MCSCPM -Chapter 344 The Plan Succeeds

Yin Qingyue had the guard spread the news. Before long, it stirred up a storm throughout the entire city, and she returned to the villa in high spirits.

Because the guard had already informed Chu Jingcheng of Yin Qingyue’s whereabouts, the worry weighing on his heart quickly lifted.
Seeing her come back, he immediately stepped forward and asked, “How did it go? What exactly did you say to Father Emperor? Why would he let you leave the palace?”

Yin Qingyue smiled. “Did you really plan to storm the palace to rescue me?”

“I was worried about you.”

“Don’t worry. Aren’t I standing right in front of you perfectly fine?” Yin Qingyue looked at him and continued, “Besides, it’s all over now. You don’t need to worry about my safety anymore.”

Although Chu Jingcheng let out a sigh of relief, his expression remained grave. He asked seriously, “Father Emperor isn’t the type to let things go so easily. What did you say to him?”

“I only told His Majesty that if he killed me, he would lose a son; if he spared me, he would gain a Prince Jing willing to serve him loyally—and then he would be known as a wise ruler.”

“You really said that?”

“If I hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t even have had a fifty percent chance. At least now, I won the bet—your father released me.” There was a hint of lingering fear in her words. After all, she had gambled with less than fifty percent certainty on whether Chu Helian was truly a wise ruler, and in the end, she won.

Chu Jingcheng was naturally surprised. In his impression, Father Emperor would never waver because of anything. Yet he never imagined that Yin Qingyue’s words would make him change his decision. Still, this was exactly the outcome Chu Jingcheng wanted.

Yin Qingyue took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s not mention this anymore. The most important thing now is Prince Yi.”

“You just went to Prince Yi’s residence. What happened?”

“I didn’t expect Shangguan Jiaoran to succeed. She added the few herbs I told her about into Prince Yi’s medicine. The imperial physicians have already examined him—the diagnosis won’t be wrong. And I’ve had the news spread. Prince Yi’s reputation is probably beyond saving now.” As she spoke, the corners of Yin Qingyue’s lips lifted—this was her way of venting the rage she had long held for Mei’er.

“Once your news is released, it’ll reach the palace.”

Yin Qingyue nodded. Her eyes suddenly turned sharp, her fists clenched tightly. “No matter what, Prince Yi can blame no one for ending up like this.”

“You mean Mei’er’s matter? Prince Yi killed someone—he won’t escape retribution.”

“Not entirely.” Yin Qingyue looked up at him, a trace of heartache in her eyes. “It’s also for you. He even dared to kill the second prince—someone who has lost all conscience like that doesn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy.”

“Sometimes I really wonder—if you were a man, what kind of person would you be?”

“Why say that all of a sudden?”

“Because you keep surprising me, again and again. You could easily drug Prince Yi in his own residence, and just as easily make Father Emperor stop troubling you. A woman like you is rare in this world.” He enunciated every word clearly.

Indeed, in Chu Jingcheng’s heart, there were very few people he admired. Yet Yin Qingyue had astonished him time and time again. If such a woman were a man, how terrifying would that be? In both strategy and intellect, none could compare.

Hearing this, Yin Qingyue lowered her head and smiled faintly. “You praise me too much. Compared to you, I’m nothing.”

“In my heart, you’re the best. No one can surpass you.”

Yin Qingyue said nothing, but her heart was deeply moved.

Both of them thought that if they could remain together for a long time in the future, it would be a blessing—a matter of fate.

---

Meanwhile, news that Prince Yi could not make women conceive spread rapidly. Before long, the entire capital—every street and alley—was buzzing with discussion. Adults and children alike talked about it with relish.

Once the news spread, it reached Consort Shu’s ears.

A eunuch reported everything to He Ningxiang in detail. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked all the tea ware off the table. It shattered messily across the floor.

“Nonsense! This is utter nonsense!” He Ningxiang was furious, deeply repulsed by such rumors.

The eunuch lowered his head and said, “Your Highness, the entire capital is already talking about it. It can’t be false. Moreover, the imperial physicians have examined Prince Yi—it is indeed the case.”

“Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Yi’er cannot afford to have something happen to him right now.” He Ningxiang was frantic.

The emperor had already bestowed a marriage. Now Prince Yi had such a problem—wasn’t this a slap in the emperor’s face? Not to mention Prince Yi’s dignity, even the emperor’s own face would be disgraced.

“Your Highness, should we send word to Prince Yi?” the eunuch asked.

“Send word? What word can be sent now? Yi’er has such an illness—what use would a thousand reminders from me be?”

“But this matter—”

“All of you, get out! Get out! I don’t want to see any of you!” she shouted.

