The mistress who remarried has returned.

Qin Huai said in a deep voice, "Father, there's no need to worry. We'll talk about it when it comes to that."

Qin Lanzhang nodded. "The Emperor has assigned you to capture the remnants of the Crown Prince's faction. This is both a great responsibility and a test of your resolve. In handling this matter, you must be impartial and lawful. Once you capture Kang Mang, immediately hand him over to the Ministry of Justice and make a clean getaway. Under no circumstances should you get involved with the Crown Prince or his relatives by marriage. I believe you are capable of this. You once had a concubine taken from you by the Crown Prince, and now that he is in trouble, there is no need for you to seek revenge. You must have the necessary composure."

Qin Huai glanced at his father and said in a low voice, "I understand. I've long forgotten about that matter."

Qin Lanzhang said, "I'm only here to talk to you about this matter. Go and take care of it. You don't need to stay here. Your mother will arrange a concubine for you to carry on the family line."

After leaving the study, Qin Huai strolled towards his courtyard. He carefully considered his father's warning. In the current situation, it was really not suitable to have any involvement with the Crown Prince. His father's words about the lack of successors were also true. If something happened to him, he was afraid that the Qin family would find a way to confiscate the Qin family's property. If the Qin family were confiscated, the national treasury would be more than full.

Qin Yue had been eavesdropping outside the study. Seeing her brother come out, she excitedly followed him, grinning, "Brother, I overheard Grandmother and Mother talking in the flower hall this morning. They're discussing how the princes in the court are vying for the throne, and the situation is so uncertain. It seems like no girl is suitable to be your wife. They're going to make an exception and arrange a concubine for you to continue the family line. I could tell from Father's words that he also intends to break the family rules and arrange a concubine for you first. That's right, brother, this marriage can't be delayed any longer."

When Qin Huai saw that it was his younger sister Qin Yue, he smiled and said, "You're already married but you still don't act like an adult. You're eavesdropping."

"Brother, after years of ups and downs, you and Sister Wenyin are finally settling down."

Qin Yue was happy for her brother. Previously, Wen Yin's family had fallen on hard times, and her mother no longer mentioned the marriage with the Xue family. Instead, she arranged for Wen Yin to marry into a family in Suzhou, which forcibly separated her brother and Wen Yin. Her brother thought that his mother's actions were unkind and unjust, and he had a great disagreement with his mother over this matter.

"You worry about all this nonsense all day long," Qin Huai scolded his sister lightly. "If you are as capable as any man, even if your brother has no heir, the household shouldn't be in such a hurry."

Seeing that her brother didn't seem particularly happy upon learning that the household was going to arrange a concubine for him to carry on the family line, Qin Yue asked, "Brother, are you unhappy? You seem troubled. Or is something bothering you?"

Qin Huai looked at Qin Yue and asked, "If I were forced to take the blame, or if I were forced to kneel before an enemy's family, and those people were powerful and wealthy, while you had nothing, would you protect your brother?"

"Brother, I understand the logic. But," Qin Yue heard her brother's question, which seemed completely unrelated yet very serious, as if it were directed at her, and yet not at her, so she said, "Who would be so eager to die as to grab you to take the blame and then dare to force you to kneel down?"

Qin Huai pursed his lips. "I meant hypothetically."

Qin Yue scratched her head. "Brother, you always give me difficult problems. You've been arrested and forced to take the blame, and the other side is even more powerful than you. I have nothing, so I can't go and die. Our brother is already dead, so one of us has to live to take care of our parents in their old age and see them off when they die. I'll definitely pack my bags and run away first. But don't worry, brother, as long as I have a way to live, I'll definitely burn paper money and incense for you during festivals."

Qin Huai sighed softly, "Therefore, this kind of unwavering protection, this kind of resolute willingness to give anything for someone, is the most precious thing. You won't protect me because I'm not in that little world, and everything you do isn't because of me."

