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

Chu Yuan'er didn't stop what she was doing. She poured him a cup of hot tea, handed it to him, and then said softly, "I was just advising him not to make you angry anymore."

"Although Shili is nineteen years old, he still has the mind of a child in front of us."

"You have to make us believe what you believe yourself."

Zhou Ningchuan was silent for a moment, then said, "You also think that she can't come back."

He wasn't asking a question, but rather stating a statement.

After all, this has been the consensus of everyone for the past fourteen years.

But this time, Chu Yuan'er sensed something different in his words.

Chu Yuan'er paused, then slowly sat down opposite Zhou Ningchuan, her voice soft: "Has Your Excellency been persuaded by Shi Li?"

"Over the years, it's not like the Marquis hasn't witnessed that woman's prowess."

Zhou Ningchuan pursed his dry lips, his brows twitching almost imperceptibly.

Yes, of course he knows that woman's methods.

That's why he was so angry when he heard his eldest son say with such certainty that it was Zhaozhao who had returned.

After all, such an action is tantamount to recognizing a thief as one's mother.

How can he entrust the entire Marquis's mansion to his eldest son who is so easily deceived?

But once he calmed down, an absurd possibility popped into his head—what if?

At this moment, he was just like Zhou Shili not long ago, full of doubts, but the seed of hope grew uncontrollably.

Even though they have been hurt by this hope countless times, even though the possibility is extremely slim.

Having been by his side for many years, Chu Yuan'er naturally noticed that he had something on his mind.

What else could this worry be but something related to Lady Hou?

"My lord, please have a cup of tea to soothe your throat. This tea was personally roasted by me, to your liking."

Zhou Ningchuan frowned slightly: "This kind of thing can be left to the servants."

Chu Yuan'er smiled gently, her eyes softening.

"I have nothing better to do than to do something for the Marquis."

Zhou Ningchuan stood up, leaning on the table, his tone calm yet cruel: "Your father entrusted you to me not so that you could do these servant jobs."

Chu Yuan'er was taken aback.

"My lord!" Seeing Zhou Ningchuan turn to leave, Chu Yuan'er called out to him, forcing back her tears.

"I know what you're worried about, Lord Marquis. I persuaded Shili to leave only for your health. As for whether my sister has returned or not..."

"If Your Excellency is still worried, I may go and take a look tomorrow morning."

Zhou Ningchuan paused, noticing Chu Yuan'er's grievance, and softened his tone: "Never mind."

"That woman has always disliked you. If you go, she'll probably cause another scene."

"It's alright. Since the Marquis has this matter on his mind, I'll go there to put his mind at ease."

"Otherwise, the Marquis will never be able to rest properly, which will hinder the healing of his wounds."

Zhou Ningchuan paused for a moment, then nodded, adding, "Have the old woman follow you around, and make sure she doesn't hurt you."

Chu Yuan'er felt a warmth in her heart and softly agreed.

.

Lu Mingzhao sat in the rocking chair in the courtyard, watching the clouds all day.

My mind was in such turmoil that I couldn't even focus on tending the vegetable garden.

Seeing her like this, Zhao Xianglan couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

In the past, when the old lady acted recklessly and foolishly, she only felt distressed. Now that the old lady is so quiet, she is still distressed.

After nearly two months of getting to know each other, she became increasingly convinced that the old lady was no longer the same as before.

Only the maids, the master and mistress of the entire courtyard witnessed this change and were willing to believe it.

It's understandable that the Marquis didn't believe it.

Zhao Xianglan prayed silently in her heart, just as the old lady had said, that the Marquis would at least come to see her once.

Perhaps if they meet, they can reconcile?

That evening, neither Shi Xu nor An An came.

Lu Mingzhao stared at the empty seat, his expression largely unchanged.

Zhou Shili couldn't bear it, but still had to explain softly, "They said... Father's intention was that they didn't need to come for dinner."

This was a rule that the father had established for over ten years: the children only needed to come and dine with the old lady on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month.

For the past two months, Zhou Shili had to use both threats and inducements to get his younger siblings to come over so that they could have dinner together every night.

Now that their father has given his approval, Shi Xu and An An are no longer afraid of their older brother, so they won't come over.

"...If Mother wishes to see them, I will send someone to fetch them right away."

Zhou Shili couldn't bear to see his mother like this. Although his mother didn't say anything, he could still feel her disappointment because of their deep bond.

"That's enough."

Lu Mingzhao shook his head.

"You can't force it."

She forced a less-than-pleasant smile: "By the way, your dad didn't scold you, did he?"

Zhou Shili said she had returned, but Zhou Ningchuan refused to believe it and was sure to scold his eldest son.

Zhou Shili lowered his head: "It's alright. Father was deceived too many times before he became like this."

Lu Mingzhao remained noncommittal.

"After you've eaten, you can go back first. I need to be alone for a while."

After dinner, Zhou Shili and Liu Muqiu walked back to the East Courtyard, filled with remorse.

His mother trusted him so much, yet he repeatedly hid the truth from her.

"I know my husband is feeling bad, but this is for my father and mother's sake."

Zhou Shili sighed, "It's not just for that, it's for something else too. You haven't seen Aunt Chu, but today, every move she made in Father's courtyard was exactly like that of the mistress of the house."

Liu Muqiu had heard Zhou Shili mention Chu Yuan'er, who was a few years younger than Lu Mingzhao and had refused to marry even though she was of marriageable age.

She wasted the best years of her youth by the side of the Marquis; everyone knew what she was thinking.

However, this is understandable. After all, there is no right or wrong in liking someone, not to mention that the Marquis and his wife have long been estranged.

But after all these years, the Marquis still refuses to give Chu Yuan'er a legitimate title.

If it were Liu Muqiu, she would absolutely not want to continue wasting time. While the Marquis was still willing to make decisions, finding a good family as soon as possible was the right thing to do.

However, Chu Yuan'er seemed completely unconcerned about these things.

Anyone with eyes could see that she wanted to outlive the Lady Hou and become the principal wife.

As the legal wife, Liu Muqiu naturally knew better than anyone that her mother-in-law's position was in jeopardy.

"Moreover..." Zhou Shili pursed his lips, his eyes gradually becoming serious.

"Today in the palace, His Majesty asked my father if he intended to divorce his wife, and praised Chu Yuan'er for being by his side for many years, saying she was truly a virtuous woman."

"Now I just hope to find an antidote as soon as possible, to make my father better, and to quickly break that damn divination."

The two gazed towards the main courtyard.

Perhaps only on that day will my mother be able to step out of the shadows and truly be happy.

However, Lu Mingzhao, whom they were concerned about, opened the window in the dead of night.

She was dressed in all black, with her wrists and ankles bound several times with strips of cloth, looking neat and capable.

She leaped lightly from the window without making a sound, then, like a cat, she nimbly jumped onto the wall and moved swiftly along the narrow wall.

Trying to mess with me?

hum!

The moonlight reflected in her slightly narrowed phoenix eyes, revealing a hint of smug cunning.

Does she need the child's consent to see Zhou Ningchuan? That's utterly outrageous!

Want to trap her?

That's even more impossible!

Zhou Ningchuan, I'm coming to beat you up!