MCSCPM -Chapter 196 A Bold Kiss

Inside the brothel:

“Sir, mind your words! Our brothel has rules—we cannot allow lowly men like you to misbehave here. Someone, see this man out!”

“I’m staying right here. I want to see if Miss Qingqing can really make someone pass all three trials,” the man said, his voice deliberate and authoritative.

“Very well!”

“Everyone here, bear witness! If Miss Qingqing fails to honor her word, this brothel will be closed. But if you, sir, speak falsely, you will bear the consequences!”

“Agreed!” everyone responded in unison.

“Now, the test begins. Both inside and outside, there are several red cloths with the questions displayed. Watch carefully. The rules are clear: no cheating, or your attempt is void.”

The first question appeared on the red cloth: a riddle.

“A riddle? I like this!”

“Too easy! Can anything stump me? Tonight, Miss Qingqing’s first night is mine!”

“You only have half an incense stick’s time. Hurry, gentlemen!” the madam’s eyes gleamed as she scanned the crowd.

“Chu Jingcheng, since you’re here, why not see what kind of questions Miss Qingqing has set?” Yin Qingyue said with a cold smile. She was curious how an ancient mind would craft a puzzle.

Miss Qingqing’s challenge had three stages:

• The first was a riddle, with only one chance. Even if answered correctly, the contestant had to explain the reasoning, or the attempt would fail.
• The second was a couplet; correctly completing the lower line allowed advancement.
• The final stage involved Miss Qingqing observing the participant from behind a curtain.

“How is the first question already so hard? I wanted to reach the third stage, but looks like no chance,” a man complained.

“Third stage? We haven’t even figured out the first. Fated one, my foot!”

“Behind a curtain? I might not even survive to finish the questions!”

Everyone inside and outside stared at the red cloth, not wanting to miss any detail.

“One half green, one half red, one half loves rain, one half loves wind,” Yin Qingyue read aloud, eyes scanning the riddle carefully.

“Isn’t this… autumn?” In less than a second, she answered.

“Who outside answered that? Step forward!” the madam said, astonished. The question had just appeared, and someone had already solved it—a feat thought impossible.

The crowd parted gradually, making way.

“May I ask how you got the answer?”

“‘He’ represents green, ‘fire’ is red. Something both wind and rain, what else but autumn?” Yin Qingyue walked forward confidently. Such riddles were child’s play to her.

“Who is this? Already answered?” Many men frowned. The first question wasn’t even considered before someone else claimed it.

“Where’s Miss Qingqing’s first night? This seems like a sham!”

“Oh, it’s a girl? Could she also want Miss Qingqing’s first night?” the madam sneered, unwilling to let this young girl ruin her plans.

“Did the rules say women can’t participate? Is the brothel discriminating?” Yin Qingyue said pointedly.

“Well… I’ll let you advance,” the madam said helplessly. There were no rules forbidding women.

“Since you want to take the challenge, why not come in?”

Yin Qingyue, dressed in plain robes, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders, slowly entered.

Instantly, the men in the brothel gasped: “So beautiful!”

Where did such a woman come from? The madam thought silently. In all her years, she had seen many women, but none matched Yin Qingyue’s beauty. If she were at the brothel, her status might even surpass Miss Qingqing’s.

Without makeup, her skin was flawless, her elegance natural and ethereal. She looked like a goddess descended to earth.

“This woman belongs in heaven; she is rare to see on earth!” one man exclaimed.

“Well said! In all of Beihao, we’ve never seen such a beauty!”

“I’ve never seen her before; she’s probably not even from Beihao,” another man said.

Suddenly, Yin Qingyue became the center of attention.

Inside and outside the brothel, everyone wanted a glimpse of her.

“Is this the girl who answered the question? Beauty doesn’t even cover it!”

“Exactly! She solved the riddle instantly—what a genius! A woman so beautiful and clever is rare indeed!” The crowd completely forgot their original goal—Miss Qingqing’s first night.

Everyone’s eyes followed Yin Qingyue, admiring her.

“So this was your intention?” Chu Jingcheng said quietly, his tone sharp. He had said before that only he was allowed to see her true face. Now, in a brothel, openly in public—what was she thinking?

