Jinyi Spring

Ming Shanyue released his grip and took a step back.

Xia lay sprawled on the ground like a lump of mud, unable to cry, her bloodshot eyes wide open and her mouth futilely agape.

After a long while, she finally mustered her strength, glared at the Ming family members, and said in a hoarse voice, "You...you always say you treat me like your own daughter, but how are you treating me like your own daughter? I love Second Brother Ming, but you won't let me marry him."

"The Empress Dowager wanted me to be the Crown Prince's concubine, but you refused. If you had shown mercy back then, I would be a high-ranking concubine now, and Yan'er would be a princess! You ruined my future, and you still pretend to be kind to me!"

Old Madam Ming was taken aback, her brows furrowing. "When did Empress Dowager Xue make you a concubine of the Crown Prince?"

Xia straightened her neck. "It was the Empress Dowager who told me herself. You can't deny it!"

The Ming family members exchanged glances. The old lady slowly shook her head, her voice revealing a hint of determination, "Empress Dowager Xue has never mentioned this to me. Even if she had, I would not have agreed. My daughter, whom I raised, will never be allowed to become anyone's concubine, not even the Crown Prince."

The old Duke couldn't help but curse, "That old woman is so cunning, always trying to sow discord."

Ming Shanyue looked down at Xia Shi, her gaze as cold as ice. "Just for these two things, you've committed so many evils? Xia Achan, if I sent you to the Jingzhao Prefecture, you would be executed by slow slicing. But some things cannot be made public, so I'm giving you a quick death."

Xia trembled violently, tears mingling with blood as they slowly slid down her cheeks. She knew she couldn't possibly survive. She also knew that her daughter was doomed because of her—forget about becoming a princess or an empress, she probably wouldn't even be able to save her own life.

She lay on the ground, her voice barely audible, "I deserve to die, I accept my fate. Please, spare Yan'er, she's innocent..."

The old Duke looked at her coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth, "You want to beg us? You're not worthy."

Ming Shanyue took out a pill from her sleeve, squatted down, pried open Xia Shi's mouth and stuffed it in, then pinched her neck, and the pill slid down her throat.

Xia's eyes widened suddenly, feeling nauseous but unable to vomit. She lay on the ground, convulsing in vain like a fish pulled ashore.

Ming Shanyue gave Steward Wei a wink, and Steward Wei and another person stepped forward, grabbed Xia Shi from both sides, and dragged her out like a dead dog.

Xia deserves to die, but he cannot die now; he still has great uses.

The room fell silent.

Ming Shanfeng was still in shock, his mouth half-open and unable to close.

Ming Changli, slumped in his chair, slowly came to his senses and looked around at the people in the room.

It turns out that this family has been through so many storms.

My parents, their hair now completely white, still hold up the sky for this family. My elder brother and sister-in-law brave the storms outside while also guarding against backstabbing within the family. My nephew, so young, carries the weight of the entire family's fate on his shoulders.

And what about him? He spent those years in a daze in Suoqiu Courtyard, like a snail retreating into its shell, ignoring all the storms and trials outside. Every day he either threw tantrums or slept all day, feeling like the most miserable person in the world.

Thinking of this, Ming Changli's face burned fiercely, as if he had been slapped a dozen times.

When the Duke of Ming saw that his mother looked unwell, he realized she was both furious and exhausted.

He hurriedly said, "Father, Mother, let's go back and rest."

He helped the old Duke, and Madam Ming helped the old lady; the four of them left the house.

Ming Shanfeng followed behind them, stumbling out, his mind still a mess.

Only Ming Shanyue and Ming Changli remained in the room.

Ming Shanyue didn't say anything, but silently walked to the back of the wheelchair and pushed the handle.

The wheels rumbled over the bluestone slabs, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night.

Under the bright moonlight, Ming Changli's face was no longer cynical; his back was straight, unlike his usual slouching posture. His hands rested on his knees, which were covered by a quilt, and were trembling slightly.

It wasn't because of the cold, but because something was churning inside me.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, his Adam's apple bobbed a few times, but ultimately no sound came out.

The two silently arrived at the entrance of Suoqiu Courtyard. A servant came forward to take them away. Ming Shanyue did not let go, pushing them all the way to the main room before turning and leaving.

Ming Changli suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "Shanyue."

Ming Shanyue stopped and waited.

Ming Changli lowered his head, looking at his useless legs.

