Jinyi Spring

Chapter 137 A Thorn in the Heart

Feng Buji, who followed her in, also noticed. "Oh dear, why has my sister's mole turned red again?" She pouted. "Does my sister have a fever?"

As he spoke, he stood on tiptoe and touched Feng Chuchen's forehead.

Feng Chuchen looked down and smiled, "I feel it, no fever, don't worry. I'm hungry, tell them to bring the food quickly."

Before going to bed, Feng Chuchen took out a portrait of her mother and gently placed it on her chest.

In her past life, whenever she felt wronged or when she was filled with longing in the quiet of the night, she would curl up in a corner and watch her mother's image on her phone over and over again.

Even as her eyelids drooped, she held her phone close to her chest. It was as if that faint light and blurry smile could penetrate the cold screen, warming her dreams and bringing her closer to her mother in her daze.

Today she has come to believe that the person at Zixia Nunnery is her mother from both her past lives, and she wants to get closer to her.

The dream actually came true.

In my dream, my mother was wearing a white floral dress, holding an infant in her arms wearing a small hat with a ruffled brim. The child had a bright red birthmark between his eyebrows, and his bright eyes were curved into crescent moons as he giggled at his mother.

The mother lowered her head, her fingertips gently tracing the baby's soft cheeks. The curve of her lips was a tenderness that Feng Chuchen had seen countless times in cold images, but had never truly touched—a tenderness imbued with body heat.

I woke up in the middle of the night to find my pillow damp and cold.

Feng Chuchen stared blankly at the blurry embroidery on the top of the tent, tears still wet on her cheeks, but the corners of her lips slowly and gently lifted.

How could such a mysterious thing happen?

She felt a little embarrassed. In her past life, she was a few years older than her mother when she passed away, yet she missed her like a child...

mother!

They are forever separated by death in their past lives.

Although we are only about twenty miles apart in this life, we are still separated by several walls.

However, we will meet again someday.

-

Guo Hei returned to the Ming residence and waited in the outer study until midnight before Ming Shanyue returned, bathed in moonlight.

Ming Shanyue had been discussing matters with her grandfather and father at Zhuyin Tower until this point before they each went home.

During this time, his grandfather and father also noticed the change in his mole, which further convinced them that Feng Chuchen was his destined one.

He harbored a secret hope, yet feared that his hopes would be dashed. His inner turmoil was seen through by his grandfather, who would then tease him about it.

Seeing Guo Hei still standing on the steps waiting, Ming Shanyue asked in surprise, "It's so late, why don't you go and rest?"

Guo Hei grinned, his large white teeth particularly conspicuous in the moonlight.

He followed her into the house, his voice brimming with excitement, "Sir, I overheard Peony telling Miss Feng that Miss Feng's cinnabar mole has changed from cherry red to bright red."

He suddenly widened his small eyes and leaned closer to examine it. "Hey, Grandpa's mole is also bright red now. Hahaha..."

He was utterly incredible.

Ming Shanyue's gaze suddenly sharpened, and she stared at him intently. "What did you say? Miss Feng's mole has turned red too?"

"Is that even possible?" Guo Hei's smile widened. "I not only heard it from Shaoyao, but Miss Feng also stole a glance when she got out of the car. Her mole was indeed redder. The color was exactly the same as yours now."

A surge of intense joy suddenly welled up from the depths of her heart, rushing straight to her chest. Ming Shanyue's knuckles tightened abruptly, then she forced them to slowly relax, letting out only a very light breath from her lips, as if gently exhaling the surging emotions within her.

As he lay down alone, covered by the brocade quilt, the long-suppressed, burning pleasure finally broke free of its restraints. He raised his hand, his fingertips touching the tiny mole, as if he could feel a faint resonance on the other side.

A low, muffled laugh, almost a whisper, finally escaped from his throat, gently rippling through the quiet night.

He recalled the scene of meeting her during the day. When he first pushed the beads to the center of the table, and when Miss Feng also pushed the necklace to the center of the table, he felt that familiar, extremely uncomfortable feeling.

But later, when he pushed the dagger and the signal arrow to the center of the table and then retrieved the bead from the center of the table, his body showed no abnormalities.

Yes, he didn't react at all that time.

Does this mean that as the color of the mole changes, the invisible repulsion between him and her is also weakening?
From the initial few steps, to the later two steps, and now to an unknown distance... Will there ever come a day when they can truly be "inseparable"?
Perhaps he will finally live to see the day he gets married.

He married that beautiful, resilient, and unique girl, the one whose heart softened whenever he thought of her.

Inside Fu Rong Tang, only a gauze lamp shone in the corner. The elderly couple, dressed in their undergarments, sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), wide awake, their hearts burning warmly and brightly.

