Jinyi Spring

The news that Banxia was to be engaged to Duanyan quickly spread among the neighbors, arousing envy, jealousy and resentment.

There was a gossipy woman who deliberately raised her voice at the entrance of the alley, "Oh my, the girls in Doctor Feng's family are really something, one after another they've gotten engaged to high-ranking men, I just wonder when she herself will be able to get married."

Another chimed in, her voice tinged with bitterness, "She's got high standards. All the girls only want to marry into wealthy families. How could she possibly look down on an ordinary one? I'm afraid... hehe, it's hard to say."

Before she finished speaking, Peony had already rushed out like a gust of wind, and a pebble landed with a "thud" at their feet.

She shouted, "If you dare spew filth again, you'll regret it!"

Peony's reputation for fighting with medical malpractice lawyers was already well-known. In addition, her fiancé was Guo Hei. The two of them turned pale with fright and hurriedly turned and ran away.

Amidst the lively congratulations, only one person remained silent—Feng Buji.

He didn't say anything, but his movements as he picked at the rice on the table slowed down, and his gaze occasionally drifted to the window, carrying a faint sense of melancholy.

Feng Chuchen found it amusing.

She comforted him privately, "Silly boy, you've found all the girls, how could I not find mine?"

Feng Buji thought about it and realized it made sense, and he became happy again.

The next day, since it was inappropriate for Feng Chuchen, being the young woman, to appear in person, Aunt Wang represented Banxia's elders in receiving the matchmakers.

Not only did Duan Yan and Granny Li arrive with the official matchmaker, but Duan Yan's mother also came to the Feng residence in person.

Duan Yan's original surname was He, and everyone called his mother "Mrs. He".

Mrs. He held Banxia's hand and examined her closely, her words full of satisfaction. Finally, she personally placed an exquisitely carved lotus jade hairpin into Banxia's dark hair.

She was initially reluctant to accept the marriage—the Feng family were commoners, and Banxia was a slave who frequently entered and exited the delivery room…

But since it was decided by her own young master, she dared not say "no" no matter how unwilling she was.

Later, the man told me that even the Prince Consort had personally praised Banxia, ​​saying that the Feng family had saved Shangguan Ruyu's life for two generations, a favor he had always remembered. He also said that Banxia was a disciple personally trained by Doctor Feng, and would be taking the Imperial Medical Academy's doctor's examination next year…

Mrs. He was truly happy from the bottom of her heart.

It wasn't that she and the man valued Banxia's future as a doctor; what they valued was that the prince consort had personally spoken well of the girl.

Only when the prince consort and the young master are happy can the son's future be brighter.

In the afternoon, Duan Yan came to the Feng residence again.

Like Guo Hei, he brought a package.

He handed the package to Mu Jin and said with a smile, "It's for Brother Feng and Xiao Shuping."

When Mu Jin saw that there were three oil paper packets inside, she knew who the third one was for.

He smiled and said, "I will give it to Sister Banxia."

Duan Yan blushed and then asked her to invite Feng Chuchen over to present Shangguan Ruyu's handwritten letter.

The letter meant that he and Miss Feng had finally become in-laws, and he was so happy he couldn't sleep at night. To celebrate the engagement of Duan Yan and Ban Xia, he would invite the Ming brothers to dinner at the Feng residence the following evening.

That's a capricious person.

Seeing that Duan Yan was so hot that he was fanning himself vigorously with a large folding fan, yet his clothes were still soaked with sweat, Feng Chuchen thought of something to do.

She asked, "Does the Princess's residence have an ice cellar?" Seeing Duan Yan nod, she added, "I'm asking Aunt Wu to make a different kind of dish, which requires a lot of ice."

"How many?"

"At least two large buckets, or forget it."

Feng Chuchen can also make ice, but it's too troublesome, and she can't make much.

Duan Yan smiled and said, "As long as you say it's useful to the young master, I want everything that's in the manor. When do you want it?"

"Tomorrow morning."

Using frozen ice cream takes longer than freezing it in a refrigerator; it needs to be frozen from morning until night.

The molds and bamboo skewers were already prepared.

The next morning, Duan Yan personally drove a horse-drawn carriage to the Feng residence and carried down two large buckets of ice wrapped in quilts.

Feng Chuchen and Aunt Wu have already made thirty popsicles and put them in the ice.

They made two flavors: milk and mung bean.

By the late afternoon, the ice cream was completely frozen, so I took one out and gave it to Feng Buji.

Although he was much better, he still couldn't eat too much cold food. He was only allowed to eat a small half of it, and Wang Shuping ate the rest.

Feng Chuchen and a few servants ate one, and then took another to give to the young lady of the Zheng family.

At the beginning of the hour of You (5-7 PM), Ming Shanfeng, covered in sweat, arrived at the Feng residence.

They gave him two ice creams, which he found amazing. After finishing them, he reached out for more.

I want more after I finish eating.

Feng Chuchen shook her head, "I don't make much, so we'll save it."

At the beginning of the Xu hour, Shangguan Ruyu and Ming Shanyue arrived.

