MCSCPM -Chapter 301 Going to the Ding Residence

The next day.

Chu Jingcheng could not leave the palace, but fortunately, the emperor had not placed him under strict house arrest. So he summoned Leng Feng to come to the palace.

Leng Feng had only returned a few days ago and had originally planned to go to the outskirts of the capital. That was when he learned that Chu Jingcheng had been summoned to the palace by the emperor.

Upon arriving at the palace, he learned that Chu Jingcheng had been injured.

“Your Highness, what happened to you?”

“It’s nothing, just a minor injury,” he replied casually, as if nothing had happened.

“Your Highness, you cannot leave the palace?”

“If I could, would I have summoned you here?”

“Your Highness, do you have any instructions?” Leng Feng asked.

Chu Jingcheng looked at him, not in a hurry to give orders. Instead, he asked, “Have your injuries healed?”

Leng Feng felt touched and quickly said, “I’m much better now, no major issues. Your Highness need not worry. But as for you, with such serious injuries, if Miss Yin knew, she would certainly worry.”

“I summoned you because of that matter,” Chu Jingcheng said with a concerned expression. He sighed and continued, “I cannot leave the palace now, so I need you to watch over Miss Yin for me.”

“Ah, so Your Highness is concerned about her. I don’t think Miss Yin is fragile; you need not worry.”

“In the past, I wouldn’t have worried. But things are different now. Mei’er’s death has hit her hard. I fear she might do something rash. That’s why I had you brought into the palace—to watch over her. Any major or minor issue must be reported to me immediately. Understand?”

Leng Feng, knowing his lord’s concern, nodded. “Your Highness, rest assured. I will take care of her properly and report to you everything that happens.”

Chu Jingcheng’s expression showed some helplessness. His own injuries had not healed. Even if he could leave the palace, he didn’t want Yin Qingyue to see him in such a state and worry. It was better to stay in the palace until he recovered.

As Leng Feng left, he continued to worry about Chu Jingcheng’s injuries. “Your Highness, I know you were hurt in the county, and now the emperor has whipped you twenty times. Can you really endure it? I could secretly bring Miss Yin into the palace to tend to you—her medical skills are excellent. She would surely be able to heal you.”

Chu Jingcheng’s expression darkened, and he said sternly, “Did I not just say I don’t want her to worry? Doing so would only make her more anxious. Forget it. You leave the palace now and focus on watching over her.”

Leng Feng said no more and departed.

Chu Jingcheng worried for Yin Qingyue, but he did not want her to worry for him. Staying in the palace was still better than being secretly watched by the emperor’s men.

As soon as Leng Feng left the palace, he hurried toward the outskirts of the capital, but Yin Qingyue was nowhere to be found. The guards said she had gone to the Ding residence—so it was clear she was going to see Ding Ying.

It was fitting that the two women were together; they could talk, and they hadn’t met in a long time. But Leng Feng did not know that Yin Qingyue’s visit was not purely to see Ding Ying. She wanted to see whether Leng Feng was there.

Without a summons, the palace’s strict security meant she could not enter to see Chu Jingcheng or know the extent of his injuries. Only through Leng Feng could she learn something.

At the Ding residence, Yin Qingyue arrived. The young servant at the gate recognized her and did not stop her, bringing her straight inside.

Upon seeing Yin Qingyue, Xiang Xu became very excited. She rushed forward and said, “Miss Yin, it’s really you! You’ve come! This is wonderful—our lady has been thinking of you constantly.”

Yin Qingyue smiled slightly. “Where is your lady?”

“She’s inside. Xiang Xu will take you there.”

“Mm.” Xiang Xu led Yin Qingyue to Ding Ying’s room. Because Ding Ying had not been able to go out due to her asthma, she had remained inside embroidering. And indeed, she was still at it.

Yin Qingyue did not ask Xiang Xu to announce her presence, sending her away instead.

She quietly approached Ding Ying, who was embroidering a pair of shoes—a pair of men’s shoes.

“They’re really beautiful,” Yin Qingyue remarked.

Hearing the familiar voice, Ding Ying immediately looked up and saw Yin Qingyue standing behind her. Surprised, she smiled and set down the shoes, grabbing Yin Qingyue’s hands.

“Miss Yin? When did you return?”

Yin Qingyue said nothing, sitting down with her. “I returned yesterday. How are you feeling? Are you healed?”

“I’m much better. I was very worried about you. Hearing from Leng Feng about what happened in the county—I was terrified.”

“It’s fine now,” Yin Qingyue said with a slightly desolate tone.

Seeing her expression, Ding Ying asked, “Is this because of Mei’er?”

Yin Qingyue did not answer. Ding Ying continued, “I heard from Leng Feng… I didn’t expect that when she left, everything was fine. And now this…”

Yin Qingyue forced a smile. “Yes. Some things are just like that. You never know what will happen next. Just like Mei’er—before I could even see her one last time, she was gone.”