“Yes…”

Everyone in the hall knew Consort Shu was in a rage. Naturally, no one dared to provoke her, and they all withdrew.

He Ningxiang was beside herself with anger. Being confined to the palace, unable to go out, made her even more anxious.

She paced back and forth in the hall several times when suddenly Chu Fengjiao’s voice came from outside. She rushed in, just as anxious as He Ningxiang.

As soon as she entered, she asked, “Mother Consort, have you heard? Imperial Brother, he—”

“That’s enough. Don’t mention it anymore. I already know,” He Ningxiang said coldly, her expression grim.

Chu Fengjiao said, “Mother Consort, how could Imperial Brother be so unfortunate? First, Father Emperor arranged a marriage for him, and now he’s gotten this illness. And Mother Consort, you’ve also been confined by Father Emperor.”

“I’m fine. It’s just your Imperial Brother… sigh.”

“Mother Consort, you must think of a way. Look—everyone in the capital knows now. Imperial Brother must be devastated.”

“Think of a way? What way is there now?” He Ningxiang was helpless.

Chu Fengjiao, being hot-tempered, saw that her mother had no solution and said, “If Mother Consort has no way, then I will. I’ll go find Father Emperor.”

She was about to run out when He Ningxiang grabbed her and scolded angrily, “You child, why are you so rash? Do you think going now will solve anything? It’s useless. Yi’er has this illness—only the imperial physicians can treat him. If you rush over like this, you’ll only anger your father. Do you want to be confined as well?”

Chu Fengjiao was bold, but she wasn’t foolish enough to provoke a tiger. Seeking trouble and ending up with a few slaps would hardly be worth it.

“But Mother Consort, you can’t just do nothing and not let me do anything either. You must help Imperial Brother.”

“I know. But for now, we can only wait and see—take things one step at a time.”

Chu Fengjiao’s face fell. Normally so domineering, she never imagined such a day would come: her mother confined, her imperial brother struck by disaster. The emperor would surely be deeply disappointed. Without these two pillars, what use was she, a princess?

Thinking this, Chu Fengjiao felt both worried and distressed.

---

Elsewhere, Prince Yi had just woken up, his head throbbing with pain.

When he opened his eyes, a guard stood beside him, pale with panic, his sword hand trembling.

Prince Yi glanced at him, then looked around the room. Yin Qingyue was already gone, and the imperial physicians had left as well.

“By the way, did the Divine Physician say anything before she left?” Prince Yi asked.

The guard lowered his head. “Your Highness, the Divine Physician left a prescription. She said it can cure Your Highness’s itching.”

“Only that? What about my other issue? Did she have a way to treat it?”

“Well… the Divine Physician didn’t say. The imperial physicians… didn’t say either.” The guard’s voice grew smaller and smaller, too frightened to lift his head.

Prince Yi sensed something was wrong and pressed on, “Why do you look like that?”

“Your Highness… n-nothing.”

“Speak at once!” Chu Yifeng suddenly roared.

The guard was so frightened that he dropped to his knees, trembling as he said, “Your Highness’s matter… now the entire capital already knows.”

“What did you say? Everyone knows that I’m incapable in that regard?”

“Your Highness, it definitely wasn’t me who spread it. I already warned everyone in the residence, but I don’t know why the news still leaked out. It truly wasn’t me.” The guard was shaking all over.

Chu Yifeng was utterly enraged. He stood frozen, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Only after collapsing into a chair did he finally fall silent.

Worried that something might happen to his master, the guard waited a while, then asked carefully, “Your Highness, what should we do now? Should I go out immediately and try to suppress the news?”

Chu Yifeng lowered his head and sighed. “Suppress it? How can it still be suppressed? The news is already out. By now, it’s probably reached Father Emperor. And even if it hasn’t, the imperial physicians… will certainly have reported it.”

“Then Your Highness, this—”

“Leave. I want to be alone.”

“Yes.”

The guard bowed and withdrew.

Fury burned in Chu Yifeng’s heart. He had to find a way to resolve this matter. His reputation absolutely could not be ruined like this.

But on the emperor’s side, the anger would be even greater—perhaps even more humiliating than what he felt himself.

---

At this moment, in the imperial palace—

Chu Helian had been admiring flowers in the imperial garden when the news reached him. He nearly slipped and fell to the ground, hardly believing his ears.

“What did you say? Say it again.” Chu Helian stared at the kneeling imperial physician and asked.

The physician reported truthfully, “Your Majesty, the Divine Physician and we officials all took Prince Yi’s pulse. It is confirmed beyond doubt. Prince Yi… is unlikely to have offspring.”

“Unlikely to have offspring? He is Prince Yi—he is my son—and you dare tell me this?”

“Your Majesty is wise. This humble servant would not dare deceive you in the slightest.”