MCSCPM -Chapter 198 A Handful of Bitter Tears

Early the next morning, in the Ding residence in the capital.

“Yingying, are you there?” Shangguan Jiaoran knocked on the door repeatedly.

“My lady is home, Miss Shangguan. You can come in directly,” the maid said calmly, accustomed to the other young lady stopping by unannounced.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? I was waiting outside for ages,” Shangguan Jiaoran muttered, then whispered to her senior maid Yun’er, “Make sure you’ve got everything.”

With that, she walked into Ding Ying’s room, Yun’er following closely behind.

“Yingying, get up quickly. I have something to tell you,” Shangguan Jiaoran said, shaking Ding Ying’s shoulders.

“What’s wrong? Did something annoying happen again?”

“Again? Can’t I just come to see you without a reason?” Shangguan Jiaoran said in a playful, slightly coquettish tone.

“Every time something happens, you come to me first thing in the morning, then claim there’s nothing wrong!” Ding Ying said, getting up and tickling Shangguan Jiaoran’s side.

“Alright, you win. I’m getting up. I’ve got lots to tell you!” Shangguan Jiaoran pouted, pretending to be upset.

“Who asked you to come so early? The main gate isn’t even open yet. Let me get up and freshen up first.”

A young woman slowly rose from her bed, her face slightly tired. Her delicate eyebrows framed her petite face, lips lightly pressed together, exuding an air of charm and innocence.

“You know, you really should learn from me. Staying at home every day, you’re too gentle,” Shangguan Jiaoran said, unable to help comparing her friend to the women of Xize rather than their native Beihai.

“Do you think your father raised you well? Maybe he picked you up from Xize? Such a gentle daughter—how could she be born in Beihai?” she teased.

“How can you say that? If I were from Xize, I’d probably annoy you to death!” Ding Ying replied warmly.

“Exactly! Your father’s gone to the early court session, maybe we’ll see him later.”

“Of course! If it weren’t for my dad knowing yours, I wouldn’t even have anyone to vent to,” Ding Ying said.

Ding Ying, being the daughter of the Minister of Justice, wouldn’t normally have dealings with the Shangguan family. But by a chance meeting, the two families became acquainted. Ying’s gentle and refined personality complemented Shangguan Jiaoran’s fiery energy, and the two girls became fast friends despite their different backgrounds.

“Am I your venting object then?” Ding Ying said innocently.

“Alright, enough about that,” Shangguan Jiaoran laughed.

“Now, the serious matter. My father’s been busy lately, so I don’t want to trouble him. But did you hear? Prince Jing actually kept an ugly woman in his suburban villa!”

As soon as Shangguan Jiaoran spoke, Ding Ying froze, the hairpin in her hand slipping to the floor.

“Prince Jing?”

“Yes! What’s wrong? Scared by the ugly woman?” Shangguan Jiaoran asked, puzzled.

“No,” Ding Ying quickly explained.

Unknowingly, Shangguan Jiaoran had struck Ding Ying at her most sensitive point. In Beihai, everyone knew Chu Jingcheng’s name. Any woman nearby would be drawn to him, perhaps by his appearance or status. Ding Ying was no exception, but her feelings were simple—she didn’t hope for anything from Prince Jing. Her fondness for him was quiet and personal.

Ding Ying suddenly said, “I just remembered—yesterday, when I was out on the street, Prince Jing was with a beautiful woman.”

“What? A beautiful woman? Are you serious?” Shangguan Jiaoran repeated in disbelief.

“Yes! I was at another teahouse and looked down through the window. I saw into the brothel. He kissed a woman in front of everyone—she was extremely beautiful,” Ding Ying said calmly, though her heart felt heavy. She had always thought Prince Jing didn’t care for women, but clearly he already had someone in his heart. Even her own friend liked him.

“With a man that outstanding, who wouldn’t like him?”

“Yingying, are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”

“I really didn’t! If you don’t believe me, go ask anyone on the street. There were so many people at the brothel yesterday.”

Before Ding Ying could finish, Shangguan Jiaoran interrupted, “I still don’t believe it! No one besides me can be intimate with Prince Jing!”

“But it’s true!”

“Yingying, you know, at the banquet that day, I stole the spotlight—everyone, even the Emperor, praised me—but Prince Jing didn’t even look at me! Can you believe that?” Shangguan Jiaoran complained.

“You were outstanding. I was there too—many saw it. But who could predict that Prince Jing would refuse you? Maybe there’s a woman in the picture,” Ding Ying said gently.

“Yingying, you’re the best. I told my father, and he said I should handle it myself. If I can’t charm him, he won’t even go to the Emperor for me!”

“Miss, your father only cares about you, that’s why he considered going to the Emperor,” Yun’er said helplessly.

