An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 72

The feast ended in discord, and Hua Jing left in a hurry with her servants. As the guests began dispersing, Yun Shang frowned. Her body felt very weak. Just as she was about to find a place to sit, a hand held her shoulder.

Yun Shang turned and saw a handsome face. The expression on the face, however, made her shiver.

"They are all gone. Are you all right? May I send you to Qingxin Palace? Or would you prefer to return to Xiping Princess Palace?" Prince Jing sounded cold as usual. Yun Shang narrowed her eyes when she realized that he didn't follow royal etiquette when speaking. Instead, he sounded genuinely concerned.

It took Yun Shang a while to react to his offer. She shook her head and said, "I have to find my maids. I wasn't paying attention. One minute they were behind me, and in the next, they had disappeared."

"Do you need help?" Prince Jing lowered his voice and asked.

"No, thank you." Yun Shang smiled faintly. She raised her hands, took out a little-finger-sized jade flute and blew it gently.

The mellow timbre of the flute echoed around the Tower. In a few minutes, three women rushed forward and knelt in front of Yun Shang. They spoke simultaneously, "Master."

Yun Shang nodded, "Ning Qian, it seems Qian Yin and Qin Yi are missing. Send some people to look for them. I will wait while you search."

The leader raised her head and looked at the Princess. "Yes, Master. I will arrange the search right away." Then she stood up and nodded at Prince Jing before supporting Yun Shang.

Yun Shang turned and smiled at Prince Jing, "Thank you Uncle. And thank you, Wang Jinhuan. No words can express my appreciation for your help. If you need my help later, just let me know." After that, she nodded to the two men before leaving with Ning Qian.

Wang Jinhuan's mouth had been open so long, a fine trickle of drool was pooling on his robe. "Luo Qingyan, pinch me. I need to know if I am dreaming. Pinch me now."

Prince Jing looked at Wang in disbelief. Although Wang had sobered down a little, he still couldn't help but exclaim with astonishment, "Luo Qingyan, the woman who addressed your little Princess as master just now is the most famous courtesan in the Imperial City. That was Qian Qian… My goodness. I left no stone unturned to see her but never got the opportunity. I didn't expect that I would meet her here. What surprised me the most was that she addressed your little Princess as master."

"Well, yes. You'd better hurry up and take a good look at her. You may not get the opportunity again." Prince Jing replied coldly.

Wang Jinghuan nodded seriously, "Yeah, you bet!" Then he disappeared.

Prince Jing paused for a moment and murmured with a frown, "Typical." However, in the blink of an eye, his expression became cold, and his words were even colder. "Jing Ying."

A woman in black appeared in front of him. She knelt before the Prince with an expressionless face. She greeted him respectfully.

Prince Jing sneered. "I remember I made it clear that you should protect Princess Hui Guo. Where were you when she was intoxicated by the floral scent? Where were you when she was facing this danger alone? Where were you when she needed help? You were nearby, but you just watched it happen without even letting me know. Jing Ying, you have been taking my orders less and less seriously. So you don't have to follow me anymore."

The woman in black bit her lip and lowered her head. After a moment of silence, she bent forward and said, "I'm sorry."

Prince Jing's gaze fell on her back. Although his stare was cold, it seeming to burn through her. After a long time, he said, "You are the only female in my Shadow Guards. I didn't want to keep you but you begged to stay. Do you remember what you promised at that time?"

Still looking down, Jing Ying nodded her head slowly after a long while, "I do."

"You do? I believe that you have completely forgotten. Tell me about it then." Prince Jing looked up to the pavilion shrouded in mist. His face was expressionless.

Jing Ying found herself unable to speak. After much hesitation, she whispered, "I promised that I would never have any affection for you and that under no circumstance would I violate your orders. If I broke my promise, I would withdraw from martial arts and retreat from the Shadow Guards."

"So you remember? I thought you had forgotten. Since you remember, you know what happened today shouldn't have happened. I will give you one more chance. If you violate my orders again, you will have to fulfill your commitments. Follow your new master. Later, if you are alive while she has an accident, you don't need to come back anymore."

