The mistress who remarried has returned.

Xue Wenying loved jewelry; her jewels shone like the riches and honor of the world.

Qin Huai turned his head thoughtfully, his gaze falling on Su Yunxi's neck, who was without makeup. Her hair was disheveled by the wind, and a few strands of her face had a natural elegance that made people feel refreshed and happy.

Su Yunxi suddenly felt a force on her arm. Qin Huai grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him, bringing them closer together. Due to the force, she suddenly fell into his chest, her forehead resting on his strong shoulder. Her hair fell between his fingers with the momentum, and they could smell each other's breath.

The scent that once made her feel at ease now makes her nose sting with tears.

because.

This chest and embrace no longer belong to Xixi, but to Xue Wenying.

Qin Huai shifted his body slightly to the west, completely blocking Su Yunxi from view. Xue Wenying behind him could not see Su Yunxi's figure.

"Go to the restaurant up ahead and wait for me." Qin Huai pointed to a Beijing-style restaurant around the corner not far away and lowered his voice slightly.

Su Yunxi pressed her hand to her heart, realizing that this was something she was hiding that couldn't be shown to anyone.

It seems that Qin Huai didn't want Xue Wenying to see that he had anything to do with her. Now that the two of them are reunited and harmonious, there is no need to hold a grudge against Su Yunxi and Xue Wenying. Su Yunxi is just an extra person who should not be known by others.

Su Yunxi was very unwilling; for four years, she had always wanted to ask.

Why did you choose her?

There are plenty of girls in the world who can take things in stride, and there are also many who love money. It won't be difficult for him to find a competent person willing to cooperate with him in this charade.

Why choose someone who can't let go of things?

Is it because her humble status makes her more likely to anger the aloof Miss Xue?

"it is good."

Su Yunxi ultimately remained silent, not disobeying his wishes, suppressing her resentment, and obediently turned and walked away.

In the instant he turned around, his eyes were filled with desolation.

I wanted to ask, but I was afraid of hearing the answer, so I decided not to. It was time to start clearing him from my heart.

Qin Huai withdrew his gaze after confirming that Su Yunxi's figure had turned the corner.

Liu Shun said indignantly, "That ungrateful little brat is truly despicable! She used those six arrows to blackmail you into interfering in the affairs of the Eastern Palace. Wasn't she also blocking those six arrows to curry favor with the Crown Prince?"

Qin Huai remained silent.

After Su Yunxi turned the corner, she leaned her back against the wall. Her chest pain flared up again, and she pressed her hand against the wall gently to calm herself down.

Is it because they don't want Qin Huai and Xue Wenying to associate with each other?

We can't control it.

Xue Wenying returned to the capital as a widow. Qin Huai had suffered the pain of unrequited love for many years, so how could he not want her?

Aside from chest pain, what else can it do as a tool for venting anger?

Qin Huai turned around, just as Xue Wenying walked up to him.

"You were having a nice time at the market," Xue Wenying asked. "Who did you see just now?"

"He's not someone important," Qin Huai replied casually.

Su Yunxi realized she had chosen the wrong place; she should have gone further away before pressing her chest. Now, the pain in her chest was even worse. She put her hand down and walked towards the Beijing-style restaurant.

Upon entering the restaurant, her deathly pale face startled the waiter, who glanced at her several times before saying bluntly, "Miss, this isn't a pharmacy..."

Xue Wenying, observing Qin Huai's expression, slowly took something out of her handkerchief.

"Since he's not important, why did you rush after him, not even bothering to pick up the jade pendant that fell to the ground?" Xue Wenying said, handing over Qin Huai's jade pendant. "Look, this jade was given to you by the old lady. Luckily, the snow was thick and it didn't break, otherwise how would I explain it to her?"

Qin Huai took the jade and hung it at his waist. "Luckily you found it."

Xue Wenying looked behind Qin Huai but didn't see anyone. Her gaze then fell on Qin Huai's hand with the jade pendant hanging from it. She noticed water stains on the back of his hand and took out her handkerchief. "Why are your hands wet? It's cold in winter. If they get wet, the wind will make them even colder. Let me wipe them for you."

Qin Huai moved his hand a few inches away, without needing Xue Wenying to wipe away the tear stains on the back of her hand. "I'm used to marching all year round, I'm not this delicate. Don't worry."

Xue Wenying's hand, which was offering the handkerchief, froze for a moment before she withdrew it. Why wouldn't she let her wipe away even a few drops of water? Was she adhering to etiquette and keeping her distance, or... was she simply unwilling to wipe it away?

"Then let's go check out the antique shop over there first. Madam Qin likes flower arranging, and the antique vases in that shop are very famous in the capital."

"I have something urgent to attend to," Qin Huai said abruptly, breaking his promise. "I can't go with you to pick out a gift for my mother. She prefers simpler, more traditional designs. You can choose whatever you like."

"What's the emergency?"

Qin Huai briefly mentioned, "It was about my time in office."

Seeing that he didn't say much, Xue Wenying didn't press him further. He wasn't the type to ramble on about his private affairs to women; asking too much would only annoy him. He wasn't a man who could be easily tied down, and it hadn't been easy for her to get to this point and have a place in his heart.

Only she herself knew the hardships she endured on her journey from Suzhou back to the capital.

"You finally got a half-day off, and I'm bothering you to go shopping with me to buy a gift for Mrs. Qin. I really feel like I'm taking up your rest time."

As Xue Wenying spoke, she became quite embarrassed, twisting her handkerchief repeatedly.

"But Madam Qin treats me like her own daughter, and I really want to choose a gift that she will like. If I don't choose well, I... I'm already living under someone else's roof in your house, and I'm not at ease. If Madam is not satisfied, I'll be even more anxious. You know, I'm most afraid of upsetting Madam Qin..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Huai thought of her past marriage to a man from Suzhou, where she suffered greatly at the hands of her husband's family, being constantly beaten and verbally abused by him. Unable to bear it any longer, she said, "Then let's do it later. I'll spend some time with you this evening."

Xue Wenying's disappointed eyes brightened with joy. She nodded and politely said to Qin Huai, "Then I won't disturb you any longer while you're busy with your duties. Let's meet again at this antique shop this evening."

Qin Huai nodded. "Okay."

Xue Wenying entered the carriage, and the driver drove away.

"Miss, why is the general rushing after someone so inconvenient?" Shuang'er asked, rubbing her mistress's legs in confusion.

"The general was just saying that, and you actually believed that he encountered someone insignificant." Xue Wenying took out a handkerchief and brushed the snow off her skirt. "What insignificant person? Why would he run away and not even pick up the jade that the old lady gave him? The day the emperor was assassinated by the crown prince, he was as calm as Mount Tai. I didn't see him being this nervous."

"That can't be, I didn't see anyone near the general."

"How could you possibly see that?" Xue Wenying scoffed. "When the general was a child, he liked to play with slingshots. Madam Qin thought the slingshots were interfering with his studies and wanted to confiscate them. The general hid the slingshots, afraid that Madam Qin would find them. The way he protected the slingshots was no different from how he is today."

Shuang'er said, "Oh, I understand."

Xue Wenying looked at the maid, "What do you know?"

"General, you must have seen the slingshot vendor just now! You wanted one so badly you couldn't resist getting your hands on it, and you even ran off in your haste!"

Shuang'er shared her own insights, which, while not entirely correct, were completely irrelevant.