An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 197

Qin Yi flashed her most brilliant smile while presenting the emerald jade pendant to Yun Shang. Qin Yi was on tenterhooks when she had accompanied Lord Zheng to Prince Jing's Mansion. She had served Yun Shang for a long time, and knew the Prince to some extent. However, she knew her master much better. She was afraid that Prince Jing would treat the Princess shabbily. But judging from Prince Jing's responses when Lord Zheng was announcing the Imperial Edict, Qin Yi saw no sign of hatred nor resentment on his face. He even gave his jade pendant to Qin Yi in everyone's presence.

In Qin Yi's opinion, this jade pendant had no other significance other than being of high value. But Lord Zheng told her that the jade pendant was the only valuable personal object Prince Jing had before he was adopted by the former Emperor Ning. It may be the only clue that would unfold the secret of his birth. Lord Zheng even told Qin Yi of an incident that happened two decades ago when His Majesty and Prince Jing were young boys. One day, His Majesty wanted to look at the jade pendant. But as soon as His Majesty seized the jade pendant in his hands, Prince Jing desperately pushed His Majesty down, and had a terrible fight with His Majesty.

It seemed that the jade pendant was by no means an ordinary jade to Prince Jing. It stood for his family members whom he had never met. Now, as Prince Jing was willing to present it to the Princess, it would mean that the Prince must love the Princess very much. The Princess was so clever, that she would clearly know how the Prince feels about her. The Princess would be very happy if she marries a person who loves her with his heart and soul.

Yun Shang took the emerald jade pendant from Qin Yi, and inspected it. The jade was, of course, of excellent quality. It was so smooth that it seemed to run through her fingers like emerald water. There were patterns of dragon and phoenix carved on the front face of the jade pendant, and a character, Luo, had been carved on the back.

So, the jade pendant explained why Prince Jing was surnamed Luo. Yun Shang gently rubbed the warm jade pendant while thinking of the stories behind it. Then her lips curled into a grin, "Qin Yi, teach me how to make a string knot*."

(TN *A string knot is a kind of ornament which can be hung on the waistband in Ancient China. It is a knot woven of colorful silk strings, with beautiful fringes on one end and a string on the other for hanging light objects. It can be used to carry jade, sachets, and other decorative articles. The Chinese Knot is one example of a string knot.)

Qin Yi smiled at Yun Shang. She teased as she spoke, "Yes. But why does Your Highness want to learn knotting today? Your Highness has never shown any interest in any women's craftsmanship before. I think Your Highness should also learn something about embroidering. At the very least, Your Highness should be capable of making shoes and underwear. Your Highness will soon be married. It is better that Your Highness makes the underclothes for the Prince."

Yun Shang flushed at that suggestion. Her face was as red as a lotus in blossom! As Yun Shang felt shy, she dared not raise her head and look at Qin Yi.

Qin Yi stopped worrying when she saw the Princess's embarrassment. It seemed that the Princess and Prince Jing were in love with each other. Qin Yi felt relieved as Lady Jin's expectation would not fail.

Although the wedding would be held within a month, Yun Shang was not very busy as everything was being prepared by the Ministry of Rites. Sometimes, the Empress visited Yun Shang to ask about the preparations for the wedding. As Yun Shang was quite free, she decided to follow up on affairs prior to Prince Jing's disappearance. She thought of Wen Qingzu and asked, "Where is Wen Qingzu being detained?"

"Court of Justice, " Qian Yin replied immediately. She had no idea why the Princess was asking about Wen Qingzu all of a sudden.

Yun Shang nodded, "Has the Head of the Court of Justice interrogated him or not in recent days?"

Qian Yin shook her head. "As His Majesty has issued an Imperial Edict, the Head of the Court of Justice will not dare to interrogate Wen Qingzhu without His Majesty's permission. After all, Prince Qingsu of Yelang is involved in this case..."

"Wen Qingzhu is a luckless guy. It seems that he fancies Hua Jing. Hum! I'm so surprised that my wanton sister would find such a faithful admirer." Yun Shang lowered her head and burst into laughter. "Tell me, what news do you have about my sister?"

"I'm afraid it's not good. Princess Hua Jing is now under house arrest in her Palace. As rumors about her have spread to every corner of the Imperial City, many people know how dissolute she is. She had an affair with Prince Qingsu shortly after her husband went missing. It could be deemed as treachery to commit adultery with a foreign Prince. I wonder whether Princess Hua Jing is capable enough to escape the charge or not." Qian Yin said with excitement in her eyes.

