Long Yue silently watched the handsome young man sitting opposite her.
The room was a bit dim, with an oil lamp lit not far away. The tiny flame gently flickered, reflecting the youth's bright, dark eyes.
He was carefully sorting out a messy bundle of thread, with a serious and solemn expression. Nearby lay a damaged garment, probably being mended.
Long Yue tapped her head, her mind still somewhat muddled. She tried to open her eyes wide, observing the familiar yet strange surroundings, feeling as though she were dreaming.
The elder had said that if a person had a great longing before death, they could walk the path of reincarnation.
Looking at the youthful face of her Prime Minister under the candlelight, a tear unknowingly slid down Long Yue's cheek.
Salty.
So good.
I've been reborn!
The scene before her was from a month after marrying into the Li family, when she had torn her clothes in a fight with the woman next door from the Zhang Family.
Back then, her Prime Minister was just as attentive in mending her clothes.
For a moment, her pent-up grievances surged like a tide, nearly making Long Yue cry.
She had been framed by her half-sister for misconduct, and her father, feeling disgrace, actually married her off to the poorest man of the Li family in their rural home of Qingshui Village!
No bridal sedan, nor the formal marriage rituals, a noble lady from the prestigious Minister Mansion was thus forced to marry into the impoverished Li family!
She was full of resentment!
She treated the Li family and her Prime Minister poorly, often quarreling and cursing, with no support from her parents, relying only on her grievances to protect herself, unexpectedly earning the nickname "Evil Woman Li" from the villagers!
However, the thing that Long Yue never anticipated was that this poor husband, whom she looked down upon, would rise from a lowly official to a prominent Vice Minister within just a few short years after their divorce!
Though ruthless to outsiders, he was always submissive only in front of her!
"Slap!"
Long Yue angrily slapped herself. How could she have been so blind in her previous life, cherishing the wicked sister and dismissing the man who had treated her kindly?
The slap was loud, startling Li Qingmu, who was busy with work. He hurriedly put down his task and nervously grabbed Long Yue's hand.
"Why did you hit yourself, my wife? Is there something I did wrong? If you're angry, then hit me..."
His words were halted by a pair of jade-white hands covering his mouth.
Long Yue widened her almond eyes, staring at him. He was always so weak around her, often picking faults in himself, which was truly annoying!
A man should be assertive!
"You have nothing to do with it. It's the mosquitoes; they're making me irritable!"
Li Qingmu blinked, feeling that his wife was a bit different today. Previously, she would get angry at him after just a few words, but today she seemed gentle.
He was momentarily dazed. Seeing his expression, Long Yue said discontentedly, "Why are you staring at me? Do you think you can find a flower on my face?"
"My wife is as beautiful as a flower."
"..."
Long Yue burst out laughing. How had she not noticed this man's playful side before?
Hmm, she must have been too harsh in disliking him in her previous life.
Then he looked down and softly said, "My wife is different from yesterday."
Long Yue secretly delighted. Having come back through reincarnation, how could she be the same? In her previous life, she discarded this thick thigh like a weed, but in this life, she intended to hold on tightly.
Then she recalled something that might be a thorn in their marriage and realized it must be removed early.
She feigned a pitiful expression and said, "I was framed by my sister and lost a good marriage, then my father exiled me from the Capital City to the rural home, and I have resentment in my heart. I know I've wrongfully vented my anger on you all lately, but I'm more worried that your Prime Minister might have a bias against me due to those rumors..."
So, are those gossip bothersome to you?
After being forced to marry Li Qingmu, her "good sister" brought some "rumors" with her, and just after the wedding, the village was full of ugly talk about her "unchastity," "fickleness." During that time, the Li family had no peace, and her temper grew rather terrible.
At her divorce with Li Qingmu in her past life, she was still a virgin, and he was quite good to her, but that goodness didn't lead to anything further. Reflecting now, it related closely to this affair!
Now reborn, this thorn needed to be removed first!
As she spoke, she looked up and sneakily glanced at the man, her delicate, charming figure capturing hearts, making Li Qingmu's heart skip a beat.
Feeling that staring at her so directly was a bit much, he quickly lowered his head to conceal his embarrassment. "My wife is noble, and it's already my fortune to marry you, my wife. I only want to live well with you, and dare not think of anything else."
Long Yue gave him a cold glance. This broke man, saying things so cautiously, at first sounding considerate, but upon reflection, she found he had sidestepped her question.
Long Yue knew she was innocent, but outsiders thought otherwise. Did he mind, given his words?
Seeing his calm demeanor, Long Yue knew this man had a deep mind.
Humph, interesting!
In her past life, he showed her a feeble side, but in this life, she must tear off his "hypocritical" mask to see what's beneath!
"Why is my wife staring at me? Could it be you also think there's a flower on my face?"
Uh...
Long Yue realized she'd indeed stared at him for a while, resulting in his lame excuse. This person was petty and not at all kind!
However, speaking of it, this man was indeed good-looking. If it wasn't for his impoverished family, and a father with a lame leg needing medication all year round, many girls in the village would have thrown themselves at him.
"Bang bang bang!"
Suddenly, an urgent knocking sounded outside, followed by a coarse, grating voice: "Li family people, get out here quickly! Otherwise, I'll smash your gate!"
The loud voice broke the morning's calm, yet the Li family showed no response.
Long Yue pursed her lips at this group of timid fools.
Her Prime Minister was third in line, with two older brothers, one younger brother, and one younger sister. Her mother-in-law was weak, often scolded by the second sister-in-law. After she entered the family, she also criticized. Her father-in-law ignored everything due to his crippled legs. The eldest and second brothers feared conflict, and the fourth brother was merely a ten-year-old child...
Long Yue covered her face. In the past life, she hadn't paid attention to this family, not caring for affairs and even fueling the fire. But in this life, wanting to live well with Li Qingmu, she discovered the whole family was unreliable...
"Quickly, get out here, you bunch of turtle son-of-a-guns, useless wimps, cowards who won't face their mistakes. I spit on you!"
"Bang bang!"
The scolding was offensive, and Mrs. Li Zhou worried about losing face in front of the neighbors, urging the eldest to take a look, saying, "Da Lang, aren't you going out to check? What's causing such a commotion?"
"Mother, this doesn't concern the first house's affairs!" the eldest daughter-in-law Mrs. Wang replied.
"Mom, I have no idea either!" Li Qinghai, the second son, said.
Long Yue looked at this family with disdain, ready to head out, but was a step too late. Her own man was already outside.
Her eyes lit up as she remembered when the Li family faced troubles in her past life, it was always her Prime Minister who stepped up. He was the only one in the family who took responsibility, but current matters weren't suitable for him to handle, so Long Yue hastily chased after him to stop him.
With her almond eyes slightly raised, she playfully remarked, "Why is a big man like you meddling in women's affairs? At times like this, it should be me, the Evil Woman Li, to step forward!"