MCSCPM -Chapter 17 Wits at Play

Snap! Yin Qingyue had eaten and drank her fill. She put down her chopsticks and rose to leave.

“Where are you going?” Leng Feng hurriedly followed, asking.

Yin Qingyue leisurely adjusted the hem of her skirt and walked toward the exit of the tavern. “Of course, back to where I came from,” she said, her lips curling in a sly smile, a glint of mischief flickering in her dark, lively eyes.

Leng Feng froze for a moment, inwardly thinking: such spirited eyes on such an ugly face—what a pity.

As soon as Yin Qingyue stepped outside, she saw the burly men waiting. Her lips curled slightly in a provocative smirk; she already had a plan in mind.

The burly men, already angry about her snatching the dang gui, were now even more provoked by her bold taunt and immediately wanted to rush at her.

“Wait! Don’t even look at who’s behind her!” the leader stopped the others.

Their gazes shifted to Leng Feng, and their movements froze instantly.

The leader stroked his beard, squinting as he tried to think of a strategy. “Whatever happens, just follow her first!” When he saw Yin Qingyue’s figure almost disappearing, he abandoned his scheming and hurried after her.

Leng Feng calmly watched Yin Qingyue walk ahead at a leisurely pace. He couldn’t believe that such a delicate-looking woman could evade him from sight.

Finally, Yin Qingyue twisted and turned through several alleys until she reached a small, secluded lane.

Suddenly, a light, elegant floral fragrance hit Leng Feng’s senses, and his consciousness momentarily blurred. Startled, he quickly focused again—and when he reopened his eyes, Yin Qingyue was gone.

Agile as he was, Leng Feng spotted the burly men trailing behind and immediately headed after them.

The men, seeing Leng Feng approaching, panicked.

“What are you sneaking around for?” Leng Feng landed lightly before them.

“We…” The burly men’s eyes darted around nervously.

“Tell me—did you help the woman you were walking with escape?” Leng Feng’s face darkened slightly; he knew they had their own designs on her and intentionally spoke this way.

“N-no!” The leader hurriedly denied, seeing Leng Feng’s anger.

“We only wanted to buy some herbs from her,” he added quickly, seeing Leng Feng’s piercing gaze. He dared not admit they intended to steal the herbs.

But Leng Feng, a man of keen insight, immediately saw through the lie and snorted coldly. “Scram! If you ever bother her again, I won’t forgive you!” With that, he turned and left. Passing the spot where his senses had been briefly dulled, he noticed some unusual debris.

After careful inspection, Leng Feng finally understood where that delicate floral scent had come from. He couldn’t help but chuckle at himself—he had just been outwitted by an ugly woman!

Meanwhile, Yin Qingyue returned to Luocheng Courtyard, where Mei’er rushed to meet her.

“Miss! You came back so late; I was worried sick!” Mei’er said, her eyes full of concern as she inspected her mistress.

“No matter,” Yin Qingyue waved her hand casually and placed the dang gui she had obtained under her pillow.

Dang gui nourished the blood and energy, but combined with other herbs, it would be even more effective. This way, her body could recover quickly. As someone skilled in medicine, she knew exactly how to maximize the effect of the herbs.

Feeling reassured, Yin Qingyue said, “Mei’er, tidy things outside. I’m tired—going to rest for a bit.” Mei’er nodded repeatedly and helped her lie down.

She didn’t expect her mistress to sleep until dinner. When Mei’er had finished cooking porridge and entered, Yin Qingyue finally got up.

As she reached for the bowl, it cracked with a loud crack, and the scalding porridge spilled over her, leaving her fair, delicate hands red and swollen.

“Miss! Be careful!” Mei’er quickly stepped forward, wiping the porridge off her.

“You ugly girl, always so troublesome!” Nanny Zhao’s angry voice suddenly rang out.

“It’s just a bowl; our Miss didn’t do it on purpose,” Mei’er defended, finally standing up for her mistress after enduring so many grievances.

“You’re just an ugly servant, and you dare talk back? Do you know a broken bowl costs money?” Nanny Zhao raised her hand threateningly toward Mei’er’s face.

