MCSCPM -Chapter 265 Proving Innocence

Both the peony girl and the shopkeeper found it strange—was Yin Qingyue really here just to show her something?

The little girl, seeing everyone suddenly arrive, dropped the wooden stick she was holding and ran to her father, saying, “Dad, what are you doing? Who are these people?”

Ah, so the little girl was the shopkeeper’s youngest daughter!

The shopkeeper looked at Yin Qingyue curiously and asked, “What exactly do you want to do? Can you really find my lost hairpin by bringing me here?”

Yin Qingyue smiled. “We can find it, though you might be disappointed, shopkeeper, because…”

Before she could finish, she went over to the dogs, squatted, picked something up, and turned around with a smile. “Shopkeeper, is this your hairpin?”

The shopkeeper looked, and sure enough, Yin Qingyue held the missing wooden hairpin—but it was broken.

“Wh-what happened?” The shopkeeper quickly took the hairpin, cradling it carefully in his hands, distraught.

“If I’m not mistaken, your daughter probably took it,” Yin Qingyue analyzed. “She might have wanted to feed the dogs with a bun but was afraid, so she stuck the hairpin into the bun to give it to the dogs. Unexpectedly, the dogs bit through the hairpin. That’s why she then went to get a longer stick and continued feeding the dogs by sticking the bun on it.”

The shopkeeper was stunned. Then, furious, he glared at his daughter. “Xiaoyu, did you take it?”

The little girl, frightened, stepped back a few times, her eyes red. She lowered her head and admitted, “Yes, I took it. I saw the hairpin there and took it. Dad… did I do something wrong?”

“You little brat, I’ll—” He raised his hand to strike her.

Yin Qingyue quickly stepped forward to stop him. “Shopkeeper, you already whipped the wrong person, and now you want to hit your own daughter? Do you have any conscience?”

The shopkeeper immediately softened, his ears turning red at her words. He lowered his hand and, with a guilty look, looked at his daughter and then at the peony girl. “Miss, I truly apologize. Here… you can strike back if you like.”

He handed the whip to the peony girl.

Being kind-hearted, the girl naturally refused, stepping back and softly saying, “No need, it’s enough that it’s been clarified.”

“Miss, I’m really sorry. To make it up to you, you can choose any item from my shop.”

“No, really, it’s not necessary.”

“But…”

Yin Qingyue interrupted, “Alright, now that everything is clear, it’s settled. Forget it.” She turned to the peony girl. “If you want to pursue this, I’ll help you. If not, then forget it.”

“I won’t pursue it. I’m fine.”

“Good. Then let’s go.” The peony girl nodded.

The shopkeeper was both moved and guilty, and it showed clearly on his face.

Yin Qingyue led the peony girl out of the shop, then suddenly said, “Wait for me a moment.” She turned back into the shop.

After a short wait, Yin Qingyue came out again. The girl, tearful, said, “Miss, thank you so much. Really, I am so grateful.”

Yin Qingyue smiled, taking a wooden box from her sleeve and handing it to her. “Here, this is for you. I know wooden hairpins are essential for coming-of-age ceremonies for girls. I suppose you came in to buy one, right?”

The peony girl opened the box and found a very delicate hairpin, even more beautiful than the one she had admired. She immediately wanted to return it. “Miss, I can’t accept this—it’s too valuable.”

“It’s not valuable. It suits you perfectly. Take it.”

“But—”

“Miss Peony, my surname is Yin. You don’t need to thank me for this. Consider this hairpin as a reward for saving him before, so you must accept it.”

Hearing this, she could not refuse and accepted it. Then she hesitated and asked, “Miss Yin, is he… better now?”

“Yes, he’s fine. Nothing serious.”

The peony girl hesitated a moment more, then mustered courage to ask, “Then, Miss Yin, is that man really your husband?”

At that moment, on the opposite side of the street, Chu Jingcheng sat in the carriage, waiting for Yin Qingyue. The wind lifted the curtain, revealing his handsome profile, with clear features—a true beauty.

Seeing him, the peony girl’s eyes became longing.

Chu Jingcheng glanced over, initially intending to watch Yin Qingyue, but their eyes met. He frowned, puzzled by her expression.

The peony girl stepped a few small paces toward the carriage, but Yin Qingyue stopped her, whispering into her ear, “He is my husband.”

The girl froze. So she really was his wife.

Yin Qingyue continued quietly, “Thank you for saving my husband. Keep the hairpin safe.”

