The mistress who remarried has returned.

Su Yunxi was unhappy but didn't express it. Mainly because expressing it wouldn't help; no one would help her, and she might even be punished for insubordination.

Xue Wenying glanced at Qin Huai, who was staring at Su Yunxi's neck, seemingly lost in thought. She paused, then apologized to Su Yunxi, "I'm sorry, Consort Su. I didn't mean to treat you like a servant. Can you forgive my momentary lapse in judgment?"

Su Yunxi gritted her teeth and did not answer, nor did she want to answer. Regardless of whether the other party did it on purpose, she was already feeling very uncomfortable from the sarcasm.

She had heard in the past few months that Xue Wenying had been brought back to the capital by the Protector General's Mansion and was often seen with Qin Huai. Seeing the two of them together today was a different experience than hearing rumors from others.

The maid Shuang'er deliberately spoke to Qin Huai, "How can she be so petty? Four years ago, she did something shameful, and the general wanted to punish her. Our young lady even pleaded for her. Now we apologize to her, and she won't even respond... Does she want our young lady to kneel down to be satisfied?"

Su Yunxi understood that Shuang'er hoped Qin Huai would stand up for her young lady, forcing Su Yunxi to accept Xue Wenying's apology and speak politely to Xue Wenying so that Xue Wenying could save face.

Xue Wenying looked at Qin Huai awkwardly, "I really didn't mean to make Liangdi angry, but now I don't know how to calm her down..."

Su Yunxi could tell that Xue Wenying hoped that even after she was considered a servant, she would still use Qin Huai's influence to force her to smile and talk to her.

She thought that Qin Huai would definitely force her to speak up.

Su Yunxi's lips trembled slightly with grievance. She didn't like doing things that made her feel wronged, especially not being shorter than Xue Wenying.

However, considering the Crown Prince's serious illness and her need for Qin Huai's help, if Qin Huai asked her to bow down and submit, she would force herself to smile and chat with Xue Wenying, saying that it didn't matter if she was considered a servant, she didn't mind.

Because making Qin Huai'ai's woman unhappy doesn't help him at all.

"That's just her personality," Qin Huai said to Xue Wenying. "There's nothing I can do about it. Just don't take it to heart."

Xue Wenying's face stiffened.

Shuang'er was extremely anxious. The general cared most about Miss Xue, so how could he not reprimand the rude person on her behalf? He even seemed to be protecting him.

Su Yunxi looked at Qin Huai with confusion, but Qin Huai happened to turn his face away, so she didn't see the expression in his eyes, nor did she understand why he didn't embarrass her.

"It was my fault to begin with. Why would I take it to heart? You're always so proud, so let it go," Xue Wenying said with a smile. "I just went to the manor, but Madam Qin and the Old Madam were up in the mountains worshipping Buddha and weren't home. I asked the servants and they said you came to this courtyard after court. If you have something to do, go ahead and do it."

"Do you need to see my mother and grandmother?" Qin Huai asked.

"It's nothing." Xue Wenying glanced at Su Yunxi, then said to Qin Huai, "You're busy here, I can come to the manor to see Madam Qin another day."

"What is it? Tell me," Qin Huai said, staring at Xue Wenying. "What's going on here isn't important."

Su Yunxi saw a smug smile on Shuang'er's lips.

"Being a widow at home is difficult in every way. A few days ago, the plum tree outside my courtyard was broken by the snow and blocked the gate. I couldn't move it myself." As she spoke, she spread out her two delicate hands, with several blisters on her fingertips. "You see, there are no men in the house to help out, so my hands are covered in blisters. I was thinking of asking Madam Qin to send two men to help out. But unfortunately, Madam Qin is out."

"So that's what it is. Mother and grandmother will be going to worship Buddha for a while, and won't be back for ten or twenty days." Qin Huai put his official hat on his head. "I'll go with you to handle it."

"Why don't you send two people with me?" Xue Wenying gestured towards Su Yunxi with her chin. "If you come with me, what will happen to Liangdi?"

"We've already explained things to her," Qin Huai said, then walked towards the door.

Xue Wenying gave Su Yunxi a polite curtsy and then left.

Su Yunxi realized that Xue Wenying hadn't brought any gifts either, but Qin Huai had personally come to help.

"Some people are so clingy and desperate to the General, but they're not as important as the dead plum tree outside Miss Xue's door," Shuang'er whispered to Su Yunxi, avoiding anyone's view. "Don't you have a man of your own? The Crown Prince isn't even dead yet, and you're already throwing yourself at the General again? You're really opportunistic. You think the General will take you back just because you want to? You've been with the Crown Prince for four years, and you still think you're some innocent young girl?"

Su Wenxi had no intention of arguing with Shuang'er. She had heard too many unpleasant things these days, and what Shuang'er said was not the worst; in fact, it was quite elegant. She walked straight past Shuang'er. Right now, the most important thing was to ask Qin Huai to save the Crown Prince. She didn't have time to argue with anyone. She followed Qin Huai's footsteps.

Seeing that her harsh words often went unanswered by Su Yunxi, Shuang'er felt resentful of Su Yunxi's arrogance. The Crown Prince was already finished, so what was she being so arrogant about? She had nothing, dressed in cheap coarse clothes, yet she thought she was a noble lady.

Shuang'er really looked down on her shabby and lowly appearance.

Su Yunxi left the study and saw that Qin Huai had already crossed into the courtyard. It had started snowing sometime earlier. He was holding an umbrella, and Xue Wenying was walking under the umbrella towards the carriage.

She was well aware that at this moment, she was an unwanted and superfluous guest between Qin Huai and Xue Wenying.

But thinking of the flesh cut on the Crown Prince's calves, and recalling the glorious days she had spent under his protection over the past four years, and how the Crown Prince had taken her into his arms and told everyone that she was his concubine after she was slapped by Qin Huai four years ago, thus protecting her from gossip.

She has always believed in repaying even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude.

She steeled herself and walked unceremoniously to Qin Huai's side.

Qin Huai saw her as soon as she came out of the study. When she came to his side, she stubbornly watched him hold an umbrella for Xue Wenying without making a sound to disturb him, but just kept pestering him.

After Xue Wenying boarded the carriage, Qin Huai turned around and looked at Su Yunxi.

He was inside the umbrella, she was outside, and he did not tilt the umbrella to shield her from the wind and snow.

"Didn't we say we'd go and pool our money to buy a gift?" Qin Huai said.

"Even if I bring gifts and come back to give them, will you still see me?" Su Yunxi punctured the false pleasantries between adults. "Even if I give you gifts, will you even want them? Qin Huai, you know I can't offer anything valuable, and I know that's just you telling me to get rid of you."

Qin Huai remained silent.

Su Yunxi said in a trembling voice, "Do you have even half a cup of tea's time? Let's talk, Qin Huai... just this once, okay?"

"I have something to attend to." Qin Huai glanced at the people waiting for him inside the carriage. "I don't have time."

"I can help Miss Xue finish her business," Su Yunxi said, unwilling to give up. "I'll wait for you to come home."

Qin Huai frowned slightly. "You consider this place your home?"