Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

"Go get us some food."

The two men didn't know Wang Ma and didn't care; a kitchen manager like her wasn't someone they needed to know.

"Young master, young lady, the madam has stipulated that there is no food in the kitchen except during mealtimes."

"You won't be ready for dinner for another hour or so; there isn't any now."

Everyone in the kitchen was busy preparing dinner for the servants, and no one paid any attention to them.

He stood with his hands on his hips late at night.

"It was there before, why isn't it here now?"

"Previously, Madam was not in the manor. Now that Madam has returned, everything should naturally be done according to Madam's rules."

Lin Tianci, holding his sister's hand, didn't intend to say anything more to Wang Ma and planned to go into the main kitchen to get some food himself.

Wang Ma blocked the entrance to the main kitchen, refusing to let the two of them in.

"I'll beat you to death, you wretched slave! When my father comes back, I'll make sure he has you beaten to death and sold out to do hard labor!"

When Lin Wanwan's fists landed on Wang Ma, it was like tickling her; Wang Ma didn't even flinch.

Finally, Lin Wanwan, still grumbling, was pulled away by Lin Tianci. Lin Tianci knew that they would definitely not be able to get any food from the main kitchen before dinner tonight.

Seeing the two walk away, Wang Ma spat in the direction they had left.

"Pah! When you bullied Madam before, you never thought you'd end up like this."

Ruyi went for a stroll in the main kitchen and came back excitedly telling Ji Yueru about Lin Tianci and Lin Wanwan going to the main kitchen to get food.

"Don't worry, Madam. Wang Ma is one of our own. She didn't give those two ungrateful brats a single bite of food."

An'an kicked her chubby little legs hard on the bed.

[We won't give them any food. Why should they be able to eat whenever they want?]

In your previous life, Mother, you were strictly bound by the rules of the mansion. Apart from the three meals a day that were delivered to you, the main kitchen wouldn't allow you to eat anything else.

It's just the rules of the manor, but now that the boomerang has pierced their own backside, they'll have to taste how bad it feels.

Listening to An'an talk about her past life, she realized that those days must have been tough. But then she thought about how An'an had always been by her side, and she felt that the days weren't so bad after all. She just hadn't known about An'an's existence.

In the evening, Marquis Anshun, who had been paraded through the streets all day, was finally released by the officials of the Kyoto government and allowed to return to his residence.

His legs were so swollen that they felt like they weren't his own anymore. Changqi had to half-support and half-drag him back to the mansion.

"My lord, please bear with it a little longer. This servant will have someone bring you some food right away."

Changqi knew that the Marquis looked hungry because he hadn't eaten or drunk anything all day, from last night until now. It would be strange if he wasn't hungry.

Marquis Anshun was filthy, covered in rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs that had solidified on him. He felt incredibly dirty.

As soon as he entered the mansion, he encountered a maid passing by, and Changqi quickly gave her instructions.

"Quickly go to the main kitchen and get some food for the Marquis, and also have someone bring some hot water so he can take a bath."

The maid glanced at the two of them, turned around, and left without even offering a greeting.

Changqi was so angry he was panting. If he hadn't been supporting the Marquis, he would have taught the other man a lesson.

He helped the man into the house and laid him on the bed. Turning around, he smelled himself and found he stank horribly. Changqi himself was disgusted with himself, but he still had to make sure the Marquis was settled first.

"Where are they? Where have they all gone?"

Changqi walked around the courtyard but didn't see a single servant. Just as he was about to get angry, several old women and maids came in from outside the courtyard carrying water and food.

Only then did I manage to calm down.

"Why are you so slow? The Marquis has been waiting for ages."

The maids and servants remained silent, but they were very dissatisfied.

They went to the main kitchen to get hot water and food and came back. Why are they so slow? They were already very fast!

The water was carried into the room and poured into the bathtub. Changqi knew the Marquis's temperament; he would never eat unless he was clean. So he had no choice but to go and serve him.

He had been waiting by the side all day and was exhausted. He tried to help his master up, but to no avail.

Seeing the maids and servants still standing by watching, he angrily shouted, "Aren't you going to come and help right now!"

Several people quickly stepped forward to help, and together they took off Anshun Hou's clothes and helped him into the bathtub.

"Go and fetch some more hot water; the Marquis will need to change the water later."

The maids and servants dared not say anything else and quickly did as instructed.

They knew the household couldn't function without the lady, but as servants, they couldn't afford to offend the Marquis, so they had to serve him well.

Marquis Anshun was in a daze as his servants helped him wash up, change him into clean clothes, and helped him to the bed to lean against, only then did he feel a little more alive.

Changqi frowned when he saw that the porridge bowl was plain white porridge. The food should be ready when the lady returned home, so why did the servants bring plain white porridge?

However, this is not the time to dwell on whether the porridge is plain or not; we must first make sure the Marquis is full.

"My lord, please have something to eat first."

Marquis Anshun took the bowl and began to drink the porridge, starting with small sips and then gulping it down.

As she drank, she started sobbing. Changqi quickly gave the maids and servants in the room a meaningful look.

All the servants withdrew, and Changqi closed the door behind them. What his master needed most right now was solitude.

"You all stand guard at the door. Only go in when the Marquis calls you."

Changqi smelled himself and realized he stank horribly; he needed to go downstairs and clean himself up.

Alone in the room, Marquis Anshun finished the porridge in one gulp, tears streaming down his face.

He really wanted to die right then and there when he thought about how people on the street threw rotten vegetable leaves and eggs at him.

But he dared not die. There was still hope in living, but if he died, he would truly have nothing left.

"Knock knock knock".

The door was knocked on from the outside, but Marquis Anshun ignored it; he didn't want to see anyone right now.

He ignored her, but the door opened from the outside, and Granny Li tiptoed to the bedside.

"My lord."

"roll!"

Granny Li shrank back but still mustered up the courage to speak.

"My lord, someone delivered a letter to you outside the manor, asking you to meet her at the usual place. This is what they brought for you."

Remembering the things the servant had given her when he asked for her help, Granny Li quickly took out her purse and handed it over, afraid that if she was too slow, the Marquis would throw her out.

Upon seeing the purse, Marquis Anshun was no longer as agitated as before.

"Get out."

Granny Li hurried out of the house; she wouldn't have helped pass on the message if the other party hadn't given her twenty taels of silver.

The other party had promised to give her another twenty taels after delivering the message, so Granny Li happily went to the back door, where the servant who had asked her to deliver the message was still there.

"Don't worry, I've already handed the purse over to the Marquis."

The servant then scooped out two more silver ingots, handed them to Granny Li, and hurriedly returned to report.

Seeing the servant leave, Granny Li curled her lip in disdain.

It's truly astonishing that women would still flock to seek out the Marquis, given his current reputation.

Marquis Anshun was in dire need of comfort, so after resting a little, he left the mansion to keep his appointment with Ji Chunjiao.

When Changqi returned after packing up, he couldn't find anyone. When asked, he was completely speechless.