MCSCPM -Chapter 59 A Spectacle

Back at Luocheng Courtyard, after seeing the Crown Prince off, Yin Qingyue sat calmly in a chair, while Mei’er stood beside her, her face full of worry.

Mei’er had thought that once her mistress left Luocheng Courtyard, she wouldn’t have to live under the constant shadow of death and could finally enjoy some peace. Who could have imagined that fate would be so cruel, forcing her mistress back into this perilous place? How hard life was for her lady! Thinking this, Mei’er quietly sobbed.

“Mei’er, why are you crying? Everything has merely returned to how it was before. I never expected leaving this place would be so easy,” Yin Qingyue said calmly, her gaze steady.

Hearing this, Mei’er couldn’t stop her tears. “Mistress, I feel so wronged for you.”

“Mei’er, remember this: we can only rely on ourselves. If we fail this time, the next time we might fail too. Don’t worry—we will leave this place sooner or later.” Her words were sharp and confident, and her eyes shone with self-assurance.

For some reason, Mei’er suddenly felt a surge of strength in her heart, as if she too had become more resolute.

Just then, two sharp claps rang out, followed by a mocking voice: “Look at this master and servant, still dreaming big. Xing’er, don’t you agree?”

The speaker was none other than Xue Zhenyu, who bore a deep grudge against Yin Qingyue.

Since witnessing Yin Qingyue’s abilities, Xing’er had been somewhat fearful and timidly replied, “Mistress is right.”

“Mei’er, I thought I smelled something funny… turns out it’s body odor,” Yin Qingyue said, raising an eyebrow and speaking casually to Mei’er.

The moment her words left her mouth, Xue Zhenyu’s face alternated between red and white. “You ugly wretch, who are you talking about?”

“I said the person who smells! Do you think I meant you, Miss Xue?”

The words hit like a trap. Xue Zhenyu froze, realizing she had shot herself in the foot.

“You just enjoy spouting nonsense? Fine, there’s plenty of time ahead. Let’s see how this plays out,” Yin Qingyue said with a sly smile.

“It’s better than being someone who can’t even talk back. And with the sacrificial day coming soon, tell me—who will die first, the ugly one or the beautiful one?” She didn’t waste words, letting the threat hang in the air.

Xue Zhenyu fell silent, furious, and ran out, with Xing’er quickly following.

But Yin Qingyue called out, stopping her: “Xing’er, though I’ve returned to Luocheng Courtyard, I will never forgive anyone who once tried to harm me.”

Hearing this, Xing’er shivered, as if her throat had been clamped by some evil spirit, unable to utter a word, and bolted out. It took her a long while to recover.

What had this “ugly wretch” endured in the palace to become so formidable?

After the two left, Mei’er finally relaxed. She had long known that her mistress had changed, but seeing it now, she realized just how strong her mistress’s heart had become—able to face anything with calm.

“Mei’er, go guard outside. I’ll go to the inner room to prepare something. I suspect we’ll have some trouble ahead,” Yin Qingyue said, her gaze cold, before entering the inner chamber.

Mei’er understood immediately. With Yin Qingyue back at Luocheng Courtyard and the supposed support of Prince Jing exposed, even the Crown Prince’s help could only go so far—danger now was far greater than before.

Inside, Yin Qingyue pulled out the clothes of Prince Jing from a cloth bundle. Using scissors, she painstakingly removed each bead, as if the beads were the man himself.

“I stole your clothes to expose you, and you forced me back to Luocheng Courtyard. Let these beads serve as my spiritual compensation,” she murmured as she worked.

Soon, all the beads and ornaments were stripped from the garment. After the palace affair, she knew Chu Jingcheng hadn’t given up on finding her. These clothes had become a hot potato—better to repurpose them as embellishments. While she had earned a lot in the palace, for her future life, more silver would always be better.

She placed the beads and ornaments into a cloth bag, taking out one small bead to handle separately. She touched her face, formulated a plan, and pulled a few wild herbs from her pouch, curling her lips into a cunning smile before stepping out of the inner room.

“Mei’er, guard the outside for me. I’m going to make a little something,” Yin Qingyue said, excitement lighting her eyes.

For some reason, Mei’er felt her scalp tingle while looking at her mistress. Shaking off the feeling, she hurried outside.

