MCSCPM -Chapter 78 The Sacrifice

“You… what are you looking at?” Nanny Liu shouted, her voice straining. Having taken money from Xue Zhenyu and become an accomplice in her scheme, she naturally felt guilty.

“I… I’m just studying how you deal with people, Nanny,” Yin Qingyue said, narrowing her eyes and smacking her lips. “Even the Officer could be bribed by you—tsk tsk, truly impressive!”

“You saw that?” Nanny Zhao flicked her sleeve. In Luochenyuan, she was the authority, and even if Yin Qingyue saw it, there was nothing she could say. She glanced Yin Qingyue over. This time, after returning, the girl seemed changed—already enough to give her headaches, now even more assertive. Nanny Zhao pondered how to get Yin Qingyue to keep quiet.

“I didn’t see much. What, Xue Zhenyu has measles? Should I check on her? That disease spreads easily—if it spreads, and everyone gets infected, you, Nanny, won’t escape blame either,” Yin Qingyue said, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Zhao Nanny.

“I’ve already isolated her. If you want to go, go ahead. But if you catch it and die… it’s not our responsibility.” Zhao Nanny tilted her head. “If the Crown Prince demands her, I’m afraid even we couldn’t deliver…”

“Oh? You’re hiding what my lord wants and not handing it over? Planning a rebellion?” A cold, authoritative voice came from behind. Zhao Nanny stiffened, swallowing with difficulty, and cautiously turned around. “C-Crown Prince…”

It was over—they’d been caught red-handed! How unlucky! Zhao Nanny and Nanny Liu fell to their knees with a “thump.”

“Zhao Nanny, have you been acting so arrogantly in Luochenyuan that you’ve forgotten your place?” Nangongxiao said coldly. “I don’t mind helping you learn firsthand what happens when you defy your master!”

“Your Highness, please spare me! I was blinded by greed—I never meant it!” Zhao Nanny kowtowed repeatedly. Nanny Liu was already scared stiff, having said nothing, yet still drawn into the Crown Prince’s wrath—a complete misfortune!

“Take them away, twenty strikes each. You two, behave yourselves for a while!” Nangongxiao smiled slightly, then turned to Yin Qingyue.

“Your Highness, I beg you! I won’t dare again!” Zhao Nanny shouted.

“Your Highness, I didn’t say anything! It was all Zhao Nanny—I’m innocent!” Nanny Liu quickly tried to clear herself.

“Well, Liu Nanny, you know how to save yourself in times like this. The Crown Prince’s judgment is wise—but too late!” Zhao Nanny said, dragging Nanny Liu down, praising Nangongxiao along the way.

Nangongxiao waved his hand impatiently. “Take them away!”

“I am Yin Qingyue, reporting to the Crown Prince.” She bowed, but her eyes sparkled with amusement—meeting Nangongxiao under these circumstances still brought her joy.

“Why still call yourself ‘commoner’?” Nangongxiao stepped forward, helping her up gently.

The contrast made Zhao Nanny and Nanny Liu jealous. Why did that plain girl get special treatment from the Crown Prince?

“Perhaps it’s right not to change—see? Even a fifth-rank imperial physician, and yet still stuck in Luochenyuan?”

Nangongxiao’s expression darkened as he listened to Yin Qingyue’s self-deprecating tone. “Even though you saved my life, I still feel powerless in return.”

“I suppose my name should have been on that list too?” Yin Qingyue smoothed her shiny black hair, twirling the tips between her fingers. “Perhaps I should sincerely thank the Crown Prince?”

Nangongxiao’s lips curved into a sudden smile as he looked at her sharp chin.

“You’ve saved me so many times, and I merely pulled you out of the whirlpool I dragged you into. I haven’t even freed you completely. And yet you want to thank me? Then my gratitude is beyond measure… must I repay you… with my life?” He raised an eyebrow, speaking seriously.

“Haha, Your Highness, don’t joke…” Yin Qingyue laughed.

“I’m not joking. Miss Yin, I truly feel… the time spent with you is comfortable. No scheming, no hidden threats. If someone stands silently behind me, supporting me… thinking that person could be you makes me happy!”

By the end, Nangongxiao had abandoned his formal “I” title.

“Your Highness…” Yin Qingyue looked up, meeting Nangongxiao’s gentle gaze. Her seriousness made it impossible for her to say the words “still joking” she had intended. At the same time, for some reason, a cold face suddenly flashed in her mind.

“I…” Yin Qingyue shook her head, about to refuse, but Nangongxiao seemed to read her thoughts. A hint of melancholy passed through his eyes. “I don’t ask for your answer now, but at least consider it. Don’t dismiss me outright—give me hope, will you?”

