TSWRLM -Chapter 299 Princess Baohua is Dead

After recording the statements, Li Mingde left with the officials from Jingzhao Prefecture, and all the guests at the Hou residence dispersed completely.

The once lively wedding hall was now filled only with oppressive silence.

The three uncles of the Shen family gradually recovered from their shock and began to criticize Chun Xi for letting Lady Zhao write the severance document, leaving Shen Qingchi’s child behind.

“Big sister-in-law, you were far too reckless just now. The authorities haven’t closed the case yet. How could you publicly say, in front of in-law, that you want to sever ties with this child? Now it’s too late—the Grand Tutor’s household doesn’t recognize her. What do we do now?”

“Your father-in-law is really angry this time. When he returns, he definitely won’t tolerate this child lingering in front of him. If something happens to her, isn’t that a sin?”

The three uncles went back and forth, growing increasingly animated. Chun Xi remained calm and, once they finished, spoke with a faintly teasing tone: “Uncles, you’re all so eloquent. Should I have someone escort you to the Grand Tutor’s house so you can argue it out at leisure?”

“……”

The men immediately fell silent. They only dared to talk big at home; none would actually dare go to the Grand Tutor’s residence.

With the room quiet, Chun Xi turned to Shen Qingyue: “You are the child’s maternal full-brother, and also her legitimate uncle. From the current situation, the child should be placed under your care.”

The Marquis of Qingyuan now recognized no family members and would never raise the child.

Shen Qingyu had bribed Xing’er to drug Madam Yao, causing the death of Madam Yao’s unborn child. A few years in prison were unavoidable.

At this point, Shen Qingyue was the closest to Shen Qingchi and thus the most suitable to care for the child.

But Shen Qingyue had not yet married, and with today’s scandal at the Hou residence, who would want to marry him if he had a child at home?

Moreover, he still wished to devote more time to studying for the imperial exams. How could he raise a child?

After considering, Shen Qingyue spoke: “Big sister-in-law, I haven’t married yet, and I have no experience raising children. I’m afraid I’m not up to the task…”

“Second brother is right,” Chun Xi nodded, not making things difficult for him. “This child can be looked after by my husband and me, but raising a child isn’t easy. We can contribute effort, but shouldn’t the cost of raising her be shared by you and the three uncles?”

“How could that be possible?”

Shen family’s second uncle immediately objected.

A little girl will eventually be married off to another household. He didn’t even want to support his own daughter, so how could he pay to raise someone else’s child?

Shen Qingyue was also hesitant.

After all, he was the child’s maternal uncle. In the future, if she became famous for her writings and people learned he ignored his niece, his reputation would suffer.

Yet the Hou residence was now occupied by the Shen family, and he only had a small amount of savings, all earmarked for books and writing materials. There was simply no extra money to raise another child.

“Big sister-in-law, you know the situation at home. Right now, we really can’t afford it. We do care for this child…”

Shen Qingyue repeated “we” to include the three uncles, making himself seem less selfish.

Before he could finish, Chun Xi interrupted: “Second brother, I know the situation at home. But today’s wedding was paid for by your eldest brother and me. In a few months, I will give birth. You talk about caring for the child, yet you want your eldest brother and me to pay and do all the work. That isn’t fair, is it?”

Indeed, it wasn’t fair.

Shen Qingyuan and his family were not close to them, and Chun Xi had almost been harmed by Shen Qingchi several times. They could entirely ignore this child.

“Big sister-in-law…”

Shen Qingyue tried to persuade her, but Chun Xi stood and said: “Too much has happened today. Everyone is exhausted. There’s no need to decide immediately; we can talk about it again in a few days.”

Having said that, Chun Xi left directly. The Shen family, seeing her leave so decisively, subconsciously wanted to stop her, fearing she would truly abandon the child. Shen Qingyuan, who had been silent, suddenly looked up and cast them a cold glance.

Everyone shivered and silently withdrew their steps.

After leaving the Hou residence and boarding the carriage, Chun Xi immediately spoke: “Husband, what about the child…”

“We will raise her.”

Before Chun Xi could finish, Shen Qingyuan gave the answer.

Chun Xi had worried he might think she was meddling. But now, looking into Shen Qingyuan’s calm yet resolute eyes, all her concerns vanished.

Her husband was the man who would dig up a corpse in the middle of the night for a woman who died tragically. He understood her completely.

With her doubts gone, Chun Xi returned to the main matter: “Husband, don’t you think Shen Qingchi’s reaction today was strange? Why did she suddenly take responsibility for giving the sterility drug to her father?”

Shen Qingyue and Shen Qingyu had clearly intended to blame Madam Yao’s child’s death on Chun Xi, because they wanted the title. Based on Shen Qingchi’s past behavior, she should have taken the opportunity to strike them, but today she did the exact opposite.

Shen Qingyuan immediately concluded: “There is something behind the Grand Tutor’s household.”

Shen Qingchi must have been fully aware of the severity of the crime of poisoning her father. Even if Qingyuan hadn’t killed her in anger, she would still face exile.

If anything happened to her, her daughter at the Grand Tutor’s household would have no protection.

She knew the consequences but still did it, so there must be a hidden reason.

Chun Xi pursed her lips, her expression serious, and she couldn’t help but think of Yun Wantang’s gentle face.

Meanwhile, at the Grand Tutor’s residence…

Yun Wantang, rarely angry, smashed a teacup in frustration.

She had assumed Shen Qingchi was weak and foolish—a complete fool—and that using the child as leverage would guarantee Shen Qingchi accused Shen Qingyuan of poisoning the Marquis. She never expected to be outmaneuvered today.

If Shen Qingchi died from despair, fine. But Shen Qingyuan and Chun Xi would surely become suspicious. If they discovered anything, it would ruin everything.

After much thought, Yun Wantang decided to spread rumors early the next morning, exaggerating the sterility drug incident to shift blame onto Shen Qingyuan as much as possible.

As the saying goes, “Rumors, whether true or false, influence public opinion.” If the emperor heard such rumors and developed disfavor toward Shen Qingyuan, he would no longer be able to intervene in the Maritime Trade Department.

Yun Wantang quickly devised a perfect plan to spread rumors without being traced.

However, the next day, before the rumors could spread, another event overshadowed them.

The widowed Princess Baohua had died.

And she had died together with a stablehand, in an extremely disgraceful manner.

This immediately became the topic of everyone’s gossip.

The Princess Baohua, who appeared to live a pure and simple life, was apparently indulging in private pleasures. Given her status, taking another stablehand wouldn’t have been difficult. How could she mix with such a lowly person?

Could it be that she was so lonely in the palace that one stablehand wasn’t enough?

Malicious speculation spread everywhere. Upon hearing this, Chun Xi immediately went to Wuyou Pavilion to find Lanshu.