Jinyi Spring

Chapter 111 Sinking
Shangguan Ruyu was furious and roared, "Fine, very well, I'll leave now and won't dare to come near Doctor Feng again and delay your search for a good man. As for whether I get married or not, that's none of your concern."

After yelling, he kicked over the brocade stool next to his legs and rushed out of the house like a whirlwind.

He shouted at the guards, "Load that broken peony into the cart and let's go."

Those people were standing in the courtyard, and the door was not closed, so their conversation could be heard in its entirety.

The guards hurriedly carried the flowers onto the carriage, and Duan Yan drove the carriage out of the courtyard gate.

The hustle and bustle suddenly ceased, and the courtyard became deathly silent, with only dappled sunlight falling on the ground like scattered gold dust.

Feng Chuchen gently closed the door and quietly sat down at the table. The bowl of tea on the table, long since cold, reflected her tired and pale face.

Her heart felt heavy, as if a piece of ice soaked in water was pressing down on it.

She never intended to marry Shangguan Ruyu, but the way things turned out between them wasn't what she wanted either. After all, he was a good boy—kind-hearted, studious, never oppressing the common people, having done so many secret things alongside her, and having helped her in many ways…

But after this commotion, all those friendships are gone.

The hushed conversation between Aunt Wang and Peony drifted in through the small window.

"Young Master Shangguan is handsome and kind to the young lady..." Peony was very puzzled.

"Silly girl, marriage is a lifelong commitment, and the two people need to be compatible. You did the right thing, I also think they are not compatible."

Feng Buji asked, "What is harmony?"

"I can't explain it..."

Feng Chuchen's gaze fell on the slightly yellow tea.

A good fit?

It's not just the warmth of harmonious music, but also a resonance and mutual understanding deep within the soul.

Shangguan Ruyu not only didn't understand her, but he also never truly understood himself; otherwise, he wouldn't have forced her to marry him.

As my aunt wrote: We sleep under the same sky, each of us feeling cold in our silk robes.

Clouds in the sky, orchids on the ground.

Bathed in the same moonlight, yet each tinged with the color of frost...

Those two were different from them.

There was a romantic relationship between the two, but she and he were just friends.

Now, we can't even be friends anymore...

Feng Buji wanted to go inside to persuade his sister, but Aunt Wang stopped him, saying, "Let the girl calm down."

Feng Buji's face was contorted with worry. "Sister Shangguan is such a good man, and I didn't even fancy him. My chances of finding a good man are even slimmer now..."

He pulled away from Aunt Wang's hand, went inside, took Feng Chuchen's hand, and comforted her, "Sister, if you really don't want to get married, your brother will support you for the rest of your life. I've been working hard so that when you're too old to move, I can give you a good life."

Feng Chuchen pulled the little man into her arms, holding him tightly, and truly felt the strength coming from another person.

She also had times when she felt lost and helpless, and wanted to rely on someone, but thankfully she had a younger brother...

Shangguan Ruyu did not go home, but went to the Ming Mansion.

He went directly to Ming Shanyue's study.

Song Xian saw that he was furious, a lock of hair was hanging down and covering his left eye, and his clothes were also wrinkled.

What's wrong with the usually dignified and upright Young Master Shangguan?
Song Xian hurriedly replied, "My master went to Fu Rong Tang."

Normally, Shangguan Ruyu would also go there.

But he didn't go today. With a stern face, he ordered, "Get some wine and dishes. I want to drink."

Song Xian had already realized that something serious had happened to Young Master Shangguan, so he hurriedly sent someone to the main kitchen to prepare wine and dishes, and also sent someone to Fu Rong Hall to report to his master.

When the food and wine were served, Ming Shanyue also rushed back.

Seeing his angry expression, he joked, "What's wrong? Got dumped?"

Shangguan Ruyu glared at him fiercely, then poured herself a drink and began to drink.

Ming Shanyue's playful expression vanished. "Could I really have been abandoned?"

Remembering his earlier statement about wanting to marry Feng Chuchen, he leaned closer and asked, "You confessed your feelings to that girl, and she rejected you?"

Shangguan Ruyu suddenly looked up, gave him a cold look, slammed the wine cup heavily on the table, and got up to leave.

Ming Shanyue put away her playful expression and grabbed him.

"Alright, alright, I won't ask anymore. There's nothing that alcohol can't solve. I'll keep you company, let's drink until we're drunk."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruyu slumped back down and drank one cup of wine after another without uttering a word.

Before long, he became drunk and slumped onto the table, sobbing uncontrollably, "How could she treat me like this? I had a heart full of love for her, I begged her, I've humbled myself to the dust..."

He mumbled his sobs, raised his sleeve to wipe his face haphazardly, and then reached for the wine jug.

Ming Shanyue pressed his hand down, "Brother, you're drunk."

Shangguan Ruyu raised her bloodshot eyes and glared at him, so Ming Shanyue had no choice but to let go.

After a few more drinks, Shangguan Ruyu became so drunk that she lay slumped on the table like a lump of mud.

Ming Shanyue personally helped him to his bedroom to rest and wiped his face with clean water.

