MCSCPM -Chapter 250 The Red Dudou

“If Mother truly respected me, why would you hit your daughter over Yin Qingyue? That slap was the first time Mother ever struck me.”

In the end, it all came back to that single slap.

Chu Fengjiao felt, from the bottom of her heart, that the slap had hurt terribly—so much so that it hurt deep inside.

He Ningxiang simply couldn’t argue her down anymore. She didn’t want her daughter to see Yin Qingyue, yet it was precisely because of Yin Qingyue that the relationship between mother and daughter had deteriorated to this point.

“Alright, Mother understands what you’re thinking,” He Ningxiang said, both angry and helpless. “Forget it. Do whatever you want. Mother won’t interfere anymore.” With a sweep of her sleeve, she turned and left.

As she went out, she deliberately instructed the palace maids standing outside, “Let the princess go wherever she wants. There’s no need to keep watch over her anymore.”

It looked like a concession, but in truth, she was extremely angry.

Now that the door was open, Chu Fengjiao could go wherever she wished. She could also stop reading those tiresome books she kept talking about.

Yet after speaking to her mother that way, she suddenly felt a twinge of regret. Thinking it over, she realized she really had hurt her mother.

As the saying goes, harm should not wound the heart. She had taken a slap, but she had also stabbed her mother’s heart with a knife. Suddenly, she regretted it deeply.

She collapsed into a chair, grabbed a brush from the table, and hurled it forcefully to the ground.

The palace maids outside rushed in, asking anxiously, “Princess, what’s wrong?”

“Get out. All of you, get out!” As she spoke, she grabbed several more brushes and threw them, splashing ink everywhere in a dreadful mess.

The palace maids all dropped to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly as they cried, “Princess, spare us! Princess, spare us!”

Chu Fengjiao was overwhelmed by both rage and regret. Her old temper flared up again—she began smashing things all over the room, exactly like Shangguan Jiaoran.

The Imperial Study

Ever since learning something had happened to Prince Jing, Chu Helian had barely paid attention to state affairs or memorials. He was burning with anxiety as he waited for news.

Eunuch Sun brewed a cup of Longjing tea and carefully placed it nearby. “Your Majesty, this tea was brought into the palace by General Shangguan last time. I remember Your Majesty said it tasted very good, so this servant brewed some for you. Please have a sip.”

Chu Helian waved his hand. “No need. All I want now is to know how Jing’er is.”

“Your Majesty need not worry,” Eunuch Sun said. “Prince Jing is blessed by heaven and will surely be fine. But Your Majesty must take care of your health as well. You are the Son of Heaven—the affairs of the state still depend on you.”

“I’m fine,” Chu Helian replied, his voice hoarse—likely from worrying about Prince Jing and not sleeping all night.

Eunuch Sun was anxious too, but there was nothing he could do. Just as he was thinking of what else to say, a eunuch outside came in to report.

“Your Majesty, the people sent to search for Prince Jing have sent back a message.”

“There’s news?” Chu Helian suddenly stood up and strode forward, his expression tense. “Speak quickly—how is Prince Jing now?”

The young eunuch was terrified, his head bowed low. “Reporting to Your Majesty… Prince Jing has still not been found.”

“Not found?”

“Only… at the place where Prince Jing disappeared, something was found,” the eunuch said softly, hardly daring to speak.

Chu Helian slammed the table in anger. “Then say it!”

“Yes… it was a red dudou,” the eunuch stammered, his voice shaking as he practically collapsed to the ground.

A red dudou? Absurd! How could there be a red dudou? Chu Helian frowned deeply. His son hadn’t been found, yet a woman’s undergarment had appeared. He should have known—when a prince goes out to punish corrupt officials, women must not be brought along.

Then whose was it? The assassin’s?

Chu Helian ground his teeth and struck the table. “This matter must not be spread. Continue the search. If you fail to find him—bring your heads back to see me.”

“Yes…” The eunuch scrambled out in terror.

For now, Chu Helian could do nothing but wait, anxious and worried.

After a while, he asked Eunuch Sun, “Sun Gonggong, when Prince Jing traveled, was there a woman by his side?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, by custom there should be no woman accompanying him. But I don’t know whether Prince Jing might have…” Eunuch Sun didn’t finish the sentence, but Chu Helian understood.

Chu Helian paced back and forth several times, then suddenly stopped and instructed, “Go summon the Divine Physician.”

“Your Majesty means…?”

“Go summon her.”

“Yes.”

Eunuch Sun dared not ask more and personally hurried to the Noble Consort’s palace.

Yin Qingyue had been in a daze ever since she learned something had happened to Chu Jingcheng. Like the Emperor, all she could do was wait.

Fortunately, Eunuch Sun’s arrival brought her a glimmer of hope. She quickly asked, “Gonggong, is there any news about Prince Jing?”

“Miss Yin, don’t be anxious. There’s still no news of Prince Jing, but His Majesty has issued an order summoning you to the Imperial Study.”

“The Emperor is willing to see me?” Yin Qingyue was surprised.

“Miss Yin, the summons is urgent.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Yin Qingyue immediately followed Eunuch Sun to the Imperial Study. Before leaving, she gave a few instructions to Lian’er, asking her to inform the Noble Consort.

Upon reaching the Imperial Study, Eunuch Sun did not go in, remaining outside instead.

