MCSCPM -Chapter 57 Hidden Agendas

Palace maids entered carrying placards with the performance order, all facedown so no one knew which number they had drawn.

Yin Qingyue also picked a placard. Flipping it over, she saw the number seven. Fortunately, she wasn’t first. With so many performers before her, she would neither be in the spotlight too early nor be awkwardly late.

Watching the other young ladies begin their performances, Yin Qingyue felt a bit nervous. But after all, these were just traditional skills—zither, chess, calligraphy, painting—surely nothing would go terribly wrong.

The young lady from the Prime Minister’s household performed the Glazed Dance; the general’s daughter displayed the Plum Blossom painting.

Finally, it was Yin Qingyue’s turn. Seeing the other nobles covering their mouths and snickering, she felt no embarrassment—after all, they were only mocking her appearance.

“Miss Yin, please perform a piece on the guqin,” someone instructed. Then, as if realizing something suddenly, Nangong Xiaoxiao exclaimed, “Miss Yin, what incredible luck—you’ve drawn the Wu Ji Fu!

Upon hearing Wu Ji Fu, the crowd cast sympathetic glances at Yin Qingyue. The piece, composed by a master of mystical music, was meant to inspire reverence toward the heavens and a sense of divine blessing.

Even a man could not truly play the piece to convey its sanctity and grandeur; how could a young woman like Yin Qingyue manage it?

Hearing she had drawn this piece, Yin Qingyue couldn’t help but doubt herself. Each young lady drew her own talent, and theirs had all been simple, yet she had drawn the most difficult one. Moreover, she was from the Luocheng Courtyard, and with the emperor’s great faith in mystical arts, could this be a way to humiliate her, to have her expelled from the palace and returned to the academy?

Seeing her draw Wu Ji Fu, Nangong Xiao’s heart sank. He immediately spoke up: “Father, even a man cannot fully express the divine spirit of Wu Ji Fu.”

Before he could finish, Nangong Xiaoxiao interrupted teasingly, “The draw was meant for the young ladies to display talent. Though Miss Yin drew Wu Ji Fu, it is fine. She comes from Luocheng Courtyard and is here to pray for blessings for Xize.”

From this, Chu Jingcheng realized she came from Luocheng Courtyard—the place that housed one hundred young women of the same birth year, all to pray for Xize. A clever woman could escape even such a place.

Nangong Lin immediately smiled and said, “Then play the piece.”

With the moment upon her, Yin Qingyue sat at the guqin, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and steadied her mind before beginning.

Nangong Xiaoxiao listened, frowning as the music was beautiful, yet carried subtle charm.

“Don’t worry, elder sister!” Nangong Wan smiled faintly. This was just the first step. Whether Yin Qingyue played well or poorly wasn’t important—the key was what came next, with the strings themselves.

The audience gradually noticed the music growing chaotic, with notes starting to sound off.

Then, with a sharp twang, a guqin string snapped, shocking everyone.

“How dare you, Yin Qingyue! To damage such a precious Yunqing guqin!” Nangong Xiaoxiao shouted. The Yunqing guqin was a top-tier instrument, now ruined by the plain-faced girl.

Everyone forgot the beauty of her earlier music, only seeing Yin Qingyue’s “ugly” face and feeling displeased.

Yin Qingyue quickly knelt to the side. She had long suspected that Nangong Lin intended to give a princess to the discerning Prince Jing, but why were the two princesses trying to sabotage her?

“Since it is a performance, mistakes can naturally happen,” Nangong Xiao said calmly, noticing Nangong Xiaoxiao stamping her feet in anger.

Nangong Xiaoxiao, however, would not relent. “If one plays, one must protect the instrument. Such a precious guqin, destroyed—how can I not be angry?”

“Then why did you bring it out?” Nangong Xiao retorted, wondering why they needed a reason to be upset.

“Father, Yin Qingyue is playing a mystical composition, meant as a tribute to the heavens. Now, she has damaged the guqin mid-performance—surely this is disrespectful to heaven,” Nangong Wan said.

Hearing this, Nangong Lin grew angry. The nation was in the midst of prayers for blessings, and such a blunder had occurred—could the heavens be expressing discontent through the music, forbidding its play?

