The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

Xu Qianhui got off the carriage and hurried to the polo field with Granny Fang.

As the sun set, the wind swirled up bits of grass, adding a touch of desolation to the horse ranch.

After walking about a hundred steps along the perimeter, several figures suddenly stood facing each other beside a wooden fence.

Fu's furious accusations were carried by the wind.

"Yun Ci, ask yourself honestly, A Qing grew up with you, has she ever wronged you in any way? How could you bring Xu Qian Hui onto the field after A Qing was injured?"

"Is your brother's injury less important than a single game?"

Chu Yunci stood in the wind, his thin lips pressed tightly together, not uttering a word, letting the elder in front of him throw a tantrum.

Xu Qianhui and Granny Fang stood behind the haystack.

With just this one passage, Xu Qianhui grasped the overall picture.

Fu was provoked again.

She only has one son, Lin Zuoqing, whom she dotes on like the apple of her eye.

When Lin Zuoqing suddenly fell from his horse, Chu Yunci, who had grown up with him, not only did not stay by his side to comfort him, but also brought Xu Qianhui onto the stage, which helped her gain the princess's favor.

For Fu, this was a blatant betrayal and humiliation.

Xu Qianhui originally thought they were making a scene in the stands, but it turned out they were just outside the polo field.

Judging from this situation, this commotion isn't very interesting.

This commotion isn't very interesting, so she doesn't plan to join in.

Xu Qianhui turned to leave, but was suddenly called back.

"Hey! Xu Qianhui! What are you eavesdropping for? Are you too scared to come over?"

Xu Qianhui's mind went blank.

Lin Zhiwei, Lin Zhiwei, can you ever return to the way I first saw you?

You can't even concentrate on arguing now, how can you expect Lin Zuoqing to love you wholeheartedly?

Xu Qianhui concealed the coldness in her eyes, turned her head, and saw Lin Zhiwei's face full of provocation.

She quickly put on an expression of grievance and restraint, but still maintaining her dignity, and walked to Chu Yunci's side to bow to Madam Fu.

"Ah Hui has met her aunt. How is her aunt?"

Upon seeing Xu Qianhui, Madam Fu calmed down considerably.

She straightened up, adopting the demeanor of a duchess.

"As a cousin of the Duke's family, what kind of behavior is this, wandering around alone? Where is Granny Fang?"

Xu Qianhui lowered her eyes and replied, "Aunt, the wind just picked up, and Granny Fang was worried that the tent wasn't set up securely enough, so she went to check it."

She and Granny Fang had just been hiding behind a haystack.

Lin Zhiwei noticed that Fang Mama was standing on the outside, but she hid very well.

Lin Zhiwei sneered: "Auntie, some people are born lowly, and even the best nanny can't change their petty thieving habits. Whether she appreciates your efforts in teaching her is another matter."

Madam Fu glanced at Xu Qianhui, which was taken as tacit agreement with her words.

Seeing this, Lin Zhiwei became even bolder.

"You've been sneaking around over there, are you here to see General Chu?" She took two steps forward, closing in on Xu Qianhui. "Why did you run away as soon as you saw him? Are you afraid of getting into trouble and being implicated?"

When Chu Yunci was mentioned, Xu Qianhui's previously timid demeanor vanished, replaced by a resolute look in her eyes.

"Miss Lin, your aunt, as the Duchess, is perfectly reasonable. What trouble would it cause if the young general and your aunt were to speak here?"

"Does Miss Lin mean that after leaving the polo field, Auntie didn't go to visit her injured son first, but instead kept harping on the young general?"

Lin Zhiwei's expression changed drastically: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Xu Qianhui chuckled: "That's true. How could there be a mother in the world who would disregard her son's injuries and instead vent her anger on innocent people?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Fu suddenly realized what was happening.

She then realized that she hadn't even glanced at Lin Zuoqing since she woke up.

It's all Lin Zhiwei's fault!

The moment I opened my eyes, she was already stirring things up beside me.

One moment they say Chu Yunci is heartless, the next they say Xu Qianhui is stealing the limelight.

If it weren't for her provocation, I wouldn't have gotten so angry that I stopped Chu Yunci outside the polo field and started a fight.

She released Lin Zhiwei's hand and asked, "Zhiwei, have you seen Aqing?"

Lin Zhiwei woke up a little earlier than Madam Fu.

She had just opened her eyes when she heard the maidservant guarding her say that the princess had lost to Chu Yunci and Xu Qianhui.

Before she could finish speaking, Madam Fu woke up.

She was furious, so she embellished the story.

Faced with Fu's questioning, Lin Zhiwei lowered her head, her eyes darting around.

"No...not yet."

Fu snorted coldly.

She didn't even glance at Lin Zhiwei, but turned to instruct Liu Mama.

"Let's go see Ah Qing."

Granny Liu quickly stepped forward to help Madam Fu.

The master and servant left without looking back.

Lin Zhi bit her lip, glared fiercely at Xu Qianhui, and chased after her, lifting her skirt.

Only Xu Qianhui and Chu Yunci remained on the open ground.

The wind still blows.

Chu Yunci stood there the whole time, without saying a word.

Even if Fu pointed his finger at him and cursed him, even if Lin Zhiwei made veiled accusations against him.

He didn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Xu Qianhui looked at him and sincerely explained, "Young General, I wasn't trying to run away... it's just that my aunt is here too, and I was afraid I couldn't help you, so I wanted to go and ask the princess to come and help..."

Chu Yunci interrupted her: "Miss Xu, will you marry me?"

Xu Qianhui stood there, stunned, her mind unable to process what had just happened.

"what?"

Didn't he say he had no intention of remarrying?

Why are you suddenly saying something like that?

Seeing her surprised expression, Chu Yunci softened his tone.

"I believe you. Even I have to give way to the Duchess, let alone you. So I believe you, and you don't need to explain any further."

"Besides... I can tell you're not happy at the Duke's mansion."

"I believe that just as there are layers of mountains with their own unique contours, there should also be layers of rhythm and cadence in your landscape."

"I want to help you escape the Duke's mansion and give you the opportunity to spread your wings."

Xu Qianhui stood there stunned, seemingly unable to believe what she had heard, and after a long while she murmured softly.

"Young general, do you know what you're saying?"

Chu Yunci nodded.

"I know this is abrupt." He looked directly into her eyes, his gaze frank and open. "But I don't want to see such a bright girl like you wither away in the mud."

Xu Qianhui hesitated, "But... I'm sure the young general knows about my past. I left the capital because of that incident, and then I got engaged to the second young master in Jiangnan..."

"I know," Chu Yunci said. "I know everything about you."

"Then why..."

"The marriage I'm talking about isn't what you think."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

"Once you leave the Duke's mansion, if there's anything you want to do, we can divorce at any time. You can use me as a stepping stone to leave the Duke's mansion; the goal is to be able to soar freely."

Divorce is possible at any time...

He had even thought of a way out for her.

She doesn't need to fulfill the duties of a wife, nor does she need to deal with the difficulties caused by her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

He was just using a title to gain freedom.

This condition is like a person who has been thirsty in the desert for three days and three nights suddenly finding a bowl of sweet spring water in front of them.

It looks so tempting.

"Young General," Xu Qianhui looked up, trying to find a flaw in his eyes, "What are you after?"

Before Chu Yunci could answer, footsteps came from around the corner of the haystack.

"She won't marry you."