He went back to sit at the table in the main hall and called Duan Yan in, asking, "What happened?"

Duan Yan looked troubled; he dared not speak rashly about his master's affairs, yet he could not remain silent.

He could only mumble, "Second Master and Miss Feng exchanged a few words inside the room, then stormed out, loaded the top-quality peonies that had just been delivered yesterday onto the cart, and came here to you."

Ming Shanyue understood immediately, so she changed her question, "Ruyu confessed her feelings to Miss Feng, but Miss Feng rejected her. Is that right?"

Duan Yan glanced at him with a sly look, then quickly lowered his eyes and whispered, "This servant didn't hear clearly, only vaguely heard Miss Feng say that they were not good men and told the young master to leave... Alas, I don't know what Miss Feng was thinking, my young master is so good..."

He also felt wronged on behalf of his young master.

I was really rejected.

For some reason, Ming Shanyue felt that Feng Chuchen's rejection was the right thing to do.

One of them was cynical and too casual about relationships. The other was meticulous and too indifferent about relationships.

They were definitely not a good match.

But couldn't we just talk it out? Why hurt someone so deeply...?

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Feng Chuchen took Banxia to the Ming Mansion again.

The servants in the main courtyard were as enthusiastic as ever.

"Dr. Feng hasn't come for many days, I miss him terribly."

"Oh, Dr. Feng's embroidery on his collar is so exquisite."

……

Upon arriving at the east wing, Ming Shanyue and Ming Shanfeng were talking with Madam Ming.

Madam Ming smiled and waved to Feng Chuchen, "I've missed you so much these past few days."

Feng Chuchen curtsied to Madam Ming and Ming Shanyue.

When I glanced at Ming Shanyue, I always felt there was something ambiguous in his eyes.

Feng Chuchen was secretly annoyed; Shangguan Ruyu must have said something to him.

The Ming brothers went to the side room, and Feng Chuchen gave Madam Ming acupuncture.

They heard the voices of two brothers coming from the side room.

“Brother, why did Cousin Shangguan leave so early this morning? Why didn’t you stop him? I was planning to have dinner at Miss Feng’s house today, let’s go together.” He quickly added, “I misspoke, I want to become a good doctor, I’m going to learn medicine from Miss Feng.” Feng Chuchen’s lips twitched, she really didn’t consider herself an outsider.

Madam Ming felt embarrassed for her son and said with a smile, "Miss Feng, please forgive me. Feng'er has been spoiled by us. He still speaks and acts like a child."

Feng Chuchen smiled, without offering any polite invitations to dinner or study sessions.

Ming Shanyue got up and pulled Ming Shanfeng away, but Ming Shanfeng stood still. He thought that since the words had been so clear, Miss Feng should invite him to her house for dinner.

After standing there for a while without receiving an invitation, he could only dejectedly follow Ming Shanyue.

She muttered to herself, "Mom said I'm clueless, but she's even more clueless than me. I made myself perfectly clear..."

Before long, Granny Hong came in.

With a beaming smile, she first curtsied to Madam Ming, then smiled at Feng Chuchen and said, "Dr. Feng, my daughter-in-law is pregnant. Yesterday, two doctors examined her pulse, and they both said it was a happy pulse. Hahaha, our family has been waiting for this for many years, and it's finally here."

The room immediately erupted in congratulations. With hope for the Hong family's daughter-in-law, hope for their own wife was also on their side.

Feng Chuchen smiled and said, "Congratulations, Aunt Hong, congratulations, Sister-in-law Hong."

Madam Ming was also pleased, "This is a joyous occasion, let's give Hong Er's wife two taels of silver as a reward."

Granny Hong kowtowed to Madam Ming.

After the treatment, Feng Chuchen declined to stay for a meal, but Granny Hong insisted on putting two packages, one large and one small, into Banxia's hands.

He also whispered to her, "The older one is for Doctor Feng, and the younger one is for Miss Banxia."

The news that Dr. Feng had cured the Hong family's daughter-in-law of her infertility after more than ten years quickly spread throughout the Duke's mansion, and within half a day it had spread throughout the entire street, and then it spread further and further away.

The next day, after Feng Chuchen finished treating Madam Ming and stepped out of the door, five or six people came to see her for treatment.

Granny Li strode out in a gust of wind, her face grim, and said, "The Duke's mansion is not a clinic; you should go to a clinic for medical treatment."

Upon hearing this, they all laughed and said, "Okay, we'll go if we're not on duty."

After finishing her work at the Mingfu Palace in the morning, Feng Chuchen was busy at the clinic in the afternoon.

Nowadays, Tongji Medical Center is not only frequented by pregnant women and new mothers, but also by women suffering from infertility.

It's already the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, and today is the last day of this treatment course.

As Feng Chuchen and Banxia approached the second gate, they heard a greeting, "Miss Feng."

Feng Chuchen stopped and saw Ming Shanyue standing with his hands behind his back under a tree not far away.

He came home specifically today to wait for Feng Chuchen here.

"Master Ming, what's the matter?"

