Jinyi Spring

Chapter 174 A Difference of One Word

Feng Chuchen leaned back in the car seat, eyes closed, a slight smile playing on her lips.

In this life, she fell in love again... no, she truly fell in love.

Even without the concept of destiny, she thought they would fall in love with each other.

She had also been in love in her past life. When she was thirty, she couldn't resist the constant pressure from her grandparents and uncles to get married, so she met them through a blind date.

That man came from a high-ranking family, was a returnee from overseas, and was tall and handsome.

He and his parents were attracted to her family's tradition of traditional Chinese medicine, her outstanding appearance, and her opportunity to meet higher-ranking leaders.

But she was busy with work and studying with her grandfather at that time, so they only saw each other once a week.

Three months later, he got together with her best friend.

The man argued vehemently, "You don't love me."

She wasn't sad at all; on the contrary, she felt a sense of relief.

Three years later, just before she died, she felt that she had almost everything she needed and it was time to have a home.

But I ended up here unexpectedly.

And this time...

She opened her eyes, then closed them again.

This time, she had truly fallen in love with someone.

That was unexpected.

But I just fell in love with it.

Aunt Wang sat opposite, silent, but a slow smile appeared on her lips.

She could tell that her girl had changed; she was no longer so aloof—it must be related to Lord Ming.

Back home, lying in bed, holding a piping hot hot water bottle, Feng Chuchen slept soundly and peacefully.

She knew he had arranged everything for her.

At noon, Doctor Qin, who had gone to the Imperial Hospital to inquire about news, returned.

As soon as she entered, Aunt Wang rushed up to her and asked anxiously, "How is it? How did Doctor Fan treat it?"

Doctor Qin sighed and shook his head. "He will be fined half a year's salary and demoted from a ninth-rank female doctor to an unranked one."

"That's it?" Aunt Wang's eyes widened. "She deceived the royal family, used a knife without authorization, and almost killed someone. And you're just letting her off so easily?"

Doctor Qin smiled wryly, "The Flying Eagle Guard's explanation was that although Physician Fan made a mistake, she had consulted with the Princess Consort of Shu beforehand and did not act on her own. Afterwards, the Shu Prince's Mansion did not pursue the matter, only saying it was an 'accident' and treating it as such."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly, "I heard that Consort Xue interceded on their behalf. No matter how angry the Prince of Shu's mansion is, they can't investigate too deeply. Although it wasn't explicitly stated that the 'episiotomy' surgery would be cancelled, the court judge's intention is that after this incident, many nobles will probably not dare to have episiotomies again."

Aunt Wang was so angry that her face turned red, but there was nothing she could do.

Guo Hei arrived that evening.

As usual, he brought a bag of snacks for Feng Buji and Shaoyao, and also secretly gave Feng Chuchen a bag of snacks.

"It was a gift from the old man."

Snacks are ordinary, but in this family, giving snacks has a special meaning.

Guo Hei then recounted how Song Xian had subjected Fan Ru to severe torture.

Feng Chuchen was secretly pleased.

She felt no sympathy for Dr. Fan; these pains were nothing compared to the lifelong suffering of Grandma Shui Liu.

I wonder if she will remember this painful lesson.

Feng Chuchen believed she wouldn't remember.

Some people are born bad.

She asked, "Who reported the incident yesterday?"

Guo Hei said, "On the surface, they are Master Shui Liu's men, but they are probably acting under the orders of Consort Liu. Consort Liu is relying on the Prince's favor and is fiercely fighting with the Prince's wife."

"Is she the biological mother of Master Shui Liu?"

"No, Sixth Master Shui's birth mother was just a concubine. The Princess Consort of Shu is usually ruthless and mean, and she has never been kind to the Prince's women and illegitimate children. If something like this happens, those people will definitely make a big fuss about it."

"I heard that the Prince of Shu was very angry and confined his wife to her quarters for six months. He also promised to submit a memorial to the throne requesting that the birth mother of Sixth Master Shui be made a concubine. Sixth Master Shui and his wife also gave him a lot of money as a consolation prize..."

Feng Chuchen scoffed. There's never a shortage of shady dealings within wealthy families. If this matter comes to light, the only one who will truly suffer is Madam Shui Liu; her life will be ruined. As for Master Shui Liu and his mother, they might even be secretly delighted.

After Guo Hei left, Feng Chuchen opened the oil paper package. Inside, besides the sweet pastries, was a small oil paper package. Opening that, she found a small purse. Opening that, she found a neatly stacked stack of small slips of paper and a jade thumb ring. The slips of paper read:

Since we parted, my heart has been filled with thoughts of you. I can't eat or sleep properly. I'm busy with official duties, but I always look forward to darkening the sky—so that I can think of you all night long.

Have you ever thought of me in this way?

Those few words were enough to warm Feng Chuchen's heart.

