MCSCPM -Chapter 167 Sabotage

At the border between Xize and Beihou, a group of people conducted a thorough search, while Yin Qingyue had already been taken along a different route by Nangong Chen.

“Yin Qingyue, let’s see where you can escape to this time,” Nangong Chen said with a cold sneer.

Yin Qingyue’s body was tightly bound with ropes.

“Nangong Chen, are you taking me back for the ritual?” she asked coldly.

“Would it benefit you if I sent you to the ritual? No, keeping you is for something far more important. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you for now. As long as you obey, I might spare your life. But if you try to escape, don’t blame my swords and blades for being merciless,” Nangong Chen said, his eyes full of ferocity.

“I’m tied up like this. How could I possibly escape?”

“You—during the ritual, weren’t you tied up just as tightly, yet still escaped?” Nangong Chen mocked.

At this moment, Yin Qingyue in his hands was like a living talisman.

As for Xize’s throne, it was merely a matter of time; eventually, it would be his.

Nangong Chen knew so much only because Consort De had secretly relayed messages—including the recent deposition of Nangong Xiao—which he had just learned of.

“If you want to escape, try. I’ve already dosed you with a sedative. Let’s see where you could possibly run,” he said, then turned and left the room.

Yin Qingyue was not on a carriage at this time, but on a merchant ship heading toward Jiangnan.

Chu Jingcheng would never have imagined that Yin Qingyue had been abducted by Nangong Chen, and that their destination was Jiangnan.

If not for her weakened condition, Yin Qingyue would never have fallen into Nangong Chen’s trap.

Earlier, she had been resting in the tent, and because of her weak state, she didn’t notice anyone entering. The moment she opened her eyes, darkness enveloped her, and she lost consciousness.

When she awoke again, her body ached, her limbs were weak, and she was tied up.

Just as Nangong Chen had said, in her current state, escape was impossible.

“Since you’re not going to kill me, I want to see exactly what you intend to do with me,” Yin Qingyue thought silently.

She realized that Chu Jingcheng and the others must be searching for her, and Mei’er was undoubtedly frantic.

“Is this the great goddess doctor? A little sedative, and you pass out—truly a disgrace to the title,” Nangong Chen mocked, tossing food onto her lap.

“This is for you to eat. You’ll have people to serve you here,” he added.

Several maidservants entered.

“Miss Yin, from now on, we will serve you.”

As Nangong Chen turned to leave, Yin Qingyue locked her gaze on him. Within just ten seconds, she could see his thoughts clearly.

So this was it—Nangong Chen’s struggle for the throne had already begun. Taking her along was to keep her for future use, a leverage over Nangong Xiao.

“Thanks for your kindness, Third Prince,” Yin Qingyue said, her eyes reflecting disgust.

At this moment, to Nangong Chen, she was merely a chess piece—but a crucial one. One mistake, and the entire plan could fail.

“Untie me!” she commanded.

“The Third Prince’s orders—no one can untie you!” a maid said, hesitating.

“Untie me, or I’ll bite my tongue and die! Let’s see how you explain this to the Third Prince!” Yin Qingyue said coldly.

“Relax. I won’t escape. Outside is death; here, there are people to serve me. Why would I go?” she thought, smirking inwardly.

“Fine, untie her. She’s too weak to leave this room anyway. Escape? Impossible,” a few maids chuckled.

To them, Yin Qingyue was no different from a useless pawn. As long as she didn’t escape, their interests weren’t affected.

“Miss Yin, now that you’re untied, stay here quietly. Don’t misbehave, or we’ll report to the Third Prince,” they warned.

“Mm,” Yin Qingyue smiled. She trusted Chu Jingcheng to find her; with his personality, he would never abandon her lightly.

At the border of Xize and Beihou:

“Prince, we’ve searched for hours, still no sign of Miss Yin. Should we continue?” Leng Feng asked, weary.

“No need. Everyone rest a bit. Then we head back immediately.”

“Prince, we’re returning home now?!” Leng Feng complained. Their lord had sacrificed so much for one woman, and she didn’t appreciate it at all.

He had always hoped the Prince would find a woman quickly, but now he’d fallen for Yin Qingyue—it was unbelievable.

“Leng Feng, rest a little; we’re about to depart,” Leng Yi said with a smile.

“Strangely, even your deadpan face can smile sometimes,” Leng Feng teased.

“Stop talking. Our Prince has finally found someone he likes. Why worry?” Leng Yi replied with a mischievous grin.

“Are you looking for a woman too?”

“I’d only do so after the Prince marries the princess first,” Leng Feng said seriously.

If not for Yin Qingyue, they would have already reached Beihou. Why linger here?

“Don’t you know the Prince? Once he decides on something, it never changes.”

“Fine, I surrender. Your dead face deserves more smiles,” Leng Feng muttered helplessly.

“Prepare to depart!” Chu Jingcheng’s lips curved with a cold smile. Perhaps she was there.

“Prince, where should we search for Miss Yin?”

“Follow me!” Chu Jingcheng walked alone ahead of the carriage.

After some time, the carriage returned to the main road.

Ahead lay a river, leading directly to the most prosperous part of Xize: Jiangnan.

“Could they have gone this way?” Leng Feng wondered.

From the border to here would take at least an hour. And yet, she disappeared in the time it takes to drink tea. Even a normal person couldn’t manage that.

“Take the essential supplies. Leave the carriage. Head to Jiangnan!”

“Yes, Prince,” they replied.

Miss, wait for me. Prince Jing will save you soon, Mei’er thought silently, eyes closed.

On the merchant ship:

“Miss Yin, time to eat,” several maidservants brought in meals.

“Take all this away!” Yin Qingyue said angrily.

“Miss, you must eat whatever is given. It’s the Third Prince’s order!” a maid said, annoyed.

“I’m weak and need medicinal herbs to recover. If you don’t provide them, I’ll go on a hunger strike. Let the Third Prince deal with it!”

Before she could finish, the maids hurriedly said, “Miss, tell us whatever you need.”

“There are medicinal herbs on this ship. Bring me the ginseng,” Yin Qingyue said.

The maids were shocked. She had never left her room—how could she know the cargo was all medicinal herbs?

“Yes, Miss,” they said.

From the moment she awoke, she knew the ship carried only herbs, sailing toward Jiangnan.

Currently, Jiangnan was suffering floods and plague. If this wasn’t a relief mission, the ship wouldn’t have traveled so fast.

Yin Qingyue did not yet know about Nangong Xiao’s deposition, but she wouldn’t allow Nangong Chen’s schemes to succeed.

“Miss, here’s the ginseng you asked for.”

“Good. Leave it and go,” she said.

“Yes, Miss,” the maids replied, exchanging glances before leaving.

“If she eats this ginseng and regains strength, she might escape. Then the Third Prince will blame us—we can’t bear that!” the maids fretted.

“Relax. The ginseng I gave her is substandard. It’ll only restore a little strength. Escaping through that door? Impossible.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? You scared me!”

But Yin Qingyue could tell the quality of the ginseng. Though substandard, with proper preparation, it could still achieve its full medicinal effect.

“Do you think such a petty trick can stop me?” Yin Qingyue smirked.

Before reaching Jiangnan, restoring her strength was most important.

With the plague raging in Jiangnan, pretending to be ill would make escape even easier.

Yin Qingyue took several slices of ginseng from her sleeve and placed them in her mouth—this was the fastest way to regain energy.

These inferior ginseng slices might also counteract the sedative’s side effects.

By mashing them into a paste and applying to her body, the effects would be excellent.