MCSCPM -Chapter 332 Rescued

“Don’t worry. The people from Prince Yi’s residence won’t catch up,” Ding Ying said.

Yin Qingyue had been lost in thought and had even forgotten that Ding Ying was sitting beside her.

She removed the veil from her face. Since Ding Ying had come, Yin Qingyue assumed she must already know who she was.

The moment the veil came off, Ding Ying recognized her at once and exclaimed happily, “Miss Yin, it really is you! Before coming, I wasn’t completely sure. Now that I see you, I’m finally relieved.”

Seeing how happy Ding Ying was, Yin Qingyue knew that during the time she had disappeared, Ding Ying must have been extremely worried.

“Ding Ying, how did you happen to come here? And how did you know I was here? Who told you?” Yin Qingyue asked.

Ding Ying’s expression suddenly turned troubled. She said, “Actually, it’s because Leng Feng was previously placed under house arrest by Prince Jing—supposedly to ‘face the wall and reflect,’ but in truth it was confinement. I was worried about Leng Feng, so I went to Prince Jing to plead for him. By chance, I overheard Prince Jing ordering his guards to keep watch over Prince Yi’s residence. I thought that since Prince Jing was making such a big move, it must be because of you. So I figured you might appear near Prince Yi’s residence. From that day on, I kept riding in a carriage around this area. I never expected it really would be you.”

Her words revealed just how clever Ding Ying was. It hadn’t been long since they last met, yet Ding Ying had become so perceptive.

But what caught Yin Qingyue’s attention was the mention of Leng Feng being confined. She looked at Ding Ying in shock and asked, “Ding Ying, you just said Leng Feng was put under house arrest by Prince Jing? What did he do? Why would Prince Jing confine him?”

“That… you’d better not know.”

“You’ve already said it—just tell me,” Yin Qingyue urged.

Mentioning Leng Feng clearly upset Ding Ying. Thinking of how Leng Feng had nearly been whipped still frightened her. After some thought, she decided to tell the truth. “Miss Yin, do you know? Prince Jing has practically gone mad trying to find you. Day and night, all he does is search for you. He won’t let go of even the slightest news about you. Leng Feng always knew where you were and kept stopping Prince Jing from going to find you. Prince Jing flew into a rage and almost had Leng Feng whipped. Thankfully, I arrived in time, so Prince Jing only placed him under house arrest.”

“So that’s how it is.” Yin Qingyue looked at Ding Ying, whose worried expression made her seem pitiful. She comforted her gently. “Ding Ying, don’t worry. Your health is what matters most. Prince Jing didn’t whip Leng Feng—he only confined him. He’ll be fine.”

Ding Ying nodded, then suddenly grabbed Yin Qingyue’s hand. “Miss Yin, let’s set Leng Feng’s matter aside for now. What do you plan to do next? Are you going to keep hiding like this forever?”

“Ding Ying, I don’t really have a choice,” Yin Qingyue said helplessly.

“I know—you’re doing all this for Prince Jing. But because of you, Prince Jing is now restless and even at odds with the Emperor.”

“You don’t need to worry about that,” Yin Qingyue said firmly. “Just remember—don’t mention today’s events to anyone. Pretend you never saw me. Since you already know I’m safe, you don’t need to worry about me anymore. Do you understand?”

Ding Ying hesitated, but in the end she had no choice but to agree. She sighed and said, “I just hope the situation stabilizes soon and the Emperor’s attention shifts elsewhere. That way, you can return to Prince Jing sooner, and the two of you can finally be together.”

Yin Qingyue smiled but said nothing. She couldn’t reappear yet—if people found out, both she and Prince Jing would be in danger.

After chatting a bit more, Ding Ying said, “Oh, right—Miss Yin, why don’t you come back to the Ding residence with me? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about you. If you stay at my home, I can take care of you.”

Yin Qingyue smiled. “You don’t need to worry about me. Just take good care of yourself. I already have a place to stay—safer than the Ding residence. Besides, I’m still in disguise, so no one will notice me. If I went to your house, people coming and going would draw attention.”

“But—”

“Alright, stop worrying about me. I’m not some fragile woman,” Yin Qingyue said with a light laugh.

Ding Ying didn’t press the matter further and asked, “Alright then. Where are you staying now? I’ll take you back.”

Yin Qingyue lifted the curtain and saw that they were almost at the inn. Not wanting Ding Ying to know and bring her trouble, she said, “No need to take me further. I’ll get off here. It’s already late—you should hurry back, or your father will worry.”

“But you’re alone—won’t it be dangerous?”

“It won’t,” Yin Qingyue said, poking her head out to signal the driver to stop. Before getting down, she told Ding Ying, “Remember—don’t tell anyone about today. When you return home, act as if nothing happened, alright?”

“Don’t worry, Miss Yin. I know what to do.”

Yin Qingyue nodded and got off the carriage.

She watched Ding Ying leave, though Ding Ying kept turning back to look at her until the carriage disappeared around the corner.

