MCSCPM -Chapter 355 A Chance Encounter with a Beauty

Lan Rao gradually calmed herself and decided it would be better to wait a little longer—once the Emperor’s anger had mostly subsided, pleading for mercy would be far more likely to succeed.

Unfortunately, such a thing had happened at this critical moment. For the sake of a woman, Prince Jing had been willing to fall out with the Emperor entirely. To the Emperor, this was chilling—his own son abandoning court affairs for a woman. How, then, could he ever become a good ruler in the future?

Lan Rao sighed repeatedly. She had always tried to match Yin Qingyue with Chu Jingcheng, believing that this way Chu Jingcheng would be grateful to her. Who would have thought it would end up like this?

Thinking of it now, she felt some regret—but it was already too late. All she could do was quickly think of a way to mend the relationship between the Emperor and Prince Jing.

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Meanwhile, the news of Chu Ling being heavily favored reached Hai Qingshuang’s ears. These past few days, the entire court had been in chaos, and Grand Tutor Hai had been staying in the palace almost daily.

During this time, she remained alone in her room, quietly nursing her sorrow.

She thought: if Chu Ling were truly favored by the Emperor and eventually became Crown Prince, while she was merely the daughter of a Grand Tutor, then the distance between her and Chu Ling would only grow greater. And if one day he became the heir of Northern Hao, then she and he…

At this thought, tears slipped from Hai Qingshuang’s eyes, though she quickly wiped them away.

The person she had always carried in her heart was Chu Ling. Yet for so many years, everyone believed she liked Prince Jing. To conceal her feelings for Prince Ling, she allowed others to think she admired Prince Jing and never bothered to explain.

But now—should she finally speak of the love she had hidden deep in her heart? If she continued to hide it, Chu Ling might never know for his entire life.

Just then, Cui’er entered the room and saw her young mistress wiping away tears. She hurriedly set down what she was carrying and asked, “Miss, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Nothing,” Hai Qingshuang replied. With her usual ice-cold beauty, she naturally didn’t want anyone to see through her feelings and tried her best to hide them.

“Miss, Xiangxu has been by your side since childhood. Every time you’re like this, it’s because you’re deeply sad. Is it… because of Prince Ling?”

“You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“Yes, Xiangxu is talking nonsense,” the maid said, “but every time Miss is like this, it’s because of Prince Ling. I really don’t understand—why won’t Miss tell Prince Ling how you feel? Maybe Prince Ling feels the same way as you do?”

As she said this, Xiangxu’s face lit up with anticipation.

Hai Qingshuang shot her a glare. “Enough. Stop talking nonsense.”

“Yes, Xiangxu won’t say another word. But Miss, please don’t be too sad.”

Hai Qingshuang said nothing and simply dismissed her.

Left alone in the room, she quietly grieved, taking a deep breath, unwilling to let herself cry again.

Yet what she didn’t know was that Chu Ling himself had no fondness for the things he now possessed—none of this was what he had chosen.

But being born into the imperial family, he now truly understood what it meant to have no control over one’s future.

With his nature suddenly restrained, he felt deeply uncomfortable.

He had been reviewing memorials when he suddenly put them aside, intending to leave the palace.

But the young eunuch was quick-witted and instantly sensed his intention, stepping forward to block the door. “His Majesty has ordered that Prince Ling is not to go out. You must review all the memorials one by one.”

“I’ve already finished reviewing them,” Chu Ling said. “Move aside. I’m going out for a walk.”

“Please don’t make things difficult for this servant, Prince Ling.”

“You—” Chu Ling ground his teeth in anger. If this were outside the palace, no one could stop him from leaving. But inside the palace, even if he didn’t care about himself, he had to consider his mother.

With a helpless shake of his head, he said, “Forget it. I won’t go out.”

“Please return inside and continue reviewing the memorials.”

“I know.”

He turned back inside, closed the door, and instructed the eunuch, “I don’t want anyone disturbing me. Without my orders, no one is allowed to enter—especially you. Understand?”

“Yes.”

The eunuch obediently stood guard outside, but Chu Ling had other ideas. If he wanted to go out, there was always a way.

Taking advantage of the eunuch’s inattention, he jumped out through the window and quickly left the palace.

Instead of returning to Prince Ling’s residence, he went straight to Prince Jing’s estate, intending to complain to Chu Jingcheng. Chu Jingcheng lived freely and at ease, while he himself was run ragged inside the palace—it was unbearable.

Unexpectedly, when he arrived at Prince Jing’s residence, Chu Jingcheng was nowhere to be found. Even after searching the rear courtyard, he still didn’t see him.

Just as he was wondering where Chu Jingcheng might be, he saw a woman emerge from a side courtyard. On closer look, she was a stunning beauty—so beautiful she seemed like a fairy descended from heaven, making it hard to look away. Chu Ling already liked beautiful women, and now his interest was piqued even more.

Yet her eyes looked oddly familiar, though he couldn’t recall where he had seen them before.

