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

Zhou Ming'an just kept his head down and ate.

Zhou Shixu, on the other hand, seemed lost in thought, popping a clove of garlic into his mouth.

Zhou Shili's heart was still with his wife, Liu Muqiu, but he was only concerned with whether she was eating well and didn't eat much himself.

Liu Muqiu smiled, but there was still some sorrow between her brows, probably because she was thinking of her younger brother Liu Muyuan.

This continued until the Lunar New Year.

This was true not only for the Marquis of Zhongjing's mansion, but also for the Liu family.

Liu Muyuan sat to his father's right, the seat that the eldest son of the Liu family should occupy.

But the dishes in front of him were far less lavish than those in front of his younger siblings.

Mr. Liu and Mrs. Wang chatted and laughed, and Mrs. Wang would occasionally ask her own son to recite a poem to liven things up, which made Mr. Liu praise her repeatedly.

Liu Muyuan was somewhat dazed.

There was a time when his father often praised him in the same way.

After her mother passed away, Wang married into the family, becoming a stepmother, and gradually a stepfather.

His and his sister's living space was repeatedly taken away by Wang's two children; their father, who belonged to them, became someone else's.

"Brother, why aren't you eating this fish?"

Wang's youngest son blinked and asked him.

Mr. Liu glanced at the distance between the steamed fish and his eldest son, and looked at his eldest son with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

"How did the servants set out the dishes? They're so far away."

The young master said, "Father, bring another serving for my elder brother."

Liu Muyuan said calmly, "No need, I don't like eating fish."

Mr. Liu's expression shifted from embarrassment to displeasure: "Your brother is so good to you, why are you being so cold?"

"Look at other families where brothers get along well. I've taught for half my life, yet my own sons don't even get along as well as brothers in ordinary families. If word gets out, where will I put my face?"

Madam Wang quickly said gently, "Husband, please don't blame Yuan'er. It's all my fault. I didn't arrange things well. It's understandable that Yuan'er has some resentment towards me."

"Yuan'er, Mother will definitely be more careful next time..."

"Snapped!"

Liu Muyuan stood up abruptly, and the porcelain chopsticks fell to the ground and shattered in two.

"I'm done eating, I'm going back to my studies now."

"Look at him now! He passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, and he's got the nerve to be arrogant! He has no filial piety whatsoever, and he doesn't understand the most basic human ethics. Even if he gets a higher degree in the future, he'll still be a good-for-nothing..."

Liu Muyuan clenched his fists, desperately suppressing the anger in his heart, and strode towards the courtyard gate, leaving his father's hateful curses behind.

He wasn't always like this.

Long ago, before Wang revealed his true colors, he treated his newborn younger siblings very well.

Until one day, when Wang wanted to take medicine, she left him, his infant brother, and the wet nurse in the house.

The younger brother suddenly burst into tears, and the nanny was also confused as to why she was shouting.

Wang and Liu's father rushed in through the door. They heard the wet nurse crying and saying, "I don't know what happened to Yuan-ge'er. He snatched the young master and was about to throw him to the ground. I stopped him with all my might and managed to protect the young master."

Liu Muyuan stood there stunned. Just as he was about to defend himself, his father's slap came down like a mountain.

When he came to his senses, he was already sitting on the ground with his vision blurred, his left cheek burning with pain.

"You unfilial son! How could you be so heartless as to harm your own brother!"

Wang, feigning tears, stopped Liu's father, saying, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let Yuan-ge take care of our son. I thought Yuan-ge still cared about his younger brother..."

Humiliation, shame, indignation... countless emotions surged into little Liu Muyuan's heart for the first time.

He ran out of the yard like a madman, ran into the garden in one breath, and hid in the artificial hill.

It wasn't until evening that his sister found him.

His sister didn't try to persuade him. She just curled up and hid in the cave with him, tilting her head to look at him: "It's okay, Muyuan. Stay as long as you want. I'll stay with you."

Liu Muyuan felt a lump in his throat.

He wiped away his tears fiercely: "Sister, we won't be bullied forever!"

"I know hiding here is useless; this is their garden."

"One day, I want my own garden, my own cave, to shelter my sister and me from the wind and rain!"

Liu Muqiu smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll wait for that day."

From then on, Liu Muyuan studied diligently, because he knew that this was the only path he could take.

Only by passing the imperial examinations and obtaining a higher official rank than his father could he truly gain control of the family and help his sister.

But at some point, everything outside changed.

Now that her sister has a place to shelter from the wind and rain, she no longer needs him.

And he continues to make do in this disgusting place.

What's even more frightening is that his actions these days are starting to resemble those of this family more and more.

The day before yesterday, he went to visit his sister.

That was the first time he met his sister after the accident.

The moment I met my sister's slightly disappointed gaze, my anxiety, which had been building all the way, completely died.

My sister is suspicious of him.

His sister was disappointed in him.

Liu Muyuan believed he had shifted the blame perfectly, that it was all Cuilan's fault, and that his sister wouldn't suspect him.

But after so many years as siblings, how could the older sister not understand him?

Even if you don't know his real purpose, you can tell that he can't get away with this whole thing.

Liu Muyuan's deep concern turned into tears, which he silently swallowed after seeing his sister's eyes.

The two sat facing each other in silence.

Only when Liu Muyuan could no longer bear the urge to escape did Liu Muqiu whisper:

"Mu Yuan, promise me you won't be like them."

Liu Muyuan was suddenly startled.

"We've struggled for so long to get out of this quagmire, why should we step back in?"

"Please... I'm begging you, sister."

Liu Muyuan couldn't remember how he left the Marquis's mansion.

Since returning home, he has often thought of his sister's words.

Sister, please.

Don't be like them.

……

"Sir, you're back."

Cuilan's voice brought him back to his senses. Liu Muyuan lowered his head and saw Cuilan's cautious eyes and the handkerchief she was holding in mid-air.

"Want me to dry my hands?"

After Cuilan finished speaking, she was prepared to be rejected.

Since she entered the Liu residence, Liu Muyuan has not spoken to her.

Fortunately, Liu Muyuan's temper wasn't too bad, and he wouldn't hit or scold her.

She is still young and has plenty of time to wait.

She takes the initiative to come and serve him every day; perhaps one day, Liu Muyuan will be moved by her kindness.

Cuilan waited for a while, and just as she was about to withdraw her hand, she suddenly felt a lightness in her hand.

She quickly looked up and met Liu Muyuan's calm expression.

"...Master?"

Liu Muyuan stared at her for a while, then asked gently, "How did you and Chu Yuan'er get together?"