An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 136

"The State of Xia, lying to the south of the State of Ning, is a prosperous country. Unlike the brave and battle-wise people of the State of Yelang, people of the State of Xia focus on achievements in culture and education. It is in a favorable geographical location surrounded by seas on three sides and a towering mountain on the fourth. Therefore, the country has been peaceful for hundreds of years. The seventh Prince is the seventh son of the Emperor of the State of Xia, and also the most brilliant son of the Emperor. He was made a Prince at the age of seven, but at twelve, he became severely ill. From then on, his health has been poor, and the Emperor gradually snubbed him and awarded the Empress's ninth son as the title of Crown Prince the year before last."

Standing before Yun Shang, Qian Yin held a piece of parchment and read through it slowly. Then she closed the parchment and spoke softly to Yun Shang, "The seventh Prince is seldom seen in public because of his poor health, and there is very little information about him. The information we found is almost universally known. Other news may take a little longer."

Yun Shang nodded and took the parchment, "Good, keep inquiring about him."

Qian Yin nodded before asking curiously, "Your Highness, I have seen the seventh Prince several times from a distance over the past few days. He is clearly a sick man, breathless for a moment at every few words. Such a person..."

"What? Do you think such a person is not a threat?" Yun Shang arched an eyebrow. She knew what Qian Yin was thinking. "When I first came back to the Palace, I believe the Empress and Hua Jing looked at me the same way. After seven or eight years at Ning'guo Temple, I didn't know the tricks in the Palace. And I was so weak that I coughed for a long time when I spoke. But it was their contempt for me that gave me a chance, " she answered. "You know, an outstanding member of the royal family is almost always the source of envy and hence, an obvious target. The person who knows how to keep a low profile is wise."

Hearing what Yun Shang said, Qian Yin understood and quickly replied, "I let down my guard."

Yun Shang nodded. At this point, Qin Yi entered. She wore a strange expression as she handed Yun Shang an invitation. Then she said, "Your Highness, this is Cangjue Qingsu's invitation to you. He said that he has just come to the State of Ning and wanted to invite you to be his guide when he visits the Imperial City."

Yun Shang's mouth twisted, and she wondered about Qingsu's intention. To visit the Imperial City? To be his guide?

Qin Yi inquired with concern, "Your Highness, now that you are engaged, you can't accept the invitation. But Qingsu is our guest. How should we reply to him?"

Yun Shang reflected on it for a moment, and then a mischievous gleam reflected in her eyes. She told Qin Yi, "Send the invitation to Prince Jing's Mansion and tell him that Qingsu wants to invite me to be his guide when he tours the Imperial City. But a distinction should be made between males and females. It is not proper for me to accept his invitation. And since Prince Jing is my fiance, I ask him to accept the invitation on my behalf."

A smile flickered across Qin Yi's lips. She nodded and said, "I get it."

Yun Shang then turned to Qian Yin and asked, "How about Princess Hua Jing and the Empress?"

"Your Highness, these past few days, Princess Hua Jing has been resting in her Palace, but her Palace is very lively. Several groups of people have visited her Palace, the Empress's, the Grand Councilor's, Qingsu's, and of course, ours. Even the seventh Prince of the State of Xia seems to have sent people there, " Qian Yin answered with a grin.

"Oh?" Yun Shang's brows lifted. "Just keep her alive. She's still useful, " Yun Shang said.

Qian Yin answered with a nod. Then a voice came from outside, "Your Highness, Lady Wang, the daughter of the Minister of Defense and War, asks to see you."

"Wang Jinyan?" Yun Shang stood. She was somewhat fond of the chipper girl. When Yun Shang walked out of the inner Hall with a smile, she saw Wang Jinyan standing at the door. The Lady entered as soon as she saw the Princess. "Your Highness, how are you doing? Am I disturbing you?" She asked Yun Shang with a cheerful smile.

