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

Lan'er was taken aback.

Tears streamed down Chu Yuan'er's face as she looked at Lan'er, nearly collapsing.

"You can resent me for not finding you, or blame me for not giving you a good life, but you can't misunderstand me."

"Everyone in this world can distrust me, except you."

Even Chu Yuan'er herself didn't expect that Lan'er would be so important to her.

She had always thought that she had come into this world for Zhou Ningchuan.

Now that Zhou Ningchuan has seen through her, and there is no longer any possibility between them, Chu Yuan'er has lost the desire to live and wants to end her life.

But at this moment, misunderstood by Lan'er, she realized that the most important person to her was not Zhou Ningchuan, but Lan'er, who had always been by her side.

Her mother died early and her father passed away from illness. Her relatives were eyeing her covetously, wanting to take advantage of her.

Only Lan'er stayed by her side, the two of them using their small bodies to protect each other and keep each other warm.

When Lan'er was taken away by her uncles, she ran frantically to find Zhou Ningchuan, with only one thought in her mind—she had to save Lan'er, and only Zhou Ningchuan could save her Lan'er.

Later, Zhou Ningchuan really saved Lan'er, and Chu Yuan'er felt as if she had grasped a lifeline, determined to hold onto this lifeline forever.

But she never really thought about whether she truly liked Zhou Ningchuan, or whether it was because Zhou Ningchuan could protect her and Lan'er.

Perhaps all she wanted was a safe haven where she and Lan'er could spend the rest of their lives in peace.

As to who this safe haven actually is, it doesn't really matter.

But in that instant, Zhou Ningchuan appeared, and she stubbornly believed that Zhou Ningchuan was the one she should pursue for the rest of her life.

Only at this moment did Lan'er's suspicions and resentment cause her last shred of rationality to completely collapse.

What she wanted was simply what she had possessed for many years.

This was the first time Chu Yuan'er had cried so bitterly, and Lan'er stared at her in a daze.

Even though she was absolutely certain that Chu Yuan'er wanted to kill her, seeing Chu Yuan'er in such pain still made her heart ache.

Sure enough, even though her mistress wanted to kill her, she still couldn't treat her mistress in the same way.

"I can prove it."

Lu Mingzhao appeared at the door at some point. She leaned against the door and raised an eyebrow at the two of them.

"The people who wanted to kill you weren't sent by Chu Yuan'er, but by me."

"I wanted to get the information I needed from you, but Chu Yuan'er certainly didn't have that intention—at least I didn't see it."

The two turned to look at her at the same time. Lan'er's eyes were full of shock, while Chu Yuan'er's gaze was filled with gratitude.

Lan'er suddenly knelt down, grasping Chu Yuan'er's hand, her voice trembling: "Miss..."

Chu Yuan'er shook her head, crying, "I don't blame you, Lan'er. It's my fault, it's all my fault."

If it weren't for her obsession, the two of them could have lived a good life. Lan'er ended up doing one wrong thing after another with her, ruining her life.

Chu Yuan'er helped Lan'er up, looked at Lu Mingzhao again, made up her mind, and took a deep breath: "Whatever you want to know, I can tell you, I only ask that you spare Lan'er's life."

Lu Mingzhao raised the corners of his lips: "You know what I want."

Chu Yuan'er: "Before she left, I asked her many questions, and she answered many of them."

"But there were many parts that I couldn't understand."

Lu Mingzhao understood: "As long as you relay it, that's fine. If I'm satisfied with what you hear, I might consider sparing your life."

Chu Yuan'er nodded, then looked at Lan'er beside her and smiled, "You go out and wait for a moment. I'll come out after we've finished talking."

Lan'er left, turning back every few steps.

Chu Yuan'er then spoke: "She said that she has a system that requires her to complete the task of 'a perfect life' so that she can survive."

"The requirements for a fulfilling life are to receive the love of one's husband, the love of one's children, lifelong happiness, and to be remembered in history."

"She initially chose you, but Zhou Ningchuan discovered something was wrong. She persisted for many years, but was eventually warned by the system and had to give up your body, turning instead to me, who was closest to Zhou Ningchuan."

"According to her plan, I would eliminate you and your three children. But... believe it or not, I rejected her plan, and I do not wish to harm the lives of my three children."

"So she changed her plans and made me replace you as their stepmother. You know what happened next."

"Now that she's leaving, she's going to take on a new body and continue this mission."

"I don't know where her new body is, but I gleaned one thing from her fragmented words—it seems she only has one last chance."

"If she fails on the last attempt as well, her life will be in danger."

Lu Mingzhao was silent for a moment, then asked, "Did she say why she received those missions? And who is the 'system' that directed her?"

Chu Yuan'er shook her head: "She didn't say anything. I did ask, but she was very resistant to the question."

"……I see."

Lu Mingzhao stood up to leave, but Chu Yuan'er suddenly took two steps forward and knelt down: "I...I want to ask you for one more thing..."

.

The Northwest not long after.

Zhou Ningchuan won the final battle and recaptured the city.

Right there at the victory celebration banquet, a cold arrow flew towards him.

By the time Zhou Ningchuan realized what was happening, a woman had already stepped in front of him, catching the arrow with her body.

The scene immediately descended into chaos.

Zhou Ningchuan instinctively stood up and caught the woman. She grabbed his collar, her voice fragile yet resolute: "To die for you, sir, is worth it..."

For the next few days, Zhou Ningchuan went back to visit the woman every day.

As they got to know each other better, Zhou Ningchuan learned that her name was Liu Yuyao and that she was twenty years old.

Zhou Ningchuan asked her what she wanted.

Yu Yao remained silent for a long time.

She admitted that she had long admired General Zhou and that her lifelong wish was to marry him.

But she knew that General Zhou had a wife and didn't want to put him in a difficult position, so she preferred to pretend that nothing had happened.

Even someone like Zhou Ningchuan was moved by her.

Zhou Ningchuan pondered for a moment and said, "I love my wife very much, so I cannot divorce her, but..."

"I can take you back to the capital and make you my second wife."

"My wife is very generous; it's just a title, and I believe she'll be willing to give it to you."

Liu Yuyao held Zhou Ningchuan's hand with tears in her eyes.

Zhou Ningchuan's perpetually cold and hard face softened slightly: "Don't worry about this anymore. We'll set off back to Beijing first thing tomorrow morning."

"The capital has the best doctors; they will surely be able to cure your illness."