Yin Qingyue’s expression changed. She quickly stepped in front of Mei’er and caught Nanny Zhao’s hand.

“Nanny Zhao, the broken bowl was my fault. To cover the courtyard’s expenses, I’ll clean it for a month as compensation,” Yin Qingyue said sincerely with a faint smile.

Nanny Zhao, as the housekeeper, was angry because she would lose a few coins, but now, with Yin Qingyue volunteering to clean the yard, Nanny Zhao would save money and had no reason to bother them.

“Hmph. Since you insist, I’ll graciously let it pass,” Nanny Zhao said.

Yin Qingyue escorted Nanny Zhao to the courtyard gate, watching her leave.

Mei’er frowned. “Miss, why did you agree to clean the courtyard?”

“Don’t worry. We won’t actually clean it,” Yin Qingyue said, her lips curling coldly. Anyone daring to scheme against her had truly underestimated her.

Mei’er was stunned. “But didn’t you tell Nanny Zhao we’d clean it this month? Did I hear wrong?”

“Shh, be quiet,” Yin Qingyue patted Mei’er’s shoulder, signaling someone approaching.

“Dare threaten me, I’ll make life hard for you at Luocheng Courtyard!” The guard, drunk, stumbled toward her.

“Is that so?” Yin Qingyue snorted.

“How are you here?” The guard froze, dropping his jug of wine, spilling it across the floor.

Yin Qingyue rolled up her wide sleeves, revealing a pale, slender arm marked with a bright red fenghuang tattoo.

The guard was momentarily stunned.

“See the tattoo?” she asked coldly.

The guard snapped out of it, realizing he had been dumbstruck by an ugly woman’s arm. Anger surged as he sneered, “Do you really think anyone would want your body?”

He assumed his words had embarrassed her.

“Yes, the tattoo shows I’ve never been touched by a man. But a woman who has been… the mark wouldn’t appear, right? Like Miss Xing’er,” Yin Qingyue’s tone was deadly cold.

“If Nanny Zhao knew Xing’er’s arm was unmarked, what would happen? The girls here can’t leave, and the only men around are guards like you. Would Xing’er betray you to protect herself?” she said, smiling faintly.

“You!” The guard’s eyes widened at the mention of Xing’er. He swung his fist at Yin Qingyue.

She curled her lips in a sly smile and easily dodged.

“Do you believe I’ll kill you?” he roared.

“Before you strike me, take a look at this.” Yin Qingyue pulled out a blood-red bead from her sleeve and waved it before him.

The bead was embedded with intricate gold patterns, clearly no ordinary object.

“This…” The guard whispered, breaking out in cold sweat.

Yin Qingyue lifted her chin, her gaze icy.

Secretly, she chuckled—removing a single bead from Chu Jingcheng’s clothing had such an effect.

“If you kill me, do you think they’ll spare you?” Yin Qingyue’s voice flowed like water, but in the guard’s ears, it was like icicles stabbing his heart.

“Why resist me? Want to die sooner at Lord Yan’s hands?” she murmured.

The guard’s legs buckled, and he knelt, trembling.

“Miss Yin, I’m ignorant and ask your forgiveness!” His voice quivered as he kowtowed repeatedly.

“I won’t kill you… for now. Stand and speak,” Yin Qingyue said calmly.

The guard shakily rose, bowing his head before her.

“Since you don’t want to die, why not follow me? In Luocheng Courtyard, you’re just a guard. But with Prince Jing…” Yin Qingyue teased, her tone measured.

The guard’s eyes lit up.

“Thank you, Miss Yin! Thank you!” He fell to his knees again, bowing.

“And do you know what to do? Clean the courtyard for a month,” she asked coldly.

“Yes! I’ll clean it secretly, and you won’t need to! Anything you ask, Miss, I’ll do!” he promised.

Yin Qingyue nodded, satisfied, and left with a small smile.

“Miss, you’re amazing!” Mei’er exclaimed, delighted that they wouldn’t have to clean the courtyard.

“Ha, it’s late—time to rest,” Yin Qingyue said seriously.