MCSCPM -Chapter 35 The Prince Arrives at the Fallen Dust Courtyard

“How could Your Highness think that way? How could there be any women in the Fallen Dust Courtyard who don’t follow the rules?” Zhao Mama said with a forced smile. Yet her heart wavered with guilt, and her words lacked conviction.

Nangong Chen had grown up in the palace and had long mastered the art of observing all directions and listening to every sound. Zhao Mama’s guilty demeanor naturally did not escape his notice.

He narrowed his long phoenix eyes. Rage surged within him, yet his face bore an inscrutable smile. Who would have thought that a trip meant merely to clear his mind would bring such an unexpected gain?

“You’d better think carefully before answering,” Nangong Chen said lightly. “The Fallen Dust Courtyard concerns the very lifeline of Western Ze. If you dare conceal even the slightest thing and I uncover it, I will skin you alive.”

Though his tone was calm, the meaning behind his words made Zhao Mama’s heart quake. Terrified out of her wits, she forgot all about Prince Jing or Northern Hao. She immediately threw herself to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

“Spare me, Third Highness! This has nothing to do with this servant! It was Yin Qingyue—that shameless ugly girl—who seduced a guard and lost her chastity! It truly isn’t this old servant’s fault! Please spare me, Third Highness!”

In that instant, the atmosphere seemed to freeze.

Nangong Chen narrowed his eyes and walked up to her. “You’re saying that in the Fallen Dust Courtyard, a woman seduced a guard and lost her chastity?”

Zhao Mama trembled all over, her plump flesh quivering. “Third Highness, please see clearly—this was all done by that ugly girl Yin Qingyue herself! It has nothing to do with this old servant. I’ve suffered terribly because of her!”

Nangong Chen lowered his head, his expression hidden behind stray strands of hair. Only the faintly upturned corner of his lips could be seen. “Get out. Not a single word of what you just said is to be spoken again. Otherwise, I’ll have you torn apart by five horses. Do you understand?”

Zhao Mama shuddered violently and kowtowed several times in a row. “Y-yes, I understand!”

With that, she scrambled away on hands and knees, fleeing the room in a panic. From Nangong Chen’s angle, he could see that her broad back was already soaked through with cold sweat.

Now the room held only Nangong Chen. He fell silent for a moment, then his shoulders began to shake. A soft chuckle escaped him, which soon turned into loud laughter.

After laughing for a while, Nangong Chen gradually calmed down. He raised his brows, lips curling in mockery. “So this is what you call Father Emperor’s subjects, my dear Elder Brother! The very people you keep defending—this is what they do in the Fallen Dust Courtyard? Losing their chastity? Hah.”

His eyes narrowed, sharp and ruthless. If this news were reported to Father Emperor, it would be a resounding slap to your face, my good Elder Brother! Since you insist on defending these wretches, then defend them to the end. I’d like to see whether, once you learn what they’ve done, you can still persist in protecting that defiled woman.

Nangong Chen let out a long breath, then smiled gently. “How should I deal with this woman who’s lost her chastity? Skin her alive? No, no—that’s too light. Wash and groom her for punishment? Or flay her alive? Neither seems right. Perhaps I should peel her skin off instead.”

After musing for a moment, Nangong Chen finally instructed the guard who had been waiting outside, “Prepare my horse. We’re returning to the palace.”

The guard hesitated. “Your Highness, it’s already getting late. Would you like to rest somewhere for the night before returning?”

Nangong Chen chuckled softly. “Rest? There’s no need. The show is about to begin, and as the one who draws the curtain, I’ve long been unable to wait.”

Nangong Chen galloped all the way back to the palace. The evening breeze brushed through the loose strands of hair by his cheeks, revealing his spirited and confident bearing.

It was already dusk. The setting sun gilded his purple robe with a layer of gold, lending him an air of nobility tinged with oppression.

At the vermilion palace gates, Nangong Chen reined in his horse and dismounted. The waiting guards stepped forward to take the reins. As Nangong Chen walked through the gates, he asked the young eunuch beside him, “Where is Father Emperor now?”

The eunuch bowed and replied softly, “In reply to Third Highness, today is the first day of the lunar month. By custom, His Majesty stays with the Empress. He should be dining at the Empress’s Weiyang Palace.”

Nangong Chen looked up at the darkening sky, where no moon was yet visible, and shook his head with a wry smile. He had been so excited that he’d forgotten the date—today was the first.

“So that’s how it is,” he murmured with a light laugh. “It seems I’ve unintentionally helped Mother Consort out. Tonight, the Empress will likely be left alone. Come—let’s go to Weiyang Palace.”

Inside Weiyang Palace, Nangong Lin was dining with Empress He Minmin.

He Minmin ladled a bowl of rock-sugar pear soup and had a eunuch present it to Nangong Lin. Smiling, she said, “This consort heard that Your Majesty has been coughing often lately. It must be excess internal heat, so I had the small kitchen prepare some rock-sugar pear soup. It clears heat and relieves cough—it should be good for Your Majesty’s health.”

Nangong Lin took a spoonful. The sweet pear soup slid smoothly down his throat, easing his breathing somewhat. He couldn’t help but smile at the empress. “It truly is good. The Empress has been thoughtful.”

He Minmin’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, faint lines appearing at the corners.
“Why should Your Majesty be so polite with this consort? These are things I ought to do.”

