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

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ningchuan's expression also turned serious.

Over all those days and nights, he had thought about how he would explain Chu Yuan'er's existence to his wife if she came back.

After all, in almost everyone's eyes, Chu Yuan'er was another woman he found after his wife.

Everyone assumed that Chu Yuan'er and he must have had an improper relationship long ago, but Zhou Ningchuan dared to swear to the heavens in front of his wife that he had remained chaste for her all these years.

"Chu Yuan'er is the daughter of my comrade-in-arms. Ten years ago, his father was seriously ill and about to pass away. Before he died, he asked me to take care of his daughter."

"Although his family is large, the relationships are complicated and not harmonious. If he leaves, I'm afraid his family will be wiped out, and his daughter's future will be uncertain."

"I had a life-and-death bond with him, so I naturally agreed to the matter without hesitation. I originally planned to buy another house, send people to protect her and take care of her, and that would be it. But just then, I received a letter."

The letter writer said he had a way to find Zhou Ningchuan's missing wife.

Zhou Ningchuan, of course, did not believe it.

But the letter writer gave him a timeframe—seven days later, he would go to Lu Mingzhao's courtyard and have breakfast with that woman.

Zhou Ningchuan hesitated for a few days.

But on that day, he still suppressed his disgust and went to find the woman.

Unexpectedly, during the meal, the other party suddenly paused for a moment in a daze.

In that fleeting moment, Zhou Ningchuan caught a glimpse of his wife's expression.

His wife seemed to have been suppressed and unable to appear. After finally breaking free for a moment, she looked around with a blank and fearful expression, and opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something to him.

But the next second, the woman gained the upper hand again.

The wife's expression and details vanished completely, as if they had never existed.

But Zhou Ningchuan was absolutely certain that it was his wife who had just returned.

That's a reality that no woman can imitate, no matter how she tries.

From that day on, he believed what the person in the letter said.

The other party gave him several conditions that needed to be met.

One of the rules is to keep Chu Yuan'er by his side every day, and not let her leave his side for more than twelve hours, otherwise all his efforts will be in vain.

The other party did not tell him a deadline, and he did not know how long he would have to do this before his wife could return.

But none of that mattered anymore, because Zhou Ningchuan had found a glimmer of hope.

He struggled for more than a decade, clinging to this sliver of hope.

Over the next ten years, he met Zhaozhao a few more times based on the contents of the letter, but each time it was only for a brief moment.

Before Zhao Zhao could even react, she lost control of her body once again.

He was thus tossed about, pulled in and released at the same time. Each time they met, a glimmer of hope would sprout in his heart, only to be torn apart again, inch by inch.

He had also considered finding the person who wrote the letter.

As long as he can find the other party, he will force them to bring his Zhaozhao back, no matter what method he has to use.

But the letter seemed to appear out of nowhere, and no matter how thoroughly he laid a trap beforehand, he could never find the writer.

Perhaps the opponent's martial arts skills are too profound, enabling them to move in and out unnoticed, as if they were in an empty place.

Gradually, Zhou Ningchuan gave up on the idea.

In any case, as long as he can have a glimmer of hope, he is willing to wait.

This wait lasted for ten years.

Seven years ago, that woman, pretending to be Zhao Zhao, lied to him for the last time.

He was so angry that he vomited blood.

At that moment, he received another letter.

The letter said that this time Lu Mingzhao had a real chance to come back.

But the premise is that he cannot stay in the capital; he needs to go as far away as possible.

At that time, an enemy was invading from the northwest. He deliberated for a whole month and finally made up his mind to volunteer to the emperor to go to the northwest to be stationed.

The letter writer demanded that he not bring any family members, and similarly, Chu Yuan'er could not leave his side; this was the key to getting Lu Mingzhao back.

No one else should know about this except him and Chu Yuan'er.

Over the past few years, Chu Yuan'er has become the only person besides his eldest son who knows about his past with Zhao Zhao.

So Zhou Ningchuan left with Chu Yuan'er, and they were gone for seven years.

For the past seven years, he has suffered more than anyone else.

Far away in the wind-swept northwest, his heart was filled with thoughts of his children in the capital.

Those three children were the people he cared about most in the world, yet he couldn't see them.

He also thought that if Zhaozhao came back, she would definitely scold him for abandoning his three children to that woman for such a ridiculous and slim hope.

But Zhou Ningchuan had no choice but to do it.

After all, if there had been no last glimmer of hope, he would have wanted to die with Zhao Zhao long ago.

"Zhaozhao, I am not a good father."

Zhou Ningchuan slowly lowered his eyes, his gaze shifting away from his wife's face for the first time.

His wife loved their three children so much that she treasured them.

But he abandoned them and couldn't stay by their side every moment.

He felt guilty for betraying his wife's trust and for failing as a father.

He dared not look his wife in the eye, afraid of seeing disappointment and disgust in her eyes.

Zhou Ningchuan could only kneel at his wife's feet, devoutly take her hand and place it against his forehead, once again pleading desperately in a vile manner:

"Zhaozhao, please give me another chance."

"I will not let you down again."

"..."

"Fool."

After a long pause, Lu Mingzhao finally spoke softly.

What right does she have to blame her husband?

For the past ten years or so, she has been the one who has been absent.

Although it wasn't her wish, she still truly owed her children and Zhou Ningchuan, who had been waiting for her all along.

They were victims too.

Only now did she realize that they had all been suffering from guilt and regret towards each other until now.

Two souls who were forced to separate have finally reunited. They should just huddle together for warmth. Why do they have to blame each other?

Their home needs no guilt or pleading, only love.

She will protect her home and her family as before.

Lu Mingzhao cupped her husband's face in her hands and looked him intently into his eyes: "This time, neither of us will leave again."

Zhou Ningchuan slowly raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on his wife, and nodded gently: "Okay."

Lu Mingzhao smiled and planted a kiss on Zhou Ningchuan's forehead, but then he smelled something and frowned.

Why do you smell so good?

Zhou Ningchuan blushed and slowly lowered his head: "Before coming, I specially bathed and burned incense..."