On the morning of the second day after the wedding, it was time to serve tea to the elders. While Ren Jingsi had no qualms about humiliating Luo Huanghun in private, he still valued his public reputation. Thus, he returned early and waited outside the door with a thin smile playing on his lips.

Seeing Luo Huanghun dressing before the mirror, he cast a sidelong glance at her reflection. Her face was as radiant as peaches and plums, her eyes as spirited as autumn ripples. Despite spending her wedding night in a cold, empty room, there wasn’t a single trace of tears on her face.

The two walked side by side, yet a deliberate distance remained between them, shrouded in an eerie silence.

It wasn’t until they reached Shou’an Hall that Ren Jingsi’s voice drifted from behind her. “The Luo family is supposed to be a scholarly household. Did they really raise a daughter who doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘shameless’?”

Luo Huanghun was momentarily taken aback, but upon seeing the look of pure loathing on his face, she understood his meaning.

The Prime Minister’s estate was exquisitely designed, with winding corridors and pavilions that twisted and turned. Ren Jingsi hadn’t guided her, yet she hadn’t made a single wrong turn. In his mind, the only explanation was that she must have sneaked in before the wedding to scout the layout.

This was the impression he had always held of her. She had no desire to argue. Suddenly, she felt a tug on her hand, and in the next heartbeat, it was enveloped in warmth.

It was Ren Jingsi, clasping her hand firmly within his palm.

It was warm, and Luo Huanghun’s first instinct was to pull away, but she restrained herself. The doors to Shou’an Hall were wide open, and the Ren family was already watching them.

Seated at the head of the hall was a dignified and elegant middle-aged woman—Ren Jingsi’s mother. Leading Luo Huanghun, Ren Jingsi offered his respects. “Greetings, Mother.”

Inside the hall, Ren Jingsi played the part perfectly, placing food in her bowl during the meal and introducing her to each member of the Ren family. He was never a man of many words, nor did he stare, but whenever his gaze happened to fall upon her, it was always quiet and tender.

Across the small tea table, he held her hand and suddenly asked, “Did my wife rest well last night?”

Well? On their wedding night, her husband had stayed out until dawn, dallying with another woman. What woman would find that “well”? He was doing this solely to spite her.

Luo Huanghun took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I did.”

The moment they returned to their own courtyard, before Ren Jingsi could even let go, she pulled her hand away with impatient haste.

“This act of a devoted couple is fine for an audience, but now that we’re back in our quarters, I suggest you drop the performance,” Luo Huanghun said coldly, taking a step forward before glancing back at him.

It was currently the hour of twilight. The golden-red glow of the setting sun cast a romantic, lingering hue over the high white walls.

“So you’re resentful now? Luo Huanghun, don’t be so ungrateful.”

Ungrateful? Ren Jingsi was known for his gentle and refined manner; this was likely the first time he had ever spoken of someone in such a way.

Luo Huanghun closed her eyes and took the blow without a word of protest. Instead, she followed his lead. “You’re right. I was ungrateful in the past, pestering you as I did. I know now that I was wrong. Since that is the case, let us divorce.”

“Divorce? Do you really think I’d believe that?” Ren Jingsi let out a cold sneer.

“I am aware that we only wed yesterday, and a divorce today is out of the question. It would damage the reputations of both the Prime Minister’s Manor and the Luo family. Therefore, the term shall be six months. Once those six months are up, we shall go our separate ways, with no further ties between us.” As she spoke, she handed him the letter of divorce she had prepared in advance.

First: The two shall treat each other with mutual respect in public, but shall not interfere with one another in private.

Second: She shall fully support Ren Jingsi in taking concubines or bringing women into the household.

Third: Once the six-month term expires, they shall return to being strangers, their paths never to cross again.

The date at the end was indeed set for six months later. Luo Huanghun had already signed her name. The evening light was partitioned by the high walls, but looking out, the sunset was breathtakingly beautiful.

