TSWRLM -Chapter 290 More Harm Than Good

Shen Qingchi labored for most of the day before finally giving birth.

By now, night had already fallen. Li Jixian had drunk quite a lot and hadn’t noticed Shen Qingyuan at all—until Shen Qingyuan slapped him to the ground, revealing that this cold, unapproachable elder brother-in-law was present.

“Xian’er!”

Madam Zhao cried out, hastily helping Li Jixian to his feet.

Though she felt sorry for her son, she knew Shen Qingyuan was not someone to provoke and suppressed her anger, refraining from shouting at him.

Inside the room, Shen Qingchi slept until midnight.

Her consciousness not fully restored, she anxiously asked, “Where’s my child? Did Cao Chun Xi take my baby?”

“The child is here. No one has taken your baby, don’t worry.”

Shen Jinhua handed the baby to Shen Qingchi.

The child had already been cleaned and was wrapped in a small red floral brocade blanket. Being premature, her little face was a bit wrinkled and far from pretty—but Shen Qingchi’s heart melted instantly.

Clutching her baby tightly, tears streaming down her face, she whispered, “Good child, don’t be afraid. Mother will protect you from now on.”

Shen Jinhua quickly urged her, “You just gave birth, don’t cry too much, or you’ll end up with long-term health problems.”

Shen Qingchi nodded and, after calming herself, carefully opened the swaddling.

It was a daughter.

This fact slightly dampened Shen Qingchi’s overwhelming relief at surviving the ordeal. At that moment, Chun Xi’s voice rang out: “What, don’t like her? Then maybe you should just give her to me to raise.”

Why hadn’t she left yet?

Frowning, Shen Qingchi was about to speak when Shen Jinhua stepped out to announce the news: “In-law, congratulations! Chi’er has given birth to a baby girl, both mother and daughter are safe!”

“She gave birth to a daughter. Her own body fails her, and now even the belly won’t cooperate?”

Madam Zhao muttered immediately, full of discontent.

Shen Qingchi’s heart tightened. She then heard Chun Xi say: “It seems your mother-in-law doesn’t like this child either. Have you decided yet? Do you want me to take the baby?”

Shen Qingchi hugged the child tightly. “This child is the one I fought to give birth to. No one will take her from me!”

Chun Xi didn’t insist, merely staring at the baby for a moment before saying, “I hope you will always protect her like this.”

After saying that, Chun Xi rose and left with Shen Qingyuan.

The imperial physician, along with Nanny Li and Nanny Zhang, also left. Madam Zhao and Li Jixian, hearing that it was a daughter, had no intention of coming in to see mother and child. The room was left with only Shen Jinhua.

Shen Qingchi felt so aggrieved that tears threatened to fall again. Shen Jinhua quickly said, “Stop crying. If it weren’t for your eldest brother and A-Xi, you might not have survived. Where would you even have the chance to cry?”

Biting her lip, Shen Qingchi retorted, “Cao Chun Xi only stayed to watch my misfortune. She wasn’t here to help me.”

Hearing the resentment in Shen Qingchi’s voice, Shen Jinhua rolled her eyes. “Are you crazy? A-Xi herself is pregnant. During the dangerous situation earlier, why would she come to jinx you? And by your logic, if you had died, wouldn’t A-Xi have been happier? Why would she stay with your eldest brother until midnight?”

Shen Jinhua might be greedy, but she knew right from wrong.

Shen Qingchi wanted to argue further, but Shen Jinhua interjected: “Earlier today, you were on the brink of death, and that bastard Li Jixian was out carousing. Your mother-in-law, relying on the imperial physician and A-Xi’s assistance, didn’t summon a doctor or midwife. That Fifth Aunt of yours didn’t even show up. And after you gave birth, you fainted. It was A-Xi who had the imperial physician use the best herbs to keep you alive. Do you think you could have woken up otherwise?”

“…”

Shen Qingchi pressed her lips and fell silent.

When she suddenly went into labor, she had panicked. Later, the pain was so intense she could think of nothing else. She hadn’t known how critical the situation was, only that in her most desperate, helpless moment, Cao Chun Xi had tried to take her baby.

Cao Chun Xi really wasn’t there just to save her?

Although it was spring, the night was still cold.

Yun Wantang had stayed awake. Hearing that Shen Qingchi had given birth to a daughter and that both mother and child were safe, she furrowed her brow.

Once the messenger left, Li Huaijing spoke warmly, “She had a daughter. Eldest sister-in-law will likely be displeased. Have you thought about how to appease her?”

A look of impatience flickered across Yun Wantang’s face. “I’ve promised your eldest sister-in-law that I would help Xian’er find a better match. This time, the grain transport can go with Ze’er. We can give your eldest sister-in-law a larger share of the profits.”

In life, everyone chases fame and profit; noble families are no different.

Li Huaijing nodded. “Prince Ying has already begun selling the Soul-Stirring Incense. Once it takes off, the spices we plant in Wengzhou will be an inexhaustible goldmine. Giving your eldest sister-in-law a small share is nothing. But Shen Qingyuan is suspicious and even sent his wife to spy on Wuyou Pavilion—I’m still uneasy about this.”

At the mention of Shen Qingyuan, Yun Wantang’s expression turned serious. Coldly, she said, “I spent ten thousand taels to redeem Shen Qingchi. Now she’s only given birth to a daughter. There’s more work to be done if she wants to repay my lifesaving grace.”

Meanwhile, at Prince Ying Mansion:

Prince Ying slammed his teacup on Lanshu’s head.

“Idiot! Who told you to let Princess Baohua publicly identify Cao Chun Xi? Now Cao Chun Xi is unscathed, and Shen Qingyuan might sniff out Wuyou Pavilion. You’ve ruined my plan!”

Furious, Prince Ying saw that Lanshu’s head was bleeding but that wasn’t enough. He kicked her hard in the chest.

Lanshu winced, then tried to explain quietly: “I only wanted to ease Your Majesty’s worries. I didn’t expect Cao Chun Xi to be so skilled at controlling her husband. She even got Shen Qingyuan to play along with her lies.”

“Play along? Do you think Shen Qingyuan is a fool blinded by lust? This Soul-Stirring Incense hasn’t even been sold widely, and he’s already targeting Wuyou Pavilion. What have you done behind the scenes?”

After speaking, Prince Ying smashed another set of teacups. Lanshu blinked innocently. “Wasn’t Your Majesty asking me to get close to Madam Shen? When I visited her, I burned a little of the incense, thinking if she liked it, I could give her some. That way, Madam Shen would benefit from Wuyou Pavilion without being able to trace it if she found it expensive. Unexpectedly, Madam Shen liked it, but refused to take any. It was my over-eagerness that made her suspicious.”

“You’re all harm, no help!”

Prince Ying glared at Lanshu. He wasn’t afraid, speaking softly: “Although the Soul-Stirring Incense is expensive, it’s harmless. Madam Shen won’t discover anything. And the incense you previously gave me has all been used. Many high-paying clients have placed deposits—do you still have any, Your Majesty?”

Lanshu then pulled a few gold bars from his sleeve.

Seeing the gold, Prince Ying’s expression softened.

The incense was indeed precious, but he had as much as he wanted.

He just needed to deal with the bothersome flies first before he could safely make a fortune!