No one expected Wen Yuesheng to give such an answer!

The housekeeper and Old Madam Jiang exchanged a glance, both seeing the panic in each other’s eyes.

Though Wen Yuesheng was no longer favored, she was still a princess.

If she firmly decided to end Liu Shen’s life, today, Liu Shen might truly not survive!

Old Madam Jiang’s back broke out in cold sweat.

She couldn’t think much, panic rising as she hastily said, “Princess, please reconsider!”

The cold gaze once again fell upon her.

Old Madam Jiang had been in charge of the Chen family for many years, both inside and outside the estate, with quite a reputation.

But now, her heart was filled with anxiety.

After a moment, she forced herself to calm down and softly said, “Liu Shen is guilty, but the madam has already made a decision. If you insist on this, I fear it may tarnish your reputation!”

Wen Yuesheng remained silent, but the more she did so, the more uneasy she became in her heart.

After thinking for a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, “I am doing this for your reputation. This is not the Princess’s residence. There are many eyes here, and you have just returned to the estate. If you act so ruthlessly against a servant in front of so many people, it will surely reach the ears of those in higher places. You may gain a reputation for cruelty!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent.

Old Madam Jiang knew that her words were somewhat offensive, but Liu Shen was a companion to Madam Chen, and if Wen Yue Sheng openly ordered his execution, it would not be good.

She lowered her head, noticing Wen Yuesheng stepping out of the sedan.

On her delicate, white wrist, prayer beads made of rounded Buddhist pearls glistened.

She then heard Wen Yuesheng speak, her voice unchanged in volume, but the words were chilling as she softly said, “Did you just find out that I am ‘cruel’?”

In an instant, Old Madam Jiang could feel an overwhelming pressure, so intense that her legs nearly gave out.

She almost collapsed to the floor.

“Execute Liu Shen. If anyone dares to plead for him, treat them as accomplices and execute them as well.”

The light words caused all who had intended to speak to immediately fall silent.

What happened here quickly spread to the rear courtyard of the Princess’s residence.

Madam Chen had just finished reciting scriptures in the Buddhist hall when someone hurriedly came to report the events.

“Madam, what should we do now? Should we summon the master back?”

Madam Chen’s expression was exceptionally grim.

She looked up at the sky and, after a long silence, said, “There’s no need.”

“And Liu Shen?”

The steward, seeing that Madam Chen had closed her eyes, understood and attempted to persuade her, though he knew it would be difficult.

He could only mutter angrily, “This is lawlessness, cruelty, and reckless behavior. No wonder the Prince of Yong’an despises her so much…”

“Enough!” Madam Chen scolded.

The steward immediately fell silent.

Madam Chen then said, “In the evening, when the master returns, have him stop by the front courtyard. Tell him I have a headache and ask him to rest in the front courtyard.”

Since Wen Yuesheng’s Buddhist scriptures had saved the Empress Dowager, she had, on her first day back, executed a servant.

Madam Chen could only avoid confrontation for the moment.

Later that evening, Wen Xun returned to the estate and sensed that something was wrong.

He had the housekeeper summoned, and before the housekeeper arrived, one of Madam Chen’s attendants had already reported the matter of the headache.

Wen Xun furrowed his brow and, as soon as the housekeeper arrived, directly asked, “What happened in the estate? Is it that Wen Yuesheng has been disrespectful to her mother again?”

In Wen Xun’s view, both Madam Chen and her daughter were weak and gentle, while Wen Yuesheng was violent and domineering, always making life difficult for them whenever he was away from home.

Today seemed to be no different.

The housekeeper’s face was grim. Today’s matter was far more than simple disrespect.

He dared not hide anything and quickly reported the events in a low voice.

After hearing it, Wen Xun was incredulous. “What?”

To execute by beating?

It was not that such an act was unheard of, but in the capital, young ladies were all protective of their reputation.

Even the most malicious servants were typically just beaten or sold away.