Each master received three sticks, while servants such as Guo Mo and Duan Yan each received one.

They were all amazed by the treasure and asked for it.

Feng Chuchen said, "There are only six left."

Shangguan Ruyu hurriedly said, "We won't eat them. Let's each take three back to our mansion to honor our parents."

Ming Shanfeng wanted to eat more, but said, "My mother can't eat cold food..."

Ming Shanyue frowned and said, "She's already sixteen years old, and she's still so greedy."

Ming Shanfeng rolled his eyes at him. "I only turned sixteen yesterday. I'm still young."

These words startled Feng Chuchen. She had a strong feeling that something was wrong, something very serious, but she just couldn't remember what it was.

She couldn't help but ask again, "Is Second Master Ming's birthday yesterday, July 17th?"

"That's right." Ming Shanfeng said indignantly, his chubby face turning red with anger. "He's still an immature child. Why can't he have one more?"

Seeing that her daughter was standing there blankly without reacting, Aunt Wang quickly asked in a low voice, "Then let's give Young Master Ming one more?"

The people are numerous and the situation is complex. Since he said that, it wouldn't be right not to give him one.

Feng Chuchen nodded, "Then bring one less for Mingfu." Ming Shanfeng happily took the ice cream and ran to another room to eat it, his chubby body unusually agile.

That night, as Feng Chuchen lay in bed, Ming Shanfeng's birthday came to mind again.

Previously, she only knew that Ming Shanfeng was born in July of the fifth year of Jian'an, but she didn't know the exact date.

July 17th, July 17th...

She finally remembered, like a thunderbolt splitting through the thick fog, so startled that she couldn't sleep well all night.

The next morning, Zheng He came over and said with a smile, "We've run out of pickled vegetables at home, so my mother asked me to come and ask for half a bowl of Aunt Wu's pickled vegetables."

Every morning, the Zheng siblings would find an excuse to visit the Feng family.

As she saw him off, Feng Chuchen whispered, "I have urgent business with Lord Ming, the sooner the better."

Zheng He nodded.

In the afternoon, Zheng He came over to Feng Chuchen and said, "Tomorrow morning at the beginning of the fourth hour, Lord Ming will come to my house."

The next day, Feng Chuchen made an excuse to go to the Zheng family's house.

Upon arriving at the main room, Ming Shanyue sat alone at the octagonal table.

He stood up and said, "Miss Feng, please sit down. What brings you here?"

Feng Chuchen's expression was stern. "Second Master Ming was born on July 17th?"

Ming Shanyue's eyes showed doubt as she nodded and said, "Yes, is there something wrong?"

Feng Chuchen said, "Aunt Wang once told me that when I was taken home, I was extremely weak, and my aunt stayed by my side for three whole days without taking off her clothes. Fortunately, very few people came to ask for a midwife during those days, only two families, and it was Aunt Wang who went. In other words, from July 15th to 17th that year, the Ming family did not ask my aunt for help."

She paused, then looked directly at Ming Shanyue. "But I heard from Granny Li that when Madam Ming gave birth to the Second Master, the old women in the mansion went to our house twice to invite my eldest aunt. The first time, my eldest aunt had already gone to another house."

"When we went again the next day, another family had already gone ahead of us. The old woman explained that the lady's condition was critical, but my aunt insisted on going to the family that had invited her first, arguing that it was a matter of 'first come, first served.' The old woman even shoved my aunt a few times over this..."

At that time, most of the masters of the Ming family accompanied the emperor on his personal campaigns, leaving only Madam Ming, who was about to give birth, Madam Xia, who was in charge of the household affairs, the young Third Master Ming, and Ming Shanyue in the mansion.

Granny Li wouldn't speak recklessly, and that old woman wouldn't dare lie. So the one who lied could only be Madam Xia, who was in charge of the household affairs at the time—she hadn't sent anyone to invite Doctor Feng at all.

This wasn't the only incident. A month later, the seriously injured old lady returned home. Madam Xia claimed she had caught a cold and was afraid of catching the illness, so she couldn't attend to her closely. Madam Ming had no choice but to drag her still-recovering postpartum body to personally serve her mother-in-law for a whole month, which made her "yin deficiency" condition even more severe.

Feng Chuchen recounted in detail what Granny Li and Aunt Wang had said.

"My eldest aunt was misunderstood by Madam Ming and Granny Li because of this, and they resented her for more than ten years."

Ming Shanyue's face suddenly darkened, and frost settled in her eyes. "You mean... when my mother gave birth to my second brother, Xia Achan didn't send anyone to invite Doctor Feng at all. She just wanted my mother to have a chronic illness, or even... die along with her unborn child."

His face was tense, filled with suppressed anger. "A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. What she probably wants is to be the mistress of the Ming family forever."

Without a doubt, it's a done deal that Xia betrayed the Ming government.

The Xue family suddenly became alert to the old case because Xia had passed on her grandfather's suspicious words.

Ming Shanyue sent people to investigate the maid who rolled up the curtain that day and Granny You.

The young girl is the niece of the deputy chief steward of the Ming family, and her older sister is a second-class maid of Madam Ming.

