MCSCPM -Chapter 214 The Lady of the House

“You—” Ding Ying hadn’t even finished speaking when Shangguan Jiaoran had already left her behind.

Once Jiaoran was gone, Leng Feng finally had his chance. He hurried into the room and closed the door behind him, hands clasped behind his back.

Ding Ying, seeing him enter, panicked and shouted, “Who are you? What do you want? Get out!”

“It’s me, it’s me…” Leng Feng quickly took off the straw hat from his head. “Miss Ding, it’s me, Leng Feng. Look carefully. Don’t shout, or someone will hear us.”

This was the first time Leng Feng had been so nervous. Right now, he felt like a thief, completely guilty and on edge.

Seeing that it was Leng Feng, Ding Ying jumped back several steps, eyes wide. “How… how could it be you?!”

“I came to see you. I went to the Ding Residence yesterday, but you didn’t want to see me. I had no choice but to do it this way!”

“I don’t want to see you. Leave immediately.” Ding Ying clutched her chest tightly, gripping the front of her clothes.

Now Leng Feng was completely flustered. Dealing with girls had always been his weakness.

Ding Ying tried to walk past him to leave, but he blocked her, urgently saying, “Miss Ding, please hear me out. I went to great lengths to see you. At least give me a chance!”

“What do you want to say?”

“Of course… about us.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“Miss Ding, I’m not some scoundrel. I won’t kiss you again. Don’t avoid me, don’t be afraid. Actually… I… I don’t even know how to say it.” Seeing Ding Ying crying, all the words he had prepared went out the window.

Seeing him so anxious, Ding Ying’s kind heart prevented her from making things difficult. She stepped back, quieting her sobs, and said, “Alright, alright. Say what you need to say quickly.”

Finally, she had given him a chance.

Leng Feng froze, unsure where to start. He stammered for a long while before collecting himself and speaking:

“I really didn’t expect your father to go to my prince about this. If you didn’t want to marry, I wouldn’t force you. If you do, I swear I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.”

“I later heard you didn’t want to marry, but your father and the prince had already decided. The prince told me to handle it myself—he said if I couldn’t get you to marry me, I’d face consequences. So… I came to find you. If you don’t hate me, we can… marry. I swear to heaven I’ll take care of you forever.”

“Though… I’m not as elegant as my prince, nor as coldly charming as Leng Yi, at least I—Leng Feng—am loyal! I’ll never flirt. And one more thing: I know you’re the daughter of the Minister of Justice. I may never be worthy of you, but I won’t treat you poorly.”

Though clumsy and nervous, every word came from his heart. Even Yin Qingyue on the carriage must have coached him—there was no way Leng Feng could naturally speak such sincere words.

Ding Ying, listening in confusion, understood only partially—but she could tell Leng Feng was sincere.

Still, she cried—perhaps from the huge injustice she felt, or perhaps moved by his words.

“I have to go now. My father will look for me.” She rubbed her hands nervously, lowered her head, and shoved past Leng Feng, pushing open the door and running out.

Leng Feng stayed behind, undecided whether to follow, pacing back and forth, unsure what to do.

At the Teahouse, Yin Qingyue sat at a table in the small private room on the second floor, separated by a bamboo curtain. Elegant and refined, she attracted the attention of many people who had come in because of her presence. Whispered comments started circulating:

“Did you see that lady just now? She’s stunning. To see someone like her in the capital is a shock.”

“Especially her eyes.”

“No, it’s her mouth.”

“Truly beautiful… like a celestial being descended to earth.”

“Who is she? Which family does she belong to?”

“Surely a noble household.”

The teahouse buzzed with curiosity, but no one dared approach her. They simply admired her elegance, assuming she was no ordinary woman.

At this time, Shangguan Jiaoran arrived. Seeing all the attention focused upstairs, she thought, “It must be the prince—who else would cause such a commotion?”

She hurried upstairs, heading straight behind the bamboo curtain, excited.

