MCSCPM -Chapter 339 Heading to the Inn

Chu Ling laughed heartily and decided to stop teasing Hai Qingshuang. Glancing at the time, he realized it was almost time to return to the palace—he didn’t want to anger the emperor and inadvertently cause trouble for his mother.

“All right, I won’t joke with you anymore. It’s late; I should be going,” Chu Ling said.

He began walking toward the exit of the annex, but Hai Qingshuang suddenly called out, “Prince Ling, wait…”

Chu Ling stopped and turned. “What is it? Something wrong?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Hai Qingshuang opened and closed her mouth several times but couldn’t speak. The words were there, on the tip of her tongue, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to say them. Finally, she whispered, “It’s nothing.”

“All right, then I’ll go ahead,” Chu Ling said, lifting his foot to leave.

Hai Qingshuang stayed in place, pursing her lips. The words in her heart remained unspoken—she simply didn’t have the courage. Was it her pride that held her back?

Shaking her head, she decided she had lingered long enough to avoid worrying her father. She left the annex, boarded the Hai family carriage, and returned home, though her mind was restless the entire journey.

Prince Ling had finally returned to the capital, and she had looked forward to seeing him every day. Today, she finally did—but still couldn’t say what she truly felt.

Meanwhile, Chu Jingcheng arrived at the inn. He had brought no guards and entered alone. Placing a silver ingot on the innkeeper’s counter, he said coldly, “Have everyone leave. I’m renting the whole inn.”

The innkeeper had been counting money. Seeing the silver ingot and realizing who was standing before him—Prince Jing—he nearly fainted.

“P-Prince Jing?”

“I won’t repeat myself. Rent the entire inn and make sure all outsiders leave immediately,” Chu Jingcheng said sharply.

The innkeeper, terrified, hurriedly summoned the staff and ordered all the guests to leave.

However, the waiter hesitated. “Boss, I don’t think this is easy…”

“That’s Prince Jing. Don’t question it. Forget the payment—just get them out!”

The waiter had no choice but to comply. After a great effort of persuasion, all the guests were escorted out.

Now, only Chu Jingcheng remained in the inn. He called the innkeeper over.

“Gather everyone inside here,” he ordered.

“Prince Jing, what are you planning?”

“Just do as I say,” Chu Jingcheng replied coldly.

The innkeeper quickly summoned all the staff—the kitchen assistants and maidservants came forward, trembling. Everyone kept their heads down, holding their breath. Something important must have happened for Prince Jing to take such drastic measures.

Chu Jingcheng scanned the crowd carefully. Among them, there was no one who looked particularly ugly. The so-called “ugly girl” was nowhere to be seen.

The innkeeper noticed Prince Jing searching the crowd but didn’t dare ask.

Seeing no sign of the ugly girl, Chu Jingcheng asked the innkeeper, “Is there an ugly girl here at this inn?”

“Ugly girl?” The innkeeper was stunned. Could it be that the prince had come looking for a girl simply because she was called ugly?

The innkeeper hesitated, then lied gently: “Prince Jing, we’re a small inn. There’s no such girl here.”

Chu Jingcheng frowned. The innkeeper looked nervous. He realized the man was hiding something and said sharply, “No? Think carefully. This girl owes me something important. If you don’t tell me the truth, watch your head.”

The innkeeper trembled violently. “Prince Jing, I… I didn’t mean to hide it. Actually… there is an ugly girl. Everyone calls her the ugly maid. Though she’s plain, she never does anything wrong. If she offended you, I hope you can show leniency.”

“When did it become your business to lecture me? I’ll handle her myself.”

“Yes… I understand,” the innkeeper said quickly.

“Where is this girl now?” Chu Jingcheng demanded sternly.

“She’s not back yet. She’s out running errands, and we don’t know when she’ll return. But if she really owes you something, Prince Jing, you could search her room—you might find it,” the innkeeper suggested.

Chu Jingcheng smiled slightly. That was a good idea. Standing, he said, “Fine. I’ll go to her room. Take me there.”

The innkeeper bowed deeply. “Yes, yes. I’ll take you now.”

