Jinyi Spring

Chapter 117 The tip of the iceberg

Feng Chuchen didn't disturb him, thinking that this must be a highly confidential case, otherwise she could have just asked the prison guards in the imperial prison.

When asked, she wondered if it was related to Lord Xiao's or Wen Qian's case.

After a good quarter of an hour, Ming Shanyue finally came to her senses and looked at Feng Chuchen. "I understand, thank you, Miss Feng. What I said today is for your ears only, and will not be divulged to others."

"Also, when you see Dr. Cai again, tell her more about the old Dr. Cai, her aunt. If you find any unusual clues, tell me immediately. I will remember your great favor."

Feng Chuchen thought back to the question from earlier: Did Ming Shanyue suspect that the old female doctor Cai had killed the newborn baby?
Old Cai, the female doctor, has been dead for many years.

The female physician served the women in the palace and the women of the royal family, and the infants she nursed were not ordinary people.

Moreover, Dr. Cai has an excellent reputation. If the eldest aunt is ranked first, she is definitely second.

Could this be harmful?

Imagine if, in that place, she were threatened with the lives of her entire clan, she wouldn't dare disobey.

A flicker of curiosity arose in Feng Chuchen, and she blurted out, "When did Dr. Cai die?" She quickly added, "If it's inconvenient to disclose, then pretend I didn't ask."

Ming Shanyue said, "The time of Old Doctor Cai's death is not a secret. She died on the fifteenth of the seventh month in the fifth year of Jianzhang."

Feng Chuchen's ears rang with a "buzz," and his body tensed up instantly. A long-lost chill penetrated his body, running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Miss Feng, Miss Feng... what's wrong?"

Ming Shanyue's voice seemed very, very far away.

It took several calls for Feng Chuchen to snap out of her daze.

She pressed her fingertips against her throbbing temple. "It's nothing, I just suddenly have a headache..."

Ming Shanyue raised her eyebrows, clearly disbelieving.

Feng Chuchen fully regained consciousness.

This plague god is the Northern Garrison Commander, whose nose is even more sensitive than a dog's.

She stood up, took two steps back, and rubbed her forehead, saying, "Strange, how come it's fine again?"

Ming Shanyue thought the two of them had gotten close, and Feng Chuchen, like him, suddenly had a reaction.

He said, "Go and rest in the side room, and remember what I said."

"Ah."

Feng Chuchen fled as if he were escaping.

In the side room, Banxia held a brocade package.

Seeing the young lady enter, he stepped forward and said with a smile, "This was a gift from Madam Ming, as a token of her gratitude..."

She cut off the conversation, saying, "Go wait at the entrance of the hanging flower gate, it's not urgent."

Seeing her master's displeased expression, Banxia assumed that he had argued with Lord Ming again, so she quickly went out.

Feng Chuchen sat quietly at the table with her eyes closed, letting her thoughts wander.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the fifth year of Jianzhang, the old female doctor Cai died mysteriously, seemingly related to the killing of a newborn infant.

On the same day at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the original owner was buried in the reed marshes as a stillborn infant, and someone inserted a life-saving needle into the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head.

Baihui (GV20) is a life-saving acupoint, while the fontanelle (BL62) is a death-causing acupoint. Both acupoints are located on the top of the head, one at the back and the other at the front.

Old Cai, the female doctor, is skilled in midwifery, acupuncture, and orthopedics. If she also knows the Li ethnic group's secret technique of "feigning death," she can deceive everyone.

Feng Chuchen's heart pounded wildly.

If that's the case, the original owner's family is very likely in the capital, and they might be royalty, members of the imperial clan, or some other high-ranking family.

Old Cai, the female doctor, ostensibly caused the death of the infant, but in reality saved her...

But Feng Chuchen dared not ask Ming Shanyue any more questions; that fellow was too cunning.

I'll investigate further with Shangguan Ruyu and Cai Yuxiu later...

Banxia's voice came from outside the window, "Miss, the young master, Aunt Wu, and Shaoyao have arrived."

Stepping out of the side room, the breath of early spring greeted Feng Chuchen, bringing her a touch of warmth despite the chill in her body.

Upon arriving at the hanging flower gate, Feng Buji stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sister, the old Duke and the old lady are enjoying their meal. They said it reminded them of their youth, a big pot of stew with a handful of chili peppers—so delicious..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "In my sister's words, it's not about eating meat, it's about eating memories."

This made Peony and Pinellia chuckle.

Feng Buji habitually took his sister's hand, frowned and said, "Sister, is something wrong? Why are your hands so cold? Like ice cubes."

Feng Chuchen forced a smile and said, "I used a bit more internal force when administering the acupuncture."

Aunt Wu beamed with joy, "Thanks to you, young lady, I received another five taels of silver as a reward today. Oh my, in less than a year, my family has accumulated over thirty taels of silver, enough to buy several acres of land. I never dared to dream of this before."

In his excitement, he revealed all his family's assets.

Everyone burst into laughter again.

