The mistress who remarried has returned.

Su Yunxi suddenly looked up and saw that Qin Huai was holding her hand, as if he were doing something very ordinary, as if they had never broken up, as if he was still the harbor she could rely on, a harbor where she would be gently embraced no matter if she was lame or disabled.

She instinctively grasped his hand in return.

Qin Huai felt his hand being bound by her soft fingers. This feeling of being bound slightly relieved the lingering annoyance, and he was asking the waiter, "What are the restaurant's specialties?"

Su Yunxi guessed that perhaps her desire to retaliate against the Crown Prince was so strong that even losing face by leading a lame woman was a minor matter. Or perhaps, after all, her leg was lame because of him, and he remembered even the slightest bit of kindness she had received, and couldn't bear to see her ridiculed by strangers.

Su Yunxi, who had overheard the disdain and ridicule in the restaurant, instantly transformed her feelings into envy and admiration. She then followed Qin Huai, no longer concerned about her awkward gait, walking with confidence and poise. This was truly a case of a fox borrowing the tiger's power.

Liu Shun couldn't stand people commenting on the general, so he yelled in the restaurant, "Are you all bored? Who are you staring at? I'll gouge your eyes out and stomp them out!"

Because of Liu Shun's tyranny, all the guests in the hall buried themselves in their food, and the silence was so profound that you could hear a pin drop.

The waiter was very opportunistic, even putting higher regard for the female guest beside the official. "Our restaurant's specialty is stuffed tofu, which is especially suitable for girls. Your Excellency, you may also try a piece of soft tofu. It's a great dish in our restaurant for clearing heat, reducing internal fire, and relieving dryness and depression."

Qin Huai turned around and glanced at Su Yunxi.

Su Yunxi didn't understand why the waiter was introducing the soft tofu, and why Qin Huai turned to look at her.

We took our seats in the private room.

Qin Huai took the sword from his waist and placed it on the table.

Su Yunxi consciously let go of his hand.

Qin Huai glanced at her, then took the menu from the waiter's hand. "Bring four or five specialty dishes, and one of these."

As he spoke, he pointed to a bowl of mushroom soup and added, "No spice at all."

The waiter said, "Alright, sir. Please wait a moment."

Qin Huai then turned his gaze to Su Yunxi's face. "We only held hands briefly, and you're already keeping your distance. How can anyone help you with such a coy attitude?"

Su Yunxi frankly said, "I think it would be inconvenient for you to sit down, put down your sword, and take the menu while holding hands."

Qin Huai gazed at her with a smile, "Why don't you sit down? How can you do anything else on an empty stomach?"

She understood that he meant serving him, and blushed. She was also not good at flirting with men and didn't know how to respond.

As the dishes were being served one after another, Su Yunxi, remembering the Crown Prince lying lifeless on his sickbed in the Eastern Palace, felt anxious and had no appetite to sit down and eat properly. So she asked, "Qin Huai, would you like to eat first?"

Qin Huai said in a deep voice, "It's noon. Shouldn't we eat first?"

Liu Shun also came over at this time, and upon hearing Su Yunxi's words, he immediately became furious.

The general went directly to the court from the villa in Jiuli Lane early in the morning. He had been busy half the night yesterday clarifying the matter of the stolen gold pendant for Liangdi. He hadn't eaten a single grain of porridge this morning. After court, he was immediately invited out by Miss Xue. He wanted to finish his work quickly and go back to sleep, but he was held up by Liangdi again. He had been busy until now and hadn't had a drop of water. He didn't even know if he had eaten a few bites last night while entertaining some important guests from out of town.

"We all know you've remarried, and your heart is completely devoted to the Crown Prince. What, is the Crown Prince's life more important than the General's? You're even refusing to let him eat?"

Liu Shun grew increasingly furious as she spoke, "So, a general should dedicate himself to your husband's cause for a day and a night without food or drink, sacrificing his life and dying for him?"

