Jinyi Spring

Xia asked casually, "When the old master and the others were talking the other day, did you hear anything unusual?"

Yu Er's wife glanced quickly out the window and lowered her voice, saying, "Reporting to Madam, I have been tending to the flowers and plants in Fu Rong Hall these past few days and have overheard some conversations, but they were all just ordinary chatter."

"Just a few days ago, one afternoon, I saw the master take a letter and rush to the main room—saying that the second master had come."

Xia's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up. Realizing something was amiss, she rested her head back on the pillow, seemingly unintentionally.

"The old lady has been waiting for this, and my second brother finally wrote. What did they say?"

Yu Er's wife rolled her eyes, trying hard to remember.

"The old master was very unhappy at the time and scolded the second master for being unfilial, not returning for the old lady's sixtieth birthday and sending few letters... The servants in the room dared not listen anymore and were frightened and retreated."

"After that, their voices quieted down. The old lady and the old man couldn't hear clearly, they only caught a few words from the old man, and they didn't know what they meant."

She spoke very slowly, picking at each word from her memory, "Uh... disfigured, in the palace, will die a horrible death, those two, Xiqing, will be back at the end of the year."

After thinking for a long time, "And... I picked up a mother... what to put on... that's all."

Xia's heart was beating rapidly, and her hands, which were holding the handkerchief, were trembling slightly.

This was nothing like what Madam Xue made it sound so nonchalant—it was clear that Consort Xue had been caught red-handed, and the Xue family was probably really panicking.

Her face flushed slightly with anxiety as she urged, "Think again, is there anything else?"

Yu Er's wife frowned and pondered for a long time. "Oh, after the master left, the old master said, 'He is a loyal minister, it's hard on him'... The old lady told him to keep his voice down. That's all."

Madam Xia composed herself, sighed, and said gently, "The old lady hasn't been feeling well lately, and she keeps believing in superstitions. I'm worried she'll get stuck on these things and harm her health. Listening to this, it seems she's still thinking about the second master of Xiqing Mansion. I really can't help with this worry."

You Er's wife smiled and said, "Auntie is so filial, the old lady is blessed."

Xia took out a silver note and a pair of gold bracelets from the small table beside the couch and gently pushed them toward You Er's hand.

"From now on, whenever you hear the Duke, the eldest son, or the old lady speaking privately with the old man or the old lady, no matter what it is, remember to tell me."

When You Er's wife saw that the silver note contained one hundred taels, she was overjoyed, her eyes and brows beaming with smiles. She left, thanking him profusely.

Xia watched her leave the courtyard, a chill running through her heart—this person couldn't be moved for the time being, but she was still useful.

She got up, closed the door, bolted it, took out paper and pen, and hurriedly wrote down the fragments she had just heard.

Disfigured, destined for a terrible death. Those two in the palace went to Xiqing, returned at the end of the year, and found a mother. What's with the tattoo? He's a loyal minister…

The words are scattered and the sentences are difficult to understand.

She frowned more and more as she looked at the paper. But the words "disfigurement" and "palace" in the paper suggested that something had happened in the inner palace—and it was probably related to Consort Xue.

He picked up a mother, and it's very likely that the woman's name contains the character "mother," or that he went to Xiqing Prefecture with his mother to seek refuge with Ming Changqing.

Xia snorted coldly.

The Ming family kept saying they wouldn't take sides, yet they still walked right into the Xue family's clutches. The palace wasn't just home to the proud and arrogant Consort Xue; there was also the Empress Dowager Xue, who had navigated the treacherous waters of the harem for decades.

If the Xue family deciphers the deeper meaning behind this paper, the Prefect will suffer a great loss.

But then she thought again—that was precisely why she needed to withdraw as soon as possible. Only when Yan'er became the Prince of Zhao's concubine could she plead for the Ming family in front of the Xue family.

Thinking about it this way, the slight guilt in my heart faded away.

Xia ground the ink, her wrist turning lightly, and the fragrance of ink gradually spread. She picked up her pen and wrote a short letter, the handwriting different from her usual style.

When that day comes, give it to Sister Juan.

Besides Yan'er, only the couple truly wished her well.

However, Xu's bamboo shop... is her last trump card, and it must not be discovered by anyone.

Fortunately, we had made an appointment with them beforehand.

During this period, every second morning of the month, Xu Ge's father would disguise himself as a peddler and sell Yuzhou's specialty, thousand-layer flaky pastry, along the back street.

If she needed to deliver a message, she would happen to be passing by the east side of the mansion around 9:00 AM and would hear the long, drawn-out hawking cry.

That was a scent she had when she was a child.

When I was little, my mother was still alive. Every time we went to the market, I would buy her a layered pastry. It was piping hot, and when she took a bite, the flaky pastry would crumble and fall off, and my mother would smile and catch it for her…

Thinking of this, she lowered her eyes and gently stroked the folded paper with her fingertips.