Then Yin Qingyue returned to the carriage and instructed the driver to depart immediately.

Chu Jingcheng asked, “What happened? Where did you go just now?”

“Everything’s fine now.”

“Oh? Really?” He asked suspiciously, then lifted the back curtain and pointed at the peony girl chasing after the carriage. “Look, why is she running after us? Does she have a grudge against you?”

Chu Jingcheng didn’t know the girl and found her strange, but Yin Qingyue also glanced back. The peony girl, refusing to give up, continued running and accidentally fell, rolling in the dust.

“Should we stop the carriage?” Chu Jingcheng asked, testing her reaction.

“No need. Didn’t you say she’s my enemy? Should we stop for her revenge?” Yin Qingyue lowered the curtain and joked.

Chu Jingcheng could tell she was joking, so he let it go.

Yin Qingyue, however, felt a pang—this girl really liked Chu Jingcheng. Even though she hadn’t had a chance to speak with him, such invisible affection was hard for Yin Qingyue to accept.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the crimson maple forest in Tuoshui County.

The red maples stretched up the mountainside, creating a warm, picturesque scene.

Chu Jingcheng had the carriage stop at the foot of the hill and took Yin Qingyue’s hand as they began walking upward.

The falling maple leaves swirled like flames across the earth—a breathtaking sight.

Holding her tightly, Chu Jingcheng said, “If I could, I’d come here with you every year.”

Yin Qingyue glanced at him. His eyes were filled with longing, as if he could already see a beautiful future with her.

“Yin Qingyue, when you tore at my clothes back then, who would have thought that today, we would be walking together through a forest of red maples, feeling so at ease?”

“I never imagined it. And yet, the person by my side today… is you, King Jing,” she replied with a smile.

He looked at her—those eyes were the most beautiful and spirited he had ever seen. He couldn’t help but bend down and lightly kiss her eyes, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

“Promise me, no matter what happens, never leave me. This is my order—you must obey.” Chu Jingcheng said earnestly.

She lowered her head, smiling, and nodded gently. “If we grow old together, we will never part.”

These twelve words deeply engraved themselves in Chu Jingcheng’s heart.

The crimson maples swayed with the wind, rising and falling.

They seemed completely merged with the scenery, inseparable.

Meanwhile, at the county magistrate’s office, Yan Ling suddenly arrived.

She came furiously, her eyes set only on Leng Feng—she wanted him alone.

Bursting into the office, the guards recognized her but dared not stop her. Wealth and power spoke volumes.

Inside, she caused a huge commotion, searching for Leng Feng.

“Leng Feng, come out!”

“If you don’t, I’ll flatten this entire office!”

Everyone watched, but no one dared intervene.

Her loud outburst naturally alerted Leng Yi. He emerged, sword in hand, and upon seeing Yan Ling, realized she must be the “big trouble” Leng Feng had mentioned.

Leng Yi stepped forward, blocking her. “Leng Feng isn’t here; he’s gone out.”

Yan Ling scrutinized him, top to bottom. “You say he’s gone, but I don’t believe you. Call him out.”

“I said he’s not here. Even if you search the entire office, he won’t be found here.”

“Is that so?” With that, Yan Ling tried to bypass him.

Leng Yi swung his sword, blocking her path, warning, “I advise you not to enter. I’m not Leng Feng, who is polite with you.”

“Move!” Yan Ling swung, knocking his sword aside.

They exchanged a few moves. Yan Ling was skilled, but compared to a man, she was at a disadvantage—it was essentially just self-defense techniques.

Soon, she was overpowered and subdued by Leng Yi.

Not one to accept defeat easily, Yan Ling resorted to Plan B: retreat. “I won’t fight. A grown man sparring with me? What a joke.”

“Against someone like you, there’s no question of being polite.”

“Hmph. It’s my first time meeting someone like you,” she said, examining him. His features resembled Leng Yi’s brother, except for his temperament.

“Who are you? Leng Feng’s brother?”

“I’m his younger brother,” Leng Yi replied.

Yan Ling laughed. “So the brothers are alike, except for personality; otherwise, they’re very similar.”

Leng Yi said nothing.

“Remember, from now on, I’m your sister-in-law. If you don’t tell me where Leng Feng is, fine—I’ll go find him myself.”

With that, she strutted out, full of confidence.

Leng Yi did not stop her. After all, this was between Leng Feng and Yan Ling; he had no desire to interfere, assuming Leng Feng could handle it himself.