MCSCPM -Chapter 187 Secrets of the Detached Residence

The imperial palace was bustling.

“Esteemed ministers, the banquet ends here for today. It’s getting late, so everyone should return and rest,” Chu Haolian said with a smile.

“Yes, this humble minister takes his leave.”

“Yes, your son takes his leave.”

As night deepened, most had already left. Only a few ministers lingered, whispering among themselves.

“His Majesty must be in a terrible mood tonight.”

“What do you mean?” asked one minister, puzzled.

“Think about it—His Majesty held this banquet for Prince Jing, yet he was rejected. From now on, Prince Jing taking a consort will be even more difficult.”

“You think… Prince Jing already has someone he loves? Otherwise, how could he refuse the general’s daughter?”

“You’re not wrong. Recently, there were rumors that Prince Jing keeps the woman he loves outside the city, in the suburbs!”

“Ministers, is this really true?” Shangguan Jiaoran sneered.

“How could it be false? Many have seen it with their own eyes. Prince Jing goes there from time to time—truly a ‘golden house hiding a beauty’!” one minister eagerly revealed all the gossip he had gathered.

“Oh? Miss Shangguan, you’re still here?” The ministers suddenly realized she hadn’t left; in their excitement, they had said more than they should.

“Upon hearing about Prince Jing, I naturally stayed. So he really does have a beloved woman?”

“Miss Shangguan, everyone knows Prince Jing’s temperament. You need not waste time on him. Why not set your sights elsewhere?” a minister flattered, smiling slyly.

Marrying into the general’s family would also bring great benefits. After all, Shangguan Qingyun was an important minister who had contributed greatly to Beihao.

“My decision will not change!” Jiaoran said firmly.

“Indeed,” came murmured agreement.

“Heh, thank you, ministers. This young lady will take her leave.”

A red figure soon disappeared into the night.

“Sigh… trouble again,” the ministers muttered. Over the years, many women had been enamored with Prince Jing, but few matched the brilliance of Shangguan Jiaoran. Every woman desired Prince Jing for his looks and status—including the ministers’ daughters.

Outside the palace, it was quiet.

“Yun’er, you go back first. Tell Father I have some matters to handle and will return to the mansion later.”

“Miss, it’s so late—where are you going?” Yun’er asked worriedly. Earlier, her lady had shone at the banquet but had been rejected by Prince Jing. Could she be contemplating something reckless?

“Rumor has it Prince Jing keeps a beloved woman in the suburbs! I want to see if it’s true!” Shangguan Jiaoran said each word with authority. She wanted to see what kind of woman could attract Prince Jing—could she be better than her?

“Miss, Yun’er will go with you. It’s dangerous to go alone at this hour.”

“No need. You go tell Father I’ll return later, so he won’t worry,” Jiaoran replied confidently.

“Yes, Miss. Be safe,” Yun’er said, watching her lady disappear into the darkness with concern.

“Quickly, to the suburbs! Don’t let that pair of lovers escape!”
“Yes, Miss!”

Jiaoran could barely contain her impatience. She wanted to see the woman from Xize with her own eyes.

After a while:

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

Jiaoran immediately leapt from the carriage. A white figure flickered, then quickly disappeared into the detached residence.

“You… Prince Jing! In the middle of the night, leaving the mansion, meeting a woman in secret—shameless!” Jiaoran fumed. She hadn’t expected the ministers’ gossip to be true.

Had she misjudged Prince Jing? All the ugly images flashed through her mind. The only explanation: Prince Jing was meeting the woman he loved, and that was why he rejected Jiaoran.

“Even if he has a beloved, he will still be mine!” she sneered.

“Is this a difficulty that can stop Shangguan Jiaoran? I am the general’s daughter—how could I lose to some Xize girl?”

“Return to the mansion immediately!”

She had never imagined Prince Jing, outwardly a gentleman, could commit such impropriety. Though Beihao was liberal, a secret midnight rendezvous between a man and woman was scandalous. If the emperor learned, he would be furious.

“Miss, aren’t you going in?”

“I said—return to the mansion. Can’t you understand?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Jiaoran had lost her composure. If the rumors were true, Prince Jing had hidden his beloved woman outside the city—the chance was gone. Her confidence faltered, yet her stubbornness would not let her give up.

“Prince Jing, am I really so unworthy in your eyes?” she muttered. She had stolen all attention at the banquet, yet could not win his heart.

