For the next two days, Ren Jingsi did not show his face. He only sent word through a messenger saying he was busy with official matters.

The message wasn’t really meant for her; it was just to save face in front of outsiders. Luo Huanghun didn’t care in the slightest.

When it came time for the return visit, Luo Huanghun didn’t wait for Ren Jingsi. When she saw her parents waiting in the parlor, she remembered their tragic fate after being sent into exile and threw herself into her mother’s arms, weeping uncontrollably.

This was what she had wanted to do most when she was a wandering ghost, but every time she had tried to reach out, she had grasped only shadows. She couldn’t help but hold on a little tighter.

Lady Luo held her daughter, asking anxiously what was wrong. Luo Huanghun shook her head, saying only that she had missed home, mentioning nothing else.

A teasing voice came from the side: “My sister has certainly learned how to be affectionate after getting married.”

Luo Huanghun looked up at the sound and saw her brother, Luo Chenhui. He was sitting there perfectly fine, looking bright and healthy in the sunlight—not covered in blood, not dead from a volley of arrows. His eyes held the same worry as their mother’s.

She blinked, tears rolling down her cheeks. Before she could even call out “Brother,” Luo Chenhui tossed a handkerchief at her with mock annoyance. “What are you crying for? Your eyes are all swollen. You look like a little mess.”

It was so good to see them. Everyone was here. As Luo Huanghun looked at Luo Chenhui, she remembered something of vital importance.

Luo Chenhui had once lost a private seal engraved with the words “The Carefree Wanderer.” He had originally had it made just for fun with some friends, so he hadn’t cared when it went missing. But that seal eventually became a key piece of evidence used by Prime Minister Ren to frame Luo Chenhui for treason. Later, they used false information to lure him into moving his troops, only to have him gunned down by arrows atop the city gates.

Luo Huanghun dared not forget a single detail. As she thought about it, she pretended to bring it up casually. “Brother, didn’t you have a private seal? Can I see it?”

Luo Chenhui thought for a moment and waved his hand dismissively. “It went missing after I came back from that poetry gathering last time. If you want one, I’ll carve one for you.”

The poetry gathering… Luo Chenhui had always been impatient with such things, so he wouldn’t have noticed if something went missing.

Luo Huanghun pressed him immediately. “Which poetry gathering?”

Luo Chenhui smiled. “Why, the one hosted by your dear husband’s family, the Rens, of course! A little maid spilled something on my clothes, and by the time I’d changed and come back, it was gone.”

Luo Huanghun bit her lip hard, her eyes burning with a hidden fire. It really was the Ren family!

No, she had to get that seal back! Otherwise, Luo Chenhui would die, and the rest of the Luo family would not escape their fate either.

She was preoccupied during the meal that followed. Suddenly, Lady Luo asked, “Where is Ren Jingsi? Why didn’t he come back with you?”

Luo Huanghun said nothing. In the eyes of the Luo family, how could this be seen as anything other than her being mistreated?

Lady Luo slammed her hand on the table. “Preposterous! It’s only been a few days, and he already thinks he can disregard our Ling’er?” She turned to Luo Huanghun. “Don’t be in a hurry to go back. I haven’t been feeling well lately. Go to the White Horse Temple with your brother to burn incense and pray for my health.”

Luo Huanghun wanted to go back immediately to deal with the seal, but since her mother had framed it as praying for her health, she had no choice but to agree.

However, as they were heading out, they ran into a hurried Ren Jingsi.

There was anger in Ren Jingsi’s eyes, though his face wore a mask of refined, gentle smiles. “Why did my wife return home without waiting for me?”

Luo Huanghun stood tall, her expression indifferent, the picture of a gentle and virtuous wife. “My husband’s official business is more important. These trivial matters are of no consequence.”

She followed every rule of etiquette; he couldn’t find a single fault in her behavior.

Ren Jingsi stared intently at Luo Huanghun, as if trying to find some sign of hidden resentment on her face, but he saw not a trace of indignation or grievance.

At that moment, Luo Chenhui rode forward on his horse, blocking Ren Jingsi’s view. As the two men locked eyes, Luo Huanghun felt as if sparks were flying in the air.

The two had never gotten along since childhood. Furthermore, Luo Chenhui doted on his sister. Seeing how Ren Jingsi neglected her so soon after their wedding, how could he hold back?

Luo Chenhui let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Lord Ren is such a busy man of importance. How could we possibly trouble you with something as minor as a return visit?”

Ren Jingsi’s brow furrowed slightly. “It is my duty, after all. If I didn’t come, I fear some people would be dissatisfied and rumors would spread.”

He was implying that Luo Huanghun was neither broad-minded nor virtuous.

Fury flared on Luo Chenhui’s face. He had just started to raise his hand when Luo Huanghun pressed it down.

Luo Huanghun gave a faint smile, one so bright it seemed to make the daylight even clearer. “There is no need for my husband to worry. I have no dissatisfaction. However, I cannot delay praying for my mother’s health. I will return once I am finished.”

She gave Ren Jingsi a slow, formal bow. “Please, suit yourself, husband.”

With that, Luo Huanghun began urging Luo Chenhui to set off.