He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Am I...useless?"

“Third Uncle,” Ming Shanyue’s voice was calm, “as long as you are alive, you are still useful.”

Ming Changli stared blankly at his back, his lips trembling, and said in a low voice, "When Miss Feng has some free time, please ask her to come and take a look at me."

Ming Shanyue turned around abruptly and laughed, "Really?" Ming Changli's voice turned stiff again, "Alright, you can go back now."

Ming Shanyue strode away, her steps light and easy.

-

The next morning, before dawn, a bright moon still hung in the west, with a few scattered, cold stars dotting the sky.

Feng Chuchen and Shaoyao were practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard when Chen Qingrui got up.

Feng Chuchen continued working, and asked with a smile, "Mother, you're up so early?"

Chen Qingrui smiled gently, "I'm so happy I can't sleep. You go ahead with your work."

She stood under the eaves, quietly watching her daughter's figure.

In the soft light of dawn, each move was graceful and elegant, ethereal and otherworldly.

A surge of indescribable pride welled up within her—her son was filial and intelligent, her daughter beautiful and clever; Heaven had ultimately been kind to her.

She raised her head, looked over the rooftop, and gazed at the snow-capped Qingmiao Mountain in the distance, bowing deeply towards Jiupoling. In her heart, she silently thanked Sister Feng for raising Chenchen safely and for teaching her so well.

After Feng Chuchen finished her boxing practice, the mother and daughter strolled slowly hand in hand in the yard. Their shadows were stretched long and overlapped by the rising sun.

After the meal, Chen Qingrui sat down in front of the bronze mirror.

This was the first time she had looked in a mirror since leaving the palace.

The woman in the mirror was extremely thin, with a pale face, frighteningly large eyes, deeply sunken cheeks, and fine lines creeping around the corners of her eyes. She looked like a woman in her forties.

Feng Chuchen sat to the side and said softly, "Mother, it will be better when you are feeling better and have gained some weight."

Chen Qingrui looked down at her hands—pale, skin and bones, with prominent veins. She turned them over to look at them, then turned them back over.

"These hands have gained a little weight in the last few days."

She looked up at the bronze mirror, touched her cheek, and said with a childlike seriousness, "You've gained some weight here, haven't you? Otherwise you'd be even thinner."

She paused, then smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

“Now that we’re out, there’s hope.” She raised her hand to touch the hat on her head, her smile deepening. “This hat is pretty, Mother likes it.”

She turned to Feng Chuchen, "Do you have any rouge?"

Feng Chuchen smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling; her mother's attitude was surprisingly positive.

"Have."

She took out the box of rouge and face powder that Shangguan Ruyu had bought and placed it on the dressing table.

Chen Qingrui picked up the snail-shell ink and carefully drew her arched eyebrows. Then she dipped her brush in some rouge and applied a thin layer to her cheeks. Finally, she applied a touch of lip rouge, giving her lips a subtle color.

The person in the mirror, though still thin, looked much more vibrant and radiant.

Feng Chuchen sincerely praised, "Mother is so beautiful."

Chen Qingrui shook her head, but her eyes were filled with laughter. "Mother is getting old, but daughters are beautiful, like flowers."

She looked at Feng Chuchen and said seriously, "You're still so young. Even if you prefer a light and elegant look, you should still wear makeup. A little bright color will make you look better."

These past few days, she insisted on adorning her daughter's hair with several bright palace flowers. She was also thinking that once she felt better, she would make her daughter some beautiful new clothes.

She wasn't good at needlework, so she made the sewing kit and had the maid do it.

Feng Chuchen hugged her arm, pressed her face against it, and said softly and coquettishly, "Okay, I'll listen to Mother."

She then turned around and fetched a set of clothes—a peach-pink satin jacket with floral patterns and a moon-white embroidered long skirt.

She helped her mother change herself, took two steps back to look at her, clapped her hands and laughed, "Mother looks good in this."

Chen Qingrui looked down at herself and smiled. The peach-colored jacket reflected on her pale face, giving her a touch of color.

After dressing herself up, she pressed Feng Chuchen in front of the dressing table and personally applied a light layer of rouge and lipstick to her daughter.

"Chenchen has a good eyebrow shape and thick eyebrows, so she doesn't need to draw them, but she does need some rouge and lipstick to look more energetic. Sigh, this is all I can teach my daughter as she's grown up." (End of Chapter)