Jinyi Spring

Chapter 90 Red Hare for the Princess

Feng Chuchen was also filled with lingering fear.

"First, someone used acupuncture to make me appear dead, then buried me in the reed marshes, and then my aunt and Aunt Wang happened to take the dead child to the reed marshes. My aunt was none other than the world-famous Doctor Feng..."

"In this chain of events, if any link goes wrong, I'll be dead. I'm truly lucky to have survived."

The original owner had a hard time surviving, but ultimately met a tragic end at the hands of Feng Qi.

A feeling of indescribable bitterness and absurdity welled up in Feng Chuchen's heart.

As a transmigrator, she felt more of a bystander's sighs and heartache at the original owner's experiences than the profound sorrow that the original owner should have felt.

Aunt Wang nodded with tears in her eyes, "Yes, that man won the bet, and the girl was even luckier. It just so happened that my older sister took the dead boy to Qingweidang at that time, and when she saw you, you were still alive."

Feng Chuchen lowered her eyes, her gaze lingering between the old silk in her hand and the jade beads wrapped in gold thread.

Silk is very common, with a coarse texture, and is the lowest grade of silk.

The edges are jagged, as if it was hastily torn from an old garment.

The jade bead was wrapped in gold thread, revealing only a slight warm luster, so that even if someone saw it, they could not see its full appearance.

My eldest aunt is the wisest woman; she handled everything perfectly.

And Aunt Wang, she's also a smart woman, and she's kept her mouth shut for years.

These two things are not easy for others to notice, but anyone can see the cinnabar mole on their forehead.

Feng Chuchen raised her hand to stroke the vermilion mole between her eyebrows and said softly, "This mole is very special."

Aunt Wang comforted us, "When we found you, your face and head were covered in amniotic fluid and blood, you were very dirty. We only noticed the mole here and the needle mark on your head after we washed you clean. Those people probably wouldn't have noticed."

"It was because of the dirt on your body that my eldest sister determined that you were born between the beginning and the exact hour of Chou (1-3 AM). From the time you were born until we found you, it was probably between one and one and a half hours. If we had arrived any later, you would not have survived."

“Your health was very poor at the time, and you almost didn’t make it through. My elder sister said that the person who performed the acupuncture wasn’t very skilled, and it couldn’t have been an elder of the Li tribe who knew the secret arts. It was more likely that it was some Li person who had some knowledge of the art. Therefore, my elder sister suspected that your family was from the south.”

Feng Chuchen wholeheartedly agreed, as the original owner's parents were mostly from the south.

She composed herself and said softly, "As long as I keep the beads and silk safe and insist that I was born on the sixth day of the eighth month, they won't be able to find me. If anything happens in the future, I will be able to handle it and will be more cautious."

Aunt Wang said with pity, "A girl who survives such a calamity is destined for great fortune. She is a person with great destiny."

These words seemed to open the floodgates of Feng Chuchen's emotions, and tears instantly filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

Her voice choked with emotion, "My good fortune comes from you all. Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Auntie, thank you, Father Feng and Mother, and thank you to those who gave me acupuncture and buried me in the reed marshes..."

"Without you, there would be no me. You are all my second parents."

Feng Chuchen became truly saddened.

Of these six benefactors, three have passed away, and the remaining two are unlikely to be alive.

Now, only Aunt Wang is left to stay by her side.

Where is God's eye? Why do good people live long lives?
And then there's the poor original owner, born in a daze and died without a trace. She didn't know her origins while she was alive, and no one knew she was gone when she died.

May you be born into a loving family in your next life, enjoying the care of your parents, the love of your family, and passing away peacefully in your old age.

Seeing the girl's distress, Aunt Wang put her arm around her shoulder and gently comforted her, "You're a smart girl. This family's well-being depends on you. If you live well, this family will have hope."

"Oh, before my elder sister left, she asked me to tell you two things. First, keep the bronze box that contains the 'Fragrance of This Life' safe. It belongs to you alone; it's there while you are. Second, her journal; it contains what you want."

Feng Chuchen was puzzled, but still nodded.

After Aunt Wang left, Feng Chuchen lay down on the bed.

It was getting late, and she was too tired, so she decided to find a reason tomorrow.

I can't fall asleep even when I lie down; my mind is racing.

This body was born at the beginning of the Chou hour on the 15th of July. Feng Chuchen's previous life was born at 1:05 AM on the 15th of July, which is also the beginning of the Chou hour.

Even the time is the same.

Therefore, they had a connection with the "Upper Yin Divine Needle".

Feng Chuchen also figured out why she had a connection with the "Taiyin Divine Needle" while her aunt did not.

Because the eldest aunt only has "one yin", while he himself has been yin in both his past and present lives, he is "double yin".

In other words, this body is extremely Yin.

The aunt could have kept her true identity a secret, but she wanted to tell her when she turned twenty not only because the original owner had become more mature, but also to let her know that she was destined to be with the Yin Divine Needle because she was born on the fifteenth of the seventh month at the beginning of the hour of Chou.

For this needle to be passed down, one must know the reason for its existence.

