Forcing me to raise a concubine? The mistress of the Marquisate has gone mad

"Madam is so complimentary."

Zhuhong smiled shyly, half covering her mouth with her sleeves, showing just the right amount of shyness. This trick works in front of men, and it's not offensive in front of women.

Seeing that the time was almost right and Shen Ruoyan was in a good mood, Zhuhong then told him her purpose.

"Actually, I have an unwelcome request for visiting my wife this time." After saying this, Zhu Hong subconsciously looked at Shen Ruoyan's expression, thinking that she would see surprise or anger on her face, but there was nothing.

There was no surprise, no anger, not even a flicker of expression.

Shen Ruoyan acted as if he was listening to where the sun would rise today. It was so normal that he didn't even cast an extra glance at him.

She just sat there calmly, with no emotion to be seen. "Oh? What's the matter?"

Zhuhong subconsciously tensed her body and even pulled her feet back a little. She was unsure of Shen Ruoyan's attitude and suddenly she felt unsure.

"My hometown was hit by a disaster a while ago, and I was separated from my family. I thought we would never see each other again in this life, but I didn't expect that when I went out to buy rouge by chance that day, I actually met my great aunt!"

When talking about this, Zhu Hong couldn't help but tear up. "There was a famine at that time, and some of my family members died or were scattered. My aunt said that now, only my sister and she are left in my family..."

Great aunt?

Shen Ruoyan pondered in her heart, but her face was very calm, "That is indeed a great fate."

In times of famine, exchanging children for food was common.

If what Zhuhong said is true, then she probably didn't get separated from her family, but was sold by her family.

But who is this aunt?

"Yes, I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the madam. When I was young, my family didn't value me because of my female identity. Fortunately, there was this aunt at home who helped me from time to time, so that my sister and I could survive in such a situation."

Shen Ruoyan said: "So, this aunt has done you a favor in raising you?"

Zhu Hong nodded and said, "I will never forget the kindness of my aunt. Now that my sister and I have entered the Marquis' Mansion, and we have a sensible mistress like Madam, our lives are much better than before. Now that I see my aunt alone, I can't help but feel guilty."

Whether the grace of birth is greater or the grace of raising is greater has been an unchanging question since ancient times.

If you give birth to a child but don't raise him/her, you are not honored as a parent.

If you raise a child but don't love him, you are in vain being a good person.

She raised the emperor, worked hard for many years, and put in a lot of effort, but not only did she not receive a word of gratitude, but she was instead given a cup of poisoned wine, which sent her to death.

The emperor still claims to the outside world that he is suffering from an acute illness, and even the imperial physician has kept silent about it.

Thinking of it now, I still feel a chill in my heart.

When Zhuhong mentioned her great-aunt now, even though she was not her biological mother, she was grateful for her. Her words were filled with longing and gratitude for her.

If she hadn't pretended so well, Shen Ruoyan would have looked at her with a higher regard.

So she asked, "Do you want to bring her into the mansion?"

Although the Marquis's Mansion is now in Shengjing, and is not considered a first-class family, it is still a well-known family. If people knew that they had brought in the concubine's relatives and kept them as their own, they would probably be laughed at.

By then, Lu Jing's reputation of favoring his concubine over his wife can be revived.

Zhuhong thinks she will agree to such a thankless task?

"Madam, you have misunderstood. I am just a lowly maid. I have done good deeds in my previous life to be able to live in the Marquis' Mansion. How dare I dream of anything else? It's just that my aunt is old. Although she has a lot of strength, she can't find a job outside."

Zhu Hong explained: "I just hope to find a job for my aunt so that she can have a place to make a living."

Her eyes were full of pleading, and she was very sincere. "Otherwise, I have nothing else to ask for."

It was actually very easy to find a job in the Marquis's Mansion. Although I was old, I could still do the cleaning, burning firewood, and fetching water in the backyard.

Even the maids around their masters, if they are smart, will introduce close relatives to come and find work.

What’s more, she is the concubine in this mansion?

Zhuhong’s request was not excessive, and for Shen Ruoyan, it was just a matter of words.

But she still kept her status low and came to Shen Ruoyan to ask for instructions in a proper manner, or even to make a request, without any airs of a master.

After all, half a master is still a master!

Look at Fang Rou, isn’t she using this identity very well?

"Since you have come in person, there is no reason for me to refuse." Shen Ruoyan smiled and called Chunxi over, "I will leave this matter to you. Make sure to make proper arrangements for my aunt's grandmother."

Chun Xi replied, "It just so happens that Granny Wan from the kitchen sprained her waist a few days ago and said she needs to stay at home for a long time to recuperate, so she can't come. How about going to the kitchen to help?"

She faced Shen Ruoyan, not showing her back to Zhu Hong, and turned slightly to say, "Although I'm in the kitchen, I'm only responsible for adding firewood and helping with cleaning. It's not hard work, so I think it should be no problem."

After Chunxi finished speaking, she stood there with her head down.

Everything is left to the masters to decide.

Shen Ruoyan did not speak, but looked at Zhu Hong. She was stunned for a moment, and then she smiled happily: "In that case, I will trouble Miss Chunxi."

After saying that, he stood up and bowed to Shen Ruoyan, "Thank you, Madam, for your help."

It's not that she didn't think about going to Lu Jing directly, but firstly, this was a matter of the harem, and it was reasonable to ask the mistress's opinion. Secondly, Lu Jing never paid attention to these trivial matters, and if she asked rashly, she would probably just be dismissed with a few words.

So after much thought, Zhuhong finally found Shen Ruoyan.

Unexpectedly, things went even more smoothly than she had imagined.

"Sister, what's going on?" Liu Lu rushed in impatiently when she saw someone. Then she quickly ordered someone to close the door, took Zhu Hong's hand and asked, "How is it? Did the Madam agree?"

God knows how anxious she was waiting in the room alone!

I waited and waited but my sister didn't come back. I wanted to rush to the mistress's yard and ask her in person!

"You, why can't you change your impatient temper?" Zhu Hong pulled her to sit down and said softly, "It's done."

Not only did she succeed, but she was also assigned to the kitchen, a place she had never dared to think about before.

"Madam arranged for my aunt to go to the kitchen, responsible for making fire and cleaning, which are all easy tasks." Zhu Hong smiled, but this time her smile was more sincere: "I didn't expect that she would go directly into the kitchen. From now on, it will be convenient for us to do things."

Liu Lu was also surprised, and what followed was a surprise!

"Sister, you are indeed very far-sighted. This way, my aunt can stay in the Marquis' Mansion legitimately. From now on, we two sisters will rely on her completely!"

Liu Lu's joy infects Zhu Hong.

Thinking of their great-aunt who was about to arrive, their stagnant hearts seemed to come alive again and began to flow.

Although this great aunt is indeed their biological aunt, her background is not simple at all!