Granny You's only son was disabled, yet he married a beautiful wife. It's said that Granny You and her husband were very shrewd and had a good relationship with the servants serving the aunt. When Madam Xia was in charge of the household affairs, they often got jobs that paid well…

Ming Shanyue concluded that if anyone were to pass on her grandfather's words to Xia Shi, it would definitely be Granny You.

A cold smile played on Feng Chuchen's lips. "I was in danger twice last year, almost losing my life. The person behind it all must be her, right?"

Ming Shanyue nodded slowly, her eyes growing increasingly dark. "It's undoubtedly her. Human greed knows no bounds. The Ming family raised her like their own daughter, giving her honor and support. Yet, for her own selfish desires, she not only harmed my family but also placed the entire Ming mansion in danger..."

He suddenly stopped talking, his brows furrowing slightly. "That's not right. When my mother gave birth to my second brother, she wasn't married yet. How could she have known that the Kong family would fall into ruin and that she would divorce and return home? At that time... she already harbored the intention to harm my mother?"

He lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time. When he spoke again, his voice was chilling. "We thought she was just after the power of the household management, but now it seems that her appetite is much bigger than I imagined. She started plotting when she was still a young lady—not only to harm my mother, but also to seize the entire Ming government."

He sneered, "She really raised a venomous snake. I underestimated her before, thinking she was just greedy for small gains... What a pity for the sincerity my grandparents had for her."

Feng Chuchen was shocked and asked softly, "She wants to kill your mother, then become your father's second wife, and become the eternal mistress of the Ming family?"

Ming Shanyue shook her head: "When my mother gave birth to my second brother, she was already engaged and was to marry into the Kong family the following year."

He paused, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Xia Achan's marriage into the Kong family had its own reasons. My mother told me that she has extremely high standards; the man she admires must not only be handsome and from a prestigious family, but also capable and have a promising future."

"But everyone in the capital knows that she only entered the Ming family at the age of nine, and her biological father was only a fifth-rank officer. Before that, she had always lived in the countryside in the northwest. Even though she was extremely favored by my grandparents, no truly outstanding man was willing to marry her."

"I heard that she once took a liking to my second uncle, but he was not interested, so the matter was dropped. My grandmother and mother put a lot of effort into arranging her marriage, but no matter how many people were willing, none of them met her standards."

"That year, my grandmother held a peony banquet. While she was playing around with a girl, she lost her composure and accidentally bumped into Kong Rui. The two of them fell into the lake. It seemed like an accident, but many people said... she did it on purpose."

Feng Chuchen was astonished. This aunt was truly a woman who dared to think and act.

She asked, "Was the Kong family also a prominent family before they committed this crime?"

Ming Shanyue nodded: "The Kong family is a distinguished family. They produced two ministers in the previous dynasty and a vice minister in the current dynasty. Many of their family members serve as officials in various places. Kong Rui is particularly handsome and passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen."

"After the drowning that day, the old lady of the Kong family was extremely displeased and made a few sarcastic remarks to my grandmother. She even wanted Xia to marry another illegitimate son. My grandmother was so angry that she shed tears, but she still had to make plans for her and insisted on arranging the marriage between the two."

"Later, the Kong family committed a crime, the head of the family was beheaded, and the clansmen were exiled... My grandmother then found a way to get her divorced and bring her back to live in the mansion until now."

As Ming Shanyue spoke, the coldness in her eyes almost froze into frost: "I never imagined that she would repay my family in this way."

Feng Chuchen sighed, "If the old lady knew she was like this, she would be heartbroken."

Ming Shanyue nodded, suppressing her surging anger, and said, "I will keep a close eye on her. Thank you for the reminder."

"Just keep a close watch?" Feng Chuchen asked, puzzled.

"I discovered that she might have private connections with the Xue family, so keeping her around might still be useful."

Ming Shanyue got up to take her leave.

The carriage turned two streets, entered a residence, and then changed to another carriage. Back at the Ming residence, they entered through a side gate and went directly to the outer study.

As soon as he entered, he said, "Go and fetch Granny Li from the main courtyard."

Granny Li entered the room, curtsied, and greeted, "Master."

Ming Shanyue asked, "Granny, when my mother gave birth to my second brother, who did she send to invite Doctor Feng?"

Granny Li didn't know why the master was suddenly asking these questions. She lowered her eyes and thought for a long time before looking up and saying, "It seems to be Aunt Liu, who works for the aunt. Oh, that's her. She couldn't invite Doctor Feng the first time, so she went to invite him again the next day..."

"That day, the lady was in so much pain that she couldn't even scream. Afraid of frightening the Third Master and the Eldest Master, the Aunt sent you to the Shangguan Mansion. The Aunt and the Second Madam of Shangguan stayed in the main courtyard. Sister Liu went to invite you a second time, but she still couldn't get you there."

"That evening, the First Madam finally gave birth to the Second Master, but then suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage, a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, Imperial Physician Shan and Physician Zhou were there and administered hemostatic injections, pulling her back from the brink of death." (End of Chapter)