“Your Majesty, Yin Qingyue is a rare divine healer; today’s incident is likely just an accident,” He Minmin gently reassured Nangong Lin. She could not allow harm to come to Yin Qingyue, who had finally regained her youthful beauty. Observing palace intrigues, she could see the two princesses’ schemes clearly.

Indeed, Yin Qingyue was far more capable than the ordinary court physicians. Nangong Lin felt reluctant to punish her.

“Father, since Yin Qingyue is a divine healer, and her skills are excellent, I recently twisted my foot while practicing dance. If she can heal me, let it be considered a minor offense,” Nangong Wan suggested.

Nangong Lin agreed. “Very well.”

“Princess, where shall I treat it?” Yin Qingyue’s expression turned cold. If they wanted to trap her, why give her an opening—surely there was more to come.

“Here, of course,” Nangong Wan said boldly. She had only ever applied ointments for minor sprains before; she did not yet know the full extent of Yin Qingyue’s skill.

Yin Qingyue smiled. “Then please sit properly, Princess.”

Chu Jingcheng watched carefully as Yin Qingyue began treatment.

Nangong Wan, proud, placed one foot on a stool. But before she could relish her triumph, Yin Qingyue applied firm pressure, making her yelp in pain.

“Yin Qingyue! How dare you treat me so harshly! Guards, drag her out for punishment!” Nangong Wan cried.

Yin Qingyue smiled faintly. “Princess, to heal your foot properly, I cannot be careless with the bones. You feel pain because I am dispersing existing bruises.”

“Your Majesty, as they say, bitter medicine is for the best. This injury involves the bones—how could it heal otherwise? In the past, even minor injuries hurt you greatly. A proper healer must act carefully,” He Minmin interjected, shooting Nangong Wan a disapproving glare.

Daring to sabotage the divine healer? Pain would be the consequence.

Nangong Lin nodded, instructing Yin Qingyue’s attendants to release her. This time, Yin Qingyue did not act alone; she had several strong palace maids restrain Nangong Wan.

In the hall, as Nangong Wan continued crying out, her swollen ankle gradually improved under Yin Qingyue’s calculated pressure.

Nangong Wan felt amazed at Yin Qingyue’s skill, though embarrassed at having been made to cry in public. “Yin Qingyue, you’ve humiliated me in front of everyone!”

Yin Qingyue bowed. “Princess, you requested treatment here.”

“You’re not telling me this will hurt, are you?” Nangong Wan asked angrily.

Yin Qingyue said nothing, letting her visible recovery speak for itself.

“Is this how a princess treats a healer?” Chu Jingcheng raised an eyebrow at Nangong Wan.

“Father, she destroyed my beloved Yunqing guqin!”

“Father, I lost face in front of everyone! How can I show my face if this spreads?”

Nangong Lin bellowed, “Enough!”

Nangong Xiaoxiao and Nangong Wan looked aggrieved. Nangong Lin felt a headache coming on, regretting inviting Yin Qingyue, especially since she was a woman praying for the nation—she could not be harmed.

“Miss Yin, why don’t you explain?” Chu Jingcheng’s sudden question silenced the hall.

“What is there to say? Destroying a sacred piece on the guqin and causing a princess to lose decorum in the hall—these are punishable offenses,” Nangong Chen slammed his cup down.

Nangong Lin looked to Yin Qingyue, curious how this clever woman would respond.

“I did not intend to damage the Yunqing guqin, nor to disrespect heaven. As one praying for the nation, I am only helping convey heaven’s will. If my actions were offensive, why not say I am transmitting heaven’s message? Moreover, a healer who only comforts without addressing the root problem harms the patient further.” Yin Qingyue knelt deeply. “Thus, the guqin string broke because heaven wished to tell the emperor that, having prayed for the nation, it is unnecessary to perform sacred music to show gratitude. The emperor need only fulfill his duties.”

“Miss Yin speaks well,” Chu Jingcheng said, sipping his wine with a faint smile. “In that case, you may return to continue your prayers for the nation.”

Nangong Lin was very pleased with Chu Jingcheng’s suggestion and nodded.

At this moment, the two princesses cried out again:

“Father, why must we obey? We will not comply!”

“Such insolence! Princesses, how can you shout so?” Nangong Lin snorted.

“Heavenly Father, Wan and Xiaoxiao are girls. Today, perhaps in a daze, they need time to reflect,” He Minmin said gently, calming him.

“Just send them back?” Chu Jingcheng asked further.