The mistress who remarried has returned.

Qin Huai lowered his eyes to hide the expression in them.

After pondering for a moment, Qin Lanzhang said to Qin Huaiyan, "In that case, you can spend another day with these people enjoying literature and art. Tonight, go and help with Shen Shu's funeral."

He paused, then continued, "It's also because you young masters have such strict family rules. These things are all understandable. Qin Huai has also done the absurd thing of secretly keeping a mistress because he couldn't bear it. Now you can go about your business."

Qin Huai and Shen Shu stood up, intending to leave.

Qin Lanzhang said softly, "Shen Shu, I will suggest to your father that we arrange a marriage for you as soon as possible."

Qin Huai left the study without a word.

Shen Shu followed, and the two walked silently out of the courtyard of Qin's father's study.

"Are you planning to stay out all night again to mess around with some girl, using me as an excuse?" Shen Shu's face turned green with anger. "I haven't had enough freedom yet, and your father isn't busy enough with your affairs, he even wants to arrange a marriage for me. I'm speechless. Don't drag me into this anymore."

Qin Huai placed his hand on his shoulder and said gently, "If Xue Wenying comes looking for me later, ask Liu Shun to take her back to the outer residence in the east corridor."

After saying this, Qin Huai left.

Shen Shu was shocked. So, so, so, wasn't he supposed to spend the night with Xue Wenying? Who was he with then?

Who was his friend involved with that caused him such a mess that day?

***

Su Yunxi waited for Qin Huai by the artificial hill. His token was with her, and he would surely come to retrieve it. She took the token out of her clothes. The token was warm from her body heat. She ran her fingertips along the edge of the token. Because the token had been used for many years, the edges had become quite rounded.

The banquet ended, and the guests all left one by one.

Hearing the noise, Su Yunxi put the token back into her clothes.

Su Yuanzhou was among the last to leave, so he naturally didn't miss the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with any high-ranking official, and he flattered these colleagues in the officialdom to the very end.

Su Yuanzhou, holding Su Xinxin's hand, and Wang Shi, holding Su Miao's hand, walked from the corridor on this side of the garden toward the place where the carriages were parked.

Hearing the sound, Su Yunxi peeked out from behind the artificial hill and saw the family of four walking together happily.

Su Xinxin was tired from walking and groaned, unwilling to continue. "Daddy, I'm tired. My feet hurt so much. I can't walk anymore."

Su Yuanzhou then squatted down, offering his broad back to Su Xinxin, "My little darling, come on up, Daddy will carry you."

Su Yunxi felt as if she had been pierced through the heart by an arrow.

Seeing Su Xinxin lying on Su Yuanzhou's back, yawning and resting her face on her father's shoulder in a daze, she looked very safe and happy, just like a little princess who was loved by everyone.

Su Yunxi felt as if she were seeing herself carried on her father's shoulders. A surge of envy and despair rose within her, but she forcefully suppressed it.

Su Yuanzhou carried Su Xinxin to the carriage, and the family of four entered the carriage. Su Yuanzhou then instructed the servants to drive the carriage away.

Su Xinxin was a child, eight or nine years old, and very innocent. She liked Su Yunxi quite a bit because of her beauty and gentleness. But now she asked, "Sister Yunxi hasn't gotten on the carriage yet, Daddy. Aren't we waiting for Sister Yunxi? We came together."

Wang told her daughter, "She has a husband now. She won't be coming back to her parents' home anymore. She's gone back to the Lin family."

Su Yuanzhou said, "Don't worry about your sister Yunxi, my darling, she can take good care of herself."

Su Xinxin then asked, "Did Sister Yunxi go to the Lin family by carriage? Should we see her off?"

Su Yuanzhou smiled gently and said, "No need to see her off. She's an adult now and can handle her own affairs."

Wang said to Su Yuanzhou, "She won't come home and refuse to leave again, will she? My whip marks are still killing me. I never want to see her again in my life."

Su Yuanzhou reassured Madam Wang, "I've made things clear to her. She's a person who cares about her reputation, and she won't be returning to the Su residence. She knows that no one in the Su family welcomes her."

The carriage gradually disappeared into the distance.

Su Yunxi pulled herself back and leaned against the artificial rockery wall. Looking up at the moon in the sky, she suddenly felt a deep sense of loneliness, like a child who couldn't go home. Her vision gradually blurred.

Qin Huai had been there for a while, but he hadn't disturbed Su Yunxi, and had witnessed Su Yuanzhou and his family of four kicking Su Yunxi out of the house.

Su Yunxi realized it was already late at night, or actually the next day. She had been sitting for too long, and apart from the warm tears in her eyes, her body was already frozen. She wiped her eyes with her hand, then rubbed her hands together to wipe away the moisture from her fingertips, and then stood up.

As soon as I stood up, I felt an unbearable pain in both knees, and I couldn't stand up for a moment, so I stumbled towards the artificial hill.

Just as I was about to fall onto the artificial hill, I felt a sudden tightening around my waist as a strong arm caught me, preventing me from falling.

Once she stood still, her gaze fell upon the arm, revealing an indigo cloak. Turning around, she met Qin Huai's cold eyes. She could smell a strong odor of alcohol, and his eyes also seemed somewhat intoxicated.

He had a unique aura when he was drunk, unlike his usual self. His eyes were much sharper and more blatant. Because he was so handsome, she didn't dare to look him in the eye.

Qin Huai released Su Yunxi's waist. "Are you planning to leave?"

"Huh?" Su Yunxi asked, puzzled.

Qin Huai stretched out his hand. "If you intend to leave, I won't stop you. Just give me back the token, and you can go."

Su Yunxi leaned against the artificial hill, stretched her legs to ease the numbness and pain in her knees, and glanced at him. "No, I was just going to wash my hands, not leave. I'll come back here to wait for you after I wash them. Besides, you were going to kill me yourself, how could I leave?"

Qin Huai naturally knew she had something to bother him with, and he wouldn't leave until he got what he wanted. "Then go wash your hands."

Su Yunxi glanced at the restroom over there, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Forget it."

Qin Huai frowned. "What's wrong?"

Su Yunxi pursed her lips. These toilets were temporarily set up for the guests today and were shared by many people. They were handled by a special person. Important people had separate incense rooms and clean rooms prepared. Su Yunxi liked cleanliness and did not want to use the shared ones. However, she was in a bad situation and it would seem pretentious to say it out loud. It was very difficult to be particular about such things when one was in a difficult situation. She only said rather tactfully, "I won't go."

Qin Huai remembered that she didn't like going out on rainy days when she was little, afraid that the rain would get her embroidered shoes dirty. He knew her very well. "You think this side is dirty?"

Su Yunxi felt her face burning when he saw through her act. She quickly glanced at him, but didn't see any contempt in his eyes. It was true that everyone has to use the restroom sometimes. Without beating around the bush, she asked directly, "May I use your bathroom?"