Yun Shang raised her eyes and gave Lady Wang a smile. "You have disturbed me. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Jinyan was not afraid at hearing the Princess's response. She shrewdly said, "Your Highness, don't be mad at me. Now I'm one of Prince Jing's little soldiers. If you tell him and he won't let me go to war, I'll cry myself to death."

Hearing this, Yun Shang raised her hand as if intending to strike Jinyan. Then she said, "Are you making fun of me? I think you want to get beaten."

Then the two girls laughed together. After a fair while, Yun Shang asked Jinyan, "Why do you come to the Palace?"

Jinyan smiled and answered, "My father has an audience with His Majesty. We hit it off immediately, but you seemed to have forgotten about me. You've never been out of the Palace, so I had to use the Jade Card you secretly sent to me before leaving for the Palace."

Yun Shang nodded and said, "I dare not leave the Palace to visit you. You make fun of me in the Palace. If I leave the Palace, who knows how you will bully me?"

"Your Highness, you have condemned me too severely. How dare I? Alas, when will there be a war? It's really boring in the Imperial City." Jinyan sighed and looked disappointed.

Yun Shang was amused. She said, "Only you think about war all day."

Jinyan smiled and whispered in Yun Shang's ear, "In fact, Prince Jing asked me to come here. Your Highness, you stay in the imperial household. And Prince Jing is a courtier who cannot enter the Palace often. I met him when I was buying jewelry with my cousin a few days ago. He seemed to be leaving the Imperial City. He asked me to come to the Palace frequently to accompany you and to tell you that he would be out of the Imperial City for three to five days and that you must be careful. Besides, he asked you to miss him."

Yun Shang felt that her words both funny and annoying. "He didn't say the last part, did he? That day, I found you so heroic, as excellent as any man. I thought you must be different from other young ladies. That was why I wanted to be friends with you. I didn't expect you to gossip as much as anyone else. Well, I'm not discerning, and I can't read you..." Yun Shang feigned a long, unhappy sigh, but thought, 'Now the envoys of the State of Xia and the State of Yelang are in the Imperial City. Why is Prince Jing out of the city?'

Suddenly it occurred to her that she had asked Qin Yi to send Qingsu's invitation to Prince Jing's Mansion. She frowned.

"You must be thinking about Prince Jing. You could almost kill a fly with your frown..." Jinyan laughed at Yun Shang's vexed look.

Yun Shang squinted before telling her about Qingsu's invitation. Hearing this, Jinyan became a little more serious and said, "Qingsu doesn't look like a nice guy. He even radiates gloom. He must have had an ulterior motive. I heard my brother say his target was Princess Hua Jing, wasn't it? Does he dislike Princess Hua Jing because of what happened to her? Anyway, you can't accept the invitation, Your Highness. How about I go home and tell my brother to help you with this. What do you think?"

Her brother, Wang Jinhuan? Yun Shang thought about it for a while and felt it might work. Jinhuan was so close to Prince Jing that if he told Qingsu that Prince Jing had asked him to accept the invitation, everyone would believe him. So, Yun Shang said, "Then, thanks to your brother. Ask your brother to go in the name of Prince Jing. By the way, tell your brother, if he handles this matter well, I'll ask Lady Ning Qian to have dinner with him."

"Lady Ning Qian? The most popular courtesan in the Imperial City in recent years? You know her, Your Highness? I also wanted to be friends with her. I've heard many people say she is as pretty as a fairy..." Jinyan's eyes lit up.

Yun Shang smiled and patted her hand. "Look at you, if I had not known you were a woman, I would have thought you were in love with her."

They continued talking for a while before Jinyan left the Palace. Qin Yi stood beside Yun Shang. She looked at the door and laughed and said, "Lady Wang is really a blunt and straightforward girl. It would be good if Your Highness makes friends with her. Moreover, the Minister of Defense and War is in charge of the mobilization of more than half of the State of Ning's army and the appointment of officers, which is of great benefit to Your Highness."

Yun Shang nodded with a smile. "You just said what I was thinking. The Minister of Defense and War is a family man. He has only one wife and has never had a concubine. He loves his wife and his two children. Such a man is very admirable."