Jinyi Spring

Chapter 88 She Gave Birth to a Princess
Feng Chuchen had already realized that Wen Qian was not going to survive and was not suitable for the Taiyin Divine Needle, so he could only try his best to keep him awake for a moment.

At this moment, Feng Chuchen's mind had calmed down. Based on her own judgment, she quickly inserted silver needles into several key acupoints, twisting her fingers continuously to inject true qi into them.

Now that she's here, even if a celestial being were to personally appear, they couldn't possibly pull Wen Qian back from the brink of death.

Shangguan Ruyu made a feigned movement with her arm, and Ming Shanyue tacitly blocked the jailer's view with her body.

What the jailer saw was Shangguan Ruyu treating Wen Qian.

Feng Chuchen's lips were tightly pressed together, his body as steady as a rock, and his hands moved with precision, speed, and methodical order.

Shangguan Ruyu was filled with admiration; her radiance shone brightest when she was focused on saving lives!
Although Ming Shanyue could only see a straight back, a trace of elusive admiration involuntarily flashed in the depths of her eyes.

After experiencing the bloodiest scenes, they can adjust their mindset in the shortest amount of time and calmly treat patients.

She is indeed a bold and remarkable woman.

If this were an ordinary young lady, she would probably have fainted long ago, let alone try to save someone with a needle.

Suddenly, Wen Qian let out a faint hiss, and his eyelids twitched violently.

Feng Chuchen did not take the silver needles, but suddenly stood up.

Shangguan Ruyu also stood up and muttered, "I knew he wouldn't survive, he didn't even blink."

The two stepped back a few paces, deliberately keeping a certain distance from Ming Shanyue, and Shangguan Ruyu's body once again cleverly blocked the jailer's view.

Ming Shanyue pretended not to believe it, walked over and squatted down to check if Wen Qian was dead.

Just as his ear was close to Wen Qian's lips, Wen Qian suddenly opened his eyes.

Upon seeing that the person in front of him was Ming Shanyue, he managed a weak upward twitch of his lips.

A barely audible voice reached Ming Shanyue's ears, "Empress Xiao... gave birth to a princess, not Red Hare. The little princess... was strangled... and thrown into the Baicang River."

“Damn it, they think… everyone who knows about that is dead, yet they dare… treat me like this. Go to western Hunan and search… search…”

Before he could finish speaking, his head suddenly tilted to the side, and he died.

Ming Shanyue quickly touched the side of Wen Qian's neck with her fingers; this time, he was truly dead.

A fleeting, violent glint flashed in Ming Shanyue's eyes, but a tidal wave of emotions surged within him. Horror and immense regret overwhelmed him instantly; he had died before he could finish delivering the most crucial message!
He wiped Wen Qian's still wide-open eyes with his hand, stood up and said, "He is dead."

He then complained to Shangguan Ruyu, "You were barely clinging to life, but you killed me with your treatment. I'm not keeping you here anymore. Go back to the Imperial Hospital; it'll save me from getting scolded."

Shangguan Ruyu's eyes bulged. "How could I have killed him? He was supposed to die at this time. I'm not going back. If you have the guts, kick me out."

As he spoke, he walked over, squatted down, and quickly removed several silver needles.

Looking at Wen Qian sadly, he said, "Uncle Wen, you almost became my father-in-law, but unfortunately we weren't destined to be together. I wanted to save you, but I didn't have the ability."

"Go on your journey safely. I will ask Commander Xie and my second cousin to prevent the Flying Eagle Guard from harming the women of the Wen family."

After saying that, he bowed deeply.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, the commander of the Flying Eagle Guard was a eunuch, who was directly under the emperor's command.

The current commander is Xie Ming.

The second cousin he mentioned was Xue Jicheng, the deputy commander of the Flying Eagle Guard.

When the Flying Eagle Guards raided homes, some of them would molest or even rape the female relatives of disgraced officials.

The marriage between Shangguan Ruyu and Wen Shu is impossible, but Wen Shu was once his fiancée, so Shangguan Ruyu's request is understandable.

Upon hearing this, both jailers came in.

The jailer squatted down and touched Wen Qian's neck to confirm that Wen Qian was indeed dead.

He was secretly delighted, but outwardly he was terrified.

He quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Ming Shanyue, saying, "My lord, spare me! My lord, spare me! I was too rough with you, I'll be more careful next time..."

Enraged, Ming Shanyue kicked the jailer to the ground and cursed, "You bastard, you actually killed him! Get out of here and get twenty lashes!"

He then said to another jailer, "Go and report to Commander Xie and Deputy Commander Xue that Wen Qian is dead."

Shangguan Ruyu and Feng Chuchen hurriedly walked out of the prison cell.

A dry, chilly night wind swept over me, carrying the vibrant scent of the outside world. The Milky Way shone brightly overhead, and withered leaves trembled in the cold wind.

Feng Chuchen took a deep breath of the cold air, as if to thoroughly cleanse the filth remaining in her lungs.

To go to the imperial prison to complete that kind of mission, to face that kind of scene and people, the terror was far worse than death.

