Jinyi Spring

Chapter 101 Dealing with Wanping
Madam Xia quickly smiled apologetically, "It was my oversight. Let's follow the example of the eldest maid and allocate five taels of silver. What do you think?"

Ming Shanyue abruptly interjected, "There's no need for this exception. Wanping broke the rules of the household, and my father is furious. He has already punished her and her family..."

He kept observing Xia Shi out of the corner of his eye.

Xia looked surprised and asked blankly, "Broken the rules? What rules? Could it be... that you're secretly pregnant? If so, you're incredibly bold."

Ming Shanyue pursed her lips and remained silent, only watching coldly.

The old lady's face darkened, and she snorted coldly, "There shouldn't be any concubines in the family. They're always greedy and never satisfied. The old master said long ago that the Ming family cannot have illegitimate children."

"Besides, we already have two excellent grandsons. We must take them as a warning to others! Otherwise, the servants will follow suit and rebel!"

The old Duke was also so angry that he blew his beard and glared, "That bastard Ming Changxiao is even more despicable. Let's see how I deal with him."

Kong Xiyan was embarrassed to listen to the adults' talk, so she quickly blushed and went to the side room.

The old lady pondered for a moment, then softened her tone, "Think about it, Wanping has served the eldest son for over ten years, and she's been quite dutiful. Now that the eldest son's wife is almost fully recovered, let her go."

"At her age, it's not a good time for her to remarry. We'll provide her with a small estate and five hundred taels of silver. If she doesn't remarry, we'll allocate sixty taels of silver from the public funds each year, which will be enough for her to live out her old age in peace."

Ming Shanyue said coldly, "Wanping's mistakes go far beyond this. Fearing that my mother would recover, she and her brother twice hired assassins, attempting to kill Doctor Feng..."

This could have been kept from the elderly couple, but Ming Shanyue wanted to see Xia's reaction, so she told them anyway.

Not only were the elderly couple startled, but even Xia was stunned and speechless for a moment.

This doesn't seem like an act at all.

The old lady asked anxiously, "Is little Feng alright?"

"She was lucky; she avoided it both times."

The old woman roared, "They've really grown quite greedy, daring to commit such a heinous act! They must be dealt with severely; I knew my wife was no good..."

Just then, a maid came in and reported, "My lord, madam, dinner is ready."

Everyone got up and went to the west wing. Xia Shi naturally stepped forward and helped the old lady.

Ming Shanyue walked at the back, her gaze slightly somber.

Aside from being annoyed by the topic of finding him a wife, he had to admit that his grandparents did indeed have a lot more fun because of the companionship of Xia and her daughter.

I hope her feelings for the two elderly people and for this family are genuine...

In the study outside the front yard, Wanping, with her hair disheveled, was helped in.

She was deathly pale and weak; she was practically dragged there.

Upon seeing the Duke of Ming sitting upright, she grasped at the last straw, fell to the ground, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, please have mercy! I have served you for over ten years. Even if I have not done anything meritorious, I have still worked hard. You cannot be so heartless!"

Looking at her disheveled appearance, the Duke of Ming's eyes flashed with a complex emotion, which was then replaced by anger.

He gritted his teeth and said, "I've treated you well, but since I can't give you a formal title, I've compensated you with money. Over the past ten years, I've given you no less than two thousand taels of gold, silver, and valuables."

"Not only will I ensure you have enough to eat and wear, but I will also promote your family members to important positions in the household... Yet you dared to get pregnant without my consent, and even tried to kill Doctor Feng, hoping that Madam would remain plagued by illness..."

Wanping, tears streaming down her face, crawled a few steps on her knees, hugged the Duke of Ming's legs, and sobbed, "Your Excellency, it was my fault for getting pregnant without permission. I just wanted to give you a daughter."

"I have no such ambition. I only wish to have a daughter, hoping that the Duke will like her. I was wrong... As for framing Doctor Feng, that was my elder brother's idea. I was confused for a moment and blinded by greed, so I listened to him."

"But this has nothing to do with my parents and brother; they know nothing about it. Please, I beg you, spare them. I'm willing to be your slave..."

The Duke of Ming kicked her to the ground. "You're nothing but a servant, yet you dare to bargain with me! When you were taking lives and scheming against your mistress, did you ever think about their lives? Now that you can't even protect yourself, you're thinking about your family..."

Wanping was kicked and rolled on the ground, curled up, groaning in pain. She raised her head, her eyes blurred with tears, and looked at the man who had once been tender and considerate but was now cold and ruthless. Despair overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

She burst into laughter, then started crying uncontrollably, as if she had gone mad.

Fifteen years have passed, and in his eyes, I am still just a servant...

The Duke of Ming raised his voice and said, "Someone, take her to the estate and give her a bowl of medicine."

Wanping broke free from the old woman who was holding her and cried out, "Master, I'll do whatever you want with me, please, please keep our daughter! You don't have a daughter yet. A daughter is a father's little cotton-padded jacket, she'll definitely look like you, soft and fragrant, and she'll call you 'Father' in a sweet voice..."

