MCSCPM -Chapter 197 What a Beauty

Outside the brothel, a black-clad figure quickly disappeared, but Chu Jingcheng had already seen everything.

He had noticed the guard trailing him—no matter how well-hidden, nothing could escape his eyes. Chu Jingcheng smirked inwardly. His father’s men were thorough, but after years of experience in battle, a single guard tailing him could not have remained unnoticed.

Inside the Imperial Study:

“Your Majesty, I followed Prince Jing today. He publicly kissed a beautiful woman. I report this matter to you,” a guard said.

“Beautiful woman?” Chu Haolian asked in disbelief. Chu Jingcheng’s temperament was such that it was rare even to see him walk with a woman openly, let alone kiss one in public.

“Your Majesty, it is true! Today, Prince Jing was out with this woman on the street. I saw everything clearly,” the guard insisted.

Chu Haolian sneered. “What is the woman’s background?”

“Your Majesty, she came from a suburban villa outside the capital.”

“Suburban villa?” Chu Haolian frowned. He remembered clearly that the only person connected to Chu Jingcheng in the villa was an ugly woman—how could this be a beauty?

“Are you certain she’s truly beautiful?”

Even though Chu Haolian’s team secretly gathered intelligence for him, he couldn’t help but doubt the authenticity of the report.

“Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes. How could it be false?” the guard replied with firm eyes.

“If it’s a mistake, I will not spare you!” Chu Haolian’s eyes flared with anger. Chu Jingcheng had always been his pride and joy—how could he do something so indecent?

“Your Majesty, what should I do next?” the guard asked calmly.

“This matter must not be spread. In the capital, few know Prince Jing’s true face. As long as word isn’t out, no one will find out,” Chu Haolian said, remaining composed. He weighed the urgency of the situation carefully.

“But this will inevitably spread through the capital. After all, the woman is beautiful. Such things…”

“Small matters like this should still be managed properly! How can one handle affairs if even this fails?” Chu Haolian barked.

“I will do my utmost to contain the information,” the guard replied, troubled.

“Enough. Go back and continue surveillance. Report immediately if anything occurs!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

In an instant, the black-clad figure vanished.

Chu Haolian moved slowly to the window, frowning. The situation was far more complicated than he had imagined.

If Prince Jing had truly kissed a beauty in public, what explanation could there be for the ugly woman at the villa? Yet the guard’s report had been accurate; rumors could never be fully controlled. By morning, tonight’s events would spread throughout the capital. Even if no one knew Prince Jing’s appearance, the woman’s face would inevitably be remembered.

His team never erred in investigations. Now, Prince Jing had kissed a beauty—why?

“Could what I saw before have been fake?” Chu Haolian muttered. He began to doubt whether the ugly woman at the villa was real. He knew the eyes could deceive; the woman Prince Jing kissed might be wearing a disguise. Given that his son dared to kiss someone openly in a brothel, who knows what else he might do.

“What’s happening? One woman comes here and causes all this chaos. Who exactly is this divine doctor?”

He could not understand how one woman could stir such a storm. Calling Yin Qingyue a spy from the Xize faction wouldn’t be an exaggeration. If all of this were a scheme from start to finish, Chu Haolian could believe it.

The floods in Jiangnan, the plague, Prince Jing bringing people back from Jiangnan, his behavior at the banquet—all of it, clearly, had been carefully planned.

“Your Majesty, it’s late. Time to rest,” Eunuch Sun said, entering with a smile.

“Wait, I still have business to handle,” Chu Haolian said, eyes half-lidded, deep in thought. If word of Prince Jing kissing someone reached Shangguan Qingyun, he would surely come to the palace. This son of his was truly reckless. Chu Haolian, now over fifty, could hardly entrust the empire to him. In matters of the heart, he was uninhibited; if the same recklessness extended to governance, Chu Haolian could not imagine the consequences.

“Your Majesty, there is an early court session tomorrow. It’s late and cold—if you don’t return soon, you might catch a cold,” Sun hinted, subtly urging the Emperor to leave and rest.

Chu Haolian glanced at him. “Return to the palace!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Prepare the carriage!” Sun’s duck-like voice echoed.

Meanwhile, Chu Jingcheng’s mind was clear. From the moment he realized he was being followed, he knew it could only be his father. Though the guard’s skills were profound, no ordinary person could detect him. Since the banquet, he had known his father must have seen something.

He had deliberately let his father’s agent slip away. Yin Qingyue’s identity would inevitably be discovered—it was only a matter of time.