At that time, she would rush out through the side door without hesitation, like a greedy child, just to buy a pastry.

And so the message was sent out.

At night, a light autumn rain began to fall again, pattering on the roof tiles. The sound wasn't loud, but it was still annoying.

Xia woke up and wrapped the quilt tightly around herself, but she still couldn't feel warm.

The long night is unbearable—

The rain continued the following day, and the weather grew even cooler.

Feng Chuchen got up early and went to the upper room to add a small vest for Feng Buji.

The boy has grown taller and plumper, and no longer looks sickly at all.

Feng Buji hugged his sister's arm and said, "Can I eat a whole candied hawthorn now?"

Feng Chuchen nodded, "If you take good care of yourself, you can still eat a whole ice cream next year."

Feng Buji dreamed of eating a whole ice cream.

At the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a familiar-looking but imposing old woman walked straight into Feng Chuchen's clinic.

"You are Dr. Feng?"

Feng Chuchen stood up and said, "That's right."

The old woman smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I am Granny Qin, who serves Princess Qin. My princess is slightly unwell and requests Doctor Feng to come to the residence for a consultation."

Feng Chuchen's heart skipped a beat. She quickly suppressed her emotions and said calmly, "Alright, please wait a moment, Granny."

She whispered a few words of advice to Banxia, ​​then turned and went back to the house.

She specially changed into a crimson embroidered silk jacket, paired with a pale yellow gauze skirt. Facing the bronze mirror, she adorned her hair with two plum blossom jade hairpins, along with a few pale yellow velvet flowers, and lightly applied lip rouge.

She had worn this outfit once when she went to the Prince of Zhao's residence, and had it carefully washed. It still looked about 90% new.

This is the most vibrant outfit she has ever worn.

She prepared this specifically for this moment—it had to appear festive, yet this "special" touch had to be subtly hidden in the details.

She was both excited and nervous.

She looked in the bronze mirror again, and when she was satisfied, she put on her wooden clogs and went out. With Shaoyao's help, she followed Granny Qin to the alley entrance to take a carriage.

A man's low cough suddenly came from not far away, and Feng Chuchen looked up.

Under the willow tree, there was an ordinary carriage, and in front of it sat a man wearing a straw hat and a raincoat, whose figure somewhat resembled Song Xian.

Upon closer inspection, the curtain inside the carriage was slightly ajar, revealing half of Ming Shanyue's face.

Ming Shanyue was looking at her with a smile on his face. He had come not only to tell her everything was alright—Guo Hei could easily say that—but also to share his joy with her.
Feng Chuchen smiled slightly and nodded almost imperceptibly before being helped into the carriage by Shaoyao.

Inside the carriage, Granny Qin said, "My princess has been married for four months, but there is still no news of pregnancy. The Empress Dowager is very concerned... Everyone says that Doctor Feng's medical skills are superb, especially in gynecology. If you can properly treat my princess, the royal family will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Feng Chuchen lowered her eyes and said, "Don't worry, Granny, I will do my best."

The carriage stopped at the side gate of the Prince Qin's Mansion, and then the passengers transferred to a mule cart to go to the inner courtyard.

Feng Chuchen lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and through the misty rain, pavilions, terraces, flowers, bamboo, and rocks flashed by. Although the scenery was beautiful, it was ultimately slightly inferior to the grandeur of the Prince Zhao's Mansion.

The mule cart came to a stop outside a hanging flower gate.

The group got off the car, walked along the covered walkway into the three-section main courtyard, passed through the main hall, and arrived at the west side room.

Two people were sitting on the daybed: one was Princess Qin, whom he had met once before, and the other was... Prince Qin.

Feng Chuchen's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't dare look at them, instead staring down at the Persian velvet carpet at her feet. Her heart pounded like a drum, each beat echoing in her chest, making it almost impossible for her to hear the sounds around her.

She suppressed the emotions that were about to burst forth and stepped forward to kneel down, but a female official gently supported her arm.

Only the peony behind him knelt down.

"This humble woman pays her respects to His Highness the Prince and His Highness the Princess."

Her voice was steady, as if nothing was wrong.

The king's gaze naturally fell on her, a flicker of emotion flashing in his eyes before returning to calm.

Tall and slender, with well-proportioned features and a clear, unblemished face. A heroic air lingered between her brows, and her demeanor was composed and serene. Her skin was as white as jade, which made the cinnabar mole between her brows appear even more striking, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow.

It also possesses a unique, indescribable charm...

He is truly a rare and exceptional talent.

The Prince felt a pang of sorrow. His beloved younger sister should have grown up surrounded by luxury and loved in every way, but instead she had been left to wander among the common people for many years.

She always told her uncle and Lord Ming how well she had been doing all these years.

How could someone who works as a midwife not have been bullied or starved?

Thankfully, she grew up smoothly and has become such a beautiful girl.