The old woman gagged her with a handkerchief and dragged her out.

The Duke of Ming was so angry that his temples throbbed. How could Wanping, who was so gentle and considerate, be such a woman!
If she doesn't go to extremes, he will definitely find a way to protect the child in her womb... He dreams of having a daughter.

Thinking of how that bitch had ruined her daughter, she was so angry that she swept the teacup off the table.

Stupid woman!

Ming Guogong took a long time to recover before getting up and going to the inner courtyard.

The main courtyard was quiet. The wind swirled snowflakes and pelted the corridor. The few palace lanterns swayed violently in the wind, their dim yellow light tearing through the darkness and making the withered branches sway softly.

He stood at the bottom of the steps for nearly fifteen minutes before finally steeling himself and walking into the house.

For the first time in over twenty years of marriage, the Duke of Ming was so afraid to face his wife.

In the dim candlelight, Shangguan seemed to have reverted to her former haggard appearance. How could the woman who had gradually become radiant have suddenly turned into this...?

Two days later, in the afternoon, the Feng residence was quiet. The winter sun slanted into the courtyard, and the rosy light spread over the frost-covered blue bricks. Da Tou was dozing off under the eaves.

Feng Chuchen was busy at the clinic, Shaoyao and Aunt Wu had gone to the market to buy vegetables and hadn't returned yet, only Mujin was doing needlework under the window.

Ming Shanyue and Shangguan Ruyu arrived in a carriage.

Because of the incompetence of the steward, Feng Chuchen was murdered twice, so he personally went to apologize to him.

Ming Shanyue felt that he was not good at dealing with girls, so he pulled Shangguan Ruyu, who was talkative and familiar with Feng Chuchen, over.

Mu Jin opened the door and invited them to sit down in the main room.

She poured tea and said, "There's a woman in the clinic who's having a severe postpartum hemorrhage. My young lady is over there trying to save her. I'll go and fetch her right away."

Shangguan Ruyu stopped her, saying, "No rush, human life is more important."

Mu Jin went to the clinic again. People were coming and going in the delivery room, and Feng Chuchen's voice could be heard giving instructions from time to time.

She had no choice but to return to the house.

Guo Hei and Song Xian carried a large box into the house and put it away. They heard the gate open again. Mu Jin ran to open the door and saw a middle-aged woman dressed in red and green with heavy makeup standing at the door with a smile on her face.

Mu Jin exclaimed in surprise, "Matchmaker Li!"

Matchmaker Li lived in Beianfang, and that's how Mujin met her.

There were important guests at home, and Mu Jin didn't want her to come in, so she quickly blocked the doorway.

She said in a low voice, "My daughter and Aunt Wang are trying to save a patient. The young master hasn't finished school yet. Aunt Li has something to do, so she'll come back tomorrow."

Matchmaker Li has been in this profession for over twenty years, and no one has ever turned her away, not even wealthy families.

She was displeased and said in a loud voice, "What do you know, little girl? Not letting this old woman in is an obstacle to your daughter's good marriage, it's bad luck."

Mu Jin stood still. "Good things don't have to be rushed. Aunt Li can come again tomorrow."

Saying that, he was about to close the door.

Suddenly, Feng Buji's voice came; he had finished school.

"Hey, Aunt Li, what are you doing standing at the door? Please come in."

He was overjoyed, for finally another matchmaker had come to arrange a marriage for his sister.

As mentioned before, he and his family were not satisfied with any of them.

Before Mu Jin could speak, Matchmaker Li pushed her aside and went inside.

Feng Buji followed him in, looked up and asked, "Aunt Li, are you here to propose marriage for my sister?"

Matchmaker Li professionally tossed her handkerchief aside and laughed loudly, "Congratulations, Young Master Feng! Congratulations, Young Master Feng! Indeed, a family has come to propose marriage for Miss Feng. It is an extremely good family."

Feng Buji said with delight, "Oh, which young man is it? Sister Mujin, quickly go and invite Aunt Wang over."

It's not something you can say in front of your older sister, but there should be an adult present.

Mu Jin didn't move, but whispered, "Young Master, we have a distinguished guest."

Matchmaker Li's loud voice drowned out Mu Jin's, "Young Master Feng wanted to find a scholar for Miss Feng, and coincidentally, there is one..."

Feng asked excitedly, "Who?"

"Haha, it's Master Zhao from Ping'anfang. Oh my, Master Zhao is handsome, accomplished, and learned. So many girls would never even dream of him."

Feng Buji's joy vanished instantly, and he didn't even notice the "distinguished guest" Mu Jin mentioned. He said angrily, "Zhao Juren's wife has only been dead for two months, and his eldest grandson is older than me. He is not good enough for my sister."

The grandson of Zhao, a scholar from Ping'anfang, was a classmate of Feng Buji, so he knew that family.

