MCSCPM -Chapter 110 The Man Behind the Scenes

“What does the Second Princess think—between the First Princess and the Third Princess, who holds the advantage in their secret rivalry?” Yin Qingyue’s expression remained calm as she gazed at the bamboo in the courtyard, then turned her eyes back to Nangong Mei. Unexpectedly, Nangong Mei gave her an ambiguous answer, reminding Yin Qingyue of just how formidable those trained in medicine could be.

“When two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. Whoever wins may gain the upper hand, but even victory comes at a heavy price. And since this is a secret struggle, the benefits are not always clear-cut. After all, Prince Jing isn’t just any ordinary noble—there must be countless daughters of dukes and marquises who covet him.” Nangong Mei didn’t avoid Yin Qingyue’s gaze. She carefully blew on the tea leaves and took a sip of the fragrant, slightly sweet tea. She showed no signs of guard toward Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue noticed all of this. However, she could tell Nangong Mei’s words carried more meaning than what was being said on the surface. Noble families—how could they compete with imperial princesses? In terms of rank, they could not compare. In terms of power, marrying a princess rather than a noble’s daughter naturally gave one closer ties to the emperor. But since Nangong Mei had started this topic, Yin Qingyue had no objection to spending some time listening to who else might dare challenge the two princesses.

“I wonder—what reasoning is there for anyone daring to compete with the princesses?” Yin Qingyue’s eyes flickered, as if imagining those who would fight with them. Of course, this was an act meant to mislead the Second Princess. Though Nangong Mei harbored no hostility toward her, the accusation of poisoning the Empress pointed squarely at Yin Qingyue. Even though the powders found in her room seemed newly created, suspicion still lingered—and she had yet to estimate how long it took to grind them.

“You must understand, Prince Jing is no ordinary noble. He is the Second Prince of Beihuo, a brilliant warrior unmatched among his generation. His marriage cannot be interfered with by just anyone. If someone forced him to marry someone he disliked, it would certainly displease him. That is why, do you think, the emperor has yet to marry one of the princesses to him? Prince Jing is not only skilled in combat but a capable general, destined for high command in the future.”

Nangong Mei met Yin Qingyue’s gaze, as if trying to extract something from her eyes. But she was disappointed—there was nothing to glean. Yin Qingyue’s eyes showed no fluctuation. Yet this did not surprise Nangong Mei; Yin Qingyue was a true healer, and Nangong Mei had some knowledge of medicine herself. Compared to Yin Qingyue, she was still inexperienced; it was reasonable that she could not detect the subtleties of Yin Qingyue’s mind.

A healer of superior skill being easily read would be highly suspicious. Those trained in medicine understand how terrifying it is to observe life so closely—people like them are often unpredictable.

“That may be so. But the Third Princess has the support of the Third Prince and Consort De, so the First Princess may be at a disadvantage.” Yin Qingyue’s tone was one of understanding, though she feigned nonchalance to try to extract information about the Third Prince, Nangong chen. It felt risky—but in her past life, she had often reversed the saying “don’t court death unnecessarily,” and in this ancient world, she believed it still applied. Modern sages, if they knew she was doing this after transmigrating, would surely explode with frustration.

“Though the Third Prince is a major support for the Third Princess, he has already been transferred out of the capital to Jiangnan. There, he has influence, but it is very difficult for him to intervene in matters of the capital—plans cannot keep pace with change. By the time news of palace affairs reaches him, the situation has already shifted. As for Consort De, she helps the Third Princess discreetly, but carefully. Moreover, De and others do not get along, so she cannot fully manage the Third Princess’s affairs. If exposed, the Third Princess would face serious difficulties.”

Regarding the Third Princess, the Second Princess’s attitude was notably cool. She didn’t address her directly as “elder sister” the way she did the First Princess. Yin Qingyue noted all of this—clearly, the palace was not as harmonious as outside appearances suggested. In her previous life, palace dramas in TV and film had painted a false picture.

“The Third Prince has always had disputes with the Crown Prince. Though transferred away, he will return one day. And these days, palace affairs are intricate—carelessness will draw one in. The Crown Prince’s decision to transfer him was ultimately for his own good. In such a sensitive period, staying away from the palace is a blessing in disguise.”

Yin Qingyue’s eyes continued to drift, thoughtful. Though the Third Prince and Consort De had tried to assassinate her, there was no conclusive evidence pointing to them. This reminded her: the palace was a treacherous place; lingering too long was dangerous. She pondered how she might leave this battlefield once the Empress recovered—it was not a place ordinary people could survive. One misstep, and death could come without warning. While coveted by many, the palace was also a place to be feared. Even though she was not ordinary, she did not wish to stay longer than necessary.

“The Third Prince is ruthless and cunning. Though transferred from the capital, his talents make him a greater potential threat. For my part, I do not wish to be involved in these disputes—such conflicts never end until one side is completely vanquished. The struggle is exhausting. I only wish to pursue my medical life.” Nangong Mei’s eyes flickered, lost in thought, recalling personal matters.

Yin Qingyue did not miss these details. Nangong Mei’s intentions were more complex than they appeared—perhaps plotting to escape the palace, perhaps competing with the other princesses for affection, or perhaps seeking revenge. In Yin Qingyue’s eyes, the death of Consort Gui was far from simple. She seized the opportunity to use mind-reading, but Nangong Mei quickly recovered, forcing Yin Qingyue to break off the attempt, suffering a minor backlash herself.

Interrupting mind-reading mid-way is not as easy as in movies—control does not come instantly. After today, she truly no longer trusted films or TV. They were, as she suspected, lies.

“The Third Prince has remarkable talent. He will govern Jiangnan well, fulfilling the expectations of his father and elder brother. Though he has disputes with the Crown Prince, given time, they will reconcile.” Yin Qingyue reined in her wandering gaze, smiling slightly. Though she harbored resentment toward Nangong chen, she could not reveal it.

The person sitting before her was still not fully understood. The poisoning incident could not yet be disentangled from her. Whether Nangong Mei was involved would only be confirmed once the missing court physician was found and cross-checked.

If the poison was not hers, then the Second Princess was not actively involved in the struggle. On the other hand, she might be biding her time, waiting for an opportunity to avenge her mother, Consort Zhao.

If the physician’s testimony confirmed the poison was hers, it would reveal she was indeed formidable. Her calm composure indicated no fear of the physician being discovered. This left two possibilities: either the physician was dead, or in hiding—both scenarios under her control. Being detained now was in fact a good cover.

For those in the palace struggle, she was safest. Should the physician be found and unable to implicate her, Nangong Mei would be the only royal untouched by the conflicts, able to watch from the sidelines and claim the spoils. Though Yin Qingyue doubted she could seize the throne herself, the other forms of power were vast.

“The Third Prince is outstanding, but cannot surpass the eldest brother. By his nature, he would never accept subordination. If one day someone challenges the throne, it will be him. Consort De will not allow the eldest brother to ascend easily. The eldest brother lacks backing—though not motherless, the dowager has little influence, making him vulnerable. Likewise, the First Princess is relatively weak. With Consort De and the Imperial Uncle’s forces, that is a considerable faction, likely favoring the Third Prince.”

Nangong Mei spoke without hesitation, outlining the palace factions and conflicts, analyzing the relative strengths and weaknesses of each.