“Madam, wonderful news!”
Yue Zhi lifted her skirts as she ran inside, her face wreathed in smiles as she repeated the words several times.
“Slow down, don’t fall.”
Seeing her running until she was drenched in sweat, Yun Wan handed her a clean handkerchief.
Yue Zhi smiled sheepishly: “Thank you, Madam!”
Yun Wan smiled faintly and asked: “Tell me what good news could make you this happy.”
The two other maids attending in the room chimed in: “Yes, Yue Zhi, stop keeping us in suspense and tell us quickly!”
Yue Zhi stopped beating around the bush: “Madam, our Yun Yin Fragrance is selling like hotcakes! It sold out in just one morning, and along with it many other incense products from the shop were sold too. The profits are equivalent to half a month’s usual earnings!”
“Madam, should we have the incense workshop temporarily stop producing other incense and focus solely on making Yun Yin?” she said excitedly, her round eyes shining brightly as she looked at Yun Wan.
Hearing that the shop’s profits from one morning equaled half a month’s previous earnings, Yue Ya and the others gasped in astonishment, stunned.
They had accompanied Yun Wan as part of her dowry when she married into the Lu Family, and could be considered her close confidantes, so they knew more than others. However, each had their own duties – Yue Zhi was clever and quick with calculations, so she dealt more with the shops outside the residence.
Although confident in this incense product and mentally prepared, Yun Wan was still surprised – the results exceeded her expectations.
While pleased, Yun Wan calmly responded to Yue Zhi’s suggestion: “No.”
“We’ll stick to the original plan – reduce Yun Yin production by half, keep the quantities of other incense products unchanged, and impose purchase limits on Yun Yin. We’ll discontinue the sale of Incense Powder and Incense Cones – from now on we’ll only sell Scented Pills.”
Frowning in thought for a moment, Yun Wan murmured softly: “The value of anything lies in quality rather than quantity. It seems our Yun Yin Fragrance has become famous, and along with it Yun Xiang Pavilion’s reputation has grown even more than before – that’s enough.”
“From now on, we’ll make Yun Yin Fragrance one of Yun Xiang Pavilion’s signature products and limit its supply.”
Yun Wan understood well the principle that anything becomes cheap when there’s too much of it.
Yue Zhi: “This servant understands. Manager Hu said something similar – it seems you both had the same thought.”
Yun Wan smiled – this was precisely why she had dismissed the previous lazy manager and promoted Hu Niangzi from the incense workshop.
After all, it was happy news that lifted everyone’s spirits. With a smile in her eyes, Yun Wan said: “Tell the shop and workshop staff to bear with the busy period – when this rush is over, everyone will be handsomely rewarded!”
“You girls too.”
She looked at Yue Ya and Yue Jian.
Hearing this, the maids’ faces lit up with joy, their expressions radiant.
“Yes, Madam!”
When news of Yun Yin Fragrance’s great success in Jingdu reached the palace, the Jing Xuan Emperor sneered.
A thumb-sized scented pill selling for three strings of coins – who exactly was the unscrupulous merchant here?
Seeing his master wasn’t displeased, Jiang Fusheng couldn’t help laughing: “Your Majesty, did you know this incense has another common name among the people?”
“Speak.”
“This incense is also called ‘The Yun Yin Fragrance Even The Emperor Says Is Good’.”
Jing Xuan Emperor: ……….
…….
For several days in a row, Yun Wan was busy with matters concerning the incense shop, with no extra mental space to think about A Sui, until her workload gradually lightened.
In the quiet, spacious room, the young woman sitting at the desk put down the account book she was holding, stretched her arms with a yawn, and noticed from the corner of her eye the beautiful woman nearby holding needlework but not moving. She smiled and said:
“Third Aunt, are you missing A Sui?”
Yun Wan snapped back to attention and met her teasing expression, smiling sheepishly. “I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Changning. I keep wondering how A Sui is doing there, whether he’s homesick…”
Her voice trailed off softly as she sighed.
Lu Changning, dressed in a goose-yellow gown with delicate features, propped her chin and comforted her: “Third Aunt, don’t fret. Tomorrow is Hongwen Academy’s dismissal day. Once A Sui returns, you’ll be able to see him.”
Yun Wan nodded slightly. “You’re right. It’s only a day away anyway.”
Rather than just worrying, it was better to finish the embroidery in her hands quickly.
“Is this garment for A Sui?” Lu Changning stared at her needlework, having long closed the account books she was supposed to be reviewing.
Porcelain-white fingers deftly guided the embroidery needle through the satin fabric. In no time, the pattern on the cuff took shape, each stitch fine and precise.
“The weather is getting warmer, and children grow so fast. In the blink of an eye, his old clothes don’t fit anymore.”
A smile played on Yun Wan’s lips, her eyes brimming with boundless tenderness and affection, like morning mist—silent yet intoxicating.
