Third Madam smiled and said, "No need. I'm used to living in this mansion. If something really happens to Master, I can accompany him on his final journey."

But what she really wanted to do was tell Zhou Dabing this amazing "good news" in person before he died.

Ideally, Zhou Dabing should be driven to death by anger, so that the resentment in her heart can be fully released.

After hearing this, the concubines truly believed that the third concubine was deeply in love with Master Zhou, and could only wave goodbye to her regretfully before walking towards the back door.

Just as Xu Jinhuan was about to walk into Zhou Shoufu's house, he saw an elderly couple leading a middle-aged man anxiously into the house.

"Hey sis, how's Big Pancake doing?"

The woman had a strange expression on her face. She seemed particularly happy, but she tried hard to suppress the rising corners of her mouth, making herself look sad. She looked especially eerie.

The man next to the woman said in a loud voice, "Yes, what happened? As soon as I heard something had happened, I rushed over with your sister-in-law and Ying'er."

When Third Aunt saw Zhou Ying, who was burly and strong, a tear welled up in her eye. She patted Zhou Ying's shoulder and said with a smile, "My Ying'er has grown strong again."

Then, he turned to his elder brother and sister-in-law and said, "Elder brother and sister-in-law, please come with me to the reception area in this courtyard and I will explain everything to you in detail."

The elderly man said casually, "Mei'er, you've lived in the Zhou family for so long, but you haven't learned anything else. You've certainly picked up all sorts of rules, which is really annoying."

Upon hearing this, the woman glared at her husband and said, "Can't you speak properly? Just look at the concubines Zhou Dabing has married, and you'll know that my little sister must have suffered a lot over the years."

If you, as the eldest brother, don't even care about her, then who will?

Realizing he had misspoke, the man immediately smiled ingratiatingly at his third aunt.

“Little sister, your big brother is used to being rough, don’t take it personally. As long as you and Ying’er are happy, your sister-in-law and I will be satisfied.”

The third aunt naturally wouldn't say anything. Back then, after giving birth to Ying'er, she didn't have enough milk because she was in a bad mood, so it was her eldest sister-in-law who helped breastfeed the child.

After she first entered the Zhou family, it was her sister-in-law and mother who helped take care of Ying'er; otherwise, she would have been too busy to kill the noble Madam.

Therefore, she said with a smile, "Brother and sister-in-law, we are all family, so let's not stand on ceremony. From now on, we will rely on Ying'er to enjoy a good life."

As she spoke, the third aunt led the way for the three of them.

Therefore, no one saw the strange exchange of glances between the three after hearing these words, followed by the turbulent undercurrent in their eyes as they looked at her back.

Xu Jinhuan did see it, so she was a little puzzled. Logically speaking, wasn't Ying'er the third concubine's child? Why did she look more like her eldest sister-in-law?

Adhering to the principle of "why not take advantage of a free lunch," Xu Jinhuan eagerly followed along.

The group soon arrived at the reception area. After dismissing the servants, the third concubine smiled and poured them tea.

"Here, have some tea to soothe your throats, or you'll be crying later."

Upon hearing this, the eldest brother of the third concubine's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he said with delight, "This really worked out?"

Third Aunt smiled and nodded, "Alright, if he can still live, I don't mind adding a little more to his diet to send him on his way."

“Great! Then our Wu family will be the new richest family in Tongqiao County.” Wu Dahai, the eldest brother of the third aunt, said with a bright smile.

Third Aunt looked at Wu Dahai helplessly and said, "Brother, you're talking nonsense again. Although Ying'er is not in Zhou Dabing's family tree, she was adopted by a branch of the Zhou family. No matter what, she is still a child of the Zhou family."

We can just listen to those words; don't say them in front of outsiders, or you'll cause trouble for Ying'er.

She didn't notice that as she spoke, the three of them exchanged a strange glance, their eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

"Mother, what about the golden key? Anyway, the Zhou family will be mine sooner or later, so please give it to me first," Zhou Ying said to her third aunt.

Third Aunt hesitated upon hearing this. If she gave the golden key to Ying'er without the presence of the clan elders, would it be improper and would it affect his reputation in the future?

Seeing that the third aunt hesitated, Zhou Ying resorted to her charm and coquettishness.

“Mother, my dear mother, I can only see you a few times a year. Consider this golden key a gift from you, so that whenever I see it, I will think of you.”

Xu Jinhuan watched as the burly man in his thirties fawned over his frail third concubine, and nearly vomited. It was so greasy, so incredibly greasy.

But the third aunt was exactly the type to fall for this. She touched Zhou Ying's face tenderly, "Alright, here you go. Once that old bastard is dead, we'll never be apart again..."

Before she could finish expressing her emotions, Zhou Ying, having received the golden key, happily showed it to Mr. and Mrs. Wu Dahai across the table.

"Father... Uncle, Aunt, look!"

Lost in her own thoughts, Third Aunt didn't even realize that Zhou Ying had just misspoke.

When she came to her senses, Zhou Ying was already sitting between Wu Dahai and his wife, showing off his gold key.

For a fleeting moment, Third Aunt actually felt that Ying'er was their family.

But then she realized that Ying'er must have been raised by her older brother and sister-in-law when she was young, so it was normal for Ying'er to be closer to them.

Suddenly, a gurgling sound came from inside the room.

Zhou Ying scratched her head sheepishly and said, "I ate less tonight, and I didn't expect to be hungry now."

Upon hearing this, the third aunt immediately felt a surge of maternal love. "Ying'er, wait here, I'll go to the small kitchen and bring you some food."

After saying that, he pulled back the curtain and left without waiting for Zhou Ying to refuse.

After the third concubine left, the three people in the room stopped pretending.

"Father and Mother, when can I call you that openly and honestly?"

Zhou Ying abandoned her previous honest and simple demeanor in front of her third aunt, and casually crossed her legs, taking a piece of fruit and starting to eat it.

Wu Dahai laughed and said, "It'll be soon, it'll be soon. Once Zhou Dabing dies, you'll become the head of the Zhou family. Then you can do whatever you want without anyone daring to criticize you."

"I understand. My aunt can go with that richest man, Zhou, and say she's too heartbroken," Zhou Ying said with a grin.

Wu Dahai laughed and scolded, "You little brat, you've surpassed your parents in ruthlessness."

Zhou Ying shrugged and said, "I despise her to death. Every time she sees me, she has tears in her eyes. People who don't know better would think I'm going to die at such a young age. What bad luck!"

Sister-in-law Wu patted her son on the shoulder and said, "My son is right. Dongmei should have gone down to keep company with her son who died young long ago."

"It was our kindness, really. We were worried she was too young to handle it, so we lent her our child."