Jinyi Spring

Chapter 136 Mother
Feng Chuchen then asked, "What if that person can never be found?"

Ming Shanyue's eyes sharpened. "Then we can only continue to search for corroborating evidence and try to pry open the mouths of those who know the truth."

Feng Chuchen realized that if Wang Tu could not be found, it would be even more difficult to clear his name.

"It was Consort Xue and the Xue family who did it, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Do they know that you've become suspicious and that I'm still alive?"

“They only know that Wen Qian is hiding a secret, but not the specifics. However, they have been closely monitoring the Wen family and searching for that person. I have laid another line of defense, so even if they notice something, they probably won't pay attention to the girl in the short term.”

Feng Chuchen also values ​​his life, and since things have come to this point, he will naturally cooperate with them fully.

She solemnly promised, "I will cooperate."

Then, a complex and undisguised concern crept into her voice, "How are Qingxin Dharma Master and Qinwang?"

Even when the words were on the tip of my tongue, I was still too embarrassed to say "mother" and "elder brother".

Ming Shanyue's expression softened. "Qingxin Fagu has been burdened with resentment for many years, blaming herself for failing to protect her young daughter, and her health is very poor. She has not yet found an opportunity to tell her about finding the girl."

"His Highness Prince Qin is already aware of this and is very concerned about it. He will arrange for you to meet in the future. Lord Xiao is the person you saved with the surgery, and he is also the young lady's uncle. I will arrange for you two to meet as soon as possible."

Hearing about the recent situations of her close relatives, especially her poor mother, Feng Chuchen felt as if something had struck her chest heavily, and the composure she had been maintaining instantly crumbled. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

At this moment, without any evidence or confirmation, a resonance originating from the depths of her bloodline spread throughout her body.

They... were her blood relatives.

She asked in a trembling voice, "Can...can I cure her?"

Ming Shanyue shook her head. "It's not possible right now. She has spies from the Xue family and guards sent by the Emperor. Her every move is being monitored, so even I can't get involved. But please rest assured, we will find a suitable time to arrange for you to meet."

Feng Chuchen took a deep breath, raised her eyes, and asked, "What kind of person is she?"

Ming Shanyue lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, her gaze drifting to the unopened small window. Her voice, as if veiled by an ancient gauze, was softer than ever before:

“Before I was four years old, the Ming and Xiao families often visited each other… My grandmother and mother both adored her. I vaguely remember that she was very beautiful, loved to laugh, spoke softly and gently, and played the piano especially beautifully…”

What he didn't say was that his second uncle and she had once been deeply in love and almost became husband and wife. He paused slightly at this point, a hint of wistfulness creeping into his voice.

"Later, she entered the palace and became empress. I occasionally accompanied my grandmother to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager and saw her a few times. She changed. She became reserved and silent, and her eyes always seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, without any joy."

He slowed his speech, "Later, she became a nun and was never seen again. I heard she was emaciated, as withered as autumn grass, and had long lost any of her former charm..."

Feng Chuchen's heart skipped a beat.

After becoming empress, she did not become more noble and graceful; instead, she gradually withered away—she probably did not love that man, or perhaps, that man did not love her.

She was ultimately persecuted to the point of becoming a nun, her life ending in ruins like withered grass... This is enough to show that the man never truly protected her in the slightest.

This fate is so familiar. In a past life, my mother was the same, unable to win her husband's heart, her brilliance crushed in the prime of her life. My mother also played the piano beautifully, was so beautiful, and spoke with the gentle grace of spring water…

Ming Shanyue seemed to remember something, a warm ripple appearing in her eyes, and her tone softened.

"By the way, I heard from Lord Xiao that Master Qingxin once said that on the night before giving birth... she dreamed that she gave birth to a daughter, wearing a small hat with a lotus leaf edge, with a cinnabar mole between her eyebrows, and was so beautiful that she didn't seem like an ordinary child."

His gaze naturally fell on Feng Chuchen's brow. "What a coincidence, you have one here too."

Feng Chuchen's eyes widened suddenly, her fingertips involuntarily touching the tiny red dot between her brows, then she thought of the little hat with ruffled edges on her phone...

Is this a coincidence, or is it a subtle echo between bloodline and dreams across the years?

In an instant, Feng Chuchen seemed to pierce through the heavy fog of time and identity. The desolate and somber figure under the green lamp of Zixia Nunnery, and the gentle and smiling mother in his memory, separated by two lifetimes of dust and life and death, overlapped perfectly and completely in one place.

She is my mother.

Feng Chuchen suddenly choked up.

