MCSCPM -Chapter 377 Pre-Wedding Preparations

After speaking, Ding Ying thought for a moment and added, “You’re here alone, without family around. If you need anything or lack anything, just tell me. Think of me as your family.”

Seeing Ding Ying’s concern, Yin Qingyue felt comforted. She said, “I don’t lack anything here, so don’t worry. Prince Jing is handling everything, I have nothing to concern myself with.”

“Prince Jing truly has your best interest in mind,” Ding Ying said.

“Enough about that for now. I have some hairpins here—help me choose.” Yin Qingyue said, pulling her over.

Sitting at the dressing table, Yin Qingyue laid out all the hairpins prepared by the wedding helper and said, “Take a look— which one suits me?”

Ding Ying examined them carefully. She picked one up, placed it in Yin Qingyue’s hair bun, and asked, “How about this one?”

Looking at herself in the mirror with the hairpin in place, Yin Qingyue smiled. “Ding Ying, you really have a good eye. Dong’er and the wedding helper spent ages choosing and still couldn’t decide. This one is perfect. Let’s go with it.”

“Miss Yin, you truly are beautiful. I’m sure you’ll be the most beautiful bride,” Ding Ying said, gazing at her in the mirror.

Yin Qingyue smiled. “Isn’t the bride always the most beautiful?”

“Yes, you’re right,” Ding Ying agreed.

They shared a knowing smile.

Prince Jing’s wedding was a grand affair. The Ministry of Rites had been working tirelessly, without rest. Compared to the wedding of Prince Yi, this one was even more elaborate.

Before the wedding, however, the bride and groom could not meet. Though both were in the Prince’s mansion, the wedding helper and maids strictly separated their courtyards.

Fortunately, with Ding Ying’s company, Yin Qingyue did not feel lonely.

At that moment, Leng Yi arrived.

Seeing him, Yin Qingyue already guessed why he had come.

Leng Yi bowed slightly to her. “I have come to pay my respects to the Princess.”

“Leng Yi, just call me Miss Yin. No need for such formality,” she said.

“This is proper etiquette. It cannot be omitted,” Leng Yi replied.

Yin Qingyue accepted it. After all, as Prince Jing’s bride, she would need to get used to being called Princess.

Leng Yi continued, “Actually, I should have come yesterday. Miss Kong Ling is still in the county. Before coming, I promised her I would inform you of her situation. Princess, would you like to bring her to the capital?”

Yin Qingyue knew Leng Yi had come on behalf of Kong Ling. She had been thinking these past days that once she married, she should ensure Dong’er had a good home, and she couldn’t be alone herself. If Kong Ling came, that would be good.

“Actually, it’s amazing she persisted this long. Since that’s the case, let her come to the capital. Send her a message by pigeon, then arrange for someone to bring her here,” Yin Qingyue said.

“Yes, I’ll go immediately,” Leng Yi replied.

“By the way, Leng Yi, you’ve worked hard recently. If you hadn’t stayed in the county, many things would have gone wrong.”

“You overpraise me, Princess. Helping the Prince is my duty,” Leng Yi said earnestly.

Yin Qingyue smiled, saying nothing further.

Leng Yi left and, following her instructions, sent a pigeon with the message to the county.

Meanwhile, Kong Ling, waiting in the county all this time, had her thoughts elsewhere. Though at the magistrate’s office, she could barely focus. After Leng Yi left, she worried daily whether he had reached the capital and whether he had told Yin Qingyue about her.

Her anxiety worsened with each passing day.

Standing by the small pond in the courtyard, she thought that if she didn’t receive news in a few days, she would give up.

Just then, a maid from the magistrate’s house ran over, holding a small note. Out of breath, she handed it to Kong Ling. “Miss Kong Ling, this… this is from the capital, from the Blade Agency.”

Kong Ling’s eyes widened. She grabbed the letter and opened it immediately. It stated that Yin Qingyue had agreed to let her come to the capital.