Her voice faltered slightly, but she restrained her emotions.

Ding Ying, perceptive, sympathized. “Miss Yin, don’t grieve. Once someone dies, they cannot come back. You must understand this.”

“I understand. Don’t worry. I’ve accepted it. But I still wonder—who would want to kill Mei’er?” Yin Qingyue’s brows knit.

Ding Ying looked puzzled. “Isn’t it already known? It was Shangguan Jiaoran.”

Yes, in theory, it was Shangguan Jiaoran. But Yin Qingyue had other thoughts. If that were the case, why was Mei’er cremated? Without clear evidence, it couldn’t be said for certain.

Seeing Yin Qingyue lost in thought, Ding Ying asked again, “Do you think it wasn’t Shangguan Jiaoran?”

“I’m not sure. The facts point to her, but whether it really was… I’m only guessing.”

“Miss Yin, listen to me. Whatever happens, Mei’er is already gone. You shouldn’t pursue this. You know Shangguan Jiaoran is Shangguan Qingyun’s daughter, the recognized Princess Consort of Prince Jing. She has many protecting her. Though it is a matter of life, reality has its hierarchy.” Ding Ying spoke earnestly, explaining the risks to Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue nodded in agreement, though her fists clenched involuntarily.

After a while, Yin Qingyue said, “Ding Ying, you don’t need to worry about this for me. I will handle it myself.”

“What will you do?”

“What can I do? But I’ve realized this—though Mei’er was just a maid, I treated her as my little sister. No matter what happens, I will seek justice for her.”

“Miss Yin, please don’t do anything foolish!” Ding Ying warned.

Yin Qingyue shook her head. “I won’t. I know my limits. You need not worry. By the way, how are your injuries? When we went to the county, there wasn’t time to tend to you properly.”

“I’m fine, much better now. But because I left secretly, my father confined me to the residence. I cannot go out. Most news comes from Leng Feng.”

Mentioning Leng Feng, Ding Ying’s lips curved into a smile as she glanced at the shoes she was embroidering.

Noticing her look, Yin Qingyue picked up the shoes, smiling. “Looks like you really intend to marry Leng Feng.”

“What?!”

“Really? If not, why make him shoes?”

Ding Ying snatched back the shoes, lowering her head, blushing. “No, I’m just practicing. I haven’t embroidered in a long time, so…”

“All right, I won’t tease you anymore.”

Ding Ying still smiled, burying her head in her arms, holding the shoes as if embracing Leng Feng himself.

Yin Qingyue sighed suddenly, speaking of Chu Jingcheng. “Now that Prince Jing is in the palace, who knows when he can leave. Honestly, I’m more worried about him than anything else.”

“What’s wrong with Prince Jing?”

“Leng Feng didn’t tell you?”

She shook her head. “He didn’t come today.”

“Oh…” Ding Ying sighed, looking outside. “The emperor knows Prince Jing returned to the capital without regard for the county people, so he had him summoned. The guards reported he was whipped twenty times. Now he’s recovering in the palace and cannot leave.”

At this, Yin Qingyue sighed. Ding Ying understood and comforted her. “Prince Jing will be fine. After all, he is the emperor’s son. The emperor wouldn’t truly harm him. After the lesson, it’s over.”

“Hopefully…”

For some reason, Yin Qingyue felt uneasy, as if something was about to happen, though she couldn’t predict what.

At this moment, Ding Ying handed her a handkerchief. “Miss Yin, I made this for you. It was finished before you returned but I hadn’t had the chance to give it to you.”

It was a purple handkerchief, embroidered with a jasmine flower—beautiful.

Yin Qingyue accepted it happily. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Ding Ying.”

“You don’t need to thank me. You took care of me all the way, and you helped find Leng Feng. I should be the one thanking you. This handkerchief suits you perfectly.”

“Indeed, I really like it.”

At that moment, Leng Feng arrived. Seeing Yin Qingyue there, he was relieved.

Seeing him holding his sword, Yin Qingyue assumed his internal injury had mostly healed. “Leng Feng, why are you here? Are you feeling better?”

Leng Feng smiled sheepishly. “Much better. Don’t worry, Miss Yin. See? Strong as ever.” He lightly tapped his chest.

Ding Ying quickly grabbed his hand. “Enough. Stop showing off. Your injury is far from healed.”

“Ding Ying, I really am fine now.”

“You may fool others, but not me. I know the severity of your injury better than anyone. Don’t do this again.”

“All right, all right, I know. I’ll listen to you.”

Their teasing and playful banter made them seem like a loving couple. Seeing them now, Yin Qingyue was comforted—her efforts to help Leng Feng had not been in vain.

Noticing Yin Qingyue still there, Leng Feng lightly cleared his throat. Ding Ying understood and fell silent.