Chapter 117: About to Be Recognized?

The Emperor wept uncontrollably, his tears soaking the sheets as he rested his head on the bed. “It was me… I was the one who harmed Zhou’er. I killed her and our child…”

The elderly eunuch standing nearby let out a long sigh.

Ever since the Empress had been exiled, the Emperor had fallen into a deep gloom. Though he continued to favor Consort Wu, he would still mention the Empress from time to time.

Gradually, as if deliberately avoiding the pain, he stopped speaking of her altogether. But the eunuch could see the truth—since the moment the Lu family was executed, the Emperor had regretted his decision.

Now, he could no longer deceive himself. His emotions, buried deep for so long, had finally burst forth.

Yet, there was no medicine for regret in this world.

What was done, was done.

And those who were gone… would never return.

The eunuch turned away, letting the Emperor cry as much as he needed.

Deep in his heart, he had long despised the Emperor’s cruelty.

As the saying goes, even a tiger does not eat its own cubs.

The Emperor had been so ruthless—he deserved his suffering now.

The Emperor wept through the entire night, and by the following morning, news of it had spread throughout the palace.

When Consort Wu heard, she was so furious that she smashed all the rouge and powder on her dressing table.

Even the newly favored Concubine Ru was slightly taken aback.

However, it seemed the Emperor still had some pride left, for he did not allow this incident to spread beyond the palace walls.

Meanwhile, outside the palace, the Zhou family’s incense shop was thriving. The demand for their incense had grown so much that their supply was beginning to run low.

Without hesitation, Zhou Feng wrote a letter and had a courier deliver it on horseback to Madam Zhou.

When Madam Zhou received the letter, she was overjoyed. “Wan Chun, Feng’er says in his letter that our incense is almost sold out!”

Hearing this, Du Wan Chun was equally delighted. She smiled and said, “Mother, shall we go pick more fruits tomorrow?”

Madam Zhou carefully put away the letter and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, let’s pick more. It looks like this incense is really a success.”

Not only was Spring’s Deep Fragrance selling well in the capital, but it was also a hit in Cheng’an County.

Both incense shops were bustling with customers every day.

The Zhou family’s wealth was steadily growing.

Madam Zhou set aside some silver for Du Wan Chun to manage and used the rest to purchase land.

She bought more than ten acres—some for growing rice, others for fruit trees.

The rice harvested from their fields was exceptionally fragrant and tasted better than ordinary rice.

Aside from the Fang family, several government officials had also heard of its reputation and came specifically to buy it.

Worried that they wouldn’t have enough, Madam Zhou decided to plant even more rice this time.

With some of the remaining silver, she purchased high-quality fabric and made a variety of clothes for Du Wan Chun and the baby in her belly.

Tiny bellybands, small shoes, delicate little hats—each piece was exquisitely crafted and incredibly adorable.

When Du Wan Chun first held them in her hands, she couldn’t put them down. “Mother, my belly isn’t even big yet, and you’ve already made these?”

Madam Zhou set aside her needle and thread, her face full of warmth. “A child’s clothes should be prepared early. Besides these, I still need to make some cloth diapers.”

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind. “Later, I should go buy a mother goat from the village.”

Du Wan Chun was puzzled. “Mother, why do we need a goat?”

Madam Zhou chuckled. “For fresh goat’s milk—to feed the baby.”

Du Wanchun suddenly understood—she hadn’t expected Madam Zhou to be so thoughtful.

She lowered her head, gazing at her slightly rounded belly, her heart brimming with anticipation.

They always said that the ten months of pregnancy were the hardest to endure, and now she believed it.

The entire family was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this little one.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, who was still weeping bitterly in the palace, had no idea that he was about to become a grandfather.

He sat in the grand palace hall, pouring out his sorrows to his younger brother.

“Tell me, why didn’t you stop me back then?” he lamented.

Prince Third listened with a cold expression. “Royal Brother, I did try to stop you. You nearly had my legs broken for it.”

At that, the Emperor fell silent.

For years, Prince Third had harbored deep resentment toward him over the Empress’s fate. Without waiting for a reply, he rose to his feet and said, “If there’s nothing else, please don’t summon me to the palace again.”

With that, he turned and strode out of the hall. His steps quickened as he left the palace, as if afraid that if he lingered even a second longer, he might lose control and strike down his own brother.

After leaving the palace, Prince Third happened to pass by the Zhou family’s incense shop.

It wasn’t his first time passing by, but every time he did, he would catch a whiff of a scent that felt oddly familiar.

Yet, whenever he tried to take a closer sniff, it never seemed quite right.

Because of this, he always slowed his steps whenever he passed the shop.

Perhaps it was his unsettled mood today, but for the first time, he actually stepped inside.

As soon as Zhou Feng looked up, he saw him.

Perhaps out of guilt, he quickly lowered his head. “Sir, would you like to buy some incense?”

Zhou Feng had aged slightly since before, and he had also disguised his appearance somewhat, so Prince Third did not recognize him immediately.

At that moment, a shop assistant came over carrying a pot of hot tea. “Shopkeeper, the tea is ready.”

Perhaps in his haste, Zhou Feng fumbled while reaching for the pot and accidentally spilled water onto the table.

He quickly grabbed a cloth and began wiping it up.

Prince Third glanced around the shop, then lowered his gaze—and suddenly, his eyes widened in shock.

On Zhou Feng’s wrist, there was a line of three small birthmarks.

A memory surged into his mind—he recalled the Empress, holding the Second Prince in her arms, smiling as she showed him the baby’s tiny hand.

“Look,” she had said cheerfully, “this child was born with three little birthmarks on his wrist. I wonder if they’ll grow along with him.”