MCSCPM -Chapter 247 The News Spreads

“This servant truly feels blessed beyond three lifetimes to have met Miss Yin. Even if Lian’er were to die right now, she would be willing—”

Yin Qingyue suddenly covered her mouth, stopping her from continuing. Clearly uncomfortable with such words, she said sternly, “Lian’er, you mustn’t say things like that lightly, understand?”

“Yes, this servant understands.”

Yin Qingyue said nothing more. Looking at Lian’er’s face, mottled with red and purple bruises, she felt that Lian’er resembled Mei’er somewhat—yet Mei’er had never been so fragile. They seemed alike, yet not really alike at all.

As for the imperial palace, Yin Qingyue now felt not only resistance, but disgust. She truly wished she could leave this place immediately. Otherwise, once Prince Ling returned, storms would surely follow.

The night grew deep—long, cold, and chilling.

She did not know that Prince Jing was now missing.

Although the Emperor had sealed off the news, such a major incident could not be completely hidden. Walls have ears. The news traveled from the Imperial Study straight to the Consort’s Palace.

A young eunuch avoided the people of the Imperial Study and secretly came to see Lan Rao. He had long been Lan Rao’s informant there—any slight movement would reach his ears first, and then be carried straight to Lan Rao.

“What has happened?” Lan Rao’s expression tightened. Whenever this eunuch appeared, it was usually over something serious.

The eunuch lowered his head and replied steadily, “Your Highness, it is said that Prince Jing was assassinated on his way to the prefectures. As of now, his whereabouts are unknown.”

“What?!” Lan Rao sprang to her feet, utterly shocked. “What do you mean, assassinated? And missing? What exactly happened? Speak quickly!”

The eunuch lowered his head even further and hurriedly said, “Replying to Your Highness, this news reached the palace yesterday. It is almost certainly true. His Majesty has secretly sent people to search, and also ordered Eunuch Sun that this matter must not be publicized. As soon as this servant heard of it, he immediately came to inform Your Highness.”

What a loyal servant indeed!

“Prince Jing missing? How could that be? With so many experts around him, how could anything happen?” Lan Rao murmured in disbelief.

“This servant would not dare deceive Your Highness. His Majesty has already sealed off the news, so this servant believes it must be true—that’s why I risked everything to tell you.”

Lan Rao knew well that this eunuch had never lied to her. If so, then Prince Jing’s misfortune must be real.

In an instant, she froze. Her gaze wandered aimlessly over the magnificent palace halls, and in the end she collapsed into a chair. Fear and a sense of defeat surged toward her all at once.

If Prince Jing truly had an accident, then the entire game she had been playing… was lost.

“Impossible—absolutely impossible. Prince Jing cannot have anything happen to him. If something happens to him, what will I do? I don’t want to lose yet.” She kept muttering, panic filling her eyes.

The eunuch cautiously raised his head a little. Seeing Blue Consort like this, he immediately bent down and said, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. Prince Jing is blessed by great fortune—he will surely be fine. His Majesty has already sent people to search. He will certainly turn danger into safety.”

“Turn danger into safety?” Lan Rao frowned, pondering those four words. Then a thought struck her. If she let Yin Qingyue leave the palace to search for Prince Jing—if Prince Jing truly survived—then Prince Jing and Yin Qingyue would surely end up together. That favor would be one she, Lan Rao, had granted them. Wouldn’t that firmly secure Prince Jing as her support?

“Alright. Go back to the Imperial Study for now.”

“Yes, this servant takes his leave.”

Just as the eunuch was about to leave, Lan Rao stopped him.
“Hui Xiang, spread this news immediately. I want everyone in the palace to know.”

“Your Highness means…?”

“I want to see how many people in this palace wish Prince Jing dead—or rather, how many wish to see this consort left without any support.”

The eunuch was quick-witted. Having followed Lan Rao for so many years, he understood her intentions well enough.

Lan Rao wanted to see who would come to her palace to mock and ridicule her once they learned that Prince Jing was in trouble—who would trample her while she was down. She wanted to identify every woman secretly plotting against her, so she could tear off those hypocritical masks one by one.

After leaving the Consort’s Palace, the eunuch followed her orders. In less than half an hour, news of Prince Jing’s assassination attempt spread beyond the palace.

The Ding Residence

By the time the news reached there, an hour had already passed.

When Ding Ying heard it, the teacup slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. She was terrified out of her wits—but this time, it wasn’t because of Prince Jing. It was because of Leng Feng.

Xiang Xu hurried over to check on her mistress. “Miss, are you alright? Did you hurt your fingers?”

Ding Ying shook her head in shock, suddenly stood up from her chair, and ran out of the room toward the front courtyard, where she happened to run into Ding Heng.

She rushed up, grabbed her father’s hand, and asked anxiously, “Father, I heard Prince Jing was assassinated on the road. Is it true? Then Leng Feng—how is he? Is he alright?”

Ding Heng had already changed into his court robes and was about to enter the palace to see the Emperor.

Seeing his daughter on the verge of tears, he could only sigh and shake his head. “Ying’er, don’t worry yet. We don’t know whether the news is true.”

“If it’s true, then what? Father, your daughter cannot live without Leng Feng!”

