MCSCPM -Chapter 206 One Kick Down

While Leng Feng anxiously awaited Prince Jing’s instructions, over at the Ding Residence…

Miss Ding Ying had locked herself in her room ever since returning from the outskirts of the capital, rarely stepping outside.

Her thoughts still lingered on Chu Jingcheng, but her shy little feelings were carefully hidden, unwilling to show themselves.

The more she thought of him, the more she remembered how cold he had been. He casually suggested that Leng Feng should marry her. Did she really appear invisible in his eyes?

And then there was Leng Feng—so bold as to kiss her! She, a refined lady from a noble family, had been kissed just like that. If word got out, there would be endless gossip.

Ding Heng noticed too. He had someone prepare some meals and personally brought them to his daughter’s room. Seeing her sitting still at the vanity, he worriedly approached. “Ying’er, what’s wrong? You look unhappy and haven’t even touched your food. Are you feeling unwell?”

Looking at her father, Ding Ying forced a smile. “Father, I’m fine.”

“How can you be fine? You look glum. If it’s not your health, then what is it? Tell me, and if I can help, I will.”

Ding Heng was the Minister of Justice, but there were still some matters he could handle personally.

Ding Ying never lied to her father, and she couldn’t lie now. She walked to a small table and sat down. “Father, please don’t ask. I… I really am fine.”

“Ying’er, my greatest worry in life is you. If something happens to you, what would I do?”

“Father…” Ding Ying suddenly couldn’t hold back her quiet sobs.

“All right, tell me what happened. I promise, I will handle it for you.”

After a long hesitation, Ding Ying wrung the handkerchief in her hands into creases, bit her lip, and looked down. “Father, you have to promise me—you mustn’t get angry after you hear this.”

“I promise, my daughter.”

“That day, I went with Jiaoran to the outskirts to find Prince Jing, and… his guard, Leng Feng, was inappropriate with me.”

“What?” Ding Heng straightened up, shock quickly turning into simmering anger.

“That Leng Feng! How dare he behave so lightly with my daughter under Prince Jing’s watch? I must go to demand justice!” Ding Heng immediately prepared to leave for Prince Jing’s residence.

“Father, you promised you wouldn’t get angry. If you go to Prince Jing, where would that leave my face?” Ding Ying stopped him.

“Should I just let it slide? How can my daughter endure such humiliation?”

“Father, it’s really nothing—it’s my fault,” she said softly.

“At a time like this, you still say that?”

“Father, please don’t go. I’d be utterly ashamed!” Ding Ying’s cries grew louder, her heart twisted in knots.

She wasn’t afraid of her reputation; it was that if her father really went, she might actually end up having to marry Leng Feng.

Ding Heng hated seeing his daughter wronged. But hearing her plead this way, he reconsidered. Still, he asked, “Ying’er, are you worried about Prince Jing…”

“Father, what are you talking about? No.”

“Ying’er, I’ve told you before: Prince Jing may one day become Crown Prince. You and Prince Jing—impossible. The Shangguan family is ahead of us; our Ding family means nothing. You mustn’t entertain such thoughts.”

This wasn’t the first time Ding Heng had said this. At the last banquet, the emperor granted a marriage, and Prince Jing refused, but that didn’t mean he would ignore Jiaoran forever.

Ding Ying reluctantly nodded. “Father, I understand, and I’ve never dared to entertain such thoughts. But this time, please, don’t interfere.”

Ding Heng sighed with pain, hands behind his back in anger, face flushed with frustration. Yet seeing his daughter plead, he had said all that needed saying.

“All right, I promise you.”

“Thank you, Father.” Ding Ying wiped her tears, finally letting her tense heart relax.

“Eat something first. If you starve, what would happen?”

“Yes, I won’t trouble you anymore, Father.”

Ding Ying was gentle and considerate, always thinking of others first—a trait that would cost her in the future.

The next day.

Ding Heng had just left court, still thinking about his daughter. Even in the morning session, his mind had wandered.

“Minister Ding, what’s the matter with you?” a fellow minister asked.

Ding Heng waved him off. “Just family matters.”

“Family matters… or a difficult problem?”

“Not exactly a problem…” he said, dragging the last word, frowning as he stroked his sleeves and walked on.

On the way home, he thought deeply in the carriage.

Prince Jing was a war god, highly favored by the emperor. Though not yet Crown Prince, he was the top candidate. His guard, Leng Feng, would naturally be formidable. While his daughter couldn’t hope for Prince Jing’s affection, marrying Leng Feng could at least be advantageous and harmless.

