MCSCPM -Chapter 257 A Certain Man’s Pride

Chu Jingcheng suddenly grasped her hand, speaking with deep affection, “I really wish I could have this every day!”

But Yin Qingyue shot him a glare and scolded, “Do you enjoy getting hurt every day that much?”

“If it means I get to have you help me dress every day, why wouldn’t I want that?” he teased.

“You’re still the same—can’t be serious for even a moment,” Yin Qingyue said, though unlike before, her tone carried a gentle warmth.

Chu Jingcheng studied her carefully and said with admiration, “I’ve noticed… you’re a little different now.”

“Am I?” she asked calmly.

“You’re not like you used to be with me.”

“Used to be?” Yin Qingyue looked at him steadily. “Used to be how?”

Chu Jingcheng’s heart swelled with happiness. He leaned closer, stopping just a few millimeters away, lifting her chin gently. “Yin Qingyue, no matter what happens in the future, you will always be my Yin Qingyue. Whether you change or not, it’s still you. Remember this.”

“Prince Jing… does that mean I can never escape from you for the rest of my life?”

“Of course. You’ve long belonged to me.” With that, he reached out, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

Yin Qingyue struggled fiercely and spat out, “Rogue!”

Chu Jingcheng suddenly pressed his chest, frowning in pain.

Yin Qingyue realized she had accidentally touched his wound. She hurriedly checked his chest, worry in her voice, “Are you hurt?”

But Chu Jingcheng wore a mischievous grin and laughed, “This little wound won’t take my life. I’m just teasing you.”

“You…” Yin Qingyue felt both exasperated and helpless, so she walked to the side to busy herself, ignoring him.

Seeing her like this, Chu Jingcheng felt a simple happiness wash over him. If life could be like this every day, he’d willingly get hurt daily.

After a moment, he asked, “By the way, what about Leng Feng and Leng Yi?”

Yin Qingyue stopped what she was doing, her hands frozen. Her expression darkened as hesitation set in—unsure whether she should speak. Fortunately, Chu Jingcheng couldn’t see her face.

But her hesitation gave him a clue. He pressed further, “Did something happen to them?”

“Leng Yi is fine.”

“And Leng Feng?”

“He…” Yin Qingyue turned to him and said, “Right now, the most important thing is for you to heal. Don’t worry about Leng Feng.”

“How can I not worry?” Chu Jingcheng said. He slowly got out of bed, struggling toward her. “What exactly happened to him? I saw him take a knife—I don’t know how he is. Yin Qingyue, you can’t hide it from me.”

Yin Qingyue hurried to support him, carefully helping him to sit at the table. She knew that this was something that could only be hidden temporarily—it wouldn’t remain a secret for long.

“Leng Feng… hasn’t been found yet. Leng Yi said that behind the meadow there’s a cliff, and below the cliff are rapids. We’re worried that he might have jumped to escape the attackers, so we asked Leng Yi to follow the river downstream to search.”

Chu Jingcheng’s face filled with anxiety. His right-hand companion in danger? How could he be at ease? His expression was full of worry.

“If Leng Feng really fell, he can swim—he might be okay—but if he’s injured, it’s hard to say.”

“Yes. That’s why we need to find him quickly. We’re staying at the magistrate’s residence in Tuoshui County, and I’ve asked the magistrate to send people to search too.”

“No, I have to go myself.”

Yin Qingyue pulled him back, refusing to let him go. “You need to focus on healing. I don’t want to see anything happen to you too.”

Seeing her worry for him, Chu Jingcheng felt warmth in his heart.

“Prince Jing, don’t worry. I’ll find Leng Feng—even if the worst has happened, I’ll bring back his body myself.”

“Qingyue…”

“Trust me.”

Those three words were precious.

All fear and worry melted away in those three words.

Chu Jingcheng naturally worried about Leng Feng. Though he often joked about cutting out his eyes, those words were never serious. Leng Feng had been by his side for so many years—if he weren’t there, Chu Jingcheng wouldn’t even be able to adjust to his absence.

The next day.

A guard hurriedly reported in. Chu Jingcheng allowed him inside, instructing Ding Ying and Yin Qingyue to stay and listen.

“Report. What’s the situation?”

“Your Highness, downstream, we found a piece of clothing. It confirms—it belonged to Guard Leng Feng.” The guard handed over the garment.

Indeed, it was Leng Feng’s.

Ding Ying slowly stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. Her trembling hands clutched the clothing.

“It’s his… it’s really his. Something happened to him.”

