Jinyi Spring

Chapter 145 Heartfelt Intentions
A few days later, in the afternoon, Xia arrived at Furong Hall with light steps. Her voice preceded her arrival, carrying a somewhat exaggerated smile.

"Mother, we've found out everything about Miss Wan! Although her family background is a bit humble, everything else is perfect. Shanyue will definitely be satisfied this time!"

The old lady was reclining on the couch, resting. Upon hearing this, she raised her eyelids slightly, but before she could speak, Madam Ming interrupted her:

"I also asked around. Miss Wan herself is fine, but I heard that she has a younger brother who is mentally challenged."

She paused, her gaze falling on Xia's face, "This problem... could it be passed on to the next generation?"

Xia hurriedly explained, "Sister-in-law, that child wasn't born mentally challenged. He was damaged by a high fever when he was a child! It wasn't a congenital condition."

Madam Ming curled her lip slightly. "Someone as clever as Achan would believe this kind of story? Even if someone was born mentally challenged, they would say it was caused by a burn. Who would willingly admit to having a hidden illness?"

Xia was taken aback, and the smile on her face almost vanished.

The old lady slowly sat up straight and made a final decision, "This matter needs to be investigated thoroughly; we can't just listen to one side of the story. Send someone to Tonglin County to ask the old neighbors. Something that happened more than ten years ago should have someone who knows."

Xia had no choice but to nod in agreement. She was furious; if they couldn't even handle this small matter, how could the Xue family possibly go all out to help their daughter?

The news that came from the Xue family's secret guards that day made the air in the study suddenly freeze.

Two months ago, all orphanages and nursing homes in Beijing were secretly inspected by unidentified individuals.

Among them, the records of an inconspicuous nursing home in the south of the city clearly record: On the morning of the 15th day of the seventh month of the fifth year of Jian'an, a baby girl wrapped in lotus leaves was found in front of the door. The baby girl was premature and weighed only 3.9 jin.

She was later named Jian He Niang.

Jian He Niang stayed at the nursing home until she was fifteen years old, and last year she married a military family in Tianjin.

Even more strangely, about two months ago, Jian He Niang mysteriously disappeared from her husband's home. A neighbor vaguely glimpsed her being taken away by two unfamiliar men. Her husband's family reported it to the authorities, but the case remains unsolved, and she has vanished without a trace.

Minister Xue's gaze was fixed on the few words recorded, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the hardwood tabletop, making a soft tapping sound.

His voice was low and deep. "Two months ago, someone secretly investigated the orphanage and found that a baby girl had indeed been found on that day. Two months ago, this girl mysteriously disappeared... Soon after, the Ming government began to confront us head-on, refusing to give an inch..."

Xue Jicheng chuckled and waved his hands repeatedly: "Brother, don't let these coincidences disturb your mind. If you don't believe me, do you not believe the Imperial Concubine?"
“We examined that baby ourselves. It had no breath, its body was ice cold, and it was absolutely dead! This Jian He Niang is probably just a deception set up by that kid Ming Shan Yue to lure us in and use it to exonerate that mother and child.”

Minister Xue slowly shook his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, unconvinced by his brother's certainty.

"It could be a coincidence. Ming Shanyue deliberately threw out this clue to throw us into disarray and expose our weaknesses. Therefore, we must be extremely cautious in our actions and must not make the slightest mistake that would give others a handle against us."

He paused, his voice growing even colder, "There's another possibility. Perhaps Doctor Cai used some secret method to make the child hold his breath and appear dead. Then Wang Tu would have a reason to fake his death."

"Wang Tu hid outside Zixia Nunnery and followed the eunuch who buried the child to Qingmiao Mountain. After the eunuch left, he dug the child out. However, the child was too young and weak to be taken away from the capital, so he could only leave her outside the charitable institution in hopes of a chance to survive. He planned to overturn the case when she grew up. Before leaving for another place, Wang Tu, under the alias Jiang Huaizhao, informed Wen Qian of this matter."

He looked at Xue Jicheng, whose expression had suddenly changed, and said, "Wen Kai's wife said that Jiang Huaizhao secretly returned to the capital twice. Could it be... that he went to secretly check if Jian Heniang was safe?"

The people in the room nodded frequently.

Xue Jicheng's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. "Find Jian Heniang quickly. Regardless of whether she is that person or not, kill her to prevent future troubles."

Minister Xue no longer hesitated and decisively ordered, "Find Jian He Niang immediately. Once found, deal with her cleanly. Send more people to secretly monitor the Ming family, the Xiao family, the Qin Prince's Mansion, the Cai family, and the Wang family. We must not let Ming Shan Yue sense anything amiss. Everyone should only keep watch on the perimeter and be extremely careful."

Xue Jicheng added, "Also, keep a close eye on Qingxin Nunnery. Especially watch out for Ming Shanyue and Xiao Henian, don't let them pass in a single word."

