MCSCPM -Chapter 213 Is It Really the Prince?

Yin Qingyue didn’t forget to tease, “Next time, wait for Miss Shangguan to come taste the tea.”

This little trick was clearly going well—she had guessed Shangguan Jiaoran’s thoughts perfectly.

Not long after, Leng Feng arrived, looking puzzled as he asked Yin Qingyue, “Miss Yin, Shangguan Jiaoran has left. What should we do now?”

“Now? Of course, we chase after her. Find a carriage—but you’ll need to disguise yourself as a coachman.”

“A coachman? Miss Yin, what do you mean?” He was completely confused.

Yin Qingyue gave a half-smile, keeping the mystery, and lightly tapped his shoulder. “If you don’t go get ready now, don’t blame me if we run out of time.”

“Alright, I’ll go immediately. I’ll do whatever you say, as long as this plan works.” He hurriedly followed her instructions.

Meanwhile, at the Ding Residence

Shangguan Jiaoran rode swiftly to the Ding Residence and immediately went looking for Ding Ying.

Xiangxu, carrying a bowl of porridge from the kitchen, rounded a corner and almost collided with Shangguan Jiaoran. Fortunately, Jiaoran’s reflexes were quick, and she dodged.

“Miss Shangguan, it wasn’t on purpose! Are you alright?” Xiangxu knelt down in fright.

“Where’s your lady?” Shangguan Jiaoran asked.

“She’s… she’s in her room,” Xiangxu replied.

“Take me there.”

“Yes.” Xiangxu didn’t even have time to clean up the mess and quickly led Shangguan Jiaoran to Ding Ying’s room.

Ding Ying had been staring out the window in a daze for days.

“Miss, Miss Shangguan is here to see you,” Xiangxu announced.

Ding Ying turned and immediately hid her distracted expression, forcing a small, stiff smile.

“You may leave now. You’re not needed here,” Shangguan Jiaoran told Xiangxu.

“Yes.”

Once Xiangxu left, Shangguan Jiaoran hurried to Ding Ying’s side, took her hand, and anxiously asked, “Ding Ying, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Ding Ying tried to hide her unhappiness, smiling gently. “Who told you anything? I’m fine.”

“Even in front of me, you hide things? You’ve always been like this—never telling me when something happens. I always tell you everything, so why won’t you tell me?”

Perhaps because Shangguan Jiaoran’s tone was slightly reproachful, Ding Ying couldn’t help but sob quietly, turning away to wipe her tears.

“Jiaoran, you don’t need to worry about me. I can handle this myself.”

“How can you handle it? If you could, you wouldn’t be this upset.”

“I really am fine.”

The more she insisted, the more Shangguan Jiaoran realized something serious had happened. She turned Ding Ying to face her and said, “Let’s go somewhere to talk. Tell me everything, and I’ll help you.”

“Jiaoran…”

“Come on, let’s go out and eat. You haven’t had much to eat these past few days. Let’s go.”

“Wait, how do you know about my situation? Even the servants don’t know.”

“I… never mind how I know. Let’s go. My carriage is outside.”

Of course, Shangguan Jiaoran wouldn’t tell her she had gone to see Yin Qingyue, so she left it vague.

Outside the Ding Residence

At an inconspicuous corner outside the Ding Residence, a yellow carriage was parked. Yin Qingyue sat inside, while Leng Feng sat outside, dressed as a coachman, holding the reins.

Even if the prince saw him like this, he probably wouldn’t recognize him.

“Miss Yin, are you sure Ding Ying will come out?” Leng Feng asked.

Yin Qingyue peeked through the curtain to observe the residence. “Don’t worry. If she doesn’t come out, I wouldn’t waste my time waiting here.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“When have I ever been wrong? If you don’t want to wait, you can leave. And if you beg me for help again, I won’t help.”

“Miss Yin, don’t be angry. I’m just saying, don’t take it seriously,” he said.

She lowered the curtain and stopped talking to him.

They had already been waiting here for half an hour. She wondered why Shangguan Jiaoran was so slow. She had swung her whip so sharply earlier, yet still hadn’t brought Ding Ying out.

Just then, Leng Feng said, “Here they come. She’s coming out.”

Yin Qingyue quickly pulled aside the curtain and saw it was true: Shangguan Jiaoran had Ding Ying with her, boarding the carriage.

“Let’s follow quickly. Don’t lose them,” Yin Qingyue said.

Leng Feng drove the carriage forward without delay.

Soon, they stopped at a teahouse. Shangguan Jiaoran led Ding Ying to a private room on the second floor, called a waiter, and ordered a table full of Ding Ying’s favorite foods.

