks. So she would awaken his memory.

After Divine Physician Xue left, Li Rong thought about it, organized her words, and spoke with difficulty: “Wenxuan, I’m your wife…”

“Heh.” Pei Wenxuan spoke mockingly.

“We were in love before.”

“Heh heh.”

“We even have a child. Her name is Li Xi. You really like her.”

“Su Rongqing and I are in the past. Now in my heart, wholeheartedly, there’s only you.”

“Heh heh heh.”

“You have to believe me.”

“Ha,” Pei Wenxuan laughed aloud. “Crude,” Pei Wenxuan scoffed. “Your acting is too crude.”

Hearing this, Li Rong’s heart immediately felt stifled. She turned around and instructed Jing Mei: “Just do acupuncture. If he gets needled to death, so be it.”

That was naturally impossible.

Li Rong could only patiently recount the past to Pei Wenxuan.

At the same time, she investigated who gave him the medicine and what Pei Wenxuan had secretly done.

Learning the medicine came from Cui Yulang, Li Rong decided to expel him from the capital after all.

This frightened Cui Yulang into coming to the Princess’s residence overnight, tearfully begging Li Rong.

Li Rong looked at him and only said: “Your only chance to stay is to restore Pei Wenxuan to normal.”

Cui Yulang quickly agreed, promising profusely. Then he went to see Pei Wenxuan.

Recently, Pei Wenxuan felt his life was in danger and always wanted to escape. Li Rong had no choice but to lock him up.

As soon as Cui Yulang entered the room, he saw Pei Wenxuan sitting coldly behind a desk. Cui Yulang steeled himself and went inside, beginning to tell Pei Wenxuan about his beautiful love story with Li Rong.

Pei Wenxuan seemed to accept it well. Cui Yulang breathed a sigh of relief.

“I understand. I’ll treat the Princess well.”

Pei Wenxuan nodded. Both Cui Yulang and Li Rong hiding behind the door felt relieved.

Pei Wenxuan escorted Cui Yulang to the door. Cui Yulang was very happy. When they reached the entrance, Pei Wenxuan grasped Cui Yulang’s hand and passed him a piece of paper.

Cui Yulang’s body stiffened as soon as he received the paper. Pei Wenxuan nodded earnestly and turned around.

After Pei Wenxuan went back, Cui Yulang opened the note and saw written on it: “Tomorrow at the hour of mao, the Princess will pass through Vermillion Bird Lane. Set an ambush to assassinate her.”

Seeing these lines, Cui Yulang nearly collapsed to his knees.

Who could cure this illness?!

Cui Yulang failed, but barely managed to stay in Hua Jing. He was just punished by being forbidden from visiting brothels for three years, losing his beloved young ladies.

Since Cui Yulang couldn’t do it, Li Rong had to do it herself.

She took Pei Wenxuan to familiarize him with their environment.

“This is where I do my makeup. You often help me with my makeup.”

“This is where you read…”

“This is your favorite brush…”

“This is…”

“What’s this?” Pei Wenxuan pulled out a washboard from under the bed. Li Rong held back for a long time. She didn’t know if telling him this now would help his condition, but she couldn’t lie to him either. She could only reluctantly answer: “The washboard you kneel on when you make mistakes…”

She knew she shouldn’t have said it!!

Li Rong led Pei Wenxuan around the places they lived. The more she toured, the more guilty she felt.

The entire Princess’s residence was built centered around her. Pei Wenxuan’s traces weren’t many. His life seemed entirely about her.

He had only one study. Everything else merged with her. As Li Rong introduced their daily life to Pei Wenxuan, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: “You call this loving me?”

Li Rong suddenly realized she truly didn’t care enough about Pei Wenxuan.

Actually, she was just relying on too many years of accumulated feelings.

She suddenly really wanted to know—if they started over, would Pei Wenxuan still like her?

She raised her eyes to look at Pei Wenxuan. Seeing her gaze, Pei Wenxuan felt somewhat afraid: “What are you doing?”

“Never mind.”

She smiled: “How it was before doesn’t matter anymore. From today on, you just need to fall in love with me again.”

“You’re thinking quite beautifully.”

Pei Wenxuan immediately retorted. Li Rong lowered her head with a smile, not particularly concerned.

Her best quality was being especially good at execution.

From the moment she decided to be good to Pei Wenxuan, she began executing it.

Knowing what he liked, she prepared everything for him.

The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones he used were all carefully selected by her. The clothes he wore were all carefully tended by her.

He liked books, especially rare editions. She began spending large sums finding them for him.

Using incense he liked, adding things he liked.

She worked hard. Pei Wenxuan also saw it in his heart.

Every day attending court together, leaving court together, hearing everyone say they were once very loving, a match made in heaven, he also began to doubt…

Had he been wrong?

This doubt deepened daily with each time his heart fluttered.

He discovered he often thought of her, often missed her, often cared about her.

He was indeed deeply controlled by her.

Pei Wenxuan hated this version of himself. So he never showed it. Usually with colleagues and friends, he was quite cultured and refined. Only before Li Rong could he drive her crazy at any moment.

The two often quarreled while lying in the same bed.

Every time they argued, Li Rong would tell Pei Wenxuan to get out and go down.

Pei Wenxuan felt—if she told him to leave and he left, wouldn’t he lose face?

So he dominated the bed: “Not leaving.”

Li Rong had no way to deal with him. She got up to push him. Back and forth, the two ended up pushing together.

Such behavior repeatedly cycled and repeated.

Li Xi was arranged to see Pei Wenxuan every day to recount her past with him, attempting to awaken Pei Wenxuan’s fatherly love.

Seeing the glutinous rice dumpling-like Li Xi, Pei Wenxuan actually quite liked her. But fearing this was Li Rong’s scheme, he acted cold and indifferent.

Li Xi seemed not to care. Father and daughter got along with mutual respect.

Until one day, Li Xi saw Li Rong and Cui Yulang standing at the entrance talking. She walked forward and just happened to hear Cui Yulang teasing.

“Your Highness needn’t worry too much. If the Prince Consort really can’t remember, just forget it. Divorce him and find another one.”

Hearing this, Li Xi turned and ran, rushing all the way back to the inner courtyard. She grabbed Pei Wenxuan’s hand and started crying.

“Father,” Li Xi sobbed, “the pretty uncle told Mother that if you still can’t remember, she’ll divorce you and find me a stepfather…”

Seeing Li Xi cry and hearing what she said, Pei Wenxuan was immediately enraged.

He was still alive, yet someone dared covet his wife and bully his daughter!

This was intolerable!

Pei Wenxuan raised his hand to take the sword from the wall, drew it out with one pull, turned to look at Li Xi: “Come, Father will take you to seek revenge!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a vase on a shelf that had been wobbling for a while after being poked by the sword swayed and—”crack”—smashed down on Pei Wenxuan’s head.

Li Xi’s face showed shock. She shouted: “Father!”

Pei Wenxuan woke up.

He lay in bed.

After remembering everything he’d done, he felt life was meaningless. He was finished.

After a long while, he heard Li Rong enter the room. He topped with his bandaged head and struggled to climb up.

When Li Rong pushed the door open, she saw Pei Wenxuan with his head wrapped in white cloth, kneeling on the washboard, immediately kowtowing, sincerely crying out: “Wife, I was wrong!”

[End of Extra]