The mistress who remarried has returned.

Xue Wenying remained silent, and even Shuang'er could see that the general was getting impatient, which was a bit too obvious.

"Shuang'er, you should visit the Qin residence more often and ask your ladies about the general's movements. Madam Qin treats me so well, so if there are any flies or mosquitoes around the general, I will naturally help her keep an eye on them."

"Do you mean real flies and mosquitoes, or do you mean the little vixen, miss?"

"Silly girl, what do you think? Not just anyone is qualified to be the wife of the eldest son of the Qin family."

"Miss is right. Every aspect of the young master's wife selection, from family background to appearance to character and speech, has been carefully considered by Madam Qin and the old lady." Shuang'er said with regret, "Even if it is Miss, now... If only the family hadn't fallen on hard times back then."

Xue Wenying looked unhappy.

Shuang'er hurriedly said, "But as long as the eldest young master doesn't accept the arranged marriage, Miss will always be the most special one. Everyone knows that the general has remained unmarried for so long because of Miss. It's a pity that the eldest young master is too rule-abiding; how can this be done? With such a beauty as Miss around, how can the general resist?"

***

Su Yunxi sat in the Beijing-style restaurant, finding a small corner by the window. There was a market on the street today, and the crowds outside were bustling. The restaurant was also very lively with customers.

She sat alone, waiting for Qin Huai.

I've never been a sociable person since I was a child.

The main concern is that when making friends and visiting others, people might ask about family matters, especially about parents, which would leave them with nothing to talk about.

I decided to become a loner to avoid making friends only to break off those friendships later, which would only create awkwardness and add to the sadness.

She pressed her chest for a while, and the pain lessened somewhat as she could no longer hear Qin Rongzhi and Xue Wenying's conversation.

After the Crown Prince finished taking the medicine, he still wanted to stay far away from Qin Huai and not see him for a long time.

Having been exploited for years is a fait accompli; continuing to be resentful is just wasting the time we have left.

How much of life can we afford to waste?

"Let's find a quiet, private room."

Su Yunxi was looking out of the half-open window of the restaurant at the falling snow on the street. The soft sound of the snow falling calmed her mind. If she hadn't fallen on hard times, it would have been even better if she could stay at home making and blending incense, while away half a day and forget all her troubles.

As she was reminiscing about her hobbies, she heard Qin Huai's voice.

Looking back, I saw Qin Huai enter the restaurant. He stomped heavily on the ground, shaking the snow off his black boots. Many customers at the entrance did this, but his simple action was more eye-catching than others.

Liu Shunzheng closed his umbrella and shook the snow off it as he walked outside, saying, "Sir, the restaurant has been scouted by the secret guards; it's safe."

Qin Huai stepped into the hall. The restaurant's main gate was very high, and he had to slightly lower himself as he entered.

The waiter noticed that the man was wearing a rare jade pendant at his waist, and that his appearance and demeanor were not those of an ordinary person. He knew the man must be rich and noble, so he treated him as an honored guest and immediately led him to a private room, saying, "Sir, this way please."

Qin Huai's gaze swept over the crowd in the restaurant, and he immediately spotted the quiet Su Yunxi amidst the noisy environment.

She remained alone in the corner, neither disturbing nor being disturbed by others.

It stands out from the surrounding noise.

Just like when we first met, she made me curious about what it would be like to enter her aloof and unapproachable world.

He had once become the prey that helped her climb higher.

Now, she's hunting again. All for the sake of the Crown Prince.

With the crown prince deposed, she could have him at her fingertips. Perhaps once she had him, this trouble would end, and she could easily let him go. No prey can be caught twice by the same hunter.

Their eyes met, but he said nothing and looked away, following the waiter toward the private room.

When Su Yunxi saw Qin Huai coming over, she wondered what excuse he had used to appease Xue Wenying and come to see her, someone who was not important.

Such clandestine meetings, where neither party was single, were not accepted by society and made her feel very repressed.

But given her current situation, there was no need for him to come and invite her, so she decided to get up and go with him immediately.

However, after sitting for a long time, my knees hurt terribly when I suddenly stood up.

Her leg ailment flared up, making it difficult for her to walk. The restaurant was crowded, and walking with him in public might embarrass him. She didn't want to wait until he was disgusted before she realized her mistake, so she sat down again, planning to follow him to the private room after he went there.

In his presence, I always felt unworthy of him, and I was constantly anxious and insecure. Now that my legs are not well, I have become even more timid and hesitant.

After taking a few steps, Qin Huai noticed that Su Yunxi hadn't followed, so he stopped and turned around to look. He found her still sitting by the window, her face showing concern for some unknown reason, so he called out, "Su Yunxi."

Su Yunxi was taken aback. In the past, whenever she was sick and refused to take her medicine, he would call her by her full name in such a stern manner, and his serious appearance made her wary.

He commands hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and he was the one who single-handedly rescued the emperor from a bandit camp of ten thousand men. She usually obeys when he calls her by her full name, but this time she did not go to his side immediately.

Because things are different now than they were four years ago; she's no longer of any use to him, and he no longer cares about her. She fears being humiliated by him in public. Cowardly yet possessing only a strong backbone, that's who she is.

Everyone in the restaurant looked at her, curious about who this girl was to which official family.

Su Yunxi turned her gaze to Qin Huai's face and said softly, "Let's go first, I'll come find you later. My leg..."

She only said this much, and he surely understood. Between adults, there's no need to be too direct; a few words are enough to convey each other's difficulties.

The waiter repeated to Qin Huai two or three times, "Sir, this way please. We've prepared the best private room in our shop for you. We'll use the finest incense and serve the best Pu'er tea!"

Qin Huai stared at Su Yunxi in silence for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Su Yunxi, come here."

Seeing that he didn't intend to go to the private room first, Su Yunxi realized that he was deliberately trying to embarrass her in front of others. Having no other choice, she stood up and walked towards Qin Huai with uneven steps, lowering her head slightly with each step.

If he wants to embarrass her in public, so be it; she's been used to the strange looks she gets from others since she was little.

Whispers immediately filled the restaurant.

"How come such a beautiful girl is a cripple?"

"Yeah, when he's sitting down, you'd think he was a perfectly healthy person."

"That official must have been forced to come here for a blind date by his family. If he sees that the girl is lame, he'll probably run away."

Su Yunxi blushed deeply, her face turning bright red from ear to neck. She walked with her head down, not daring to look at Qin Huai's face, feeling the gazes of everyone around her like needles on her back.

Suddenly, her hand tightened, and her uneasy, sweaty hand was pulled out from under the indigo cloak and grasped, leading her inside.

"Stop dawdling, aren't you hungry?" Qin Huai scolded lightly.