The pent-up longing and yearning for her mother, accumulated over two lifetimes, burst forth at this moment. Tears gushed out without warning, hot and flowing down her cheeks.

"Mother... Mother... Mom..."

She called out softly, each word shrouded in broken syllables.

Then, the long-suppressed sobs could no longer be contained. She raised her hand and tightly covered her face with a handkerchief, her shoulders trembling violently. All the composure, rationality, and defensiveness she had maintained crumbled at that moment.

She cried like a child who had traveled for far too long and finally found her way home; her grievances, heartache, ecstasy, and deep sorrow intertwined and turned into a torrent of tears.

Ming Shanyue sat quietly opposite her, offering no words of comfort, but simply watching her silently.

That girl, who was always resilient and courageous, and seemed to be omnipotent, finally took off all her masks and armor.

After a long while, the suppressed sobs gradually subsided and stopped.

Feng Chuchen slowly wiped away the tears on her face with a handkerchief. When she put her hand down, her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

She looked at Ming Shanyue, her voice still thick with a nasal tone, "Please excuse my poor performance."

Ming Shanyue shook her head, her tone gentle, "When emotions run deep, it's hard to control oneself. How can you laugh at me?"

Feng Chuchen took a long breath and slowly exhaled, as if trying to calm and suppress all the turbulent emotions in her chest with that breath. When she looked up again, she had regained her usual clarity and focus.

"What exactly is wrong with her health? Please tell me in detail, Lord Ming. I'll think about how to begin the diagnosis and treatment."

Ming Shanyue said, "I will arrange for you to meet with Lord Xiao as soon as possible. Lord Xiao is aware of her condition."

"So what should I do now?"

A smile appeared on Ming Shanyue's lips. "Miss, you only need to continue practicing medicine and living your life as usual. There's no need to deliberately change anything. I've already arranged for people to disguise themselves and stand guard near your house. Guo Hei is in charge of this. If I need anything, he will pass on the message to you."

"If you need anything, you can have him pass on a message to me, or to my grandparents. Let's hire two more people for the clinic, and I'll arrange for two old women to go there... Next, we'll try to buy a courtyard house next to yours and another in front of yours."

Feng Chuchen nodded. She then understood why she was in such a hurry to get Guo Hei and Shaoyao engaged; it was to better protect herself.

Ming Shanyue added, "Also, from now on, try to treat only gynecological and pediatric diseases. We'll also spread the word privately that your expertise lies solely in gynecology and pediatrics, to reduce the number of house calls you need to make. And, you must bring peony with you when you make house calls..."

He then got up, took a small package from the high table, placed it on the table, and opened it. "This dagger is a prize I won on the battlefield. It's small and easy to carry, for self-defense. This piece of paper contains information about the powerful and influential people in the palace and the capital. You must study it carefully."

"These two are signal arrows. They are launched at night when it is dark, and the smoke is red. They are launched during the day when it is light, and the smoke is black. In case of emergency, light them immediately with a tinderbox and launch them into the sky. Our people will see them and rush to the rescue... I hope you will never need these things."

Then, he pushed the package to the center of the table and took the jade beads back.

Feng Chuchen also reached out and took back the package and necklace.

The dagger was exquisitely crafted, less than three inches long, with a bronze handle and sheath, both adorned with patterns. She picked it up, and with a slight effort, drew it; its blade gleamed coldly. The signal arrow, what she'd called a signal flare in her previous life, was about two inches long. The two sheets of paper were densely covered with writing, the handwriting neat and small, hardly recognizable as coming from his large hand.

"These things are very useful, thank you for your trouble."

Ming Shanyue said solemnly, “Miss, you are too kind. This is my duty.” Then she softened her tone, “My grandfather, grandmother, and father all know about this. My grandmother, in particular, is very sad and has shed tears.”

Thinking of that kind old lady, Feng Chuchen said softly, "The old lady has the heart of a bodhisattva."

Only now did Ming Shanyue's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, finally settle down, and she felt her whole body drenched in sweat.

He took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead and neck, then picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"It's so hot," she said with a self-deprecating laugh.

He looked at Feng Chuchen, whose face was still as fair and smooth as jade, without a single drop of sweat.

Feng Chuchen smiled slightly and said, "I am of a very yin nature and usually don't sweat. However, I did sweat a little today."

Ming Shanyue casually replied, "But I am extremely yang, and I am more afraid of heat than ordinary people."

Only then did the two remember what they had previously overlooked: she was the one who changed his destiny.

Ming Shanyue coughed softly, her ears burning slightly, a hint of unease passing between her brows.

