MCSCPM -Chapter 31 Punishment for Leaving Without Permission

Nanny Zhao’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint. “If that’s what you say, then I really ought to keep a close eye on you. You’re still young—if I don’t give you a proper lesson, how could I possibly face His Majesty? Guards, slap this ugly woman across the mouth!”

Yin Qingyue smiled faintly, as if Nanny Zhao were not targeting her at all. “If there must be punishment, then so be it. I just wonder—who will bear the consequences in the end?”
Nanny Zhao was startled and thought to herself: If this ugly woman’s backing is real, then…

After thinking it over again and again, Nanny Zhao looked at Yin Qingyue and said, “Even if you didn’t go out to fool around with men, you are still a sacrificial offering. You dared to leave without permission—would your maid not know? If she knew, then she concealed it and failed to report it. What’s more, women in Luochen Courtyard are forbidden to step outside for life, except on the day of the sacrifice!”

“Guards!” Nanny Zhao changed her tone and ordered the soldiers around her, “Bring Mei’er here!”

Anger flashed in Yin Qingyue’s eyes—this vicious servant was taking her anger out on Mei’er!

The guards acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.

Xing’er watched their retreating figures, a trace of smugness flashing across her lips. Hmph, no matter how capable you are, Yin Qingyue, let’s see how you protect your maid now.

Before long, Mei’er was brought in. Her hands were bound by the guards, and a cloth was stuffed into her mouth.

With a dull thud, Mei’er was forced to her knees on the ground.

“How bold! Which lowly servant stuffed cloth into Mei’er’s delicate little mouth?” Nanny Zhao narrowed her eyes, then glanced at Yin Qingyue. “Unfortunately, even with her mouth stuffed, words still leak out. Otherwise, how would I know that Miss Yin went out—to Jiupin Pavilion?”

Yin Qingyue shot Nanny Zhao a sharp look. She knew Mei’er well—how could Mei’er betray her? Besides, Nanny Zhao had just said Mei’er knew but failed to report it, and now she was saying this—wasn’t that a contradiction?

Hearing Nanny Zhao’s words, panic filled Mei’er’s eyes. She shook her head desperately at Yin Qingyue, crying out silently, Miss, it definitely wasn’t Mei’er who told!

Yin Qingyue looked at Mei’er and signaled with her eyes: Of course I believe you. This is clearly Nanny Zhao sowing discord.

The cloth was removed from Mei’er’s mouth. She cried out, “Miss…”—yet a thousand words were stuck in her throat.

Understanding Mei’er’s feelings, Yin Qingyue nodded at her.

Seeing Mei’er signaling to Yin Qingyue, Nanny Zhao pinched Mei’er’s cheek and said, “Since you knew your miss went to Jiupin Pavilion, why didn’t you report it to me? Why did you wait until I had to beat it out of you before confessing?”

“Tsk, tsk…” Nanny Zhao stroked Mei’er’s little face, squinting her eyes. “Look at this face… I really can’t bear to do it.”

“Let her go!” Yin Qingyue’s eyes were filled with icy coldness. She knew very well that Mei’er had no idea she had gone to Jiupin Pavilion. Even if Nanny Zhao knew, it definitely wasn’t because Mei’er reported it.

“Speak! What did your miss do at Jiupin Pavilion?” Nanny Zhao completely ignored Yin Qingyue’s words, pretending she hadn’t heard them at all.

Yin Qingyue struggled to stand, suppressing her fury as she watched what Nanny Zhao planned to do next.

“I don’t know—I really don’t know!” Mei’er looked at Nanny Zhao, her eyes full of pleading. She truly didn’t know where Yin Qingyue had gone, let alone what she had done.

Nanny Zhao glanced at Yin Qingyue and deliberately said to Mei’er, “Your miss may not know the rules here, but you’re a servant—don’t you know them either? Is this how you take care of your miss?”

“A maid like you, who doesn’t even know what her miss went to do—what use are you?” After speaking, Nanny Zhao waved her hand at the guards.

Immediately, a torture device was brought out: a bamboo finger press. Two people pulled from either side, placing the fingers in the middle to inflict cruel punishment.

Yin Qingyue had seen this device in modern TV dramas, but she never imagined she would see it in person.

She remembered how those subjected to it would scream in agony, wishing for death. Looking at Mei’er—normally gentle and delicate—who had followed her like a sister and never suffered hardship, how could she possibly endure this?

The torture device was set up. The guards and Xing’er stood by, waiting eagerly for a grim spectacle.

Nanny Zhao glanced at Yin Qingyue. Knowing how deep the bond was between Yin Qingyue and Mei’er, she decided to exploit this weakness to force Yin Qingyue into submission.

Mei’er’s face turned pale as she stared at the device, then she begged loudly, “Nanny, Mei’er truly doesn’t know! Please, Nanny, spare Mei’er!”

Nanny Zhao said coldly, “Hmph! Then you should tell me your miss’s whereabouts. Stop being stubborn! You’re just a servant—no one will pity you. Think for yourself!”

