MCSCPM -Chapter 12 Threats at the Exit

Yin Qingyue lay in bed for a while, and once she felt some strength returning, she got up. Just then, the door opened, and Mei’er came in carrying some tea and sesame cakes.

“Miss, this is all we have for now. You’ll have to make do. I’ll go to the kitchen early tomorrow. They said tomorrow’s breakfast is white fungus and lotus seed soup—such a nice meal for the first time!”

“In that case, you must go early,” Yin Qingyue replied, quickly tidying her clothes as she spoke.

Mei’er placed the tea and sesame cakes on the table, looking at her curiously. “Miss, are you going out? After what just happened, you shouldn’t go out!”

Yin Qingyue came to the table, took a sip of water, and then quickly ate several pieces of sesame cake.

“Mei’er, stay in the room and sleep on my bed. I’ll be back soon,” she instructed after finishing. Then she stepped out the door. Sesame is nourishing and very useful for restoring her energy. She had eaten all the sesame cakes Mei’er brought—without a strong constitution, her mind-reading abilities couldn’t function well. And if she got into a fight, she would be at a disadvantage.

Before Mei’er could reply, Yin Qingyue had already vanished from the room. Her miss’s body was weak; moving so fast would soon exhaust her! Mei’er hurried after her, but when she saw the empty courtyard, she froze for a moment. If only she had realized how much her miss had changed—becoming so sharp and capable—she wouldn’t have called her back to the Luocheng Courtyard that day. Even if the Emperor knew, what would the execution of the entire Yin family matter?

Yin Qingyue’s figure had already disappeared into the moonlight, which tonight was not as bright as usual. She didn’t take the small path but walked through the trees beside the road. After a few hundred meters, she heard a man and woman talking.

“Xing’er, don’t you know who I am? You came from the palace. Once all the women in Luocheng Courtyard are taken for the blood ritual, you’ll be the one left. Then I’ll take you with me.”

“Shut up! You get your advantage and still play the innocent. I gave you my body! You enjoy it quietly! Did you bring the ginseng that Nanny Zhao hid?”

This man was the head of the guards at Luocheng Courtyard, overseeing the entire courtyard and the storage of supplies. Xing’er was seducing him precisely because of this.

“I brought it, a huge ginseng—can sell for a lot of silver! Here!” The man handed over the ginseng, stuffing it into Xing’er’s bosom. Then he kissed her cheek and inappropriately touched her.

“I don’t have the energy for this again. You’ve already tired me out for half an hour!” Xing’er pushed him away after taking the ginseng.

Hidden in the shadows, Yin Qingyue smiled. A massive ginseng! Searching high and low without success, and now it fell into her hands effortlessly!

Xing’er tried to leave, but the man, of course, was unwilling and pulled her back, groping her again. Their voices grew louder, and the ginseng in her bosom accidentally rolled out. At night, the Luocheng Courtyard was usually quiet, and the trees beside the road even quieter, allowing them to act so recklessly.

Knowing his temper, Xing’er narrowed her eyes and allowed him to continue.

Seeing the ginseng fall to the ground, Yin Qingyue’s eyes lit up. Ginseng was perfect for nourishing her body! She quietly approached; the ginseng had fallen six or seven meters from the two of them. She observed them carefully as she retrieved it. By the time she left silently, they were at the height of their indulgence.

Ginseng secured! Next step—get a stove and boil it! Yin Qingyue thought as she walked. If she only boiled it, she could drink only a few bowls. Making it into slices and keeping it on her body would be much better.

Yin Qingyue quickly entered a building and instructed Mei’er to take her to the kitchen. It was the middle of the night, and no one would notice them entering. Mei’er froze slightly upon seeing the large ginseng in her hands.

“Quick, take me there!” she urged, pushing Mei’er along.

Mei’er understood immediately and led her to the kitchen.

Once inside, Yin Qingyue told Mei’er to boil water while she took a kitchen knife and began slicing the ginseng.

The kitchen had some sesame and a few flatbreads. Yin Qingyue sliced the ginseng and tossed it into the stove, then sprinkled sesame over the flatbreads, heating them together.

“Miss, your appetite has really grown! Eat more, gain some flesh, and those people won’t be able to defeat you!” Mei’er said excitedly. She loved the current version of her miss!

Yin Qingyue smiled and carefully monitored the stove—she couldn’t overcook it, just a quick simmer would do. About ten minutes later, she drained the water and took out all the ginseng slices. Wrapping them in a piece of coarse cloth, she prepared to leave with Mei’er.

Not far from the door, they heard footsteps approaching.

“Someone stole Nanny Zhao’s goods! How audacious! Search quickly—check every room!”

Mei’er turned pale, thinking of the ginseng. “Miss, what should we do?”

“Don’t worry.” Yin Qingyue immediately placed a slice of ginseng under her tongue, then securely wrapped the rest in the cloth. They dug a small hole under a large tree and buried the ginseng slices.

After finishing, she led Mei’er back toward the house. They had just re-entered when someone knocked on the door.

Mei’er shivered, looking fearfully at her miss.

“Hurry up! Nanny Zhao ordered a search of the rooms!”

Yin Qingyue hadn’t been sleeping, so she calmly walked toward the door.

A group of guards stood in the courtyard, checking every room.

“Ugh, having to search the room of an ugly, filthy woman!” one guard cursed loudly, then entered the room.

At that moment, Yin Qingyue noticed Xing’er standing outside another room. She was serving Xue Zhenyu, and the two maids beside her indicated her different status.

“You can’t look at Miss’s bed!” Mei’er shouted, trying to stop the guard.

“You think I like looking? Get out of the way! Don’t interfere with my work!” The guard shoved Mei’er aside.

At that exact moment, a tall, upright man arrived. Yin Qingyue focused and recognized him—the same man from the forest with Xing’er!

“This must be the ugly woman who stole something!” he said. The ginseng was missing in transit. Now that Nanny Zhao was desperate to find it, he needed a scapegoat.

“And why do you say that?” Yin Qingyue asked softly, feigning indifference.

“Not allowing a bed search proves guilt!”

“Boss, are you going to search personally?” The first guard inside the room looked at the man with a smile, speaking respectfully.

From this, Yin Qingyue recognized his identity. If she could threaten him, her chances of moving around Luocheng Courtyard would greatly increase.

She moved quickly. Her mind-reading powers weren’t active yet, but the ginseng slice gave her much energy. No wonder Nanny Zhao was so anxious about finding it—this was truly a fine ginseng!

“Boss, hurry! It must be this ugly woman who stole it!”

Yin Qingyue smirked and picked up a small bead from the dressing table, flicking it at the guard. It struck his temple, causing him to wail in pain.

“Huh? What’s this?” The guard captain picked up a piece of clothing. Coming from the palace, he recognized it as extraordinary.

Yin Qingyue approached him gently. “This is Prince Jing’s clothing. I am Prince Jing’s person. The fine ginseng Nanny Zhao was searching for disappeared because you, to please Xing’er, took it…”

“Nonsense!” The man’s expression changed. His dealings with Xing’er had always been secret—how could she possibly know?

“I am only temporarily in Luocheng Courtyard. If you do not obey my orders, Prince Jing will not spare you!”

The man’s expression shifted rapidly. His gaze fell on the clothing in his hand. Seeing the embroidery at the hem, his eyes darkened—it resembled the exclusive embroidery of the Beihai royal family.

Could it be… she really is Prince Jing’s woman?!