In truth, Chu Ling knew this woman was the Divine Physician. It was precisely because of her that his second imperial brother had fallen out with their father and been neglected, while he himself had been pushed into this abyss.

So this alluring and extraordinary woman before him was the root of it all.

Yin Qingyue also noticed Chu Ling as she came out of the side courtyard. She wondered—shouldn’t he be in the palace at this hour? Why was he here? Had he slipped out secretly?

Chu Ling strode up to her with a roguish smile. “So my second brother has been hiding such a beauty in a golden house—how enviable. And here I am, all alone in the palace… ah, a tale full of bitter tears.”

“You must be Prince Ling,” Yin Qingyue said.

“You know me?”

“Who else but Prince Ling could freely come and go from Prince Jing’s residence and say such things? Besides, didn’t you just refer to yourself as ‘this prince’?” Yin Qingyue smiled.

Chu Ling burst into laughter. He was filled with curiosity about the woman before him, wondering just what kind of ability she had to captivate even Chu Jingcheng.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a woman like you.”

“Oh?” Yin Qingyue asked. “And what kind of woman am I in Prince Ling’s eyes? This is our first meeting—could it be that Prince Ling can read minds?”

“You guessed right. This prince can read minds,” Chu Ling said.

Yin Qingyue knew he was teasing her. Since that was the case, she decided to play along. The last time she had appeared ugly, he still followed her to the inn—proof that Prince Ling wasn’t someone obsessed solely with beauty. She might as well read his mind too and see what kind of person he really was.

“Then go on,” she said. “Read what I’m thinking.”

Chu Ling’s interest flared—his playful nature fully awakened. He narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Yin Qingyue.

What he didn’t know was that he had already fallen into her trap.

Meeting his gaze, Yin Qingyue read his thoughts.

Indeed, Prince Ling had no ambition for the throne at all.

What he yearned for most was freedom. He had never liked a life of restraint, and the Emperor’s life was something he actively rejected.

But through reading his mind, she also learned something else—during his travels, Prince Ling often observed the lives of the common people and cared deeply for them. Such a person was not suited to be an emperor, but was well suited to be a supporting minister.

If one day Chu Jingcheng became emperor, having someone like this by his side would undoubtedly be ideal.

After finishing reading his thoughts, Yin Qingyue withdrew her gaze and asked, “Prince Ling, have you read it now?”

“I didn’t quite read your thoughts,” Chu Ling said, “but you’ve been staring at me—could it be that you’ve fallen for my good looks?”

“Prince Ling jokes too much.”

“I never joke,” Chu Ling said seriously. “Tell me—have you truly fallen for me?”

Yin Qingyue knew he was good-natured and not malicious, merely teasing her. She wasn’t angry or offended. Smiling, she said, “Prince Ling is a royal prince, and I am merely a common woman. How would I dare say such a thing?”

“You’re no ordinary woman—you’re the Divine Physician.”

So he knew who she was. Knowing that, and still daring to say such things—if Chu Jingcheng heard this, he’d skin him alive.

She nodded lightly. “Prince Ling really knows how to joke.”

“That’s not quite right,” Chu Ling said. “My second brother likes you, and I quite like you too. How about I ask my second brother to give you to me?”

His flippant tone carried a hint of mischief.

What he didn’t know was that as soon as he finished speaking, Chu Jingcheng—who had just come from the front courtyard—heard it clearly and immediately said, “You can ask me directly.”

Turning toward the voice, they saw Chu Jingcheng walking over with a cold expression, clearly angry.

Seeing his expression, Chu Ling laughed smugly. “Looks like my second brother’s woman really isn’t something I can touch.”

Chu Jingcheng walked up to Yin Qingyue, pulled her behind him, and said warily to Prince Ling, “Prince Ling, when will you ever change this habit of yours? Acting like this at every turn—you’ll frighten all the women in the world.”

“Is that so?” Chu Ling replied with a grin. “Second brother probably doesn’t understand me. The women of this world quite like me, don’t they, Divine Physician?”

He suddenly looked toward Yin Qingyue.

Covering her mouth, Yin Qingyue smiled. “Prince Ling has a good nature. Of course women like him.”

“Second brother, did you hear that? Even the Divine Physician says so. How could it be false?”

“Enough,” Chu Jingcheng said. “Let’s leave it at that. Weren’t you supposed to be in the palace? Why did you suddenly come out? Was it Father Emperor’s permission?”

At this, Chu Ling sighed repeatedly. “Don’t even mention it. Second brother, you’re out here enjoying yourself with a beauty—do you know my situation? Trapped in the palace all day, unable to go anywhere, with piles of memorials from Father Emperor that I can’t even finish reading.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Chu Jingcheng said. “It means Father Emperor values you. You should calm your mind and properly learn state affairs.”

“Second brother, that’s easy for you to say,” Chu Ling replied helplessly. “You know I don’t like palace life. Father Emperor knows it too, yet he insists on forcing me to do what I hate.”

With a sigh, he sat down on a stone bench nearby, looking utterly miserable.