MCSCPM -Chapter 309 Unbearably Itchy

The guards glanced secretly at their prince’s expression, then quietly withdrew.

Chu Yifeng, though appearing leisurely and carefree, had already made up his mind: if that woman dared to say anything, he would handle it himself.

What Chu Yifeng didn’t know was that that very night, Yin Qingyue had gone out. She visited an apothecary and asked the shopkeeper to prepare some herbs for her.

The shopkeeper said, “Miss, these herbs can’t be used in excess, or there could be trouble.”

Yin Qingyue naturally understood. She smiled. “By the way, shopkeeper, please also give me some red Gongzi.”

“Red Gongzi? What do you need this for?” The shopkeeper asked.

Yin Qingyue didn’t answer. She pulled a silver ingot from her waist and placed it in front of him.

“Just prepare the herbs for me,” she said.

Seeing the silver, the shopkeeper didn’t ask any further. He immediately packed the Red Gongzi for her with a smile. “Miss, come again next time.”

Taking the herbs, Yin Qingyue didn’t linger. Time was tight; she needed to return to grind them into powder.

Back in the inn’s rear courtyard, she locked herself in her room. By candlelight, she crushed the two herbs she had just gotten until they became fine powder.

Separately, the two herbs were weak, but mixed together, their effect was strong and undetectable. Anyone who came into contact would break out in red spots and unbearable itchiness.

After packing the powder into her sleeve, she left the inn, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

Yin Qingyue then went straight to Prince Yi’s residence. She could not tolerate today’s humiliation. Prince Yi had deliberately sought to target Chu Jingcheng; this herb, though non-lethal, would make him temporarily incapable of harming Prince Jing, letting her get revenge for today—a perfect two-for-one plan.

Outside the residence, guards blocked every entrance. Though she could have dealt with the two at the front gate, any noise might draw attention, and she could be captured.

Thinking quickly, she decided to use the back entrance.

The back door was locked, but someone had to be inside. Carefully, she knocked. After a long wait, a young maid opened it—perhaps she was assigned to watch the back door that night.

The maid was startled by Yin Qingyue’s appearance. At night, dressed so plainly and ugly, anyone would be scared.

“Y-You… who are you looking for?” The maid’s eyes held fear, her hands ready to slam the door shut at any moment.

Yin Qingyue peeked inside, ensuring no one else was present, then said deliberately, “I’m here to deliver something to your residence.”

“Deliver something? Don’t deliveries usually happen during the day?”

“I wouldn’t know. Just come take a look—here.” Yin Qingyue pointed casually, luring the girl out so she could act.

The maid, easily deceived, immediately stepped forward, peering toward the spot Yin Qingyue had indicated. It was pitch black—nothing there.

As the maid turned to ask, Yin Qingyue struck the back of her neck with force.

“You—” The maid didn’t even finish her sentence before collapsing.

Yin Qingyue had no choice but to act. She dragged the maid aside, removed her outer garment, and put it on herself. “Don’t blame me. Blame your prince—he provoked me too far,” she muttered.

Ready, Yin Qingyue slipped into Prince Yi’s residence. Dressed as a maid, and with so many maids around, no one noticed her. At night, with her head lowered, hardly anyone recognized her.

Soon, she sneaked to Prince Yi’s bathing area unnoticed.

Steam filled the room. The bath was enormous and luxurious—Prince Yi certainly spared no expense.

The water was hot. Yin Qingyue realized he would soon bathe—a stroke of luck.

Cautiously, she retrieved her powdered herbs and sprinkled them into the bath. The powder dissolved instantly, leaving no visible trace.

“Prince Yi, blame yourself. You should never have provoked the wrong person,” she muttered under her breath.

Her implicit meaning was clear: as a divine healer, she could render anyone helpless with just a bit of medicine.

To avoid discovery, she quickly left. On her way out through the back, she encountered the patrol guards of the residence.

Perhaps her hurried steps seemed suspicious, and one called out, “Wait! Where are you rushing off to?”

Yin Qingyue stopped, remaining calm. “I’m not panicking—just have unfinished chores.”

“At this hour? What chores?”

“The kitchen still needs cleaning. Must hurry.”

The guard scrutinized her but didn’t press further; it was late, and he preferred to avoid trouble. “Fine, fine. Go on then.” He gestured impatiently, and he and his patrol left.

Yin Qingyue shook her head at how lax the guards were—compared to Prince Jing’s residence, it was night and day. Fortunately, she wasn’t discovered.

She exited quickly. At the back entrance, she returned the maid’s clothes, put them on her, and quietly left—unnoticed.

Meanwhile, Chu Yifeng entered the bath, completely unaware that Yin Qingyue had already visited.

As usual, he soaked for a while. Soon, he felt his back itching. Scratching it lightly, he didn’t think much of it.

After bathing, he returned to his room. The potent herb mix wouldn’t take full effect immediately—it would peak the next morning. Oblivious, he slept soundly.

At the inn, Yin Qingyue returned. She ran into another girl who had bathed that day.

“Where have you been? Why are you just back now?” the girl asked.

Yin Qingyue shook her head. “Nowhere.”

“I saw you return from outside. Were you scared by what happened today?”

Yin Qingyue nodded. “Yes. It’s the first time I’ve faced something like that—I was really frightened.”

“That’s true. That Prince Yi is so cruel!” The girl immediately covered her mouth, glancing around nervously. “Luckily no one heard, or he’d have my tongue cut out too.”

Yin Qingyue laughed at the girl’s nervous sweat. “Don’t worry. No one will cut your tongue.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because…” She didn’t say the full truth: when Prince Yi woke up the next morning covered in red spots, he would have no time to bother with anyone else. Instead, she just said, “Anyway, no one will cut your tongue. It’s late—go back to your room.” She then went inside herself, ignoring her.

That night, Yin Qingyue rested well, anticipating the commotion at Prince Yi’s residence the next morning.

The Next Morning

Chu Yifeng woke up, itching all over. Sitting up in bed, he hadn’t even dressed and shouted, “Someone! Quick, come in!”

Two maids attending him rushed in. “We’re here, Your Highness.”

“What’s happening? Why am I so itchy?”

The maids looked at him in horror, stepping back, mouths agape. “Your Highness… you…”

“You what?” Chu Yifeng snapped.

“Your face… your neck…” The maid was too frightened to finish.

Suddenly realizing something, Chu Yifeng rushed to a water basin and looked in. His face and neck were covered in red spots. Rolling up his sleeves, he saw that his arms were also affected.

Shocked, he knocked the basin over, shouting, “What on earth is happening?!”

The crash terrified the maids. They fell to their knees, crying, “Your Highness, spare us! We don’t know!”

“Go fetch the doctor! All of you, out!”

Terrified, the maids ran for the doctor.

Chu Yifeng grew frantic. Being like this, he couldn’t leave the residence or handle affairs. Something had caused this, but he was always careful—how could it happen?

The doctor examined him, puzzled. After taking his pulse for a long time, he couldn’t determine the cause. “Your condition… I cannot diagnose yet. But I can prescribe something to relieve the itching temporarily.”

Chu Yifeng’s expression darkened. “You can’t diagnose? Then what good are you?”

“Please spare me, Your Highness. I’ve practiced medicine for decades and never seen such a case. Observation may help determine the cause eventually,” the doctor said cautiously.

Chu Yifeng, though furious, realized he had no choice. “Fine. I’m itching all over. Prescribe the remedy quickly.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The doctor hurried off to prepare the prescription.

Chu Yifeng’s whole body was unbearably itchy, yet he struggled to restrain himself from scratching, enduring the torment.