The outside and the inside are separated by only a wall, yet they are two completely different worlds.

The Imperial Prison is a purgatory, the palace of the King of Hell.

Ming Shanyue is known as the King of Hell, a title he truly deserves.

The two got into the car.

Only after the carriage drove away from the heavy gates of the imperial prison did Feng Chuchen's taut back relax. She leaned back softly in the chair and ripped off her mask.

Shangguan Ruyu was also nervous, her forehead covered with beads of sweat.

The car lights were dim, and Shangguan Ruyu saw that Feng Chuchen's face was pale and her lips were tightly pursed.

He said softly, "I'm sorry, I frightened you by seeing that scene."

Feng Chuchen lowered her head and ignored him.

Shangguan Ruyu added, "Only you can save him, there's nothing else we can do."

Feng Chuchen suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on him, "You almost got me killed."

Shangguan Ruyu's heart tightened, and she softened her voice, as if comforting a frightened little animal, "You're not dead. You performed very well just now, calm, composed, and a woman who is no less capable than men. You have the demeanor of Empress Shengde and Princess Changning."

Feng Chuchen's shoulders slumped slightly, her voice revealing a rare vulnerability, "I don't want to be a heroine, nor am I calm and collected. I'm terrified. Didn't you say the Feng family saved your life twice and wouldn't harm me?"
"Please, if I encounter something like this again, please turn it down for me. I don't want to die. If I die, I won't be able to live either, and our Feng family line will end."

Shangguan Ruyu had never seen Feng Chuchen so submissive before. Her heart clenched, but she said boldly, "Alright, if we encounter something like this again, I'll definitely help you get out of it. If Ming Shanyue dares to be stubborn, I'll fight him to the death."

Feng Chuchen glanced at him.

She knew that no matter how strong Shangguan Ruyu was, she couldn't defy that plague. If something like this happened again, she would still be forced to go.

A brief silence fell over the carriage as the night wind seeped in through the cracks, carrying a chill.

Shangguan Ruyu spoke again, her tone grave, "Remember, pretend that what just happened never happened, and don't let a single word of it slip out."

He muttered to himself, "If he keeps this a secret, what will he tell Ming Shanyue? Lord Wen is also confused. Why did he get involved in such a thing, harming himself and others?"

Feng Chuchen didn't want to know what Wen Qian was saying; knowing too many secrets would only hasten death.

She changed the subject, "You keep your word and help the women of the Wen family. Miss Wen is a very good person, pure and beautiful, and wholeheartedly wants to marry you. If Wen Qian had gotten into trouble half a year later, Miss Wen would have already married you, and it wouldn't have implicated her."

Shangguan Ruyu's eyes darkened. His impression of Wen Shu was neither good nor bad; marrying her was entirely due to his family's arrangement. However, the thought of her future miserable fate made him feel uneasy. "Anyone with eyes can see that the Xue family wanted to frame Lord Xiao, but when that failed, they had to sacrifice Wen Qian to save themselves. Wen Qian's quick death, without implicating the Xue family..."
"The Xue family will ensure that his entire family doesn't fall into the worst possible situation... This must have been a private agreement between them. He's quite lucky; Ming Shanyue returned today, fulfilling his last wish."

Feng Chuchen glanced at Shangguan Ruyu. This person was nothing like the brainless person in the legends; she was actually quite intelligent.

He then asked, "Lord Xiao defeated Wen Qian, is he very powerful now?"

Shangguan Ruyu said, "Although Lord Xiao has been reinstated, he is still just a junior official in the Ministry of Works and cannot shake the Xue family in the slightest. However, the matter of his severe torture has reached the ears of the Emperor and the First Prince."

"The eldest prince clung to the emperor's leg and wept, finally touching the emperor's heart. The Xue family went too far, and the Xiao family, already driven to the brink, still wouldn't let go, thus incurring the emperor's displeasure and doing Lord Xiao a great favor..."

His words were veiled and subtle, and Feng Chuchen understood the danger involved, so she stopped asking questions.

Feng Chuchen had heard Cai Yuxiu say that the Emperor currently had four sons and five princesses.

The eldest prince was born to the former empress, Xiao, who was deposed and sent to a nunnery to become a nun more than ten years ago after committing a crime.

The eldest prince has no hope of seizing the throne.

The second prince was born to Consort Xue.

Empress Dowager Xue was Consort Xue's aunt, making the Second Prince the most likely candidate to be made emperor...

The two remained silent as the carriage arrived at the small courtyard they had visited before.

Feng Chuchen got off the carriage and then got back into the carriage that had brought her there; the clothes in the carriage remained untouched.

The carriage started moving at a brisk pace, and Feng Chuchen changed her clothes. She had already worn this outfit before, so she packed it up and took it home, thinking she might need it later.

It was late at night when I got home, and Aunt Wang opened the door.

Peony only told Aunt Wang the truth, and told Feng Buji and the others that someone was giving birth and asked Feng Chuchen to wait for them.

Aunt Wang was worried and has been waiting until now.