For some reason, seeing Luo Huanghun’s complete lack of concern, Ren Jingsi found himself spurring his horse to follow them before he even realized what he was doing.

For the next two days, Ren Jingsi did not appear, only sending word that he was busy with matters.

The message wasn’t meant for her anyway; it was just to silence outsiders. Luo Huanghun didn’t care.

When she returned home, Luo Huanghun didn’t wait for Ren Jingsi. Seeing her parents waiting in the flower hall, she remembered their miserable fate after being exiled and threw herself into her mother’s arms, weeping.

This was the one thing she had wanted to do most while wandering as a spirit, but every time she had tried, she had only grasped at shadows. She couldn’t help but hold them tighter.

Her mother hugged her, asking worriedly what was wrong. Luo Huanghun shook her head, saying only that she missed home, mentioning nothing else.

A teasing voice came from the side: “My sister has learned to be affectionate now that she’s married.”

Luo Huanghun looked up and saw her brother, Luo Chenhui. He was sitting there perfectly fine, healthy and vibrant, not covered in blood or killed by arrows. The look in his eyes was just as worried as their mother’s.

She blinked, tears sliding down her cheeks. Before she could even call out “Brother,” he tossed a handkerchief at her with feigned annoyance: “What are you crying for? Your eyes are all swollen, you look like a little kitten.”

It was so good. Everyone was here. Luo Huanghun studied Luo Chenhui, remembering something of vital importance.

Luo Chenhui had once lost a personal seal engraved with the words “A Carefree Traveler in the Mortal World.” He had only had it made as a bit of fun with friends, so he hadn’t cared when it went missing. But that seal eventually became one of the key pieces of evidence the Prime Minister used to frame Luo Chenhui for treason. Later, he even forged orders to lure Luo Chenhui into moving his troops, only to have him shot to death on the city gate.

Luo Huanghun dared not forget a single detail. As she thought about it, she casually brought it up: “Brother, didn’t you have a personal seal? Could I see it?”

Luo Chenhui thought for a moment and waved his hand dismissively: “It went missing after I attended a poetry gathering last time. If you want one, I’ll have one carved for you.”

A poetry gathering… Luo Chenhui had always been impatient with such things, so he wouldn’t have cared about losing a trinket.

Luo Huanghun quickly pressed: “Which poetry gathering?”

Luo Chenhui smiled: “Why, the one hosted by your good husband, the Ren family’s gathering, of course! My clothes got wet from a maidservant, and after I changed, it was gone.”

Luo Huanghun bit her lip, her eyes burning like fire. It really was the Ren family!

No, she had to get that seal back! Otherwise, Luo Chenhui would die, and the Luo family wouldn’t escape either!

During the meal that followed, she was preoccupied. Her mother suddenly asked: “Where is Ren Jingsi? Why didn’t he come back with you?”

Luo Huanghun didn’t speak. To the Luo family, this looked like she was being bullied.

Her mother slammed the table: “This is outrageous! It’s only been a few days and he already doesn’t hold our Ling’er in any regard?” She turned to Luo Huanghun: “Don’t rush back yet. I haven’t been feeling well lately; you and your brother go to Baima Temple to burn incense and pray for me.”

Luo Huanghun wanted to rush back to deal with the seal, but since her mother had already brought up praying for her, she had no choice but to agree.

However, as they were leaving, they ran into a rushing Ren Jingsi.

There was anger in Ren Jingsi’s eyes, but his face wore a gentle, refined smile: “Why did my lady return without waiting for me?”

Luo Huanghun stood tall, her expression calm, looking the picture of a gentle and virtuous wife: “My husband’s official duties are important; these small matters don’t matter.”

She was perfectly proper, without a single flaw to be found.

Ren Jingsi stared at her, as if trying to find a trace of hypocrisy on her face, but he couldn’t see a hint of resentment or grievance.

At this moment, Luo Chenhui rode his horse forward, blocking Ren Jingsi’s view. The two men locked eyes, and Luo Huanghun felt sparks flying in the air.

The two had been at odds since they were young, and with Luo Chenhui’s love for his sister, how could he tolerate seeing Ren Jingsi be so indifferent to her just after their wedding?

Luo Chenhui sneered, mocking: “Lord Ren is a busy man of high status; why would such a trivial matter as a return visit trouble you?”

Ren Jingsi’s brows furrowed slightly: “It is my duty, after all. I feared that if I didn’t come, someone might be dissatisfied and rumors might spread.”

This was a jab, implying that Luo Huanghun was neither magnanimous nor virtuous.

Anger flared on Luo Chenhui’s face. Just as he raised his hand, Luo Huanghun pressed it down.

Luo Huanghun smiled slightly, making the daylight seem brighter: “My husband need not worry. I have no dissatisfaction. It is just that praying for my mother cannot be delayed. I will return once it is finished.”

She bowed slowly to Ren Jingsi: “My husband may do as he pleases.”

With that, Luo Huanghun began to urge Luo Chenhui to depart.

For some reason, watching Luo Huanghun’s indifferent demeanor, by the time Ren Jingsi realized what he was doing, he was already spurring his horse to follow them.