Although Feng Chuchen had her eyes downcast, she could feel those two gazes falling on her—warm and deep, like the warm sun in spring.

Princess Qin smiled and said, "No need for formalities."

Her hand rested gently on the right armrest of the daybed.

Granny Qin led Feng Chuchen to sit on the embroidered stool below Princess Qin.

After washing her hands in the copper basin in the maid's hands, Feng Chuchen gently pressed three fingers onto that fair wrist.

Princess Qin was startled by the cold and looked up at her.

Feng Chuchen smiled apologetically, "Your Highness, my body temperature is slightly lower than normal, it's not a sign of illness."

The Prince Qin, who was standing to the side, seemed quite interested in this and said in a gentle voice, "Oh? Lower than a normal human body temperature?"

The voice is clear and peaceful, very pleasant to listen to.

Feng Chuchen then looked up at him. He had a tall and slender figure, handsome and gentle features, and an air of nobility that was both natural and peaceful.

What a rare talent!

This was her twin brother.

He couldn't hide his excitement, but his face remained calm and expressionless.

"Yes. Since the woman learned the 'Upper Yin Divine Needle,' her constitution has gradually become more yin, and her body temperature is also lower than before."

Feng Chuchen lowered her eyelashes, focusing intently on the pulse under her fingers.

Princess Qin is in good health and there's nothing seriously wrong with her. It's quite normal for her not to conceive after four months of marriage... but she can't say that.
After a moment, she withdrew her fingers and looked up. "The princess's pulse is slightly thin and slippery, indicating a slight stagnation of qi and blood in the palace. This is due to the internal presence of cold and heat, and the obstruction of the Chong and Ren meridians. Although this symptom is not outwardly apparent, it can cause occasional menstrual irregularities and a slight miscarriage."

Princess Qin asked nervously, "Yes, I always have some abdominal pain during my period... Is it anything serious?"

Qin Wang blushed. He felt a little embarrassed hearing his unmarried sister use words like "menstrual period" and "pregnancy."

He couldn't bear to listen anymore, so he got up and left.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Feng Chuchen resisted the urge to turn around and look again.

She said, "It seems the Princess has started her period today?"

Seeing Princess Qin nod, he continued, "I will administer acupuncture to warm the uterus and unblock the meridians, supplemented by moxibustion, to dispel cold and warm the body, and to harmonize the Chong and Ren meridians. After a period of adjustment, the Qi and blood will flow smoothly, making it easier to conceive."

Princess Qin breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone in the room looked delighted.

Princess Qin lay down on the chaise longue by the window, and Feng Chuchen buried the needle and gently twisted it.

Princess Qin looked at her quietly. Although she tried her best to hide her emotions, Feng Chuchen caught a glimpse of the tenderness in her eyes.

She felt that her sister-in-law probably knew her true identity as well.

The fact that her brother trusted her so much not only shows that she was a good person, but also demonstrates that they were a loving and harmonious couple.

A moment later, Princess Qin started a conversation, "Doctor Feng is so young, I wonder how old he was when he began using Yin Shen Acupuncture?"

Thirteen years old.

Princess Qin looked at her with pity, "To have such medical skills at such a young age, one must have suffered a lot."

Feng Chuchen smiled faintly, "I started learning medicine at the age of five, and at the age of eight I went on house calls with my aunt. Over the years, I have had enough to eat and wear, and I have also learned a skill to make a living. I dare not complain about hardship."

Granny Qin, a female official brought from the palace, smiled and replied, "Your Highness was born into a wealthy family and may not know that many young ladies in the common people go through this. They have to do everything from a young age. Doctor Feng is fortunate to have inherited the true teachings of Physician Feng. His clinic is now the largest in the capital, even larger than the centuries-old Qianjintang and Dechuntang."

Princess Qin praised, "Indeed. I've heard that your clinic has many pregnant women staying there?"

"Yes. The regular wards are already full, and there are more than twenty people waiting outside. There are only two beds left in the premium wards."

At this point, the two seemed to have become a little more familiar with each other, and Feng Chuchen said softly, "Your Highness, please remember that having intercourse between the fifth and fifteenth day after your period is most likely to result in conception."

Princess Qin blushed.

Feng Chuchen then remembered that she was her sister-in-law. This was ancient times, and it seemed a little awkward to clearly tell her sister-in-law that they would share a room but not a room together.

She blushed and quickly got up to apply moxibustion to the princess.

Granny Qin didn't quite agree with this statement. "Isn't it said that having intercourse right after menstruation is the most fertile time?"

This is the general perception among people of this era.

When it came to medical skills, Feng Chuchen regained her composure and looked up, saying, "If that's what my aunt said, then she must be right."

After the acupuncture, Feng Chuchen wrote a prescription: "Prepare three doses of this prescription, and boil three bowls of medicine for each dose... I will come to perform acupuncture for the Princess during her menstrual period." (End of Chapter)