MCSCPM -Chapter 152 Preparing to Escape

Several guards paced back and forth in Luochen Courtyard. Once stationed in the palace, now they were sent to this godforsaken place.

“This is annoying. Why are we stuck here? There’s nothing here, and we have to watch over these girls,” one guard complained.

“What choice do we have? It’s the Emperor’s order. Who dares defy it?”

“Enough talking. Just two more days and you can’t handle it? Are the Emperor’s palace guards really this low-quality?”

After the argument, Luochen Courtyard fell back into its deathly silence.

Inside the room, lights still burned brightly.

“Miss, what are you doing?”

Yin Qingyue was busy stirring some powdered herbs in a medicine jar.

“You’ll see soon enough,” she said with a faint smile.

“Do we need to bring this clothing, Miss?” Mei’er asked, holding a white robe whose beads had long gone missing.

“Yes, we must bring it,” Yin Qingyue replied. This was a lifesaving treasure—if danger arose, it could very well save her.

“Chu Jingcheng…” Yin Qingyue repeated the name over and over under her breath.

“Take the herbs with you. Leave just enough food,” she instructed.

“Understood.”

Yin Qingyue held a bottle of white powder, pacing back and forth around the room.

“Ah!” A woman’s shriek pierced the night outside.

As Yin Qingyue pushed open the door, a dead body came into view, and Mei’er screamed in fright.

“This is what happens if you try to escape! Everyone watch! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!” A guard stared at the corpse, expressionless, as though he had nothing to do with the killing.

The girls in Luochen Courtyard were instantly struck with terror. They had thought escape was possible, but now… this was their fate.

“Miss, what do we do now? That person is dead!” Mei’er said, terrified that the next victim might be her mistress.

Yin Qingyue slammed the door shut. If death was inevitable, what could they fear?

“No, that person was too stupid. Leaving at this time would definitely lead to capture. We’ll wait until it’s darker tonight,” she said, slipping the white powder into her sleeve.

“And hide your bundle behind the door. Don’t let anyone see it.”

“Yes, Miss.”

At this time, chaos would erupt in Luochen Courtyard. The guards would let down their guard, and under cover of night, their escape would succeed.

Outside, the courtyard grew crowded, bustling with movement.

“Mei’er, stay here. I’ll go first. Wait for my signal, then you come,” Yin Qingyue whispered, walking toward the corpse.

The woman’s pupils were contracted—she had been stabbed by the guard after being terrified, with no other injuries.

“What are you staring at? Do you want to end up like her?” the guard said, waving his knife to scare them.

“We dare not!” the girls cried, kneeling immediately.

Humans—so pitiful. Just to live another day, they would beg on their knees.

“Behave, and when the ritual is over tomorrow, it’ll be done. Don’t interfere with our work!” the guard said harshly. They, too, wanted no trouble—this was serious business.

“Yes.”

“You wouldn’t dare escape. Utterly foolish. Guards, carry this body to the altar!”

Taking advantage of the moment, Yin Qingyue signaled Mei’er to slip out of the room.

Outside, the crowd allowed Mei’er to blend in easily with her bundle.

“Go that way,” Yin Qingyue whispered, leading her toward the rear garden.

“Miss—”

“Quiet.”

Under the cover of night, the two quickly reached the rear garden.

“Miss, what do we do now?” Mei’er whispered, scared of being discovered.

“Stay here behind the tree. I’ll check the back gate. Once I deal with the guards, I’ll come back. Don’t move—just stay hidden,” Yin Qingyue instructed.

The rear gate was the least guarded. She had observed the guards’ shift schedule carefully—just the right timing, and they could escape.

Several guards continued their rounds.

“Why are you only coming now? What time is it?” one complained.

“Someone died earlier. The body was taken to the altar. Don’t believe me? Go see for yourself,” another replied.

“Move it! Shift change—time to rest!”

After some bickering, most guards left, leaving only two on duty.

Hiding in the shadows, Yin Qingyue watched their every move. She slipped to the right side of the rear gate—perfectly opposite the guard.

She twisted open the white powder bottle, a cold smile playing on her lips.

This powder, she had concocted all afternoon. Once inhaled by a man, it caused heat throughout the body, confusion, diarrhea, and a temporary delirium. Memories of events would be erased afterward. Women, however, were unaffected.

Her dosage was moderate—lasting only half an hour—so she had to act quickly.

She slowly opened the bottle, blowing the powder into the air. A pleasant scent drifted toward the guards.

“What is this smell? It’s so fragrant!” the guards sniffed desperately.

“I noticed a garden here… maybe it’s from there. So fragrant,” one said.

Gradually, the guards began to feel lightheaded and unsteady.

Yin Qingyue grinned. The powder’s effect was fast but fleeting. She had to hurry to bring Mei’er over.

“Mei’er, where are you?” she called down the garden path.

“I’m here!” Mei’er replied quickly from behind.

“Come quickly! We have to leave now!”

“Miss, have you dealt with the guards?” Mei’er asked, eyes shining in the dark.

“Don’t ask. Half an hour left on the powder. We must hurry.”

The guards, meanwhile, giggled and scratched at themselves, completely under the powder’s effect.

“Mei’er, get up! These guards are under the powder’s influence. Nothing to fear. Move!”

“Really?”

“Yes! Come on—outside, the carriage is waiting!” Yin Qingyue urged her forward.

The rear gate led to a narrow path. At the end, a carriage waited, long prepared.

Every step took them farther from the palace. Yin Qingyue hoped she would never return, ever.

“Driver! Take us to the outskirts! As fast as possible!” she said, urgency in her voice. The powder’s effect wouldn’t last long—if discovered, even the Crown Prince couldn’t save her.

“Miss, you mean leaving the capital?” the driver asked.

“Yes! We must leave the capital!”

In an instant, the carriage wheels turned, leaving Luochen Courtyard farther behind.

“Goodbye, capital,” Yin Qingyue said, watching the road shrink into the distance until it disappeared.

Her heart was in turmoil. She had never imagined leaving Luochen Courtyard like this. Everything here would end—a final period. From now on, Yin Qingyue would cease to exist here.

“Miss, are we leaving Xize?” Mei’er asked sadly. She never imagined leaving Xize one day.

“We have no choice. Only by leaving can we survive,” Yin Qingyue said, smiling.

“Then let’s go to the neighboring country. I heard as a child that the food there is delicious, the men tall and strong… maybe Miss can even find a husband there,” Mei’er said with a mischievous grin.

“The neighboring country? That’s Prince Jing’s nation,” Yin Qingyue thought silently. She still carried his robe—would it be wise to go there?

“Miss, what are you thinking? Did I guess right?” Mei’er teased.

“You brat…” Yin Qingyue said helplessly. She had no idea where they were headed now.

“Ladies, I was paid by a client to take you outside the capital. If you want to go elsewhere, it’ll cost extra,” the driver said, stopping the carriage.

“Take us to the outskirts. Once we arrive, I’ll reward you further,” Yin Qingyue said coldly. Such drivers only wanted to extort money.

“All right,” he replied, driving toward the capital’s outskirts.

Yin Qingyue felt a twinge of reluctance. Leaving meant moving farther from the Crown Prince and Prince Jing.

Meanwhile, at the capital inn, Chu Jingcheng could no longer sit still. Tomorrow night was the ritual. Everything was ready—he only needed to give the order.

He stared at the distant palace, eyes closed, unsure of Yin Qingyue’s fate.

What awaited him, was destiny itself.