MCSCPM -Chapter 159 Prince Jing Watches the Show

On the sacrificial altar.

The moment the drums fell silent, everyone tensed.

“Bring water! Wash all the filth off these girls!” the chief official Yuchi Fuchen waved his staff, and several guards carried out large tubs of water.

“Minister, why is this necessary? I already ordered these girls to fast and bathe!” Nangong Lin looked surprised.

“This sacrifice is of utmost importance. It concerns the future of Xize. On their way here, these girls must have been contaminated. Before offering them to Heaven, we must ensure their purity—only then can the Emperor’s sincerity to the heavens secure the realm for generations!” Yuchi Fuchen explained.

Nangong Lin nodded in approval. “Issue my decree: follow the official’s instructions.”

Buckets of cold water were poured over the girls, eliciting screams that quickly spread through the altar.

A cold gaze pierced from behind. Yuchi Fuchen turned—Yin Qingyue was staring straight at him.

As the guards prepared to pour water on her, she kicked one hard. “Get lost!”

The guard lost his balance, dumping a bucket of water over himself and collapsing to the ground before he could react.

“You—you dare defy the imperial decree?!”

“Useless fool, get out of my way!” Yuchi Fuchen’s eyes narrowed. Such a bold, ugly girl dared to act recklessly under his nose.

The other sacrificial girls looked at Yin Qingyue with sympathy. Anyone who offended Yuchi Fuchen suffered a harsh fate. They didn’t understand why Yin Qingyue was acting this way—after all, death was inevitable for all of them.

“Bold girl! You dare disrupt the sacrifice!” Yuchi Fuchen stepped toward her, his cold gaze filled with disdain.

“The esteemed official of Xize, afraid of a common girl? Sacrificing to Heaven is superstition! Do you think this will save the people of Jiangnan? Even if we die, the plague won’t be solved!” Yin Qingyue sneered.

“Bold girl! How dare you insult metaphysics! Someone, silence her!” Yuchi Fuchen furrowed his brows. If she continued speaking, his plan would be ruined.

“Official, silencing me? So you’ve been flattering the Emperor with lies?” Yin Qingyue smiled coldly. She had seen many deceitful Taoists in the martial world.

“Fine. I have no desire to discuss metaphysics with the ignorant. I fear Xize’s future is at stake! It would be tragic if Xize fell to someone like you!” she said, each word filled with authority.

Yuchi Fuchen waved his staff frantically, panic rising. He hadn’t expected such chaos.

“Afraid, are we? Go on, silence me! Then no one will know where you went wrong!” Yin Qingyue shouted, sending a chill through the crowd.

“Bring the torches! Light the fire!” Yuchi Fuchen’s anger surged. Once burned, even a hundred mouths couldn’t speak.

“Yes.”

“I want to see what you’ll say when death is at your doorstep,” Yuchi Fuchen sneered.

As the torches were about to be lit, Nangong Xiao closed his eyes and slowly shed tears. Watching Yin Qingyue about to be burned alive, he could only be a helpless observer.

“Your Highness, won’t you act? She’s about to be burned alive!” Leng Feng whispered anxiously.

“Wait,” Chu Jingcheng said, eyes half-lidded. It seemed the situation was about to change.

Rain began to fall, droplets wetting everyone.

“This is Heaven’s warning! This sacrifice is nonsense!” Yin Qingyue laughed coldly.

The rain intensified. Flames on the altar were engulfed in darkness, torches extinguished.

“This so-called Heaven Sacrifice? To benefit the people of Xize? Heaven forbids it! Using women to atone for floods—what kind of men are you? You’re the real trash!” she shouted.

Everyone present was stunned. Throughout history, women held little status. Yin Qingyue’s boldness, openly insulting the Emperor, could have catastrophic consequences.

“Seize her! Immediately execute her!” Nangong Lin rose, throwing his teacup to the floor. No one had ever defied him, yet Yin Qingyue dared.

“Yes.”

“I will ensure she dies miserably!” Nangong Lin trembled with rage. Consort De and the Empress clenched their fists.