He used four four-character idioms in a row, which was very fierce, but it also showed that he spoke fluently and naturally.

But is it respectable that the general has used her for so many years? It's just that she is in a weak position and has little influence. If she were in a better situation, she would never have lowered herself to come to him.

Su Yunxi was unaware that Qin Huai had not eaten breakfast that morning, nor that he had not had lunch either.

He only allowed the female doctor to give him food and medicine in the early morning; he himself didn't eat anything. If he didn't eat last night either, then he had been hungry for a whole day and night.

"That's not what I meant..." Su Yunxi was at a loss for words. "It's just that the Crown Prince's matter really can't be delayed any longer. I was thinking if we could arrange the doctor's affairs first and then have the meal... that way, we can have both without any problems."

Qin Huai's eyes darkened slightly, and a smirk appeared on his lips. "Are you ordering me around?"

Su Yunxi kept quiet and did not press the matter further.

"Not a single chili pepper on the table. The general, whose ancestral home is in Shaanxi, is known for his love of spicy food, yet he hasn't touched a single spice in all these years at Jiuli Lane. Some people are truly something else; they have absolutely no conscience!" Liu Shun scoffed. "I didn't interrupt your business!"

He snorted and then bowed to Qin Huai. "As you instructed, I went to the barracks and summoned Chief Physician Kang Yin. It takes about an hour and a half to get from the barracks to the East Palace. He will be waiting for you near the East Palace when he arrives."

Su Yunxi was startled; it turned out he had already made arrangements for the doctor.

Qin Huai nodded and waved his hand, "You go and arrange your people's meals yourself."

Su Yunxi was extremely embarrassed and gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Liu went out and led a few of his entourage to sit down for a meal in the lobby.

Wait until all the dishes in the private room are served.

Qin Huai glanced at Su Yunxi.

Su Yunxi simply stood there waiting for him to finish his meal. Thinking it over, she realized that Qin Huai had already arranged for someone to fetch the military doctor. She had been petty, assuming he would only act after she begged him. She had completely overlooked the fact that, as a gentleman, he would take care of what he promised and wouldn't bother with trivial matters.

She then realized that the dishes on the table were all her usual light and bland flavors. For years, she had assumed that he, like her, preferred bland and watery food, but now she knew that he could eat spicy food.

Is it because the more they doted on her, the angrier Miss Xue became when she married far away to Suzhou?

Why not skip the spicy food today?

"After days of traveling, Kang Yin instructed that spicy food should be avoided."

"Huh?" Su Yunxi seemed to have her secret exposed, her lips turned pale, and she said rather awkwardly, "Oh."

Qin Huai picked up a spoon and ladled out a portion of soup, placing it on the empty seat beside him. "You truly are the master, always making me beg you before you'll do anything. How many times will I have to beg you this time?"

"I didn't..." Su Yunxi said, "My leg hurt just now, and I was limping. I was worried about embarrassing you in front of others. Right now, I don't have money to pay for your meal. It's not that I'm putting on airs and asking you to treat me..."

Once upon a time, on the day her father divorced his wife and remarried, her mother was so angry that she vomited blood. She went to beg her father to see her mother, and her father almost beat her to death. Qin Huai took her in.

Mother has a cloth shop that makes money. Mother said that it is because of Qin Huai that Father thinks highly of her and her mother. She should know how to be grateful and give to each other instead of always taking advantage. Only a relationship based on mutual care can last. Even if Qin Huai likes her looks, if there are no other inner qualities, the novelty will eventually wear off. Physical appearance cannot keep a man. Mother said that she herself is an example of this.

Therefore, although she was not as well-off as him, she still shared his expenses within her means. However, she always felt indebted to him because she shielded him from six arrows and almost lost her life.

"Shameful?" Qin Huai chuckled. "My master has done far worse things. This is nothing. When it comes to adultery, why would the woman need to pay up? My master thinks too highly of me."