From now on, she should pay more attention to girls born at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) on the fifteenth of July. If they learn the Yin Shen Needle technique, not only will she feel better, but she can also pass on this superb medical skill and benefit more people.

As for the Taiyin Divine Needle, I wonder if there are any other "double Yin" people like her who have transmigrated or been reborn.

She finally understood why Ming Shanyue always suffered when they met.

He is "extremely Yang," but I am "double Yin," two extreme Yin, which will definitely overpower him...

Suddenly, a thought popped into her mind: Could she be Ming Shanyue's destined one?
But then she thought it was impossible. If she and Ming Shanyue got too close, something would happen to Ming Shanyue. If they hugged, wouldn't that bring him bad luck and kill him?

so far so good.

That jinx, whoever marries him is doomed. I hope he stays a bachelor for life...

In a daze, Feng Chuchen thought of another question.

Anyone born on the 15th of the seventh lunar month at the beginning of the 1-3 AM hour, who is taught by someone skilled in the Supreme Divine Needle technique, will definitely be able to perform the Supreme Divine Needle technique.
It should not be.

Feng Chuchen remembered that before the original owner learned the Yin Shen Needle technique, her aunt had given her a three-month medicinal bath and a three-month acupuncture treatment. She didn't know the ingredients of the medicinal bath, vaguely remembered the acupuncture points, but couldn't remember the order in which the needles were inserted.

Two things my aunt said to Aunt Wang before she died...

After an unknown amount of time, drowsiness finally overcame her, and Feng Chuchen drifted off to sleep. She had another strange dream…

-

The night was dark and the moonlight was like frost.

Ming Shanyue returned to the Ming residence at the end of the midnight hour.

Normally he would stay at the yamen this late, but after learning about that shocking secret yesterday, he rushed back home after working at the yamen for a day and a half.

This is a big matter, and we need to discuss it with my father. At present, we can only discuss it with my father.

As soon as Ming Shanyue entered the East Corner Gate, Ah Xuan flew over and called out joyfully, "Little Yueyue, Little Yueyue..."

The little one hadn't been home for a few days and was very excited to see Ming Shanyue.

Ming Shanyue grabbed Ah Xuan and handed him to his personal guard, Song Xiandao, saying, "Take him back and lock him in a cage."

He was afraid that Ah Xuan would hear something and tell others, because the little thing, like a parrot, would often let slip what was going on.

Ah Xuan was unhappy and started cursing at Ming Shanyue's back, "You little brat, you pluck the hair, you pluck the hair..."

It means to pluck all the hair off the baby.

The shrill sound was particularly jarring at night.

Song Xian pinched its small body with one hand and its small beak with the other, and walked quickly in another direction.

The Duke of Dingguo would visit Miss Wan's room once or twice a month, and spend the rest of the time sleeping in the outer study. He used to occasionally rest in the side room of the main courtyard for one night, but every time he returned, Lady Shangguan looked troubled, so he couldn't go back to rest in the main courtyard.

His son must have come to see him so late because something important had happened, so he quickly put on his robe and went to the side room.

He had already heard that Wen Qian was dead.

After dismissing the servants, Ming Shanyue quietly relayed Wen Qian's words.

Finally, with a pained expression, he said, "He died before he could finish telling me who he was going to find in western Hunan. Alas, the most crucial thing is that we don't know."

The Duke of Dingguo was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time. After more than a quarter of an hour, he finally asked, "This... can it be true?"

Ming Shanyue said, "It can't be fake. Wen Qian was furious that the Xue family pushed him out, but he was powerless to do anything about it. If this matter is verified, the Xue family will have a hard time recovering, which can be considered revenge for him."

"He told me this not only because I was the Northern Garrison Commander and had a good relationship with Wen Kai, but also because the Ming family wasn't afraid of the Xue family..."

Duke Dingguo knew, of course, that it couldn't be false, but he was just too shocked to ask that question.

He sighed, "Poor little princess, so precious and noble, yet she was strangled to death right after birth and thrown into the river, her body never to be found."

Ming Shanyue said, "Father, tell me more about the Red Hare incident, in detail, down to the smallest thing."

The Duke of Dingguo pondered for a moment and said, "At the end of the fourth year of Jianzhang, the Emperor personally led an expedition to fight a bloody battle against the Northern Liao Kingdom. My father, mother, and second brother all went with him."

"With the Emperor personally leading the troops and an army of 200,000, the battle was swift and decisive, driving the Liao people into the desert. After a great victory, they returned to the capital in triumph on the sixteenth day of the eighth month of the following year."

"After returning to the capital, I heard that in early July, the capital was suddenly hit by hail and light snow, and the temperature plummeted, freezing a large number of crops to death, as well as many people and livestock. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Empress Dowager dreamed of a skinless monster, and the Imperial Observatory predicted that there might be a disaster in the Great Yan Dynasty."

"The strange celestial phenomena, coupled with that dream, frightened the Empress Dowager into falling ill, worried about the Emperor fighting on the front lines. Consort Xue, already eight months pregnant, volunteered to go to the Zixia Nunnery to transcribe scriptures and pray for the Emperor's well-being."