Inwardly, Nanny Zhao sneered: Let’s see just how deep this master–servant bond really is!

Yin Qingyue looked at the guards around her. More than a dozen surrounded her. If a fight broke out, though her body was weak, these guards might not necessarily be her match.

By now, Mei’er had been dragged to the device, her hands already placed inside it.

“Do it.” Nanny Zhao signaled the guards to proceed. Two guards pulled hard on the ropes at either end.

“Ah—!” A piercing scream rang out, and Mei’er collapsed unconscious onto the ground.

“What a useless maid! Guards, fetch water and wake her up!” Nanny Zhao commanded.

Soon, a guard brought a bucket of water and poured it over Mei’er’s body.

Mei’er slowly opened her hazy eyes, choking as she coughed, her face turning deathly pale.

Seeing Mei’er awaken, Nanny Zhao glanced at Yin Qingyue. Noticing her tightly furrowed brows, a smug smile flickered across Nanny Zhao’s lips. She turned back and shouted to the guards again.

“Do—”

Before the word punishment could be finished, a hairpin flew through the air, shooting straight toward Nanny Zhao’s face!

“Aah!” A sharp pain exploded across Nanny Zhao’s cheek. She clutched her face, feeling warm moisture beneath her hand.

Opening her palm, she saw a splash of crimson blood, stabbing painfully at her eyes. On the ground lay a yellow jade hairpin, perfectly still, as if nothing had happened.

Nanny Zhao looked around and saw Yin Qingyue already standing, her eyes blazing with fury.

“You—how dare you! You actually ambushed me with a hairpin? Are you tired of living?” Being struck in front of everyone made Nanny Zhao lose all face.

Yin Qingyue stood there, looking at Nanny Zhao’s bloodied face. “Nanny, you’ve gone too far. Time and again you’ve targeted us—what are your intentions? Just because I don’t want to argue doesn’t mean I’ll endure endlessly!”

Furious, Nanny Zhao shouted at the guards, “Why are you standing there? Seize her!”

The guards were stunned. Among so many sacrificial women, this was the first who dared oppose Nanny Zhao.

The sudden turn of events left everyone momentarily frozen.

Only after hearing Nanny Zhao’s command did the guards snap out of it and rush toward Yin Qingyue.

Yet Yin Qingyue stood there coldly, murderous intent surging from her. The aura alone forced the guards to step back several paces.

“Useless!” Nanny Zhao screamed angrily. “Grab her, now!”

Yin Qingyue had no intention of killing anyone. This was no ordinary place—if someone died, it would surely alarm the Emperor, and no matter the outcome, it would end badly. She only wanted to teach Nanny Zhao a lesson, not attract imperial attention.

She dashed toward Nanny Zhao, snatching up the yellow jade hairpin from the ground with lightning speed, and lunged at Nanny Zhao’s face again. “Do you believe I could make it so no one would ever recognize you?”

Nanny Zhao didn’t even see how Yin Qingyue reached her—only felt the hairpin rushing toward her cheek.

“W-wait…” Terrified, Nanny Zhao staggered back several steps and waved frantically, signaling the guards to withdraw.

“Release Mei’er immediately!” Yin Qingyue said coldly.

Xing’er had already retreated several meters away—she wanted no part in any bloodshed.

“Quickly… release Miss Mei’er!” Nanny Zhao hurriedly ordered.

The guards immediately pulled Mei’er away from the device and untied her hands.

Mei’er was utterly shocked. She hadn’t even seen clearly how Yin Qingyue moved so fast.

Is this really Miss?

“Miss!” She called out weakly, then collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Yin Qingyue withdrew her hand from Nanny Zhao’s throat. The icy glare in her eyes left Nanny Zhao too frightened to utter a word. Afterward, Yin Qingyue walked over to Mei’er, helped her up, and slowly led her back to their room.

No one dared to stop her—not even Nanny Zhao.

Inside the room, everything was in disarray. Yin Qingyue gently laid Mei’er on the bed. Seeing her frown faintly, she realized Mei’er was injured.

Pain filled Yin Qingyue’s heart, along with deep guilt. If not for me, Mei’er wouldn’t have suffered like this.

She hurriedly searched for hemostatic herbs, crushed them, applied them to Mei’er’s wounds, and tucked her in. Only after seeing Mei’er fall into a peaceful sleep did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Once everything was done, exhaustion washed over her. Her body hadn’t fully recovered, and she had no strength left. This reminded her of the medicine she’d thrown outside the courtyard—she’d need to find a way to bring it inside.

Luochen Courtyard was in turmoil, and elsewhere in Xize Capital, an inn was equally unsettled—though in a different way.

Leng Feng looked at the man seated at the head, calmly sipping tea, and couldn’t help asking, “Your Highness, aren’t you curious about that ugly woman?”

The man paused slightly in his tea-drinking. “What this prince wants to know most is the bold woman outside the city.”