“Ding Ying, eat something quickly, and then tell me what’s going on.”

Ding Ying bit her lips. Looking at the full table, she had no appetite and seemed out of sorts. After hesitating, she finally said, “Jiaoran, I don’t want to hide it anymore. Actually… my father wants me to marry Leng Feng, and the prince agreed too.”

“What? Marry that boy? He’s like a toad wanting to eat a swan!”

“Jiaoran, don’t say that. There’s a reason,” Ding Ying surprisingly defended him.

Shangguan Jiaoran wasn’t so kind. She scowled. “He’s just a lowly guard. You’re the daughter of the Minister of Justice. How is he worthy? Your father… why would he promise you to him? Has your father gone crazy?”

“No, Jiaoran, it’s really not like that.”

“Then what is it? Tell me.”

Ding Ying hesitated, struggling to explain, but she knew leaving it unsaid would cause misunderstanding. She finally organized her words: “That day, when you went to trouble the goddess doctor, I blocked Leng Feng for you. Once inside… he… he kissed me.”

“What? That little brat! If I see him, I’ll kill him myself!” Shangguan Jiaoran was furious, itching to lash him with her whip.

“Jiaoran, you know, I had only met him once. After my father found out, he went to see the prince to demand Leng Feng marry me. The prince agreed, but I refused. My father couldn’t force me, but in daughters’ marriages, parents decide. I… I can’t escape it.”

Hearing Ding Ying so pitiful, Shangguan Jiaoran’s impression of Leng Feng worsened.

“Ding Ying, don’t be sad. I don’t think your father can truly force you. If you don’t want it, he can’t do anything.”

“But my father has already decided. He said maybe the prince will become the crown prince, and Leng Feng as a royal guard will be promoted. Marrying me won’t be a loss. Since he thinks this way, he insists on the marriage.” Ding Ying spoke with difficulty, trying to hold back her tears.

At this, Shangguan Jiaoran suddenly grew thoughtful. If Ding Ying really married Leng Feng, with her relationship to Ding Ying and Leng Feng’s connection to the prince, she could use Ding Ying as an excuse to get closer to the prince.

Thinking this, she became excited. Though Ding Ying would be wronged and Leng Feng benefited, it was ultimately advantageous for her.

So Shangguan Jiaoran began to act as a persuader.

“Ding Ying, if you ask me, I wouldn’t agree. But think—your father has made up his mind, and the prince has agreed. So no matter how much you resist, it won’t work.”

“Then what should I do? Jiaoran, you must help me!” Ding Ying pleaded, tears in her eyes.

“I want to help, but the prince agreed, so I can’t. Think about it—this isn’t really a bad thing!”

“Not a bad thing? Why do you say that?” Ding Ying was puzzled.

“Look, Leng Feng is handsome, almost as much as the prince. He kissed you—what else can you do? Though he’s mischievous, for a girl like you, he’ll surely cherish you.”

Ding Ying nearly gasped. Shangguan Jiaoran’s words had completely flipped. First, she said Leng Feng was a toad; now, she said he was handsome. Ding Ying, naive as she was, couldn’t guess Shangguan Jiaoran’s ulterior motives.

Ding Ying, feeling wronged, hid her tears and whispered, “So, according to you, besides marrying him, I have no other choice?”

“That’s the only path for now. Even if you refuse, dragging it out won’t help. Ding Ying, you must decide for yourself.”

Ding Ying usually couldn’t make decisions on her own, but her marriage was important to her. She didn’t realize Shangguan Jiaoran was stalling for something.

Turning away, she said, “Jiaoran, don’t try to persuade me anymore. Stop pressuring me. I will not marry him.”

“Are you stupid?” Shangguan Jiaoran said.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, interrupting them.

Shangguan Jiaoran went to open it, thinking it was a waiter, ready to scold, but saw a person wearing a straw hat low over their face. The features were hidden.

It was Leng Feng.

“Who are you?”

“May I ask if this is Miss Shangguan Jiaoran?” Leng Feng deliberately changed his voice.

Shangguan Jiaoran was surprised. “Yes, speaking. What do you want?”

“By order of the prince, I’m here to invite you to a small gathering at the tavern next door. He has something important to discuss and requests your prompt attendance.”

“The prince? Is it really the prince?” She lit up with excitement.

Leng Feng secretly chuckled and hurriedly said, “It’s true. Miss, go quickly. The prince is urging.”

“Alright, I’ll go immediately.” She forgot everything else, turning back to Ding Ying. “Ding Ying, go home first. I’ll come see you next time. Remember what I just told you!”