After getting into the carriage, Feng Buji took the small package from Shaoyao's hand, opened it, and took out the items one by one, saying, "This is a gift from Prince Consort Shangguan, Lord Jin, and Lord He. This was a reward from the old lady, who said that I study hard and am more obedient than Second Brother Ming."

"Sister, everyone says that Princess Changning has killed countless people and is terrifying. But I think the old lady is the kindest. She squeezed my hand very gently, as if she was afraid of hurting me."

Thinking of that old lady, Feng Chuchen also felt a sense of closeness.

Could it be because of family ties?
If the original owner was born to a woman from the royal family or imperial clan, then they really were related.

Feng Chuchen picked up the jade pendant given to her by Shangguan Yunqi. It was engraved with the two characters "Chengxiang" and was milky white, warm and smooth. It was a rare and top-quality mutton fat jade.

Now that the debts have been settled, it is normal for elders to give younger people gifts when they meet.

She returned the jade pendant to Feng Buji, saying, "Brother, study hard and bring honor to your aunt."

Feng Buji puffed out his small chest, "I've been trying my best."

Peony laughed and said, "The old lady summoned me and rewarded me with two taels of silver. She also made Master Jin apologize to the young lady and me, saying that it was unreasonable for someone to drag others in and beat them up when his wife was giving birth."

"Lord Jin apologized and said he would never do it again, and also rewarded the servant with two taels of silver."

Banxia smiled and said, "Today, Madam Ming rewarded me with a pair of shrimp-whisker gold bracelets."

Everyone benefited greatly.

This provides enough emotional value, making the powerful and wealthy happy.

Feng Chuchen closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, listening to their laughter and chatter.

When I got home, there were already eight women waiting at the door who had come to the clinic for infertility treatment.

Feng Chuchen suppressed his anxiety and went to see the patients. By the time he finished, the sun was setting.

She went back into the room, locked the door, and then took out the piece of cloth and the gold-inlaid jade beads, examining them repeatedly under the lamp.

She then remembered that this cloth resembled the clothing of low-ranking eunuchs. The jade bead couldn't be seen in its entirety, but it was clearly of high quality, a bluish-green color.

Xiao… she murmured the surname.

Lord Xiao's nephew is the eldest prince, and his sister is the former empress who fell from grace and was demoted to commoner status for her crimes, now living a life of solitary meditation and Buddhist devotion...

Her mother in her previous life also had the surname Xiao and a beautiful name—Xiao Qingrui.

Is it a coincidence?

Just like her past life and the original owner of this body, their appearances even overlapped somewhat. Was this merely one of the countless coincidences in the world, or some kind of heavy destiny that she could not yet foresee?
Unfortunately, Tsai Yu-hsiu has already used up her leave for this month and will have to wait until next month...

Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, Shaoyao's voice came from outside the door, "Miss, dinner is ready." Feng Chuchen pushed open the door and went out.

Dusk was gently enveloping the courtyard. The roses had already budded with pale pink blossoms, the rose vines climbed over the bamboo trellis, and new leaves overlapped one after another. The two pots of spring orchids were in full bloom, their fragrance wafting in the breeze...

Although the small courtyard lacks a profusion of flowers, it is woven with varying shades of greenery, creating a tranquil and beautiful space that exudes its own vibrant, inward-growing charm.

The faint groans of a woman in labor and the soothing voices of a midwife could be heard from the clinic next door, while the clanging and banging of renovations continued on the other side, crisp and persistent.

All of this exudes the warmth and hope of everyday life, and the home she built with her own hands is gradually getting better.

She stood quietly under the veranda, letting the evening breeze caress her face.

I only wish... that old story that seems to be slowly surfacing has nothing to do with her.

Compared to the danger of her noble status, she would much rather have been born into an ordinary family.

Feng Chuchen suppressed her thoughts and went to the main room with a normal expression.

Just as we were eating, Big Head's rough voice rang out again from outside, "Woof woof..."

Then came a clear greeting, "Woof woof, little boss..."

Feng Buji jumped up immediately, "Ah Xuan is here, visiting so late."

Since Ah Xuan brought the Cephalosporin family to the old house on the eve of the Lunar New Year, this is the first time they have come to visit.

He dashed out in a flash, and Wang Shuping jumped off his chair and followed him out.

Feng Buji carried Ah Xuan into the house, saying, "Sister, Ah Xuan smells sweet, like she just came from a temple."

Feng Chuchen took Ah Xuan and saw that there was still a little bit of damp incense ash on its feathers.

He couldn't help but smile. "Looks like it's rolled around in the incense burner."

She recalled meeting Ah Xuan at Zixia Temple this past January, and also encountering it last year at the foot of Baoxiang Mountain, not far from Zixia Temple...

The former empress most likely became a nun at Zixia Nunnery; I myself had been there before.

Feng Chuchen stroked the downy fur on its little head and smiled, "What did you call me?"

Ah Xuan's little bean eyes stared at it, and it opened its pointed mouth and cried out, "Miss, Aunt, even the lotus cannot compare to the beauty's makeup."

Feng Chuchen's heart stirred slightly, and a strange thought arose: the reason why the little thing was so affectionate towards her was probably because she resembled someone, and Ah Xuan called that person "Little Aunt".

