A scumbag husband fakes his death to escape his marriage? I'll burn down his funeral hall and s

Chapter 216 This is a rabbit in wolf's clothing.

Chu Ruohan looked at the group of spoiled children and had a headache. She waved her hand and said, "Alright, let them rest for a while."

"Yay!" The children cheered and scattered in an instant.

Song Ruyan, her face full of resentment, walked to Chu Ruohan's side and complained in a low voice, "Are we just going to let them do this? How are we going to teach them in the future?"

Chu Ruohan shook her head with a wry smile, her gaze sweeping over the children one by one, and said, "Forcing them will only backfire. We need to find a way to make them want to learn on their own."

Just then, a familiar figure walked into the courtyard. "It's quite lively here."

Aunt Zhao plopped down next to Chu Ruohan.

Chu Ruohan poured her a cup of tea, asking, "What brings you here?"

Aunt Zhao sighed softly, "All that music and noise up front is getting on my nerves, so I thought I'd come here to calm my nerves."

Chu Ruohan understood that today, the joyous sounds of Anyang Marquis's wedding were likely a thorn in Zhao Yiniang's heart.

Last time, after Aunt Zhao got drunk, she kept muttering to herself, her eyes filled with an undisguised longing...

She knew that Aunt Zhao had feelings for the Marquis of Anyang, but unfortunately, he was not the right person for her.

"Now that the mistress has entered the household, I have to hand over my power as the housekeeper. There will be plenty of time to relax from now on."

A bitter smile appeared on Aunt Zhao's lips, her eyes filled with self-mockery and desolation. "Don't find me annoying!"

"How could that be?" Chu Ruohan looked at Aunt Zhao, a pang of pity rising in her heart. After a moment's thought, she said, "Is there anything else you'd like to do?"

Aunt Zhao looked utterly hopeless. "I can't lift anything, and I'm so fat... What can I do? I'm just destined to live a life of idleness and waiting to die."

Chu Ruohan thought that if she had something to do, she wouldn't devote all her attention to Marquis Anyang.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Why belittle yourself? Why not start a business? That way you'll have something to do and an income, and you can live a more comfortable life in the future."

Aunt Zhao was stunned for a moment, as if she had heard a fairy tale, and shook her head with a wry smile: "Doing business?"

"Won't it cause me to lose all my savings? I don't understand those business practices."

She had been out of favor for many years, and the silver she had accumulated was very limited.

However, Chu Ruohan's suggestion made her somewhat interested.

She lived alone in this secluded mansion, childless and utterly alone, with no hope for the future.

If we can actually make a deal and earn more money, then we'll have something to rely on in the future...

Chu Ruohan patiently explained, "Auntie, there's no need to worry. You can open a tea and snack shop first; it won't cost much money..."

"In this capital city, officials and common people alike love to drink tea and eat snacks. As long as our snacks are exquisite and delicious, we will have no shortage of business."

"As for trivial matters such as accounting and purchasing, I will find reliable people to handle them for you."

A flicker of hesitation crossed Aunt Zhao's eyes, and she stammered, "That's true, but I am, after all, the Marquis's concubine, and this status..."

"If you go out to do business, who knows what people will say about you? If the Marquis finds out, he will be furious."

Chu Ruohan waved her hand and continued to persuade, "Once you hand over the power of managing the household, life in the Marquis's mansion will probably not be easy."

"If you have your own business, you can be independent and stay away from all the troubles. Moreover, as long as you keep a low profile, others may not know your identity."

Aunt Zhao fell into deep thought, constantly weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

She thought about how, despite having no worries about food and clothing, she had been restricted in every way during her years in the Marquis's mansion. Now that the Marquis of Anyang had remarried, she wondered what kind of person the new mistress would be.

The days to come...

Aunt Zhao slammed her hand on the table and exclaimed, "Fine, it's settled then!"

She persuaded Chu Ruohan to invest in the business together. The Chu family was the richest family in the capital, with extensive connections and abundant wealth, so the business was sure to go smoothly.

From now on, your business will be booming with customers!

The two immediately began discussing the details of the shop, from the location and decoration style to the types and prices of the pastries, leaving no stone unturned.

Aunt Zhao also changed her previous dejected state...

Not long after, another person came into the courtyard.

Yang Zhaozhao bowed gracefully, "Greetings, Madam Heir, and Sister Zhao."

Upon hearing the voice, Aunt Zhao turned around, her smile still lingering. "You've come too."

Chu Ruohan raised her hand and gestured, "Please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Highness's wife." Yang Zhaozhao smiled perfectly, her response impeccably polite and flawless.

She walked gracefully to the stone bench and sat down, her posture dignified, her hands folded and placed on her knees.

After settling down, Yang Zhaozhao raised her eyes, her gaze shifting between Aunt Zhao and Chu Ruohan.

"What were Sister Zhao and the Crown Prince's wife talking about just now? They seemed so happy."

Aunt Zhao was about to speak subconsciously when Chu Ruohan suddenly pressed her wrist lightly and imperceptibly.

Chu Ruohan remained calm and spoke first: "We didn't say anything, just chatted casually. It's lively up ahead, and we can't help, so we might as well stay here and have some peace and quiet."

Aunt Zhao was slightly taken aback, but then she realized what Chu Ruohan meant and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, the mistress is of noble status and was married through proper channels, so her wedding was naturally to be grand and magnificent, which is different from my status."

Yang Zhaozhao's tone carried a hint of self-mockery, a bitter smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes unconsciously dimmed.

There was a time when she also fantasized about the lively scene of her wedding...

But all this prosperity had nothing to do with her.

“I am already an abandoned daughter of my family. I am content with having a place to stay and dare not ask for anything else.”

“Unlike Sister Zhao, who is a senior member of the household, having served the Marquis for many years and managing the household affairs, she is highly respected within the family…”

Chu Ruohan sipped her tea without saying a word. Yang Zhaozhao was used to playing the victim, and her words implied that she was trying to sow discord between Aunt Zhao and the Lady of the Marquis.

Aunt Zhao waved her hand with a wry smile: "I'm just an ordinary concubine."

"Sister Zhao, please don't be so modest. You are kind-hearted and sincere. I just like being with you."

Yang Zhaozhao glanced at Chu Ruohan, knowing she wouldn't fall for it, and gritted her teeth as she stood up.

She bowed slightly, saying, "From now on, I'll have to rely on you for a lot of care, sister!"

Aunt Zhao quickly reached out to help Yang Zhaozhao up, saying, "Don't say that. We're all pitiful people; it's only right that we look after each other."

Chu Ruohan sat to the side, quietly watching all of this...

After Yang Zhaozhao sat down again, she seemed to remember something terrible, her expression tightened, and she looked around warily.

He lowered his voice and said, "I haven't been in this household for very long, and I shouldn't be so talkative, but this matter is really strange, and it's really hard to keep it to myself."