Qin Yue was completely confused. Was he talking to her? What did that cheesy, sour tone mean, like spring had arrived? "Huh?"

Qin Huai placed his hand on his sister's shoulder. "Qin Yue, you are just an ordinary person, an extremely ordinary woman. It's clear that most women in the world are mediocre, and I will only end up with mediocre people in the future. It's a pity that I am full of ambition but no one appreciates it."

"..."

What did she do to deserve this?

Qin Yue was fuming. This was the second time. Every time she went back to her parents' home, her brother would criticize her every time he saw her. Even if she was useless, she didn't want to be talked about every day. Suddenly, she found her mother-in-law, who always had a long face, quite adorable. "Who would risk their life for my brother like this? My brother praises her so highly."

"I wasn't lucky enough to receive such unwavering protection. Such a good thing shouldn't be available to your brother."

Compared to the Crown Prince, you are nothing.

Qin Huai said something softly, then parted ways with Qin Yue and returned to his own courtyard.

Although her brother didn't say anything, Qin Yue could clearly sense his heartbreak, which had even made him feel inferior.

What happened? Did you have a falling out with Sister Wenying?

Qin Huai returned to his room. Since his father's birthday was tomorrow and he hadn't had a good rest in recent days, he planned to catch up on sleep and get some rest.

Take a moment to recover, so that you are not disturbed by those trivial emotions.

To restore oneself to a calm and composed state.

Liu Shun followed him into the room, originally intending to inquire about the whereabouts of the cloak the general had brought back from the Su residence, so he could arrange to have it washed. He needed to wear it tomorrow, and it would take until it was completely dry to dry. However, he remembered what Su Yunze had told him about Liangdi's long-standing affection for the general, and hesitantly said to Qin Huai, "General, there is something I'm not sure if I should say."

"No need to say anything more, you may leave."

Qin Huai removed his official hat from his head and placed it on the table. He then gently pressed his temples with his uninjured hand to relieve his headache.

Liu Shun was taken aback. "I think it's still necessary to explain."

Qin Huai glanced at him. "Then why are you asking me? Just tell me."

Liu Shun moved closer to the general, leaned down in front of Qin Huai, and whispered, "Yesterday, after I sent Su Yunze back to the Su residence as you instructed, Su Yunze treated me like a beggar and threw ten coins on the ground. These ten coins were scattered in all directions: east, west, south, north, southwest, northeast, and northwest."

Qin Huai frowned.

Liu Shun realized that he had gone too far in describing the location of the scattered copper coins in order to highlight Su Yunze's ingratitude, so he quickly stopped and continued: "These ten coins were the commission I paid for sending him back to his residence. I felt that my self-esteem was insulted, so I argued with him, but I didn't win the argument because the other party was too venomous."

"Can't win an argument with an eleven-year-old? What did he say about it being poisonous?"

Su Yunze rebuked the general and me, saying that neither of us were good people, and that it was a good thing that her sister had always liked the general so much.

Qin Huai paused slightly on his forehead.

Liu Shun said, "I think his words were sincere and earnest, not like he was lying."

Qin Huai remembered Su Yunxi's words last night, how she hated him, how every day, every look, and every event he had experienced over the past seven years made her feel disgusted. He smiled helplessly and said, "Yunze is just a child. Don't take a child's words to heart."

Seeing that the general didn't care, Liu Shun wanted to say something to try and rekindle the general's old feelings for Liangdi.

Qin Huai reached down and picked up a bag from beside the chair, handing it to Liu Shun. He said softly, "No need to say anything. You'll understand when you see the cloak."

Liu Shun took the cloak out of the bag, unfolded it, and his expression changed drastically. He carefully counted the number of tears. "How could the cloak made by the old lady's own hands be ruined like this? Six or seven tears!!"

"Su Yunxi ruined it." Qin Huai pursed his lips. "Liu Shun, I understand you've always wanted her back, but you can't force feelings. She doesn't have me in her heart, and she treated me badly. I've already let it go. What's past is past."