Jinyi Spring

Chapter 133 King Qin
Peony rolled her eyes. "Idiot! Prince Qin and Young Master Shangguan are cousins, they look alike. We're familiar with Lord Shangguan, so Prince Qin looks familiar too."

Mu Jin said, "Young Master Shangguan and Lord Ming are somewhat similar, but not quite like those who are loyal to the king..."

Feng Chuchen said, "Cousin, how could we not look alike? It's just a matter of how much we resemble each other."

She sighed inwardly; she and he were siblings, and they resembled each other.

Thinking this, a delicate pang of tenderness welled up deep in my heart. That older brother I had never met lost his mother's protection when he was just over two years old; I wondered how he had survived in the deep palace.

She was genuinely happy for him. Today was not only his wedding day, but also the day he escaped that golden cage. Perhaps one day they would truly meet again.

Two days later, two sedan chairs were quietly carried in through the side gate, and Concubines Yu and Ma entered the Prince Qin's residence.

After obtaining permission from the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, Prince Qin and his wife went to Zixia Nunnery on the third day of the fifth month to pay respects to their birth mother, the nun Qingxin, accompanied by their maternal uncle, Xiao Henian.

The Prince had no memory of his mother, only that she was said to be incredibly beautiful, surpassing all others in beauty. He disliked this description, finding it frivolous, suggesting she used her looks to please men.

But when he saw that withered and emaciated face with his own eyes, he wished the rumors were true.

At least, that kind of mother is vibrant and radiant.

My mother is only thirty-six years old this year!

Two pairs of tearful eyes met, each suppressing the surging emotions of joy and sorrow within, not daring to reveal a single trace.

The Prince and Princess Qin kowtowed to Qingxin, expressing their gratitude for her childbirth. The Princess Qin then presented her with a set of plain clothes, a pair of shoes, and a monk's hat that she had made herself.

Qingxin took it with her own hands, her fingertips brushing over the fine stitches, and tears, which she could no longer hold back, poured down like rain.

Facing her own son, her lips trembled several times, and in the end she only uttered a few cautious and distant words: "You must be filial to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, study diligently, and cultivate your virtue."

Each character is neatly written, as if separated by thousands of mountains and rivers.

Instead, he spoke a few more words to Princess Consort Xie, his tone warmer, "From now on, you must respect and love each other with Prince Qin, cherish him, and be tolerant of him. You two must live well, peacefully, and have many children..."

Both of them agreed with tears in their eyes.

The meeting lasted only a quarter of an hour, but they had to leave under the urging of the palace servants.

As Princess Qin stepped out of the heavy wooden door of the Zen temple, she couldn't help but look back. Qingxin Fagu stood there all alone, her thin figure wrapped in gray clothes, looking particularly desolate.

The Prince Qin, walking ahead, even refrained from glancing back. He stood ramrod straight, his fists clenched tightly in his sleeves as he strode forward along the cobblestone path.

Xiao Henian escorted the Prince Qin and his wife back to their residence, and then went to the outer study with the Prince Qin.

After dismissing the servants, Xiao Henian quietly revealed that Qingxin's child was actually a girl, who was secretly replaced with "Red Hare," and that the baby girl was thrown into the Baicang River. Ming Shanyue was investigating this matter in private.

These words were not easy to say in the inner palace, so they were only spoken now.

Qin Wang was struck dumb, as if he had been turned into a stone statue in an instant. Previously, he had always thought that the "freak" was because the fetus had not developed properly in the mother's womb, and that people had exaggerated the story and called it "Red Hare".

I never expected it to be like this.

After a long while, Qin Wang's unfocused gaze slowly returned to Xiao Henian's serious face, and a cold light, incongruous with his age, appeared in his eyes.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it! This must be the work of Consort Xue and the Xue family!"

Xiao Henian nodded heavily, "Your Majesty, I was right outside the delivery room at the time, yet I failed to discover the evil within."

The Prince turned his head to look at the blazing sunset outside the window, as if the blood-red color was reflected in his eyes, making his eyes turn crimson.

Xiao Henian's voice was extremely low, "This matter is top secret, and Your Highness must remain patient. Before the truth comes out, no one is allowed to reveal it, including the Empress Dowager."

Qin Wang Nian spent half of his childhood by the side of Empress Dowager Xue, and there was indeed some genuine affection between the grandmother and grandson.

He gradually accepted his grandmother's frequent teachings: with his maternal family in decline and his birth mother deposed, the only way to live a peaceful old age was to remain uncompetitive, a wealthy but idle person who followed the rules.

He had previously thought that he would endure for a while, let his father see his "duty" and "filial piety", and wait for the right time to beg him and his grandmother to bring his mother into the Qinwang Mansion to live out her old age.

But the truth is cruel, like being cut by a knife. The injustice suffered by the mother back then, the tragedy of her younger sister dying in infancy... all stemmed from the existence of him, this "son" and this "brother".

The Xue family's ultimate goal was to bring him down and pave the way for the King of Zhao, which is why they devised such a vicious scheme.

