The mistress who remarried has returned.

Lord Su glanced at Qin Huai's expression. Qin Huai had actually stood up for her daughter, which meant that her daughter was favored by Qin Huai. Lord Su rushed to the window and said to Su Yunxi with great heartache, "Xixi, my little darling, were you bullied? Am I too late, Father? My little darling, Father's heart aches for you."

Su Yunxi's eyes blurred as she looked at the distant street scene; her father had made her cry from disgust.

At this moment, Liu Shun outside said to Qin Huai, "General, the Emperor has summoned all civil and military officials to the palace immediately to announce the restoration of the Crown Prince's reputation and the reinstatement of the Eastern Palace's favor."

Upon hearing this, Lord Su realized that his daughter was not only favored by General Qin, but also a great contributor to saving the Eastern Palace. She was likely a potential candidate for Crown Princess or even Empress. He immediately began to inquire about Su Yunxi's well-being, asking, "Did you have a bowl of hot porridge this morning? Why are you dressed so thinly in this cold weather? How can I not worry about you?"

Su Yunxi slowly turned around, glanced at Lord Su, and smiled slightly. "Father, may you take my mother, brother, and me home?"

"Okay, my little darling. I'll pick him up right away." Lord Su thought to himself, this child really does love him; they can make up quickly.

Su Yunxi tilted her head and glanced at Wang Shi.

Wang shuddered violently, wary of Su Yunxi who had rolled over and gotten back to her feet. She realized that she was doomed.

Su Yunxi then looked at Lord Su and said coquettishly, "Father, but I don't want to see Wang Shi at home. Father, please send her and her two children away before you come and take us home."

After saying that, Su Yunxi left.

Qin Huai stood up, walked over to Lord Pei, and paused slightly.

Lord Pei had already lost control of his bladder and his face was deathly pale. Qin Huai was just standing quietly in front of him, and he already felt as if he were being slowly tortured.

Qin Huai slowly said to Liu Shunyan, "Send the man surnamed Pei to Lord Qin."

Lord Pei felt a lump in his throat. Lord Qin was his highest superior, and he hated the sale of official positions, rape, and plunder the most. This time, he had really kicked a hornet's nest.

Wang Guirong walked up to Lord Su and grabbed his sleeve, arguing, "You dare to chase us away? My father has helped you a lot these past few years."

Su Yuanzhou impatiently waved Wang Guirong's hand away, "What are you doing, pulling and tugging! When I married you, Qingniang and Xixi were indeed not as good as you. After I married you, Xixi followed General Qin and then the Crown Prince. If we're talking about support, it was those two who helped and promoted me. Your father didn't help me at all."

Speaking of this, he thought of Qingniang, who had been ostracized by Wang and sent to the small house on Qingyun Street. He felt very regretful and had the urge to kneel down and beg for forgiveness. Qingniang was devoted to him and had nothing but him in her heart. If he went to beg Qingniang and promised her, she would definitely change her mind and take the children home.

As long as Qingniang is willing to come back, Xixi, who listens to her mother so much, will definitely come back too.

***

Su Yunxi left Lingxiang Tower and returned to Qin Huai's carriage first.

Qin Huai followed a step behind, lifting the carriage curtain. He saw that the young woman's eyes were red-rimmed, her hands clutching her faded handbag, her gaze fixed on the embroidered flowers on the bag, yet she refused to let the tears fall. He understood that regardless of whether she had punished her father or not, she was still sad.

Hearing the noise, she looked at Qin Huai. "You can talk to me about whatever you want now. Where shall we talk?"

Qin Huai gazed at her. "Anything's fine with me, what do you say?"

"Let's go to Jiuli Lane." Su Yunxi now especially wanted to go back to the house where she had lived for seven years. She always felt that going back there could heal the wounds in her heart.

It was already night when they arrived at Jiuli Lane. Qin Huai had someone prepare a meal, but he barely touched his chopsticks, only drinking cup after cup of wine. This was because Madam Qin had instigated Master Qin to punish him according to family rules, and also because Xixi had not been by his side for the past few years, which had led to his drinking habit.

Su Yunxi didn't advise him to drink less, but this time she joined him. She picked up his wine pot, poured herself a cup of wine, and after drinking it, her face scrunched up.

Qin Huai hadn't expected her to drink alcohol, so he immediately pressed down on her hand that was holding the wine pot, saying, "You're not allowed to drink."

"It's none of your business," Su Yunxi retorted sharply. "You're just a subject, and I'm your proper master now. You have no right to tell me what to do."

"None of my business. Fine." Qin Huai removed his hand from hers. "The Crown Prince has been reinstated, your father has changed his mind, and his life and death are entirely in your hands. That Pei fellow will definitely not have a good end in Lord Qin's hands. What are you drinking here for? Is there something else that's bothering you?"

Su Yunxi's alcohol tolerance was low, and her behavior while drunk seemed even worse. Slightly tipsy, she became much bolder. "Qin Huai, are you even a man? Yesterday I deliberately called Zhou Yu my husband and acted all lovey-dovey in front of you, didn't you feel anything?"

Qin Huai was taken aback. She was deliberately being intimate and ambiguous with Zhou Yu for him to see. What was her motive? "What kind of reaction do you expect from me?"

"You think you're so great, don't you?" Su Yunxi stood up and moved a few steps closer to Qin Huai. "Am I not even worthy to treat your injuries and apply medicine? If I wasn't worthy yesterday, today I've risen in rank to become the highest-ranking concubine in the Eastern Palace. Am I worthy today?"

Qin Huai wasn't saying that she was unworthy to treat his injuries and apply medicine because of her lowly status, but rather that he was avoiding crossing the line in physical contact out of respect and protection. "You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk, Qin Huai." Su Yunxi took a few steps closer, feeling somewhat dizzy. "Your mother instigated your father to beat you, and when I asked you what was wrong, you wouldn't say a word. Oh, right, didn't you always need me to comfort you when you were sad? Were those seven years of yours just an act? Were you actually always thinking about that widow?"

"What am I pretending for?" Qin Huai didn't understand what she was rambling on about, but she moved closer to him. The fragrance emanating from her, mixed with the smell of fermented rice, made his breath catch in his throat. "If I'm giving you the illusion that I dislike you, then if you want to see a doctor and apply medicine, I'll let you."

He paused, then added, "I'm not the despicable man you described, the one who lures after widows."

Su Yunxi was silent for a moment, then after a long while, she said sarcastically and unreasonably, "No, no, how did you give me the feeling of disdain? You are so upright and polite. I didn't even get the slightest feeling of disdain from you."

"I was beaten, and I need someone to be with me. My mother's triumphant smile was truly hurtful. But Su Yunxi, you've always been by Zhou Yu's side; you're the one who has no time for me. When you think of me, you come to find me. When you don't think of me, you disappear and ignore me for years. You're the one who ran off with someone else, and you're the one who came back to cause trouble four years later." Qin Huai had been keeping calm these past few days, going along with her in everything, but he found that no matter what he did, he couldn't satisfy her.