Tao Wanniang looked at Ling Yunzhou with a cold gaze, and her words were as sharp as the cold wind of the coldest winter day.

"Ling Yunzhou, you're not young anymore, you're over forty, why are you still thinking about the feelings from seventeen or eighteen years ago?" Tao Wanniang's words were stern. "As a general of a country, how can you indulge in personal feelings? Do you deserve the salary you receive from the court?"

What does this have to do with him receiving a salary from the imperial court? Ling Yunzhou's heart sank. What he cared about was how much Tao Wanniang wanted to push him to someone else.

"Why are you pushing me to the princess? She is no good man."

"Why? Isn't that something you brought upon yourself? Can you really sever your ties with the Princess? Besides, as a general, don't you know how to weigh the pros and cons? I just want to be my manager, make my own money, and not get involved in anything of yours."

"Lingyunzhou, I have never enjoyed the glory brought by the Great General, so please don't drag me down with blame that I shouldn't have to bear," Tao Wanniang said clearly and unequivocally. "I don't care whether you want a general's wife or you want me, I solemnly declare again: I do not want to!"

Ling Yunzhou stared blankly at Tao Wanniang, seeing a resolute look on her face.

"You're forty years old, with a son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, and you're still thinking about romance? Aren't you ashamed?" Tao Wan's mother said disdainfully.

Ling Yunzhou, feeling a bit embarrassed after being scolded by Tao Wanniang, couldn't help but retort, "You, aren't you still thinking about remarrying?"

“I’m younger than you!” Tao Wanniang said confidently.

Ling Yunzhou stormed off in anger, clearly showing that Tao Wanniang disliked him.

"Wait, the money, the money to save your life!" Tao Wanniang called out to Ling Yunzhou, who had already walked out of the house.

"I was in a hurry when I left and didn't bring it!" Ling Yunzhou said, turning around. "I'll have someone bring it over when I get back."

"Oh, and also, your second son is at home now. His wife just gave birth. Remember to go and check on him when you get back," Tao Wan's mother added. If it weren't for these people and things getting in the way, she and Ling Yunzhou could really have never spoken again!

Ling Yunzhou paused briefly, but then immediately turned and walked away without looking back. At forty years old, he seemed somewhat ridiculous!

Back at the General's Mansion, after visiting his grandson Ling Zhi, Ling Yunzhou asked Zhao Guangliang to prepare some things so he could go see Ling Dapeng.

"Give another five hundred taels of silver to Tao Wanniang as a thank you gift for saving me."

Seeing that Ling Yunzhou's expression was not good, Zhao Guangliang did not inquire whether the General's Mansion had a mistress.

"Reporting to the General, the Princess has come to visit," a guard reported just then.

Ling Yunzhou frowned. The eldest princess had come again, which annoyed him greatly, but he still had her brought in.

"Yunzhou!" Upon seeing Lingyunzhou, the eldest princess called out softly and with a hint of resentment.

"All of you, step back!" Ling Yunzhou dismissed all the servants, and frowned at the princess's resentful expression. "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

The eldest princess also ordered her maids and guards to wait outside the hall.

"Yunzhou, can you forgive me?" the princess asked weakly. "Everything I did was because I love you so much. The harsh words I said before were all lies. I simply cannot live without you."

The eldest princess was always dignified and poised. Ling Yunzhou was at a loss for words when he saw her suddenly become weak.

"Your Highness, you...you don't need to do this!"

"The woman before you is not a princess, but a woman who has loved you since her youth!" The princess looked at Ling Yunzhou with a smile. "You are the person I hold dearest in my heart, and all I ask for is to be with you. Yunzhou, why won't you accept me?"

"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness. I would also like to ask, what does Your Highness like about me? Can't I change it?" Ling Yunzhou said with utmost seriousness.

The princess was furious and couldn't help but say, "I like you alive, do you want to die?" She was not a gentle and understanding person, and was always bossy. She had already compromised so much, but Ling Yunzhou still disregarded their past relationship. Anger rose in her heart.

Ling Yunzhou really wouldn't die. On one hand, he thought that the princess had been kind to him, but on the other hand, he felt uncomfortable thinking that the princess wanted to cram all sorts of messy things into his head.

“Your Highness, I am already in my forties, while you are still young. In a few years, I will be old!” Ling Yunzhou said patiently to the princess. “Your Highness, I have some unspeakable difficulties, are you aware of them?”

The eldest princess was stunned. What unspeakable secret was it?

"Ling Yunzhou, you don't need to make excuses to fool me. My husband can only be you!" the princess said firmly.

“But I have said before His Majesty that I will never marry. Besides, if I am impotent, will the princess still want me?” Ling Yunzhou said with a strange expression.

"You... what did you say?" The princess took a step back, somewhat incredulous. "You... did you see a doctor?"

Ling Yunzhou nodded, looking at the princess with a serious expression: "Your Highness, I have sons and grandsons, and I'm already this age. I don't have another ten or twenty years to live. Do you really think it's worth wasting your time on me?"

That is, as Tao Wanniang said, he is of the age of forty, which led Ling Yunzhou to come up with such a method. In any case, he has no woman he likes. If he can make the princess give up her thoughts, he will bear this stigma!

The eldest princess took a few steps back, looking incredulous.

“Your Highness, this is a private matter of mine, and I beg Your Highness to keep it a secret.” Ling Yunzhou bowed to the princess.

"You're lying to me." The princess didn't believe it. Why did you have to say it now of all times? This must be a lie to fool her.

“Your Highness knows very well that in the ten years we have been together, there has never been any woman by my side. Has Your Highness never had any doubts?” Ling Yunzhou continued, “Your Highness, I know I am in the wrong. Please allow me to scold or beat you.”

"You...you still try so hard to please Tao Wanniang? Aren't you afraid she'll despise you?" the princess asked incredulously.

“She’s my wife, she’s given me two children, we’re an old married couple now,” Ling Yunzhou said. “A young couple grows old together, and I’m already halfway to my grave. I’m not one to indulge in pleasure, I just wanted a woman to manage this huge general’s mansion. Your Highness, would you be willing?”

The princess hesitated, but before she could finish speaking, Ling Yunzhou continued, "Even if Your Highness is willing, I will have no children in this life. When you grow old, I will surely leave before you. Have you thought about what it will be like then?"

The eldest princess thought about love and romance, but never about growing old. Hearing Ling Yunzhou's serious words, she wavered.

"Yunzhou, we can treat your illness slowly, I believe in you." But how could she be willing to give up after more than ten years of relationship?

Ling Yunzhou's mentality collapsed for a moment, but he still didn't give up?