“I… I finally received it! I finally received it!” Kong Ling shouted excitedly.

She held the letter, nearly jumping for joy, her excitement uncontainable, tears streaming down her face.

The maid beside her, puzzled, asked, “Kong Ling, what’s wrong?”

Kong Ling grabbed her arm tightly and exclaimed, “I’m going to the capital! I’m going to the capital!” She shook the maid in her excitement.

The maid, flustered, said, “Alright, alright, calm down. You’re going, so why be so worked up?”

“You don’t understand! I’ve waited so long. Miss Yin finally agreed! She finally agreed!”

“Alright, I won’t argue. I have things to do. Go be happy yourself,” the maid said.

Kong Ling’s smile couldn’t be contained. She hurried to pack her few belongings. With her family’s decline, she could only bring a few clean sets of clothes, but it didn’t matter. Being by Yin Qingyue’s side was worth everything.

She packed quickly and walked back and forth in the courtyard, waiting for someone to come fetch her to the capital.

Meanwhile, at the Yin family estate in Xize…

Yin Qingyue’s wedding was approaching. As her family, the Yins should have been invited, yet no news had arrived for days—not even about Yin Ziyu.

Rumors spread. People passing by the Yin family’s new shop stopped to gossip.

“Did you hear? Miss Yin is about to become Prince Jing’s bride, but for some reason, her family wasn’t invited.”

“I heard too. Do you know why?”

“No idea. A distant cousin of mine works there. I heard the second Miss Yin went to Beihao looking for the eldest, but now she seems to have disappeared. Plus, when Miss Yin went to the Luocheng Academy, her family betrayed her. No wonder she’s cut ties now,” said one young man, his face twisted.

Everyone nodded thoughtfully. Another said, “The Yin family brought this on themselves. Serves them right.”

“Exactly. Let’s not buy anything from them anymore. Their daughter doesn’t even acknowledge them, why should we?”

“Right, let’s go…” They dispersed.

Naturally, the rumors painted the Yin family as having major internal conflict. People avoided them.

Business at the Yin shop suffered. Not a single customer came. Zhao Shi, in the store, grew anxious as people entered but then left.

Several young clerks were idle. One spoke up, “Boss, it’s been days without a single customer. If this continues, the business will collapse.”

“You’re talking nonsense! Stop being so negative,” Zhao Shi snapped. She had noticed the decline too. If it continued, the shop would soon close, and the losses would be substantial.

“Xiao Liu, check on the other shops. How’s their business?” she asked.

“They’re the same, boss. No sales at all. I think this shop should close. Everything will rot if it keeps up,” Xiao Liu reported.

“How could it be like this?”

“Because everyone knows the eldest Miss Yin married without inviting her family. So no one comes,” Xiao Liu explained.

“Hmph, a bunch of ungrateful wolves,” Zhao Shi muttered.

Xiao Liu hesitated, then asked, “Boss, about this month’s wages—are we getting paid?”

“What wages? The shop has no business. You’re eating and drinking for free and asking for wages?” Zhao Shi snapped, venting her frustration.

Other clerks protested. “Boss, we’ve worked hard for years. You haven’t paid us for three months! How can you say that?”

“Are you revolting? Remember, if I hadn’t hired you, you’d be starving,” Zhao Shi yelled.

“Then pay us, or don’t blame us for taking matters into our own hands,” Xiao Liu said, rallying the others.

All the clerks grabbed goods equal to their wages, even taking the cash.

Zhao Shi was pushed out onto the street, falling to the ground. Passersby didn’t help or stop them.

She cried, “Stop! I’ll report you if you don’t! Are you all revolting?”

No one listened. The shop was emptied in no time.

Zhao Shi sat miserably in the street, shouting, “You bandits! I won’t forgive you!”

But no one cared; some even spat at her disdainfully.

Now, she was like a rat in the street, hated by all. Her poor treatment was her own doing—and ultimately, the consequence of her and her daughter’s actions.