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

Inside the study of Hesongyuan, a man clad in armor was reporting military intelligence in a low voice with a stern face.

The man sitting to the side had a calm expression.

His gaze swept over the lieutenant, clearly unintentionally, yet the lieutenant sensed his authority and scrutiny, and unconsciously straightened his back.

"I see."

The man's deep, hoarse voice interrupted the lieutenant's report.

"My child is coming to see me later, please wait a moment."

The lieutenant responded repeatedly. Remembering his colleague's instructions, he couldn't help but look down and intentionally ask about the commander's injuries.

But as soon as he made eye contact with the commander, he was so frightened that his mind went blank. When he came to his senses, he secretly cursed himself for being useless.

He had been by the commander's side for five years, but he still dared not look the commander in the eye.

Zhou Ningchuan picked up the bowl of pain-relieving medicine beside him, drank it all in one gulp, then stood up, leaning on the table, and looked out the window.

If Lu Mingzhao were here and saw this scene, he would definitely be stunned.

Fourteen years have passed, and Zhou Ningchuan has grown taller and stronger.

Zhou Ningchuan, whom she used to be able to take down with one hand, now has shoulders as thick as a wall.

In the past, Zhou Ningchuan would always lower his head slightly in embarrassment when looking at people, but now his deep, dark eyes are filled with a chilling and murderous aura.

Fourteen years ago, the youthful spirit was gone; now, only the cold, hard marks of time remain.

.

Outside Hesong Courtyard, Zhou Shixu and Zhou Ming'an stood at the entrance, waiting nervously and excitedly.

The courtyard gate finally opened, and the two quickly stepped forward.

The autumn wind was howling, and Father stood in the courtyard, wearing a moon-white cloak, just as always.

The father looked almost exactly the same as he had seven years ago, and was even more upright and sturdy than they remembered.

"Father!"

The two ran toward their father, but forced themselves to stop a few steps away.

They've grown up and can no longer hug their father like they did when they were little.

But the next moment, Zhou Ningchuan stepped forward and opened his arms to hug the two children tightly.

"I'm back."

Whether it was from being hit by his father's chest muscles or from thinking about the hardships of the past years, Zhou Ming'an couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat, but he bit his lip and refused to cry.

Zhou Shixu raised his head and mustered his courage to look at his father.

My father is only forty years old, but he already has white hair. His days stationed in the Northwest must have been very difficult.

"Father, will you leave again this time you've come back?" Zhou Shixu asked softly.

Even a troublesome little devil, used to being a brat, becomes a docile little quail in front of his strict and cold father.

Zhou Ningchuan didn't answer his question, but instead gave a slight smile and ruffled his hair.

Even with his cold and hard exterior, Zhou Ningchuan's heart softened when facing his own flesh and blood.

Seven years ago, Shi Xu was just an eight-year-old toddler; now he's already up to my shoulder.

And An'an...

He went to the Northwest, his biggest worry being his daughter. His wife had risked her life to give birth to their daughter, whom he hadn't even had a chance to properly cherish.

"Father, have you taken your medicine?"

An'an smelled the medicine and hurriedly looked up.

"It's nothing, just a minor cold."

Zhou Ningchuan released them, coughed lightly with his fist, and said, "Go back early, lest you pass on your illness."

"Come back when I'm better."

The brother and sister exchanged a glance and nodded in disappointment.

I had thought I could have a good chat with my father, but I had to leave after only a couple of words.

"Xu'er, An'an."

A gentle female voice sounded from behind the father.

The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chu Yuan'er walking gracefully towards them, wearing clothes the same color as her father's cloak.

After many years apart, the father had become even more dignified, and Aunt Chu had become even gentler, her eyes always carrying a captivating tenderness.

It is said that when Chu Yuan'er was young, she was one of the most beautiful and talented women in the capital, and many men vied to marry her.

Zhou Ming'an couldn't help but think of his mother, and then compared his mother with Aunt Chu in front of him.

In terms of appearance, the mother was not bad-looking either; the eldest and second eldest brothers resembled her in many ways.

