After giving birth to twins, the princess became pregnant again, and the royal uncle took care of he

Chu Xingyao sat in the exquisitely decorated carriage, which swayed gently. Through the beaded chains hanging from the curtain, she peered at the outside world.

The shops and vendors on both sides of the street were bustling with activity, creating a lively and vibrant scene.

Her attention was drawn to a string of bright red candied hawthorns, their vibrant color appearing especially tempting in the winter sunlight.

"Pearl, go buy a few strings of candied hawthorns," Chu Xingyao said to her maid Pearl, her voice carrying a hint of lighthearted joy.

Pearl accepted the order, gracefully alighted from the carriage, and walked toward the vendor selling candied hawthorns.

Chu Xingyao remained seated in the carriage, awaiting Pearl's return. At that moment, she overheard people whispering nearby.

"Have you heard? During the morning court session, His Highness the War King personally admitted that he has a woman he admires, and he even carries her sachet with him," a voice said.

"Yes, I've heard about it too. I wonder which family's daughter she is that could capture the War King's heart so deeply," another voice replied.

Chu Xingyao frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in her heart: "She hasn't given the cat paw sachet to Jun Jiuxiao yet, so whose sachet is Jun Jiuxiao wearing?"

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the turmoil in her heart.

But those questions, like entwined vines, tightly bound her thoughts.

Has Jun Jiuxiao really changed his mind? Could it be that another woman has entered his heart, a woman he doesn't know, a woman who can take her place in his heart?

She felt a sharp pain, a mixture of jealousy and unease that was almost unbearable.

Or, what frightens her even more is another possibility—Jun Jiuxiao has remembered things from his past life.

All the things she had done to him—the deception, the hurt, the betrayal, even the crimes that led to his death.

If Jun Jiuxiao truly remembered everything, how could he possibly choose to forgive her? How could he possibly still be willing to love her?

Chu Xingyao's feelings became complicated. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with unease.

She knew that Jun Jiuxiao was not just a prince to her, but also a bond from her past and present lives.

She once thought their relationship was unique, but now, this rumor has stirred up waves in her heart.

Has he really changed his mind? Or is there some misunderstanding?

Chu Xingyao silently asked herself these questions, but she knew that only by asking Jun Jiuxiao in person could she get the answers.

At this moment, Pearl returned to the carriage with several strings of candied hawthorns. With a sweet smile, she handed them to Chu Xingyao and said, "Miss, these are the candied hawthorns you ordered."

Chu Xingyao accepted the candied hawthorn, but her mood was not as relaxed as before.

She took a bite of the candied hawthorn, the sweet and sour taste spreading in her mouth, but it seemed unable to dispel the doubts and unease in her heart.

The candied hawthorn in Chu Xingyao's hand gleamed enticingly in the sunlight, but her gaze, unfocused, drifted into the distance through the beaded chain.

Her heart was filled with complex emotions, including deep affection for Jun Jiuxiao and anxiety about the unknown situation.

“Pearl,” Chu Xingyao suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of determination, “we’re going to the War King’s Mansion.”

Pearl was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and replied, "Yes, Miss."

She knew Chu Xingyao's personality; once she made up her mind about something, she wouldn't easily change it.

Pearl quickly relayed Chu Xingyao's order to the coachman, and the carriage immediately changed direction, slowly heading towards the War King's Mansion.

Chu Xingyao gently fiddled with the sugar coating on the candied hawthorn, but in her heart she was repeatedly thinking about how to face Jun Jiuxiao.

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Prince of War's mansion, and Chu Xingyao's heart paused for a moment.

Her gaze passed through the curtains and landed on the familiar door, where people who were both familiar and unfamiliar to her were located.

The guards' eyes revealed surprise and joy; they recognized Chu Xingyao's carriage and were secretly happy for the prince.

In their eyes, Miss Chu's arrival was undoubtedly an auspicious sign, meaning that the person in the prince's heart had finally responded.

However, just as the guards were about to enter the mansion to announce the good news, the carriage suddenly changed direction.

The wheels made a rapid sound on the stone slabs, much like the inner turmoil and hesitation in Chu Xingyao's heart.

The guards stood frozen in place, exchanging bewildered glances, completely baffled by this sudden turn of events.

Chu Xingyao sat inside the carriage, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Her heart was filled with conflict; she wanted to face Jun Jiuxiao directly, yet she was also afraid to hear the answer that might shatter all her hopes.

Her guilt and her fear intertwined at that moment, forming an inescapable web.

She wanted to believe in Jun Jiuxiao, to believe that their love could overcome everything, including the painful past.

However, the memories of her past life were like a deep crack, making her feel guilty and preventing her from easily stepping out of the gates of the War King's Mansion.

She was afraid that her appearance would be a mistake, and that she would let Jun Jiuxiao down again.

"Pearl, let's go back to the manor." Chu Xingyao's voice trembled slightly, but she tried her best to sound firm.

Although Pearl was puzzled, she knew when to obey her mistress's orders, so she nodded and instructed the coachman to turn the carriage around and head towards the General's Mansion.

The carriage stopped in front of the General's Mansion. Chu Xingyao took a deep breath. She needed to compose herself and remain strong in front of her family.

She couldn't let her family see her vulnerability, and she couldn't let them worry about her.

She wanted to be like a general's daughter, standing strong no matter what she faced.

She slowly walked into the mansion and was greeted by Chu Huaizhong, her father, who was standing in the center of the hall with a doting smile on his face.

His eyes were filled with love and pride for his daughter, as if no matter what difficulties Chu Xingyao encountered outside, she would always be his precious darling when she returned home.

"My darling is back?" Chu Huaizhong's voice carried a hint of teasing.

He gently wiped away the candied hawthorn residue from the corner of Chu Xingyao's mouth, his movements tender and attentive.

"She's all grown up now, yet she still loves candied hawthorns so much." His words revealed his boundless love for his daughter.

A shy smile appeared on Chu Xingyao's face. She knew that she would always be a child in her father's eyes.

She nodded, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort in her heart.

Home is always a place where she can let down all her guard and burdens.

"Go wash up quickly. Tonight, Marquis Wu'an and Prince Zhou will be coming. We'll have barbecue together. Your older brother bought a lot of fresh beef and mutton."

Chu Huaizhong continued, his voice filled with anticipation and joy.

A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Xingyao's eyes. She knew that such a gathering meant joy and reunion among family members.

She nodded, already looking forward to the barbecue party that evening.