MCSCPM -Chapter 89 The Scandal Spreads

“Miss! Miss! I heard that the Third Princess shamelessly slept with a palace guard!” Mei’er whispered as she returned from the kitchen with breakfast. She closed the door mysteriously behind her and leaned close to Yin Qingyue’s ear.

“What nonsense… I haven’t even slept yet…”

Yin Qingyue mumbled in annoyance, still half-asleep, hugging the blanket and turning over, ignoring the latest palace gossip. Last night, she had stayed up all night dealing with that scheming Prince Jing. She had only just laid down when Mei’er interrupted her. In hindsight, she should have left Mei’er at Luocheng Courtyard, but the thought passed quickly.

“Miss, I’m serious! Everyone’s talking. The Third Princess, lonely and unsatisfied in the dead of night, actually did indecent things with a palace guard—and the First Princess caught them in the act!”

Mei’er was undeterred by Yin Qingyue’s drowsiness, speaking excitedly.

“What? The Third Princess with a guard?”

“Yes, yes! I overheard it all along the way. Xiuer knows too. This story is spreading like wildfire in the palace. Soon even the Emperor and Empress will know.”

Seeing that her news had caught her mistress’s attention, Mei’er’s excitement grew.

Yin Qingyue frowned. This was clearly not as simple as it sounded.

She knew Prince Jing had been drugged last night. She had spent the night removing the effects of the aphrodisiac. Now, in the morning, palace rumors claimed the Third Princess had been caught with a guard—by First Princess Nangong Xiaoxiao no less. This confirmed that her suspicions from last night were likely true.

There were two possibilities:

1. Nangong Xiaoxiao had manipulated Nangong Wan to drug Prince Jing, creating a situation to force him to marry Wan. But Jing’s disgust for Wan would leave her with no chance, making Jing an easy prize for Xiaoxiao.
2. Xiaoxiao had drugged both Wan and Jing, then arranged for a guard to end up in Wan’s bed while Jing escaped. This would leave Wan utterly compromised and give Xiaoxiao the advantage.

But… Yin Qingyue frowned, thinking hard. Had she overlooked something? Was Xiaoxiao really the ultimate winner?

“Miss, since you know Prince Jing well, have you heard that he’s ill?” Mei’er asked innocently.

Yin Qingyue’s eyes flickered. That was it! Although Xiaoxiao gained from this, she and Wan were still sisters—albeit not full siblings—and their rivalry wasn’t murderous. The real winner was the victim: Prince Jing.

Both Xiaoxiao and Wan had long desired Jing, openly and secretly competing. But Jing had no affection for either and even showed strong dislike. Last night, after being drugged, he summoned his guard, secretly giving instructions. Yin Qingyue hadn’t thought much of it at the time—but now she realized: the guard had likely carried out some plan.

That plan was revenge on Wan. Xiaoxiao, initially intending to expose Wan, must have been shocked to see a stranger guard in Wan’s bed, and in a fit of rage, ruined Wan entirely.

Yin Qingyue shivered, clutching her blanket. The scandal of the two sisters was shocking enough, but Prince Jing’s ruthlessness—destroying a woman’s life so coldly—made her utterly wary.

This was someone to respect but keep distant; such a ruthless person was not to be trifled with.

Xishui Pavilion

“Kneel!” Nangong Lin was furious. He had never seen such a wayward daughter! He had always cared for her and secretly watched over her, fearing she might be wronged. But now, Nangong Wan had shamelessly slept with a guard! What sin had he committed to deserve this?

Wan knelt, tears streaming like broken pearls, her pale, frightened face pitiful.

But Nangong Lin had no mercy.

“Father… I was framed!” Wan pleaded, sobbing, hoping for sympathy.

“Framed? What do you mean framed? Your sister saw you in bed with a guard, naked and clinging together! Are her eyes blind?”

Nangong Lin stood abruptly, pacing furiously, trying to temper his uncontrolled rage.

“Wan… you…” The Empress, dressed elegantly, looked at Wan with disappointment, her faint crow’s feet betraying her disdain. Yet secretly, she was pleased—if Wan was in trouble, so was her rival, the Virtuous Consort. A handy development indeed.

The Virtuous Consort arrived, heartbroken to see her daughter in thin clothing kneeling on the ground, but she held back her emotion.

“Mother! Mother! I was set up!” Wan clutched her mother’s gown, crying bitterly.

The Virtuous Consort’s starry eyes flicked to the Empress He Minmin, then to Nangong Xiaoxiao, who was watching silently. A faint smile played at her lips—Wan wasn’t foolish. Xiaoxiao had help behind the scenes.

