MCSCPM -Chapter 168 Let Her Try

At this moment, the merchant ship sped along the river, and in the distance, Jiangnan came into view.

“Third Prince, Jiangnan is just ahead. In less than half an hour, we’ll arrive!” one of the attendants said excitedly.

Nangong Chen sneered coldly. “Everything is ready… we just need the east wind.”

“As long as Nangong Xiao arrives in Jiangnan, he’s as good as dead!”

“Prepare to go ashore!” Nangong Chen’s lips curved into a smug smile.

This trip had been a major gain. With Yin Qingyue as a chess piece in his hands, the struggle for the throne tilted even more in his favor.

“Yes, Third Prince!” the attendants replied.

Meanwhile, after several days of rest, Yin Qingyue’s body had mostly recovered. Once she reached Jiangnan, escaping would not be difficult.

“Seize Yin Qingyue!” a man barked as he pushed open the door.

“Yes, sir.”

Several burly men entered. Knowing she couldn’t fight them, Yin Qingyue made no attempt to struggle.

“Heh, surprisingly obedient. Stay still, I won’t let you die… for now,” the man sneered.

“Just wait until we reach shore. You’ll see!” Yin Qingyue thought, inwardly vowing revenge.

Upstream:

Chu Jingcheng and his group were in hot pursuit.

“Prince, with the favorable wind, we can reach Jiangnan tonight.”

“Tonight, we’ll stay just outside the village. You and Leng Yi scout ahead. Report immediately if there’s any change,” Chu Jingcheng said calmly.

He had never been this anxious over anyone. He had assumed Yin Qingyue could handle herself and avoid danger, but within the time it takes to drink tea, she had vanished. His worry wasn’t about the enemy’s strength—it was that Yin Qingyue could lose her life at any moment.

“Yes, Prince. I’ll make the arrangements immediately!”

At the docks, a merchant ship had already moored.

“Third Prince, what shall we do with Yin Qingyue?”

“Keep her among the medicinal herbs. Bring her along with the cargo,” Nangong Chen said, a cold smile tugging at his lips.

Nearby, several carriages were already piled high with medicinal herbs. A large group of refugees was running toward the dock.

“Grab it quickly!” one man led the way.

These were all Jiangnan’s disaster victims. To control the plague, most had been expelled from the city.

“Whoever comes near dies!” Nangong Chen said coldly.

“Third Prince, we haven’t eaten in half a month! Have mercy—just a little food!” the refugees cried.

“Kill them all. Leave no one alive!”

Nangong Chen had no desire to explain. Even if the ship carried food, he would not share it. Exposure to the plague could be disastrous.

“Third Prince, there are children here! Shall we kill them too?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Nangong Chen’s eyes glinted coldly.

“No, no need,” the man stammered.

In an instant, screams erupted. All the previous refugees lay dead on the ground.

“Dispose of these bodies in the outskirts to prevent infection.”

“Yes, sir.”

Nangong Chen’s eyes burned red with anger. There was no sympathy in him. To claim the throne, any obstacle must be eliminated.

“Third Prince, you’ll be returning to the capital in a few days. Is giving these medicinal herbs to plague victims really necessary?” an attendant asked, fawning.

“Heh, these are just substandard herbs bought from elsewhere. As long as the people in the sacks survive, nothing else matters,” Nangong Chen said.

“Still… I worry that ugly girl might escape.”

The attendant’s concern wasn’t baseless. Nangong Chen had been shocked by the news from Consort De: a woman had managed to break free from ritual bindings.

“Even if she tries, Jiangnan is rife with plague. She has no way to survive!” Nangong Chen said coldly.

Yin Qingyue was just a pawn—destined to die eventually. Even if she perished in Jiangnan, it would not affect his plan. As long as she could hold Nangong Xiao in check, the throne would be his.

“She won’t get far anyway!”

“What arrangements once we reach the storage location?”

Nangong Chen snorted coldly. “Lock her up with the medicinal herbs in the warehouse.”

For such an ugly woman, there was no need for him to intervene personally.

Thinking this, he wondered why Nangong Xiao even liked her. Apart from her courage under pressure, what charm did Yin Qingyue really have?

“All arrangements will follow the Third Prince’s orders,” the attendants said.

Nangong Chen kept his gaze fixed on the distant carriages. Once the herbs were delivered, Nangong Xiao would be as good as in a trap, ready to be manipulated.

To him, the medicinal herbs were merely bait. Even substandard herbs would make the plague victims grateful, unaware of the manipulation behind it.

But things wouldn’t go as he wished.

At this moment, Yin Qingyue lay in a sack. Though bound, it was no challenge for her. The ritual bindings had been tighter, yet she had easily freed herself.

A swift motion, and the ropes fell away, snapping apart as if cut by a blade.

