The mistress who remarried has returned.

Su Yunxi was startled. In her heart, this was still home. Realizing that she had used the word "home" and offended the other party, she quickly changed her words, "I'm in your villa, waiting for you to come back."

Qin Huai turned away indifferently, offering no reply.

There was a muffled thud. Turning around, Su Yunxi knelt at his feet. She grabbed a section of his robe, looked up at him, and said, "Qin Huai, I once took six arrows for you. My leg wasn't born lame. For the sake of those six arrows, please give me some time to explain why I'm here..."

"You know perfectly well why you shielded me from that arrow." Qin Huai coldly brushed Su Yunxi's hand away. "Since you like kneeling, then kneel. I will not disturb your pleasure, my lord."

After saying this, Qin Huai got into the carriage and lowered the curtain.

Su Yunxi looked at the carriage curtain between her and Qin Huai, "I will kneel here until tomorrow morning, and I will leave as soon as it is light."

Su Yunxi thought to herself, she really had tried her best by begging and pleading. If Qin Huai didn't return by tomorrow morning, then she would have to give up on the path to the Protector General's Mansion, just like every time she had begged someone before.

Qin Huai did not respond to her words.

Su Yunxi's heart sank to half its limit.

Liu Shun rode his horse and drove the carriage out of the villa, thoroughly disapproving of Su Yunxi's behavior.

She approached the general with a purpose in mind. If she hadn't shielded him from arrows, gained his trust, and tricked him into her hands, why would he have been so devoted to her and given her special privileges to enter and leave the military camp, allowing her to climb up to the Crown Prince, who frequently visited the camp to spar with the general?

She still had the nerve to mention those six arrows.

Does she still think she's a good girl who would risk her life for the general?

They all saw through her true colors.

After stammering for so long, wasn't she just trying to beg the general to forgive her, allow her to return, and improve her life?

She can kneel for as long as she wants. If the general ever comes back to see her, the sun will rise in the west. She could cut off his head and let her kick it around like a ball.

The carriage headed towards Xue Wenying's residence.

Xue Wenying was originally the daughter of Prime Minister Xue. After Prime Minister Xue passed away early, the Xue family fell into decline.

In the Xue family, the sister-in-law is domineering, and the brother is afraid of his wife. They dislike Xue Wenying. After Xue Wenying returned to the capital, her brother and sister-in-law did not allow her to live in the Xue family mansion. The place she is currently living in was arranged for her by Madam Qin of the Protector General's Mansion. Madam Qin treats her like her own daughter and dotes on her.

Once inside the carriage, Qin Huai fell silent.

Xue Wenying carefully examined Qin Huai and, seeing that he seemed preoccupied, asked, "Have you been traveling around Jingzhou for several days in a row? Are you very tired?"

Qin Huai was looking out the window, lost in thought and didn't hear Xue Wenying's words. When he realized it, a moment had passed. He looked at Xue Wenying and replied, "I'm not very tired, I'm fine."

Xue Wenying teased, "What are you thinking about so intently?"

He's not one to get easily distracted. Although he's a bit aloof, he always answers her questions promptly. What's wrong with him today?

At this moment, the carriage arrived at its destination.

As Liu Shun reined in the horses, he reminded the people in the carriage, "There's a puddle of mud on the ground."

Under Xue Wenying's probing gaze, Qin Huai said to her, "I wasn't thinking about anything."

Xue Wenying pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I think Liangdi is sincere in her repentance. She has repeatedly asked to talk to you, so she must want to come back to your side. I think her situation is quite pitiful. If you still have feelings for her, why not take her in?"

Qin Huai said to Liu Shun, "Return the jade that Lord Zhang of Linzhou gave us. Tell him to focus his attention on educating his son and not to go astray."

Liu Shun replied with an "Oh," and said, "I understand."

Seeing that Qin Huai didn't respond, Xue Wenying asked with a smile, "When Liangdi gets clingy, she's quite pitiful. Are you just going to let her kneel in the snow and do nothing?"

"Did you hear what Liu Shun said? Be careful when you get off the carriage." Qin Huai paused for a moment, then got off the carriage first, still not responding to Xue Wenying's words.

Shuang'er anxiously tugged at Miss Xue's sleeve, "Miss, the General can definitely see that Su Yunxi wants to come back to his side. Everyone else wants to keep the General by their side. Why are you pleading for her and playing matchmaker?"

Xue Wenying pressed Shuang'er's hand down. "Judging from Qin Huai's expression, he doesn't seem to be soft-hearted. I was just asking for his opinion. He didn't respond, which means he probably doesn't care about Su Yunxi's matter and is disgusted with Liangdi, so he's not taking my words to heart."

"That's true, otherwise we wouldn't have been willing to let Su Yunxi kneel in the snow to help Miss tend the plum trees."

Shuang'er was relieved. Although the general was very considerate to Miss Xue, it was obvious to everyone that a good thing was about to happen. However, there was still a risk as long as the general did not welcome Miss Xue into the family. Su Yunxi's intervention at this time was tantamount to adding another variable.

That prince is really something! Why did something have to happen now of all times?

In the frigid December, even a healthy person kneeling in the snow for four or five hours would freeze to death. Su Yunxi, with her injuries, would likely freeze to death within a few hours.

Shuang'er prayed that the wicked would be punished and that Su Yunxi would not have a chance to make a comeback.

After getting out of the car, Qin Huai instructed Liu Shundao, "Take some men and deal with the plum trees."

"Yes." Liu Shun then took his servants to cut down and move trees, and also to repair the road in front of the gate.

Qin Huai entered the hall and sat down.

Xue Wenying thoughtfully brought over some warm water. "Wash your hands first, and drink some hot tea to warm yourself up."

Xue Wenying glanced at Qin Huai's left hand. Su Yunxi had grabbed his hand earlier. When she entered the room and saw Qin Huai's hand being held, she felt a pang in her heart. She recognized Su Yunxi at first glance, but Su Yunxi was a married woman. Such pulling and tugging was not in accordance with the rules. So she gave her a warning, telling her to recognize her status and not to make the same mistake again and tarnish the general's reputation.

Qin Huai glanced at the steaming warm water in the basin, but didn't reach out to wash his hands. "No need for that. There aren't so many rules."

He rubbed the pads of his left hand, where some of Su Yunxi's bloodstains and that real, cold touch remained.

Xue Wenying's hand holding the basin of water trembled violently, and a hint of panic appeared in her eyes. Didn't she find the blood of the person who had betrayed her disgusting? Or was it that she felt relieved to see the blood?

Setting down the basin of water, Xue Wenying seemed lost in thought. When playing chess with Qin Huai, he had made several mistakes and easily checkmated her.

After Liu Shun and his men finished tending to the plum trees, it was already afternoon.

Seeing that the courtyard was now clean and tidy, Xue Wenying thanked Qin Huai profusely, saying, "Thank you for working so hard all day. It's all thanks to your personal visit that things could have been handled so quickly."

"It's nothing," Qin Huai replied politely. "If you have any difficulties in life, just let me know."

Qin Huai glanced at Liu Shun, who had come to answer, and asked, "Is everything outside handled?"