Jing Ying nodded and whispered, "Yes." Then she disappeared.

Ning Qian helped Yun Shang out of Qianxin Tower. They walked through an alley and entered a courtyard for common people. The yard was small and contained several rooms.

Ning Qian took Yun Shang's pulse. Assured that nothing else was wrong with the Princess, she let go of her hand. She said softly, "You are all right. It was only a kind of flower that excites people and makes them hallucinate. You got through it, and the medicine you took was good. So you are okay now, only a little weak because your body struggled to resist the drug."

Yun Shang nodded. "That's good. I thought I was immune to all kinds of poison. However, it seems I still got intoxicated."

Ning Qian smiled. "You are only immune to some common poisons. This is not a poison. However, you have better resistance to these things than ordinary people. You have been back at the Palace for many days. If you didn't give me orders occasionally, I would think that you forgot about me."

Yun Shang saw Ning Qian pouting. She laughed at her unhappy look. "Look at you. If your clients see you like this, they will certainly go crazy. I have my own difficulties. When I had just returned, the Palace was heavily guarded, and I was unfamiliar with the situation, so I didn't dare to act rashly. I got out of the Palace some days ago, but I still didn't dare to contact you. You and I have special identities. If we make a careless mistake, what we have elaborately arranged will be destroyed in no time."

Seeing Yun Shang like this, Ning Qian sighed as well. "Don't worry. I didn't spend all these years in the Imperial City in vain. Right now, I don't dare to speak of important matters, but most nobles in the city listen to me."

"I know. I know. With your beauty and talent, you can make any man throw himself at your feet." Yun Shang bantered while laughing.

While they were talking, the door opened. Qin Yi and Qian Yin walked in. On seeing Yun Shang, they rushed over and said, "Your Highness, are you all right?"

Yun Shang nodded. "I am sitting here safe and sound." Then she looked up at Qin Yi and Qian Yin. "What about you two? What happened? I didn't even know when you disappeared."

Qian Yin frowned. "Qin Yi and I were taken on the way to the riddle with you and Mister Mo. This was right after we met Prince Jing and Mister Wang. At that time, you were talking with Mister Mo, and the mist was very thick. Suddenly, I felt my eyes sting with harsh smoke and couldn't see anymore. When I was about to speak, I felt a staggering blow and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a small room used for storing firewood in Qianxin Tower. I went out to have a look and found the place empty. Then I happened to meet the two people who were looking for us, and I got out."

Qin Yi nodded. "My experience was similar to that of Qian Yin's."

Yun Shang replied. "I understand. What happened today needs no investigation. It must be Hua Jing's plan. Ning Qian, help me find out what the mist in Qianxin Tower was. I feel it's bizzare. I wonder why there was no mist in the pavilion and why people standing there could see the movements of people near the lakeside."

Ning Qian answered, "Don't worry. I assure you I'll find out."

Yun Shang nodded and turned to Qin Yi and Qian Yin. "Let's go back to the Princess Palace first. A big scene will happen there. How can we miss it?" Then she stood and walked outside.

When Yun Shang arrived with Qin Yi and Qian Yin, the Princess Palace was in chaos. Yun Shang frowned, stopped a random maid and asked, "What happened? Why are you running in such a hurry?"

The maid turned and saw that Princess Yun Shang had stopped her. She immediately curtsied and said, "Your Highness, Lady Zhao fainted after she heard the news that the Emperor's son-in-law was trapped in an empty city on the frontier. He's been trapped for more than ten days. When Princess Hua Jing returned from the banquet, she called the Imperial Physician to check Lady Zhao. After taking medicine, Lady Zhao started to quarrel with Princess Hua Jing. She called Princess Hua Jing a jinx. Lady Zhao insisted that the Emperor's son-in-law had been trapped because of Princess Hua Jing. Princess Hua Jing got mad as well and quarreled with her. Then Lady Zhao went back to her room and wrote a letter with her blood. Now she has gone to the Palace with the letter to see the Emperor. She wants to request that he send an army to save the Emperor's son-in-law. She also wants to beg that the Emperor allow the Princess to divorce the Emperor's son-in-law."

