Jinyi Spring

The old Duke patted her hand, "Rong'er, don't be sad. Xiao Wan'er has gone 'over there,' which is a relief for her."

He turned to Xia Shi and said, "You can go back now; we need to rest."

Xia had long lost interest in putting on an act. She got up, curtsied, and staggered out.

The old Duke snorted coldly and said, "That wicked woman, I really want to beat her to death."

The old woman's eyes were icy cold, but her voice was as calm as well water in the twelfth lunar month, "Kill her directly? That would be too easy on her."

She slowly twirled the prayer beads and said, word by word, "First, let her taste the feeling of fear and dread, then let her know that the evil deeds she has done will spread throughout the world, that she will be infamous for eternity, and that the respectability the Ming family has given her over the years will be stripped away layer by layer."

"You vile woman, you've been causing trouble in my house for so many years, I wonder what other evils you've committed. However, in order to protect Xiao Wan'er and Qin Wang, many of your evil deeds cannot be made public."

Xia was almost supported by her maid as she walked back to Baosu Courtyard.

She had just sat down when footsteps sounded outside again.

Mo, the old nanny from Fu Rong Tang, walked in and curtsied with a calm expression. "Madam, the old lady sent me to deliver a message: things are not peaceful in the capital right now, so please don't leave your courtyard these days and take good care of yourself."

Xia felt a buzzing in her head.

Is this... a house arrest?

She forced a smile, suppressing her panic: "The capital is in chaos, but the manor is not. Why can't I leave the courtyard?"

Mo Mama lowered her eyes, her voice flat, "This old servant doesn't know the specifics. Not only you, but the First Madam can't move around freely either."

Xia was still unwilling, saying, "The old lady isn't used to not having me serve her."

Granny Mo said, "The old lady has a large number of servants around her, so there is no need for you to work hard, Miss."

After she finished speaking, she left, leaving Xia standing there in a daze.

A night breeze blew by, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed. Xia looked at the half-closed courtyard gate and suddenly felt that the dark doorway resembled an open mouth.

No, tomorrow I must risk my life to send a letter to Xu Hu, asking him to go to the Xue family and find out what happened.

She went to the desk, wrote a short note, folded it neatly, and placed it at the bottom of a small bamboo basket. The bottom layer was double-layered and tightly woven.

I'll have Yuxiang make that trip tomorrow.

-

The night was deep, a half-moon hung high in the sky, and a few cold stars were scattered across the horizon.

In the small courtyard at the entrance of Baima Village, a dim, warm light shone through two small windows.

Inside the hall, three gray wolves and a large dog were huddled together on the floor, dozing off. A small bird perched on the dog, its head buried in its wing, also fast asleep.

Three braziers of silver frost charcoal were burning in the bedroom, and a person lay quietly on the bed.

It was Xiao Wan.

Feng Chuchen sat on the edge of the bed, watching her intently without blinking, his eyes full of tenderness and affection.

Three months ago, Ming Shanyue saw Ah Xuan bring the Cephalosporin family here and hatched that plan.

He grabbed Ah Xuan and trained it over and over again. Then he secretly led a group to Qingmiao Mountain, where he had Ah Xuan call the three wolves to his side and train them repeatedly. When the wolves grew impatient, he offered them a large piece of meat as a reward, coaxing them to continue.

He also managed to bribe one of the Flying Eagle Guards and one of the Forbidden Women who were guarding Qingxin. And that Forbidden Woman turned out to be someone who worked for the Xue family.

This matter was not easy to accomplish. It was only after Abbess Liaobei noticed the suspicious nature of the sorceress that she secretly informed Ming Shanyue. Ming Shanyue then seized upon the woman's weakness, threatened her entire family's lives, and offered her substantial rewards that she managed to win her over.

As for Abbess Bei, when she was out, Ming Shanyue invited her to the tree and presented her with the string of Indian Bodhi beads that Master Yuhui had given to Duke Ming in his early years. He also told her about the tragedy that happened in Zixia Nunnery back then.

How did Consort Xue exchange a skinned rabbit for the baby, and how did she throw the newborn child into the Baicang River?

He naturally dared not say that the child was still alive, only that... he had drowned.

In an effort to silence witnesses, the Xue family killed no fewer than twenty people, including female doctors, palace maids, eunuchs, and guards.

Master Liaobei was kind and compassionate towards all living beings, and I admire Master Yuhui the most.

Ming Shanyue chose to say those things to her, and even brought up the friendship between Master Yuhui and Duke Ming.

After listening, Abbess Liaobei remained silent for a long time.

She twirled the beads in her hand, recalling that night. She too had stood guard outside the quiet room where Empress Xiao gave birth, witnessing firsthand the blood-soaked "Red Hare" being carried out.

At that time, she only felt something was strange, but dared not ask any more questions.

