MCSCPM -Chapter 305 The Odd-Job Maid

“You have a lot of nerve. Even if it were the emperor himself, he wouldn’t stop me from seeing my daughter. Step aside!”

The guards still refused.

“General Shangguan, you must understand, this matter is very serious. It has already been handed over to the Court of Justice. All you can do now is wait for news.”

“Wait for news? How long am I supposed to wait?”

The guard had no answer. They continued using Prince Jing as an excuse. Shangguan Qingyun could not see his daughter, and he didn’t know what to do. If he forced his way in, he would directly oppose Prince Jing, and his reputation would suffer in front of the emperor for defying the law. It was simply not worth it.

“General Shangguan, you should go back. Rest assured, we will not harm the young lady,” the guard said.

“You better listen carefully. If my daughter is harmed in the slightest, I will not forgive you.”

“General, we will take good care of her,” the guard promised.

Shangguan Qingyun had no choice but to leave. But he thought to himself: if anything happens to his daughter, this matter would not end here—Prince Jing would pay.

Meanwhile, because of Shangguan Qingyun’s earlier outburst, Chu Helian decided to summon Prince Jing into the palace.

Eunuch Sun was dispatched to deliver the order.

But Chu Jingcheng refused to go. If his father intended to harm Yin Qingyue, he would absolutely not enter the palace.

The palace guards knelt and said, “Prince Jing, the emperor has commanded that you enter the palace immediately. We are just following orders.”

Chu Jingcheng, already losing control of his emotions, slammed his cup to the ground and shouted, “I said I am not going into the palace! If any of you dare speak another word, I will take your heads!”

“But Your Majesty has issued a decree. If you do not go, it is defying an imperial order. Please do not make things difficult for us.”

“Do you believe me? Today, not only will I prevent you from reporting back, you won’t even leave my mansion alive!”

The guards trembled in fear, unable to lift their heads. “Yes, we will return to report immediately.”

“Go! Now!”

The guards hurriedly left Prince Jing’s mansion.

At this moment, Chu Jingcheng was consumed by rage, completely irrational. Otherwise, he would not have sent people to seize Shangguan Jiaoran without his father’s consent.

The atmosphere in the mansion was tense. Everyone knew Yin Qingyue had left, which was a major blow to Chu Jingcheng, so no one dared to speak or act recklessly.

The guards quickly returned to the palace to report to Eunuch Sun. Sun, trembling with fear, entered the study. “Your Majesty, the guards report that Prince Jing… cannot enter the palace at this time.”

“What do you mean ‘cannot enter’?”

“Your Majesty… I… I do not know,” Sun stammered.

Chu Helian frowned but grew slightly angry. What could be more important than entering the palace?

Although Sun didn’t say it, Chu Helian guessed: it was all because Yin Qingyue was sulking.

He knew his son’s temperament. This incident had shaken Chu Jingcheng deeply. For now, he would not enter the palace—not even at the risk of execution.

“Forget it,” Chu Helian thought. Yin Qingyue had already left; no one could influence his son now. Everything could go as it will.

As for searching for Yin Qingyue, they had looked for a long time with no results. That night passed with no news.

“She’s just a woman. Where could she possibly go?” Chu Jingcheng muttered.

Leng Feng replied, “Your Highness, we’ve searched many areas around the outskirts of the capital, but there is still no sign of Miss Yin.”

“Where could she possibly go? If she knew I was looking for her, she would have shown herself. As long as I am around, nothing will happen to her.”

“Your Highness, perhaps Miss Yin did not know you were concerned about her. She may have thought the emperor wanted to harm her, so she left the capital.”

“That’s true, but even if she left the city, she wouldn’t have gone far.” Chu Jingcheng paced back and forth, suddenly thinking she might have gone to Mei’er’s grave.

Leng Feng noticed. “Your Highness, have you thought of something?”

“Leng Feng, you and I will go to Mei’er’s grave immediately. Perhaps Yin Qingyue is there.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll prepare the horses at once.”

Leng Feng hurriedly prepared the horses. They rode straight to Mei’er’s grave.

When they arrived, there was nothing there. Leng Feng searched the surrounding area but found no trace of Yin Qingyue.

