The mistress who remarried has returned.

Su Yunxi was also filled with emotion. The bitter days of hitting walls everywhere and kneeling before powerful figures over the past few months were finally over. At the same time, she realized that Zhou Yu was the crown prince and had the power to decide people's lives and deaths. At this time, Zhou Yu was no longer the sickly man who needed her care everywhere on his sickbed. She felt a sense of apprehension.

"Yes, Your Highness. Now that Your Highness has regained favor, you are a beloved Crown Prince. No one will bully Your Highness anymore."

Zhou Yu nodded.

Su Yunxi didn't beat around the bush and stretched out her hand, "Where is my divorce papers? Your Highness can give them to me now. As for the reward money, Your Highness can decide what to give."

Su Yunxi handled the matter with ease, readily accepting the reward. The smile in her eyes was as if she were looking at her own brother or family member, without any other thoughts. Her only thought was to get out unscathed.

Zhou Yu remained silent for a long time before saying, "The treasury of the Eastern Palace is all yours. The concubine can take as much silver as she needs. But there is no longer any document to release her as a concubine."

Su Yunxi frowned. "The letter of release from concubine is gone. What does that mean?"

"Break off with Qin Huai, Consort." Zhou Yu's words were soft, yet carried an unyielding force. "I will not pursue your past with him, but do not see him again. You are about to become my concubine, my wife. I will not approve of your association with other men. The fact that he is waiting for you outside the East Palace right now is already an act of insubordination."

"Your Highness disagrees?" Su Yunxi realized that Zhou Yu was unwilling to let her leave and demanded that she break up with Qin Huai. "But Your Highness has already written the letter of release from concubine status. Two or three months ago, I was no longer Your Highness's concubine. Your Highness protected me for four years, and I helped Your Highness regain his position as Crown Prince. We are even now. Please keep your promise and return the letter of release from concubine status."

"I want you," Zhou Yu said softly, then forcefully pulled Su Yunxi into his arms. "Back then, I couldn't protect you, so I had no choice but to write a letter. Things are different now. I can protect you! The letter to release me is no longer valid. My lady."

Su Yunxi struggled to break free from Zhou Yu's embrace. Zhou Yu's hold offered her no sense of security; she only felt unfamiliarity and unease. Then she heard Zhou Yu slowly say, "The Qin family is now a thorn in the Emperor's side. If he covets the Crown Prince's concubine, it's tantamount to treason. Consort, for his sake, you should break off your relationship with him. If you don't, the first person to accuse him of treason will be me. If you do, we can support each other in the court."

Su Yunxi suddenly raised her face. "Your Highness wants to impeach the eldest son? But it was Qin Huai who helped you overturn the case. How can you betray him and impeach him for treason? If it weren't for Qin Huai, Your Highness's health, Your Highness's mother, and your sister would not be where they are today."

Zhou Yu lowered his head and gazed at Su Yunxi. "Because I, the King, must keep Consort Liang. We have gone through thick and thin together, faced life and death together, experienced great ups and downs. It shouldn't end like this. If the only way to keep Consort Liang is to get rid of the General, then I will not hesitate. I am where I am today not because of Qin Huai, but because of you. He has no intention of helping me."

"Your Highness!"

"Go see him one last time and say goodbye, Liangdi." Zhou Yu released Su Yunxi. "From now on, Qin Huai is a subject, and his name should never appear in your mouth again."

Su Yunxi stopped herself from asking for the release of her concubine. Under Zhou Yu's imposing gaze, all her words remained unspoken.

Qin Huai waited for a long time outside the East Palace in the night wind, but Su Yunxi did not come out.

He moved to the outside of the East Palace Gate, his clothes fluttering in the winter wind.

As spring approaches, a light rain begins to fall, and the raindrops are icy cold when blown by the wind.

The guards at the gate, seeing it was the Protector-General, exchanged bewildered glances. They all knew that the Protector-General's only mistress had been taken into the Crown Prince's household, and judging from the general's expression, it seemed he wanted to reclaim her. However, how could the Crown Prince possibly let her go? Anyone with eyes could see that the Crown Prince now loved the Consort to the core.

Su Yunxi felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She didn't want Zhou Yu to impeach Qin Huai, nor did she want the Qin family to be accused of treason and questioned by the court because of her. She hoped that Qin Huai would still be the upright and honest young master of a noble family that everyone praised in the rumors of the capital.

She walked slowly to the East Palace Gate and immediately saw Qin Huai standing outside the gate.

His hair was quite wet from the rain, and so was hers.

His eyes were quite moist, and so were hers.

He remained silent, and so did she.

The two stood on opposite sides of the threshold.

When Qin Huai saw Su Yunxi, who was now surrounded by a group of maids, he realized that something was wrong.

Qin Huai reached out his hand towards Su Yunxi and called to her gently, "Xixi, come here."

Su Yunxi looked at Qin Huai's hand, her eyes stinging with tears. She wanted to tell Qin Huai that Zhou Yu wouldn't let her go, but she couldn't let Qin Huai be caught in a situation of discord with the Tian family. She slowly said, "Qin Huai, I've thought about it, and I've decided not to go to Daqi with you."

Qin Huai paused, his hand hovering in mid-air, and asked cautiously, "But didn't we agree to take our younger brother along to learn new skills?"

"The journey is too long, and with war going on, it seems dangerous and exhausting. The Eastern Palace is much more comfortable. Look at me, I have seven or eight maids accompanying me." Su Yunxi instructed a maid to close the door, and at the same time said to Qin Huai, "Let's not see each other again. Don't interfere with my promotion. I need to win Zhou Yu's favor."

As Qin Huai watched the maid slowly close the gates of the East Palace, he hurried to the outside. The door closed just as the bolt was bolted from the inside. He pressed his forehead against the door, his voice as soft and weak as a wounded animal's, devoid of any arrogance or restraint, carrying a pleading tone, "Xixi, why? Why don't we see each other again? The Qin family has maids too. You could have eight or ten maids if you wanted."

Su Yunxi's nose stung with tears, and she choked back a sob, saying, "Being the Crown Princess is far more glamorous than being a general's wife. I've thought about it, and I'm reluctant to leave here. I'm sorry, but I'm just a pragmatic and self-serving person; I only consider my own feelings. I hope you won't bother me anymore. By the way, please don't cause trouble for the Zhou family. Just do your duty as a subject."

As Su Yunxi spoke, tears streamed down her face. She didn't want anyone to hurt her husband, nor did she want him to be branded with the stigma of a traitor. So, even if she wanted to see him again, she couldn't. She suddenly learned to stop being so willful.

There was no sound outside the door. Qin Huai didn't say another word, perhaps disgusted by her fickle and sycophantic attitude.

He must have thought that she had teased and used him again, and then kicked him aside, right?