Following the innkeeper, Chu Jingcheng arrived at Yin Qingyue’s room. Though he hadn’t entered yet, he already knew—this “ugly girl” was indeed Yin Qingyue.

“You don’t need to follow me inside. Stay outside, and if she returns, don’t reveal that I came,” Chu Jingcheng instructed.

“Yes, I understand,” the innkeeper said.

“Go now.” Chu Jingcheng said coldly.

The innkeeper left to wait in the courtyard, while Chu Jingcheng pushed open the door and entered Yin Qingyue’s room, shutting it behind him. The room was simple but tidy, perfectly fitting her modest style.

He scanned the room and began rummaging through her luggage. Picking up her clothes and smelling them, he smiled. “So it really is you, Yin Qingyue. You’re here. I finally found you. Now I’m here, and you won’t escape me.”

He sat down, full of joy and anticipation, waiting for her to return. After searching so long, she had hidden herself in the capital, disguised in plain clothes, working in the inn as a maid—she really knew how to hide.

At that moment, Yin Qingyue had just returned from outside. Upon reaching the door, she sensed something was off. The inn should have been lively, but now it was eerily quiet.

Something must have happened. Entering, she saw the innkeeper’s troubled face.

“What’s going on?” she asked, concerned.

Seeing her, the innkeeper ran over. “Ugly maid, have you offended someone?”

“Offended someone? Who would I offend?” Yin Qingyue looked puzzled. She hadn’t done anything recently.

“You may not realize it, but you’ve angered someone important. That person is searching your room for something you ‘stole.’ Hurry and make amends!” The innkeeper was panicking; if anything happened to her, he’d be in trouble too.

Yin Qingyue was bewildered. Stealing? She had never stolen anything. Could it be Prince Ling again? He had followed her to the inn before—could it really be him this time?

She was still thinking when the innkeeper pushed her. “Go quickly. Don’t waste time. If something happens, the whole inn will suffer because of you.”

“Who is it that has you so worried?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about that now. Just go,” the innkeeper urged.

Following Prince Jing’s orders, he didn’t reveal the man’s identity and guided Yin Qingyue to the back room, whispering, “Ugly maid, if you’ve taken something from him, return it. Don’t offend this person—you can’t afford to.”

Yin Qingyue was confused but complied. The innkeeper left, returning to the front courtyard.

Just as she was about to open the door, she sensed something wrong. A flash of intuition hit her. If it were Prince Ling, he wouldn’t be so secretive or cause such a stir in the inn. Could it be Prince Jing?

Her whole body tensed, and she stepped back.

Chu Jingcheng, who had already been alert to movement outside, saw her retreat and immediately opened the door. With one hand, he pulled her inside and quickly shut the door behind them.

The action was so swift that Yin Qingyue didn’t even react in time.

Surprised, she looked at Chu Jingcheng as he pressed her against the door and kissed her fiercely.

She was completely stunned, standing there dumbfounded while he vented his anger through the kiss. She knew he was angry, which was why he acted this way.

When Chu Jingcheng finally calmed, he released her but held her wrist tightly, his gaze cold. “Yin Qingyue, are you planning to disappear forever? Will you never show yourself again?”

“Why are you so angry, Prince Jing?”

“I’m not just angry. I’ve been worrying about you constantly. You left without a word—don’t you realize I turned the entire capital upside down looking for you?” he said, anger laced with concern.

Yin Qingyue smiled lightly. “If you searched the entire capital, how could you not find me?”

“You dare talk back to me,” he said.

“I wouldn’t dare,” she replied.

“I don’t think it’s daring. You know I can’t do anything to you,” Chu Jingcheng’s tone softened slightly, his expression relaxing.

Yin Qingyue pushed him gently. “Prince Jing, now isn’t the time for you to find me.”

“I know what you’re worried about,” he said, looking seriously into her eyes. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you—not even Father.”

“You would defy your father’s orders for me?”

“For you, I’ll do anything,” he said, holding her hand tightly. “Yin Qingyue, listen. If you disappear again, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life.”