MCSCPM -Chapter 54 Reading Minds

Yin Qingyue frowned, her eyes scanning the man in front of her. What did he mean by those words? It couldn’t be as simple as it sounded—if that was the case, then how should it be interpreted?

After speaking, Chu Jingcheng remained expressionless, quietly watching Yin Qingyue. After a moment, he suddenly smiled and continued: “If women from Xize are all this bold, then what about you, Miss Yin?”

Yin Qingyue wanted to approach him, but she realized he was using her to get rid of the other women around them.

After a brief silence, she finally lifted her gaze to him. Her eyes burned with intensity, as if she wanted to see straight into his soul, piercing and cold to the bone.

Her icy stare was deliberate, intended to read his mind. Chu Jingcheng met her gaze calmly. For a long moment, there was complete silence between them; even the heat in the air seemed to press inward. Those standing nearby said nothing, and the surroundings fell completely quiet.

Focused thoughts slowly wove their way into the other’s mind. Yin Qingyue felt as if her gaze was penetrating him, and in an instant, a thread of his consciousness slipped into her mind. The sound of his heartbeat, even the rhythm of his breathing, slowed, then froze.

As her gaze dispersed, the thoughts that had stretched outward trembled, then vanished in a moment. In Yin Qingyue’s mind appeared a single line of text:

This woman is rather interesting. If I could explore further, seeing her, touching her body… it would truly be a delightful experience.

It was a simple sentence, but it appeared fully in her mind and then abruptly ended.

A faint blush rose to Yin Qingyue’s cheeks. That line of thought had come from her using her mind-reading skill to penetrate Chu Jingcheng’s inner thoughts. As soon as she realized the meaning, her heart jolted—he had been looking at her that way! Her face burned red with embarrassment.

Naturally, for an unmarried young woman, hearing such thoughts was mortifying. At this moment, she felt only that Chu Jingcheng was lewd, and she wanted nothing more to do with him.

Chu Jingcheng, on the other hand, was momentarily confused by her sudden expression. Just a moment ago, she had been calm, and now she seemed so delicate and fragile. What was going on?

The noble daughters nearby, noticing Chu Jingcheng’s obvious preferential treatment toward Yin Qingyue, felt a sting of resentment. Their eyes lost the obsequious glimmer they had moments ago.

Yin Qingyue noticed these shifts but had no interest in them. She focused all her attention on Chu Jingcheng. A man capable of thinking such things had a hidden face beneath his outward demeanor. She had no desire to speak further and hurriedly concealed her embarrassment, stepping forward.

“Miss Yin, don’t rush off,” he said, grabbing her hand as she moved. She had barely taken a step—how could she leave while he was still here?

Yin Qingyue froze and quickly turned: “Let go of me!”

“Give me a reason,” Chu Jingcheng said, his eyes smiling with mischief, making Yin Qingyue feel a strange, indescribable sensation.

So they remained in that tense stalemate. Not only was Yin Qingyue uncomfortable, but the noblewomen watching felt a pang of jealousy and frustration.

Is the prince blind? This woman is so plain, her face barely worth noticing! If it weren’t for her healing the Emperor and Crown Prince, no one would even pay attention to her! Truly, plain women cause trouble!

Yin Qingyue knew the whispered insults from the side, but in the palace, she could not react. She simply looked at them, signaling for them to back off.

“What’s the hurry? It’s rare to meet you. Why not give me the courtesy of sitting for a while?” Chu Jingcheng said, his gaze twinkling.

“Thanks for your kindness, Prince Jing, but I have matters to attend to. I must take my leave,” Yin Qingyue replied. Since she had just discovered what he was thinking, she was all the more eager to leave.

Even with her words, Chu Jingcheng acted as if he didn’t know, still holding her hand. The entire scene was witnessed by Nangong Wan and Nangong Xia, standing a short distance away.

Nangong Wan’s expression darkened. From her viewpoint, it seemed like Chu Jingcheng and Yin Qingyue were conversing while their hands remained joined—an infuriatingly intimate sight. She ground her teeth in rage.

“That woman!” she spat out, barely able to speak, her face twisted with anger. Next to her, Nangong Xia appeared calmer outwardly, but her hand beneath the table betrayed her inner turmoil, tightly clenched without realizing the blood marks forming.

A breeze swept past, shaking the shadows of the trees, and the pair came into clear view. The man was handsome, the woman elegant—ignoring the scars on her face, it truly was a breathtaking sight. Nangong Wan exhaled sharply, trembling with fury.

Nangong Xia glanced at her silently. At that moment, Nangong Wan could no longer contain herself and stormed forward.

Previously hidden behind trees, the arriving noblewomen hadn’t seen this. Her sudden appearance startled the maid beside her, who then called out: “Third Princess has arrived!”

Hearing this, Yin Qingyue seized the moment while Chu Jingcheng’s attention was diverted, pulling back her arm and kneeling respectfully. The other noblewomen followed suit.

“Greetings, Princess!”

Among the crowd, only Chu Jingcheng remained standing. As the Prince of Beihai, protocol dictated that the Princess receive proper homage. She stepped forward, paused before him, and bowed slightly: “Your humble servant greets Prince Jing.”

Her sweet voice and gentle smile drew Chu Jingcheng’s attention from Yin Qingyue to her.

She was attractive, but not his type.

“Please rise, Princess,” he said respectfully. The others kneeling remained so, as she had not yet spoken.

Nangong Wan glanced around at those present, then at Yin Qingyue, deliberately not speaking, and slowly stood. Straightening, she suddenly feigned twisting her ankle, leaning on Chu Jingcheng.

Chu Jingcheng had seen such tricks before. He didn’t react outwardly but supported her carefully. He understood her intentions and simply observed her actions.

Nangong Wan could not prolong the act, so she had no choice but to stand. Then she said: “Everyone, rise.”

She gave Yin Qingyue a cold glance. Most women in the palace sought to curry favor, but Nangong Wan felt no need to bother with such a person. If Chu Jingcheng hadn’t grabbed her arm earlier, she wouldn’t have come at all.

Seeing that Chu Jingcheng’s interest in her was minimal—after all, who would like an ugly woman? Heroes have always loved beauties, not plain ones—her previous furious expression disappeared, replaced with an air of knowing.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

Satisfied, she could now fully play her role. She frowned deliberately, taking a breath and speaking as though in pain.

Chu Jingcheng, knowing her tricks well, understood which expressions were genuine and which were exaggerated. But this was not his homeland, so he remained measured.

He held Nangong Wan and said, “Since the Princess has trouble with her legs, my apologies,” crouching to grab her ankle and twist it sharply.

A crisp crack followed by another—he had luxated her ankle and then returned it.

Yin Qingyue watched in horror, realizing the strength and cruelty required to perform such an act. Nangong Wan had done this deliberately, but Chu Jingcheng could have simply played along without such force. This man was truly formidable.

Nangong Wan’s face contorted in pain. She was nearly fainting, pale and speechless.

The noblewomen nearby, who had once hoped to charm him, were now deathly pale, terrified by what they had just witnessed.

“Help the Princess sit down to rest,” Chu Jingcheng instructed the maid beside Nangong Wan. Startled, she quickly nodded and carefully assisted her.