A few days later, Ming Shanyue learned that someone was secretly investigating household registrations and the disappearance of Jian He Niang.

He was certain these people were sent by the Xue family.

Knowing this clue, the Xue family will definitely investigate Jian He Niang, and will send people to Xiangxi again to look for Wang Tu, as well as monitor the families related to this case.

After Xia visited the Defuquan Grand Restaurant owned by the Xue family, the Xue household suddenly made a major move. Moreover, Yulan, the maid who had accompanied Xia to the restaurant's private room, committed suicide by jumping into a well three days later…

Could it be that the Xia family obtained some clues and passed them on to the Xue family?
He discussed this matter with several elders, usually at Zhuyinlou, where it was absolutely safe.

Only once at Fuk Rong Tong...

He carefully recalled the scene that day. Apart from his grandfather saying loudly, "How could Xiao Shi possibly give birth to Red Hare?", no one outside could have heard the rest of his words.

Only the young maid who was responsible for rolling up the curtain and the old woman who tended the flowers and plants could hear those words.

His grandfather often said that, but he didn't pay attention to it at the time.

But now...

As for Miss Wan, whom Xia mentioned, she must have been asked by the Xue family to act as matchmaker.

Guo Hei, who was standing nearby, asked quietly, "Sir, should we keep our distance from Miss Feng's family?"

Ming Shanyue shook her head and said, "No need. What happened before will remain the same in the future. However, we should deliberately distance ourselves from the Cai family. If Grandfather and Third Uncle are unwell in the future, we should only consult the imperial physician and doctors from other clinics. We should be more cautious in our dealings with the Xiao family and the Prince Qin's residence. The Shangguan family can maintain a closer relationship with Miss Feng..."

We can only play it safe with a mix of truth and deception.

He added, "Make the arrangements. I'll meet with Miss Feng in a few days. Now, go and invite my grandfather and father to Zhuyin Tower. We have important matters to discuss."

It was already early 9 PM.

Inside the Bamboo Sound Pavilion, wisps of tea smoke curled upwards.

After hearing his grandson's suspicions about Xia Shi, the old Duke was stunned for a long time, his hand holding the teacup remaining motionless.

His voice was tinged with bitterness, "Over the years, Rong'er and I have known that she has some ulterior motives. As a widow who has lost her job, she wants to accumulate more wealth and compete with the eldest son's wife for favor... We've always turned a blind eye. But what good will it do her if the Ming family falls?"

He put down his teacup, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. "In our family, we treat even our own flesh and blood no better. When you were little, you'd get a beating for being naughty, but she was never severely punished, no matter how big a mess she made."

"Especially her foolish affair with Kong Laosan, which made her a laughing stock. Rong'er was so angry that she was trembling all over, but I endured it and didn't lay a finger on her. Instead, I tried to make amends and finally married her off in a grand manner."

"After the Kong family was convicted, they went to great lengths to bring her back... Over the years, she has genuinely been filial to me and Rong'er. Especially to Rong'er, she has done almost everything herself. Could it just be a coincidence?" He still clung to a sliver of hope, still unwilling to believe that Xia Achan, whom they had raised like a daughter, would really betray the Ming family.

Ming Shanyue pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Grandson thinks that she must have some connection with the Xue family in private. Her biggest wish now is to find a good marriage for Kong Xiyan. She thinks that the families Grandmother mentioned are too low-class—I'm afraid the Xue family has made some promises to her."

Duke Ming snorted coldly, "Although Kong Xiyan grew up in the Ming family, she is not a proper daughter of the Ming family. The families that my mother chose for her were already a step up for her."

Ming Shanyue shook her head, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"When she was benefiting from the Ming family, Xia felt that she was the Ming family's own daughter and deserved all the honors and favors of the Ming family. But once the Ming family couldn't do something for her, she would remember that the Ming family was just a godparent family and would turn to the Xue family for help. Perhaps... she was hoping that the Empress Dowager could grant her a suitable marriage."

He paused, his voice deepening, "This matter needs to be explained to Grandmother. As for those two servants... we can find out who her informants are."

Previously, Ming Shanyue had secretly investigated many old matters. Perhaps because Xia Shi had handled things too cleanly, or perhaps because she was afraid of alerting the enemy, she dared not investigate openly. Apart from a few minor cases of her embezzling money, she did not find any real evidence that Xia Shi had betrayed the Ming family.

All the speculation and doubt remain just speculation and doubt to this day.

On the fifteenth of July, Aunt Wang went to the kitchen early in the morning, pretending that she wanted to eat noodles. She cooked a bowl of noodles and also made two kinds of sauces: minced meat sauce and chive and egg sauce.

After Feng Chuchen and the others finished practicing their boxing, steaming hot noodles and meat sauce were placed on the table.