Hearing his daughter speak her heart, Ding Heng felt both happy and troubled. He would be overjoyed for his daughter to marry Leng Feng—but if something had happened to Leng Feng, wouldn’t that break her heart?

“Leng Feng will be fine. I’m going to the palace now to see what His Majesty says. You stay home and wait for news. I promise you—if this is true, I will personally send people to bring Leng Feng back to you, safe and sound.”

Her eyes were swollen from crying as she said, “Father, you must promise me.”

“I promise. I can’t delay any longer. Stay home and rest well—your body hasn’t fully recovered yet.” Ding Heng was anxious as well.

Ding Ying could only nod obediently. After seeing her father off, she still refused to return to her room. Instead, she paced back and forth outside the main gate, filled with worry and anxiety.

In her heart, she kept praying: Leng Feng, you promised me. You said you would come back. Nothing can happen to you—you can’t break your word.

Xiang Xu could only worry helplessly at her side. She tried to persuade her again and again, but Ding Ying stubbornly refused to go back inside. Standing there felt like the only way she could find some relief.

“Miss, please go back inside. Didn’t Master say it already? He’ll come back as soon as there’s news. He won’t let anything happen to the future son-in-law. Miss, please go in,” Xiang Xu pleaded, nearly ready to kneel.

But at this moment, Ding Ying couldn’t hear anything at all. She didn’t even care about her own health—she only kept watching, waiting, hoping her father would return quickly.

With no other choice, Xiang Xu stopped persuading her and simply stood by her side.

Since the news spread outside the palace, it naturally caused an uproar within as well.

The matter of Prince Jing soon reached Yin Qingyue’s ears. She suddenly stood up. Her heart was already in turmoil, worry surging uncontrollably, yet she kept her expression composed as she calmly questioned Xiao Ning.

“Xiao Ning, you just said Prince Jing was assassinated. Why do you say that? What exactly happened?”

“Miss Yin, it was Her Highness the Consort who sent this servant to inform you. This matter reached His Majesty yesterday. As soon as Her Highness learned of it, she immediately sent this servant to you,” Xiao Ning reported solemnly.

“Where is Prince Jing now?”

“I don’t know. They say his whereabouts are unknown. His Majesty has already sent people to search.”

Yin Qingyue’s expression darkened slightly. She stepped back, and after a long moment, waved her hand. “I understand. You may leave.”

“Miss Yin, are you… alright?”

“I’m fine. You may go.”

Xiao Ning could only withdraw and return to report to the Consort.

At this moment, Yin Qingyue’s emotions were extremely complicated. She didn’t know exactly what she was feeling—only that something flowed heavily in her chest, an inexplicable pain so sharp it made it hard to breathe, and even frightened her.

Because she truly hadn’t expected that if something really happened to Chu Jingcheng, she would feel like this—as if invisible blood were flowing through her bones, leaving her unanchored.

Was it love?

No… probably not.

Logically, Chu Jingcheng had saved her, and they had spent so much time together. It wouldn’t be strange to develop feelings. Yet this sensation surpassed what she thought she could bear, trapping her in an endless loop of contradiction.

“Chu Jingcheng, what exactly are you doing to me? How could something happen to you out of nowhere?” she murmured softly, her brows tightly knit.

Time passed minute by minute. She didn’t know how long she stood there before finally leaving her room, exiting the Consort’s Palace, and heading toward the Imperial Study.

By then, ministers had already entered the palace one after another to seek an audience, wanting to confirm whether the news was true. They were all discussing the matter with the Emperor inside the Imperial Study.

Yin Qingyue was stopped at the door by Eunuch Sun.

“Miss Yin, His Majesty is discussing affairs inside. You cannot enter right now,” Eunuch Sun said politely.

“Eunuch, then I’ll wait here. Please trouble yourself to inform His Majesty later.”

“This… Miss Yin, you should go back. His Majesty likely won’t have time to see you right now.”

“I came because of Prince Jing. Eunuch, could you tell me how Prince Jing is now?” Yin Qingyue’s tone was calm—so ordinary that to others, it sounded like a casual question.

Eunuch Sun was naturally cautious about this matter and could only answer vaguely,
“This servant isn’t very clear either. I only know that Prince Jing has met with trouble. As for the rest, Miss Yin should wait for further news.”

Yin Qingyue understood his difficulty. Serving by the Emperor’s side was no easy task.

“Eunuch, I’ll wait here. When His Majesty has time, I’ll go in.”

With that, Yin Qingyue moved to the side of the Imperial Study and waited there, her stubborn determination something no one could drive away.

Eunuch Sun could only let her be. If the Emperor asked, he would bring her in. If not, letting her wait was fine.

Inside the Imperial Study, the ministers stood in rows, with Shangguan Qingyun and Ding Heng at the front. They were naturally the most concerned about this matter—each for his own daughter.

Shangguan Qingyun stepped forward and asked, “Your Majesty, we have heard that Prince Jing was assassinated and is now missing. We are extremely worried. May we ask Your Majesty whether this matter is true?”

From atop the dragon throne, Chu Helian swept his gaze across all the ministers and said coldly, “I didn’t expect this matter to reach all of you so quickly.”