Chapter 149: Is Xiao Fu Bao Disliked? The Whole City Loves Me With Their Lives
**Chapter 149: Too Fragrant**
Concubine Ren waved away all sorts of terrifying thoughts from her mind and tried hard to put on a stern face, hoping to look intimidating. However, she was a beautiful woman, a striking beauty with a touch of flamboyance. Even with a stern expression, her beauty overshadowed any hint of anger.
Concubine Ren was lost in her thoughts and forgot to let the two children rise from their bows.
Aunt Xiang, who was standing behind, didn't hear the command to rise, causing her heart to sink. She thought, this isn’t right. Although Concubine Ren was a later addition to the prince’s household, she was still considered half an old-timer. Even if not fully understood, her nature was known—arrogant at times, but generally towards the prince, never at the servants.
What was going on today? Was she targeting the little girl? With the princess not in the manor, if Concubine Ren truly made things difficult for the young miss, Aunt Xiang thought she would have no choice but to wait until the princess returned in the evening to complain.
However, the princess and the two side consorts had always maintained a relatively harmonious relationship. Concubine Ren, even when her temper flared, could confront the prince head-on, but she always showed some leniency towards the princess. This really didn’t make sense.
Aunt Xiang was apprehensive. Aunt Sun, who followed behind Concubine Ren, was equally uneasy. She thought, what’s going on with her lady? Why is she just standing there? She’s not one to cause trouble for children. Unsure of how to proceed, Aunt Sun coughed lightly as a reminder.
Concubine Ren finally snapped out of her daze.
Oh right, she hadn’t told them to rise yet.
Oh dear!
This was bad!
Realizing her oversight, Concubine Ren quickly cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound gentler, "Get up quickly. I was so engrossed, I forgot to let you rise."
As she spoke, she bent down and gently helped Suisui to her feet. Concubine Ren had a very strong fragrance. If the fragrance on Qi Wangfei was a subtle and elegant scent, then the fragrance on Concubine Ren was bold and intense.
From a distance, the scent was pleasant, just fragrant enough. But as the distance closed, the scent became overwhelming. Suisui couldn’t handle it and immediately sneezed twice. After sneezing, the little girl looked up in alarm, uneasily glancing at Concubine Ren.
Suisui thought, oh no, she’s probably going to get punished! She genuinely couldn’t control it. The beautiful auntie’s fragrance was just too strong. She tried her best to hold back, but it was impossible!
After the first two sneezes, she felt more coming on. Realizing the situation, Suisui quickly covered her mouth. One mistake was enough; she couldn’t keep sneezing. But despite her best efforts, she still couldn’t stop! Even with her mouth covered, Suisui continued to sneeze several more times.
In contrast, Liu Hemeng managed a bit better since she was holding her breath! She had visited the prince’s manor before and knew that Concubine Ren was always heavily perfumed. So, as soon as she approached, Liu Hemeng instinctively held her breath. Thanks to learning some basic breathing control techniques from her grandfather, she could avoid the assault of the fragrance for a while.
But Suisui, lacking such preparations or skills, kept sneezing uncontrollably. Aunt Xiang, hearing the continuous sneezing, felt increasingly anxious.
Aunt Sun stood awkwardly beside Concubine Ren, unsure whether to intervene. Spending years around Concubine Ren had gradually acclimatized them to her scent. But Suisui, newly arrived and experiencing this fragrance for the first time, naturally found it overwhelming—especially since children’s noses were more sensitive.
Aunt Sun worried that her lady might lose her temper! She thought it unlikely; it’s just a child, after all!
Concubine Ren hadn’t expected the situation to turn out so awkwardly. She was originally trying to keep her distance from Suisui, afraid that she might soften and, on a whim, end up sacrificing her current carefree lifestyle to raise another child.
Now, realizing her scent was too strong and had made the child sneeze non-stop, she felt both embarrassed and helpless. She could only take two steps back and, with a smile, remarked, "This little nose is quite sensitive."
Suisui, still sneezing uncontrollably, initially feared that the beautiful auntie would be upset with her. But hearing the gentle remark, she timidly raised her head, curious to look at Concubine Ren.
The closer Concubine Ren got to Suisui’s eyes, the harder it was for her to control her feelings. That sensation, how to describe it? A person who clicks with you can define the rest of your life in just one glance.
Meeting Suisui’s large, bright eyes, Concubine Ren thought: the princess’s recent bewildered behavior seemed to make sense. Who could resist such clear, sparkling eyes? Even Concubine Ren felt her heart soften.
But no, she couldn’t! She wasn’t about to compete with the princess for a child. She had finally raised her fifth child to an age where she could enjoy some freedom; she couldn’t let another child tie her down. Calm down!
Concubine Ren quickly convinced herself. She then removed a beautiful mutton-fat jade bracelet from her wrist and handed it to Aunt Xiang, "For the child to play with."
Concubine Ren was wealthy, and anything she gave was of high quality. Without the princess present, Aunt Xiang hesitated to accept it, fearing that refusal might upset Concubine Ren. After some thought, she decided to take it.
After giving Suisui a gift, Concubine Ren looked down and noticed—oh? There’s another child here? She seemed familiar.
Concubine Ren realized this was the granddaughter of Physician Liu. Since she gave Suisui a gift, it wouldn’t be right to ignore the other child. After some thought, Concubine Ren removed the jade pendant from her body and handed it to Aunt Xiang, "This one is for the older sister. Make sure the little sisters don’t argue over these."
Liu Hemeng, delighted to see she also received a gift, thanked Concubine Ren properly. Suisui, still unsure of what was happening, followed her sister’s lead.
The two girls, innocent and nervous, stood quietly after expressing their thanks.
Concubine Ren didn’t say anything, and Suisui and Liu Hemeng were unsure of what else to do, standing awkwardly by the pond.
Aunt Xiang wondered what exactly was happening now. Are they just going to stand here?
Concubine Ren: Real name, Ren Xiu, nicknamed “Ren the Straight Shooter.”
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