You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

Several old women rushed forward and helped Fu Rou up.

They used to live a good life. Xie Wanru didn't have much, but she had plenty of money, and she always liked to buy food to entertain the servants in the mansion.

In winter, we have sweet potatoes and melon seeds as snacks, and in summer, we have mung bean soup and fruits. There's never a shortage of them.

Because Xie Wanru also loved to eat these things, she was afraid of being laughed at if she ate them alone, so she invited everyone to eat with her. In total, it didn't cost much; she could easily scrape the money out of the cracks in the floor, so she never cared.

As a result, this woman angered the second wife, and they not only lost their snacks, but their monthly allowance was also reduced. In addition, many people left, and the workload increased. In short, things got worse and worse, so they had long harbored resentment towards Fu Rou, this scourge.

Fu Rou was so frightened that she begged for mercy repeatedly. She thought that as long as she put on a pitiful and submissive look, Shen Nian'an would soften his heart. He used to fall for that trick the most. She didn't expect that this time Shen Nian'an would call her a slut and even hit her!

Shen Yanzhi cried out, "Father, please don't hit Mother. I was wrong. I will never do it again."

Shen Yanzhi may have wanted to be Xie Wanru's son before, because Xie Wanru could give him conveniences that even his father couldn't.

But he also knew that Fu Rou was his biological mother, and they were connected by blood, so he couldn't bear to see his mother really being beaten.

Looking at his son, who was crying his eyes out, Shen Nian'an knew that Shen Yanzhi was also a flesh-and-blood person, and after all, he was the son he had cherished and loved for so many years. He felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

It is the father's fault if he raises his son without teaching him properly; the son has become like this, and the father also bears responsibility.

Shen Nian'an took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down: "Fu Rou, you better remember this. If you dare to do something like this again, I will never let you off easily! You must not give him a single penny before he kicks his gambling addiction, otherwise you won't have to receive such a large monthly allowance anymore."

After saying that, he turned to the maids and servants beside him and said, "You all keep a close eye on him. If he slips out again, I will hold you all responsible!"

The maids and servants readily agreed, but seemed to be waiting for something.

In the end, Shen Nian'an only glared fiercely at Shen Yanzhi before turning and leaving.

A bunch of people were left feeling quite disappointed. Weren't they going to beat up that vixen Fu Rou? Now they're not going to? Huh?

Second Master was truly lenient; he didn't punish her as he had threatened, only saying that if she dared to do it again, he would just fine her a month's salary. Second Master was incredibly lenient with his concubine.

Fu Rou quickly wiped away her tears and pulled Shen Yanzhi to her side. "Yanzhi, don't make your father angry anymore, okay?"

She reached out to straighten Shen Yanzhi's robes, her eyes filled with heartache but without a trace of blame.

She was just a woman, and the best opportunity she could give Shen Yanzhi was to enter the Shen family. She didn't think Shen Yanzhi's gong-banging was shameful; on the contrary, she felt that Shen Yanzhi's actions truly revealed their identities as mother and son.

But she also hopes that her son will be loved by everyone, so that those people will plan for him in the future.

Shen Yanzhi murmured softly, "But Mother, it's really boring in the manor. I'm tired of playing games with these idiots."

Shen Yanzhi's eyes revealed a sense of contempt. Since no one in the manor could afford to offend him, they naturally obeyed his every word.

Even so, he lost interest.

Fu Rou understood her son's desire for new things and the frustration of not being able to go out once he entered the Marquis's mansion. Children hate being restricted and must yearn for freedom.

She gently stroked Shen Yanzhi's head and said tenderly, "Yanzhi, I know you are lively and active, but gambling is not the right way. I will find a way to get you anything else you want, but this is the only thing I can't do."

Shen Yanzhi was even more unhappy. Now even his mother, like his father, wanted him to be trapped and die in this mansion.

They didn't understand him, nor did they comprehend him.

Fu Rou coaxed Shen Yanzhi for a long time, and it's unclear what she promised him, but she finally managed to appease him.

As night fell, Fu Rou sat alone in her room, the flickering candlelight illuminating her furrowed brows, while Shen Yu'er slept soundly on the small bed.

Fu Rou knew that it would take more than just her own efforts to change the fate of her and her two sons; she couldn't let her son remain confined in the mansion forever.

So the next morning, Fu Rou dressed up carefully and went to Shen Nian'an's study with a breakfast she had prepared.

She wanted to soften Shen Nian'an's heart again and make him obey her every word.

"Second Master, this is breakfast that I prepared for you this morning. I heard you've been very busy lately and haven't had time to eat. I made your favorite hibiscus buns. Please try them."

Fu Rou placed the breakfast on the table in a soft voice, her eyes full of tenderness.

Shen Nian'an looked up at the breakfast on the table but didn't touch it. He then looked at Fu Rou and understood that Fu Rou was trying to curry favor and plead for Shen Yanzhi.

He sighed and said slowly, "Sit down, let's talk."

Just now, he did soften his heart; he just couldn't bear to see Fu Rou looking so gentle and aggrieved.

Fu Rou was overjoyed and quickly sat down, waiting for Shen Nian'an to speak.

“I’m very disappointed in Yan Zhi.” Shen Nian’an spoke first, her tone accusatory yet revealing a hint of helplessness. “But he is still my son, and I can’t just stand by and watch him go astray.”

Fu Rou nodded quickly and echoed, "What you say is true, sir. I understand this very well. So, I have come up with a plan. It is inevitable that Yan Zhi will be bored studying alone in the mansion, which is why he always wants to go out. Why don't we set up a small private school in the mansion, invite two teachers, and invite a few children who are about the same age as Yan Zhi to study in the mansion?"

Shen Nian'an initially thought it was a good idea, but her heart sank a little after hearing what he said next.

What's the situation in the manor right now? They're already running a deficit, yet they still want to run a private school there? Is this woman brainless?

"Are you completely unaware of the situation within the manor?"

Shen Nian'an asked patiently.

Fu Rou paused, not understanding why Shen Nian'an suddenly asked her this.

As a concubine, she received a monthly stipend of fifty taels of silver and was not allowed to leave the mansion at will. She didn't even have the freedom to go out. How could she know what the situation was like in the Yong'an Marquis's mansion?

"Second Master, I am just a concubine. I only know how to serve you well. What else would I know? Besides, I have only been in the manor for a few months and I am not familiar with the servants. They will not tell me anything."

Fu Rou's voice was as gentle as ever, but it couldn't hide the hint of grievance and sorrow mixed in.

She gently twisted the handkerchief in her hand, her gaze lowered, appearing both weak and innocent. Her words seemed to be an explanation, yet also an accusation.