This was the woman who had publicly called off the wedding on the day of the grand ceremony, humiliating him in front of the hundred officials and his father, the emperor.
This was the woman who, on the very day of the annulment, ran to his brother’s residence and boldly declared her intention to marry his brother instead.
This was… the woman who dared to lay hands on him.
Everything about her violated his deepest taboos.
So, how could this possibly be the woman that Xiao Hanjin would persistently chase after, refusing to let go?
Even back then, when it came to her, he had merely asked “why” without any attempt to reconcile. Yet now, he was confronting Di Ronghua with such an aggressive stance, stubbornly clinging on without releasing his grip.
All the harsh, venomous words seemed like a desperate rebound in a moment of panic, like reckless speech uttered under extreme pressure.
It was like… a child who had lost his candy, powerless and resorting to the most primitive form of noise to attract attention.
Mu Qingshuang’s lips trembled slightly as she suddenly clenched her fists.
She had always felt that she didn’t understand him, couldn’t read him, but at this moment, it seemed she understood him all too well.
“Han Jin.”
Mu Qingshuang closed her eyes and spoke softly, “I believe the princess must be extremely angry today to act this way. Everything that happened today is my fault.” She turned to Di Ronghua, “If the princess is angry, you can direct it at me. There’s no need to vent on others.”
Heh.
Di Ronghua glanced at her coldly, “What are you, that I should direct my anger at you?”
Mu Qingshuang’s face instantly paled.
Feicui Jade glared at her angrily, “Princess, saving a life is akin to building a seven-level pagoda. Our young lady didn’t wish to be attacked, and she certainly didn’t want to contract such a strange illness. It was the crown prince who chose to save her voluntarily. How can you speak to her like this?”
Xiao Hanjin’s expression darkened.
But before he could speak, Di Ronghua sneered, “I don’t need you to remind me that the crown prince holds deep affection for your young lady. All I ask now is for her and the crown prince to be happily united for a hundred years, and to stop bothering innocent people.”
“Di Ronghua!” Xiao Hanjin’s face darkened even further, his gaze icy as he stared at her.
Mu Qingshuang, seeing him so provoked, felt a bitter taste on her tongue, “Princess, the crown prince saved me out of past friendship. I am the concubine of the second prince. Isn’t it inappropriate for you to say such misleading things in front of my husband?”
Di Ronghua let out a soft “ah” and suddenly laughed, “I seem to have forgotten to tell you, Concubine Mu, you might not be Concubine Mu for much longer.”
Xiao Hanjin’s gaze shifted slightly.
Mu Qingshuang was visibly shaken, instinctively looking towards Xiao Yixun, “Yixun…”
But as soon as she spoke, she noticed the man standing beside Di Ronghua—just as Xiao Hanjin was holding Di Ronghua’s hand, he looked as though he was about to take her other hand.
Her face turned pale once more.
One was the man she had yearned for over the years, the other her nominal husband, and here they were, right in front of her, vying for the same woman?
“What the princess says is correct,” Xiao Yixun said indifferently. “Qingshuang, whether it’s a divorce or a mutual separation, since your heart belongs elsewhere, I will set you free today. From now on, you can do whatever you wish, unburdened by these tedious rituals.”
Mu Qingshuang’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at him, “What have I done wrong that you would divorce me?”
“I said, a mutual separation is also possible.”
“Xiao Yixun!” she shrieked, “I’m asking you, what exactly have I done wrong?”
