The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

You wretch, you wretch, it's all that wretch Shui's fault.

A fawning smile appeared on her face, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Master, you can scold me all you want, but I've only been in the household for a short time, and I don't know as much as your childhood sweetheart, Aunt Shui."

"For the sake of our many years of marriage, could you at least tell me why that rare book had to be taken to the Meng family by Er Yatou?"

She would occasionally act foolishly, but that was because the mother and son of the Marquis's mansion treated her like an outsider.

She was hiding some unspeakable secret in her heart, and didn't even bother to tell her privately, which made her sometimes less proper in her dealings than a concubine in the inner quarters.

"You don't need to concern yourself with this matter, nor do you need to know about it. Just remember what I just said: that rare book can only be handed over to the Meng family through Er Yatou's hands."

It was rare for Lord He to explain things to Madam Shen in such a serious manner. Although Madam Shen was dissatisfied with his attitude, she had no choice but to accept it reluctantly.

"Then shall I leave a handwritten copy in our study? It's a rare and highly regarded copy, after all. Keeping it will enrich our collection."

Lord He glared. He had mixed feelings about that rare copy. If it were up to his old ways, he might have destroyed all the copies.

However, over the years I've cultivated my character and become more detached from many things. "Whatever."

After finishing his business, Lord He naturally flicked his sleeves and left Yimei Garden.

Not only were the maids disappointed, but Madam Shen herself also felt a little resentful deep down.

"Granny Zhang, do you think I'm getting old?" She touched her cheek, thinking that she was well-maintained and not much different from Aunt Shui.

"What do you mean? Madam looks exactly the same as when she got married. She looks so youthful and tender. She doesn't look old at all."

"Granny." Madam Shen smiled like a little girl, "I'm about to hold my grandson, I'm no longer acting like a little girl, Granny, you really know how to coax me."

“Madam should smile like this now. That’s how she used to be, carefree.” Granny Zhang seemed lost in memories. “We women, once we’re married, can’t we still laugh freely? Why are we always so bound by rules and regulations, living only for our husbands and children?”

You've managed this large family; even if you haven't achieved great things, you've certainly worked hard. The Marquis is careless and doesn't appreciate your efforts. You should take care of yourself first.

"Granny, I can only live a good life because you came with me when I married into this Marquis's mansion. When I first entered the family, I also had a few good days with the Marquis."

When that wretched woman, Consort Shui, was brought back by the Marquis, I realized that there's no such thing as having it all. Having gained such immense wealth, I knew I would never receive my husband's true love.

His heart and eyes were filled with thoughts of that lowly woman, Shui, who came from a family of courtesans. If it weren't for the old lady keeping him in check, Zhang-ge might not have been the eldest son, and might have been overshadowed by Shui's bastard son.

I had been hoping for Consort Shui to fall out of favor, but the Marquis suddenly neglected Consort Shui in the backyard, which gave me the opportunity to conceive the Seventh Miss.

I thought I had a chance to target Aunt Shui, but seeing that her sixth daughter was perfect in every way, I knew that your Marquis just didn't visit often, but that he did care about her. He must have asked the steward to take care of her privately.

I thought the two lovers would live like this, neither hot nor cold, for the rest of their lives. Then I found a younger and fresher woman to serve the Marquis in the front courtyard, which caused them to break up completely.

But who knew that Aunt Shui was such a shameless slut, still seducing men at her age.

In the past year or two, I don't know what method she used to get the master to visit more frequently, and she's even pregnant with a third child.

She, as the legal wife, only had two children. How could Aunt Shui, a concubine, have three children?

"We've wronged our lady." Granny Zhang had watched Madam Shen gradually establish herself in the Muqing Marquis's mansion and knew how difficult it was. "However, childbirth is the most difficult time for a woman, and she could easily lose her life. Isn't that how Madam's third sister from her maternal family passed away?"

Granny Zhang's words were clearly pointed; she was practically offering to tamper with Concubine Shui's delivery.

Madam Shen twirled the jade bracelet in her hand. "Granny, our eldest son's family has few children, so it's true that I played a part in it."

Just like the four maids who serve the master in the front yard, each one is exceptionally beautiful, but before I bought them, I instructed the slave trader to give them a potion that would prevent them from having children, which is why we have been able to live peacefully for the past few years.

But have you ever seen me lay a hand on any of the pregnant women in the backyard?

“Even though the eldest daughter’s aunt didn’t get along with me in the past, she still gave birth to the eldest daughter. The same principle applies to Aunt Shui.”

Over the years, the old lady has always stood by her side and cared most about her sons, Zhang and Qi. This is the reason why.

Granny Zhang wiped the sweat from her forehead. "This old servant was just too worried about the young master and the seventh young lady born to Madam, which is why I was a little anxious and said the wrong thing. Please punish me, Madam."

"Alright, you're only doing this for my own good. Just remember, I'm not the same person as my mother." When she was still a young woman, she may not have been particularly kind to her half-brothers and sisters, but at least she never openly mistreated them.

The same principle applies to the descendants of the Marquis's family.

"Granny, please don't say such things again. If someone hears this, I'll be in deep trouble."

"I will remember this."

"Yes, Granny, there's no need to worry too much. Have you noticed that even if my Zhang-ge'er isn't very bright, the position of heir to the Marquis's mansion won't go to the third young master born to Concubine Shui?"

Granny Zhang looked up, clearly incredulous at such a statement.

"Pfft, Granny doesn't believe me?"

Then do you see if the old lady went to see the third young master alone after he was born?

In her daily greetings, the old lady preferred to be closer to the grandsons of the second and third wives, rarely paying attention to the third young master. "This is, after all, a son born to her own son but born to a concubine. Isn't she closer to him than a child born to a concubine?"

"As for the Marquis, he dotes on Consort Shui, so he should love her and raise her son well. But have you ever seen our Marquis inquire about the Third Young Master's studies? He just hopes he won't be completely blind to them."

At first, Granny Zhang didn't believe it, but as Madam Shen explained it to her step by step, she surprisingly came to believe it.

"Madam, why is this?" It's not that Granny Zhang is so experienced, but she lost her composure in this matter. It's just that Concubine Shui's favor is obvious to everyone in the Marquis's mansion.

There was no rumor of favoring a concubine over the wife because Aunt Shui knew her place, knew how to behave herself, and knew where Shen's bottom line was, so she didn't extend her tentacles to provoke trouble.