Hearing the words “executed by beating,” Wen Xun was momentarily stunned.

Then, he became furious.

“She speaks of Buddhist teachings, and I thought she had some sense, but I never expected her to be so vicious!” Wen Xun slammed the table.

He didn’t need to ask further; it was clear why Madam Chen had a headache.

She was the head of the household, and though this matter had already been decided, Wen Yue Sheng had still gone ahead and executed Liu Shen!

Such wickedness was…

Wen Xun was about to explode.

However, just as he moved toward the door, he paused.

In his eyes, a daughter should be like Wen Yu Ruo—gentle, kind, and innocent.

He did not like Wen Yue Sheng’s actions.

But Wen Yuesheng had saved the Empress Dowager, and she was going to enter the palace in seven days.

If he dealt with her now, it would surely ruin the face of the noble figures in the palace…

Wen Xun’s face darkened.

Just then, someone from Wen Yuruo’s courtyard came to summon him.

After a brief hesitation, he decided to visit his second daughter first.

Wen Yuruo had sent for him because her coming-of-age ceremony was in five days, and she wanted to invite some distinguished guests to the residence, so she needed his presence.

Wen Xun absentmindedly responded to his younger daughter’s request, and as he left Wen Yuruo’s courtyard, he still felt angry.

As he passed through the estate’s garden on his way to the front courtyard, he overheard a conversation between a few maidservants.

“…It’s a blessing from heaven! Liu Shen deserved to die!”

“Hush, speak more softly.”

“Gu Yu, I was just so happy. That Liu Shen took advantage of being Madam’s companion, and how many maidservants did he abuse?”

“I was lucky to escape last time, but he nearly beat me half to death. You, sister, you…”

“It’s all fate.” When Gu Yu spoke, there was a hint of desolation in her voice.

What is there to blame?

If we are to blame, we can only blame her for lacking the fortune.

“Yes, who could have imagined that the servants of the household, who all avoided the princess, would be saved from danger by her in the end?”

“Second Miss usually treats Sister Hongdou with such importance, but why didn’t she…?”

Hongdou’s voice was hoarse: “Second Miss is young and doesn’t yet understand the ways of the world.”

The maid beside them paused for a moment before saying, “If he were alive, he would forever be an unshakable nightmare for you and me.”

“He died well! If he hadn’t died today, I would have given up my own life to take his dog life tomorrow…”

The voices of the maids grew fainter.

Wen Xun emerged from the side path, his expression unreadable.

However, this matter never erupted in front of Wen Yuesheng.

The next day, since Wen Yuesheng would be entering the palace in a few days, Wen Xun, before heading to court, had the steward ask if she needed anything.

When he returned from court, he saw the steward walking in with a piece of paper filled with several thousand characters.

Wen Xun:?

He took it and saw that Wen Yuesheng was being completely unreserved.

For food, clothing, housing, and transportation, she demanded everything.

She even wanted a pond dug in the courtyard.

He, with a headache, asked, “Why dig a pond?”

The steward replied, “The princess says it’s a wishing pond, for keeping turtles.”

Wen Xun: …

Is she trying to build a temple in the household?

Before he could speak, Wen Yuruo sent over the list for the coming-of-age ceremony.

Since this important matter was at hand, Wen Xun didn’t bother with Wen Yuesheng’s requests.

He nodded without even reading the list thoroughly.

As a result, Wen Yuesheng’s residence became lively for a few days.

But no matter how lively it got, it could not compare to the scene at Wen Yuruo’s side.

As her birthday approached, various gifts flowed into Wen Yuruo’s courtyard like a river.

Although Wen Yuesheng’s small courtyard was quite far away, she could still hear the exclamations from there.

“These past few days, all the gifts have been from the palace. Not only has the Emperor and the Empress bestowed gifts, but even Concubine Yan and several princes have sent their gifts.”

“The courtyard is almost full; they say they’ve had to open a guest room for storage.”