Lu Changning unconsciously revealed a look of envy and spoke her mind: “I truly envy Cousin A Sui for having a mother like you…”
If her own mother were still alive, would she have been like Third Aunt?
A sense of loss washed over Lu Changning’s heart.
Yun Wan paused her work and responded helplessly: “Perhaps he envies you too, Changning.”
Meeting Lu Changning’s puzzled gaze, she parted her crimson lips and said: “He might envy you for having a father like the Duke.”
Lu Changning was taken aback, then suddenly understood.
Indeed—she envied Cousin A Sui for having Third Aunt as his mother, just as A Sui might have envied her for having a father?
One had no father, the other no mother—weren’t they both in the same boat?
Each had their own hardships and joys. Thinking this way made her own self-pity seem unnecessary.
Not missing her troubled expression, Yun Wan set down her needlework and asked gently: “Changning, is something weighing on your mind?”
Lu Changning was slightly startled.
Yun Wan continued: “If you don’t mind, why not share it with your aunt?”
The concern in her eyes was deeply moving. Lu Changning’s nose tingled with emotion as she lowered her head and mumbled: “Aunt, do you think that for women, once we come of age, it means we’ll soon be married off to another family?”
Yun Wan was taken aback. “Why do you say that?”
Biting her lip hesitantly, Lu Changning spoke with difficulty: “Last time at Cixin Hall, I overheard Consort Zhong and Grandmother discussing my marriage. Their conversation made it sound like it was almost settled—that I’d be married off right after my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Who is the intended?”
“A relative from Grandmother’s maternal family, also connected to Consort Zhong.”
Yun Wan frowned deeply. “Has Mother agreed to this?”
Lu Changning offered a bitter smile: “From what I heard, Grandmother didn’t object.”
No objection meant silent consent.
Lu Changning: “Aunt, you know Grandmother has never liked me as a granddaughter. She probably won’t put much care into my future matters. It’s a pity my mother left me so early—otherwise she would never have agreed to arrange my marriage so hastily.”
Speaking of this, she couldn’t conceal her sorrow.
Lu Changning’s mother had been frail and sickly. After giving birth to her, she had exhausted all her energy and passed away. Because of this, Grandmother considered her unlucky and, being a daughter, naturally disliked her.
Over the years, Consort Zhong—relying on having borne a son and sharing kinship with the old lady—had thrown her weight around the estate. Even Lu Changning, the legitimate eldest daughter born of the formal first wife, had to steer clear of her influence.
Even Yun Wan, who usually lived in seclusion, had heard some rumors about Consort Zhong’s behavior.
She pondered and asked, “Does the Duke know about this matter?”
At the mention of her father, Lu Changning visibly paused before lowering her head: “I don’t know…”
Then Yun Wan took her hand, speaking with sincere expression: “Changning, if you don’t wish to marry early, you should promptly share your thoughts with your father.”
“But Father is busy with official duties, and besides, we’re not particularly close, I…”
Lu Changning clenched her fingers, appearing uneasy.
Yun Wan chuckled softly: “Silly child, as your aunt who has been through this before, I know marriage is a monumental matter for women. If you don’t want to be careless about this, the best approach is to inform the Duke.”
“He is your father, you are connected by blood. By reason and emotion, he wouldn’t disregard you or ignore your wishes. But if you don’t speak up, he would never know your thoughts.”
Though she said this, Yun Wan understood clearly that if a father was irresponsible, a daughter like Lu Changning would have no alternatives.
Just like her own father had been – even when Yun Wan had approached him about marriage matters back then, he verbally promised to consider, yet immediately yielded to her stepmother’s persuasion and married her off to the Lu Family, completely breaking Yun Wan’s heart.
Lu Changning seemed moved: “What if Father tells me to obey Grandmother?”
Yun Wan: “That would be another matter. At worst, the outcome wouldn’t be more terrible, and besides, you still have your maternal uncles, don’t you?”
They wouldn’t just stand by and watch Lu Changning marry someone unsuitable.
“The Duke isn’t an obstinate or heartless person. Find an opportunity to explain your reasons to him – it’s better than suffering alone with your worries now.”
These words struck Lu Changning like an awakening. Not being dull-witted, she immediately understood.
Her worried expression vanished, replaced by bright eyes: “I understand! Auntie makes perfect sense. I’ll go back and think it through carefully!”
“Thank you for your guidance, Auntie!”
Having said this, she departed eagerly, almost forgetting her books in her haste.
Yun Wan shook her head helplessly and resumed her unfinished embroidery work. But now she felt inexplicably restless, nearly pricking her fingers several times.
Suddenly, a panicked voice came from the courtyard:
“Madam, something terrible has happened! The young master is in trouble!”
Rip.
The sharp needle tip pierced through Yun Wan’s fingertip, blood droplets spreading everywhere.