Chapter 2

"When you're exhausted at night and can't satisfy Adelina's demands anymore, light this incense, and you'll instantly think of how considerate and caring I am.

Then, you'll be so moved that you'll try even harder, thinking, 'What a virtuous and magnanimous empress!'

With this smooth little combo, you'll be so enchanted by me that you'll turn into an idiot. "Hahaha, I'm such a genius!"

I was screaming internally, so happy I could barely contain myself.

Rodger covered his ears and hastily said, "I'm leaving now."

I used my wide sleeve to cover my face, pretending to be sad, but actually hiding my twisted, laughing expression.

"Yay! Time to sneak out of the palace!"

I had been in this ancient romance novel for three years.

The original character was an unloved empress.

The female lead, Jayne Quinn, was someone Rodger fell in love with at first sight during a casual stroll among the commoners and brought back to the palace.

The original empress, out of jealousy, constantly schemed against the favored Jayne and tried every trick to seduce Rodger.

For example, she drugged Rodger to get pregnant, framed Jayne for having an affair with a guard, and even made Jayne kneel while pregnant.

In the end, her failed assassination attempt on Jayne was exposed, and Rodger, in a rage, beheaded her, threw her body into a mass grave, where it was torn apart by wild dogs.

She became the first headless empress of the dynasty.

Unlike the original character, I didn't love Rodger, but I was interested in his wealth.

The book clearly stated that although Rodger didn't love the empress, he felt grateful and guilty towards her for helping him ascend to the throne. Since he couldn't give her love, he planned to divorce her and compensate her with a large fortune.

However, the original empress, blinded by love, did too many terrible things and was executed before that could happen.

I was different; I just wanted the money.

The system had told me early on that the deeper Rodger's guilt towards me, the more money he would give me when the time came.

Over the past three years, I had tried my best to play the role of a magnanimous and virtuous empress. To earn enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life, I had practically embodied the word "pushover."

When Rodger took a new favorite into the palace, I generously gave her the palace which was previously reserved for concubines.

When his new favorite liked to wear dresses with yellow peonies, I ordered all the peony fabrics in the palace to be sent to her.

When Rodger felt lonely at night, I personally suggested changing the triennial selection of concubines to once every three months to fill the harem.

The empress dowager praised me for being sensible and understanding.

Dayna was so angry that she scolded me for being spineless and pushing the emperor away.

But I couldn't wait for him to find someone else so I could solidify my reputation as a virtuous wife.

Back in the palace, I quickly dismissed the other servants and called Dayna to help me change into eunuch clothes. We applied several layers of powder to our faces to ensure our original appearances wouldn't be recognized.

If anyone saw us at night, they would think we were two hanged eunuchs, not the empress known for her sensibility and her personal maid.

Time to have fun outside the palace!

I pulled Dayna along, giggling as we headed out. But before we reached the side gate, a stern face appeared in front of us.

Rodger was leaning against the door, arms crossed, his eyes scanning Dayna and me up and down, the corner of his eye twitching violently.

"My empress, where are you going?"

"Your Majesty, please listen to me explain... I mean, not explain away, but really explain!"

"Your Majesty, it's all my fault. I wanted to take the empress out to play. If you must blame someone, blame me, but please don't involve the empress!"