“This kind of honor, no one in the entire capital could receive except Second Miss.”

“Not only that, but the guests for her coming-of-age ceremony are impressive too, I heard…”

“Cough!” Gu Yu, carrying a plate of walnuts, passed by the gossiping maids and lightly coughed.

After the events of that day, according to the rules of the household, she should not have been kept behind.

But whether the one in charge forgot or something else happened, this matter was not mentioned.

After a few days of unease, Gu Yu gradually felt reassured, becoming even more grateful to Wen Yuesheng, and she couldn’t bear to hear these words.

She placed the walnuts on the round table and carefully glanced in Wen Yuesheng’s direction.

She remembered that two years ago, when Wen Yuesheng came of age, the whole household had been eerily quiet.

Not to mention the gifts, there wasn’t even a simple coming-of-age ceremony.

The princess had quarreled with Miss Er and was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall, not returning to her courtyard until the next day.

When she returned, she fell ill for several days.

By the time she recovered, the birthday had already passed, and no one cared about her coming-of-age ceremony anymore.

At that time, Gu Yu had only thought it was strange.

Now, with the comparison, she understood why the princess had made such a fuss.

If she also had a sister, and her parents and relatives only cared about the younger sister, completely ignoring, even despising her, she probably wouldn’t be able to accept it either.

Gu Yu wanted to comfort Wen Yuesheng, but when the words reached her mouth, she didn’t know where to begin.

Meanwhile, the sounds of festivities outside grew louder, reaching a peak in the afternoon, when all the guests for the coming-of-age ceremony had arrived.

The entire princess’s mansion was lively, but this small courtyard stood out, isolated from the bustle of the rest of the house.

And contrary to Gu Yu’s imagined desolation, Wen Yuesheng, after bathing, sat in the newly arranged study, lighting incense.

She washed her fair hands and gently dried them with a silk handkerchief.

Zhao Mama, who didn’t understand what was happening, saw her bathing and lighting incense, thinking she was preparing to confront Wen Yuruo in the front yard.

After all, in usual circumstances, Wen Yuesheng would never allow Wen Yuruo to have all the spotlight.

She had already prepared everything, just waiting for Wen Yuesheng’s command to rush out and make a scene.

But Wen Yue Sheng, after slowly drying her hands, sat down.

Then…

In front of everyone, she took a wooden fish out from under the desk.

Zhao Mama:?

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” Wen Yueeheng slowly struck the wooden fish, the sound echoing as if it were ringing in Zhao Mama’s head.

It wasn’t just Zhao Mama who found it strange.

The people in the front yard, waiting for Wen Yuesheng to appear, were also puzzled.

In fact, part of the reason why the coming-of-age ceremony was so lively today was because of Wen Yuesheng.

Many people were curious about the Buddhist scriptures that had supposedly cured the Empress Dowager’s illness, so they had planned to come and investigate.

But as the ceremony was nearing its end, Wen Yuesheng still hadn’t appeared.

Someone couldn’t sit still anymore and asked Wen Xun.

Wen Xun also felt that Wen Yuesheng was being unusually quiet today, but her not showing up might not be a bad thing.

If she did, she would inevitably compete with Wen Yu Ruo.

The protagonist of today was supposed to be Wen Yuruo.

However, Wen Xun was also aware that many people had come out of curiosity about the Buddhist scriptures, so he had the steward go and invite Wen Yue Sheng, asking her to transcribe a copy of the scriptures and bring it over.

The steward returned quickly, but instead of Wen Yuesheng, he brought back Gu Yu.

Wen Xun frowned upon seeing Gu Yu. “Why are you here? Where is the princess?”

Gu Yu gave him a slight bow and then replied crisply, “The princess said, if you wish to make a wish, you can go directly to the wishing pond. There are turtles there.”

“Making wishes is not her responsibility.”

“The princess is busy with something and won’t be coming.”