Seeing Feng Chuchen's pale face and unsteady steps, she was very worried. She followed her into the east wing and asked, "Have you eaten, Miss?"

Feng Chuchen shook her head. "I don't want to eat."

The thought of that bloody scene makes me nauseous; I can't eat anything.

Seeing the inquiry in Aunt Wang's eyes, Feng Chuchen said, "Aunt Wang, please don't ask anymore. I went to save a woman who was about to give birth."

Aunt Wang, of course, didn't believe it, but still said, "It's good that he was saved."

She opened her mouth, but seeing that her master was extremely tired, she had no choice but to swallow her words.

The stars were shining brightly, and the night wind was howling.

Shangguan Ruyu was certain that Ming Shanyue would stay at the Beiwei Yamen in Maozi Hutong tonight, which was the location of the Beifu Town Office and was next to the Imperial Prison.

He said to Song Yan, "Go to the Northern Guard's office."

Song Yan whispered, "Master, let's go back to the manor."

Shangguan Ruyu said impatiently, "Where I go is none of your business."

As expected, Ming Shanyue was still in the government office.

He had just finished dealing with his business and was now staring blankly at the flickering candlelight on his desk, showing no sign of fatigue...

The secret Wen Qian revealed exploded in my heart like a thunderclap.

The mastermind behind the Red Hare's exchange for the princess was not the newborn princess, but the former empress, Empress Xiao.

With the downfall of Lady Xiao, the eldest prince also fell...

Shangguan Ruyu rushed into the room like a gust of wind, while Ming Shanyue pretended not to see her and continued to stare blankly.

After dismissing the others, Shangguan Ruyu leaned close to his ear and asked in a low voice, "Cousin, what did Wen Qian say to you?"

Ming Shanyue turned her head away in disgust, looked at him coldly and said, "Wen Qian was killed by you, can he still speak?"

Undeterred, Shangguan Ruyu pleaded in a low voice, "Who am I? I'm your dear cousin Ayu, the wisest, smartest, and most discreet person. I've done so many things for you. Just tell me a few words, I can't sleep otherwise."

Ming Shanyue said impatiently, "If you don't want to die, don't ask. Keep what happened tonight to yourself. Don't tell anyone, including my uncle."

"Even my dad can't tell me, it's so mysterious?"

"..."

Ming Shanyue's face was as stern as iron, and his eyes were so dark they seemed to drip water.

Shangguan Ruyu felt a chill run down her spine, realizing that Wen Qian's words were outrageous, and wisely dared not ask any further questions.

"Yes, yes, I wanted to save Wen Qian, but my medical skills were lacking, and Wen Qian died directly. I'm tired, I'm going to rest in bed. Don't crowd me, I'll sleep on the floor."

Ming Shanyue then reminded him in a deep voice, "Remember, don't let anyone know that you're learning surgery from Miss Feng. If you want to be a good doctor, learning surgery alone isn't enough; you need to learn everything else."

"Physician Fang's acupuncture skills are excellent, Physician Qin's ulcer treatment is excellent, and the Cai family's bone-setting techniques are superb. You should consult with them more often and learn from their strengths..."

Shangguan Ruyu understood; this was the best way to protect Feng Chuchen.

He solemnly agreed, "Okay, I will."

Shangguan Ruyu lay down on the bed, fully clothed, and did not allow any servants to come in to serve her.

Ming Shanyue gazed at the candlelight, her heart churning.

He was only six years old when the former Empress Xiao met her downfall. He heard that she had committed some serious crime and was demoted to a commoner by the emperor, who then forced her to become a nun in a nunnery.

As a child, he could never understand how the Empress, who was as beautiful and gentle as a fairy, could commit a crime.

Later, when they were older, they heard that because Xiao had given birth to "Red Rabbit," it was considered an unlucky person.

This matter was classified and known only to a very small number of members of the royal family and high-ranking officials.

My grandfather always had doubts about this matter, and it turned out that he had indeed been framed.

Needless to say, the people behind the scenes are Consort Xue and the Xue family.

What puzzled Ming Shanyue the most was that since Wen Qian knew such a shocking secret, why didn't the Xue family kill him earlier? Instead, they used him as a pawn to push him out years later, forcing him to reveal the truth before his death...

The stars shone brightly, the night was dark, and a horse galloped wildly through the silent streets.

Upon arriving at the side gate of the Xue residence, a man immediately disembarked, knocked three times, paused, and then knocked four more times. The side gate opened, allowing him to enter, and the man then quickly ran to a courtyard.

The courtyard and the main house were brightly lit. Xue Jicheng paced back and forth in the house, while Master Xue sat steadily in the grand chair.

Master Xue is currently the head of the Xue family and serves as the Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

They have received the report of Wen Qian's death and are waiting for more detailed information from Cen.

After bowing, the visitor reported in a low voice, "Your Excellencies, Wen Qian is dead. He died in his sleep. Ming Shanyue was furious and ordered Xiang Cen to be beaten with twenty strokes of the military rod."

Xue Jicheng's eyes were sharp as knives as he pressed, "Are you sure Wen Qian didn't say anything or see anyone before he died?"