Feng Chuchen remained calm. She had never considered herself Ming Shanyue's "destined one." He couldn't stand even the slightest closeness between them, so how could they possibly be husband and wife?

She said in a relaxed tone, "I changed Lord Ming's fate, turning his mole red, so you can get married now, right?" A hint of smugness appeared on her face, and she added with a smile, "What a coincidence."

Seeing the undisguised indifference in her smile, Ming Shanyue knew that she didn't think she could be his destined one, and found it amusing.

With a serious expression, he said, "Whether I can get married or not can only be determined by consulting Master Chi Hui."

Everything that needed to be discussed was done, and the window paper was already tinged with a gentle orange-red by the rosy glow of the sunset.

Feng Chuchen stood up and said, "I should go back now."

Ming Shanyue also stood up, "Be careful."

"Ah."

As Feng Chuchen walked to the door, Ming Shanyue, who was two steps behind her, said, "Don't worry, we will use the full strength of our clan to protect you."

Feng Chuchen stopped and turned to look at him.

From this moment on, her safety and that of her family depended on him and his family. For a long time to come, she would have to rely on him and follow his arrangements.

She met his gaze, a faint yet firm smile appearing on her face. "Thank you."

Ming Shanyue smiled back, her tone becoming even gentler, "Speaking of which, we're relatives, you're my cousin."

Feng Chuchen was slightly taken aback, then suddenly realized, "Yes."

Then she thought of Shangguan Ruyu, who was her real cousin, only a little further away than her brother Qin Wang.

It's great to suddenly have several caring and capable older brothers like her.

Upon hearing their voices, Guo Hei, Song Xian, and Shaoyao came out of the side room.

The group walked silently to the front yard. Ming Shanyue watched Feng Chuchen and Shaoyao get into the car, and Guo Hei drove the car out of the yard.

Just as he was about to turn around, Song Xian exclaimed in surprise, "Grandpa, your mole... is even redder."

Ming Shanyue didn't believe it, "How could that be!"

Song Xian leaned closer for a closer look, his tone certain, "It's real, I'm not mistaken. It was a lighter shade before, but now it's a deeper, true red."

Ming Shanyue hurriedly said, "Get the mirror."

"Where is the mirror here?"

Ming Shanyue frowned. "You idiot, go and fetch a basin of clean water."

Inside the carriage, Peony glanced at her mistress, then looked away before suddenly turning back to stare intently at her face.

Feng Chuchen touched her cheek. "What's wrong? Is there dirt on your face?"

Peony lifted the carriage curtain, took a closer look, and exclaimed in surprise, "Miss, why is your mole even redder?"

Feng Chuchen was taken aback. "My mole has always been red."

“It’s different. Before, it was cherry red, which was lighter. Now it’s bright red, which is deeper.”

Feng Chuchen suddenly opened her eyes wide.

Was it because of today's close contact that she changed his fate once again?

No, he changed the color of her mole!
So, will he also change her fate?

Feng Chuchen was in a state of confusion.

Although Ming Shanyue was her distant cousin, and he was willing to use the entire clan to protect her, she never considered marrying him. The deepest impression she still held of him was that of a ruthless ruler in the imperial prison, torturing prisoners…

Peony placed a small package on her lap and opened it. Inside were a small dagger, two small bamboo tubes, and four signal arrows.

She smiled and said, "These things were given to me by Master Guo. He told me not to let anyone else find them. He also said that the signal arrow can only be used when you are in danger, and no one else, including me, can use it. He taught me how to use it. The small bamboo tube is a sleeping gas, and you have to hold your breath when you use it... Hehe, the Flying Eagle Guards are really awesome, they have all these good things."

She was incredibly smug, looking at me like I was some kind of amazing fiancé.

She didn't think much about why the signal arrows couldn't be used by anyone other than the girl. In her mind, the girl was beautiful and capable, making her an easy target for bad guys. As for the others, a dagger and a can of sleeping powder would be enough to take care of everything.

When I got home, the sky was full of stars.

Before the carriage even reached the alley entrance, Guo Hei laughed and said, "Brother Feng and Xiao Shuping are waiting at the alley entrance with Da Tou in their hands."

As soon as the car came to a stop, Feng Chuchen and the other person got out and were immediately grabbed by the hands of one on each side.

Da Tou rubbed his head against Feng Chuchen's calf.

Returning to this home, holding her younger brother's little hand, Feng Chuchen felt as if she had been in another world.

Guo Hei was invited by Uncle Wu to have drinks and dinner, while Feng Chuchen went straight back to the east wing.

Even in the dim light, the mole in the bronze mirror shone with a vibrant color unlike any other, its redness becoming even more striking.