“Yun’er, one more word, and I’ll lock you in the small black room. Let’s see what happens!” Shangguan Jiaoran said with mock anger.

“Alright, stop taking it out on Yun’er. We’re all just worried about you,” Ding Ying laughed.

“Ah, talking about Prince Jing just brings bitter tears. You don’t know, that day, at Prince Jing’s door, so many girls were waiting. I went in, and he said I was impolite!”

“Surely you did something wrong; otherwise, how could he say that?” Ding Ying laughed.

“Ah, I had no choice! If I hadn’t dodged those guards, how could I have seen him? And his men are strong… really frustrating,” Shangguan Jiaoran said, still fuming at the memory of Leng Feng.

“You clearly offended him and still complain about others. If your father knew…”

“My father already knows. Want to tattle? I even brought your favorite snack—watch out, I’ll take it!” Shangguan Jiaoran said mischievously.

“Understood. But Prince Jing hasn’t wronged you. Matters of the heart can’t be forced. A forcibly twisted melon is never sweet,” Ding Ying said softly, offering both advice and comfort.

She understood that her position prevented her from getting involved with Prince Jing. Her feelings had to remain hidden. Unlike Shangguan Jiaoran, she couldn’t openly express her heart. She only wanted the one she liked to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her.

“What are you thinking? You look lost,” Shangguan Jiaoran said, unaware of Ding Ying’s quiet sorrow.

“It’s because of you! You disturbed my dream this early. Now my head feels all fuzzy,” Ding Ying laughed.

“You should train in martial arts with me. Or find a skilled warrior to marry—let him protect you!” Shangguan Jiaoran teased.

“That’s your idea. You want to get married, huh?”

“I do want to, but I can’t! Prince Jing rejected me publicly. But I won’t give up. If I want a man, no one can take him!” Shangguan Jiaoran’s eyes shone with confidence.

“With your temperament, even ten oxen couldn’t drag you back. If you can’t marry Prince Jing, you won’t marry anyone for life?” Yun’er chuckled.

“What a girl, cursing me on purpose?” Shangguan Jiaoran grumbled. She usually insisted she’d get her way—what a Yun’er!

Ding Ying interjected, “Yun’er isn’t wrong. Maybe Prince Jing really has someone in his heart.”

Words said casually, but the listener took them seriously.

“Yingying, what does that mean? Is what you said earlier true?” Shangguan Jiaoran asked anxiously.

“Think about it. If Prince Jing had no beloved, your outstanding presence at the banquet would stun anyone. But he decisively rejected you. It must be because of a woman,” Ding Ying explained.

“Could there be someone more outstanding than me? The only woman I know near Prince Jing is that ugly girl!”

“Ugly girl?”

“You! Always at home, not knowing even this small matter. How will you marry in the future? Prince Jing brought a woman back from Xize—ugly! His beloved can’t be her, right?” Shangguan Jiaoran said, incredulous.

Everyone knows: heroes love beauties—it’s common sense.

“No. Yesterday I passed by the brothel. I saw it with my own eyes—Prince Jing kissed a beauty. I didn’t see her face clearly, but her figure and demeanor were unmatched,” Ding Ying said seriously. She had watched so long yesterday—there was no mistake.

“You went out with your lady yesterday?” Shangguan Jiaoran sneered, looking at the maid who had just entered.

“My lady saw it too. It really was Prince Jing in the brothel. The girl in his arms was like a goddess. How could she be ugly?” the maid Xiangxu quickly explained.

“Miss Shangguan, if Prince Jing’s beloved were ugly, would you believe it?”

“Yingying… you’re not lying to me?” Shangguan Jiaoran’s eyes widened.

In front of Ding Ying, she always shed her tough exterior, revealing her softest self.

Ding Ying said gently, “Don’t be sad. Maybe it isn’t true. Where’s your usual confident Jiaoran?”

“No! I can’t wait—I’m going to Prince Jing’s residence now to see what that woman looks like!”

“She’s in the suburban villa, isn’t she?”

Ignoring Ding Ying’s words, Shangguan Jiaoran grabbed her and ran out.

“What are you doing, Jiaoran?” Ding Ying asked, surprised.

“I’m going to the villa to see what’s really going on. If it’s her, I’ll make her pay!” Shangguan Jiaoran said angrily. She had always believed: if she wanted something, no one could take it—even if Chu Jingcheng had someone in his heart. As long as that woman was gone, everything would be fine.

“Jiaoran, don’t act rashly. Listen to me first,” Ding Ying said helplessly. She worried Jiaoran might act impulsively.

If she hadn’t mentioned Prince Jing kissing someone, Jiaoran wouldn’t be like this.

Suddenly, all unease and anxiety wrapped around her.

What to do? If Jiaoran accidentally told Prince Jing, “I saw you kissing a beauty,” Ding Ying would appear as a meddler in his eyes.