Ren Jingsi remained silent for a long time, but Luo Huanghun could see the emptiness and loss in his eyes.
Why bother?
Luo Huanghun sighed. No matter what, there was no going back. The bond between her and Ren Jingsi had already been severed in their previous life.
They returned to camp under the gaze of the entire crowd, and nearly everyone looked at Luo Huanghun with sympathy.
When both wife and concubine were in danger, the husband had rushed to save the concubine, leaving the wife to be swept away by wild horses and only rescuing her afterward.
The priorities were obvious.
Ren Jingsi’s actions were like a slap across Luo Huanghun’s face. Once, the noble ladies of the capital had envied her; now, they took pleasure in her misfortune.
But Luo Huanghun didn’t care at all. She returned to the Luo family’s camp and, under her family’s angry and distressed gazes, took out the divorce agreement.
“You don’t need to worry. In two months, I’ll officially divorce Ren Jingsi.”
Luo Chenhui took the agreement, checking it several times, a hint of pride in his eyes. “That’s my sister—she knows when to hold on and when to let go.”
Luo Huanghun smiled faintly, seeing both relief and worry in her mother’s eyes.
At that moment, a eunuch arrived with an imperial summons—the emperor wanted to see Luo Huanghun.
When she arrived at the emperor’s tent, Ren Jingsi was already kneeling, and his sister, the imperial consort, was at the emperor’s side.
A sense of foreboding crept into Luo Huanghun’s heart.
Sure enough, the emperor began to question her about the divorce agreement. Luo Huanghun steadied herself and told everything honestly: “Since it was a mistake, I am willing to let him go.”
Suddenly, Ren Jingsi spoke, looking deeply at Luo Huanghun. “If I send Li Linger away, would you be willing to stay?”
Luo Huanghun was stunned, turning sharply to look at him. Ren Jingsi closed his eyes, and for the first time, this proud man pleaded, “I have wronged you so much before… Can you give me another chance…?”
“I came today to ask His Majesty to revoke this divorce agreement. If you agree, I will spend my life making it up to you.”
Luo Huanghun’s heart was in turmoil. She hadn’t expected Ren Jingsi to be so resolute, to go straight to the emperor!
But she quickly regained her composure, knelt, and said to the emperor, “I am unwilling.”
“Absurd!” the imperial consort was the first to speak in anger. “Our Ren family is a noble house—we have never suffered such humiliation! Luo Huanghun, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!”
At that moment, the emperor patted the consort’s hand, and she suddenly smiled.
“Of course, I am not unreasonable. Here are your two choices, Luo Huanghun: One, return to Ren Jingsi and live as husband and wife; two, cut your hair and become a nun, and your entire Luo family will be exiled from the capital, never to return!”
Luo Huanghun clenched her fists tightly. This was sheer bullying!
To become a nun was nothing, but for her whole family to be exiled from the capital—how was that any different from banishment?
Ren Jingsi could no longer contain himself and looked at the consort in shock. “Sister, you can’t do this!”
She glanced at him. “Don’t forget, you are first a member of the Ren family, and only then Ren Jingsi.”
Ren Jingsi lowered his eyes, fists clenched, feeling despicable for the first time—but if… if this was the only way to keep Luo Huanghun by his side…
Luo Huanghun’s heart was in turmoil. Could she really let her family be ruined because of her own mistakes?
What was the point of living this life again if she couldn’t protect them?
She was nearly in despair.
At that moment, the tent flap was suddenly lifted, and everyone turned to look.
“Feng’er, what are you doing here?” the emperor asked in surprise.
A tall, imposing man strode in and knelt before the emperor. “Your Majesty, you promised me a reward for this victory. I have thought it over and have come to claim it.”
The emperor was intrigued. “Oh? I’d like to hear what’s so important.”
Murong Feng bowed. “I request an imperial marriage.”
Luo Huanghun’s heart skipped a beat.
The imperial consort was also surprised. “I’d like to know which lady is so fortunate as to win Prince Guangling’s favor?”
Everyone knew that Prince Guangling, Murong Feng, was known for his strictness and aloofness. Most thought he’d never marry, let alone use his military merits to request a marriage!
Murong Feng looked straight at Luo Huanghun. She felt his gaze and looked back.
Their eyes met, and suddenly Luo Huanghun understood the meaning in his eyes. Her heart trembled, and she closed her eyes, her hands shaking.
Murong Feng spoke, each word clear and forceful: “I wish to take Luo Huanghun as my wife, and I vow never to betray her in life or death. I beg Your Majesty to grant this.”
His words rang out like thunder.
Ren Jingsi’s whole body shook. He looked up in disbelief.
Luo Huanghun’s heart soared, a thousand wild deer stampeding within her. She looked up, meeting Murong Feng’s confident, gentle gaze—a single glance that would last a lifetime.