"The former Empress Xiao, who was also eight months pregnant, had no choice but to go as well. They left on the thirteenth of July, planning to return five days later. Unexpectedly, they both gave birth early in the nunnery. Consort Xue gave birth to the eldest princess on the afternoon of the fifteenth of July."

"On the evening of July 16, Lady Xiao gave birth to a stillborn child... A few days later, the Emperor suddenly deposed Lady Xiao from her position as Empress, demoted her to commoner status, and sent her to Zixia Nunnery to become a nun, citing her lack of virtue and jealousy."

The Duke of Dingguo glanced at his son and said, "However, there are rumors in the court that Lady Xiao was deposed because she gave birth to an unclean child. It wasn't until a month later, when your grandmother went to the palace to pay her respects to the Empress Dowager, that she heard the specific details."

"On the evening of July 14th, Xiao Shi Shen fell and gave birth to a skinless 'Red Hare' at the beginning of the next morning. The accompanying officials and imperial physicians did not dare to make a decision on their own, and brought the Red Hare into the palace for the Empress Dowager to see."

"The Empress Dowager ordered the monster to be burned, and then invited monks from the Jokhang Temple to perform a ritual in the palace to bury the monster's ashes in the mountains. Consort Xue was frightened by seeing the Red Hare and gave birth to her eldest princess prematurely."

"Xiao was also placed under house arrest, awaiting the Emperor's return to deal with her... The Empress Dowager's illness worsened, but she gradually recovered after learning that the Great Yan army had defeated the Northern Liao Kingdom."

"The Emperor and Lady Xiao were deeply in love, and with the Empress Dowager's intercession, Lady Xiao was only stripped of her title as Empress and sent to the Zixia Nunnery to become a nun. For the sake of the Crown Prince, the matter was not made public."

"However, Father has always been skeptical of the claim that Lady Xiao gave birth to Red Hare, finding it too far-fetched..."

He also found it unbelievable, but never doubted it.

After all, there are plenty of strange and wonderful things in the world.

Ming Shanyue had vaguely heard some of these things when he was young, and today he listened to them carefully again, and they were more complete.

He analyzed, "The Empress's childbirth is a major event for the nation. Even outside the palace, there will be many people waiting outside the delivery room, including officials, imperial physicians, and palace servants. If nothing unexpected happens, someone from the Xiao family will definitely be with her."

"If you want to eliminate the root of the problem, why bother exchanging Red Hare for the baby? It would have been much easier to kill both her and her unborn child during Xiao's delivery. The fact that Xiao didn't die is enough to prove that she had a trusted confidante in the delivery room, and that the confidante even knew gynecology."
"Those who wanted to harm her didn't have the chance to strike, or rather, they failed. They had no choice but to resort to their second plan: swapping the baby with Red Hare. With everyone watching, the baby swap could only be carried out inside the delivery room."

"Normally, a newborn baby will cry as soon as it is born. The baby must be strangled before it cries, and then the baby and Red Hare must be quickly exchanged. This must be done by the midwife."

"For these two things to be carried out smoothly, someone needs to block or interfere with the view of Xiao's confidants. To complete this task smoothly, another condition must be met: Xiao's confidants are not numerous enough to take care of both Xiao and the infant at the same time."

"The Xiao family and their relatives aren't stupid; they must have taken precautions, and they would have had no shortage of trusted confidants in the delivery room. The fact that the exchange was successful means that some of the Xiao family's trusted confidants have been bribed to help cover it up."

"The last thing was to take the infant out of Zixia Nunnery in the middle of the night and throw him into the Baicang River. The person who did this was probably a eunuch."

His son's account formed an image in the Duke of Dingguo's mind, and he nodded, saying, "That's right."

Ming Shanyue continued, “Logically, we should start by investigating those who went to Zixia Nunnery with Lady Xiao and Consort Xue back then, including officials, eunuchs, female doctors, and imperial physicians. But such a high-profile investigation will surely alert them and make them wary.”

"I want to start by investigating the palace maids and female physicians who died mysteriously after that incident. Apart from the Xue family's most trusted confidants, no one else who knows the truth will survive. The more people who die, the more it proves that the person behind it is guilty and killed to cover it up."

"The deaths of palace maids and female physicians are easy to investigate. The Imperial Household Department has case files, and we can also secretly investigate whether they behaved anything unusual before their deaths. Anyone who carried out the execution must have known that they could not escape death, so perhaps they made some unusual moves and left some clues..."

The Duke of Dingguo sighed deeply, his face grave.

"Fifteen years have passed, and everyone who needed to be dealt with has been dealt with. The little princess's remains have been lost, and there's no way to verify the truth... It's harder than climbing to heaven to find out the truth about this matter."

Ming Shanyue's eyes were resolute. "What has happened must leave traces. Consort Xue and the Xue family certainly can't escape."

His tone turned cold. "The timing was too coincidental. The Empress Dowager had that dream at that time, and the Imperial Observatory gave such a 'perfect' interpretation... Consort Xue took the opportunity to set up this trap."