That seemingly cold and aloof person could actually write such delicate thoughts.

She recited it several times, then pressed it to her chest before putting it down.

Like a young girl experiencing love for the first time—no, she had lived two lives, but this was the first time she had tasted such a feeling.

Then I picked up the jade thumb ring. It was a clear, green color. By the candlelight, I could see a tiny "moon" character carved on the inner wall.

Feng Chuchen looked at it for a long time, held it for a long time, and then put it into her purse along with the letter, placing it under her pillow.

The moonlight was soft and gentle outside the window, and the room was quiet and peaceful.

Feng Chuchen's heart was full, as if it contained the whole spring, and then she drifted off to sleep in the spring breeze.

Inside the Bamboo Sound Pavilion, the lights were as bright as day.

The old Duke sat there, as if petrified. The Duke of Ming and Ming Shanyue both looked at him, one with a solemn expression, the other with a furrowed brow.

Ming Shanyue couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, is that really true?"

The people who went to Nanyue to find Granny Sun have returned. Granny Sun is seriously ill and can no longer travel long distances. Under repeated questioning from the Ming family, she finally revealed a secret that had been buried for twenty-one years.

At that time, Empress Dowager Xue was still Empress Xue, and Granny Sun was her maid.

One summer afternoon, Empress Xue missed Princess Changning and asked her to bring Xiaoming Shanyue into the palace.

Little Ming Shanyue had just turned one year old, and Empress Xue had not yet met her. Coincidentally, Princess Changning was not feeling well, so she was taken to the palace by Madam Ming and Xia Achan.

When Empress Xue saw the child, she was overjoyed and held him in her arms, praising him, "Beautiful, strong, and adorable."

She noticed the small black mole under the child's left eye and laughed, "They say a mole under the corner of the eye is called a tear mole. Men with this kind of mole are sentimental and lovelorn. Hehe, just like Ming Aiqing."

Madam Ming sighed, her face showing worry. "But Master Yu Hui's fortune telling said that the child's destiny is too strong. Fortunately, the master gave him the name 'Shan Yue' (Mountain Moon), saying that it can suppress it."

As they were talking, Xiaoming Shanyue suddenly started crying, and Madam Ming and the wet nurse quickly took the child out to comfort her.

The room fell silent for a moment, leaving only Empress Xue, Xia Achan, the chief eunuch of Kunning Palace, and the palace maid Granny Sun.

Empress Xue waved to Xia Achan.

Xia Achan got up and walked over, her heart pounding.

Empress Xue took her hand, looked her up and down for a few moments, and said with a smile, "A-Chan is eleven years old this year?"

Xia Achan respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Empress Xue glanced at her a few more times, as if scrutinizing something, and finally exclaimed, "With such looks and bearing, she could easily be an empress."

She paused, a hint of regret in her voice, "But my elder sister has such a noble and strong personality; the daughter she raised cannot be a concubine, not even for the Crown Prince."

Xia Achan's face flushed instantly. The surprise in her eyes hadn't even settled before the words "you can't be someone's concubine" turned into disappointment.

She was in love with Second Brother Ming, but everyone in the capital knew that Second Brother Ming and Xiao Wan were deeply in love. If she couldn't marry Second Brother Ming, becoming a concubine to the Crown Prince would be good too, and she could become a concubine in the future.

But the Empress's words implied that she wouldn't even give her this path.

Empress Xue took in the subtle expressions on her face, then suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that a few days ago, the Duke of Ming went to the Jokhang Temple to see Master Yu Hui to have the horoscopes of the Second Young Master Ming and Miss Xiao matched?"

Xia Achan's eyes darkened again, and she nodded.

Empress Xue released her hand, picked up her teacup, and slowly blew on the tea foam, asking casually, "Do you know if their birth dates are compatible?"

Xia Achan quickly glanced around the room—only Empress Xue's two trusted confidantes were present.

She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "I overheard a bit, but I beg Your Majesty to keep it a secret."

Empress Xue nodded slightly. "Of course."

Xia Achan leaned closer, her voice very low, "Master Yuhui said that Second Brother Ming will have some setbacks in love. As for Sister Xiao..." She paused, "her destiny is extremely good. The daughter she gives birth to in the future will surely inherit the fortune of the world and save the people from suffering."

Empress Xue paused slightly as she held the teacup. She slowly put it down, looked at Xia Achan, and the smile on her face faded.

Xia Achan's heart tightened.

After a long while, Empress Xue asked in bewilderment, "How can a woman bear the fate of the world?"

Xia Achan paused for a moment, her mind racing, and quickly said, "It was my momentary panic that caused me to mispronounce a word. The master said that Sister Xiao's future son will surely inherit the destiny of the world and save the people from suffering."

She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, her voice muffled in her throat, "It's 'son,' not 'woman.'" (End of Chapter)