An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 183

Yun Shang fell silent as it reminded her of another accident that happened today. Wen Ruyu seemed prepared when she dressed like Yun Shang and tried to seduce Prince Jing, although he wasn't trapped. It was clear that she was an accomplice of the culprit, or at the very least, she knew them.

And it also came to Yun Shang that she was taken to Wen Mansion when she was kidnapped.

Perhaps, Ruyu was under the Grand Councilor's orders? It wouldn't be surprising as the Wen Clan worshiped Grand Councilor Li a lot.

Was the culprit Li Jingyan?

But... Yun Shang paused for a while. It was rather reckless of the Grand Councilor to do anything to Prince Jing now. It was a well-known fact that he and Prince Jing did not get along. If accidents happened to Prince Jing, most people would doubt the Grand Councilor first. What's more, Yelang's army was still laying siege, and the State of Xia was waiting for Ning to lower its guard. If the two countries joined together, the State of Ning would be in danger. No one else in Ning was as authoritative and resourceful as Prince Jing as a military leader. If misfortune happened to him, the State of Ning would also be at risk.

The Grand Councilor had been trying to replace Prince Jing with his own men over the years. But he had failed to find anyone with as much martial prowess as the Prince. At this crucial time, he wouldn't dare to do anything to Prince Jing.

Yun Shang turned to Qian Yin, and asked, "If you were the person who abducted Prince Jing, where would you take him?"

Qian Yin was stunned by the unexpected question. She paused for a while before answering, "Your Highness, you always said that the most dangerous place is also the safest. Perhaps, the culprit is hiding in the temporary imperial palace?"

Yun Shang smiled at her words, but didn't speak.

Suddenly, the rapid sound of a flute came from the distance. Yun Shang heard the sound, and glanced at Qian Yin. The latter nodded, walked to the window, and pushed it open. A piece of parchment was pinned at the window frame with a golden needle. Qian Yin took it off and had a look. Her expression suddenly changed. She reported to Yun Shang, "Your Highness, they've found something strange in a small yard on the east of the city."

Yun Shang took the parchment. As she started to read, surprise flashed in her eyes. It read, "Men in gray entered a yard on the east side of the city, carrying a litter with them. The yard was newly bought by a Lin Hua five days ago."

"I need to have a look. You, stay here while I'm away." Yun Shang ordered before jumping out the window.

"Your Highness!" Qian Yin called. She ran to the window and looked out, but Yun Shang had disappeared from her sight. Qian Yin bit her lip and complained, "Your Highness, you are at the temporary imperial palace! How can I excuse your disappearance if His Majesty asks?"

Because of the accidents, the guard in the palace had been fortified. It took Yun Shang great effort to sneak out. And in the process, she got several cuts on her arms.

As soon as she got out, Yun Shang got in touch with Ning Qian. She asked Ning Qian to take her to the mentioned yard. As they arrived, Yun Shang looked around, and saw that the yard was well-guarded. Her heart beat quickened at the scene, as it seemed that the Prince was indeed held here. But she didn't find any of his bodyguards around.

Ning Qian had excellent dexterity because of her mastery of Qinggong. She jumped into the yard first. Yun Shang crouched under a window, and listened to the rustling sounds. After a while, she heard a low whistle.

Yun Shang quickly climbed inside. The yard was not large. It had four entries, and at the front, was a garden with beautiful flowers. Yun Shang and Ning Qian hid in the garden and waited. Yun Shang had a quick look around, and saw that the yard was heavily guarded. However, none of the guards seemed to be a martial arts master. Yun Shang reckoned that she could cope well.

Suddenly, someone walked toward them. As the guard came closer, Yun Shang darted a few silver needles toward the man's head. Seeing the man stagger and fall, she nodded to Ning Qian, and the latter threw a firework lamp to the uttermost corner. The lamp exploded with a loud boom. As the dazzling light and the earsplitting explosion settled, the two of them noticed that the vestibule of the front yard had caught fire.

"Fire! Fire alarm!" Before long, they heard panicked yelling. Ning Qian held Yun Shang by the waist, jumped up, and flew onto a roof.

Yun Shang spotted someone walking toward the front hall. But she then saw that a few skilled guards exchanged looks before gathering outside the door of a remote room.

A flicker of hope appeared in Yun Shang's eyes. She gestured to Ning Qian, and the latter carried her onto the roof of that room.

They heard a low voice speaking, "I'm afraid they've found us. Let's transport Princess Yun Shang to His Lordship's mansion."

Yun Shang was surprised. Did they mention Princess Yun Shang? But she was right here.

Before she could think it over, she saw two men in gray clothes carrying a crimson figure dash out of the room. They disappeared in a few seconds.

"Your Highness..." Ning Qian quietly asked for her opinion.

Yun Shang cast a vexed glance at the direction in which the figures disappeared and murmured, "It seems I am their target, not uncle." Yun Shang had seen the woman's face. The woman they carried was Wen Ruyu, who had dressed in Yun Shang's clothes to seduce Prince Jing.

"Follow them. And report to me where they went. I need to return to the temporary imperial palace now." After giving her orders, Yun Shang turned and headed towards the palace. She thought to herself as she jumped between the trees and roofs, 'If he wasn't being held here, where could he be?'

"Your Highness! You are back!" As Yun Shang entered the inner chamber, she saw her maids pacing up and down the room. Anxiety reflected on their faces. Yun Shang smiled as she asked, "What happened? Did something happen?"