Back when my elder brother was still unmarried, whenever he attended a banquet, he would always attract the attention of the girls.

The mother's appearance was naturally quite good.

However, once the mother started acting strangely, her facial features would unconsciously become distorted, and her face would become repulsive, turning her beauty from ten parts to five.

Not to mention that in terms of talent, learning, and temperament, the mother was far inferior.

"Your father and I brought back many trinkets from the Northwest. We'll have the servants deliver them to your courtyard later, shall we?" Chu Yuan'er spoke softly, her eyes gentle as spring water.

She looked at the two children with affection, as if they were her own.

"Thank you, Aunt Chu," the brother and sister said in unison.

"What are you thanking me for?" Chu Yuan'er said reproachfully. "It's only been a few years, and you two are already being so formal?"

"Back then, when you were in my arms, you called me Aunt Chu and kept asking me to tell you stories. Have you forgotten all of that? Now you're being so polite. I'm truly heartbroken."

When the old days were mentioned, the brother and sister both recalled the time they spent with Chu Yuan'er.

Zhou Shixu smiled and said, "Yes, Aunt Chu is good to us, and we remember it all."

Zhou Shixu's childhood wasn't as difficult as his younger sister's.

On the contrary, his mother treated him very well and even spoiled him. There was nothing he wouldn't dare to do in the Marquis's mansion.

But every time he made a mistake and his father found out, his father would severely criticize and punish him.

At this point, the mother and father would start arguing.

Zhou Shixu was always at a loss.

The younger sister was preoccupied with her own problems, while the older brother, due to their mother's favoritism, was not close to her.

Only Aunt Chu would always find a way to take him out shopping to relax and reason with him.

As he grew older, he gradually realized that his mother's pampering was not a good thing.

Not only will it alienate him from his brother, but it will also ruin him.

Therefore, Aunt Chu's earnest teachings over the years are all the more precious.

"An'an, I heard you were in danger a few days ago, you must have been terrified." Chu Yuan'er took Zhou Ming'an's hand again, her eyes full of pity.

"You've lost so much weight, and your eyes are all dark and puffy. Have you been having a bad night's sleep in a long time?"

As Chu Yuan'er spoke, her eyes gradually reddened, and she couldn't help but cover her face with her handkerchief, choking back tears as she said, "I truly regret it. If only I hadn't gone with your father back then and had stayed by your side."

"I will definitely take good care of you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming'an felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

In those years, Aunt Chu was indeed more like her mother.

What the old lady wouldn't give her, Aunt Chu always managed to give her, including maternal love.

As a child, she had fantasized countless times about how wonderful it would be if Aunt Chu became her mother.

Unexpectedly, now that she's grown up, she's full of scheming, believing that even if Aunt Chu and her father are together, they won't treat her sincerely.

Isn't this a form of ingratitude?

"Xu'er, An'an, you should go back first," Zhou Ningchuan calmly interrupted their conversation.

"Come over when I'm feeling better."

The brother and sister exchanged a glance and had no choice but to take their leave.

After the two left the courtyard, Zhou Ningchuan's gaze finally fell on Chu Yuan'er's face.

Chu Yuan'er wiped her reddened eyes with a handkerchief, gently bit her lip, and looked up at Zhou Ningchuan, her expression timid yet carrying a hint of girlish grievance: "My lord, did I say something wrong?"

Zhou Ningchuan stared at her for a while before slowly withdrawing his scrutinizing gaze, his eyes returning to calm.

"It's nothing."

"But they're all grown up now, so don't treat them like children anymore."

"Yes, I will do as you say, Lord Marquis," Chu Yuan'er replied softly, then added casually, "It's getting windy."

She took a step closer with practiced ease and reached out to tighten Zhou Ningchuan's cloak.

Zhou Ningchuan took two steps back without making a sound, gave Chu Yuan'er a deep look, and then turned and walked into the house.

Chu Yuan'er's movements froze in mid-air. After a long while, she withdrew her hand, tucked the stray hairs behind her temples, and sighed softly, her voice so soft it seemed as if she were advising herself.

"Never mind..."