Nangong Lin nodded, about to praise her further, when the eunuch beside him announced, “Reporting to Your Majesty—the Third Highness seeks an audience outside the palace gates.”

He Minmin frowned in displeasure at the interruption. “What could be so urgent that it must be said now? Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow?”

Nangong Lin also frowned slightly, but after hesitating a moment, he stood up. “As the saying goes, today’s matters should be settled today. Chen’er went to the Fallen Dust Courtyard—if it weren’t something important, why would he rush back tonight? He’s not one to act without propriety. There must be a reason. I’ll go have a look.”

Since the emperor had spoken, He Minmin could not object. She forced a smile. “This consort will wait here for Your Majesty to return.”

Nangong Lin gave a perfunctory response and stood up, putting on his outer robe before leaving.

He Minmin remained seated on the embroidered stool, staring at the table of delicacies that had barely been touched. She bit her lower lip resentfully. “Consort De, you truly are capable. I always thought you were someone who didn’t like to contend—who would have thought you had such skill? I’ll remember today’s account!”

When Nangong Lin reached outside Weiyang Palace, he immediately saw Nangong Chen waiting respectfully. He walked over. “What exactly is the matter, that you would come to see me so late?”

Nangong Chen bowed respectfully. “In reply to Father Emperor, it concerns the Fallen Dust Courtyard.”

“The Fallen Dust Courtyard? What has happened there?” Nangong Lin frowned. This was exactly what he feared most.

Nangong Chen sighed, a faint忧虑 between his brows. “Father Emperor, my worries were indeed justified. Does Father Emperor know that there are rumors of a woman in the Fallen Dust Courtyard having an illicit affair with a guard and losing her chastity?”

“What? Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!” Nangong Lin thundered, flinging his dragon robe aside as he paced back and forth before Weiyang Palace. “Are these fools unaware of reverence for mystic arts? To do such things in a sacred place—it’s intolerable!”

“Father Emperor, this matter cannot be condoned,” Nangong Chen said, narrowing his eyes and fanning the flames. “The fate of Western Ze is practically bound to these girls. Bearing such an important responsibility, yet they fail to keep themselves chaste—truly ungrateful!”

“Hmph! In the past, I was far too merciful to them,” Nangong Lin said angrily, his face flushed and brows bristling. “I let them eat and live well in the Fallen Dust Courtyard, asking only that they pray sincerely for Western Ze. I’ve been so benevolent, yet they don’t know gratitude! This matter will not be let off lightly!” His agitation triggered another fit of coughing.

“Why are Father Emperor and Third Brother both here?” Suddenly, Nangong Xiao’s voice came from not far away.

“And why is Elder Brother here?” Nangong Chen narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold. He had just told Father Emperor about the Fallen Dust Courtyard, and Nangong Xiao had immediately arrived—how could it be such a coincidence?

“Today is the first day of the month,” Nangong Xiao said with a faint smile, calm and composed. “On the first and fifteenth nights of each month, the Crown Prince is to lead the guards in inspecting the palace to ensure order within the inner courts. Has Third Brother forgotten?”

Nangong Chen froze. Western Ze did indeed have such a rule, but Nangong Xiao had always been in poor health, and Nangong Lin had specially exempted him from these patrols. Over time, Nangong Chen had nearly forgotten about it.

But wasn’t Nangong Xiao supposed to be frail? Could he really endure patrolling the palace all night?

“Xiao’er, it’s good that you have such dedication,” Nangong Lin said, both gratified and worried. “But your health is poor—don’t force yourself too much. I won’t think less of you because of this.”

“Father Emperor need not worry,” Nangong Xiao replied. “This son’s health has improved a great deal.”

Thinking of the ugly woman who had treated his illness, his brows and eyes softened slightly. Though her appearance was homely, her heart was nearly beautiful.

Although he did not believe in mystic arts and wished to abolish the Fallen Dust Courtyard, he would do his utmost to protect every woman within it—so that, in the end, he could protect her.

“Is that so? That’s good, then,” Nangong Lin said, seeing that Nangong Xiao no longer looked as weak and pale as before, and nodded in relief.

“Father Emperor, about the matter of the Fallen Dust Courtyard…” Nangong Chen could not bear the sight of this display of fatherly affection any longer. His face cooled as he interrupted.

At the mention of the Fallen Dust Courtyard, Nangong Lin’s expression darkened again. “Xiao’er, you once pleaded on behalf of those girls who pray there. Do you know what they’ve been doing in the Fallen Dust Courtyard?”

Nangong Xiao was taken aback. A bad premonition rose in his heart, yet he also sensed an opportunity. After hesitating briefly, he answered truthfully, “This son has never been involved in the affairs of the Fallen Dust Courtyard. Aren’t those matters usually handled by Third Brother? Has something improper occurred?”

From the side, Nangong Chen rolled his eyes. Whenever the Fallen Dust Courtyard was mentioned, Nangong Xiao always insisted on meddling, protecting the girls there as if they were his own women. Yet now that trouble had arisen, he washed his hands of it entirely.

Raising his brows, Nangong Chen spoke with obvious disdain. “Elder Brother, you have no idea. These women have truly wasted your concern for them. Among them, there is actually a woman who had an illicit affair with a guard and ruined her chastity!”