If I were born again, I would marry a strong but short-lived husband.

On the way back, Ban Jian looked at Shen Suian several times, seeming to want to say something but stopping himself.

Shen Sui'an chuckled, "What do you want to ask?"

"Miss, I...I don't remember an old monk helping you." Banjian said in a low voice.

In fact, she still couldn't understand why the girl would let Qingluo go to save the boy.

It looks like a wolf cub, which makes people feel creepy.

"Indeed not." She had never even seen the old monk, but she had asked someone to inquire about him.

Han Jian looked at her in confusion.

"Jiuling is an outsider. I am willing to lend him a helping hand. He may be of use in the future," said Shen Sui'an.

"Girl, what you are doing now seems to be different from before." Banjian said in a low voice.

She has served Shen Sui'an for so many years and knows the changes in Shen Sui'an best.

In the past, girls attached the most importance to their reputation as daughters of aristocratic families. In addition to learning how to manage the household, they would read ancient books to improve their literacy, or participate in various tea parties and gatherings.

But since when did the girl seem to no longer like these things, and she has even postponed several tea parties in recent days.

"Actually, there is no difference. It's just that we need to do more important things now." Shen Sui'an patted Ban Jian's hands.

Ban Jian smiled and nodded, "Whatever the girl does is right."

In the next few days, the Lu family calmly welcomed the upcoming New Year.

However, Mrs. Lu fell ill again.

This time I was really sick.

When Shen Sui'an went to attend to the patient, he saw that Mrs. Lu's face was pale and haggard, and her voice was weak.

"I don't need you to take care of me here. Please pay your respects and go back." Mrs. Lu didn't even look at Shen Sui'an and dismissed him casually.

"Madam, please rest and recover. Your daughter-in-law will come to pay her respects tomorrow." Shen Sui'an was of course relieved, but he still pretended to be worried.

I met Mrs. Lu Er outside the door.

Mrs. Lu had been humiliated by Shen Suian several times, and now she didn't want to conflict with Shen Suian, so she just snorted and passed by.

She twisted her waist and walked into the house. Seeing Mrs. Lu drinking medicine, she couldn't help but sigh.

"Sister-in-law, you are too lenient towards your daughter-in-law. Why don't you let her take care of him? She is too comfortable as a daughter-in-law."

"Forget it. There is still a layer of separation between us. She is not sincere in serving me, and if I force her to stay, it will only increase the resentment between us." Mrs. Lu swallowed the bitter medicine and slowly ate the sweet dates.

Mrs. Lu sneered, "A concubine's daughter is a concubine's daughter. Why do you care whether she is sincere or not? Just let her serve medicine and water, and you can enjoy the blessing of being a mother-in-law."

This blessing would be good for anyone, but Mrs. Lu doesn't want it at all.

"Well, you said our family was doing well, but ever since Shen Sui'an got married, bad things have happened one after another." Mrs. Lu sighed.

"Sister Yan was harmed by her. If it weren't for her, would so many things have happened to Sister Yan and the princess?"

Mrs. Lu's face darkened.

"Sister-in-law, don't be angry about the princess. She is Her Royal Highness, and she is high up there. You can't teach her a lesson like a mother-in-law. You can only hold back your anger..."

"Second brother's wife, the third master and his wife are about to come back. Has someone cleaned up their yard?" Mrs. Lu interrupted her muttering.

Not a word of it is pleasing to the ear, the more I listen the more upset I become.

Mrs. Lu's chattering mouth suddenly stopped.

Oh, trouble is coming.

The Duke asked Mr. Lu San and his wife to return home, of course not just to celebrate the New Year. They haven't been back for several years, and they chose to come back at this time.

"I heard that the Duke wants the Third Master to stay in Beijing to take up a post." Madam Lu spoke softly with an indifferent expression.

"Our eldest master is now in the Ministry of Revenue. After the New Year, he may be promoted. If the princess is thoughtful, he may even become a minister. What about the second master? He will still be in the military camp with a sinecure."

"If the Duke fully supports the Third Master, then the Second Master will have no chance at all."

Mrs. Lu's face changed again and again, "How could that be? The first and second masters are both legitimate, and the third master is a concubine's. If the Duke valued him, he would have allowed him to stay in Subei for so many years."

Madam Lu: "The Subei Army is the largest military camp in the Yong Dynasty. The Third Master is already a deputy general, and he has several military merits."

"You have forgotten, Third Master's concubine... was the favorite of the Duke. If she hadn't died early, we wouldn't know who is living in the upper room now."

"I think that by then the power of the housekeeper may fall into the hands of the third house."

Mrs. Lu stood up suddenly, "That's impossible!"

She worked so hard to take care of all the affairs of the Lu family, so she would definitely not agree to marry a concubine's third wife for nothing.

"Of course I stand on your side, but... the Duke's decision cannot be changed by anyone in this family, not even the old lady." Madam Lu sighed, "Second brother's wife, you should get ready first."

"Sister-in-law, you and I are of the same mind. When the third room comes back, we can't let them take advantage of us." Mrs. Lu said.

Mrs. Lu smiled slightly and said, "Of course."

"Then I have something else to do first. I will come to visit my sister-in-law tomorrow." Mrs. Lu couldn't sit still. She had to go to her husband to discuss it.

No matter what, they can’t let the third room take away their benefits.

Looking at the back of Mrs. Lu Er as she hurriedly left, Mrs. Lu Da's expression became restrained and her eyes became cold and gloomy.

Two days later, the third master of the Lu family, who had not been home for many years, finally came back.

Also returning with them were Mr. Lu Sanye's wife and daughter.

Madam Lu had a gloomy face. She turned to look at the Duke, who couldn't suppress his smile early this morning. Her mood became even worse.

She didn't like the existence of the third brother because he reminded her of his aunt.

A woman as delicate as a willow in the wind, with stunning beauty, is obviously the daughter of a criminal, but she acts with airs and doesn't behave like a concubine at all.

The Duke was so seduced that he almost divorced his wife for her.

"My Lord, please stop drooling. It's not like you only have one son." The old lady sneered.

Duke Lu's expression froze, and he looked at Madam Lu with complicated eyes, "How did you talk like that? Didn't he call you mother?"

Haha, Lu Chuyi called her mother reluctantly, and she felt sick hearing it.

Because of Lu Chuyi, she hated all illegitimate sons.

"Third Master, Third Madam is back." The maid outside reported.

Duke Lu didn't bother to care about his old wife's mood and looked out the door with shining eyes.

A tall and straight figure appeared. Master Lu San did not look like the other brothers. He looked more like his aunt. His pair of phoenix eyes seemed to be charming, but years of fighting on the battlefield made him look more solemn and murderous.

He is the most tenacious, brave and resourceful of his three sons, and now has the most promising future.

Duke Lu felt sad, thinking that he had finally done his best for her.

She didn't let her son be spoiled by excessive praise.