MCSCPM -Chapter 185 A Man Who Likes Both Genders

Unconsciously, a few days had passed, and Chu Jingcheng’s presence had become a constant at the private residence outside the capital.

This day was no different. Yin Qingyue sat upright at the table, holding a medical book in her hands.

“Prince Jing, you’re here. The lady is in her room!” Mei’er said with a smile.

“You wait outside.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Chu Jingcheng stepped in slowly, carrying some clothes.

“Your Highness, it’s an honor to have you here!” Yin Qingyue said calmly. These past few days, the prince had either come to have meals or to have her mend his clothes—practically treating her as a maid.

“Why the displeasure at my visit?” Chu Jingcheng’s gaze was cold as he set the clothes beside her.

“Prince Jing, you ask me to wash your clothes and sew the beads on them. What’s your intention? Does the mansion lack a maid for laundry, or… are you just doing this on purpose?”

“Why so many questions? You stripped my clothes, even took the beads—are you that short of money?”

Yin Qingyue’s eyes widened in anger as she stared at him, then got up. If she hadn’t lost her own clothes, who would strip his? Even if she had no money, so what? Besides, the prince was rich—would he really care about this?

Fine, I’ll sew them. Finish quickly and leave! she thought to herself.

A white thread weaved through the white robe.

Chu Jingcheng watched her intently. Whether she read or mended clothes, every action of Yin Qingyue was captivating.

“Your red bellyband is still with me.”

“Do you even know what embarrassment is? Keeping a woman’s bellyband with you… aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?” Yin Qingyue was speechless. A grown man always talking about a bellyband—what kind of business is this?

“You left it yourself—are you afraid of being laughed at?”

Yin Qingyue was even more speechless. Indeed, she had left it behind. Thinking it privately, she said aloud, “It’s useless to keep it—return it to me!”

Outside, Leng Feng was about to knock when he overheard the conversation.

“Your Highness, it’s really frustrating. So many beauties wait for you in the capital, yet you insist on this ugly girl. Is it worth it?” he thought silently.

“Keep the bellyband? Fine—but return the beads to me,” Chu Jingcheng said.

Yin Qingyue placed the clothes on the table. “Beads are mended. Do as you wish, Prince Jing!”

“Who’s the real rogue here?” Chu Jingcheng hinted.

“Your Highness! I worry for you, but Yin Qingyue shows no gratitude. Aren’t you shameless?”

Suddenly, silence fell in the room.

Leng Feng outside felt awkward. Knocking now would ruin the mood, but he had urgent news. His head was already sweating.

“Your Highness, I have a report!”

“Enter,” Chu Jingcheng said coldly.

“Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered that tonight there will be a palace banquet, and you must attend! Moreover, you cannot bring the divine doctor with you,” Leng Feng said, lowering his head and inadvertently glancing at Yin Qingyue.

“My personal matters are none of the emperor’s concern,” Chu Jingcheng said, frowning. Previously, the emperor had ordered him not to bring Yin Qingyue to the prince’s residence, and he had agreed. Now, he wouldn’t allow being barred from a banquet either.

“Yin Qingyue, you must go!” Chu Jingcheng said, eyes half-closed, thoughtful. If she accompanied him, it would prove she was his woman—and from then on, fewer people would dare trouble him.

“Prince Jing’s intentions are understood,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile. She had just left Xize Palace, still recovering physically, and now faced another political entanglement.

She understood the prince’s status—if she got involved with him in the palace, trouble would surely follow. Even now, before entering the palace, she already had enough troubles, all linked to the prince.

Back in Xize, she had already experienced Prince Jing’s “interest in both men and women.”

A cold gaze instantly enveloped her. “Yin Qingyue, I order you to go—you must go!”

“I am not from Beihao. Entering the palace rashly is unwise. Moreover, hasn’t His Majesty already forbidden me from going?” Yin Qingyue sneered. She had no desire to become a topic for gossip.

“Yin Qingyue, afraid of such a small matter?” Chu Jingcheng’s eyes were cold. The Yin Qingyue he knew wouldn’t worry over this.

“I don’t want to get involved with the royal family,” she said.

Leng Feng flinched at her words.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Chu Jingcheng left the room with a stern face.

“Qingyue won’t see him off.” She watched his figure fade and felt a twinge of melancholy.

I just want to rest quietly. Palace politics, I don’t want to deal with for now, she thought.

“Miss, why did Prince Jing leave?” Mei’er hurried in.

“He left. Could it be… he was reluctant?”

