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

Liu Muqiu was afraid that her husband's stubborn temper might flare up and cause the old lady to make a scene again.

This is a crucial time for my husband's promotion, and if we make a scene, it might affect him.

She could only gently tug at her husband's sleeve, offering a tactful explanation:

"The old lady came to talk to me. It's understandable that she's been feeling bored at home for so many days..."

"Now that I have finished speaking, please return home, Madam."

Zhou Shili interrupted his wife, his gaze toward Lu Mingzhao turning icy cold, and his words were utterly impolite.

But the woman still looked completely bewildered and at a loss.

Zhou Shili felt even more irritated.

It seems the other person is quite immersed in the role.

Over the years, she has pretended to have amnesia countless times, impersonating her mother and fooling herself and her father.

Seven years ago, after my father was so angry that he vomited blood and became critically ill, he could no longer hold on.

In order to take care of his health and live to see his mother return, his father had no choice but to travel far to the Northwest.

Over the past decade or so, he has developed a hardened heart and the ability to instantly discern a woman's deception.

So I insisted on staying by my mother's side.

However, this time, the woman's act was so convincing.

The voice and smile of the woman were seventy percent similar to the remnants of his mother's memory, and there was not a trace of calculation in her eyes.

It was as if my mother had really come back.

The more convincingly the other person acted, the more he hated them.

He hated the monster for eating his mother, and he hated the monster for repeatedly impersonating his mother.

How could she possibly deserve it!

Lu Mingzhao wanted to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere between herself and her son, but then heard Zhou Shili sneer:

"This morning, the servants in the house ran to the Dali Temple and said that the old lady was not feeling well and that I should come back immediately."

"I specially turned down a few cases this afternoon to rush back, but I didn't expect the old lady to be in such good health, able to run around the whole mansion."

"If I hadn't returned, how would the old lady have planned to amuse herself with Muqiu?"

Lu Mingzhao opened her mouth, but when she saw her son's mocking gaze, she choked up.

Lu Mingzhao remained silent for a few moments, then lowered his head and walked out.

As she passed her son, she whispered, "Li'er, it really is me back..."

"Would you please bring Xu'er and An'an to see me tonight?"

I miss you all so much.

Without receiving a response from Zhou Shili, Lu Mingzhao could only leave Lanfang Pavilion dejectedly.

On the way back, the scenery was no longer beautiful, and the sunshine was no longer warm. All that remained in Lu Mingzhao's heart was sadness.

Zhao Xianglan, standing behind her, kept observing her with a strange look in her eyes.

It's different now, really different.

Normally, if the old lady puts on an act to this extent, she will eventually break off all pretense.

Especially when the eldest son and his wife are not around, the old lady is bound to grumble and complain.

But now, it seems the old lady is truly heartbroken.

Could it be that our master has really changed his ways?

If that's really the case...

Thinking of this, Zhao Xianglan mustered her courage and boldly spoke up: "Madam, you shouldn't have mentioned the injury on the master's head just now. Wasn't that just reopening old wounds?"

Lu Mingzhao stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at her, his eyes full of confusion: "Why?"

Zhao Xianglan observed her master's expression and tentatively explained:

"Because the scar on your forehead, sir, was inflicted by you yourself back then."

Lu Mingzhao froze, biting her pale lower lip tightly.

It's her again.

Just how many bad things has she done?

How much suffering did Li'er endure that she didn't know about?

Zhao Xianglan noticed that tears were welling up in her master's eyes.

Surprised, he also began to make some plans.

On the other side, at Lanfang Pavilion, Zhou Shili sat down with his wife in his arms.

"From now on, you will have someone guard outside the old lady's courtyard. If she makes any moves, you will find an excuse to slip away and avoid running into her."

Zhou Shili felt guilty towards his wife.

Lady Liu's father, Lord Liu, was his teacher. He valued her talent and scholarship, which is why he married his daughter to her.

However, his household was not peaceful, and Liu Muqiu suffered after marrying into the family.

Filial piety can be overwhelming.

Even though the monster wasn't his real mother, the body still was.

He could only endure it and let the other party act arrogantly.

"My lord, actually, the old lady...did not make things difficult for me today."

After struggling for a long time, Liu Muqiu finally told the truth.

Unable to understand her mother-in-law's thoughts, she had to ask her husband for his opinion.

She repeated everything her mother-in-law had said that day, even mimicking her expressions.

"Why does my mother act so kindly, and why does she want me to teach her to read? What do you think her motives are?"

After listening, Zhou Shili's expression went blank for a moment.

This was completely different from what he had expected.

He knew that the woman was illiterate.

For so many years, she has been unwilling to learn.

Zhou Shili, as if possessed, asked, "How many words did she... write?"

Liu Muqiu nodded and turned around to take the paper from the table.

Zhou Shili took the paper, saw the six words on it, and was shocked, completely stunned on the spot.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her husband's state, Liu Muqiu realized something was wrong.

"I've seen my mother write this character before."

Liu Muqiu asked, puzzled, "So what?"

Zhou Shili quickly composed himself, suppressing his shock, and put the paper away.

The wife had only been married into the family for a year and was unaware of the bizarre things that had happened to her mother.

Even he himself often doubts whether his memories of his mother before the age of five are real.

If it weren't for his father remembering everything about his mother, he might not have been able to hold on until now.

He didn't know how to tell his wife about this.

I was afraid of scaring her, and I was also afraid she wouldn't understand.

"I'm going to the study to write a letter to my father."

He stood up, then paused.

"Go and persuade Ming'an later. Let's have dinner together at the old lady's place tonight."

According to tradition, the whole family should eat together on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month.

However, in the past, Zhou Shili would always cover for Ming'an's absence.

Knowing that Ming'an was unwilling to see the old lady, Zhou Shili would find excuses to exonerate Ming'an.

Especially recently, Ming'an has been arranged to marry someone she doesn't like, and she has been crying for several days.

But Zhou Shili, at this very moment, asked her to persuade Ming'an to have dinner together.

Liu Muqiu had her doubts, but since her husband rarely spoke up, she still gently agreed.

Zhou Shili entered the study, walked quickly to the desk, and wrote a letter to his father.

All my mother left me back then was a note that read "Lu Mingzhao, Zhou Ningchuan".

When my father left seven years ago, he also took this note with him.

Right now, all he can do is send this piece of paper to the Northwest as fast as possible so that his father can compare it.

What if... this really is my mother's handwriting?

The thought of this almost impossible possibility made Zhou Shili's heart pound uncontrollably.

His hand trembled slightly as he held the pen. After finishing the letter, he personally handed it to his most capable steward, Sun, and asked him to send it out urgently.

You can expect to receive a reply in as little as two months.

He stood at the doorway, gazing into the distance towards the main courtyard.

Fourteen years. He waited for a full fourteen years, almost giving up hope, only wanting to stay with his mother's body and live out the rest of his life.

But... what if it were true?

What if... Mother really comes back?

The lanterns on the courtyard gate were swaying in the wind.

Zhou Shili's small shadow was cast on the steps, just like when he was five years old, anxiously sitting at the door waiting for news of his mother's delivery.

The mother said she was very tired and just needed to sleep.

He waited and waited outside with his younger brother, and fourteen years passed in the blink of an eye.