At the general’s mansion:

“Father, wake up! Help your daughter get justice!” Jiaoran cried, tears brimming.

“Yun’er said you went out alone. What happened that upset you so?” Shangguan Qingyun asked, concerned.

“Some ministers said Prince Jing keeps a beloved woman outside the city. I wanted to see for myself, and it was true! He went alone, meeting a woman in secret at night—what propriety is this?” Jiaoran said.

Shangguan Qingyun frowned. If what she said was true, Prince Jing’s marriage would be impossible. Once Prince Jing made a decision, he rarely changed his mind—a trait similar to his daughter.

“Jiaoran, don’t worry. Father will handle this matter.”

“But Father, what can be done? At tonight’s banquet, I performed so well, yet Prince Jing didn’t even glance at me, rejecting me publicly. I thought he’d appreciate my excellence…”

Shangguan Qingyun held her hand firmly. “You are my only daughter. Father will not let you suffer—rest assured.”

“Father, what can be done to make Prince Jing change his mind?” Jiaoran’s eyes gleamed with expectation.

“At the banquet, Prince Jing rejected you publicly. The emperor will feel guilty and will heed my advice. Tomorrow, I will visit the palace and ask the emperor for a solution.”

Though over fifty, Shangguan Qingyun’s position in the palace was formidable. As Beihao’s general, much of Beihao’s success was tied to him. Few ministers dared oppose him.

“Father… you’ll tell the emperor Prince Jing met a woman in secret?”

“You foolish girl! Do you not understand the consequences? Telling the emperor could harm both you and Prince Jing.”

“Father, you’re the best. I was too impulsive,” Jiaoran said, pouting.

“Enough. Go rest. Father will handle it.”

“Yes.”

Watching Jiaoran, Shangguan Qingyun felt an unusual pang of emotion. “Rest assured, what you want, Father will do everything to get for you,” he thought.

In her room:

“Miss, Yun’er heard everything. I didn’t expect Prince Jing to be such a man,” Yun’er complained.

“If he truly loves her, I didn’t even get to see her. What angers me most is his hidden ‘golden house,’” Jiaoran said helplessly. Tonight, she hadn’t minded being rejected—what enraged her was seeing him with another woman. A prince of Beihao, sneaking out at night—how could she accept it?

“Miss, don’t be angry. Tomorrow, Father will speak to the emperor, and it will be resolved. Tonight, Prince Jing rejected you because he’s blind to your excellence!” Yun’er said angrily.

“Enough. If not for that woman, I’d already have Prince Jing,” Jiaoran said with a cold smile.

Even if the woman was from Xize—so what? They say Xize women are gentle, but Jiaoran could match them. Whatever they had, she could too. To win a person is easy; to win his heart is the challenge.

“Miss, Yun’er heard that the Xize girl once healed a plague in Jiangnan and was brought back by Prince Jing. She is unknown and ordinary—she cannot compare to you!”

“Saving people from a plague? So remarkable? A mere ordinary girl dares compete with me! Beihao always values lineage. Even if Prince Jing likes her, she cannot enter the palace,” Jiaoran said confidently.

“Miss is right!” Yun’er said with a smile, trusting her lady. Pure blood, unmatched beauty, praised by the emperor—none could rival her. She was destined to be the queen consort.

“Even if she marries Prince Jing, she will only be a concubine. I will be the main queen!” Jiaoran said resolutely.

“Miss is right!”

“Yun’er, find some high-quality red fabric tomorrow and remake a red heavenly dress. I want them to see my power!” Jiaoran smiled confidently.

“Yes, Miss.”

Outside, Shangguan Qingyun frowned deeply. He knew Prince Jing was no ordinary man. Many nobles and ministers had tried to get close to him over the years.

He had once thought of marrying Jiaoran to Prince Jing so he would be cared for in his old age, but Prince Jing had ignored marriage. Now that his daughter truly liked him, not for status, he was willing to try.

“Jiaoran, your mother died young. From childhood to now, Father has fought for everything you wanted. This time will be no different, however difficult it may be,” Shangguan Qingyun said, smiling happily.

In his mind, Jiaoran’s dance at the banquet lingered—every move stunning.

“Jiaoran, make Father proud. I will not let you down,” he thought, tears welling at the corner of his eyes. As a father, all he wanted was to fulfill his daughter’s small desire.