Miss Feng's identity has finally been confirmed; she is indeed the little princess born to Madam Xiao, and the one destined for Shan Yue. Truly a double blessing, how could anyone not be overjoyed?
The old Duke stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming. "To survive such a desperate situation and even learn such great skills, he is truly blessed."

He glanced at his wife, his old face beaming with joy. "Look at our grandson! He clearly adores you, just like I adored you back then, but he has to put on a serious face. Hey! When our daughter marries in the future, give us a few more grandchildren, and Rong'er will adore them."

The old lady's cloudy eyes suddenly brightened, as if sparkling with tiny stars. "Once that child marries into the family, we will be one family, and San'er will no longer object to her treating him."

"Once our third son recovers, we'll get him married and have a few more kids. Then our second grandson... and the two of us old folks will be all our children and grandchildren, making us a family."

Neither of them deliberately thought about Er'er or mentioned him.

The old Duke said excitedly, "We must live well, and then we can gather those little beans together and give them a good 'training.' Just like when we trained soldiers in our youth, we'll set rules for them and strengthen their bodies."

The old lady was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down her face, but she dared not laugh too loudly.

Pointing at the old Duke, he said, "How could you even think of that? Such a tiny bean can't possibly compare to a soldier."

As I say this, an image involuntarily appears in my mind: eight or nine little babies, from shortest to tallest, with their hair in small pigtails, swaying and staggering in a row, each with their round heads tilted back, their big, dark eyes staring at them...

The old Duke continued his daydreaming, "I've already decided: my first great-grandson will be named Ming Zehan, and my first great-granddaughter..."

“I’ll name my great-granddaughter,” the old lady said quickly. After thinking for a moment, she said, “Let’s call her Mingzhu, our precious treasure.”

The old Duke was overjoyed. "The Ming family's first daughter is truly a treasure. I want to carve a wooden sword with 'Zehan' on it. I'll also carve a little duck with 'Zhuzhu' on it."

He shook his head again, saying with great regret, "If only I could be like my second grandson, using the excuse of being greedy to go to Miss Feng's house for a meal more often."

The old man was teased mercilessly by the old lady again.

The two old men talked about the good old days for a while, then the old Duke's expression turned serious.

"Right now, with us protecting Feng, her safety is temporarily assured. What's most worrying is Xiao Shi in Zixia Nunnery. She has a spy from the Xue family by her side, and although there's a team of Imperial Guards guarding her, they were arranged by Commander Xie."

"Shan Yue went to great lengths, but only managed to drive in one nail. Although Zhao Ming obeys the Emperor, the Emperor has long since stopped caring about Xiao Shi. If the Xue family senses even a hint of trouble, they might try to undermine her and kill her directly..."

The old lady's smile faded. "That's precisely why the Xue family is even more reluctant to let her die. Our ultimate goal is not only to exonerate Lady Xiao and bring Chen'er into the light, but also to help Prince Qin ascend to the throne. The Emperor dislikes Lady Xiao, and consequently, he dislikes Prince Qin. Keeping her alive is like a thorn in the Emperor's side. With this thorn in his side, Prince Zhao's chances are even greater."

The old Duke suddenly realized, "In that case, if we let Lady Xiao return to the palace, it would be like forcibly inserting back the thorn that the Emperor himself removed. This would not only be of no benefit to those loyal to the Emperor, but would likely also incur his deeper dislike. Our foolish grandson would not only have accomplished nothing, but would have also offended the Imperial Family..."

The old lady nodded slowly, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

After a long silence, she sighed softly, "The Emperor's dislike for Xiao Wan'er is mostly because of our Chang Qing. But the Emperor knew about their relationship all along, yet he still insisted on forcing her to marry him. The first month seemed alright, but why did he become so cold afterward? He's also incredibly heartless towards Lord Xiao."

She shook her head, puzzled. "His Majesty has always been lenient and restrained towards officials who speak out against foul language. He has also been tolerant of Changqing, not only entrusting him with important responsibilities but also allowing him to defy imperial orders twice."

"How could he be so heartless to Xiao Wan'er? She is his woman, who has borne him a son and a daughter! Besides, although Chang Qing and Xiao Wan'er were childhood sweethearts, they still observed proper etiquette as they grew up."

The old Duke's wrinkles looked so deep they could trap a mosquito. He sneered, "What else could it be? It must be Consort Xue and Consort Zhao whispering in his ear every day, stirring up trouble. Those women in the harem, always fighting over men, whining and grumbling, are the most annoying and the most likely to cause problems. What good is having too many women!"

The old lady shook her head. "I don't think it's just because of that... He said he was good to Consort Xue, but then he brought Shanyue back to counterbalance Xue Jicheng..."

