Marrying the Crown Prince

Zhou Zhou's life returned to its usual tranquility, except for one additional task—she had to pay her respects to Zhou Laowu every day.

For Zhou Laowu, seeing his daughter appear before him with a serious expression every morning sent shivers down his spine, and he couldn't bring himself to eat the snacks on the table, no matter how he looked at them.

Zhou Laowu said tactfully, "Although the weather hasn't turned cold yet, it still pains me to see you get up so early every day to pay your respects."

“The lamp burns at midnight and the rooster crows at dawn. Getting up early not only allows me to pay my respects to my father, but also to read,” Zhou Zhou said with a touch of emotion. “I don’t feel tired at all.”

Zhou Laowu, who had always been a playboy, felt his stomach hurt even more now. He then looked at Zhou Yue, who was sitting next to him and dozing off, and felt a lot more comforted.

In the following month, Zhou Laowu subtly reminded Zhou Zhou a few more times, but still received only lukewarm replies from Zhou Zhou.

Finally, Zhou Laowu, unable to bear it any longer, issued a direct order: "Except for the first and fifteenth of the month, you are not required to come and pay your respects at any other time."

Just as Zhou Zhou was about to speak, Zhou Laowu continued, "Not only you, but your brother and your sister don't need to either!"

Why did he get all gritted teeth at the end? He woke up Zhou Yue, who was dozing off next to him. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, looking completely bewildered.

Zhou Zhou sighed, then lowered his head and replied meekly, "Yes, Father."

After leaving Zhou Laowu's place, it was still early, so Zhou Zhou went to the old lady's place.

The old lady looked at her beloved granddaughter who came to visit with a long face and asked in confusion, "What's wrong, my darling?"

Zhou Zhou stared at the breakfast on the table, forcing a smile, "Grandmother, your granddaughter has come to have breakfast with you."

Seeing her forced smile, the old lady felt even more sorry for her and hugged her tightly. "Tell me, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

Zhou Zhou lowered her eyes and recounted how her elderly father had recently forbade her from paying her respects to the old lady, then asked, "But what did I do wrong?"

Others might not know, but how could the old lady not know? He simply hated being woken up by Zhou Zhou before dawn every day.

But in front of the younger generation, one must give face to Zhou Laowu. The old lady couldn't help but chuckle and patted Zhou Zhou's head. "The porridge is exceptionally well made, but your father feels sorry for you getting up so early every day, so he doesn't want you to go and pay your respects every day."

Zhou Zhou nodded, his lowered eyes concealing a cunning glint.

Life is so boring, teasing me is quite fun, but unfortunately I can't take it anymore, I couldn't stand it after only a month.

The old lady had no idea what her beloved granddaughter was thinking, otherwise she would have been shocked.

Meanwhile, the old Marquis, who understood Zhou Zhou's thoughts, looked at her practicing calligraphy at the table next to him and said, "Your writing is hesitant; your heart is not at ease."

Zhou Zhou put down his pen and honestly admitted his mistake, saying, "My granddaughter found it a bit boring."

"Hmm?" The old Marquis was puzzled. Did his precious Zhouzhou want him, her father, to dominate her and play with her?

"I want to go to school," Zhou Zhou said, coming up with her own idea.

"Aren't you learning now?" Hearing her words, the old Marquis was unhappy. So many children wanted him to teach them, but he wasn't willing to!

“It’s different. My brothers go to school every day, but I’m all alone.” Zhou Zhou pouted.

The old marquis looked at Zhou Zhou suspiciously for several times, and finally asked her very seriously, "Isn't this better?"

Didn't you used to hate crowds?

"I used to think it was good, but now I don't think it is," Zhou Zhou said with a smile, acting coquettishly. "I'm afraid Grandpa will get tired."

Knowing she was talking nonsense, the old marquis still smiled with satisfaction, "Alright, I understand."

After Zhou Zhou left, the old Marquis suppressed his kindness and summoned a servant, "Go and check on the fifth prince's courtyard."

If they want to go to school, it's impossible to send only Zhou Zhou. Besides the four older brothers, there's also... Zhou Yue, who just appeared recently.

Among these people, the eldest son's wife, Zhang, taught the children; the third son's wife, Wang, taught the children; Zhouzhou taught the children herself; only Zhou Yue was all alone. Although she had her birth mother by her side, how much could a maidservant teach her?

Zhou Yatou may have a cold expression, but her heart is exceptionally soft.

On his way back, Zhou Zhou happened to run into Xu Shi, who was out for a stroll.

Xu was the only woman in Zhou Laowu's courtyard, so she was in charge of all the decorations and decorations. She was much more confident than when she first returned to the mansion.

Even so, Madam Xu did not dare to underestimate Zhou Zhou and bowed respectfully.

For the sake of the adorable Zhou Yue, Zhou Zhou didn't want to make things difficult, so she nodded in response and left.

As Xu watched the retreating figures of Zhou Zhou and her servant, she seemed to be talking to herself, "I wonder where Eighth Miss went to play?"

"I heard that the Eighth Miss goes to the old Marquis's place every two days," a maidservant replied. "The old Marquis cherishes the Eighth Miss because she lost her mother at a young age, so he personally teaches her."

Everyone in the manor knew about this, and since Madam Xu had been here for over a month, she naturally knew as well.

Her eyes were filled with sadness and her face was full of sorrow. "It's my fault for being useless. I don't know many words, and as a result, my poor Yue'er is five years old and still hasn't started learning."

Xu's loving motherly heart deeply moved the maid, who gently comforted her mistress.

That night, Xu was sighing and groaning in bed, which annoyed Zhou Laowu. He sat up and saw Xu's sorrowful face in the moonlight.

Xu was only considered a girl from a modest family, but the hazy moonlight seemed to filter her, and strands of her dark hair fell across her face, adding to her delicate appearance.

Zhou Laowu's heart softened instantly, and he hugged the person, "What's wrong? Did someone upset you?"

"How could that be? My lord treats me so well, how could the servants in the manor dare to give me a hard time?" Madam Xu leaned against him, like a little bird nestled against its nest.

"Hmph, if she's not a servant, then she must be my good daughter, right?" Old Zhou Wu keenly grasped the key point.

Madam Xu naturally shook her head, lowered her eyebrows, and a tear slowly slid down her cheek.

When Zhou Laowu saw that she didn't speak, he immediately became anxious and called over the maid who was on night watch.

The girl dared not hide anything and told him everything that had happened that day.

Hearing the girl's words, Zhou Laowu felt both sorry and amused. He reached out his slightly calloused hand to wipe away Xu Shi's tears. "It's my fault. I didn't realize that Yue'er had reached the age of early childhood education. I've made you sad for no reason. Shall I apologize to you?"

Madam Xu dared not agree, and leaned against him, continuing to play the innocent little rabbit, "What are you saying, sir? I am only feeling sorry for Yue'er. She is the only one in the family who is born out of wedlock. It is my fault as her mother."

As she spoke, and her little hands kept touching her, Zhou Laowu wished he could rip his heart out and swear that he would treat Zhou Yue well.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Madam Xu tentatively began, "I know there is no tutor in the household, but it just so happens that the old Marquis is willing to teach the Eighth Miss. Anyway, teaching one is the same as teaching two..."