Feng Chuchen had received the Yin-Yang Divine Needle yesterday afternoon and had been feeling tired ever since. Only now did she realize that today was her real birthday, and also her birthday in her previous life.

She ate a bowl of noodles.

Still feeling weak, he escorted Feng Buji to the door and returned to the east wing to rest.

She sat by the window, gazing at the beautiful flowers outside, her thoughts drifting away.

A child's birthday is a mother's day of suffering.

For both her mothers in her past lives, giving birth to her was the beginning of suffering...

After an unknown amount of time, two people wearing straw hats walked out from among the flowers—Ming Shanyue and Guo Hei, both dressed in casual clothes and standing tall and straight like pine trees.

Ming Shanyue was also carrying a small package.

Guo Hei had already said that Ming Shanyue would be coming at the beginning of the morning, and the carriage was parked at the Zheng family's house. Everyone in this courtyard, except for Shaoyao who opened the door for them, had been arranged to leave. Even Datou was taken to the market by Wang Shuping and Aunt Wu.

Ming Shanyue saw a weary face through the small window, with a lingering melancholy between her brows.

He raised his hand and took off his straw hat, smiling into the window. The smile was faint, yet like a ray of light piercing through the clouds and mist, it quietly fell into her eyes.

The door was not closed, and Feng Chuchen got up to greet her.

Ming Shanyue stepped inside, Guo Hei stood guard outside the side room, and Shaoyao stood guard behind the courtyard gate.

The two sat down facing each other. Feng Chuchen picked up a plain porcelain teapot, poured him a cup of warm tea, and then pushed the teacup to the center of the table.

Ming Shanyue looked at her and asked softly, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

"Mmm." Her voice was so soft, as if she were afraid of startling something. "I...miss my mother."

In both her past and present lives, she rarely revealed such a vulnerable and tender side to others.

Ming Shanyue felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart, causing a subtle, bittersweet sensation. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but then he didn't know what to say.

After a long pause, she said softly, "Things will get better... You will meet again someday."

Feng Chuchen twitched the corners of her mouth, revealing a very faint bitter smile. She turned her gaze to him and asked again, "Lord Ming, could you have someone slip a few Rongyang Pills into my mother's body? They would be very beneficial to her health."

Ming Shanyue shook her head, her tone firm, "Not yet." Seeing Feng Chuchen's disappointed expression, she added, "Now is the most crucial time; we can't afford any mistakes."

He opened the small package, a smile appearing in his eyes. He first took out a round brocade box, then a square one.

He said gently, "Today is your birthday. This was entrusted to me by His Highness Prince Qin, and it was prepared by Lord Xiao."

Ming Shanyue pushed the two boxes side by side to the center of the octagonal table and stopped.

He had harbored a secret desire to test whether the distance between him and her could be even closer than just one step. But seeing the melancholy in her eyes, that tentative thought vanished.

Then, he took out a slightly narrow and long brocade box, pressed his fingertip lightly on the lid, and pushed it over, saying, "This... is a small token of my grandmother's appreciation."

More precisely, it was a shared wish of his and his grandmother.

That day, Grandmother said, "This is the first time I'm giving Chen'er a birthday gift, so I should prepare something decent."

She personally went to the private treasury and found a red gold hairpin with five phoenixes and five strings of pearls that shimmered with light. "This hairpin has a good meaning. Chen is a golden phoenix."

Ming Shanyue advised, "Such a meaningful gift, His Highness Prince Qin will surely prepare it. Let's send something else instead."

The old lady looked at him, a hint of understanding in her eyes. "My eldest grandson is now so thoughtful about even the gifts he gives to girls. Alright, go and pick out a nice one, and say it's from your old woman."

Ming Shanyue's cheeks flushed red as she readily accepted this "wonderful job."

He went back and thought about it for a long time. He most wanted to give a comb or jewelry, or even rouge and face powder, but he knew that giving these would be against etiquette. In the end, he chose a sandalwood fan from his private treasury, with a tiny "安" (peace) engraved on the bottom of the handle.

This word represents his deepest wish, which he could not express aloud.

Feng Chuchen picked up the three items in the brocade box one by one and looked at them, a smile unconsciously spreading across her lips.

The gift presented to the king consisted of three phoenix hairpins, one long and two short, inlaid with precious stones and made of pure gold. The phoenix head on the long hairpin was about half the size of an adult's palm, held high, with eyes inlaid with rubies and a string of crystal-clear South Sea pearls in its mouth. It was dazzling and exuded an air of nobility.

Xiao Henian presented her with an icy jadeite plum blossom pendant, its green color as clear as water, the plum branches vigorous, and the five petals exquisite, just like a noble spirit that braves frost and snow.

The old lady gave him a sandalwood folding fan, its delicate carvings revealing glimpses of openwork orchids, exuding a faint sandalwood fragrance. Holding it in one's hand, it felt as if a gentle breeze could be fanned away, sweeping away worries and leaving only peace.