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

"I'll go sound out the Duke's Mansion tomorrow morning. If they really can't back out, I'll just stall for time."

Lu Mingzhao was making plans when he suddenly remembered something and asked:

"By the way—why doesn't An'an like the young master of the Duke of Huguo's family?"

Liu Muqiu fell silent again.

After exchanging a glance with her husband, she finally mustered the courage to ask, "You...don't remember?"

"Last month, An'an casually mentioned that Feng Liang, the young master of the Duke of Huguo's family, had beaten someone to death in the street after drinking."

"Not long after, you sent your betrothal gifts through a matchmaker."

"The Duke's mansion was worried about Feng Liang's marriage because of this matter, and when they saw that you had submitted your betrothal letter, they readily agreed."

"However, it seems that the Duke's mansion has changed its mind. Now that the marriage has been arranged for so long, they still haven't sent any betrothal gifts. You were worried about this a few days ago."

Lu Mingzhao clapped his hands suddenly: "Isn't this heaven helping me!"

Although she didn't understand the etiquette of the capital, she was, after all, a married woman.

Before the engagement is formally agreed upon, either the man or the woman can find a reason to cancel the engagement without having to go through any official procedures.

If we wait until after the betrothal ceremony, that's when things will really get complicated.

Fortunately, it's not too late now.

"It's settled then. Tomorrow morning, Xu'er and I will go to annul the engagement."

Lu Mingzhao made his decision.

Zhou Shili hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Xu'er has been spoiled all these years and is a bit unruly. Perhaps... I'll go with you."

Lu Mingzhao looked over with some surprise.

She smiled knowingly as she looked into her eldest son's eyes.

Although the eldest son in front of me was still distant, he was respectful and gentle, a stark contrast to his attitude when we met in the afternoon.

As expected of her, Li'er recognized her so quickly.

"No need, you go about your business. I have a reason for having Xu'er accompany you."

Zhou Shili didn't say anything more, and bowed slightly: "Then Mu Qiu and I will go back first, you should get some rest."

"Wait a moment."

Lu Mingzhao walked over quickly, patted his son's shoulder lightly, and smiled brightly.

"These years must have been very tough for you."

"Mom's back, so you don't have to carry this burden alone anymore."

Zhou Shili's eyes suddenly reddened, and he opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all his emotions surged into his throat along with a thousand words.

In the end, he could only manage to squeeze out a single word from his aching throat: "...Okay."

Seemingly worried about losing his composure, he turned and left after saying those words.

Liu Muqiu originally couldn't understand her mother-in-law, but after her husband started talking, she couldn't even understand him anymore.

The husband, who used to find it hard to hide his disgust even if he spoke a single word to his mother-in-law, actually took the initiative to ask to go out with her.

Is it all just for An'an?

She hurriedly bowed to her mother-in-law and quickly caught up with her husband, only to unexpectedly catch a glimpse of him secretly wiping the corner of his eye!

"Husband?"

Liu Muqiu paused for a moment, then tentatively called out.

A mother-in-law's unexpected words of concern moved her husband to tears.

Zhou Shili quickly composed himself and gave her a reassuring smile: "It's nothing, don't worry about me."

"You've only been here for a year, there are many things you don't know."

Liu Muqiu paused for a moment, then said softly, "If my husband is willing, he can tell me about it."

Zhou Shili looked at his wife.

He had seen his wife's true feelings in the year since they got married.

I hadn't told her before because it was too absurd. And even if I had, it wouldn't have made any difference.

Although he and his father had been waiting for their mother, neither of them was sure whether she would ever come back.

but now……

Mother really came back.

This idea grew wildly in Zhou Shili's mind. He couldn't contain his joy and wanted to tell his closest people the good news and share the happiness.

He took Liu Muqiu's hand and took a deep breath.

"Muqiu, before you married me, you may have heard about your mother's reputation in the capital."

Liu Muqiu nodded gently.

The wife of the Marquis of Zhongjing was indeed "famous" in the capital.

However, unlike the well-known bravery and skill in battle of the Marquis of Zhongjing, the Marquis's wife was famous for her absurd and eccentric behavior.

He came from humble beginnings, was illiterate, and spoke rudely.

When Liu Muqiu was living in the Liu family, she heard her stepmother mention Lu Mingzhao's name.

At that moment, the stepmother simply covered her nose and said that this person was utterly absurd.

Not only does she not know how to educate her children, but she is also completely inconsiderate of her husband, threatening to kill herself every few days.

As long as Lu Mingzhao wanted to see her husband, even if the Marquis of Zhongjing was training his troops in the military camp, he would be immediately summoned home.

If it were a quarter of an hour later, Lu Mingzhao would be mourning on the roof beam.

Fortunately, when Liu Muqiu married into the family, the Marquis of Zhongjing had already gone to the Northwest, and the Marquis's wife became much quieter.

"If I told you that your mother has changed and is no longer the person you've heard about, would you believe me?"

Liu Muqiu was stared at by her husband's piercing eyes and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

My mother-in-law is indeed behaving very strangely today, but she has always put on an act before.

Why did her husband believe her this time?

She tried to remind her husband that it was all an act, but seeing his hopeful expression, she couldn't find the words to refute him.

Well, her husband has suffered too much these past years. Perhaps thinking this way will make him feel a little better.

Liu Muqiu nodded gently: "I believe you."

Zhou Shili wasn't stupid; he knew his wife was just trying to comfort him, but he wasn't discouraged.

He believed that one day, not only his wife, but also his sons, his daughter, and his daughter An'an, everyone would realize that their mother had truly returned.

He looked back towards the main courtyard, and his mother's words seemed to echo in his ears again.

"Mother is back."

"You won't have to carry this alone anymore."

He had waited fourteen years to hear those words.

Over the years, he has stayed by his mother's body, watching helplessly as that monster possessed her body, using it to do evil and rampage.

He experienced countless moments of pain and despair, and even considered ending it all.

The only thing that could sustain him was the thought that "his mother might come back one day."

Even if there's only the slightest possibility, he'll wait.

Now, he has finally waited for it.

Just now, the moment his mother gently patted his shoulder, he seemed to rush into his mother's arms and burst into tears, telling her that he had waited for a very, very long time.

But he was afraid to touch his mother, fearing it was all just a dream.

They could only turn around and leave hastily, as if they would never wake up unless they looked back.

"So, when Mother goes to the Duke of Huguo's mansion to annul the engagement tomorrow, will my husband really not go?"

Liu Muqiu pulled Zhou Shili back to reality, and he shook his head.

"Since my mother says she has a solution, I believe her."

"But if Mother doesn't understand something tomorrow, I'll have to trouble you to explain it to her."

Liu Muqiu smiled and said, "It's what I should do. My husband is being too polite."

The two walked hand in hand back to the East Courtyard.

Lu Mingzhao in the main courtyard also went to bed early and slept soundly, but Zhao's mother couldn't sleep.

Who would have thought that at her age, she would have to endure such a test?

The old lady had changed so much that she really didn't know what the future held.

However... after thinking it over, she felt that no matter what, things couldn't be any worse than before, right?

The next morning, as dawn was breaking, Zhao's mother got up, washed and dressed, and prepared to call the old lady.

As soon as she pushed open the door, she saw the old lady in the middle of the courtyard, with a towel draped over her shoulder, half-squatting and motionless.

Zhao Xianglan rubbed her eyes, saw clearly, and unconsciously opened her mouth wide.

The old lady was practicing a horse stance?