It transferred the praise it had given to its aunt—"Even the lotus cannot compare to the beauty of a woman's makeup"—to her.

If that's the case, Ah Xuan unintentionally connected her with her.

That speculation became even stronger.

Feng Chuchen hurriedly finished her meal and returned to her room, where she took out the necklace and examined it closely.

Outside the window, several children were playing with Ah Xuan and Da Tou.

Laughter, birdsong, and barking mingled together, creating a melody as warm as the most comforting human experience.

This is too much of a coincidence. How could she have glimpsed the tip of the iceberg of a major case that the Northern Garrison Commander hadn't even solved yet? Perhaps she herself is even a party involved in this major case?
Or perhaps she was just overthinking things, and it was all just a coincidence.

Regardless of whether the woman imprisoned in Zixia Nunnery was her biological mother, she was a pitiful and tragic woman. Once an empress, her child was murdered, and she herself became a nun.

Judging from the poem Ah Xuan often recites, she must be an exceptionally beautiful woman.

But who taught Ah Xuan that poem? It couldn't have been the former empress, or perhaps the little one just came up with it on his own...

Feng Buji was a self-aware and good child. After playing for a while, he went back to his room to do his homework. Ah Xuan flew to the east wing again.

Feng Chuchen was oblivious, still staring blankly at the necklace in her hand.

Ah Xuan landed lightly on her wrist, raising its tail to gently peck at the beads.

Feng Chuchen clenched her fist, preventing it from pecking at her.

Ah Xuan pecked at her fingers, making them ticklish and tingly.

She then opened her palm, letting the little one play with the beads in her hand.

Feng Chuchen stroked its little head and murmured, "You like this little bead too? Whose is this little bead?"

After the little one played for a little over two quarters of an hour, Feng Chuchen clenched his fist and said, "It's getting late, you should go back."

Ah Xuan wanted to play more, but after pecking at the fist several times without success, he angrily cursed "You little rascal!" and spread his wings and flew away through the small window.

A few days later, in the afternoon, the weather was fine and sunny, and Feng Chuchen was busy at the clinic.

Mu Jin came over and whispered, "Miss, we have a guest."

She didn't mention her name; it was always a man who came.

Both patients were receiving acupuncture at the time. Feng Chuchen asked Banxia to watch over them while she went to the house.

An ordinary carriage was parked in the courtyard, two guards stood at the entrance of the main house, and the exquisite peony that had been returned was now prominently displayed in the center of the courtyard.

Feng Chuchen couldn't help but chuckle, a strange sense of joy welling up inside her.

The handsome Shangguan Ruyu sat at the octagonal table drinking tea. When he saw Feng Chuchen enter, he put down his teacup, raised his chin, and looked at her with arrogance and provocation.

I'm 21 years old, but I still act like a delusional teenager.

Feng Chuchen silently thought to herself, "Immature!"
However, he remained expressionless and sat down on the other side of the table, pretending that nothing had happened regarding Shangguan Ruyu's rejection.

Seeing his fixed gaze, she scolded him playfully, "What kind of look is that? I'm a respectable girl from a good family."

"Heh," Shangguan Ruyu looked up at the sky and sneered, giving Feng Chuchen a disdainful once-over before slowly speaking.

"You, well, you're just average-looking. Too thin, lacking the graceful charm a woman should have. You also have a bad temper, rarely even smiling, like someone owes you money."

"She doesn't know how to dress or dress up, looks plain and unremarkable, and doesn't have the vibrancy of a young lady at all. Yet she has ridiculously high standards, I don't know what kind of outstanding young man she's looking for."

He relentlessly belittled Feng Chuchen in an attempt to save face for himself.

Feng Chuchen was not angry at all. On the contrary, she said frankly, "Young Master Shangguan is absolutely right. I am just an ordinary woman. I come from a humble background, have a bad temper, and am plain-looking."

"Unlike you, Young Master Shangguan, who are of noble birth, incomparably handsome, elegant and refined, with a gentle and graceful demeanor, truly a man of universal appeal, a beauty that stands out among all flowers..."

Before she could finish praising him, Shangguan Ruyu couldn't handle it and blushed as she interrupted, "Alright, stop being so hypocritical, you're not serious at all."

He then waved to Songyan and Mujin, "Step back."

Song Yan obediently withdrew.

Mu Jin asked softly, "Miss?"

Feng Chuchen said, "Go down."

Only the two of them remained in the room. Shangguan Ruyu leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with a fierce gossip-loving light.

"I never imagined that my father and your aunt once..."

Feng Chuchen interrupted him, "We've already settled things, don't bring this up again."

Shangguan Ruyu's cheeks flushed, and she sat up straight with a sullen expression, asking with a burning gaze, "If it weren't for their past, would you have agreed to be with me?"

This is what he most wants to know, and what he is most unwilling to accept.

Feng Chuchen hesitated to say that even without their involvement, she wouldn't have agreed.

He said calmly, "This question is meaningless. If Lord Shangguan wants to have normal relations with my brother and me, he should not bring up that matter again."

(End of this chapter)