Jinyi Spring

Chapter 124 She looks like her
Qingxin Fagu took out three strings of sandalwood prayer beads, asking Princess Yanghe to give two strings to the Empress Dowager and the eldest prince, and giving one string to Princess Yanghe herself.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for remembering this humble nun. You are very kind."

Princess Yanghe sighed, "When you were in the palace, we were the best of friends..."

The two talked for another quarter of an hour, when Granny Tong gently reminded her, "Your Highness, regarding your Buddhist vows with the two princesses..."

Yang He reluctantly stood up and looked at Qingxin with concern, saying, "Please take good care of yourself, Qingxin, and try to relax. I will find another opportunity to visit you in the future."

As she stood up, she noticed the scar behind Qingxin's ear—the one left when Xiao Shi bumped into the dragon pillar to prove she hadn't given birth to a monster—which now looked pale red, like an unhealed wound.

Princess Yanghe stepped out of the temple gate and subconsciously looked back.

The heavy wooden door slowly closed, like two silent shadows, inch by inch swallowing the lonely gray figure inside.

Princess Yanghe felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

She finally remembered who Feng Chuchen resembled; the child's features bore a striking resemblance to Qingxin when she was young.

However, Qingxin's beauty was like a delicate flower on a spring branch, glistening with dew, exuding gentleness and fragility. Feng Chuchen, on the other hand, was like a cool, clear mountain spring, imbued with both heroic spirit and aloofness…

"mother!"

Shangguan Ruyu's clear voice interrupted Yang He's thoughts, and he quickly stepped forward to support her arm.

The mother and son walked slowly along the bluestone path toward the front of the hall.

Shangguan Ruyu asked, "Has the Qingxin Dharma Nun changed much?"

Yang He's gaze swept over the peonies not far away, and he sighed softly, "They're huge, so huge. They used to be so vibrant and bright, like peonies in full bloom. But now they're so thin and withered, like dead grass in late autumn. Alas, who can be so cheerful when faced with such misfortune?"

Her voice was very low, "This world is truly mysterious. No wonder I always felt that Miss Feng looked familiar; it turns out that her features are quite similar to Qingxin's when she was young."

"It's just that the two have very different temperaments, one gentle and the other strong, one warm and the other cold, which makes it difficult for people to make the connection. It was only when I saw Qingxin today that I suddenly remembered."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruyu's eyes flashed with surprise. How could these two completely unrelated people resemble each other?
I heard that Ms. Xiao was once hailed as the most beautiful woman in the capital.

A sweet feeling inexplicably welled up in his heart—his judgment was indeed correct. Miss Feng was the most beautiful; only those who didn't recognize true beauty would say she was as thin as a bamboo pole.

But he said calmly, "In this vast world, there are many people who look alike."

He whispered a reminder, "Mother, you must not mention this to anyone else. My unintentional remark earlier has already caused Miss Feng a lot of trouble. If those people hear this, she will probably suffer again for no reason."

Princess Yanghe gave her son a reproachful look.

That good-for-nothing boy knows it's impossible, but he still has his eye on that girl and refuses to propose marriage to this day.

She continued, "Of course. She's a good child; we can't let her cause resentment. And you, once you're married, no one will covet you anymore. I think the Zhang family's daughter is quite good, but Mother always feels she's too naive and innocent, afraid she won't be able to manage a household..."

Shangguan Ruyu sent her mother to the two princesses, and then took her guards and servants to stroll around the garden.

Wherever he went, he always attracted young women to stop and watch.

"Is he Young Master Shangguan?"

"Besides Young Master Shangguan, who else could be so handsome?"

"Yes, she's even prettier than a flower."

"What good is being handsome? My dad says he's all show and no substance, a useless good-for-nothing. All he does is listen to operas and idolize actors, and end up in jail..."

A few soft laughs.

When Shangguan Ruyu saw her cousin Shangguan Ruyue walking together with Xue Yan'er and Kong Xiyan from afar, she quickly took a detour.

Feng Chuchen and Shaoyao arrived at the nunnery at noon.

Upon entering the nunnery, Feng Chuchen's gaze unconsciously followed each nun over the age of thirty.

She harbored a secret hope: if only she could happen to meet the nun Qingxin. Even if they didn't recognize each other, just seeing her from afar would be enough.

But she knew that this was ultimately just wishful thinking.

Even if a former empress were to become a nun, she would never truly gain freedom. That figure was destined to remain forever out of reach. That wish remained merely a beautiful dream.

Incense burned before the Buddha, and amidst the swirling smoke, Feng Chuchen silently prayed:

May my grandfather in my past life enjoy good health and live to be a hundred years old...

May my aunt, who traveled to modern society, have all her wishes fulfilled and live a peaceful and joyful life...

May my mother from my past life, my adoptive parents in this life, and the little original owner and Aunt Cai who have long since passed away be reborn into good families in their next life, and may they all live peacefully and die a natural death...

May the nun Qingxin be free from troubles and live in peace year after year...