The next day, around 7 a.m., Xia came over, but the old lady was still not up.

Pearl smiled and said, "The old lady went to bed late last night, and I called her twice but she didn't get up. The old master just went out, and he was afraid of disturbing the old lady, so he ate breakfast in the outer courtyard."

Xia asked in bewilderment, "Last night, I personally helped her to bed, so she didn't go to sleep late."

Pearl laughed again, "When the old man came back from the front yard, he woke up the old lady, so she couldn't sleep."

Just then, there was a noise from the bedroom, and the old lady's voice said, "Come in."

Xia and several servants went in and took care of the old lady.

The old lady looked listless and dispirited.

Xia asked worriedly, "Mother, what's wrong with you? If it's really bad, can we ask Doctor Feng or the imperial physician to come and take a look at you?"

The old lady shook her head. "It's alright. My husband came back yesterday and was a bit loud, which kept me from sleeping well."

Xia said, "In a little while, I'll go to the small kitchen and make a pot of Lingzhi chicken soup."

Just then, Madam Ming came to pay her respects, looking quite tired.

The Duke didn't return until midnight last night. He was so happy about something that he tossed and turned all night, keeping her awake.

But he was too embarrassed to say it aloud.

In the Feng residence, inside Aunt Wang's room, after sending Wang Shuping away, Feng Chuchen whispered to her, "Aunt Wang, I met with Lord Ming yesterday and confirmed my background. He will do everything in his power to protect me and this family. Guo Hei was sent by him."

Aunt Wang's eyes filled with surprise and delight. "So, the girl won't be in danger?"

Feng Chuchen comforted him, "What does he do? He can protect even the Emperor, let alone me. However, we must be extra careful and not let anyone suspect anything. Lord Ming said that Guo Hei will apologize to you on his behalf. I'm sorry you were frightened."

Knowing her own status, Aunt Wang dared not let Ming Shanyue apologize, and hurriedly said, "I dare not accept such an apology."

Then she thought, her daughter is a princess, if the case is really overturned, then she will be the princess's savior, and they will be like mother and daughter...

Thinking this, her mouth involuntarily opened and remained open for a long time.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...

Feng Chuchen added, "Of course, the road to redress is fraught with difficulties, and we don't even know what the final outcome will be."

Aunt Wang grabbed her hand and said, "Heaven has eyes. The girl was in so much danger back then. How could those evil people be let off the hook?"

As soon as Feng Chuchen left, Aunt Wang recovered from her illness and went to work at the clinic feeling refreshed.

As evening fell, the sky was ablaze with colorful clouds.

Feng Chuchen and the others sat down to rest under the eaves.

Ah Xuan came to visit, standing on Big Head's back, chattering and playing with Feng Buji and Wang Shuping.

The courtyard gate rang, and Mu Jin ran to open it, smiling, "Master Guo is here."

Guo Hei took two packages and handed one to Mu Jin, saying, "These are snacks for Brother Feng and Shu Ping."

Ever since he got engaged to Shaoyao, he would always put three oil paper packets in his package. He didn't say it explicitly, but everyone knew that the extra one was for Shaoyao.

Mu Jin smiled and opened the package, giving one each to Feng Buji, Wang Shuping, and Shaoyao.

Peony blushed as she accepted it.

The three of them opened the oil paper package and shared the snacks with everyone present.

Guo Hei then smiled at Aunt Wang and said, "My husband has something he'd like to ask you, Aunt Wang."

Aunt Wang invited him into her room.

Guo Hei presented her with a small red-gold lotus ornament and a small agate carp leaping over the dragon gate ornament, and bowed deeply to her very solemnly.

"I apologize to Aunt Wang on behalf of my husband. I had no choice but to do so. I apologize for offending her."

The two ornaments together are worth at least five or six hundred taels of silver.

Aunt Wang quickly returned the courtesy, saying, "Lord Ming, you're too kind. I don't deserve it."

Feng Chuchen invited Guo Hei to stay for dinner again.

Two days later, the clinic hired two women, one as a general laborer and the other as a midwife.

Both of them were arranged by Ming Shanyue, and they looked strong and healthy.

Bi Shi officially became a midwife.

A torrential downpour lasted for three days, and the hot weather cooled down considerably.

That evening, the rain finally stopped and the sky cleared, revealing a seven-colored rainbow.

Xiao Henian entered the mansion through the front gate after leaving the yamen. A quarter of an hour later, an ordinary carriage carrying servants drove out through the side gate.

Sitting inside was Xiao Henian; Ming Shanyue had urgent business with him.

The carriage traveled through several streets before finally entering an ordinary house on the outskirts of town after dark.