MCSCPM -Chapter 303 Someone Disappears

Chu Jingcheng had thought Lan Rao came only to inform him about Yin Qingyue, but when he saw the worry on her face, he nearly guessed what had happened.

“Consort Lan, what is it?”

“Prince Jing… something’s wrong. The emperor has already sent troops to your private residence in the outskirts. They intend to kill Miss Yin.”

“Kill Yin Qingyue?” He suddenly stood up, anxious. “Is this true?”

“It’s absolutely true. The emperor just issued the order. The imperial guards are likely already on their way to the outskirts.”

“No!” Chu Jingcheng was extremely worried. He wanted to leave the palace immediately, but Lan Rao grabbed him.

She said, “If you try to stop them… your father—”

“I don’t care about my father. The only person I care about is Yin Qingyue.” With that, he immediately left.

Watching Chu Jingcheng’s retreating figure, Lan Rao was stunned. The emperor was cold-hearted, yet his son was completely devoted—just like Prince Jing’s own mother.

Soon, Chu Jingcheng rode out of the palace at full speed, ignoring his injuries. He was extremely worried. The imperial guards rarely acted in the outskirts, and even someone as skilled as Yin Qingyue would probably not be able to escape.

Along the way, his mind burned with anxiety. He wished he were already there.

Half an hour later, he arrived in the outskirts. Outside, the imperial guards had already surrounded the place.

Seeing Prince Jing, the guards bowed. “Greetings, Prince Jing.”

Chu Jingcheng’s heart surged with emotion. He grabbed one of the guards by the collar and shouted, “Where is Yin Qingyue? If you dare harm her, I’ll take your lives!”

The guards, highly trained, remained calm. “Your Highness, we were ordered by the emperor to arrest the divine doctor and execute her on the spot. But… the divine doctor is nowhere to be found.”

“What did you say?”

“When we arrived, the divine doctor was already gone.”

Gone? Yin Qingyue wasn’t here? Chu Jingcheng felt a sudden relief. Perhaps she had gone to the Ding residence.

But moments later, he felt something was wrong. He released the guard and rushed inside.

Inside, the guards had already searched thoroughly—there was no trace of Yin Qingyue.

Chu Jingcheng’s heart sank. He ran to the backyard, searching Yin Qingyue’s room. There, he saw that she had taken some of her clothes—clearly, she had already left.

Chu Jingcheng collapsed. The sense of grief struck him again. Yin Qingyue had disappeared once more.

“Yin Qingyue… did you think I couldn’t protect you? Or did you really want to leave me?” His eyes were filled with pain.

He slumped into a chair, pounding one hand heavily on the table, anxious and heartbroken.

He had brought her to Xize, yet she still left. He told her to wait for him, but she hadn’t. She just… left.

The loneliness and despair he felt were beyond words.

At this moment, Leng Feng arrived, even bringing Ding Ying. News of the emperor’s attempt to capture Yin Qingyue had spread quickly.

Seeing his prince slumped in despair, Leng Feng rushed forward, concerned. “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Chu Jingcheng looked at him, suddenly furious. “Where is Yin Qingyue? Didn’t I tell you to watch over her?”

“Your Highness… I am incompetent. I couldn’t protect Miss Yin. I only just learned and rushed over immediately,” Leng Feng said, looking innocent.

Chu Jingcheng had lost all reason. His face twisted with worry as he vented at Leng Feng.

“She left! She didn’t trust me, and just left! Am I really not worthy of her trust? How could she leave me so heartlessly?” His face was filled with anguish.

Leng Feng, being a man, didn’t know how to comfort him. He fretted helplessly, feeling guilty—if he had come sooner, or watched more closely, Yin Qingyue wouldn’t have left like this. He didn’t even know where she had gone.

Fortunately, Ding Ying thought more clearly. She stepped forward. “Prince Jing, don’t worry. I don’t think Miss Yin left because of you. She definitely doesn’t want to leave you. Look, the imperial guards are all searching for her. Maybe she already knew and left on purpose—this way, she won’t be captured! Isn’t that better?”

Ding Ying’s reasoning made sense. Yin Qingyue was clearly not the type to leave without saying goodbye. And from what they knew, she cared so deeply about Prince Jing—how could she willingly abandon him? It must be because of the imperial guards.

Chu Jingcheng forced himself to calm down, silently restraining his emotions.

