He didn’t look at Xu Shi, but instead shouted at a middle-aged woman on the outskirts of the crowd, using a bit of internal force: “Sister Xu, aren’t you going to come out and explain? Mingxing has never been good at needlework. Where did such an exquisite pouch come from? This false accusation of yours is enough to kill Mingxing! When did I ever become your enemy that you want to sully my reputation like this? Now that you and your husband are insulting me like this, what are your intentions?”

The onlooking villagers followed Pei Yuanshao’s line of sight and discovered Xu Chun’s wife-master, Xu Fugui, on the outskirts of the crowd.

Xu Fugui’s dark face turned pale. Seeing that her husband had made the matter public and everyone knew about it, she knew things weren’t good. At this moment, being directly questioned and exposed by Pei Yuanshao in front of the crowd, she guiltily averted her eyes.

Her face was difficult and ashen. She fiercely glared at her good-for-nothing husband who was standing akimbo and shouting, then pushed through the crowd, grabbed Xu Chun’s hand with her thick arm, and dragged him out.

Xu Shi’s face wasn’t much better. Seeing that there was more to this matter, he still wanted to persist, but when he raised his head, he saw his wife-master’s warning gaze.

Xu Fugui had a violent temper. If he really didn’t listen, his wife-master would beat him ruthlessly. Thinking of the pain of the wooden stick hitting his body, no matter how glib-tongued Xu Shi was, he finally shut his mouth.

The villagers were all familiar with each other. Seeing Xu Fugui’s expression, they knew that Liu Shi probably wasn’t lying.

Watching the drama with a twist was even more exciting than the storyteller’s tales.

The onlooking villagers showed a look of sudden realization. Coming to their senses, they began to whisper among themselves.

“Alas! Liu Shi has suffered an unjust calamity today. Although he is a bit frivolous, he can’t be with just any woman, right?”

“With Li Fugui’s appearance, how could Liu Shi fancy her? Only Xu Shi would believe it.”

“I said, a few days ago, I saw with my own eyes Xu Fugui going out of the village, laughing and talking with a young man from the neighboring Li family village. How could it be Liu Shi today? It turns out it was a false accusation!”

“Although Liu Shi usually chats and laughs with many women in the village, isn’t that because he’s as beautiful as a demon, and the women take the initiative to strike up a conversation with him out of lust? Even so, have you ever seen him getting intimate with anyone? He’s been keeping himself pure! After all, if this were true and he really had an affair, how could that mistress of his in the county continue to keep him?”

“Yes, yes, yes. In comparison, Liu Shi is just a pitiful person!”

…

The surrounding villagers chattered endlessly. Pei Yuanshao smiled at the corner of his mouth, no longer continuing to listen. In the not-too-distant bush, there was still a figure hiding, the hiding position unchanged. Fool!

He glanced over without a trace and slammed the front door shut with a “bang.”

The once-brilliant Emperor of Mingde, even though he had fallen from grace a year ago and woke up with a greatly changed temperament, indulging in beauties, was not someone any Tom, Dick, or Harry could match.

Usually frivolous, when women approached him, if he found them pleasing to the eye, he could tease them for fun. But he definitely would not allow a country woman to touch even a corner of his clothes.

As the once-glorious Emperor, even if he was lustful, the objects of his “pleasures” could be the legitimate second daughter of the county magistrate, the beautiful Lady Guan Yunyun, but not a crude country woman. Otherwise, it would be easier to arouse the suspicion of that beloved younger brother in the palace!

Acting half-real and half-fake was perfect.

Pei Yuanshao, who thought himself profoundly versed in this way, left many bitter tears for his sincere performance many years later.

−

On this side of the story, Pei Yuanshao closed the door, turned around, and saw that under the only big banyan tree in the courtyard, there was an old rocking chair. Liu Changning was lying on it at ease, sipping hot water from a cup.

In the summer heat, the hot water entered her throat, and fine beads of sweat oozed out on her forehead. The sweat slid down her facial contours from her forehead hair, disappearing into the ground silently.

Pei Yuanshao’s eyes were filled with surprise. He had never seen such an indifferent expression on her face.

At this moment, upon careful observation, the feeling of losing control grew stronger.

Doubts in his heart, but not showing on his face, he walked towards her step by step, his brows and eyes raised, a smile on his lips as he greeted her: “Wife-master, you’re awake?”

The person opposite lifted her eyelids, gazed at him for a moment, her sallow face expressionless.

For the past month, although the two lived under the same roof, they had few interactions.