My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 4 Congratulations
Upon hearing this, Liu Xiuxiu frowned and looked angrily at Lu Jinshi.

Lu Jinshi chuckled as he looked at Liu Xiuxiu's annoyed eyes. When her interests were threatened, Liu Xiuxiu could no longer play the smiling tiger.

Lu Jinshi turned to Liu Xiuxiu and said slowly, "What do you mean I'm wrong? If the head of the household can't even manage the servants, what's the point of being the head of the household?"

He Tan sighed and said, "Miaomiao, the He family is going through a lot of trouble right now, and we can't be without someone in charge. Your Aunt Liu has been busy with many things these past few days and forgot to tell the maids and servants that you need to come back."

Lu Jinshi said, "Do I need to tell you who the eldest young lady is? Or has everyone in the Marquis's mansion already accepted that I am not the eldest young lady of the Marquis's mansion?"

He Tan said, "Of course not. You are still the eldest daughter of my Marquis's mansion. However, at this critical moment, the family cannot be without someone familiar with managing household affairs. If the head of the household is to be replaced, we can only do so after your grandfather's matter is settled. Go see your grandfather quickly."

Lu Jinshi couldn't help but sneer, not thinking of seizing the steward's power right now.

After all, since I came to the Marquis's mansion, Liu Xiuxiu has been humble and subservient, but when it comes to the power of the household, her eyes can no longer hide her ambition.

Rather than seizing control of the Marquis's household today, Lu Jinshi wanted to let Liu Xiuxiu taste what it felt like to have something so precious coveted and wanted to be taken away.

Lu Jinshi walked towards Shouhe Hall.

Liu Xiuxiu still asked softly, "Jinshi, are you married?"

Lu Jinshi said, "Never!"

Liu Xiuxiu's expression changed.

He Tan then looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "You're twenty-one this year, aren't you? Why aren't you married yet?"

Lu Jinshi said, "After all, there are many heartless men in this world. I am also afraid of repeating my mother's mistake and meeting a husband who is faithless and unfaithful and betrays his vows."

He Jinlan, who was listening from the side, was extremely angry. "How dare you speak to your father like that? He Jinshi, do you have any sense of hierarchy?"

Lu Jinshi chuckled and said, "Did I say it was Father? So in my sister's heart, Father is a shameless scoundrel who is untrustworthy and can even break vows?"

He Jinlan was so angry that she jumped up and down, "I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Seeing He Tan frown, He Jinlan quickly said in a coquettish tone, "Father, I didn't mean it that way, I didn't..."

He Tan looked at Lu Jinshi's faint smile and shook his head helplessly, "How is your mother in Jiangnan?"

Lu Jinshi frowned slightly and said, "My mother is fine. After she married my stepfather, she gave birth to my younger brother."

Liu Xiuxiu's expression changed.

He Tan's expression also changed slightly. He frowned and slowed his pace considerably. His heart, which had not ached for a long time, began to ache again.

We arrived at Shouheyuan.

Everyone in the courtyard looked towards the gate. When they saw He Tan bring in a beautiful young woman, the leading aunt of the He family said, "Brother, who is this young woman? She is so beautiful."

He Tan said in a low voice, "She is Jin Shi."

"Miaomiao?" Aunt He was taken aback, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Miaomiao, you've grown up so much... do you still remember your aunt?"

When Lu Jinshi heard her childhood nickname, she looked at He Wen in front of her. She still had some vague memories of her aunt. At that time, her aunt had not yet married, and she liked to stick to her aunt a lot when she was in the Marquis's mansion.

Lu Jinshi nodded, "I remember, Aunt."

He Wen smiled and replied, "Oh, your grandfather has been waiting for you for a long time. Come in quickly." He Wen took Lu Jinshi's hand and led him inside, saying, "Father, Mother, Jinshi is here."

Lu Jinshi entered the house. Although Shouhe Courtyard faced south, the house was dark and filled with the smell of medicine.

Lu Jinshi went inside and saw an old lady with a wrinkled face looking at him with disgust in her eyes.

He Wen chuckled and said, "This is your grandmother, do you remember her?"

Lu Jinshi said to the old lady, "Grandmother."

Madam He said, "It's good that you're back. Are you married yet?"

Lu Jinshi replied, "No."

Madam He's expression changed and she said, "Since you are not yet married, your grandfather and I have a good marriage in mind for you. Your grandfather is on his deathbed, but he is still concerned about your marriage."

"While your grandfather is still alive, you should arrange your marriage today with the second son of my maternal family, the Marquis of Anping. The wedding will be tomorrow. Although the wedding date is a bit rushed, it will be a way to bring good fortune to your grandfather and show your filial piety."

Lu Jinshi frowned slightly. She hadn't even met her grandfather yet, and this old lady was already arranging a marriage for her.
Lu Jinshi walked to the bedside and looked at her grandfather, who had become as thin as a withered tree. She couldn't believe that this was the same Marquis He who was brave and skilled in battle when he was young.

The old Marquis He said in a hoarse voice, "Miaomiao, you're back..."

Lu Jinshi said, "Grandfather."

Lord He said slowly, "Huang Teng, the second son of the Earl of Anping, is a good young man whom your grandmother and I have watched grow up. If you can marry him, your grandfather will be at ease. Our He family owes you too much."

Lu Jinshi said, "Since Huang Teng is a good husband you watched grow up, then let's give him to my sister. Anyway, my sister is of marriageable age. It's a good reputation to bring good luck and show filial piety, which is worth spreading. I'm willing to give him to my sister."

He Jinlan, who followed her inside, said, "I cannot marry Huang Teng. His Majesty has already decreed that I will marry the Seventh Prince and become his consort. You should marry him, sister, since it was Grandmother who carefully selected this marriage for you."

Lu Jinshi sneered as if he had heard a joke, and said sarcastically, "His Majesty has bestowed a marriage upon you and the Seventh Prince?"

Although Lu Jinshi grew up in Shanyin City, he often heard that the Seventh Prince was the most beloved youngest son of the current Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort.

After the birth of the seventh prince, no more children were born in the harem.

Everyone speculated that the reason the position of crown prince had not been established for so long was to prepare it for the seventh prince.

How could His Majesty possibly bestow the title of Seventh Prince's consort upon He Jinlan?
Liu Xiuxiu tugged at He Jinlan's sleeve, signaling her to stop speaking so recklessly.

Madam He looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "You grew up in the countryside, and your mother didn't care much about you. Now you're an old maid in your early twenties, and she still hasn't arranged a marriage for you. It's clear that she's a really incompetent mother!"

Lu Jinshi frowned upon hearing Madam He's words.

He Tan hurriedly said, "Mother, Miaomiao just returned to the manor today, you..."

Madam He took the prayer beads and turned them around, her attitude softening as she said, "He Jinshi, your grandfather's time is up, and you are already twenty-one. Tomorrow's wedding date is a bit rushed, but if you don't get married, you will have to observe a year of mourning for your grandfather, and you will be a year older. You will really become an old maid who can't get married."

"Why not get married tomorrow? Perhaps it can bring good luck and extend your grandfather's life."

This marriage proposal is very strange, and Lu Jinshi naturally cannot agree to it. "I will not marry."

Madam He slammed her hand on the table and said angrily, "Marriage is a major event, and it is the parents' decision. You are a daughter of the He family, and this marriage should be arranged by your father. If you want to return to the He family, you will have to get married tomorrow whether you like it or not. If you are unwilling to bring good luck to your grandfather, then you are committing the crime of filial impiety!"

(End of this chapter)