Chapter 108: Turns Out He’s the Uncle

General Mo nodded, treating his eldest son-in-law with great respect.

Meanwhile, at the Zhou family’s shop.

As night fell, Du Wanchun helped Zhang Qiuhe close up the shop. The two of them boarded the carriage sent by Zhou Ruizhen and returned to the Zhou residence together.

Madam Zhou specially invited Zhang Qiuhe to stay for dinner.

The family had just sat down when they heard a knock at the courtyard gate.

Madam Zhou quickly got up upon hearing the sound. “Who’s there?”

A voice from outside called, “Excuse me, is Lady Zhang home?”

Hearing this, Madam Zhou had a vague guess about who the visitor might be. She hurried to the door and peeked through the crack.

The person outside stood close to the door, and through the gap, she could only see their clothing.

Judging by the fine fabric, it was clear they were from a wealthy family.

She became cautious and asked, “Why are you looking for Lady Zhang?”

The person outside replied, “Madam, we are from the Mo family. We have come to offer our apologies to Lady Zhang.”

Madam Zhou frowned, puzzled.

She turned to look at Zhang Qiuhe and Du Wanchun inside the house and asked in a low voice, “Wanchun, Qiuhe, why would the Mo family send people here?”

Du Wanchun stepped forward and said, “Mother, today we told Miss Mo Er about Liu Shengyuan’s actions. They’re probably here because of that.”

Madam Zhou remained skeptical.

The people outside, noticing the silence, spoke again. “Madam, our general has already learned of Liu Shengyuan’s deeds, and he is furious. Please rest assured, we are not here to cause trouble or confront Lady Zhang. We have come to present a gift of apology.”

“A gift of apology…” Madam Zhou murmured to herself.

This did seem to align with General Mo’s character.

Even so, she remained cautious and glanced again at Du Wanchun.

Du Wanchun smiled and reassured her, “Mother, don’t worry. It’s broad daylight. The Mo family wouldn’t dare do anything.”

With that, she stepped forward and opened the courtyard gate.

Outside stood a man and a woman. The woman was dressed in a red ruqun (traditional Chinese attire), while the man wore a blue long robe.

The man appeared to be in his late twenties, but he carried himself with the maturity of someone much older. He had a neatly trimmed beard and an air of sophistication that made him stand out immediately.

However, what was even more surprising was that this man bore a striking resemblance to Madam Zhou.

Du Wanchun looked at the two visitors and asked, “And you are?”

The woman in red had a round face and cheerful, crescent-shaped eyes. She smiled warmly and said, “I am the eldest daughter of the Mo family, and this is my husband.”

As she spoke, she gestured toward the man beside her.

Madam Zhou looked up and locked eyes with the man outside the door. Both of them froze in an instant.

Du Wanchun noticed and softly called, “Mother, what’s wrong?”

Madam Zhou’s gaze remained fixed on the man, her eyes filled with emotion.

The man, too, stared at her intently.

The woman in red sensed that something was off. “Husband, what’s the matter?”

Without answering, the man grabbed her hand and strode into the courtyard, then swiftly shut the gate behind him. The next words that came out of his mouth shocked everyone.

“Second Sister…”

Madam Zhou’s eyes turned red instantly. She quickly lowered her head and cast a glance toward Zhang Qiuhe inside the house.

The man immediately composed himself, turning to his wife and explaining, “My dear, this lady is an old acquaintance of mine from the capital.”

Mo Eldest Miss immediately understood. Someone whom her husband called “Second Sister”—could she be the former second young lady of the Lu family, the deposed empress?

She was utterly stunned. Her eyes roamed over the woman before her, taking in the sight with disbelief.

Who would have thought that the once-glorious empress, who had lived a life of luxury and possessed breathtaking beauty, would now appear as a simple peasant woman—her skin slightly tanned, her body clad in a plain gray robe?

Yet, upon closer inspection, it was impossible to miss the refined features and the noble air that she desperately tried to suppress.

At that moment, Zhou Ruizhen and Zhou Feng also emerged from the house.

“Mother, Wanchun, who is it?”

As Zhou Ruizhen spoke, he turned his gaze toward the visitors. The moment he saw the man, he, too, froze.

Then, little Zhou Zhao came running out. Unable to contain himself, he called out, “Little Uncle!”

Hearing this, Du Wanchun immediately understood—the Mo family’s eldest son-in-law was actually her mother-in-law’s younger brother.

Madam Zhou’s brother was originally named Lu Yan. After being rescued by General Han’s trusted aide, he was taken to the borderlands, where he changed his name and identity. There, he found protection and support under General Mo.

Later, he married the Mo family’s eldest daughter and had a daughter of his own, who was now just over a year old.

Despite the years that had passed, Madam Zhou’s brother had never forgotten their family’s tragic past. He continued to fight on the frontlines, just as he had before, and had risen to the rank of lieutenant general, gathering loyal followers of his own within the military.