Later, she found twelve jade beads in the delivery room and gave them to Jing'an, who was not yet a nun, to pass on to Empress Xiao.

But it turns out...

Someone committed such inhumane and heinous acts in the pure land of Buddhism, and it happened in her temple!
She put her hands together and said, "Amitabha! The incident happened at Zixia Nunnery, and this humble nun also bears responsibility."

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her gaze was resolute.

She returned the Bodhi rosary to Ming Shanyue, saying, "This humble nun deeply admires Master Yuhui, but I cannot obtain his rosary in this way. Rest assured, benefactor Ming, this humble nun will do everything in my power to help you. Qingxin Dharma Master and her unjustly deceased daughter deserve an explanation."

She looked up into the distance, her voice deep and resonant, “Amitabha! Cause and effect are cyclical, and retribution is inevitable. Those who commit evil in the pure land of Buddhism will ultimately not escape the eyes of the Bodhisattva.”

With these plans in place, Ming Shanyue was able to learn about some of the Xue family's schemes in advance and secretly make her own arrangements. In the end, she set fire to the vegetarian kitchen before they could, allowing Qingxin to escape.

Starting in October, he had a secret passage dug, one end of which was at the stove in the kitchen of the Feng family's east courtyard, and the other end leading to the foot of Qingmiao Mountain.

After Qingxin was dragged into the woods by wolves, Song Xian and Guo Hei carried her to the cave entrance and secretly transferred her to Feng's residence through the tunnel.

Those two human bones were obtained by Ming Shanyue from the mortuary.

One thing led to another, not only rescuing the person but also making everyone outside believe that Qingxin Fagu had been devoured by a pack of wolves.

From then on, Qingxin ceased to exist in the world.

Her death was so tragic, even the most despicable emperor would be moved by it, right?
Last night, when Qingxin was carried home, she was barely clinging to life.

Feng Chuchen personally bathed her, changed her into clean clothes, and then personally administered the Taiyin Divine Needle—as each needle was inserted, her hands trembled, and her heart trembled as well.

Xiao's body was already exhausted, and with yesterday's escape and fright, she probably wouldn't have survived until dawn without the miraculous acupuncture.

Fortunately, she was a suitable candidate for the Taiyin Divine Needle technique.

When she heard two soft, sweet laughs beside her, tears welled up in Feng Chuchen's eyes.

Mom won't die!

Feng Chuchen was exhausted, but she still gritted her teeth and took out her diary. She had to record this happiest moment.

She slowly began to write on the paper:

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, daffodils float on the water, their fragrance unchanged.

I'm finally reunited with my mother. All the regrets of the past have been resolved in this moment...

Her hands felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and her handwriting had lost its former elegance and grace. She wanted to write a few more lines, but she had no strength left.

She put down her pen, lay down next to her mother, and still forced her eyelids open, staring at her without blinking.

Her mother was emaciated, yet she could still recognize her—this mother in this life, and the mother in her previous life, had almost identical features. Slender, upright, with delicate skin and a graceful figure, like a daffodil touched by frost. She reached out, her fingertips gently brushing across her mother's cheek, nose, and lips, finally landing on the hat. It wasn't a monk's hat, but a navy blue brocade cap, strikingly similar to the casual turban she wore in her previous life.

The child, who had been motherless for two lifetimes, finally lay beside his mother, so close to her that he could feel her body temperature and hear her breathing.

Even after two lifetimes, Feng Chuchen still felt extremely happy.

However, the mother and daughter, who had finally reunited, could not stay together openly and honestly, and in the end, they still had to go their separate ways.

Every sweet moment we spend together should be precious, etched into our very being, and cherished above all else.

Aside from Feng Chuchen, Ming Shanyue, a few confidants, only a handful of people, including Prince Qin, the Ming couple, Duke Ming, Ming Changqing, and Xiao Henian, knew that Qingxin was still alive.

The more people who know, the greater the danger.

Ming Shanyue will arrange for Qin Wang, Old Madam Ming, Xiao Nianhe, and Ming Changqing to secretly meet with her here. After the New Year, she will be sent to live in another place…

After an unknown amount of time, Feng Chuchen finally drifted off to sleep.

When Feng Chuchen woke up the next day, it was already broad daylight. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her mother lying beside her, fast asleep.

She smiled and softly called out, "Good morning, Mom."

In Feng Chuchen's heart, she still prefers to call her "Mom" more often than "Mother".

Though childish, it was a name she had called out and thought about countless times in her past life. In her past life, it was just two cold, impersonal words; now, it was a living, breathing person.

She got up, dressed, put away the diary she hadn't collected yesterday, and went outside.

It was early morning, and the winter sun was dazzlingly bright, but it wasn't very warm.

The antibiotics family was happily eating around a bowl of raw meat, while Big Head was also eating from a large bowl, and Ah Xuan was happily flying around their heads.