If he only cares about his own survival, is he even human?
The loyalist exhaled slowly, his breath heavy as lead. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes was completely crushed, replaced by a resolute determination that seemed to have been tempered by fire.

"I understand that this matter requires careful consideration. I hereby swear that I will eradicate that wicked woman and the Xue family, clear my mother's name, and avenge my sister who has never seen the light of day..."

His Adam's apple bobbed violently, as if he were using all his strength to swallow the excruciating pain and hatred, and he said, word by word, "Revenge!"

After a brief silence, he turned his gaze back, his eyes as calm and still as a lake without wind.

His voice became clearer, "Uncle, please find a safe time to arrange a private meeting between me and Lord Ming."

He hadn't had much contact with Ming Shanyue before, only noticing his strange temper and eccentric personality. Now he realized that beneath that cold face lay such wisdom and cunning. He also never imagined that Ming Shanyue had been helping him and his mother all along.

Xiao Henian saw this and was secretly moved. It seemed that his nephew had shed the last trace of naivety overnight.

A wise strategist knows how to be patient!
"There's one more thing," a hint of melancholy crossed the Prince's brow, "With Mother's health so poor, could it be that someone has secretly sabotaged her?"

Xiao Henian shook his head and said, "That won't happen. The current Qingxin Dharma Master can't block anyone's way, so they don't need to do anything unnecessary and just give her a pretext to criticize."

"Alas, Aunt Fa is burdened with too many worries. She fears you won't grow up in the palace, and she regrets not being able to protect that child back then. Her heart is heavy with sorrow, and medicine is ineffective. Several top doctors from the Imperial Hospital and renowned physicians from the capital have all come to see her..."

He paused, then looked up at Qin Wang, "There is indeed a female doctor with exceptional skills. I previously mentioned to Lord Ming that I would like to ask her to examine Fa Gu. However, Lord Ming did not agree..."

Qin Wang looked at him with suspicion.

He hurriedly explained, "That female doctor was the one who pulled me back from the brink of death in the imperial prison. She was also the one who made Wen Qian, who was on the verge of death, regain his senses for a moment and reveal that shocking secret. She truly has extraordinary abilities."

"But Lord Ming was afraid that she would attract the attention of those people and get involved in unnecessary trouble, so he didn't even agree to let me thank him in person. I can only ask her to see a doctor after all the spies around Aunt Fa are gone."

Qin Wang nodded slowly, "Then let's do as Lord Ming says."

After exchanging a few words, Xiao Henian left in a hurry.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, the second prince, Shui Yun, who had turned eighteen, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Zhao. The following day, the Prince of Zhao married his princess, Lady Li.

Because his birth mother and maternal and paternal families were in power, King Zhao's wedding was much more lively than King Qin's.

Because Xue Yan'er and Kong Xiyan had a falling out, not only did the men of the Ming family not go, but even the kind and benevolent Princess Changning did not go.

Peony, Hibiscus, and Perilla ran off to the street to watch the commotion. They weren't interested in Prince Zhao; they just wanted to compare the two princes. Upon returning, Peony said to Feng Chuchen, "Prince Zhao is handsome, but too thin. He's not even as tall as me, and weighs at most ninety pounds. He looks unwell. It's better to have a successor than a predecessor; Qinwang is much better than Prince Zhao..."

Feng Chuchen scolded, "Don't talk nonsense."

Peony stuck out her tongue and didn't dare say anything more.

That day, Cai Yuxiu came to the Feng family. When no one was around, she whispered, "It is said that the reason why Princess Zhao was able to marry Prince Zhao was because she had a big bottom and was good at bearing children, and the women of the Li family also gave birth to many sons."

"A year ago, the Imperial Concubine sent the imperial physicians to treat her health, and Physician Zhou regularly came to give her acupuncture and massage... The Imperial Concubine was afraid that Prince Zhao would become addicted to women, so she only arranged for him to take one concubine, a concubine's daughter from the Xue family, saying that the Taoist nun Wang said that Concubine Xue was good at bearing children..."

Feng Chuchen scoffed. The Xue family was truly cunning. Their son was already frail because his parents were cousins ​​in a marriage alliance, and now they'd taken in a cousin's daughter. With such close blood ties, it was no wonder Consort Xue would have trouble conceiving; even if she did, the child wouldn't be healthy…

She frowned, recalling the late emperor's statement that no one of the Xue family bloodline should be crown prince, and asked, "Do the Emperor and the Empress Dowager actually agree to Prince Zhao taking another woman from the Xue family as a concubine?"

Cai Yuxiu whispered, "I heard that the Emperor nodded first, and then the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine went to beg the Empress Dowager before they finally agreed."

"Is Consort Xue very beautiful?"

"Everyone says she's not as stunning as Empress Xiao was back then, but she has her own unique charm and allure. She also looks very young; she doesn't even look thirty now."

Feng Chuchen secretly resented that with such luxurious clothes, fine food, and precious medicines to nourish her skin, she would naturally take good care of herself and stay young forever.

But what about tranquility? A solitary lamp and ancient Buddha, emaciated and haggard like withered grass in late autumn... Feng Chuchen felt as if a knife had been ripped from her heart.