After that, Yin Qingyue returned to the inn. It was already late—if she came back any later, someone would surely notice. Besides, the people from Prince Yi’s residence might still be searching. If they caught her, escape would be difficult.

She quietly entered through the back door. The attendants and maids were already asleep. She hurried to her room, took off the woodcutter’s clothes, and sat before the mirror. Looking at her ugly, disguised face, she gently touched her cheek. Only once everything settled could she restore her original appearance—but who knew how long that would take?

Now that she knew Prince Yi was Mei’er’s killer, she had to use someone else’s hand to kill him. But that wouldn’t be easy. Where should she begin? How could she kill Prince Yi without anyone knowing, and avenge Mei’er?

As she was thinking, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Yin Qingyue thought it might be Xiao Huzi, coming to question her for returning late.

“Who is it?” she asked through the door.

A voice quickly replied, “Ugly girl, are you asleep? It’s Auntie.”

Hearing this, Yin Qingyue realized it was the auntie from the inn who transported firewood.

She relaxed and opened the door to see the auntie smiling. “Ugly girl, so you’re not resting yet.”

“Auntie, it’s so late—what is it?” Yin Qingyue asked.

“It’s just a small matter. I was supposed to deliver firewood to the Shangguan residence, but the girl who usually goes with me suddenly fell ill and hasn’t been able to get out of bed for two days. I see you don’t have much going on—why don’t you help me out? Come with me tomorrow to deliver the firewood. We’ll be back quickly.”

The Shangguan residence—Shangguan Jiaoran’s home.

At that thought, Yin Qingyue suddenly saw everything clearly.

“Well…” Yin Qingyue deliberately hesitated. “Auntie, you know I’ve been busy in the front hall these past few days. I’m afraid I don’t have time.”

“Don’t worry about that,” the auntie said quickly. “I’ve already spoken to the innkeeper. If you’re willing, he’ll let you go.”

“In that case, alright—I’ll help you,” Yin Qingyue agreed with a smile.

The auntie was delighted and grabbed her hand. “I knew you were kind, ugly girl. Unlike those other girls—I talked and talked, and they still wouldn’t go.”

Yin Qingyue merely smiled. She was also doing this for herself—the auntie had just given her a timely reminder.

“Auntie, it’s very late. You should go rest. I’ll go with you tomorrow,” Yin Qingyue said.

“Alright, you rest too. I won’t disturb you any longer,” the auntie said cheerfully as she left.

After closing the door, Yin Qingyue’s expression darkened instantly. She knew how to deal with Prince Yi now. Shangguan Jiaoran was about to become Prince Yi’s consort. If she wanted to deal with Prince Yi, she had to start with Shangguan Jiaoran. If she could use Shangguan Jiaoran’s hand to kill Prince Yi, she would eliminate both of them in one move.

The thought brought her some reassurance, though there would still be danger if anything went wrong.

The next day—

Yin Qingyue refreshed her disguise carefully. Shangguan Jiaoran recognized her—she absolutely couldn’t let her notice anything.

The auntie came early to call her. Carrying firewood, they headed for the Shangguan residence.

Along the way, the auntie repeatedly reminded her, “Ugly girl, once we’re at the Shangguan residence, don’t wander around. We can stay in the back courtyard. If you run around and get caught, the guards might even kill you. Just stay by my side and behave, understand?”

“Don’t worry, Auntie. I understand.”

“And another thing—we go in and come right back. If you see or hear anything, don’t go spreading it around, or you’ll get punished. Oh, and that Miss Shangguan—I’ve heard her temper is terrible. Even if you see her, don’t speak carelessly,” the auntie said nervously, afraid Yin Qingyue might make a mistake.

Yin Qingyue smiled. “Auntie, the woodshed is where people like us stay. How would Miss Shangguan ever come there? Even if I wanted to see her, I wouldn’t be able to.”

Only then did the auntie realize this and slapped her forehead. “Look at me—how silly. People like us could never meet Miss Shangguan.”

Yin Qingyue covered her mouth and smiled. In truth, the very reason she was going to the Shangguan residence was to meet Shangguan Jiaoran.

When the carriage arrived, the auntie knocked on the door. It opened, and a servant from the Shangguan residence came out. He was quite polite to the auntie.

“Auntie, you’re an hour earlier than usual today.”

“I was afraid of being late, so I hurried over,” she replied.

“Alright. Wait a moment—I’ll have people come unload the firewood,” the servant said before going back inside.

The auntie led Yin Qingyue in as well. With dozens of bundles of firewood to unload, it would take some time, so they sat in the back courtyard to wait.

Yin Qingyue asked softly, “Auntie, do you come to the Shangguan residence often?”

“Of course. I deliver all the firewood here. I recognize most of the people inside—just not the masters.”

“I see,” Yin Qingyue said with a smile.

Suddenly, the auntie grabbed her hand. “Look—this Shangguan residence is nothing like our inn. The back courtyard alone is so magnificent and splendid.”