MCSCPM -Chapter 276 The Capture

Surely, these people hadn’t eaten in a long time. That dog of an official, Kong Xian, truly deserved his fate.

Yin Qingyue looked into their hungry, desperate eyes and ground her teeth with hatred for him.

At that moment, she noticed a woman and child at the very back of the group. The child clung to the woman, who looked barely alive. Yin Qingyue quickly fetched a few buns and a pot of water and went over.

She handed the buns to the child and the woman, saying, “Here, eat something.”

The child licked his lips and swallowed hard, taking the steaming bun. Just as he was about to bite it, he suddenly placed it in his mother’s mouth instead, saying, “Mother, you eat something. The Bodhisattva has come to save us.”

The woman slowly opened her eyes, saw the bun, and pushed it away. “Child, eat it yourself. I’m not hungry.”

Yin Qingyue hurriedly said, “Ma’am, please eat something. There’s plenty more.” She handed the remaining buns to the child. “Child, eat.”

Seeing so many buns was like seeing a lifeline. The woman gasped and thanked her, “Thank you, young lady. You will surely be rewarded for your kindness.”

“Ma’am, eat quickly,” Yin Qingyue urged.

The woman ate hurriedly, obviously having gone a long time without food.

Seeing this, Yin Qingyue couldn’t help but shed a tear. She quickly wiped it away, not wanting anyone to notice, and gave some buns to the elderly and children who couldn’t move. The scene was so pitiful it tugged at her heart.

Chu Jingcheng approached, noticing her eyes were wet. He raised a hand to wipe her tears gently and whispered, “If I had known, I shouldn’t have let you come.”

“If I hadn’t come, how could I have seen this world… it’s terrible.”

“But I don’t want to see you sad and hurt,” he said softly.

“This sadness isn’t for me—it’s for the refugees. Look at them, ruined by Kong Xian. If it were you and me in their place, we’d understand how painful it is,” Yin Qingyue said, unable to hold back her tears.

Chu Jingcheng pulled her into his arms and whispered, “I promise you, one day, I will protect the people of the realm. Such injustice will never happen again. Trust me.”

His words carried a deeper meaning—“to protect the people”—for who in the world could truly protect them but a sovereign?

Yin Qingyue pushed herself back, wiped her tears, and said, “I believe you.” She paused, then added, “By the way, many people are injured. I’m going to get medicine for them. Watch here; I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll send someone with you.”

“No need, I’ll be quick.”

Ignoring Chu Jingcheng’s protests, she left alone.

Not long after, Chu Jingcheng felt something was off. Could it be that she had gone after Kong Xian?

“Guards! Follow Miss Yin closely. Don’t let anything happen to her.”

“Yes, sir!” the guards replied and hurried after her. But Yin Qingyue had already mounted her horse and left; catching up would take time.

Chu Jingcheng worried but knew he had to attend to the refugees first.

Meanwhile, Yin Qingyue didn’t return to the county office. She had a premonition that Kong Xian had escaped north. She spurred her horse in pursuit.

Unexpectedly, she caught up. Kong Xian was fleeing in a carriage drawn by a single horse, loaded with gold, silver, and jewels.

Seeing pursuers, Kong Xian lashed the horse fiercely.

Yin Qingyue realized he would soon outrun her. She tore a bead from her waist and flicked it with precision at the horse pulling the carriage.

With a loud “THUD,” the horse collapsed, toppling the carriage, and Kong Xian tumbled to the ground in a miserable heap.

Quick as lightning, she tore another bead from her waist and flicked it at the head of the guard accompanying Kong Xian, hitting his temple. He fell from his horse and knocked into a tree, passing out.

Yin Qingyue dismounted and approached the fallen Kong Xian, pressing her foot onto him. “What now? Still want to run? You abandoned your wives and children—utterly heartless.”

Kong Xian, covered in dirt, pleaded, “Miss Yin, spare me! I won’t dare again! Please, I beg you!”

“Spare you? You’ve harmed so many, oppressed the people, and still have the nerve to ask for mercy? Even if you died a thousand times, it wouldn’t be too much,” she snapped.