“No. Just now, Mei’er noticed the prince’s expression—it wasn’t right. Normally, he wouldn’t leave without a word,” Mei’er said quietly. In the past few days, every time the prince came, he brought clothes for her, and she had noticed.

“Nothing,” Yin Qingyue said lightly.

On the way back to the mansion:

“What kind of woman doesn’t appreciate the prince’s attention?” Leng Feng said angrily. Over these past days, he had witnessed all of Yin Qingyue’s actions and felt the prince’s favor was being wasted. Out of all the women in the capital, why only her?

“Leng Feng, the prince’s decision—do not interfere,” Leng Yi said softly. He already understood Leng Feng’s concern, but matters of the heart cannot be forced.

“You didn’t see it. The emperor forbade her from going, yet Prince Jing wanted Yin Qingyue there, and she refused. If it were me, I’d have gone already,” Leng Feng said, displeased.

“Mind your own business.”

“Whatever. I bet Prince Jing is angry at Yin Qingyue right now.”

Chu Jingcheng sat silently in the carriage. For him, whether Yin Qingyue went or not didn’t matter—only a bit of disappointment.

At the Shangguan residence, Shangguan Jiaoran sat in the garden, eyes fixed on a teacup. Her mind kept replaying Prince Jing’s face.

Although she had admired the prince for years, she had never seen him in person until recently. The image of his face and the sound of his qin music were etched into her memory.

“Daughter, what are you thinking about?” Shangguan Qingyun asked, approaching slowly.

“Father, you know the answer! It’s because you always praise Prince Jing in front of me. After seeing him, I’ve fallen head over heels!” Jiaoran said sweetly.

“Is it my fault? If Prince Jing weren’t outstanding, your admiration wouldn’t matter, no matter how much I praised him,” Shangguan Qingyun laughed heartily.

“Father, you’re teasing me!”

“Before, you vowed in front of me that you would win over Prince Jing. Now? Your heart has already been captured by him! Let’s see how you’ll get him!”

“Father, you don’t know. Many women crowded outside the prince’s mansion just to see him. Only I saw him!” Jiaoran said proudly.

“Indeed, Prince Jing is as handsome and extraordinary as rumored!”

“Receiving such praise from my daughter is no small feat!”

“Father, I heard tonight there will be a palace banquet, and Prince Jing will attend,” Jiaoran’s eyes gleamed. If she could showcase herself there, the prince would surely be captivated.

“You find out everything so quickly. As soon as the messenger arrived, you already knew,” Shangguan Qingyun said.

“Of course! Father, I want to shine tonight!”

“Bring the sword!”

“Thank you, Father.”

Shangguan Qingyun swung the sword in the air, graceful yet forceful, despite his age.

“Jiaoran, this set will be performed at the banquet. Learn it well—it will attract everyone’s attention,” he said, smiling.

“I’ve trained under you since childhood. Not perfect, but with this combined with my new dance moves, it will be spectacular.”

“Good! As expected of my daughter!”

“Father, could you show it once more? I was thinking about Prince Jing earlier and missed some moves.”

“Once more. With your talent, you’ll master it immediately!”

“Don’t worry, Father. I won’t disappoint you at the banquet tonight!”

Jiaoran began imagining her grand entrance, certain the prince would fall at her feet.

“Watch closely!”

A cold glint followed her, and Shangguan Qingyun leaped along the garden rocks, shifting from gentle to domineering. Years of battlefield experience made this easy. But to execute the sword form perfectly required both skill and agility.

“Prepare my bath and clothing. Don’t use the red rainbow dress last time; take the red skirt and ribbons.”

“Yes, Miss,” Jiaoran nodded with satisfaction.

“Jiaoran, see it clearly this time?”

“Father, don’t worry. I’ve memorized it. Wait and watch the show tonight!”

“Practice first. I’ll make preparations.”

“Yes, Father.”

Jiaoran looked toward the palace, deep in thought. With her looks, she didn’t believe the prince would overlook her.

And indeed, she had yet to face the challenges awaiting her.

Back at Prince Jing’s residence:

“Your Highness, I heard the general will attend too!” Leng Feng said with a mischievous smile, forgetting earlier annoyances.

“That means Shangguan Jiaoran will be there too! If fate allows, maybe you’ll… settle for her!”

He remembered the girl’s confident words and wanted to see her reaction.

“Prepare to enter the palace,” Chu Jingcheng said coldly. A general’s daughter—what trouble could she make? If not for her father’s status, she wouldn’t enter the prince’s mansion easily.

To Chu Jingcheng, no one could occupy his heart except Yin Qingyue.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Leng Feng couldn’t wait to watch the drama unfold.