“Oh, sister’s here. Sit.” The Empress’s tone seemed proper, but her subtle intentions showed. Wan, sensitive and vulnerable, felt a chill. Had her mother abandoned her?

“Nangong Wan! Any last words?” The Emperor’s eyes blazed as he pointed at his kneeling daughter.

He shouted to the Virtuous Consort: “This is the daughter you raised? If you can’t teach her properly, put her under the Empress’s care!”

The Virtuous Consort’s heart sank, but she bowed, “Yes, Your Majesty. I admit my failure. I will leave Wan under her elder sister’s care.”

Wan’s last glimmer of hope vanished, yet she understood her mother’s intent. She said calmly, “I have nothing more to say. Father, do as you will.”

Wan had swallowed the insult, believing Xiaoxiao’s plan. She had been given the aphrodisiac and foolishly drank it herself. Yet Jing, clearly disgusted by her, had resisted even under extreme physiological risk. She had believed he had returned when her acupoints were released, only to awaken to see Xiaoxiao catch her with a stranger guard. Her beloved hated her, her sister betrayed her, her father distrusted her, and her mother wanted to distance herself. What could she say? She couldn’t tell her father Xiaoxiao’s scheme; the punishment would be worse.

But Wan wasn’t foolish. She knew as long as she survived, she could one day repay today’s humiliation.

“Fine! Fine! Nothing more to say!” Nangong Lin, seeing Wan kneeling expressionless and dazed, seethed, repeating “fine” twice. “Take that guard and execute him! Punish his entire clan! And do it secretly!”

He glared at the palace, “If I hear anyone gossiping, I’ll have their tongue pulled out!”

His cold gaze swept over Wan and Xiaoxiao—Wan was lifeless, Xiaoxiao trembled.

“Your Majesty, please calm down. Wan… did not mean to anger you. It is my fault for not teaching her properly.”

“Hmph!” Nangong Lin swept out angrily. “Virtuous Consort, reflect on this! Such a scandal! Where is the honor of our royal family? Of Xize?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will reflect seriously,” the Virtuous Consort said, understanding the Emperor’s wrath.

“Nangong Wan, confine her to her palace! No one is to visit without my permission!”

“Your servant (daughter) obeys, Your Majesty (Father)!”

Once Nangong Lin departed, the courtiers dared to move. The Empress, displeased, ordered, “Take the Second Princess back and confine her.”

Xiaoxiao, watching the eunuchs lead Wan away, felt uneasy. “If Mother has no further orders, Xiaoxiao will take her leave.”

The Empress gave Xiaoxiao a meaningful glance. “Xiaoxiao, well done. You informed me before your father. But now the entire palace knows, the storm is raging—who will bear the blame?”

Xiaoxiao hesitated, forcing a smile. “Naturally… those ignorant fools will bear it.”

“Enough. I am still weak from lingering poison. You may leave.” The Empress’s gaze was cold as Xiaoxiao exited Weiyang Palace.

The Virtuous Consort smiled faintly. “Sister, from now on, Wan’s affairs are no longer yours. I take my leave.”

Watching the Virtuous Consort remain composed and aloof, the Empress’s resentment deepened.

Outside Weiyang Palace, Xiaoxiao wiped sweat from her brow, steadied herself in the sunlight, and regained her proud elder princess composure. “Return to the palace.”

The attendants were about to escort her when she suddenly stiffened, staring intently at two approaching figures.

The young eunuch squinted. “Isn’t that Prince Jing of Beihao? Why is he entering the palace so early? Could the Second Princess’s scandal have reached outside?”

He thought it possible; the palace had many spies.

“Prince Jing, why enter the palace so early?” Xiaoxiao hurriedly checked her appearance, masking her involvement.

“I naturally come to pay respects to the Emperor and Empress.”

Prince Jing, clever as he was, knew Xiaoxiao masterminded this. Passing her, he still answered politely, but as he brushed past, he coldly said, “The elder princess is indeed skilled.”

The meaning was clear.

Xiaoxiao trembled. He knew?

She lifted her head, watching Jing walk away, muttering, “What did Prince Jing mean? Xiaoxiao doesn’t understand.”

Jing had no intention of explaining to such a scheming, unscrupulous woman and strode straight into Weiyang Palace. Last night he had sent his guard not only to Wan’s palace but also to Xiaoxiao’s, to see whether she was involved. The outcome was exactly as he expected.