Nangong Xiao felt utterly powerless. Yin Qingyue teetered on the brink of death, and he could do nothing. His own ambition for the crown prince title had cost him the woman he loved.

“This Emperor and the official are the same—unable to argue with me, one wants to burn me, the other to behead me. No wonder this official enjoys your favor!” Yin Qingyue’s eyes glinted with sarcasm.

“Did you forget who cured your chronic illness, Your Majesty? Without me, you wouldn’t even get the chance to see me now,” she added.

“Bold girl! Destroying Xize’s sacrifice! Seize her!”

“Yes.”

The guards gaped in shock. Yin Qingyue had already freed herself from the ropes, clapping her hands.

Even more astonishing—the ropes were tied so tightly that even a man could not have escaped. How had a single woman broken free? For her, a mere rope was trivial; a few seconds and it was undone.

“Useless fools! What are you waiting for? Move!” the chief guard barked.

“If Yin Qingyue escapes, none of you will survive!”

“Yes.”

Several guards charged the altar with swords. Yin Qingyue remained calm, a faint smile on her face.

She flicked her sleeve, releasing a white powder into the air.

“Ah! It burns! What is this?” the guards screamed in pain.

“Witch! She’s using magic!”

The powder, mixed with rainwater, spread over their bodies, intensifying the effect.

Yin Qingyue had anticipated the guards’ attack. Her powder caused excruciating pain on contact, lasting for hours. The rain amplified it, ensuring maximum effect.

Soon, the powder would spread fully, and all the guards would collapse.

“You witch!” Yuchi Fuchen growled, afraid to approach lest he suffer the same fate.

“Isn’t the official supposed to know this? Why call me a witch? Just incompetent, isn’t it?” Yin Qingyue’s red figure moved through the darkness.

Unintentionally, she noticed someone nearby watching her. The intense gaze felt familiar.

“Useless fools! You can’t even catch a woman?” Nangong Lin shouted, coughing.

The Empress hurriedly supported Nangong Lin. “Be careful, Your Majesty. Your illness has just improved—don’t get wet in the rain, or…”

“No one would treat me?” Nangong Lin sneered. He didn’t believe that in all of Xize, no doctor could treat a cough.

“I didn’t mean that,” the Empress hastily explained.

The sacrificial altar had descended into chaos. This boldness was beyond the Empress’ expectation. Yin Qingyue dared defy the Emperor and injure the guards. If she wasn’t stopped quickly, it could threaten her.

The Empress devised a plan. “Seize Yin Qingyue! There will be great reward!” Her voice carried authority. I want to see how a single woman can resist these guards.

At her command, the guards charged.

“Looking for death!” Yin Qingyue threw more powder into the air.

“Ahh!” The guards screamed and collapsed instantly.

Nearby, Leng Feng whispered, “Your Highness, she’s incredible. But even she cannot resist so many guards for long. At this rate, her odds aren’t good.”

A dense wave of guards approached. Even with more powder, Yin Qingyue couldn’t last long—especially as a woman.

“Wait,” Chu Jingcheng said calmly.

Yin Qingyue steadied herself. Her powder was nearly gone, and the guards were closing in. Her strength was waning—using mind-reading on Chu Jingcheng and Nangong Xiao had drained her energy. Soon, she could not hold on.

Prince Jing had been watching for some time. If he let her die before him, he wouldn’t accept it. She intended to make a wager: if she died, it would be on his terms.

“Witch! How long will you resist? Die!” the chief guard yelled, sword in hand.

Thud! A bottle of powder fell.

White powder, mixed with rainwater, flowed to the guards’ feet.

“Ah! My feet!”

One by one, they collapsed.

Yin Qingyue smirked. She had risked her life—how long would Prince Jing wait?

“Attack! Kill her!” Nangong Lin shouted, veins bulging.

Guards surged forward again.

“Witch, die!”

Yin Qingyue had used all her powder. She smiled and shouted into the distance, “Prince Jing, you’re just watching the show—how long do you plan to enjoy it?”