Upon seeing Feng Chuchen emerge, Ah Xuan exclaimed joyfully, "Miss, Aunt, even the lotus cannot compare to your beauty!"

Hibiscus and Peony came out of the side room and said with a smile, "Miss, you're awake. Are you hungry?"

They already knew Feng Chuchen and Qingxin's true identities, and after the initial surprise came genuine joy.

Feng Chuchen asked, "Where is my mother's medicine?"

Mu Jin said, "It's been kept warm in the pot the whole time."

Feng Chuchen propped Xiao Wan's head up a little, and Mu Jin fed him half a spoonful at a time. Although Xiao Wan wasn't fully awake, he still knew to swallow.

After finishing his meal, Feng Chuchen sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) to look at her.

Xiao Wan didn't sleep soundly, or rather, she was having a dream—she sighed softly from time to time and called out "Chenchen" twice.

Although her voice was very soft, Feng Chuchen heard her say "Chenchen".

As dusk fell, the window paper was bathed in a vibrant orange-red light, adding a touch of warmth to Xiao Wan's pale face.

Her brows furrowed even deeper.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, sat up straight, and whispered, "Chenchen, Mom shouldn't have jumped off the building..."

There was a sense of despair in that voice, as if it were struggling to crawl out of an abyss.

She was stunned.

A young woman sat before him, surrounded by an unfamiliar room. She looked around blankly, her voice hoarse, "Where am I? Where...where am I?"

Her gaze fell on the girl's face, and then on the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows.

I watched it for a long time.

"Girl, haven't I... seen you somewhere before?" Her voice was so soft, as if afraid of disturbing a dream. "Not only have I seen you... but I've also hugged you..."

She reached out and grabbed Feng Chuchen's hand, her whole body trembling. "Right, you're my daughter... Am I dreaming?"

Large tears streamed down her face, and a strange clarity flashed in her eyes. "It's not a dream. I fell from a high platform and died. I came here to keep my daughter company."

She pulled Feng Chuchen into a tight embrace, saying, "My daughter, you've grown so much. Mom's here to be with you, and we'll never be apart again."

Feng Chuchen burst into tears.

My mother must have dreamt of her past life—dreamed of the moment she jumped from the high building, but temporarily forgot about this life. Or perhaps, she was mentally confused.

Xiao Wan's trembling hand touched the cinnabar mole between Feng Chuchen's eyebrows, his fingertips gently stroking it, as if confirming something.

Feng Chuchen took her hand and gently reminded her, "You are Master Qingxin, right?"

Xiao Wan was taken aback.

Memories slowly return, like rocks revealed after the tide recedes.

"Yes...I've become a nun, my Dharma name is Qingxin," she murmured, her eyes gradually clearing. "I ran away from the nunnery,"

She suddenly widened her eyes; those eyes, which appeared unusually large due to her thinness, almost took up half of her face.

"Wolf!"

She gripped Feng Chuchen's hand tightly in terror, her voice trembling, "I was eaten by wolves, so I've come to reunite with my daughter?"

Feng Chuchen burst into laughter through her tears, her eyes glistening in the orange glow of the evening sun.

“You weren’t eaten by wolves. Those three wolves came to rescue you; they are Ah Xuan’s friends.”

Xiao Wan stared at her blankly, as if he couldn't understand what she was saying.

"Ah Xuan?"

Feng Chuchen got up and walked to the door, pushing open the side door.

Inside the hall, three wolves and a dog were lying on the ground. Hearing the noise, they all raised their heads and looked over.

Feng Chuchen walked to the big dog, picked up the little bird that was perched on it, and went back to the bedside.

He laughed and said, "Mother, Ah Xuan is it."

The little bird tilted its head and looked at Xiao Wan, then chirped, "Amitabha, little aunt, young lady, even the lotus cannot compare to the beauty's makeup..."

Xiao Wan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Qiao... Qiao'er?!"

Feng Chuchen chuckled softly, "You call it Qiao'er? We call it A Xuan. A Xuan and the three wolves were arranged by Prince Qin and Lord Ming to meet you."

“They dragged you into the woods, and our people carried you here. Now, the Emperor and the people outside all think you were eaten by wolves.”

Xiao Wan shifted his gaze from Ah Xuan to the three wolves lying on the ground, and surprisingly saw tenderness in their eyes.

Finally, her gaze returned to Feng Chuchen's face.

She stared for a long time. In her large eyes, there was first bewilderment, then gradually clearer memories, and finally, disappointment.

He shook his head and said, "So you're not my daughter. If I really died, how wonderful it would be to go to another life and be with my poor daughter."

Tears welled in her eyes, her voice soft, as soft as a falling leaf. Yet those words weighed a ton, crashing down and causing Feng Chuchen's heart to ache sharply. (End of Chapter)