Ming Shanyue stopped two steps away from Feng Chuchen, and without saying a word, glanced at Banxia first.

Banxia tactfully walked ahead.

Ming Shanyue cleared her throat, her face slightly flushed, and said with a forced smile, "Ruyu has been in a bad mood these days, not going to the yamen, and getting drunk every day..."

Feng Chuchen countered, "So what?"

"What I mean is, when Miss Feng refused, did she consider his feelings..."

Feng Chuchen's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at him coldly. "Lord Ming, teach me how to do it."

Ming Shanyue choked.

This was the first time he had done something like this. He couldn't bear to see Shangguan Ruyu, who had already reformed his spoiled ways, revert to them after being rejected, and continue to be depressed.

He forced a smile and suggested, "How about Miss Feng invites Ruyu, me, and Shanfeng to your house for a meal? You can use this opportunity to clear things up and not embarrass him too much."

Feng Chuchen looked at him for a few seconds, said nothing, and then turned and left.

In Feng Chuchen's opinion, Shangguan Ruyu was not too persistent in his feelings. The reason he was so sad was not because he loved her to the point of madness, but because he was rejected for the first time and could not accept it.

Cut off his thoughts decisively, don't let him harbor any illusions, and he will forget about it over time.

Ming Shanyue stared blankly at that straight and slender back.

He was known as the King of Hell, and many officials were afraid of him, but this girl was not!
As dusk fell, Feng Chuchen saw off the last patient. Just then, Shaoyao ran over with a happy expression and said, "Girl, come and see, Aunt Wang has brought back a son."

Feng Chuchen was overjoyed and quickly went to the house.

In the courtyard, Aunt Wang was holding the hand of a little boy who was a little over five years old, and several maids were laughing and talking to the little boy.

The little boy was very thin, his face was mottled, and his skinny fingers were tightly gripping his shirt, looking very uneasy.

Aunt Wang smiled and said to the little boy, "Ping'er, this is the young lady."

Upon hearing this, the little boy immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

Feng Chuchen quickly pulled him up and said with a smile, "Call me Big Sister, and call him Big Brother."

She pointed to Feng Buji, who had just returned home, and Feng Buji looked at the little boy curiously.

The little boy tried to kneel down again, but Feng Chuchen stopped him first.

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "I'll give him a bath and change his clothes first."

Aunt Wang made the clothes first.

Her clothes were below her knees, and her cotton trousers were rolled up.

The little boy, cleaned up, had delicate features and bright, sparkling eyes; he looked intelligent at first glance.

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "His future name will be Wang Shuping. I hope he will be knowledgeable, reasonable, and live a peaceful life." Then she said to the boy, "Ping'er, greet the young lady and the young master."

Feng Chuchen tried to pull Wang Shuping back, but Aunt Wang insisted, "We must observe proper etiquette."

Wang Shuping knelt down and kowtowed to Feng Chuchen and her brother, saying, "This humble one greets Miss and Young Master."

His voice was trembling.

Feng Chuchen gave him a silver necklace with a small silver clasp, saying, "Be a good person, study hard, and take care of your mother in the future."

"Yes, lad, I'll remember that."

Feng Buji gave him a copy of "The Hundred Family Surnames" and a set of writing implements, promising generously, "When I become successful in the future, I will help my younger brother Shuping."

She then took his hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you outside to have a look around."

Wang Shuping blushed and looked at Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "Go and play with the young master."

Xiao Shuping was pulled out, followed closely by Xiao Mozi and Da Tou.

Aunt Wang smiled contentedly, "After looking for several months, I finally found one that suits my taste. The broker said that this child's parents are both dead, and his grandmother sold him to her youngest son to get him a wife. Alas, he is a poor child."

She handed over Wang Shuping's slave contract to Feng Chuchen, and the child was still registered under the Feng family's name.

"We are a widow and her children, and we can only rely on the girl to stay safe."

Feng Chuchen took the contract and said, "When the clinic grows bigger and we have more power, we'll return the slave contract to Aunt Wang and Brother Shuping. We'll also buy you a house and two servants, and you'll be mistresses and gentlemen."

Aunt Wang laughed heartily, "Thanks to the young master and young lady, I'm also looking forward to that day. Tomorrow we'll have two tables set up at home so Ping'er can kowtow and formally acknowledge her family."

Feng Chuchen said, "Let's reschedule the family reunion banquet for the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'll send someone to the countryside to invite Uncle Changfu and Village Chief Zhao to be witnesses."

Aunt Wang thought about it and agreed, "The young lady is very thoughtful. Let's invite Grandpa Yao over as well."

With villagers as witnesses, the news can be relayed to her parents' home, letting them know she has a son and that they should stop coveting her money.

Aunt Wang chuckled again, "Let Shu'er learn to serve the young master from Xiao Mozi. She might not be good at big tasks, but she'll be good at running errands. She can go back to school next year..."

Feng Chuchen disagreed, saying, "In my brother's and my eyes, Shuping is just our brother. We don't need him to serve us... Let him work hard, and maybe he can even earn an imperial title for Aunt Wang."

(End of this chapter)