After a long silence, Feng Chuchen suppressed his resentment and looked at the chicken meat that Cai Yuxiu had sewn, saying, "Go back and practice more. Next time you have a day off, if there happens to be a suitable mother, you can personally perform the surgery."

Cai Yuxiu would come to the clinic whenever she had a day off. Feng Chuchen taught her step by step, and she had also witnessed several episiotomy procedures performed on pregnant women. Now her skills were quite proficient.

This thrilled Cai Yuxiu, who repeatedly replied, "I will definitely practice hard."

That morning, Feng Chuchen was busy at the clinic when Pearl suddenly arrived at the Feng residence and went straight to the consultation room.

She looked anxious. "Miss Feng, my mother is not feeling well. Please go and take a look."

Feng Chuchen glanced at the patients in line, gave Banxia a few instructions, and then took Zisu away.

Powerful families often come to the clinic to snatch patients, and patients, though angry, dare not say a word.

After arriving at the Mingfu, go directly to Furongtang.

The old lady leaned against the couch, the old man sat anxiously beside her, and Madam Ming and Madam Xia stood in front of the couch.

Xia was wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.

As soon as Feng Chuchen entered, Madam Xia said, "Mother didn't sleep well last night. She said she felt dizzy and short of breath, and she didn't eat breakfast."

Feng Chuchen sat down on the brocade stool in front of the bed and took the old lady's pulse.

After examining her left and right wrists, and looking at her eyes and tongue, the old lady showed only slight signs of liver yang hyperactivity and some chronic ailments, but otherwise had no major problems.

She glanced at the "weak" old lady and understood seven or eight parts of the situation... The old woman was pretending to be sick for some unknown reason.

After a moment's thought, she carefully chose her words and said, "The old lady is fine. It's just that the weather has been hot lately, which has aggravated her internal heat. In addition, she may have been thinking too much at night and couldn't sleep well, which is why she is experiencing some dizziness and shortness of breath. Let me prescribe a medicine to soothe her liver and calm her mind, and I will also massage her head. She just needs to rest well."

The old man seemed to know the reason and said with certainty, "It must be that Rong'er misses Er'er. Humph, when that unfilial son comes back, I'll beat him up."

The old woman looked even more aggrieved and frowned as she said, "He didn't want to come home in the first place, and after you hit him, he doesn't want to come back at all... Ouch, my chest hurts, and my head hurts..."

The old man hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, I'll listen to Rong'er, I won't hit her anymore, I won't hit her anymore."

Feng Chuchen watched from the side and smiled to herself. This old lady was quite good at being charming.

She couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion, thinking that if there were a man who was willing to pamper her until old age and with whom she could have a spiritual connection, she would be willing to marry him.

We never met in our past lives; I wonder if we'll have such good fortune in this one?

Attended personally by Madam Xia and Madam Ming, the old lady dressed and went to the side room to drink a bowl of bird's nest soup.

Afterwards, Feng Chuchen massaged her head.

The old lady let out a soft "hmm" in comfort.

The old man beamed with delight, "Little Feng is very skilled; Rong'er admires her methods."

After the massage, the old lady held Feng Chuchen's hand and recounted her "sad stories."

"My second son, third son, eldest grandson, and second grandson—none of them give this old woman any peace of mind. All three are getting on in years, yet they haven't married or had children. One of them is unruly and refuses to study properly. This old woman is over sixty and still has to worry about them."

She sighed softly, as if her wrinkles held a deep sense of melancholy.

"When I was young, I followed the old Duke to fight in various battles, and I enjoyed some happiness when there was no war. Who would have thought that in my old age, I wouldn't even be able to enjoy the most ordinary thing like playing with my grandchildren... Miss Feng, come and talk to me more often, and give me a massage."

Feng Chuchen smiled and agreed.

She could clearly feel that the old lady was pulling her hand very hard, and it even caused her a slight pain.

Madam Ming smiled again and said, "It's been so long, Doctor Feng, please take my pulse again."

After examining the woman, Feng Chuchen smiled and said, "Madam is doing very well now..."

Afterwards, they took the pulses of the old Duke and Lady Xia to check their health.

Feng Chuchen stayed here to have lunch before going home.

Upon arriving home, Mu Jin reported, "Aunt Wang was just summoned to the Imperial Prison by Master Song. He said a female prisoner appears to be pregnant."

Feng Chuchen simply said "Oh," without giving it much thought.

At this moment, Aunt Wang was sitting in the carriage driven by Song Xian himself.

The carriage meandered through the streets, but it wasn't heading towards the Northern Garrison Prison. Aunt Wang grew increasingly suspicious, but she didn't dare to ask.

After an unknown amount of time, we finally entered a quiet house.

Song Xian parked the car, turned around and smiled, "Aunt Wang, we've arrived."

Aunt Wang got out of the car and looked around blankly. "Uncle Song, where is this?"

Song Xian avoided answering, but instead stepped aside to lead the way, saying, "Aunt Wang, this way please."