May the Crown Prince be blessed with good fortune and may his dreams come true...

He also donated one hundred taels of silver as incense money.

After the two finished their vegetarian meal, they strolled to the back of the hall.

A winding stream flows merrily from east to west.

It was less than ten feet wide, and the stones at the bottom of the water were clearly visible. The surface of the water shimmered, as if countless pieces of gold were dancing on it.

How could someone drown in such shallow water?

Unless it was done intentionally.

Feng Chuchen stood by the stream, letting her skirt flutter in the wind.

She silently thanked Aunt Cai and the other righteous man for risking their lives to protect her...

Afterwards, they went to the renowned peony garden.

Zixia Temple is famous in the capital for its red plum blossoms braving the snow, followed by its peonies.

Although the peak season has passed, the garden is still a riot of colors and filled with fragrance.

Women from wealthy families, unable to visit the cemetery in person, mostly went to temples to offer incense and pray for blessings. Zixia Nunnery, being a royal temple, was particularly popular with noble ladies from the city, especially since the peonies were in full bloom at the time.

The garden was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the tinkling of jade pendants, with laughter rising and falling, all reflecting the vibrant spring scenery.

Feng Chuchen lingered, reluctant to leave, but the person she wanted to see did not appear. Unexpectedly, she saw Ming Shanyue among the blooming flowers.

Is he very free?
Ming Shanyue never expected to run into Feng Chuchen here again.

Even though she was dressed in a simple dress and stood among a sea of ​​flowers, she was like a solitary orchid in a secluded valley, pure and elegant, overshadowing all the other beauties in the garden.

Ming Shanyue's lips curled up almost imperceptibly as he walked towards her.

For some reason, Guo Hei behind him suddenly became cheerful, grinning and showing off his white teeth as he gave Feng Chuchen and his servant a simple and honest smile.

Ming Shanyue stopped two steps away from her and nodded slightly. "Miss Feng, how clever."

Feng Chuchen curtsied and asked, "Lord Ming, are you also here to offer incense?"

Ming Shanyue said, "I came here with my mother and aunt to offer incense."

That's only one reason. Another reason is that there are a lot of wealthy women coming to offer incense today, so he specially brought the Flying Eagle Guards to patrol the area.

Both were taciturn, exchanging only a few words before turning away. Although Guo Hei and Shaoyao didn't speak, the usual tension had vanished; they no longer glared or rolled their eyes at each other. They even stole glances at each other, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away, creating a subtle atmosphere.

Ming Shanyue took a few steps, then stopped as if possessed, and turned back to look.

The sight of that slender, straight back made his heart race.

He steadied himself, his gaze still following the receding figure, but his head turned towards Guo Hei, "They say enemies are destined to meet, you and that girl named Shaoyao are quite a good match."

Guo Hei's dark face flushed bright red, even his ears turned red, and his voice rose a few decibels, "What are you saying, sir? That girl is shrewish and dark-skinned, I don't like her."

He tried his best to distance himself from the situation.

Ming Shanyue chuckled, "You said before that girl was shrewish, dark-skinned, and ugly. Now that she's lost one of her flaws, she's got a lot of potential."

Guo Hei was so anxious that he scratched his head and cheeks, wanting to prove that he didn't like her, but he didn't know how to say it. He stormed away from Ming Shanyue a few steps away.

He muttered to himself, "It must be that the old man wants to find a wife himself, but he's making fun of others."

These words amused the other guards.

Ming Shanyue laughed and cursed, "You bastard, you've gone too far!"

He beckoned to another guard.

His personal guards stepped forward, and he whispered a few words of instruction.

The man nodded and left.

Ming Shanyue swung her long legs and walked to the other side.

Feng Chuchen hadn't gone far when she saw several brightly dressed girls walking towards her. They were Shangguan Ruyue, Xue Yan'er, Kong Xiyan, and a group of maids.

The other person saw her too, and there was no way to avoid it.

Only Shangguan Ruyue smiled brightly, "Doctor Feng, are you here to offer incense too?"

Xue Yan'er kept her eyes straight ahead, as if she hadn't seen anything.

A hint of ferocity flashed in Kong Xiyan's eyes.

Feng Chuchen looked at Shangguan Mingyue and smiled slightly, "Miss Shangguan, how clever."

Not wanting to cause trouble, she took a detour when passing by.

Kong Xiyan snorted coldly, her voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for those around her to hear.

"A young, unmarried woman, spending all her time in the delivery room, doing childbirth work, not ashamed, but proud. She even calls herself a miracle doctor, how shameless! Bah!"

The newly appointed head maid, Caihe, had received orders from Madam Xia and dared not let her mistress cause any more trouble.

She quickly whispered a word of advice, "Girl, there are too many people here, and we mustn't let them laugh at us."

Xue Yan'er was already displeased when she heard Kong Xiyan say that Shangguan Ruyu praised the country girl for being as beautiful as a flower. She was even more unhappy when she heard Doctor Fan say that she was not very capable but had a big ego and acted like a miracle doctor everywhere.