Back at the brothel, the madam was flustered. Yin Qingyue had stolen her spotlight! She had been too focused on the young woman’s beauty and nearly neglected the main event.

She quickly admonished: “Ladies, if the young couple is flirting, don’t block the fated one!”

“I’m just here to answer questions. What proof is there that I’m causing trouble?” Yin Qingyue said sternly, her words commanding attention.

“Even when angry, she’s captivating,” murmured the onlookers, ignoring Chu Jingcheng’s sharp gaze.

“Since you’re here, answer the questions. In public, what does it matter?”

“That’s wrong. Isn’t the brothel Miss Qingqing’s domain?” Yin Qingyue retorted sarcastically.

“Miss, behave. This is my territory. Miss Qingqing’s first time isn’t a joke,” the madam said, a cold smile on her lips.

Yin Qingyue glanced at Chu Jingcheng. “Are you just going to watch?”

His eyes were deep. “Do you think I’ve stopped you? With your abilities, do I even need to?”

“Miss Qingqing’s connection with someone is unusual…”

“How unusual? Every place has rules—including a brothel,” Chu Jingcheng said pointedly.

Qingqing gathering intelligence on noble families was a strategic move. If she lost her first night, her value would be zero.

“Let’s leave this place.” Chu Jingcheng did not want to stay longer. He sensed a little woman was jealous.

Seeing she had no intention of leaving, he squinted. “You’re the only one to answer correctly. Do you really want to stay?”

Before she could react, he held her waist.

In an instant, a white-clad figure vanished.

“Hey! Where did she go?” the crowd shouted. How had she disappeared so quickly?

“Calm down! The rules were clear. Only that young lady answered the first question correctly. Now she’s gone—what do you suggest?” the madam said calmly, eyes gleaming.

Though the young woman had stolen the spotlight, it worked in their favor. Miss Qingqing’s first night was preserved, and the brothel’s prestige remained intact. Men always desired what they couldn’t have.

Years of experience running a brothel had shown the madam all sorts of chaos. Even now, she knew she could manage the situation. Miss Qingqing would remain the brothel’s shining star.

“They’ve left. Let’s continue the challenge. Miss Qingqing’s first night, I will claim it!” one man shouted.

“You’d better watch. Only those who answer the first question correctly can proceed. Did you answer correctly?”

“You wretched woman! Last time, some supposed niece of the Imperial Concubine couldn’t see Miss Qingqing. Is today’s stunt the same?”

“This is a sham! They claim to look for a fated one. But a woman already knows the answer—at least explain to us!”

“Yes, yes!”

“What’s with all this fuss? Are you going to the authorities?” the madam laughed. Many men had lost money and caused trouble here, but none dared go to the authorities—no one wanted to clash with the law while gallivanting in a brothel.

“Everyone, think carefully. What kind of place is this? We’ve done nothing wrong. Why mock us? In time, Miss Qingqing will find her fated one.”

“Fine, we’ll believe you… can’t do much anyway,” the men grumbled.

“Ladies, with so many guests today, shouldn’t we entertain them properly?” the madam shifted her tone, smiling.

“Sir, don’t be angry. Speak nicely. You’ll have more chances to see Miss Qingqing. She’s right here—what’s the worry of her running off?” a woman said with a smile.

“Fine, treat the gentlemen well, and benefits will follow.”

“Thank you, sir,” they said.

The madam was pleased. Today had brought the brothel prestige and beauty—future fame was guaranteed.

“Enjoy yourselves today. When Miss Qingqing is pleased, more beauties may arrive for your viewing pleasure!”

“Bring me some proper ladies!”

“Yes, Fang’er, attend to this gentleman well.”

Outside the second-floor window, the crowd had dispersed.

Prince Jing, are you really leaving without even a glance? Qingqing stood alone, her eyes distant, unsure how to react.

Even if Chu Jingcheng came, it wasn’t for her. This wasn’t the outcome she wanted.

“Miss, open the door! You’ve been inside all day,” the maid knocked persistently.

“Leave me be. I just want some quiet,” Qingqing said, feeling hollow inside. Once hope is lost, life feels meaningless.

Meanwhile, Chu Jingcheng had already returned Yin Qingyue to her private residence. After midnight, he left, a triumphant smile on his lips. The little woman hadn’t yet realized she was jealous.

He hadn’t expected her jealousy to be so obvious. Each time Qingqing’s name came up, it troubled her heart.