Yin Qingyue avoided his gaze. Such a promise was too heavy—she couldn’t give it.

“Your Highness, there’s activity over there!”

A guard interrupted their conversation. Nangongxiao nodded, glancing deeply at Yin Qingyue one last time. “I await your reply,” he said, and left.

“Miss, what did the Crown Prince say to you?” Mei’er asked, stepping forward. She had been quietly behind them during the conversation and had another matter to bring up.

Seeing Yin Qingyue lost in thought, Mei’er went on. “Miss, Xing’er said she wants to see you.”

“Mm, I understand.” Yin Qingyue snapped out of her reverie, shook her head to clear the tangled thoughts, and led Mei’er to the agreed meeting place.

The crowd in Luochenyuan had thinned. Xue Zhenyu’s measles excuse kept her inside, making things quieter.

“Miss Yin.” Xing’er bowed slightly. After standing, she remained silent, her expression complicated as she looked at Yin Qingyue.

Yin Qingyue, uncomfortable under the mix of envy and admiration in her gaze, asked directly, “What is it?”

Xing’er sighed. “Why can someone like you gain the favor of the Crown Prince?”

“…” Yin Qingyue was silent for a moment. Mei’er, however, laughed sarcastically. “Ha! Are you still dreaming of flying to the branches like a phoenix? You’re just a servant—do your job well, that’s how you survive!”

“Exactly. Do your job well. Now… I feel like I’m not even fit to be a servant,” Xing’er said self-mockingly.

“What do you want with me? If it’s just to complain, know this: you’re wasting my time!” Yin Qingyue snapped. She couldn’t indulge everyone’s whining.

Unexpectedly, Xing’er hesitated, then said, “Xue Zhenyu… she gave herself measles—it’s not a real disease!”

Ah, she had just been hesitating whether betraying her mistress was worth it.

Yin Qingyue smiled softly. “I see. No wonder it seemed too coincidental. This explains everything. That’s useful information—well done.”

“What… will you do to Miss Xue?” Xing’er asked, uneasy.

“Not yet. I’ll leave her be for a few days. Do you want to act as a double agent?” Yin Qingyue glanced coldly at her.

Xing’er paled, shaking her head. “No! Miss Yin holds power over me; I dare not betray you again…”

Yin Qingyue touched her chin. If she remembered correctly, Xue Zhenyu treated Xing’er well, almost as a confidante. Yet betrayal came so easily? Yin Qingyue never truly trusted Xing’er, but having her near Xue Zhenyu was a good chess piece.

“No one noticed you came out, right?” Yin Qingyue looked around. With no one nearby, she prepared to leave.

“Mm…” Xing’er nodded quietly. “If I stayed out too long, Miss would get suspicious. She doesn’t trust me like before, so…”

“You know what happens to a useless pawn, don’t you?” Yin Qingyue said with a faint smile.

Xing’er panicked, nodding. “Yes! I promise I’ll be useful!”

Finally, Yin Qingyue had a few peaceful days. But just as she began to relax, the palace summoned her. “Her Majesty the Empress is unwell. Please come at once, Divine Physician Yin.”

Yin Qingyue had barely left the palace before returning to the same place. This time, she didn’t linger, being hurried directly to He Minmin’s bedchamber.

Seeing He Minmin’s pale, weak appearance, she asked, “Poisoned?”

After the imperial medical staff was reorganized, only those with real skill remained. They couldn’t likely solve the Empress’s poisoning, but they could sustain her temporarily. This measure seemed effective.

Nangonglin and the Crown Prince waited there. Hearing her question, Nangonglin nodded grimly. “We beg your help.”

At the time, he had been eating with the Empress. She ate a bowl of fish soup first and instantly succumbed to the poison. Nangonglin could imagine that had he eaten it without noticing…

“I will do my best,” Yin Qingyue said. She opened her needle case, carefully sealing the Empress’s vital acupoints to stop the poison from spreading.

After a thorough examination, she deduced the type of poison.

“This is a type of zhendu poison documented in medical books. The poison itself is rare, and the antidote even rarer. Fortunately, the Empress is only lightly poisoned. We can temporarily sustain her with ginseng needles. I’ve never treated this exact case before, so… I’ll need some time to detoxify her!”

Nangonglin, looking at the lifeless Empress, restrained his anger. “Fine, but I order you: you must find a way to save Her Majesty, or…”

“I understand!” Yin Qingyue nodded.

Nangonglin slammed the table in anger. “How dare a traitor have the audacity to commit such heinous acts in the palace! Crown Prince, I order you to uncover the truth within a month—can it be done?”

“I will not fail, Father!” Nangongxiao replied loudly.