“Yes, I deserve death! But I have wives and children! Please spare me! If you let me go, I’ll give you all my wealth!”

This angered Yin Qingyue further. She pressed harder with her foot. “You still don’t repent? You should be torn apart by horses.”

Kong Xian wailed, crying and begging. “Miss, I know you’re good. Take the gold and jewels—I swear to heaven I will do good from now on. I will never harm anyone again.”

“If I believed you, I’d be complicit in your crimes. Your death has come. You can’t escape. I will seek justice for the county’s people. If you live, it will be against heaven itself.”

Her eyes glinted with ruthless resolve, leaving no room for mercy.

Kong Xian realized his life was truly over. He had risen in power, yet was now defeated by a single woman.

The guards arrived and froze, stunned to see him under Yin Qingyue’s foot, still begging. They had heard he was skilled, yet a woman had pinned him down.

Yin Qingyue instructed them, “Bring this corrupt official before Prince Jing for judgment.”

The guards, snapping out of their shock, hurried to seize Kong Xian.

Yin Qingyue lifted her foot, relaxing, and turned to watch for Prince Jing.

Kong Xian, still unwilling to accept his fate, suddenly raised his hand. A silver needle shot toward Yin Qingyue.

At the last moment, she sensed the danger and swiftly dodged, the needle striking a nearby tree instead.

The guards, realizing this, beat Kong Xian mercilessly. “Dog of an official! Dying and still trying to harm others!”

Kong Xian could barely speak.

At that moment, Chu Jingcheng arrived, seeing the danger she had faced. His heart raced. He dismounted, rushing to embrace Yin Qingyue protectively.

Kong Xian, seeing Chu Jingcheng arrive, was beaten further and finally collapsed. He knew his life was finished.

Yin Qingyue felt the warmth and safety in Chu Jingcheng’s arms. She knew if she had been hurt, he would have been devastated.

“Yin Qingyue, do you want to make me worry to death? If something happened to you, I could never forgive myself,” he said, half scolding but full of concern.

“I’m fine, see? Don’t worry,” she said.

Chu Jingcheng slowly let her go, still anxious. “How could you come alone? If I hadn’t sent the guards, that needle might have hit you.”

“My body isn’t fully healed, and you have much to deal with. My abilities may not match yours, but I can help. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” she smiled, easing his concern.

Chu Jingcheng shook his head but felt reassured. He pinched her nose playfully. “Your abilities surpass mine. I doubt anyone in the world compares to you.”

“Such praise… I’m embarrassed,” she said.

He leaned close and whispered, “It’s okay to be embarrassed in bed too.”

Yin Qingyue pushed him away, laughing. “Go away, you biggest rogue in the world.”

The guards, seeing their teasing, turned away respectfully.

Chu Jingcheng held her again. “Promise me, no more taking risks. Even if you’re fearless, think of me—if something happened to you, I wouldn’t survive either.”

Yin Qingyue covered his mouth nervously. “No! You can’t say that. I won’t die, and you can’t fail either.”

Seeing her anxious, Chu Jingcheng smiled. “Yes, I’ll listen. No more talk.”

They shared a knowing smile, and he embraced her.

As for Kong Xian, he was thrown into prison, awaiting execution.

Chu Jingcheng wrote a letter to the emperor reporting the corrupt official. The palace soon received it.

The emperor had already heard rumors of corrupt officials in the county. Seeing Chu Jingcheng’s letter, he sighed.

Eunuch Sun said, “Your Majesty, Prince Jing has handled the corrupt official case smoothly.”

“Smoothly, yes. But that official was a talented scholar, skilled in both letters and martial arts. Who would have thought he would become corrupt? His downfall is deserved!” the emperor remarked.

“The matter is settled. What about that official?”

“Follow the law. Handle him accordingly.”

“Indeed, Your Majesty,” Sun agreed.

The emperor exhaled, a faint worry lingering. He had sent his son to the county to keep him away from Yin Qingyue, casually mentioning the corruption case. Who could have guessed Kong Xian was truly corrupt?

Chu Jingcheng had been injured, so he relied on Yin Qingyue to help tend to him.