“Nangong Chen, since you want trouble, I’ll give it to you!” Yin Qingyue said coldly.

The dock was still some distance from the Third Prince’s residence. Yin Qingyue lay on the carriage, waiting for the right moment. She would only make her move once the carriage stopped.

After a while, the bumpy ride subsided.

“Get a few people to help! These medicinal herbs are for the plague. Make sure nothing goes wrong! Move them to the warehouse!” an attendant shouted, gripping his keys with a sinister smile.

The warehouse was the perfect place to lock Yin Qingyue.

“Yes, sir!”

Her body tensed. If she didn’t leave soon, escape would become difficult.

“Ouch, my stomach!” a man wailed, setting the sack in a corner and heading to the latrine.

Luckily, I still have some of the powder with me, or it would have been troublesome! Yin Qingyue thought with a sly smile.

The man’s sudden trip to the latrine was exactly what she needed. The white powder she had used earlier—when dispersed in the air—caused hallucinations, diarrhea, and even madness. If the sack hadn’t been filled with medicinal herbs, the effect wouldn’t have taken hold so quickly.

“Nangong Chen, I should thank you for saving me,” she thought, slipping out of the sack while the man was gone.

The area was deserted, filled only with the strong smell of herbs.

“What are you doing here? Go work!” a sharp voice demanded.

“I’m taking some herbs to the kitchen,” Yin Qingyue said, bowing her head.

“Do you even belong here? This is all disaster relief cargo! You’re asking for death!” the man yelled, picking up the sack.

“Take these and throw them away. If anyone sees, you’ll be punished!”

“Yes, yes!”

As Yin Qingyue prepared to leave with the sack, she asked, “Wait, I’ve never seen you before. Who are you?”

“I’m new here. I made a mistake. Please forgive me!”

“Go quickly!” the man said with disgust. Even a second of looking at her was unbearable.

Little did he know, he had just created a disaster for himself.

Yin Qingyue hurried away.

“This is Nangong Chen’s residence. I must leave before dark,” she thought.

Suddenly, the aroma of food wafted ahead.

“Quick, get ready! The Crown Prince is waiting! If you’re late, you’ll pay!”

“What are you standing there for? Bring the dishes!” an old maid barked.

“Yes,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

The kitchen was crowded. Soon, she blended in with the crowd.

The kitchen connected to a back exit, just as she had expected.

“Is that all you’ve got? You want to trap me?” Yin Qingyue said coldly.

She had no intention of leaving Jiangnan immediately. Since she was here, she might as well stir up some trouble.

At the dock:

Chu Jingcheng’s ship slowly approached the shore.

“Prince, really camp here?” Leng Feng noticed the stench immediately after disembarking.

“Burn all the bodies!” Chu Jingcheng frowned. The plague in Jiangnan had spread to this extent. Plague was incurable—once infected, death was inevitable.

“Prince, look,” Leng Feng pointed to a pool of blood on the ground.

“These might be plague victims. Stay away for now,” Chu Jingcheng said with a cold smile.

As evening fell, Yin Qingyue had quietly entered the disaster zone.

“Have mercy, just give us some food…”

“Please, just a little food…”

The moment she stepped onto this land, she noticed something unusual. Everyone looked pale, with red spots on their lips. The air carried a faint stench of decay.

“Were you driven here by the soldiers?” she asked.

“Miss, is this your first time in Jiangnan? You should leave quickly. Plague is everywhere; it’s not a place to linger,” an elderly woman gasped, her face full of red spots.

Yin Qingyue quickly covered her nose. These people were all infected. Even speaking a word risked contagion.

In ancient times, plague was incurable. In modern times, treatment was simple.

“Grandmother, my family has been doctors for generations. Perhaps I can help treat your illnesses,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

“Little girl, you’re young but bold. We’re all dying. Do you claim you can bring us back to life?” the woman said helplessly.

“Even if some die, let me try. Perhaps a dead horse can be treated as a live one. You won’t be here long anyway. In a few days, the Third Prince will likely drive you out of the city,” Yin Qingyue said.

Her words stunned everyone present.

In recent days, the Third Prince had tightened city defenses. Any plague victims discovered were driven out. These people had only barely escaped capture.

“What proof do you have that we should trust you?”

“Given your current state, all of you will die within three days. Give me a chance, and I’ll cure the plague,” Yin Qingyue said with confidence.

“She’s right. Let her try; maybe she can save us.”

“How can she play with our lives?”

“Look at the situation. The plague is spreading. If we don’t risk it, all of Jiangnan will perish!”

“Since we’re doomed anyway, we might as well try!” a man shouted.

“Good!” the crowd agreed.

“Thank you for your trust. I will not disappoint you,” Yin Qingyue said, a triumphant glint in her eyes. She was eager to see how the Third Prince would fare after the plague was under control.

A war without gunpowder had just begun.