But when the curtain was pulled aside, she didn’t see the prince. Instead, she saw Yin Qingyue—her most hated rival, and incredibly beautiful!

“Why are you here? Where’s the prince?” Not seeing the prince but seeing the woman she despised left Jiaoran flustered.

Yin Qingyue smiled lightly. “Prince? There’s no prince here. Miss Shangguan, in your heart and eyes, everything is the prince!”

Hearing this, Shangguan Jiaoran suddenly realized she’d been tricked. Rage surged. “Alright, Yin Qingyue! How dare you deceive me! Do you think my whip is a toy?”

“Miss Shangguan, this isn’t the outskirts; it’s in full view of everyone. If you swing your whip and someone sees, they’ll say the general’s daughter is violent and rude.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, Miss Shangguan, you’ve misunderstood. I mean only to look out for you.”

“I disdain that.” Infuriated, Jiaoran raised her whip and swung at Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue dodged smoothly.

“You witch! Every time you avoid my whip, my whip is not a toy!” Jiaoran swung again.

This time, Yin Qingyue caught the whip with her hands, exerted strength, and snatched it away, holding it firmly.

Jiaoran’s fury intensified. Seeing her whip taken, she growled, “Witch! My whip is not for you! Give it back!” She reached out her hand.

Yin Qingyue grinned slyly, holding the thick whip and teasing, “Miss Shangguan, calm down. I think we should have a proper conversation.”

“Who wants to talk to you?”

“Don’t you know the prince likes beauties? Look at your face—how does it compare to mine?” Yin Qingyue said deliberately, provoking her.

Jiaoran, hearing this, felt insecure. She touched her face and looked at Yin Qingyue—her beauty was clearly superior.

Yin Qingyue pressed her advantage, picking up a cup of tea she had prepared: “Miss Shangguan, want to know how I went from an ugly girl to a beauty? It’s this tea, brought from Xize. Drink it, and you’ll become beautiful. Maybe the prince will like you.”

Half-believing, Jiaoran eyed the tea cautiously. “Did you poison it?”

“Poison? No way. If you don’t believe me, fine, I’ll pour it out.” Yin Qingyue bent her hand, pretending to pour.

“Wait—”

“You believe me.”

“Then let’s try.” Jiaoran stepped forward, took the tea, and drank it in one go.

Yin Qingyue smiled inwardly—her plan was working perfectly. She poured another cup of wine.

Jiaoran drank it without hesitation, her face flushing red.

“If you dare trick me, I’ll kill you!”

“Let’s see the results first,” Yin Qingyue replied, watching her.

Suddenly, Jiaoran’s head wobbled, steps unsteady. Her eyes glazed as she murmured, “Why… why is this happening, witch… what… what did you do to me…”

Before finishing, she collapsed.

At that moment, Leng Feng arrived and walked straight into the scene.

“Miss Yin, is everything ready?”

“Yes, and how about Miss Ding?” Yin Qingyue asked.

Leng Feng stammered, “She… she ran away.”

Embarrassed, he admitted it.

“Leng Feng, you really are hopeless. No wonder your prince made you handle it yourself. If he helped, he’d probably be angrier than I am now,” Yin Qingyue scolded him sharply.

Leng Feng was frustrated with himself. After saying so much, Ding Ying still ran off. He wasn’t sure if she even understood his words.

“Miss Yin, I said everything I should and shouldn’t say, the good words, the bad words… but she kept crying. I had no choice. Miss Yin, you have to save me.”

“Even Yama won’t help you now,” Yin Qingyue shook her head. Seeing Jiaoran unconscious, she scolded Leng Feng once more and instructed:

“Take her back to the General’s residence. I gave her tea—she’ll sleep for three days. As for Miss Ding, since I promised to help, I won’t give up halfway.”

“Thank you, Miss Yin.” Leng Feng exhaled in relief. Looking at Jiaoran, he couldn’t help but smile. “This arrogant woman finally gets her comeuppance. Only you, Miss Yin, could handle her—otherwise, she’s completely unrestrained.”