Matchmaker Li didn't like hearing this and frowned, saying, "Oh dear, young master Feng, you don't understand. Men only become more affectionate as they get older. The year after next, Scholar Zhao will participate in the imperial examinations again. Once he passes and becomes a Jinshi..."
"With Princess Yanghe's help, you're sure to rise to great heights. Your sister will be a Lady of the Imperial Decree, what a blessing..."

Feng Buji became even angrier, his face turning ashen.

He wanted his beautiful older sister to marry him, and he also wanted to use her connections to become a high-ranking official.

Think beautiful!
He immediately interrupted the matchmaker, saying, "My sister is only fifteen years old and a renowned medical expert. She won't marry an old geezer. Matchmaker Li, please leave. I don't agree to this marriage."

His words were forceful and resounding.

Matchmaker Li was overjoyed, thinking she was sure to get the matchmaking fee.

Hearing the little brat say such things, she rolled her eyes in anger and raised her voice even louder, "What does a child know? An unmarried girl goes in and out of the delivery room every day. Your family is really lucky that a scholar like you can take a liking to her."

"It would be better to discuss this with your sister and Doctor Wang first. Don't miss this good opportunity to become a Lady of the Imperial Decree. Otherwise, it will be too late to cry."

With stern faces, Feng Chuchen and Aunt Wang walked in through the side door. They had just rescued the woman in labor and were about to leave the delivery room when they heard the loud voice of Matchmaker Li.

Several new mothers were listening intently in the courtyard when they saw them come out. They gave an awkward smile and quickly returned to their own wards.

Feng Chuchen was at a loss for words, but Aunt Wang said, "The young master is the head of this family. If he doesn't agree, my daughter won't agree either. You should go and talk to the girl you like."

Matchmaker Li looked at Feng Chuchen and said, "Dr. Feng, Master Zhao is a scholar who passed the imperial examination. He is a literary star incarnate. If you marry him, you can become a lady."

Feng Chuchen wanted nothing more than to slap her old face, but ignored her and said coldly to Aunt Wang, "Aunt Wang, see the guest out."

Aunt Wang cursed, "A half-buried old man like you dares to covet my daughter. Get out of here, or I'll have to chase you away with a broom."

Matchmaker Li still wanted to earn money from matchmaking, as a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations was always more influential than an ordinary person.

She softened her tone and advised, "Miss Feng thinks that Scholar Zhao is too old, so you want to find a virgin boy? You are just a young girl and don't understand. In any wealthy family, once a young man turns fifteen, his elders will arrange for a maid to serve him."

"In families where life is decent, young men would go to brothels to find girls as soon as they turned fifteen. Only poor young men who were still virgins at fifteen would marry into such families, and they would suffer endless hardship for the rest of their lives..."

Feng Buji didn't know what a virgin boy was, but after hearing what the matchmaker Li said, he thought a virgin boy must be a young and good young man.

He retorted, "My older sister insists on finding a rich man's virgin son, not an old man."

Aunt Wang tried to stop her several times but to no avail. She ran to get a broom and swept it at the feet of Matchmaker Li, saying, "Get out of here! How dare you say such shameless things? Don't corrupt my young master..."

The matchmaker, Li, was so angry at her that she jumped up and down, and stormed out the door, yelling, "She doesn't want such a good man? She must have gotten her head stuck in the delivery room door..."

She walked out of the courtyard gate, and Aunt Wang slammed the gate shut.

He spat fiercely, "Scholar Zhao has been trying to pass the imperial examinations for over ten years, but he can't pass, he can't even get a minor official position, and now his family is broke. He wants to marry my daughter but demands a huge dowry. You shameless old bastard, you have no respect for your elders..."

Feng Buji retorted angrily, "That old man Zhao not only wants more dowry, but he also wants Princess Yanghe to help him get a promotion. He's an indecent old man, where is his integrity as a scholar? Bah!"

Mu Jin finally had a chance to speak, and whispered, "Miss, Lord Ming and Lord Shangguan have arrived and are having tea in the main room."

Aunt Wang was so angry she almost fell over, only then noticing a carriage parked on the right side of the main house.

She muttered under her breath, "You brat, why didn't you say so sooner?"

Mu Jin felt wronged; she had spoken up, but the young master hadn't listened.

Feng Chuchen was both ashamed and angry. She didn't want to pay attention to the two of them, but thinking that they were probably there because of that incident, she had no choice but to wash her hands in the copper basin and brace herself as she walked up to the roof.

Feng Buji rolled his eyes at Mu Jin in exasperation and followed his sister into the main room. He thought to himself, "Mu Jin has neglected her duty; she should have half a month's pay deducted."

Ming Shanyue and Shangguan Ruyu pretended to drink tea while holding teacups, but put them down when they saw them come in.

Guo Hei, Song Xian, Duan Yan, and several other servants pretended to look at the rooftop, as they hadn't heard what was said earlier.

Upon seeing Feng Chuchen and her brother enter, he bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.