Chu Jingcheng, already despondent, could not imagine where she might have gone. Had she even abandoned Mei’er?

Leng Feng reported, “Your Highness, we searched the surrounding area. There is no trace of Miss Yin. She is definitely not here.”

Chu Jingcheng remained silent.

“Your Highness, perhaps we should return. Maybe Miss Yin has already come back.”

But Chu Jingcheng stayed where he was. According to Yin Qingyue’s nature, she would not leave until she discovered the real culprit behind Mei’er’s death. How could she leave without informing him?

If she hadn’t left intentionally, she could have gone to Ding Ying for help and hidden herself—but she did none of that. She left without a trace.

Chu Jingcheng was heartbroken. He did not realize how long he had been at Mei’er’s grave, nor how he returned to the mansion.

Now he understood Yin Qingyue’s dazed state after Mei’er’s death—he was experiencing the same feelings.

Leng Feng forbade anyone from disturbing his lord and even deployed more men to search the city for Yin Qingyue.

Yet seeing his lord in this state, Leng Feng hesitated. Eventually, he brought in food. “Your Highness, you should eat something.”

“Take it away.”

“Your Highness…” Leng Feng was distressed, worried.

At this moment, he noticed blood flowing from the wound on Chu Jingcheng’s arm. The cut had reopened. “Your Highness, your wound has reopened. Allow me to dress it.”

Leng Feng tried to tend the wound, but Chu Jingcheng hid his injured arm behind his back. Coldly, he said, “Out. I want to see no one.”

“Your Highness, your injury cannot be neglected.”

“Out.”

Chu Jingcheng was furious. If Leng Feng did not leave, he might strike him.

Yet Leng Feng worried for his lord and hesitated. In the end, he could only anxiously leave.

Chu Jingcheng stood, glared at Leng Feng, and said, “I know my injury. You need not concern yourself. It is late. You may leave.”

“Your Highness…”

“Out.”

Reluctantly, Leng Feng left, but his face showed deep concern. He remained outside, keeping watch.

Inside, it was silent. A man is not like a woman—he does not vent by breaking things.

Leng Feng stood guard all night.

The next day, he again brought food. Chu Jingcheng was still sitting in the same spot. Clearly, he had gone another night without rest.

Leng Feng silently prayed: Yin Qingyue, please come back quickly—for the sake of Your Highness, please come back.

“Your Highness, you haven’t eaten in a day. If you continue like this, you’ll collapse. Please, eat something. Otherwise, how can you have the strength to search for Miss Yin?”

Chu Jingcheng still did not speak.

Meanwhile, in a bustling inn, the back kitchen was busy. Several young maids were washing dishes.

Among them, a new maid with an unattractive appearance stood out. Upon closer look, it was Yin Qingyue.

She had disguised herself with makeup to hide her identity and had applied for work in the inn’s kitchen the day she left. Others found her ugly and assigned her menial tasks: washing dishes, carrying plates when there weren’t enough hands.

Now, in rough clothes and a coarse hat, she looked nothing like her true self.

There were two reasons for her departure. First, to secretly investigate the murderer who killed Mei’er. Second, to divert the emperor’s attention, preventing him from troubling Chu Jingcheng.

She had left in a hurry, notifying no one. She knew Chu Jingcheng would search for her, but she could not show herself.

“Have you heard?” a dishwashing maid asked.

Everyone looked curiously. “Heard what?”

“You mean about Prince Jing?”

“Yes, apparently, Prince Jing is acting strangely. He deployed all the mansion guards—no one knows why.”

“I heard he’s searching for something urgently, very worried, ordering it found as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I heard that too.”

“A relative of mine in the capital said the same. Prince Jing, originally in a county, suddenly returned to the capital with a certain female divine doctor. Then she went missing. Prince Jing became frantic and ordered searches everywhere.”

“Yes, looking for something? That must be a person. That female doctor is so beautiful, Prince Jing was captivated.”

The maids laughed, discussing Prince Jing with excitement.

But in Chu Jingcheng’s heart, there was only Yin Qingyue. No one else could fill that space. Even the prettiest women could not attract him.

Yet the maids still indulged in fanciful daydreams.

Only Yin Qingyue quietly washed dishes, as if their conversation did not concern her—but she listened to every word.