MCSCPM -Chapter 105 Imprisonment

By the time Yin Qingyue returned to her room, it was already the fifth watch of the night; the sky had begun to pale with the first light of dawn. But Yin Qingyue paid no attention to whether it was the fifth or third watch. Once inside, she climbed into bed and fell asleep immediately, shoes still on.

This sleep was exceptionally restful, lasting all the way until noon the next day.

Yin Qingyue was still asleep, but Nangong Mei had already awakened.

Upon waking, Nangong Mei realized her hands and feet were bound, and she screamed.

Hearing her cries, the palace guards quickly reported to Nangong Xiao that Nangong Mei had awakened.

At that time, Nangong Xiao was dealing with a wrongful case that had been ongoing for over twenty years. Upon hearing this news, he immediately put down his pen and rushed over—interrogating Nangong Mei had now become the top priority.

When Crown Prince Nangong Xiao interrogated Nangong Mei that day, he realized that she had fainted inside the palace. Because of the Emperor’s orders, the palace maids and guards remained outside. What had actually happened inside no one knew—only Nangong Mei knew. How she had fainted, probably only she truly understood.

The situation was becoming increasingly confusing and complicated. The Empress had been poisoned, Nangong Mei had fainted, and mysterious black-clad figures had appeared. In just a few days, panic and uncertainty swept through the palace. Even with thousands of soldiers searching, the Emperor had found no clues. To find a lead, Nangong Mei herself was the key.

Rose Pavilion

“Nangong Mei, we all share the same surname and bloodline. We are family. There’s no need to let such a small matter escalate. If you tell me honestly what happened that day, I will let you go and still treat you as a good sister. We come from the same root; why fight so fiercely?” Nangong Xiao spoke gently, with carefully chosen words.

Nangong Mei, however, knew he was trying to coax a confession. She did not withhold anything, though she could barely remember all the events. She recounted everything she could, especially the words spoken by the black-clad man before she had fainted.

“You say your mother, Consort Sun, was merely a substitute—sent to die in your place?” Nangong Xiao asked thoughtfully.

Nangong Mei nodded. Recalling the black-clad man’s words before she passed out, she was more certain than ever that her mother’s death was tied to palace secrets. She was only a scapegoat. But who orchestrated it all? No one knew. Even the Emperor, who had dispatched eight thousand elite soldiers to search the entire palace, had found no clue. Could this person have flown out of the palace somehow?

Anger surged in Nangong Mei’s heart at the thought.

After hearing her statement, Nangong Xiao reported it to the Emperor, who dispatched additional troops to search every corner of Kunhe Hall, where Consort Sun had lived. Every nook was examined meticulously; not a speck of dust was overlooked. Yet all of it was useless—still, no clues surfaced.

When Yin Qingyue finally woke, it was already noon. The sun hung high in the sky, its rays streaming sharply through the windows, forcing her eyes closed. As she got up, her head felt dizzy, and nausea overtook her. At first, she assumed it was just the result of oversleeping. Soon, she realized that her symptoms were identical to the early stages of the Empress’s poisoning.

Could it be that she herself had been poisoned?

The hidden powder was… contagious?

Yin Qingyue was secretly shocked. She moved slightly and felt weak to the point of collapse. Quickly, she prepared some antidote to prevent herself from succumbing to the poison—after having already nearly killed herself from exhaustion, she would not risk a second near-death experience.

Although poisoned, Yin Qingyue was an expert in medicine and remained calm. She retrieved the remaining herbs and prepared an antidote specifically to counter this hidden toxic powder. She added rainwater as a superior guide herb, knowing it was a natural and high-quality ingredient. The key to saving the Empress was not the famous herbs like angelica, ginseng, or fo-ti—it was the natural rainwater that served as the vital guiding component.

Even after taking the antidote, her recovery was not immediate. Yin Qingyue’s body remained weak. Clever as ever, she raided the palace herb warehouse, collecting over a dozen rare and precious herbs to strengthen and replenish herself.

Since curing the Empress, the Emperor had personally bestowed upon Yin Qingyue the title of “Divine Physician.” This was no ordinary title; unlike the wandering healers of the Jianghu who claimed to cure every illness, this title gave her official access to the palace’s herb repository. She could freely take whatever she needed, at no cost.

Entering the warehouse, Yin Qingyue’s eyes sparkled. Like a starving tiger pouncing on prey, she greedily grabbed herbs until both hands were full and pockets overflowing. Only then did she leave, satisfied. The guards on duty were stunned. Seeing her grasp priceless herbs like Tianshan snow lotus and millennium ginseng, they were both envious and amazed. Such herbs, if sold, would fetch a price few in the entire capital could afford.

For days, she had remained in her room, entirely devoted to creating an antidote capable of saving the Empress. Yin Qingyue knew success was mandatory; failure would mean the Empress could not be saved, the truth behind the events would remain hidden, and all mysteries would remain forever unsolved.

Tireless for days, she finally succeeded, but the effort left her collapsing in her room from exhaustion. She had barely eaten, subsisting only on some pastries and tea brought by her maid, yet the antidote was complete. Alone, she lay there like a wilting daffodil, no one aware of her state.

Prince Jing, who had not seen Yin Qingyue in some time, decided to visit, only to meet resistance.

Her personal maid trembled as she addressed him, stammering, “Your Highness… my lady… she hasn’t left her room for a long time.”

“Hasn’t left for a long time?” Prince Jing’s brows furrowed. “Did she say what she was doing? Why haven’t you been allowed in?” His icy presence pressed down, leaving the maid struggling to breathe, nearly in tears.

“She said… she’s developing the antidote for the Empress and specifically told us not to disturb her. She hasn’t eaten for days…” the maid sighed, helpless.

Prince Jing’s frown deepened. If she hadn’t eaten for days, her body could not endure much longer. He had to see her.

But the moment he tried to enter, her attendants blocked him, unwilling to let anyone disturb her mistress.

Frustrated, Prince Jing used his authority to force the door open. Inside, he found Yin Qingyue collapsed on the floor. Panic-stricken, he lifted her up and shouted, “Call the doctor!”

Seeing this, the previously loyal attendants were thrown into confusion, not knowing what to do. Angered, Prince Jing barked at them, “Stop panicking! Go fetch the doctor immediately!”

Finally finding direction, the servants quickly acted. Prince Jing carried Yin Qingyue to her room, noticing her pale face and the tightly held medicine vial. A soft smile crossed his face.

“Why risk your life so recklessly, betting everything on a chance to save her? So naive, yet so endearing.” His long fingers brushed her cheek, tucking her messy hair behind her ear.

For the first time, the usually stern Prince Jing looked at the unconscious Yin Qingyue with tender eyes.

Soon, the aged physician arrived, aided by the servants. Prince Jing’s warmth faded, returning to his usual cold, unapproachable demeanor.

After greeting Prince Jing, the physician carefully checked Yin Qingyue’s pulse, holding his breath as he examined her thoroughly, before standing and preparing to speak.