Tao Ye then remembered that no matter how hopeless Shi Chu was, she still had the title of the Prime Minister's wife. Although she did not think Shi Chu had the courage to complain to the Prime Minister, a cornered rabbit will bite. She could not be too arrogant. It would be bad if she pushed Shi Chu into a corner and she decided to do whatever she wanted.
So she could only say awkwardly: "Madam, you are joking. I will go find food for you now."
As she was about to leave, Shi Chu hurriedly called her back, "Call back those lazy servants to serve me!"
Shi Chu got up and sat in front of the dressing table. A face was not clear in the bronze mirror. However, no matter how unclear it was, one could see the person in the mirror had a thin face, pale skin, and dry, dull hair.
The original owner had been without a biological mother since childhood. She had a stepmother and then a stepfather. She suffered a lot. Lack of food and clothing was her daily life. She was so hungry that her face was pale and her body was thin. She was already twenty years old, but her body was still skinny, like a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old. Her face was lifeless and dull, without any of the youthful beauty of a young girl.
Shi Chu looked at himself with disdain and pulled the corners of his mouth. Fortunately, his facial bones were straight, his nose was delicate and small, and although his eyebrows were light, his eyebrow shape was good. His eyes were dull, but big and round enough, and his pupils were clear. As long as he took good care of himself, when his cheeks had flesh and his face became rosy, he would not be ugly anymore.
Shi Chu carefully looked at the original owner's appearance, and then a tall maid came in. Seeing Shi Chu sitting in front of the dressing table, she asked, "Madam, are you going to dress up today?"
"Yes, put on some dignified and imposing makeup for me." Shi Chu glanced at the maid named Li Ye and said.
Li Ye looked at Shi Chu in surprise, obviously not expecting her to make such a request, so she asked, "Madam, are you going out?" Otherwise, there was no need to dress so "impressively".
Shi Chu nodded and let Li Ye start.
After finishing her makeup, Shi Chu took a look and used powder to make her eyebrows a little darker before she was satisfied.
After eating what Tao Ye brought back, Shi Chu said, "Gather all the people I brought as a dowry. I'll give you instructions later."
Tao Ye and Li Ye looked at each other, not knowing what Shi Chu was up to. Tao Ye asked, "Madam, what are you going to do?"
"Of course there is something wrong. Just call people. Remember, no one can be left behind." Shi Chu said solemnly, and then instructed Li Ye, "Come with me to find the eldest lady."
When Shi Chu went out, she found that her yard was really deserted and remote. Although it covered a large area, the yard was empty, and even the flowers and plants were sparse, just as lifeless as her, its owner.
The original owner had never been to the courtyard of the eldest lady Luo Yaqing, so Shi Chu had to call a servant from the prime minister's mansion to find the place.
Luo Yaqing was writing a letter to her best friend in her study room when she heard the maid come to report that the Madam had come. She couldn't remember who it was for a moment: "Madam? What Madam is looking for me?"
Apparently she had forgotten she had a stepmother.
"It's the stepmother. Miss, have you forgotten the prime minister's new wife?" Her maid reminded her quickly.
Luo Yaqing then remembered her stepmother who was not worthy of the name: "Why did she come to see me?"
"Maybe something's wrong. Please change your clothes quickly. She will be here soon."
When Shi Chu entered Luo Yaqing's courtyard, a maid led her in and said apologetically, "Madam, please sit down for a while, have some snacks and drink a cup of tea. The young lady will be out soon."
As expected of a maidservant of the prime minister's daughter, she did not look down on Shi Chu, the invisible man, but was respectful and polite to him, which was in stark contrast to her maidservants.
"Mother, mother, you are here. What do you want to talk to me about?" Luo Yaqing called Shi Chu a little awkwardly, but soon calmed down after she opened her mouth.
Shi Chu took a look at Luo Yaqing. She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a heart-shaped face, round and bright almond eyes, two thin curved eyebrows, and a slight smile. At first glance, she was a pretty and likable girl.
"I want to go back to the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion. Please ask the second housekeeper and a few strong maids to accompany me back." Shi Chu did not be polite with her and directly stated his purpose.
Luo Yaqing was a little confused: "Don't you have your own nanny? Why do you need one?"
"Of course it's convenient for you to take advantage of the power of others." Shi Chu said meaningfully, "By the way, we need a few guards with good skills."
Luo Yaqing was surprised. Although she didn't have much contact with her stepmother, she knew that she was timid and cowardly. She didn't expect that she would say such unexpected words at this moment. It seems that her stepmother is not as cowardly as the legend says.
Luo Yaqing readily lent the person to her. Although she didn't know what she was going to do by taking advantage of the power of others when she returned to her parents' home, it didn't affect the Prime Minister's Mansion in any way, so it didn't matter.
Although she didn't like someone taking her mother's place, Shi Chu was just a figurehead and would not harm the interests of her and her brother, so she was still willing to help with this little favor.
Shi Chu then took a group of people and went back to the Ningyuan Earl's Mansion in a carriage.
In Shouchun Hall of the Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion, Xu Shichu's eldest aunt, Madam Zhou, was frowning as she looked at the mansion's account book for this month. The Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion had long been in a state of ruin. If it weren't for her careful calculations and haggling every day, it would have been hard to tell how difficult it would have been to make ends meet. Therefore, Madam Zhou was in a bad mood every time she looked at the account book.
This month, the income was not enough to cover the expenses. Zhou was thinking gloomily about how to deduct money from her husband's concubine to save some money. Then a maid came in from outside, saluted her, and said with a smile: "Madam, the third aunt has returned from the prime minister's residence. She brought many people with her. It's so grand and magnificent!"
"Third aunt? Xu Shichu?!" Zhou finally remembered that the third aunt was her niece who married into the Prime Minister's Mansion as a second wife three months ago. When she heard that she was back, she became happy and her frown relaxed.
Yes, this niece is the wife of the prime minister who holds great power in the current dynasty. She is the one who has married the best among the daughters of the Earl’s family. Her parents’ family is in such a difficult situation, she should help them!
When Zhou thought of this, she immediately became energetic, but she still felt a little regretful in her heart. It would have been better if it was her own daughter who married into the Prime Minister's Mansion, but now it was her niece who got married for nothing.
She didn't know that Luo Changqing was attracted by Xu Shichu's character and background. Even if she had a daughter, Luo Changqing would not choose her daughter.
"Hurry up and go greet Third Aunt." Zhou deliberately called her Third Aunt instead of Madam Prime Minister, just to appear closer to her niece. At this time, it was their uncle's mansion that had to rely on Xu Shichu, not Xu Shichu who had to rely on her.
As soon as Xu Shichu entered the hall, Zhou came up to her, held her hand affectionately, looked at her lovingly, and said repeatedly: "Oh, Chujie'er is finally back. You've been away from home for three months. I don't know how much I miss you! Come and let me see you... You've lost weight..."
This tone was full of care and love. If someone didn't know, they would think that Xu Shichu and Zhou had a very good relationship.