At that moment, everyone’s hearts tightened. Seeing Ding Ying like this, no one knew what to say.

“Leng Feng really got hurt? Is he… dead? Really?” She sobbed uncontrollably, clutching the garment, almost collapsing.

Yin Qingyue stepped forward to support her. “We only found the clothing. That doesn’t mean something happened to Leng Feng. Ding Ying, think positively.”

“What positive way is there? He’s in trouble now, he must be!”

“No, Prince Jing said he can swim. Perhaps he took off his clothes himself. He might be fine.”

“Stop comforting me. I know there’s no hope. Why do this to me? I finally allowed myself to accept him, and now he’s gone!” Ding Ying was emotional, crying and shaking her head. Though she didn’t want to accept reality, she had no choice.

Yin Qingyue tried to explain, “Ding Ying, don’t worry. As long as Leng Feng hasn’t been found, we cannot give up. Perhaps he’s fine now, waiting for us to find him.”

“Qingyue, I know you’ve been comforting me all these days. But now… I don’t want your comfort. I don’t want to give up, but I must. I can’t face the day I find his body in front of me. I can’t.”

“Ding Ying…”

Ding Ying staggered backward, muttering “Leng Feng… Leng Feng…” before collapsing. Thankfully, the guards caught her in time.

Her fainting was expected—if Leng Feng was in danger, she could no longer be reasoned with.

Yin Qingyue quickly supported her. “Ding Ying! Ding Ying, what’s wrong?”

Chu Jingcheng was very worried. “How is she?”

“She must have been emotionally triggered. I’ll take her to rest first,” Yin Qingyue said, asking a guard to help carry Ding Ying to her room.

Chu Jingcheng sighed. As a man, he couldn’t afford to collapse, but until Leng Feng was found, he couldn’t rest.

Yin Qingyue left Ding Ying in her room and had two maidservants stay with her.

“You two make sure to take care of Miss Ding. When she wakes, she must tell me immediately. Also, don’t let her do anything reckless, understand?”

The maids nodded obediently. “Miss Yin, don’t worry. As instructed by the madam, we’ll take good care of her.”

“Thank you.”

The maids hurried to fetch warm water to make Ding Ying comfortable.

Yin Qingyue returned to Prince Jing’s room. Seeing the worry on his face, she comforted him, “Your Highness, don’t worry either.”

Chu Jingcheng clenched his fist on the table. “If something happens to Leng Feng, I won’t feel at ease. Those people are after me. If it weren’t for that, Leng Feng wouldn’t have been harmed.”

“Your Highness, do you know who they are?”

“No. Judging by their skills alone, they’re not ordinary.”

“Not ordinary? You mean…”

Chu Jingcheng shook his head. “Never mind. Let’s not think about that for now. The most important thing is finding Leng Feng. I’ll go personally, and you will come with me.”

Though Chu Jingcheng had awakened and his wound was healing, his body couldn’t be exposed to wind for long—it hadn’t fully recovered.

“Prince Jing, you should rest first. I and Leng Yi will follow the river to nearby villages to search. Your body must not be exposed to wind, or it could cause lasting illness,” Yin Qingyue said worriedly.

Chu Jingcheng teased with a grin, “Do you think my body is that weak? I’ve faced far worse injuries on the battlefield without lasting effects! Even if we were… intimate now, it wouldn’t matter.”

“At a time like this, you still joke about that?” Yin Qingyue was speechless. “If you have this kind of energy, just rest. Let us find Leng Feng first.”

Chu Jingcheng knew he couldn’t go search for Leng Feng himself. He decided to rest properly, not to worry Yin Qingyue.

After a while, he called the guard from earlier and ordered, “Give instructions. Keep searching until Leng Feng is found. No matter what methods you use, bring him back.”

“Your Highness… what if someone rescued Guard Leng Feng? Wouldn’t searching endlessly be a waste of time?”

Chu Jingcheng considered it. If he had been rescued, perhaps Leng Feng was too.

“Split the search teams. One follows the river downstream. The other checks around for any trace of Leng Feng, even within Tuoshui County. Don’t miss a single clue. But remember—do not alarm anyone.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the guard said and left immediately.

Chu Jingcheng’s words made Yin Qingyue think. Perhaps Leng Feng really had been rescued and was safe somewhere.

But why hadn’t he come to see Prince Jing after all this time? Could he have been seriously injured and unconscious?

If Leng Feng had been severely injured and rescued, she could at least be relieved. But if his injuries were grave, he must be found immediately.

“Prince Jing, rest first. I’ll go out and prepare medicine for Ding Ying,” she added.