The mistress who remarried has returned.

"The master has already given instructions. I understand." Qin Huai didn't say anything more, also unwilling to listen to advice all day long, but Kang Yin meant well, and he couldn't show any rebellion, so he just waved him away. Couldn't he control his behavior? How could he lose his composure and argue with a woman who had nothing?

The Master and Kang Yin do not need such repeated warnings and admonitions.

Kang Yin understood that the general was always very good at managing his emotions and handled all situations with propriety. He was a very restrained and reserved young nobleman, so he didn't need to offer any more advice.

The general no longer owes the concubine anything, but the concubine still owes the general seven years of kindness in raising her. Would the general really pester the concubine to repay that debt? Given the general's status, it's absolutely impossible for him to do so. He's overthinking it.

After Kang Yin left, Qin Huai took out the love letter written by Su Yunxi from his clothes. Now, when he read what she wrote about missing him and sleeping while hugging his clothes and smelling his scent, he found it extremely ridiculous.

If she misses him, why isn't she here today? For those seven years, she would stay by his side every year on this day, never leaving his side. He would handle government affairs while she made incense beside him. Though she didn't say a word, he could feel her concern for him. Every time she placed her fingers on his forehead, the delicate touch of that skin contact would calm him down. Back then, he was young and incredibly sensitive; a touch of her fingertips was enough to make him think about her for a very long time.

For those few years, I was completely fooled by her. Little did I know that she used him all for Zhou Yu's sake.

Thinking that Zhou Yu had already woken up last night and closed the door, she wondered what was going on. She also remembered the bronze mirror behind the screen opposite Zhou Yu's bed. She felt extremely agitated and her head was about to split open from the pain.

He held the note in both hands, intending to tear it up and remove the source of his irritability.

He stood up, pinched the sides of the note with both hands and began to tear it. After making a small tear, he suddenly stopped, seemingly lost in thought. He then abruptly opened the drawer, slammed the note inside, grabbed it again, and threw it in once more forcefully. He then slammed the drawer shut with a loud bang.

He had slammed the note down hard and slammed the drawer shut with great force; the blue veins under the skin of his hand were still bulging unnaturally.

That note must have been smashed to pieces, and the drawer must have suffered severe internal damage as well.

Qin Huai felt a little more at ease, and his gaze drifted towards the door. "Has Liu Shun returned yet?"

Yesterday, I arranged for Liu Shun to take the cloak to a tailor to mend it, but he has been gone for a whole day and night and still hasn't seen anyone.

The doorman replied, "In your reply, they haven't returned yet."

"I'm back, I'm back," the doorman replied. Liu Shun quickly turned the corner of the corridor, hurried over, lifted the curtain, and rushed into the house.

Liu Shun rushed all the way, working up a sweat even in the twelfth lunar month. He reached into the cloth bag he was carrying and took out the indigo cloak that the old lady had made by hand. He presented it to Qin Huai as soon as he entered the house. "I found the best tailors in the capital, and five of us worked through the night to salvage this cloak. It's finally finished. General, please take a look. It's dusk now, and the damage is already not very noticeable. It will be even less clear after nightfall. I hope it will pass muster with the old lady and the madam."

Qin Huai took the cloak and examined the various tears and blemishes. Up close, the embroidery was quite good, but upon closer inspection, there were still a few embroidery scars. He hadn't noticed the cloak for the past two days, but now that he saw it, he was annoyed again. He immediately remembered the scene of her bending over and pulling his cloak out of the trash can, standing under the kerosene lamp, plotting how to get away with it. It really made him feel nauseous.

He tied the cloak over his shoulders, looking down as he fastened the straps, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

Liu Shun knew that the general was in a very bad mood every year on this day. In previous years, because Consort Su was by his side, his subordinates were able to have an easier time. But in the past four years, Consort Su had switched allegiance to the Crown Prince. For those who served the general on this day, it was like an eternity. They could easily run into trouble.

"The guests at Yingtian Pavilion have mostly arrived. The Emperor and the Master are admiring the lanterns on the lake. General, you must hurry over to pay your respects. Although I sent word that you are surveying the surrounding area for security, you can't go too late and risk being criticized. I know you dislike these kinds of extravagant and pleasure-seeking occasions. Every time the Master celebrates his birthday in such a grand manner, it reminds you of what day it is. You just want to find a quiet place to be alone. But you have to go out of politeness."

Liu Shun didn't mention that today was the anniversary of the death of his eldest son, Qin Yun, who had passed away. On this day, his wife would never speak to the general and would be very cold towards him. His wife always believed that the general had pushed Qin Yun into the lake and drowned him.

Qin Huai closed the official documents on the table page by page and set them aside. He rested his hand on the base of his teacup, preparing to take a sip of tea before heading to Yingtian Pavilion. He slowly raised his eyes and asked Liu Shun, "From last night until this evening, has anyone asked you to pass on a message to me, inviting me to meet somewhere?"

Liu Shun thought about it carefully, "No."

With a snap.

Qin Huai overturned the teacup. Very well, this was clearly a breach of promise; she wasn't going to keep her word. He actually thought she was someone who kept her promises. She never intended to give it to him in the first place.

Liu Shun hurriedly steadied the teacup that was spinning on the table. Had he answered something wrong? Why was the general refusing to drink the tea and even overturning the expensive tea set? Liu Shun looked at the tea flowing down the table and was completely baffled. He had inexplicably run into trouble. But who did the general have an appointment with?

Liu Shun wiped the teacup off the table with a cloth, his movements fluid and efficient. It was clear that this was not the first time he had dealt with the situation where the general had overturned the teacup, and he was very experienced in handling it. After wiping the table with the towel, he wrung it out and wiped it again to restore the table to a dry state. He then quickly spread the towel out on the rack before hurriedly following the general out.

Suddenly he remembered that he had ridden back to get his cloak repaired, and hadn't had time to prepare a carriage.

Knowing that the general had a headache, Liu Shun urged his horse to ride to Yingtian Pavilion in the cold wind, only to have the headache worsen. This would likely lead to his subordinates being held accountable by their superiors. So, Liu Shun immediately suggested to the general, "General, please wait for me. I've been busy all night and haven't had time to prepare a carriage for you yet."

"Of course you're too busy to think about me." Qin Huai crossed his arms, a cold smile playing on his lips. "You naturally have people more important to you than I am, people you're busy with all day and night, and you can't think of me."

"..." Liu Shun was baffled by the rebuttal. It was one thing to be rebutted, but the worst part was that he was rebutted with a cold smile.

No.

He didn't do anything special. He was busy all day and night making the general's cloak. It's as if you're neglecting him because you're busy with other people's business.

"No, Your subordinate has not. I have always remembered you. I have never forgotten you for a moment."

Qin Huai brooked no argument: "Don't try to argue!"