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

The person he was thinking of suddenly appeared in front of him, and Zhou Ming'an's face, still flushed, became hot again. He hurriedly turned around to leave.

"Miss Zhou, have I been presumptuous?"

Liu Muyuan gently asked her to stay.

"No!" Zhou Ming'an quickly shook his head, "It's...me."

"I was standing here eavesdropping on your conversation."

Zhou Ming'an became increasingly embarrassed as he spoke, and couldn't help but lower his head.

Liu Muyuan chuckled softly, like a spring breeze: "This is the Marquis's courtyard, and Miss is a daughter of the Marquis's family. How could you claim to be eavesdropping?"

"I feel really guilty for saying that, Miss Zhou."

Liu Muyuan always managed to cheer her up quickly, and this time was no exception.

Zhou Ming'an finally dared to look up at him, asking shyly with a hint of curiosity, "How did you know I was here?"

She was accompanied only by Cuilan, who hadn't made a sound either.

Liu Muyuan smiled gently and pointed to the sachet at her waist. "It's a sachet I often use, so I'm naturally familiar with it."

"Ah!" Zhou Ming'an hurriedly untied the sachet and handed it back with both hands, "Here, take this sachet back."

Liu Muyuan was taken aback: "You don't like it?"

"Of course not!" Zhou Ming'an pursed his lips. "These past two days, thanks to your sachet, I've felt much more at ease. But it is yours after all. It wouldn't be proper for me to take it..."

It's one thing for women to exchange sachets, but it's not really appropriate for men and women to do so.

"But what am I supposed to do if you give this sachet back to me?"

Seeing Zhou Ming'an's puzzled look, Liu Muyuan smiled slightly: "I think I definitely can't treat it like an ordinary sachet."

These words were spoken in a veiled manner, yet they were full of ambiguity.

Zhou Ming'an quickly realized what was happening, blushed again, and couldn't stay still any longer.

Liu Muyuan continued:

"I'm telling you the truth. Actually, at yesterday's banquet... I wanted to give you this sachet, but I just couldn't find the right opportunity."

"I heard yesterday that Miss Zhou had gone missing and that the soldiers had surrounded the woods. It took me a lot of effort to find a gap in the woods to look for Miss Zhou. Fortunately, Miss Zhou was not injured."

"Otherwise, I would have regretted it so much for not giving the sachet sooner."

Liu Muyuan's sudden confession left Zhou Ming'an stunned. Before he could fully process the previous sentence, the next one came crashing down on him.

So... Liu Muyuan likes her?

This is so sudden!

"I..." Zhou Ming'an clutched the sachet, staring intently at his toes, unsure how to react.

"Ms. Zhou, you don't need to give me an answer right now."

"If Miss Zhou doesn't dislike me, please give me a few months."

"I will do my best to give Miss Zhou an explanation when the high school entrance exam comes next year."

Liu Muyuan spoke earnestly.

However, Zhou Ming'an simply couldn't process so much information in just two days, so he hurriedly bowed, turned around, and ran away.

She walked alone on the way back to Longcui Pavilion, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

Liu Muyuan is undoubtedly a good person, an extremely good person.

But this was so sudden!

"Miss!" Cuilan's voice came from behind, panting as she ran. "I've finally found you! You were running so fast, I chased you for ages but couldn't catch up."

Zhou Ming'an's mind was clearly not on Cuilan; he only gave a vague "hmm."

"...Young lady, are you thinking of Young Master Liu?"

Zhou Ming'an nodded haphazardly.

Cuilan covered her mouth and smiled: "This servant thinks that Young Master Liu is a good person."

"Think about it, he dared to rush into the woods to find you. Putting aside his ability, how many people possess that kind of courage?"

As Cuilan walked, she counted on her fingers: "Furthermore, Young Master Liu is only fifteen years old this year and he has already obtained the title of Juren, which shows that he is exceptionally intelligent."

"You and he are of one mind, and with the connection of the eldest mistress, why worry that the young lady won't have a good future?"

Zhou Ming'an followed the list of thoughts that Cui Lan had given him.

That's really true.

My mother has changed recently, but who knows if it will last?

If her father and mother don't divorce, will her mother really arrange a good marriage for her in the future?

She didn't believe it.

Therefore, it would be better to do as Cuilan suggested and plan ahead for herself by finding a good husband.

"You're right, but I'm only fourteen. My second brother isn't married yet, so I'm not in a hurry."

Seeing Zhou Ming'an's expression soften, Cuilan smiled and said, "If you're interested, Miss, you'd better hurry up."

Why?

"Young Master Liu is intelligent. If he passes the exam next year, matchmakers will be flocking to the Liu family."

"Whether the old lady is willing to consider the young lady's future is one thing. Whether Madam Wang of the Liu family, who has always been at odds with the old lady, is willing to have the young lady as her daughter-in-law is another matter entirely."

Zhou Ming'an bit his lower lip, pondering the matter.

.

Liu Muqiu had just returned to the East Courtyard when she heard from the old woman that her younger brother had come to visit.

Overjoyed, she quickly changed her clothes and went to the front yard.

"Mu Yuan, what brings you here?"

Liu Muyuan smiled gently: "I ran into Master Zhou on the street. When he learned that I had saved Miss Zhou yesterday, he invited me to his mansion for a chat."

"I see. Speaking of which, it was all thanks to you yesterday that An'an was able to return safely. You've always been bold and meticulous, but I'm still a little scared," Liu Muqiu sighed softly, "What if you had encountered those thugs..."

"If anything happens to you, how am I supposed to explain it to Mother?"

A trace of sadness and longing flashed across Liu Muyuan's eyes.

After their mother passed away, the siblings were left to depend on each other.

They thought their stepmother's arrival would bring them new maternal love, but that's not how it turned out.

A few years ago, his stepmother even found a pretext to send him to a farm outside Beijing.

If he hadn't passed the imperial examination last year, he probably wouldn't even have been able to go home.

In this world, the only one who truly cares for him is his sister.

"Enough about me, sister. How have you been these days?"

Liu Muqiu was worried about her younger brother, and Liu Muyuan was equally worried about his older sister.

Madam Lu was notoriously domineering and eccentric in the capital. My sister had been married into the family for a year, and every time she wrote to him, she would only say that everything was fine.

But how could he possibly let it go?

I met that old lady Lu yesterday. She seemed like a normal person in her words and actions. However, the more normal a person appears on the surface, the more sinister they are in private.

Liu Muyuan's eyes reddened: "Sister, once I pass the exam, I'll be able to help you..."

Liu Muqiu chuckled lightly: "Silly girl, I'm doing just fine now, I don't need your help. What you need to do now is take care of yourself."

"Recently, Mrs. Lu has changed her temperament and has been exceptionally kind to me and to your brother-in-law... If things can continue like this, I will be very happy."

How could Liu Muyuan possibly believe that?

He knew his sister was only saying that to make him feel better.

Liu Muqiu then took out several silver notes from her sleeve: "Take this hundred taels first. I've also put some loose silver for daily use in the scroll I'll give you later, so the servants at home won't find it..."

"I know you're having a hard time under Wang's rule, so please bear with it a little longer. Once you pass the imperial examination, I'll find you a good marriage. Then, I won't have to worry about anything anymore."

Liu Muyuan refused to accept it. He knew his sister had suffered a lot and that she had endured countless hardships to save up this money in the Marquis's mansion. He pushed it back with red eyes.

As the two were politely declining each other's offer, a pale blue silk handkerchief suddenly slipped out from Liu Muyuan's sleeve.