Once alone, Yin Qingyue shut the door. Her caution was due to the nature of what she was about to make—it was technically harmful to women, and she didn’t want Mei’er exposed. She herself, however, would be fine.

She opened a drawer, taking a small pill from a tiny bottle and swallowing it with tea. Then she crushed another pill in a bowl, added the wild herbs, and ground them into a fine powder with another bowl.

Covering her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, she mixed the powder with tea. Soon, a foul stench filled the bowl.

Minutes ticked by, the odor becoming increasingly unbearable. Once it peaked, Yin Qingyue filtered the tea, revealing that the powder had transformed into small red granules with an enticing fragrance. She carefully placed the granules into a porcelain bottle, capped it, and put it in her pouch. Then she opened the windows and doors and calmly sat down.

Meanwhile, Nanny Zhao, warned by the Crown Prince, lay on the couch in a huff, while Nanny Liu fussed over her like a small daughter-in-law.

Suddenly, a pungent smell wafted in, causing both to sneeze and tear up.

“What are you standing there for? Go check!” Nanny Zhao shouted at Nanny Liu.

Nanny Liu ran out, but the odor spread from all directions, and she couldn’t pinpoint its source.

“Madam, it seems to come from outside, not our courtyard,” Nanny Liu said uncertainly.

Nanny Zhao cursed. “Useless! How did you manage anything in the palace with such incompetence? I’ll have to handle this myself!”

Despite her resentment, Nanny Liu could only smile obediently.

Nanny Zhao, unwilling to waste words, strode out. Nanny Liu clenched her fists, her eyes full of resentment, then quickly disappeared.

Soon, the courtyards were filled with young ladies and maidservants, flustered and covering their noses with handkerchiefs.

“Nanny Zhao, what’s happening?” Xue Zhenyu sniffed first.

Nanny Zhao glanced at her coldly. “If I wanted to know, would I be standing here in the sun with you?”

The words instantly silenced Xue Zhenyu, who felt wronged but could only awkwardly step back.

Nanny Zhao surveyed the crowd. Every courtyard girl was present—except Yin Qingyue and Mei’er. Doubt crept into her mind. Could their courtyard be immune to the smell?

Seeing Nanny Zhao’s thoughtful expression, Xue Zhenyu suddenly realized something. “Madam, we’re all here… except that ugly wretch. Could it be—”

Before she could finish, Yin Qingyue appeared with Mei’er, slowly approaching. “Could it be… what?” she asked coolly.

Seeing the ringleader arrive, Xue Zhenyu immediately stopped, but Nanny Zhao knew exactly what she was about to say.

“Tell me, did you create this disgusting smell, ugly wretch?” Nanny Zhao’s eyes sharpened.

Mei’er, displeased, quickly spoke: “Madam, speak honestly! My mistress was reading inside until I noticed something was wrong and told her.”

Before she finished, Nanny Zhao slapped her across the face. “Impudent maid! Were you told to speak?”

Mei’er was filled with grievance, tears pooling in her eyes but refusing to fall.

Nanny Zhao, seeing that Yin Qingyue said nothing, assumed her place had been recognized. Proudly about to lecture her, suddenly—thud!—Nanny Zhao’s large body fell backward onto the ground, screaming.

“How dare you push me?” Nanny Liu rushed forward to help, but was shoved aside.

Nanny Zhao shouted to the guards: “Take this ugly wretch to the dark room! No water, no food!”

Yin Qingyue’s expression remained cold. “Nanny Zhao, are you sure? You really want to send me to the dark room?”

Hearing this, everyone froze. This “ugly wretch” had stabbed Nanny before, relying on Prince Jing. Now, without him, she dared to be so brazen.

Xue Zhenyu hurriedly added fuel to the fire: “You ugly wretch, you pushed Nanny and still dare threaten?”

Yin Qingyue’s calm gaze met hers, and Xue Zhenyu shivered as if struck by some terrible force, breaking out in sweat.

Xing’er, seeing her mistress remain motionless, nudged her.

Just then, Nanny Zhao remembered herself. “Don’t think that just because someone backs you, you can do as you please!”

Then she turned to Nanny Liu: “What are you standing there for? Help me up!”