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

Chu Yuan'er hurriedly interrupted the maid, her eyes filled with feigned strength as she looked at Zhou Ming'an: "An'an, don't listen to her, I'm fine, really fine."

The more she said that, the more anxious Zhou Ming'an became.

Cuilan, who was standing to the side, tugged at Zhou Ming'an's sleeve and pointed in the direction Chu Yuan'er had come from.

Zhou Ming'an immediately guessed what had happened, and frowned: "Did Mother bully you?"

Lan'er was indignant: "Miss Ming'an, you have no idea how the old lady just humiliated our young lady!"

"The old lady is insisting on divorcing the Marquis, and our young lady, hearing this, tried to persuade her, but the old lady berated her severely!"

"She also said that no unrelated people would be allowed into the Marquis's mansion anymore, and that my young lady should go back to her own home. After saying that, she kicked us out!"

Zhou Ming'an frowned deeply.

Who doesn't know that Chu Yuan'er's parents are both dead? Otherwise, why would she be entrusted to her father?

That's incredibly hurtful!

"Our young lady was pampered and raised like a princess at home. It was one thing for her to suffer with the Marquis, but after all these years, she still has to endure these grievances from the old lady."

"She even threatened our young lady, openly and subtly trying to scare her with 'poisoning'!"

Chu Yuan'er gently shook her head: "Don't say anymore, Lan'er."

"She is the old lady of the Marquis's mansion. No matter how badly she treats me, what can I do? I've endured it all these years, so I'll just have to put up with it."

"Let's not talk about these things anymore. If the Marquis finds out, it will only cause him more trouble."

Zhou Ming'an's expression grew increasingly grim.

Sure enough... Mother is still the same mother; the changes these days are just a deceptive illusion.

She was still hesitant about whether to tell her father that her mother intended to harm her.

After all, she only became suspicious because of an embroidery pattern, so she couldn't just convict someone based on that.

Seeing Aunt Chu's current state, she made up her mind.

If she doesn't speak up, she might not be the only one to suffer persecution in the Marquis's mansion in the future!

She pursed her lips and took a deep breath: "Aunt Chu, is Father at Hesong Courtyard?"

Ignoring Chu Yuan'er's advice, Zhou Ming'an pulled her into Hesong Courtyard and found his father.

Zhou Ningchuan was handling official business when his daughter came running in, panting and looking serious.

Chu Yuan'er, her eyes filled with tears, waved her hands repeatedly at Zhou Ming'an, saying, "Miss, why are you doing this to yourself?"

Zhou Ming'an, disregarding all the details, poured out all his suspicions from the past few days, along with the grievances Chu Yuan'er had just suffered.

As he listened, Zhou Ningchuan's expression gradually became serious.

Chu Yuan'er covered her mouth in shock.

After Zhou Ming'an finished speaking, she pulled him into her arms, tears streaming down her face, her heart aching: "An'an... your father and I have only been gone for a few years, how could you have suffered such harm!"

"If I had known, I would have persuaded your father to return much sooner!"

Seeing her cry, Zhou Ming'an couldn't help but cry too.

The two cried for a while before Zhou Ningchuan finally spoke: "Yuan'er, I need to speak with An'an alone."

Chu Yuan'er sobbed, wiped her red eyes, and nodded gently.

After she left, Zhou Ningchuan waved to his daughter, gesturing for her to sit down.

"I know everything about the bandits that day, and I ordered them to be wiped out this morning."

"You say your mother intended to harm you, but besides the embroidery pattern and the matching garment, what other evidence do you have?"

Zhou Ming'an was taken aback.

Evidence? She's about to be murdered, what evidence does her father need?

Perhaps because his daughter's gaze was too aggrieved, Zhou Ningchuan paused, trying to soften his tone as much as possible: "It's not that I don't believe you, An'an, but I need evidence to prove her..."

"Prove what?" Zhou Ming'an blinked, and tears fell again.

Her eyes were full of confusion as she retorted, "I almost got into danger, isn't that proof enough?"

"Father, you always say that Mother was a good person before, but that's all in the past! You know how Mother has changed over the years, otherwise why did you leave for the Northwest seven years ago?"

"You left the capital, leaving my brothers and me here. It's one thing for my eldest brother, but my second brother and I are still so young. How could you be so heartless?"

"Now that I've finally managed to express my grievances, you still don't believe me?"

Zhou Ming'an was on the verge of collapse, unable to control his tone as he questioned his father.

"Is it only when I become a corpse that you won't need evidence and will you believe me?"

"An'an..." Zhou Ningchuan closed his eyes, concealing the pain in them.

"There was a reason why I left alone in the first place."

If he could bring the children with him, how could he bear to leave his three children in the capital?

Zhou Ming'an smiled wryly: "Yes, we can't take them, but we can take Aunt Chu."

"Doesn't this also show that you no longer have such a deep attachment to your mother?"

Why won't you admit that your mother has changed, and that you have changed too?

Zhou Ningchuan took a deep breath.

"An'an, Chu Yuan'er and I don't have the kind of relationship you think. There's a reason why I keep her by my side."

"You're too young, and you've never met your real mother, so you can't understand."

Zhou Ningchuan wanted to explain, but as soon as he remembered the reason for his departure, he couldn't continue.

After all, that was his only hope of his wife returning.

He lowered his eyes slightly: "An'an, I'm just asking you, what do you want me to do?"

Zhou Ming'an was taken aback by the question.

...How do I do it?

She didn't seem to have thought about it.

She rushed over to let her father see her mother's true colors and to speak out for herself and Aunt Chu.

Now that her father is at home, her safety is no longer threatened, so... what does she hope her father will do next?

Divorce? Amicable divorce? He wants his father to marry Aunt Chu?

Zhou Ming'an suddenly realized that he hadn't figured out what kind of outcome he wanted at all.

There was a long silence.

She actually said something that even she found unbelievable:

"I want to know... whether it was my mother who harmed me."

Her voice was very soft.

But Zhou Ningchuan still heard it, and he could hear the sob in the voice clearly.

One second ago, Zhou Ming'an was still angry that his father wouldn't believe him, and he was convinced that his mother was trying to harm him.

In that instant, without anyone objecting, she wavered in her resolve.

Zhou Ming'an belatedly realized that what she was truly worried and afraid of was not that someone wanted to harm her.

But the people who wanted to harm her were...her closest relatives.

All she desperately wanted to know was an answer.

If it really is his mother, Zhou Ming'an can completely sever his last shred of hope for her.

if not……

Zhou Ming'an bit his lip and lowered his head.

"I promise you," Zhou Ningchuan said softly.

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly, and leave the bandits alive to find out who is trying to harm you."

"Your father will not hide the truth from you in this matter."

Zhou Ming'an nodded, twisting the handkerchief in his hand, and stood up, saying, "Father, I shouldn't have lost my temper with you just now."

"Please punish me by confining me to my quarters."

"Silly child..."

Zhou Ningchuan chuckled, shook his head, and said in a tone that was half relaxed and half teasing:

"I would never dare to punish you, even if I punished your two older brothers. If your mother were still alive, she would have rushed over and fought me to the death if she heard that I was going to punish you."

He paused, then said, "You have to believe this: if that woman really did something to hurt you, then she is not your real mother."

Zhou Ming'an had heard similar things from his older brother many times in the past two months.

Hearing it from her father this time evoked a different feeling in her heart.

She walked towards the door, but couldn't help turning back to ask, "Did...did Mother ever really love me?"