MCSCPM -Chapter 161 Simply Ungrateful

Outside the imperial palace.

“Yin Qingyue, this time it was my prince who saved you. You should know how to show gratitude!” Leng Feng said with a mischievous grin.

“This is something your prince owes me. Do I need to repay him?” Yin Qingyue replied coldly.

He still hadn’t been held accountable for taking advantage of her—now he had the audacity to lecture her on gratitude?

“You—how shameless you are! Not only did you strip my prince’s clothes, but he saved you multiple times! Don’t you know how to be grateful?” Leng Feng fumed.

“Grateful? How do you write that word?” Yin Qingyue said lightly.

All she wanted now was rest. Although Prince Jing had saved her life, she didn’t feel indebted to him. With her current condition, she couldn’t afford to argue with Leng Feng—she had to recover to face the dangers ahead.

Yin Qingyue knew well that with Nangong Lin’s temperament, he would never let this go. And with Xuan Guan Yuchi by his side, who knew what he would make the emperor do?

“You… you woman! You’re simply ungrateful!”

A cold gaze shot from behind Leng Feng, signaling him to say no more.

“Your Highness! This woman—” Leng Feng held back, forced to swallow his anger.

Chu Jingcheng half-closed his eyes, observing her carefully.

Facing life and death, she showed no fear. If she weren’t desperate, she wouldn’t have sought his help.

A cold smile curved Chu Jingcheng’s lips. A woman bold enough to strip him… she would not be simple.

“Your Highness, what should we do next?” Leng Yi asked calmly.

Now that Prince Jing had torn ties with Xize, lingering in the capital was not a long-term solution.

“Wait.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Inside the palace, chaos reigned.

“Is the Emperor all right?” The Empress’s face was full of concern.

“Your Majesty is stable, but must rest to recover fully. During this period, he must not get angry, or even I will be powerless,” the imperial physician said helplessly.

Earlier, Nangong Lin’s rage had been extreme; if untreated, the emperor’s life could have been at risk.

“When will the emperor wake?”

“That is uncertain,” the physician replied.

“Well, what are you good-for-nothings even here for? You might as well be women…” He paused, realizing Yin Qingyue had already been labeled a criminal, and stopped mid-thought.

“My skills are limited, please forgive me, Your Majesty,” the physician knelt abruptly.

“The emperor’s condition is critical. Waking him will not be quick. The Empress must wait patiently,” the physician said.

“Enough! Go! Useless!” The Empress scowled, exasperated. Could the entire imperial medical staff really compare to one Yin Qingyue?

“What shall we do? The sacrificial rites failed, the Jiangnan plague remains unresolved—is this Xize’s calamity?” The Empress sighed in sorrow.

“Your Majesty, Yin Qingyue cannot escape fate. She will be fine,” Nanny Lai reassured her.

“How can one not worry when the emperor is unconscious?” Heavily concerned, Empress He Minmin added.

She thought she saw Nangong Lin’s hand tremble slightly.

“Nanny, did the emperor’s finger just move?”

“Yes, I saw it.”

“I want water,” Nangong Lin whispered weakly.

“Bring water!”

“Your Majesty, you’re awake! I was so worried!” The Empress’s eyes filled with tears.

“It is my fault for causing you worry,” Nangong Lin said, softening at her tears.

“Your Majesty! If not for Yin Qingyue, you wouldn’t have ended up like this!” Empress He Minmin’s eyes flashed with anger.

“Any news from the guards?” Nangong Lin asked, knowing it was unlikely but still insisting.

“People are talking. Prince Jing is so brazen in Xize, he has disregarded Xize entirely.”

Nangong Lin clutched his chest, coughing violently.

“The physician has warned: do not get angry, or the chronic illness will return, and even they can’t help,” the Empress reminded.

Hearing “physician,” Nangong Lin’s temper flared. “These useless fools!”

“If the guards cannot catch them, should they be let go?”

Nangong Lin frowned. Unable to pursue in Xize, the only solution was to confront the North Hao kingdom directly.

“Bring me pen and paper!”

Nangong Lin quickly wrote a letter. In less than the time of burning one incense stick, it was finished.

“Deliver this to North Hao! Fastest horse, ensure it reaches the ruler’s hands personally,” he instructed, handing the letter to the Empress. Only then could he relax.

“Your Majesty, what is this?” the Empress asked, puzzled.

“If I cannot start a war in Xize, this is the only way to make Prince Jing answer to me.”

By ancient law, nations could not interfere in another’s domestic affairs. Even Prince Jing, powerful as he was, could not ignore this rule.

Today, Chu Jingcheng had not only disrupted the sacrificial rites but also endangered diplomatic relations.

“But North Hao’s forces are strong; Xize’s chances are slim,” the Empress worried.

Nangong Lin had anticipated this but reasoned that Xize was morally right.

“Do you think Xize will collapse without a fight?” Nangong Lin’s eyes turned cold.

“I didn’t mean that! Prince Jing came to Xize to establish ties. Now he wages war, and with Jiangnan’s floods and plague… Xize cannot endure it,” the Empress explained.

“I told the harem to stay out of politics! Have you forgotten?” Nangong Lin snapped, fearing she might end up like Consort Sun.

“I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me,” Empress He Minmin said, bowing with a contorted expression.

“Go! Ensure the letter reaches North Hao quickly!” Nangong Lin ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Outside the courier inn in the capital.

“Miss… is that really you?” Mei’er’s eyes filled with tears.

“Foolish Mei’er, you worried yourself thin,” Yin Qingyue said, pinching her cheek.

“Miss, you’re safe! That’s wonderful!” Mei’er held her hands, overcome with emotion.

“Do you not know who I am? How could anything happen to me?”

“I know, Miss, you’re remarkable,” Mei’er replied, wiping her tears.

“What remarkable? If not for my prince, could you have survived?” Leng Feng snapped.

“Leng Feng!” Leng Yi scolded sharply. Treating the prince this way was courting death.

“Leng Feng, been idle recently? Have you cleaned the garden supplies?” Chu Jingcheng asked coldly.

“Your Highness, did I say something wrong?” Leng Feng protested, baffled by his prince’s behavior since meeting Yin Qingyue.

“Go,” Prince Jing said coldly.

“Mei’er, do we still have the medicinal herbs from last time?”

Yin Qingyue needed to recover fully to escape Xize. She knew she could not rely on Prince Jing forever.

To survive, she had to leave Xize. Even with his power, it was not enough. His forces were few; lingering would provoke Nangong Lin and his numerous guards.

“You worry too much, Miss Yin. Can I not protect you?” Chu Jingcheng asked, already seeing through her thoughts. Facing countless enemies, one Xize was nothing to him.

“I don’t doubt you. But… involving two nations is delicate. We must rely on ourselves,” Yin Qingyue said.

“I understand,” Mei’er nodded.

“Enough. Go prepare the ginseng decoction,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile, not wanting Mei’er caught in further trouble.

“Yes, Miss.”