Determined, he told the footman outside the carriage: “Take me to Prince Jing’s residence.”

Soon, the carriage arrived at the residence. The guards recognized Ding Heng and didn’t stop him.

“Is Prince Jing home? Take me to see him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luckily, Prince Jing was at home. If he had been even an hour later, he might have gone to the outskirts to see Yin Qingyue.

The guards led Ding Heng to the rear courtyard, where they saw Prince Jing sitting, sipping tea, with Leng Feng and Leng Yi standing by.

Seeing Ding Heng, Prince Jing’s lips curved in a hospitable smile, already guessing the purpose of Ding Heng’s visit—of course, it had to be about his daughter and Leng Feng.

“Leng Feng, how do you suggest I explain this?”

“Your Highness, please go easy!” Leng Feng’s face turned pale, nervous as if facing a future father-in-law.

When Ding Heng entered the pavilion, Prince Jing said, “Minister Ding, what brings you to my residence today?”

Ding Heng glanced deliberately at Leng Feng. “Prince Jing, I do not intend to trouble you—just… a minor matter.”

Minor? Likely more than that.

“Speak plainly, Minister Ding.”

“Actually… it concerns my daughter. When she returned the other day, she locked herself in her room. Upon asking, I learned that your guard, Leng Feng, had behaved improperly with her.”

Ding Heng didn’t hide anything. With only a few people present, he laid out the situation clearly.

Leng Feng immediately said, “Minister Ding… I didn’t mean to.”

“Leng Feng, shut up. Who asked you to speak? Let’s hear Minister Ding first,” Prince Jing said calmly, pouring himself some tea. “Sit, Minister Ding. Let’s discuss this properly. I promise, I will give you a satisfactory solution.”

“Very well, if Prince Jing says so…” Ding Heng sat, though he had no desire to drink the tea offered.

Prince Jing said to Leng Feng and Leng Yi, “You two, step aside. I need to talk with Minister Ding.”

“Your Highness…” Leng Feng’s face contorted. Had Leng Yi not pulled him away, he might have knelt before the prince. Young as he was, marrying Ding Ying now seemed hasty.

Only Ding Heng and Prince Jing remained in the pavilion.

Prince Jing, unhurried, continued sipping tea before slowly speaking: “Minister Ding, if I’m not mistaken, you probably made a decision before coming here, correct?”

“Yes, I did, before I came.”

“To have Leng Feng marry your daughter?”

“Prince Jing, you’re perceptive. I won’t hide it. My daughter is a refined lady, always staying within the family. Yet your guard, Leng Feng, behaved improperly. As her father, I must act.”

Satisfied with Ding Heng’s affirmation, Prince Jing no longer needed concern. Smiling, he said: “Very well, so be it. Minister Ding, I had already told Leng Feng to marry your daughter, but I worried you’d object. Now I realize I overthought it.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, I’ll decide today. Leng Feng will marry your daughter. As long as she doesn’t refuse, he’ll formally propose tomorrow.”

For Leng Feng, Prince Jing’s words were a command. Even if unwilling, he could not refuse.

Thus, the marriage was set. Ding Heng had given his daughter to Leng Feng, though unwillingly, he had no choice.

Beside the pavilion…

Leng Feng sulked, anxiously glancing inside, fuming. He wanted to draw his sword to practice—what kind of business was this?

Leng Yi looked at him and said, “Leng Feng, the prince is helping you. Whether you like it or not, accept it.”

“You always talk sarcastically! If you think you can do better, go ahead!” Leng Feng snapped.

“I’m not as capable as you. A girl like Ding Ying—how could you even lower yourself? I don’t understand why she didn’t slap you,” Leng Yi teased further.

Leng Feng drew his sword, raising it. “Haven’t sparred in a while—let’s go today!”

“Resorting to violence because you can’t argue? How will you handle marrying Ding Ying then?”

“Who said I must marry her? The prince hasn’t even said. And it looks like she doesn’t like me either. Who knows if Ding Heng acted on his own or for some other reason?”

Leng Yi, serious now, said, “Just admit it. Such a huge benefit is right in front of you—you should be secretly pleased.”

Leng Feng sighed and crouched by the pond, muttering, “I don’t know whether to cry or laugh.”

Before he could finish, Leng Yi lifted his foot and kicked him straight into the pond.

“You need to wake up!” Leng Yi said sternly, forcefully.

Leng Feng splashed into the water, drenched and utterly miserable, swallowing a lot of pond water.

“Leng Yi! You’re trying to kill me!” he shouted from the water.

Leng Yi crossed his arms, looking down at him. “You’re about to get married. No more fooling around after this.”