Ren Jingsi took up the brush and signed his name with a swift, decisive stroke.

The morning after the wedding, it was customary to serve tea to the elders. Ren Jingsi might have been willing to humiliate Luo Huanghun, but he still cared about his public reputation, so he returned early and waited outside the door with a faint smile.

Watching Luo Huanghun apply her makeup in the mirror, he glanced sideways at her reflection. Her face was as lovely as a peach blossom, and her eyes were as bright and clear as water. Despite spending her wedding night alone in an empty room, there wasn’t a single trace of tears on her face.

The two walked together, yet a fixed distance remained between them, maintaining a strange, heavy silence.

It wasn’t until they reached Shou’an Hall that Ren Jingsi’s voice came from behind her: “The Luo family is a scholarly household; how is it that the daughter they raised doesn’t even know how to write the words ‘shameless’?”

Luo Huanghun was taken aback for a moment, but upon seeing the look of disgust on his face, she understood what he meant.

The Prime Minister’s residence was designed with exquisite complexity, filled with winding corridors and pavilions. Ren Jingsi hadn’t led the way for her, yet she hadn’t taken a single wrong step. He could only assume she had snuck in before marrying him to map out the terrain.

In his mind, this was the impression he held of Luo Huanghun. She had no desire to argue, but suddenly, she felt her hand being pulled, and the next moment, it was enveloped in warmth.

It was Ren Jingsi, gripping her hand in his palm.

It was very warm, and Luo Huanghun instinctively wanted to pull away, but she held back because the doors of Shou’an Hall were wide open, and the Ren family members were already looking their way.

Sitting in the center of the hall was a dignified and graceful middle-aged woman—Ren Jingsi’s mother. Ren Jingsi led Luo Huanghun forward to pay their respects: “Greetings, Mother.”

Inside the hall, Ren Jingsi would place food in her bowl during the meal and introduce the Ren family members to her one by one. He was never a man of many words, nor did he stare at her constantly, but whenever his gaze occasionally landed on her, it was quiet and gentle.

Across the small table, he held her hand and suddenly asked, “Did you rest well last night, my lady?”

Rest well? On their wedding night, her husband had stayed out all night, whispering sweet nothings to another woman—what woman would feel well? He was doing this to intentionally disgust her.

Luo Huanghun took a deep breath and put on a smile: “I did.”

Once they returned to their own courtyard, she didn’t wait for Ren Jingsi to let go; she pulled her hand away impatiently.

“The act of being a loving couple is fine for others to see, but once we’re inside this courtyard, I hope you can put away this performance.” Luo Huanghun took a step forward and looked back to say coldly.

It was dusk, and the golden-red sunset painted the high white walls with a lingering, melancholic glow.

“You’re still holding a grudge? Luo Huanghun, don’t be ungrateful.”

Ungrateful? Ren Jingsi was known for his gentle and kind demeanor; this was likely the first time he had ever judged someone this way.

Luo Huanghun closed her eyes, accepting the remark without refuting him. Instead, she followed his lead: “You’re right. In the past, I was the one who was ungrateful and pestered you incessantly. Now I know I was wrong. Since that’s the case, let’s divorce.”

“Divorce? Do you think I’ll believe that?” Ren Jingsi sneered.

“I know we only married yesterday, so we certainly can’t divorce today. It would damage the reputation of both the Prime Minister’s residence and the Luo family. So, let’s set a term of six months. Once the six months are up, you and I will have no further ties.” As she spoke, she handed over a divorce agreement she had already written.

First: The two shall treat each other with mutual respect in public, but interfere with each other not at all in private.

Second: She will support him in taking concubines or bringing women into the household without objection.

Third: Once the six-month term expires, the two shall go their separate ways, returning to their own lives.

The date at the bottom was indeed six months later, and Luo Huanghun had already signed her name. The evening light was sliced by the high walls, and looking outside, the sunset was infinitely beautiful.

Ren Jingsi picked up a brush and signed his name with a clean, decisive stroke.