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

Zhou Shixu's gaze finally landed on his younger sister's face.

Zhou Ming'an pursed his lips: "Second Brother, are you saying I'm lying?"

"No!" Zhou Shixu shook his head repeatedly. "How could that be?"

Zhou Ming'an looked at him with undisguised disappointment and sadness in his eyes.

He was stared at like that, and he instantly became more alert.

Yes, how could he not believe his own sister but trust a stranger?

He just... couldn't believe it for a moment, or rather, he felt there must be some misunderstanding.

Zhou Shixu clenched his fist and looked at Zhou Ningchuan: "Father, let's investigate carefully. I believe my sister's words, but we can't wrong an innocent person."

"Why don't we arrest that maid named Cuilan and bring her back for questioning? She shouldn't have gone very far."

"Second Brother!"

Zhou Ming'an pursed his lips, looking somewhat angry: "I was the one who let Cuilan leave, why did you bring her back?"

Zhou Shixu frowned: "An'an, I know you have a kind heart. We don't know if this matter has anything to do with Aunt Chu, but it must be related to Cuilan."

"She did something wrong and should be punished, especially since she has made the same mistake repeatedly."

"If you're too soft-hearted, let your elder brother handle this. Wouldn't that be better?"

Zhou Ming'an suddenly stood up, staring intently at Zhou Shixu: "Second brother, you'd better remember what you said today. You should be punished for what you did wrong."

"If the same thing happens to Chu Yuan'er in the future, I hope you won't change your mind."

He was about to explain when he saw his sister turn and walk away.

Zhou Shixu hurriedly tried to get up and chase after her, but his older brother grabbed his wrist.

Zhou Shili shook his head: "An'an has already experienced enough today. Let her calm down on her own."

Zhou Shixu could only purse his lips, nod, and sit down again.

"I will handle this."

Zhou Ningchuan said in a deep voice, his face expressionless.

"Until then, Shixu, you must not go out."

Zhou Shixu was taken aback, then became somewhat anxious: "Why? It's not like I did anything wrong, why can't I go out?"

Zhou Ningchuan: "If you think Chu Yuan'er is right, you'll inevitably tip her off or run errands for her."

"So you can't go out until the dust settles."

Zhou Shixu then realized that his father was serious.

But if he is confined to his home, not only will he be unable to help Aunt Chu, but he will also miss the play he had arranged with Miss Yu.

However, his father's stern and cold tone made him dare not speak again. He could only mumble a reply, cup his hands in greeting to his father, and return to the west courtyard alone.

Zhou Shili watched his younger brother's retreating figure and sighed softly, "Father and Mother, don't overthink it. To be honest, Xu'er is sometimes even more stubborn than An'an."

"Especially since he's at this age, when he's most opinionated, he won't listen to anything others say."

"Once the truth comes out, I think Xu'er will gradually understand her parents' good intentions."

Lu Mingzhao smiled and teased, "Xu'er is stubborn, just like your father."

Zhou Ningchuan coughed lightly.

Lu Mingzhao glanced at him sideways: "Did I say something wrong? I don't know who it was back then who didn't trust the craftsmen and insisted on building the wall according to their own ideas. As a result, a heavy rain almost washed away the entire courtyard wall."

In the end, we still had to brave the rain to find the craftsman.

Zhou Shili and Liu Muqiu couldn't help but laugh.

Zhou Shili asked, "Is this really true?"

Zhou Ningchuan blushed and tacitly agreed.

He looked at his wife and said softly, "Ever since that incident, I've come to understand one thing—whatever your mother says is right."

"I should have listened to them long ago."

Lu Mingzhao proudly raised his chin: "Of course!"

After chatting and laughing for a while, they prepared to return to the East Courtyard.

Liu Muqiu was almost six months pregnant and her pregnancy was already showing. Lu Mingzhao had long since relieved her of the trouble of paying respects to him morning and evening. Most of the time, Liu Muqiu ate her own meals at Lanfang Pavilion, and she would only come over occasionally on holidays.

Lu Mingzhao said, "I made a few little outfits for the child. Come and see what you think."

Liu Muqiu responded and followed Lu Mingzhao into the inner room.

She took the bib handed to her by her mother-in-law, which was embroidered with a lifelike big red carp.

Liu Muqiu smiled and asked, "Who embroidered this?"

Lu Mingzhao leaned closer, quite pleased with her own taste: "I found the design, and the embroiderers in the manor did the embroidery. I specifically asked her to add a few water splashes on the side. How is it? So festive!"

Liu Muqiu couldn't help but chuckle: "Indeed, it's festive."

As she laughed, Liu Muqiu couldn't help but think of her younger brother, and the smile on her face faded a little.

Lu Mingzhao noticed her worries and patted her hand: "Don't worry, taking good care of your health and the baby is the most important thing."

"I will remind Zhou Ningchuan to try to avoid involving Liu Muyuan in this matter."

Liu Muqiu looked up in a panic: "Mother, that's not what I meant. Shi Xu is right, mistakes must be punished, even if it's Mu Yuan..."

Liu Muqiu forced a bitter smile: "Don't even mention him being my brother. Even if the emperor breaks the law, isn't he subject to the same punishment as a commoner?"

"Mother, I didn't mean to protect Muyuan. I'm just very disappointed in him, but at the same time, I feel that I haven't done enough."

The eldest sister is like a mother.

She has been doing this ever since her mother passed away.

She and her younger brother lived under the care of their stepmother, Wang. Her brother could never hide his feelings and was easily provoked by Wang's words, so she tried her best to help him.

Over the years, she thought she had done her best.

When she heard the news that her younger brother had passed the imperial examination, heaven knows how happy she was.

It wasn't just for her younger brother, but also for herself. This shows that she raised her brother very well, and at least she didn't let her mother down in the afterlife.

but now……

Liu Muyuan's repeated mistakes made her feel as if she had overlooked many things.

Actually, she didn't take good care of her younger brother, did she?

"Mu Qiu," Lu Mingzhao said softly, "you need to understand one thing: you are not his mother."

"As an older sister, you have already done a lot within your capabilities, and no one can criticize you, including yourself."

Back then, Liu Muqiu was just a little girl who needed someone to protect her.

She has grown up quickly for her younger brother, but now she has to blame herself for not protecting him.

Liu Muqiu bit her lip: "But... Muyuan did this for me."

"He took the risk to make my life better. If I had paid more attention to him or tried to persuade him, he wouldn't have done it."

Lu Mingzhao sighed, put down the clothes, and gently lifted Liu Muqiu's face with both hands.

"Muqiu, you are married now. You have a husband, children, and your own life."

"And Liu Muyuan is already an adult, and has even passed the imperial examination. He agreed to Chu Yuan'er's plan and participated in it; do you really think he didn't consider the potential consequences?"

"We all want our families to have a good life, but not everyone chooses to hurt others."

"As his sister, you wouldn't do this, and neither would your mother. You are living examples. But he still did it, which shows that this was his own choice."

Liu Muqiu stared blankly at her mother-in-law, tears streaming down her face.

Lu Mingzhao cupped her face and gently wiped away her tears with his thumb: "Mu Qiu, you should think about yourself."