Seeing the Emperor’s anxious expression, Yin Qingyue knew it was all because of Prince Jing.

“This commoner greets Your Majesty.”

“No need for formalities. Rise,” Chu Helian said heavily, his tone filled with suppressed anger and worry.

“Your Majesty, if this commoner is not mistaken, it must be about Prince Jing,” Yin Qingyue said directly. “Your Majesty, this assassination attempt on Prince Jing cannot be delayed!”

Chu Helian knew this woman was extraordinary. Letting her search for Prince Jing might allow him to be found sooner.

But when he thought of that dudou, Chu Helian glared at Yin Qingyue and questioned her sternly, “Miss Yin, I wish to ask you—was the red dudou Prince Jing carried with him yours?”

Yin Qingyue abruptly raised her head, stunned. How had it suddenly come to the red dudou?

“Your Majesty, what does this mean?”

“What does it mean?” Chu Helian demanded. “A red dudou was found at the site of Prince Jing’s attack. Women are not allowed to accompany him—so how could such a thing appear? I want one honest answer. Was it yours?”

Yin Qingyue knew she couldn’t hide it, nor did she intend to.

“Yes,” she said plainly. “The dudou Prince Jing carried belonged to this commoner.”

After admitting it, she grew even more worried and continued, “Your Majesty, Prince Jing must have encountered grave danger for my dudou to be lost. Your Majesty, this matter cannot wait any longer.”

Indeed. Prince Jing had been unwilling to return the dudou to her, always keeping it close. Now that it had fallen—one could imagine how perilous his situation had been for him not to notice its loss.

Hearing this, Chu Helian grew truly alarmed. He understood that since the dudou was Yin Qingyue’s, his son would never have let it fall unless something extremely serious had happened.

Yin Qingyue pressed on urgently, “Your Majesty, I beg you—allow me to go search for Prince Jing. I will definitely bring him back safely.”

“Safely?” Chu Helian repeated the words softly, clasping his hands behind his back. “Miss Yin, are you truly certain you can bring Jing’er back unharmed?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. There must be no further delay.”

Chu Helian pondered for a long moment, still undecided. Letting a woman go search for Prince Jing—wasn’t that… inappropriate?

He stared at Yin Qingyue. In her eyes was a worry for Prince Jing even deeper than his own—a concern he himself could not match.

At last, he agreed. “Very well. I will allow you to go—but you must do so secretly. I will assign palace guards to accompany you, to protect you.”

Yin Qingyue was overjoyed and deeply moved. She quickly bowed and repeatedly promised, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for trusting Qingyue. Qingyue guarantees that I will bring Prince Jing back.”

In truth, Yin Qingyue had only half the confidence. But she had already made her decision—if she could not find Prince Jing, or if he truly had been killed, she would repay Chu Jingcheng’s life with her own.

Leaving the Imperial Study, she wasted no time and hurried back to the Noble Consort’s palace to pack and prepare to leave the palace in search of Chu Jingcheng.

She did not hide this from Lan Rao, telling her directly that she was leaving the palace to find Prince Jing. Lan Rao did not ask many questions, nor did she stop her. Instead, she helped prepare some clean clothes for her.

“Qingyue, you must also be careful on this journey.”

“During these days, I’ve been deeply grateful for Your Ladyship’s care,” Yin Qingyue said. “I don’t know when I’ll return—or whether I’ll be able to see you again.”

Hearing this, Lan Rao took her hand, reluctant to part. “No matter what, all we hope for now is that Prince Jing is safe. When the time comes, you can come stay in the palace again—this palace will always welcome you.”

Yin Qingyue nodded calmly.

Lan Rao felt the mood growing too sentimental and didn’t want to cry. She quickly handed over the prepared bundle. “Alright, let’s not say any more sad things. These are the supplies I prepared for you—you’ll surely need them on the road.”

Holding the heavy bundle—everything inside prepared by Lan Rao—Yin Qingyue realized she likely wouldn’t have time to return to the outskirts of the capital, so she accepted the kindness.

“Qingyue thanks Your Ladyship. There is just one more thing I need your help with.”

“Whatever it is, just say it.”

“It’s a small matter. I don’t know when I’ll return, and I’m worried Meier will be anxious. I hope Your Ladyship can have someone inform her, so she won’t worry about me.”

Lan Rao nodded and gently patted the back of her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll have someone notify her.”

Only then did Yin Qingyue feel at ease. With everything prepared, she immediately left the Noble Consort’s palace.

But just as she stepped out, Lian’er chased after her.

With tears filling her eyes, Lian’er grabbed Yin Qingyue’s hand. “Miss Yin, are you really leaving?”

“Lian’er, don’t cry,” Yin Qingyue comforted her, wiping away her tears. “After I leave the palace, you must take good care of yourself here. Didn’t I say that if there’s a chance in the future, I’ll teach you medicine?”

“But Miss Yin… will you really come back?”

“Perhaps,” she said, uncertain.

Lian’er sobbed, then suddenly knelt down. “Miss Yin, this servant kowtows to you. You must return safely.”
As she spoke, she knocked her head to the ground.

This time, Yin Qingyue did not pull her up. Even if she tried, Lian’er would not rise.

What filled Yin Qingyue’s thoughts now was Chu Jingcheng. He had always been powerful and domineering. The news had spread throughout the palace, causing an uproar. She believed he would be fine—but she was still worried.