TSWRLM -Chapter 304 Sold Out Again

The moment Yue’er cried, it immediately drew a crowd of onlookers. Yun Wantang knelt down protectively in front of her, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

The crowd had no idea what had happened. They assumed that Princess Hengyang was deliberately making things difficult for a child because of Yun Wantang.

Yue’er’s crying sounded unruly, piercing to Princess Hengyang’s ears, and Yun Wantang’s repeated kowtows were also irritating her.

She was only overcome with emotion at the thought of having a son and couldn’t help but shed a few tears. She did not intend to blame Yue’er. So why was Yun Wantang kneeling and kowtowing?

Did she look so cruel that even a child’s slip of words would set her off in a fury?

Feeling wronged, Princess Hengyang cried even harder.

The prince consort arrived just in time and held Princess Hengyang in his arms. Chun Xi quickly explained the whole situation.

After listening, Wen Yanshu had Yun Wantang helped up and then explained to the onlookers: “The princess merely got something in her eye. Nothing serious happened, and she doesn’t intend to blame anyone.”

As soon as Wen Yanshu spoke, the servants of the princess’s residence quickly joined in to clarify.

Then he turned to Yun Wantang: “A child is easily frightened—very normal. But Madam Li, what does kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy mean?”

Wen Yanshu’s expression and tone were stern. Yun Wantang hugged Yue’er and gently defended herself: “Please forgive me, Prince Consort. The princess cried because of my daughter. The princess is pregnant now; I was just afraid…”

“Afraid of what? My princess may not favor you, Madam Li, but at the last banquet at the Grand Tutor’s residence, the princess even gifted your daughter a Dong Pearl. That shows the princess’s generosity; she bears no prejudice toward your daughter because of you. You, Madam Li, are well-regarded outside, yet you treat others with the suspicion of a petty mind?”

Wen Yanshu interrupted Yun Wantang and mentioned the Dong Pearl.

Dong Pearls are extremely rare. A single small pearl could be worth hundreds of taels of silver. Those supplied to the royal family were of the highest quality and even more valuable. The fact that Princess Hengyang gave one to Yue’er meant she truly liked the child.

Princess Hengyang had not been angry. Yun Wantang’s kneeling and begging was indeed inappropriate.

Feeling the eyes of everyone around, Yun Wantang’s heart sank. Before she could defend herself, Wen Yanshu asked further: “What exactly did Madam Li’s daughter say to the princess?”

Yue’er had already stopped crying and answered softly: “I didn’t say anything else, only that the princess’s little brother in her belly was moving.”

Wen Yanshu pressed further: “Why would you say that? Can you really see it?”

His tone remained serious.

Yue’er had never encountered an adult so stern. She hid closer into Yun Wantang’s arms.

Of course, she couldn’t see whether the princess was carrying a son or daughter. Her mother had taught her to say it this way: in the past, pregnant women liked her when she said their babies were boys. But if it was someone her mother didn’t favor, she would deliberately say it was a girl.

“Prince Consort, Yue’er meant well.”

Yun Wantang tried to explain, but Wen Yanshu didn’t care whether Yue’er had good or bad intentions. He focused on one point: “So, Madam Li, does your daughter really see what ordinary people cannot?”

“…”

Yun Wantang didn’t dare answer.

She could have lied to get out of it, but such a lie would be easily exposed and would bring even more trouble.

Wen Yanshu’s expression grew colder. He said loudly: “My wife and I have been married for many years before finally having a child. Whether it’s a boy or a girl, we have long awaited this child, and we will devote ourselves fully to love and care for him. Madam Li’s daughter, if she has no special abilities, should not invent such things and trouble others.”

Though Yue’er couldn’t fully understand Wen Yanshu, she knew she was being scolded publicly. Pouting, she began to cry again.

Wen Yanshu gave Yun Wantang no face, coldly saying: “Your daughter has disturbed everyone. Madam Li, please take her home and teach her properly.”

The onlookers were stunned.

So the prince consort’s words could be this harsh? How had they never noticed before?

Chun Xi was also surprised. She had only thought he was handsome. She didn’t expect that when provoked, he could match any head of a household in sharpness.

Yun Wantang had lost some favor in the past, but had recently regained a bit through her two children. Now, Wen Yanshu had completely trampled on it, leaving her furious.

But Yue’er had faced defeat for the first time and was being sent home by Wen Yanshu. Throwing a tantrum, she insisted on leaving, so Yun Wantang could only take her away first.

After the mother and daughter left, the crowd dispersed. Wen Yanshu held Princess Hengyang and told Chun Xi: “The princess’s makeup is ruined. I’ll take her to freshen up. Thank you, Madam Shen, for hosting here.”

Chun Xi nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll take care of everything here.”

Princess Hengyang had calmed down. She didn’t expect to lose control over a single sentence and felt a little embarrassed in front of Wen Yanshu: “I can walk myself. Put me down.”

Wen Yanshu ignored her and carried her directly to the main hall.

Once they left, the garden became lively again, and everyone whispered about what had just happened.

No wonder Princess Hengyang suddenly wanted to have a child. Apparently, the prince consort had changed his behavior. Seeing how he treated Yun Wantang, there was no hint of ambiguity between him and the princess.

They wondered what method the princess had used to turn a prince consort, who disliked her, into a devoted husband. Had she learned marital mastery from Cao Chun Xi?

Everyone secretly glanced at Chun Xi. She felt their gazes but ignored them.

Once Princess Hengyang left, Chun Xi’s thoughts returned to the Enchanting Incense.

Wuyou Pavilion’s business had grown a lot over the years. Some of the noblewomen present might have visited it. If they got addicted to the incense, no one could predict what would happen.

Chun Xi was lost in thought when a conversation nearby reached her ears: “The provincial exam results will be out next month. Will your little Fifth succeed this year?”

“He didn’t study seriously last year. Just crammed for a few days. If he succeeds, it’ll be a miracle. But recently, he got a type of incense that keeps him alert, so he has been more diligent.”

Another incense?

Chun Xi furrowed her brow. Someone immediately asked for more details:

“What incense? Where did you buy it? I’ll send someone to get some for my two underachievers.”

“It’s called ‘Awakening Incense,’ from the Ningxiang Pavilion in the east of the city. It’s a bit pricey—ten taels of silver for a small box.”

“If it really motivates people to study, ten taels is nothing. Even ten taels of gold, I’d buy it!”

Ten taels of silver—so it wasn’t the Enchanting Incense.

Chun Xi breathed a sigh of relief but remained curious. Once the birthday banquet ended, she went to Ningxiang Pavilion herself.

When she arrived, she was told that the Awakening Incense had already sold out.