Seeing Feng Chuchen's calm, indifferent, and arrogant demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

She's not beautiful at all; she's as thin as a bamboo pole.

She frowned and said, "What are you saying? Are we supposed to put up with the attitude of a country girl? She's just average-looking, yet she dares to dream of being the most beautiful woman or a miracle doctor..."

Feng Chuchen had already walked away.

Xue Yan'er was furious. Pointing at Feng Chuchen's retreating figure, she yelled at the maid, "Are they all dead? Go and drag her back to me..."

Shangguan Ruyue quickly grabbed her sleeve and whispered a reminder, "Third Sister Xue, Her Highness the Princess, the two princesses, and your cousin are all here offering incense."

Xue Yan'er was not afraid of the two princesses and her mother, but she was quite wary of Princess Yanghe. In addition, she had other plans in mind and dared not take action herself.

She had already sensed the deep resentment between Kong Xiyan and Feng Chuchen. Her eyes darted around, and she whispered with a smile, "If we can't do it openly, we can deal with her secretly. What do you say, Sister Kong?"

He gave Kong Xiyan a meaningful look.

Kong Xiyan scoffed inwardly. Xue Yan'er wanted to use someone else to do her dirty work. Did she really think she was a fool?

Others may fear the Xue family, but she doesn't!
Her maternal grandmother was Princess Changning, her maternal grandfather was a first-rank Grand Protector, her eldest maternal uncle was the Duke of Dingguo, her second maternal uncle was the General of Xiqing Prefecture who protected the peace of the western part of the Great Yan Dynasty, and her eldest cousin was the Northern Garrison Commander whom everyone feared... Even members of the imperial family would not dare to provoke the Ming family lightly.

The Ming family is capable of standing up to the Xue family!
Kong Xiyan covered her mouth with her handkerchief and giggled twice, saying, "Sister Xue's idea is excellent. We'll secretly send someone to pay a few dirty men to cause trouble for that skinny bamboo pole. No matter what she does, it's none of our business."

She mentioned "Third Sister Xue" first, implying that the idea came from Xue Yan'er first, and I was just going along with her. We're in the same boat, so don't try to distance yourself.

Since we can't clear ourselves of it, we have no choice but to keep quiet.

Shangguan Ruyue was timid and dared not tell anyone.

If her mother and elders were to find out, she could simply say that Xue Yan'er was the mastermind and that she was just going along with it.

Xue Yan'er giggled and said, "That's a great idea, Sister Kong is so clever."

If you throw Kong Xiyan over, you throw her back.

Shangguan Ruyue reminded her again, her voice soft but carrying a warning, "I just saw Cousin Ming."

Hearing the words "Cousin Ming," Kong Xiyan felt a chill run down her spine. Her mother had already clearly told her that the person they were most wary of was Ming Shanyue.

But thinking of all the grievances she had suffered because of Feng Chuchen, she was unwilling to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

She said, "As long as none of us say anything, who will know that we did it?"

Caihe pointed into the distance, "Miss, look over there..."

A man stood in the flower bushes not far away. Kong Xiyan recognized him; he was Ming Shanyue's personal guard.

She stomped her foot in anger, but dared not be presumptuous again.

Xue Yan'er wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by, so she winked at the green-clad maid beside her and whispered with a smile, "I'm standing up for Sister Kong..."

Kong Xiyan smiled and remained silent; after all, it wasn't her who did it.

Shangguan Ruyue stamped her foot and said, "You...you mustn't..."

Xue Yan'er pulled her aside and explained, "It's just to scare her a little. It's broad daylight, I won't really do anything to her. Don't tell anyone, or I won't be friends with you anymore."

Kong Xiyan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed, "Sister Shangguan, don't worry. That country girl goes in and out of the delivery room every day. She's incredibly brave. She's not afraid of other people giving birth, so why would she be afraid of dirty men?"

Xue Yan'er then threatened the maids, saying, "Anyone who dares to tell anyone will be crippled and sold into the mountains."

Feng Chuchen and Shaoyao walked out of the temple, but instead of immediately calling a car, they walked towards the Baicang River.

This is a gentle slope; descend slowly.

After a short while, we arrived at the Baicang River. The river was swift and the waves surged forward. On the opposite bank, the mountains stretched endlessly, forming the northeastern foothills of Miaoqing Mountain.

They walked east along the river for another quarter of an hour and came to a stone arch bridge.

Feng Chuchen stood by the bridge, a scene appearing before her eyes: on a dark and windy night, a person carrying a baby quickly walked out of Zixia Temple, crossed the bridge swiftly, and then disappeared into the winding path in the woods...

Suddenly, Peony shouted, "What are you doing? Get lost!"

Feng Chuchen was suddenly pulled back to reality. She turned around abruptly and saw three dirty men, dressed in rags and with filthy faces, approaching them step by step with malicious grins.