Hadn’t she noticed all these people staring at her? Chu Jingcheng’s voice carried jealousy.

“I’m saving Qingqing for you! If I hadn’t answered, someone else would’ve taken her!” Yin Qingyue frowned, clearly displeased. She was serious; few women would make such a sacrifice for him.

Otherwise, why would the famed Miss Qingqing risk her first night as a wager? If not for Prince Jing, there would be no reason.

“This is all madness!” Chu Jingcheng scolded. They were enjoying the night market, and only now had they come here because of others.

To him, Miss Qingqing’s first night didn’t matter—he wanted Yin Qingyue!

“Enough, two more questions remain. After that, we leave!” Yin Qingyue said impatiently.

“Yin Qingyue, you woman!”

Chu Jingcheng pulled her into his arms.

Without her realizing, he kissed her again!

Warm, familiar tongues explored between their lips, the sensation penetrating her heart.

Yin Qingyue did not resist. After all, Beihao was open-minded, and this was a brothel—what was there to fear?

Chu Jingcheng gripped her waist tightly. “I told you not to disobey! Didn’t I say only I could see your true face?”

Their tongues entwined again, warm and burning.

“Wow, well done!” a man shouted.

“Go upstairs and settle it!” the crowd jeered.

“This is clearly a quarrel—they came for entertainment, haha.”

“Beautiful woman! Why isn’t she mine?” another man lamented. Tonight, Miss Qingqing’s first night wasn’t his, and even the beauty before him had been stolen.

“It was never yours, what’s there to lament? Look at yourself—do you even deserve her?”

Suddenly, the brothel erupted in chaos.

“Miss, it’s a mess outside,” someone said.

“What happened?” Qingqing asked excitedly. Surely, if Prince Jing was here, she knew Chu Jingcheng would not abandon her.

“A woman downstairs answered the first question immediately—and she’s stunning!” the maid said nervously, words tumbling out.

“What’s happening? Why so anxious?” Qingqing asked.

“There’s a woman downstairs, everyone is watching her. And a handsome man—they’re kissing!”

Qingqing rushed to the window. She wanted to see a familiar face.

When she saw Chu Jingcheng kissing another woman, it felt like a knife had pierced her heart.

“Who is she?” Qingqing shouted.

“That woman—no one knows where she came from,” someone replied.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. Why was Chu Jingcheng kissing another woman, and not her? Tonight, wasn’t he supposed to rescue her?

“Who is she? Isn’t Chu Jingcheng’s woman supposed to be the ugly girl? How can this be?” Qingqing repeated in disbelief.

She remembered clearly: that day, the woman was ugly and worthless—how could this be happening?

“Miss, are you alright?”

“Don’t care about me. Tell me who that woman is,” Qingqing said, eyes red, fixed on Yin Qingyue.

“The maid doesn’t know her identity either, but she’s breathtaking. A goddess on earth. Everyone’s eyes are on her now, even neglecting Miss Qingqing’s trial,” the maid whispered.

“Breathtaking? Even more than me?” Qingqing laughed bitterly.

“This… I—” the maid stammered.

At that moment, Chu Jingcheng held another woman, kissing her. Memories surged into Qingqing’s mind. She remembered clearly the boy who had saved her over ten years ago—Chu Jingcheng.

All these years, had her efforts gone unseen? Did she have no place in his heart?

“Tell me—what did I do wrong?” Qingqing’s eyes filled with tears, lost.

“Chu Jingcheng, my world revolves around you. In your eyes, am I nothing? Why?”

“Miss, calm down. I’ll make that woman leave,” the maid said.

“No need.”

“Just prettier than me? That’s enough to capture Chu Jingcheng’s attention?” Qingqing laughed foolishly. She realized that the ugly girl from before had been a ruse. Beihao’s open-mindedness allowed Chu Jingcheng to stage this all.

“Miss, there are too many people downstairs. Calm down. That woman’s identity is unknown. If she causes trouble, the madam will deal with her.”

“No, that woman is stunning. Previously she was ugly—how can this be?” Qingqing’s gaze remained on Yin Qingyue.

“Miss, could the man downstairs be the one you love?” the maid asked. After all these years, despite growing up in a brothel, Qingqing had preserved herself. Had she not felt something, she wouldn’t have held firm.