Three months is enough time to accomplish a lot.
Ren Jingsi really did bring Li Linger into the household, spending every night at her side. They discussed poetry and philosophy, talked about life, and seemed perfectly happy together.
Occasionally, when the two strolled through the gardens and ran into Luo Huanghun, Ren Jingsi would simply frown at her, while Li Linger’s manners were always impeccable.
It made sense—after all, in just two more months, Li Linger would officially become the main wife. What harm was there in keeping her head down for now?
The servants of the Ren family became even more disrespectful toward Luo Huanghun, the “first young madam,” but she didn’t care at all.
Using the excuse of wanting to eat vegetarian and recite scriptures, Luo Huanghun moved to a side courtyard where there were fewer people and she could act more freely.
She’d already mapped out the Ren estate and determined that Luo Chenhui’s personal seal was most likely in the Prime Minister’s study.
She just needed a good reason to approach without arousing suspicion. So, she personally made a bowl of soup—after all, a daughter-in-law delivering soup to her father-in-law was perfectly appropriate.
Luo Huanghun had Qingmei carry the soup, and, feigning nervousness, entered the Prime Minister’s study. In the end, she found the seal in a corner of the display shelf. He hadn’t even bothered to hide it, a sign of how confident he was in controlling the Luo family.
Before Luo Huanghun could even feel angry, the call of a cuckoo sounded outside—the secret signal she’d agreed on with Qingmei: someone was coming!
She hurried out, and as she closed the door, she saw the Prime Minister approaching, his eyes fixed on her. “What are you doing here?”
Luo Huanghun replied respectfully, “I brought soup for Father-in-law.”
The Prime Minister said nothing, but his penetrating eyes bore into her. Luo Huanghun felt cold sweat on her back, and Qingmei’s hands were trembling as she held the soup.
This couldn’t go on—they’d give themselves away!
Just then, a figure appeared at her side. Ren Jingsi grabbed Luo Huanghun’s hand and said to the Prime Minister, “The soup was quite good, so I asked her to bring you a bowl.”
Luo Huanghun was startled, but the Prime Minister’s dangerous aura vanished as he smiled. “Is that so? In the future, just have the servants bring it.”
“It’s just a gesture of filial piety,” Ren Jingsi replied, then led Luo Huanghun away.
The Prime Minister looked at the soup on his desk, then walked to the display shelf, opened a box, and looked at the seal lying quietly inside. He closed the lid and poured the soup away.
Ren Jingsi accompanied Luo Huanghun back to the side courtyard. She thanked him politely, “Thank you, Husband.”
For some reason, seeing her so proper and distant, Ren Jingsi felt a strange irritation.
He already had the woman he loved most, Li Linger. In two months, the divorce would be finalized and Li Linger would become his wife. They would live happily ever after.
Yet, seeing how little Luo Huanghun cared for him now, he found it hard to accept.
Sometimes, while staying with Li Linger, he would suddenly remember the way Luo Huanghun used to look at him, her eyes full of affection.
He would find himself wandering to the side courtyard, watching the warm lights inside, listening to Luo Huanghun and Qingmei’s laughter, feeling a strange emptiness.
So, whenever he and Li Linger saw Luo Huanghun, he’d deliberately act more affectionate toward Li Linger, but Luo Huanghun seemed completely indifferent. He could only keep up a cold façade, pretending not to care.
Yet this thorn remained in his heart: Luo Huanghun didn’t care about him anymore.
He didn’t know when it started, but whenever Luo Huanghun looked at him now, she would greet him gently and politely, her eyes completely devoid of him.
When had it changed? Maybe it was on their wedding night, when he left her alone to be with Li Linger.
Now, Ren Jingsi finally understood—he regretted it.
Luo Huanghun didn’t wait for Ren Jingsi to speak, nor did she care. She simply turned to go inside.
But he grabbed her hand and looked at her intently. “Can I stay here tonight? Do you want me to stay?”
Luo Huanghun looked up at Ren Jingsi, seeing her own reflection in his eyes. His hand was warm and real, and for a moment, it was almost the scene she had longed for most in her previous life. Her nose stung, and she nearly wept.
But only nearly.
The next second, Luo Huanghun firmly pulled her hand free and smiled. “Better not. My place is too simple; I’m afraid you wouldn’t sleep well.”
Ren Jingsi stumbled away in defeat.