Jinyi Spring

Chapter 178 Success is in the Hands of Heaven

Before Cixi could finish speaking, Qingxin stopped her. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chill.

“Shut up. You’ve been a nun for sixteen years, yet you still have those old memories in your heart. If you really can’t forget them, then return to secular life. This humble nun will not keep you.”

Ci'an was startled and quickly knelt down, "Master Fa, please calm your anger! This humble nun will never dare to do it again..."

Qingxin ignored her, walked to the prayer mat, sat down, picked up the wooden fish, and began to tap it.

The sound repeated monotonously, just like every day of the past sixteen years.

A faint hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of Cixi's lowered lips.

You said I can't forget... but the one I really can't forget is you.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the small window covered with thick paper. The pale golden sunlight shone on the paper, warm and soft, like the daylight outside.

Sixteen years have passed.

These awful days are finally almost over.

At noon, Ci'an returned carrying a food box.

She placed the vegetarian meal on the kang table: four vegetarian dishes and a bowl of rice.

After serving Qingxin her meal, the almost untouched vegetarian food was moved to another meditation room, where she and two other young nuns continued to eat.

Ci'an barely ate a couple of bites before putting down her chopsticks and returning to her meditation room.

Close the door.

She took out a small package from her bosom, inside which was an undergarment and a jade pendant. She held it in her hands, turning it over and over to examine it, her fingertips tracing the texture of the fabric, and then she held the jade pendant up to the window light to examine it carefully.

It is a clear, bright green color, surrounded by auspicious cloud patterns and a ruyi pattern in the center.

She thought it looked familiar, but then she remembered that jade pendants with this pattern were common, so she didn't think much of it.

The man's words echoed in my ears again, "As long as there are men's clothes and accessories in her room, and the clothes fit Ming Changqing's size, you only need to say a few words like this... Even a living person with a mouth can't explain it clearly, let alone a dead person."

"But what about Jing'an..."

"Don't worry, she won't live to see that day. You might suffer a little, but as long as you grit your teeth, Lord Xue will protect you. Afterward, Lord Xue will give you another two thousand taels of silver, and you will be able to reunite with your mother and brother and enjoy a lifetime of happiness."

A cold, faint smile appeared on Cixi's lips.

Miss, please don't blame me.

I don't want to do it either.

If I don't listen to them, my whole family, including myself, will die...

It's just a pity that Ming Changqing passed away.

Such a good man... Years ago, she thought that if Miss married him as she wished, she could "secure the favor" in Miss's place.

Time flies, and youth has faded—she has grown old, with wrinkles around her eyes and gray hair.

After leaving this awful place, all I ask for is to stay by my brother's side and live out the rest of my life in peace.

More than a decade ago, her parents, brother, and sister-in-law from the Xiao family used their money to redeem themselves and went to live in Yuzhou. Every year or two, her eldest brother would still come to visit her once.

My mother is still alive. The family has bought more than 300 acres of land and built a three-courtyard house. They are living a very good life.

This money was all earned by her for her family.

Cixi wrapped the clothes and jade pendant, unlocked the box, and placed the package on the bottom layer.

-

Feng Chuchen recovered by the next day, but still claimed to be seriously ill, and the smell of medicine wafted far from the courtyard. She locked herself in her room, reading and writing, or staring blankly outside, living a peaceful little life.

Peony and hibiscus didn't know what had happened, but they were both clever enough to realize that something big must have occurred, so they became even more cautious.

Only Da Tou is dishonest; he goes to Jiupo Ridge every day, squats in front of his aunt's grave for half an hour, and then comes back, regardless of wind or snow.

Mr. and Mrs. Feng Changfu, along with some villagers they knew, came to visit Feng Chuchen. Uncle Qian accepted the gifts but only allowed them to sit in the outer courtyard for a while.

“My young lady is quite ill and unable to receive guests. I will accept your kind offer on behalf of my mistress…”

On the afternoon of the ninth day, the sun hung high in the sky, bright and dazzling, but without a trace of warmth. The wind howled, penetrating every crevice, as if trying to pluck out all the heat from the very bones.

In this kind of weather, no one wants to go outside if they can stay indoors.

The village of Baima was quiet; even the dogs were too lazy to bark.

Ming Shanyue and Guo Hei, dressed as hunters, emerged from Qingmiao Mountain. Carrying bows on their backs, each carrying two wild rabbits and the other a wild goat, they went directly to Feng's residence at the edge of the village.

They looked like they were going to sell their prey.

Uncle Guo opened the west gate, and Peony opened the side gate. The two of them went straight into the east courtyard.

Guo Hei was invited to a side room for tea by Shaoyao, while Ming Shanyue went directly into the main room and closed the door.

Peony and Hibiscus stood guard outside the door, unable to hear what was being said inside. A little over two quarters of an hour later, the door opened, and Ming Shanyue came out, walking hurriedly with Guo Hei, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The two maids exchanged a glance and went into the house together.

Their master's face showed a mixture of joy and nervousness, an expression they had never seen before: his lips were slightly pursed, as if he wanted to laugh but dared not, but his eyes were bright and sparkling, hiding some incredible secret.

Feng Chuchen scolded, "What are you still standing there for? Come here, change the bedding and pillows on the bed, and put out some of the nicer decorative items."

She opened two boxes; one contained brand-new, unused bedding, and the other contained several antique ornaments that had been stored away for a long time.

Feng Chuchen turned and went into the east room, closing the door behind her. There were rustling sounds inside, as if someone was busy with something.

The two girls crowded around the box, peered inside, and their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

The new quilt was a deep red brocade with a double phoenix facing the sun pattern, so bright it was dazzling; the new mattress was a bright blue Hangzhou silk with a rich peony pattern, so luxurious it was unbelievable.

They saw Sister Song making these bedding and assumed it was for a girl's wedding.

The decorative items are even more exquisite: blue and white porcelain vases, polychrome porcelain tea sets, and jade carved incense burners. Each piece brightens up the entire room.

The girl is always particular, but she has always preferred simple and elegant things. It's not a holiday, so what's with all this bright red and green festive attire?

Peony and Hibiscus exchanged another glance, but dared not say a word, and busied themselves carefully.

Feng Chuchen was in the east room organizing various medicinal herbs for Qingxin, feeling both joyful and apprehensive.

Angelica sinensis, astragalus membranaceus, codonopsis pilosula... each herb was separated, wrapped in cotton paper, tied tightly, and neatly stacked into a box.

My hands never stopped working, but Ming Shanyue's voice kept echoing in my ears.

Master Yu Hui's prophecy had long since penetrated past and present lives, accurately predicting that the mother would give birth to a daughter who would save the people from suffering.

There really are such extraordinary people in this world who can see through the cause and effect of two lifetimes.

It turns out that her connection with her mother was preordained by heaven.

Xia Achan used this prophecy to deceive the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and schemed against her mother and Uncle Ming.

She didn't know if the Emperor fully believed the prophecy, but the Empress Dowager certainly didn't, otherwise she wouldn't have aided and abetted the Xue family in causing all those tragic events.

Although Ming Shanyue's arrangements were meticulously planned, success is ultimately in the hands of fate...

Amitabha Buddha, may Heaven protect us. (End of Chapter)