"Treachery?" Yun Shang shook her head slightly. "I don't think so. His Majesty thinks highly of the reputation of the royal family. His Majesty would not disclose such a scandal no matter how serious it is. At any rate, I should pay my dear sister a visit... as she has taken good care of me all these years."

But Qian Yin spoke worriedly, "Your Highness, the Empress seems to be paying a lot of attention to your wedding preparations. I am afraid that she will do something to ruin it. If Your Highness goes to see Princess Hua Jing now, and the Empress finds out about it, she might plot something..."

Yun Shang smiled, "What can she do even if she does find out about my visit? Although she hates me, she dares not to undermine my wedding as His Majesty is already angry with her. If she does any more awful things, even the Li Clan will not be able to protect her from the Emperor's wrath." Then Yun Shang laughed before continuing, "Besides, as I am going to visit my lovely sister publicly, I will, of course, not give anybody the chance to plot against me by taking advantage of my visit..."

Since Yun Shang was very careful and prudent, Qian Yin stopped worrying about the Princess's visit to Hua Jing. Then she left to make preparations for the visit.

That night, two guests appeared at Hua Jing's Palace. Hua Jing had never expected a visit from these two particular guests. Yun Shang heard the sound of things being smashed as soon as she stepped into the main yard. Then, Hua Jing's angry shouts followed. "Get out! All of you are incapable! How bold you are to serve me with tea that is so cold!"

Yun Shang was standing at the doorway, listening attentively. She could not help but burst into a fit of laughter when she heard Hua Jing's resonant voice. What a quick temper her sister had!

Several maids who looked quite disheveled, ran out from the chamber. As they had covered their face with their hands, they almost ran into Yun Shang. The maids noticed the two unexpected guests only after Qian Yin had pulled Yun Shang aside. All the maids raised their heads and stared in amazement at the two beautiful women before them.

The maids were so surprised that it took them a while to regain their composure. "Who are you? How did you get in?"

Yun Shang grinned and said nothing. She just looked at the door of the chamber. A short while later, Yun Shang saw Hua Jing walk out of the chamber. She seemed confused. "What's happening? Who is out there? Who will visit me..."

Hua Jing checked her anxious voice as soon as she caught sight of Yun Shang. Hua Jing looked at Yun Shang in amazement, too. How beautiful Yun Shang looked tonight! Yun Shang, in her green robe, was as delicate and pretty as a green lotus. And she looked so graceful that no one would doubt that she was a fairy from Heaven.

Hua Jing was jealous when she saw Yun Shang's beauty! She had to clench her teeth to suppress her anger. However, Hua Jing didn't want to lose her dignity before Yun Shang. After subduing her agony and tidying herself, Hua JIng asked coldly, "Why are you here? My Palace is strictly guarded. How did you come in?"

Yun Shang giggled at Hua Jing's question. "Sister, how important you are! Instead of guarding the Imperial City, the Imperial Guards have to protect you. Your Palace is indeed strictly guarded. But the new Imperial Commander told me that as I am a Princess and haven't made any mistakes, I can go wherever I want."

Hua Jing was enraged by Yun Shang's ironic tone. "Yun Shang, did you come here to deride me? I'm sorry as I will disappoint you. I am very well. I was born nobler than you, and I will, of course, die nobler than you as well. I was born to the Empress, and I am the Princess Royal of Ning. Your mother is just a deserted woman who spent most of her life in the Cold Palace. My mother has fed you and loved you for all these years. But you treated us in such a shameful way. You are no better than an ungrateful dog!"

Yun Shang laughed heartily as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. Yun Shang walked slowly toward Hua Jing. She was smiling at Hua Jing, but her gaze was cold. "Hum, your mother indeed treated me nicely. She spoiled me when I was a child. But she just did so to make me habituate enjoyment. Even the Grand Tutor hated teaching me. As a result, I grew into an illiterate, wayward Princess who earned an ill reputation among all the noble girls in the Imperial City. Besides, you and your mother have designed every conceivable method to eliminate me. You hired people to push me off high places and even poisoned my food. You and your mother have never gotten tired of thinking of ways to kill me... How well you and your mother have taken care of me..."