The temperamental white moonlight is back, and the entire Marquis's family obediently calls him

Given the great reputations of Prince Wei and Princess Wenyu, their sudden return to the capital must have some special reason.

After discussing it, the mother and son decided to go to the appointment to see what the other party really meant.

"But... Mother will probably have to work hard and learn some etiquette," Zhou Shili said with difficulty.

"Princess Wenyu is a member of the imperial family, unlike the wife of the Duke of Huguo. She must be extremely careful, and must be mindful of etiquette and rules. Every word and action must be precise."

Although the title of Duke of Protectorate is higher than that of Marquis of Zhongjing, from the perspective of the overall situation, it is clear that Marquis of Zhongjing is more favored by the emperor. Therefore, Lu Mingzhao can disregard the rules in front of Cui Shi.

However, one cannot be careless when facing true members of the royal family.

If she says something wrong or does something offensive or inappropriate, and it is then used by someone with ulterior motives to spread rumors, I'm afraid my mother will suffer.

Zhou Shili grew increasingly uneasy, his brows furrowing as he said, "Forget it, Mother, you shouldn't go."

"I personally replied to the post, saying that my mother was unwell and should not go out."

Lu Mingzhao shook his head: "Princess Wenyu met me today, and I fell ill the next day. This is too unbelievable."

"Mother knows you're worried about me, afraid I'll say or do the wrong thing, but it's not right to just refuse like this... Does Muqiu know anything about these things? Why don't you ask her to teach me?"

Seeing that her son was still frowning, Lu Mingzhao couldn't help but chuckle: "Don't always frown. You're only three years old and you've already grown a beard. You look like a little old man."

"Your mother isn't that fragile. She's only been asleep for fourteen years; she hasn't turned back into a child. Does she think she's forgotten how to speak and act?"

"Back in the village, I could learn anything someone taught me after just one lesson," Lu Mingzhao said, puffing out his chest. Then he paused and added sheepishly, "except for literacy."

Zhou Shili smiled when his mother interrupted him like that, and the gloom in his heart dissipated a lot. He could only nod in agreement.

The next morning, when Liu Muqiu arrived, Lu Mingzhao had already dressed up and eaten breakfast.

"Li'er already told you, right?"

Liu Muqiu nodded calmly: "My master asked me to go with you to see Princess Wenyu."

"You also need to teach me the etiquette of the capital. Didn't Li'er tell you?"

Liu Muqiu paused for a moment, then forced a stiff smile and nodded.

Her husband had naturally suggested that she teach her mother-in-law the proper etiquette when meeting the princess.

She was stunned for a long time after hearing this last night.

She taught her mother-in-law manners?

What kind of talk is this? Isn't this going against the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches?

But to my utter surprise, my mother-in-law brought it up herself.

Lu Mingzhao laughed and said, "Teach me, otherwise I won't know anything when I go out and will embarrass our family."

Liu Muqiu took a deep breath and nodded.

She spent half an hour teaching him all the etiquette for meeting the princess and getting to know the other children.

Lu Mingzhao took a sip of tea and sighed, "There are so many rules in this city. You have to bow to those more powerful than me, and you also have to bow to those just as powerful as me..."

Liu Muqiu secretly wiped away her sweat, finally finishing the lesson.

Before she could even catch her breath, Lu Mingzhao affectionately took her arm: "Muqiu, if I do anything wrong, you have to remind me."

"That's...natural."

Liu Muqiu stiffly lowered her head, her gaze lingering on the two people's intertwined arms, before quickly raising her head again, trying to ignore it.

The two left the Marquis's residence and headed towards Yunding Manor.

The carriage stopped and started several times along the way, and Lu Mingzhao couldn't help but lift the curtain and look outside a few times.

"So it was a grand banquet, and it wasn't just for our Marquis's residence."

Upon hearing this, Liu Muqiu unconsciously tightened the handkerchief in her hand, her eyes constantly glancing outside.

But she couldn't see clearly from her position, so she hesitantly asked her mother-in-law, "Are there... any carriages from the Liu family outside?"

Lu Mingzhao paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."

Liu Muqiu: "...It's been half a year since my last visit home. It would be good to see my mother if I could."

Liu Muqiu tried her best to make her voice sound normal, but her smile was still somewhat awkward.

Lu Mingzhao remained silent, pretending not to have noticed anything.

Zhou Shili had already told her about Liu Muqiu's experiences in the Liu family last night.

Liu Muqiu's biological mother passed away ten years ago, leaving behind Liu Muqiu and her five-year-old brother.

Two years later, Liu's father married Wang, a woman from a wealthy merchant family, as his second wife.

At first, Wang treated the two children with kindness and gentleness, but soon after, she gave birth to a son and a daughter in succession. After gaining a foothold in the Liu family, her attitude towards the two children changed drastically.

When Liu Muqiu was sixteen and engaged, Wang Shi still wanted to marry her off to her own mother's family.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, Liu's father softened and entrusted her to Zhou Shili, his most outstanding student when he was teaching.

Lu Mingzhao was initially puzzled as to how Liu's father could tolerate such a crazy in-law.

In retrospect, under those circumstances, this might have been the best way out for Liu Muqiu.

At least, Liu's father knew Zhou Shili's character.

Lu Mingzhao looked away, neither asking questions nor comforting Liu Muqiu.

At this moment, she had no right to comfort Liu Muqiu, and Liu Muqiu did not need anyone's sympathy.

The carriage stopped, and the two stepped off the carriage using the stools. In the distance, they could see several small houses with green tiles and white walls nestled on the mountainside shrouded in mist, next to a towering pavilion that overlooked the entire capital city.

"I heard a while ago that Yunding Manor was sold for a high price. I didn't know who was so generous. Now I know," a noblewoman in the distance said with a smile.

"I wonder what brings Princess Wenyu back this time."

"I've heard some rumors, but I don't know if they're true or not..."

Another woman struck up a conversation, and the two started chatting.

Lu Mingzhao and Liu Muqiu exchanged a glance and, without prior arrangement, took steps to follow them at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

"I heard that Princess Wenyu returned to the capital this time for the young master's marriage. The young master is sixteen years old, which is the age to discuss marriage. He is also the princess's only son, so it's inevitable that she is worried about him."

"I heard that too. It seems the princess went to the Duke of Huguo's mansion a few days ago. The Duke of Huguo's family has several young ladies of marriageable age. I wonder if it's related to this matter..."

Lu Mingzhao's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Princess Wenyu summoned most of the noble ladies in the capital just to choose a daughter-in-law?

Liu Muqiu had the same idea. She thought her mother-in-law would be happy, but when she turned her head, she saw that the other woman's brows were tightly furrowed.

"...Madam?" Liu Muqiu called to her, then lowered her voice, "If it's true...wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Marrying the young master of Princess Wenyu's family is far better than marrying Feng Lianghao, who married the Duke of Huguo's family.

Lu Mingzhao snapped out of her daze and pursed her lips.

"The higher the social standing, the greater the rules. Moreover, the other party is an only child. If she really marries into that family, who knows how many things will weigh on her alone."

Liu Muqiu remained silent, only subtly observing her.

The mother-in-law's first reaction was not happiness, but worry for An'an.

My mother-in-law has really changed a lot.

Lu Mingzhao paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

"I'm overthinking it. An'an just broke off an engagement, and given my reputation in the capital, how could anyone possibly choose a girl from our family?"