An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 186

The people who did not answer stared at each other. Though aghast, they made an obeisance by cupping one hand in the other before their chest. "We agree!" they responded promptly.

Yun Shang smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your support!"

After completing the plan, Yun Shang returned to her palace. Qian Yin was waiting for her in the Hall. Seeing Yun Shang, the maid rushed toward her. "The Empress asked you to visit her in Qiwu Palace. I was worried that she might realize that you're not home, so Ning Qian pretended to be you and lay on the bed. I told them that you were in shock ever since you heard of Prince Jing's disappearance. Then the Empress sent her servants to check. Luckily, Ning Qian tricked them."

Yun Shang nodded. She thought the Empress just wanted to question her since she had heard about what happened to Hua Jing. 'It was her daughter who did not preserve her own purity. Who's to blame?' Yun Shang grinned as she thought.

"I see. I'll visit her tomorrow. I feel tired today. Let's prepare for bed!" said Yun Shang. It was almost dawn. The princess was so sleepy that she didn't even remove her clothes. The moment she lay down, she fell asleep.

It was noon when she woke. After she got up and ate some food, she intended to go to Qiwu Palace. But before she left, Lord Zheng arrived. "Have you come for me?" asked Yun Shang when she saw him. "Did you find Prince Jing?"

Lord Zheng shook his head slightly. He responded after a pause. "It's the seventh Prince of the State of Xia and Lord Hua Guo. They came to the Imperial Palace. Lord Hua Guo said that he wanted to see you, so your father sent me here to invite you."

Yun Shang frowned. "Lord Hua Guo? Why does he want to meet me?" Yun Shang thought for a while, and she remembered the day they stayed in Yuman Tower. On that day, Lord Hua Guo kept staring at Prince Jing for a long time. Yun Shang began to suspect that Prince Jing's disappearance had something to do with him.

"Well, I am just about to go inquire after my father. Let's go, " said Yun Shang as she stood. Then she went to Qinzheng Hall with Lord Zheng.

When they arrived, the Emperor was playing chess with Lord Hua Guo, and Xia Houjing was watching with gusto. Yun Shang came to them and watched as well. Seeing that their strengths were evenly matched on the chessboard, she kept silent.

After a while, they stopped playing. "I have not seen you in years. You are getting better with your chess skills, " laughed the Emperor.

Lord Hua Guo laughed too. "You are too modest. Your skills have improved more than mine. You beat me faster than you did 20 years ago."

Yun Shang looked at the chessboard. She found that Lord Hua Guo had failed by just three steps.

"Shang'er?" The Emperor looked at Yun Shang when he asked her. Concern reflected in his eyes. "I heard that you fainted yesterday when you arrived home. Are you feeling better now?"

Yun Shang produced a forced smile. "Don't worry, I'm better now. I am healthy. Since I was stressed, I had a relapse. Prince Jing's life is uncertain, that makes me sad. Luckily, Master Wu Na gave me enough medicine. So I'm fine now."

Hearing her words, Lord Hua Guo raised a quizzical eyebrow and looked at Yun Shang. "I have heard that Master Wu Na is a very capable and talented person. I'll visit him another day. Your Highness is young. I'm wondering what ill has befallen you. I know something about medicine too. May I take your pulse to diagnose?"

Yun Shang smiled softly, with a kind of awkwardness. When she came back to the palace, she had prepared adequately so as not to be debunked by physicians. So instead of refusing, she stretched out her hand toward Lord Hua Guo.

Lord Hua Guo felt her pulse carefully. He frowned. After a while, he spoke. "Your Highness's pulse is erratic. It seems that you were poisoned when you were a child. It was quite toxic, but you are lucky as you were helped by a master. However, your vitality was hurt. As a result, your body is not in a good condition."

Hearing Lord Hua Guo's explanation, the Emperor looked worried. "Do you know any way to cure her?" He asked anxiously.

Lord Hua Guo shook his head. "The most important thing for Her Highness is to rest well. If not, I'm afraid worries and fatigue would kill her."

Yun Shang was calm when she heard this. She smiled, "Master Wu Na often reminded me to make my mind as still as water. But I am too young to reach that state of enlightenment. By the way, Master Wu Na also told me that the chances of me giving birth are slim. So it would not be easy for me find a husband. But I feel that life would be boring if I do not get married and have children in the future."

The Emperor was astonished upon hearing that. He hadn't realized that his daughter's health was in such a terrible condition until Yun Shang told him. It made him more anxious. Yun Shang was his and Shu Jin's fruit of love. If something horrible happened to her, Shu Jin would be devastated. Thinking of that, he regretted ever doubting her loyalty.

"Since it is so, why did you agree to marry Prince Jing?" the Emperor asked.

Yun Shang lowered her head as she grinned. "He knew about the state of my health before."

'He knew it? But he still agreed to marry her?' The Emperor frowned as he thought. 'What is his intention?'

Yun Shang chuckled to settle his doubts. "I begged him." She glanced at Xia Houjing and Lord Hua Guo. Then she stopped talking.

The Emperor noticed her gaze, and kept silent too. After a while, he looked up at Lord Hua Guo and spoke with him. "You said that you wanted to see her. For what? Now you can talk with her."