“Leng Feng, I command you now—take men and find Yin Qingyue immediately. No matter how long it takes, bring her back.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will not fail you. I will find Miss Yin as quickly as possible.”

Chu Jingcheng’s face was icy, his body still recovering from the punishment. His lips were pale, and after riding at full speed from the palace, his body was exhausted. His injuries were likely reopening.

Seeing him like this, Ding Ying frowned.

Leng Feng led the guards to search for Yin Qingyue. Seeing Chu Jingcheng like this, Ding Ying couldn’t help but speak. “Prince Jing, I know you’re more worried about Miss Yin than anyone else. But think carefully—maybe not finding her isn’t bad. The imperial guards are searching for her; since she left, they won’t find her. Isn’t that good?”

Chu Jingcheng furrowed his brow, silent. He trusted her—he knew she wouldn’t be harmed. What worried him was not being able to find her.

Ding Ying pursed her lips. “If Miss Yin knew you came out of the palace injured, she’d be moved. Don’t worry—she’ll be fine.”

Now, Prince Jing was different from his usual cold self. Perhaps only for Yin Qingyue would he show such genuine emotion.

Ding Ying’s comfort barely reached him—he was consumed by worry.

After some time, news from the palace arrived. The imperial guards had immediately informed the emperor that Yin Qingyue was not at the residence.

Chu Helian didn’t speak, but his eyes darkened.

A guard asked, “Your Majesty, what shall we do now? Should we send someone to look for the divine doctor?”

“No need.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard immediately left.

Chu Helian had wanted to eliminate Yin Qingyue. Now that she was gone, it was better—he hoped she would never appear again. That way, he could avoid being called a tyrant.

But Yin Qingyue’s disappearance didn’t end everything quickly.

Chu Jingcheng ordered his guards to visit the Shangguan residence.

The guards from the Prince Jing Mansion went straight to Shangguan Jiaoran’s room and seized her.

Shocked, Jiaoran tried to resist. She even reached for her whip—but as a young woman, she couldn’t overpower the guards.

“Who are you? How dare you seize me? Don’t you know who I am? I’m General Shangguan’s daughter! Let me go!”

The guards remained stern. “We are acting under Prince Jing’s orders. Miss Shangguan, you’d better not resist, or we won’t be merciful.”

“Outrageous! Let me go!” Jiaoran struggled violently.

Yun’er quickly blocked them, panicked. “You can’t take my lady! Let her go!”

But the guards shoved her aside. Yun’er tried again, crying. “Who are you? Let my lady go! Don’t you know who she is?”

“We don’t know, but we are following orders.”

The guards ignored the young girl’s cries.

Jiaoran twisted and struggled. “Let me go! Let me go!”

As the guards tried to take her out, Shangguan Qingyun intervened.

Seeing his daughter seized, he immediately ordered his household guards to stop them.

“Release her! How dare you come here to seize someone? Release her all of you!” Shangguan Qingyun roared.

Although the guards were wary of him, they were acting under orders and refused to release her.

“General Shangguan, we have orders from Prince Jing to take Miss Shangguan to the Court of Justice for trial,” one guard said.

“Trial?” Shangguan Qingyun was confused. “What? What did my daughter do?”

“General Shangguan, your daughter killed someone and must be investigated at the Court of Justice,” the guard said.

Shangguan Qingyun was shocked. His daughter killed someone? Impossible—she could be spoiled, but not a murderer.

As a general, Shangguan Qingyun still maintained his dignity.

“My daughter would never do such a thing! Today, no one can take her! Even if it’s just a maid, no one can enter the general’s residence recklessly!” He immediately ordered his household guards: “Block them!”

The guards of the Shangguan residence blocked the main gate and held back the Prince Jing Mansion guards.

The tension was palpable, even with a hint of deadly intent.

“Father, save me! I didn’t kill anyone, really!” Jiaoran cried.

Knowing it was Prince Jing Mansion’s men coming under Prince Jing’s orders, Jiaoran’s heart sank. Her beloved was coming to seize her—and claimed she had killed someone. It was a matter of life and death. She was heartbroken and panicked.

Shangguan Qingyun looked at his daughter. “Jiaoran, don’t worry. I won’t let you suffer injustice. No one will take you today.”

Relieved that her father wouldn’t let her be harmed, Jiaoran calmed down.

Yet the guards from Prince Jing Mansion were seasoned fighters, and they showed no fear of the Shangguan guards. They faced the situation stoically.