Early in the morning, Tian Yu hired a carriage and set off for the county town with her two children and Zhao Moyan. Zhao Moyan rode a horse carrying Tangyuan, while Tian Yu and Xiaoju followed in the carriage. Normally, Zhao Moyan wouldn't go to the county town after the rain the day before, but Tian Yu paid extra for the trip. She also gave Gouzi a ride; Gouzi usually went with Zhao Moyan on his way to the county town, saving money by not hiring a separate carriage. Because of the rain, the journey was delayed, and they arrived in the county town around noon. Tian Yu and Xiaoju got off first, telling the driver they wouldn't be going back that day and to take Gouzi home. She also gave Gouzi the house keys, asking him to feed the poultry.

Tian Yu planned to find an inn to settle in for the night before taking the child shopping, but Zhao Moyan refused, insisting that Tian Yu come with him and that he would help them find a place to stay. Tian Yu wanted to decline, but seeing Tangyuan, she thought about it and agreed. Following Zhao Moyan to a mansion, Tian Yu sighed, "As expected of a marquis, even a temporary resting place is so grand." Above the gate were two imposing characters: "Hongyuan."

Zhao Moyan explained that the house had been left behind by a wealthy merchant and was now confiscated, serving as his temporary residence. After entrusting Tian Yu and the children to the housekeeper, Zhao Moyan hurriedly left. The housekeeper, surnamed Zhou, was an elderly man around fifty years old. He was kind and approachable to Tian Yu and the children. Tian Yu asked the housekeeper to call her Tian Yu, and she called him Uncle Zhou. Uncle Zhou, unaware of Tian Yu's relationship with Zhao Moyan, assumed she was also the orphan of that soldier and agreed. Tangyuan and Xiaoju also called him Grandpa Zhou. From their conversation, Tian Yu learned that Uncle Zhou was a veteran from the army, too old to fight anymore and without family, so he stayed to serve Zhao Moyan. They strolled around the courtyard, a typical Chinese-style residence. The courtyard was divided into four smaller courtyards: east, south, west, and north. Zhao Moyan lived in the central courtyard in the north, while Uncle Zhou arranged for Tian Yu to live in the eastern courtyard. The layout of each courtyard was similar, containing a master bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a study, and a living room. The courtyards were filled with various flowers, plants, and trees, some already in bloom, others just sprouting leaves. The furnishings inside were also complete. It was clear that this wealthy merchant was extremely rich and powerful; compared to this, Tian Yu's small courtyard was practically shabby, even less impressive than the servants' quarters in the back courtyard.

Led by Uncle Zhou, Tian Yu toured the courtyard. Tangyuan and Xiaoju seemed very excited, playing with Maorong in the yard. After a while, Uncle Zhou returned and said, "Tian girl, it's time to eat."

"Oh, alright, isn't your lord coming back for dinner?"

"The Marquis has matters to attend to and will not be back at noon."

Tian Yu nodded to indicate that she understood and then called Tang Yuan and the others to follow Uncle Zhou to the front hall for their meal. Tian Yu noticed that most of the servants here were older men and women, or teenagers. She asked Uncle Zhou and learned that they were all retired soldiers, either too old to go to the battlefield or too young to be wounded. The older women were orphans left behind by their husbands and sons who had died in battle, all homeless because of the war.

After hearing this, Tian Yu had a different opinion of Zhao Moyan. The meal was simple, with two meat dishes, two vegetable dishes, and a bowl of soup. Tian Yu invited Uncle Zhou to sit down and eat with them, but Uncle Zhou declined. Tian Yu then sat down and ate with the two children.

Just as he picked up his chopsticks, he heard Li Yong shouting loudly from outside, "Big brother, big brother, you're finally back! I've investigated what you asked me to do, and it turns out Chen..."

He ran all the way into the house and saw that Zhao Moyan was not there, only Tian Yu and the others. He stared wide-eyed and did not say anything more. Zhou Bo first bowed to Li Yong before saying, "General Li, the Marquis went to the military camp. Didn't you see him?"

"Oh, Uncle Zhou, I just came back from outside and haven't gone to the military camp yet."

"Why is my sister-in-law here too? Is she planning to reconcile with my brother?"

"Li Yong, I'm just here in the county town to buy some things. Can we put other matters aside for now?"

"Fine, fine, you'll still be my sister-in-law sooner or later, you can't escape." Li Yong muttered, and Tian Yu rolled her eyes at him.

"Is Tian Yatou the Marquis's wife?" Uncle Zhou asked cautiously after listening for a while.

“Yes, didn’t the Marquis tell you? Tangyuan is the Marquis’s own son, the future young Marquis.” Li Yong said, pointing at Tangyuan. Tian Yu gestured for him not to talk nonsense.

"Please forgive me, Madam. This old servant is truly senile and blind!" Zhou Bo knelt down and said.

Tian Yu quickly got up and pulled Zhou Bo up, saying, "No, Zhou Bo, your lord and I are no longer husband and wife, so it's not your fault. Get up quickly."

“What are you saying, Madam? Is it something the Marquis has done wrong that has upset you?” Uncle Zhou stood up and continued.

"No, it's a long story. In short, Uncle Zhou, please just call me Tian Yatou and don't call me Madam anymore."

“This…” Uncle Zhou looked at Tian Yu and then at Li Yong, somewhat troubled.

"Hey, just call me whatever your sister-in-law tells you to call her," Li Yong said impatiently.

"Yes, no wonder I thought the young master looked somewhat like the Marquis when I first saw him. But the Marquis didn't give any instructions, only telling me to take good care of the three of them. I never thought they were the Marquis's wife and children. This old servant will go and tell the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes."

"Uncle Zhou, no need, that's enough," Tian Yu quickly called out to Uncle Zhou, who was about to leave.

"Uncle Zhou, please fill my bowl and chopsticks too. I haven't eaten yet either," Li Yong said, sitting down and looking at the food on the table.

"Alright! Then, Madam, no, Tian girl, General Li, please wait. This old servant will tell the kitchen to prepare." Uncle Zhou changed his form of address when he looked at Tian Yu.

"What did General Li say he had found out when he came in?" Tian Yu asked purely out of curiosity.

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just something that happened in the military camp. Don't worry about it, sister-in-law. Let's eat!"

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