Yun Shang was stunned. She knew that Lady Zhao was not easy to deal with and that she would undoubtedly create a great disturbance. However, she didn't expect that Lady Zhao would write a bloodletter and go to the Emperor.

The Emperor will be in a dilemma this time. Yun Shang remembered that Lady Zhao's husband was a general admired by the people and that she had been the recipient of an honorary title by the Emperor. Now, her son was trapped on the frontier, and she threatened with her life. She wondered what decisions her father would make.

However, Hua Jing would definitely fall into disrepute this time, no matter what decisions he would make.

Thinking about that Yun Shang then asked, "What about Princess Hua Jing? What is she doing right now?"

The maid answered, "Princess Hua Jing is still on the warpath in her room. The Princess said that she would let Lady Zhao do as she wished because she believes that the Emperor would not relent. The Princess also said that she would stay here even if she was a real jinx so that Lady Zhao could see how much trouble she could cause."

Yun Shang squinted. "Hua Jing must be very mad. That's right. She didn't succeed in setting me up and was called a jinx. Many people attended the feast, and before long, the whole Imperial City would know that she was fated to mourn her husband's death. They would also think that her husband was trapped because of her."

The maid left hurriedly. Qin Yi moved closer and asked, "Your Highness, where are we going now?"

Yun Shang smiled. "At this moment, if I go to see Hua Jing, who is in a fit of anger, she would probably take it out on me. I am not that stupid. Lady Zhao is sure to make much noise at the Palace. It will not be long before my father sends somebody to summon Hua Jing to the Palace. That being the case, I might as well go to the Palace to wait for her. If the show begins in the Palace, there will be many supporting roles as well. Let's go!"

Yun Shang told the servants to prepare the carriage and then left for the Palace.

When they arrived, she didn't go to Qinzheng Hall. Instead her first stop was Qiwu Palace. Upon arrival, she saw Xiu Xin standing in the yard. She was directing the maids and eunuchs. When Xiu Xin saw Yun Shang, she was surprised and promptly came to greet her, "Your Highness, why are you here?"

Yun Shang replied, "Xiu Xin, something terrible has happened at the Princess Palace. Hurry up and take me to my mother."

Xiu Xin looked at Yun Shang doubtfully before saying, "The Empress is talking to Lady Jin right now. Follow me."

Yun Shang was astonished at her words. "Mother? Talking to the Empress?" Even though she was surprised, she didn't show it. She followed Xiu Xin to the main Hall.

Indeed, the Empress and Lady Jin were both there. Yun Shang glanced at Lady Jin and then looked at the Empress.

The Empress saw Yun Shang, smiled brightly and waved to her, "Shang'er, how come you have come here? Aren't you supposed to be at Hua Jing's Palace? Why are you here?"

Seeing Lady Jin's hands tremble slightly, Yun Shang felt a twinge in her heart. She wanted to rush to her mother but instead, she hurriedly walked to the Empress. "Mother. Something terrible has happened in sister's Palace."

"Hua Jing?" The Empress frowned and asked, "What's wrong with Hua Jing? What happened?"

"I don't know where to begin." Her face buckled and twisted with worry.

The Empress smiled gently, touched Yun Shang's hands, and said, "Take it easy. Tell me slowly."

Yun Shang closed her eyes and pretended to pull herself together. Then she replied, "Several days ago, a monk from Ning'guo Temple came and begged for alms in the morning. Since Lady Zhao believes in Buddhism, she asked the monk to come inside and gave him some alms. Out of appreciation, the monk proposed to tell her fortune by analyzing characters for her. Lady Zhao heard from somewhere that monks from Ning'guo Temple were expert fortune-tellers, so she accepted joyfully. That monk said that the Emperor's Son-in-law was trapped and the person who trapped him was someone who was superior to him and lived with him. After hearing his words, Lady Zhao thought the person the monk mentioned was sister."

"Ridiculous!" The Empress scolded in a low voice with a frown.

Yun Shang nodded immediately, "Sister and I both thought it was unreliable. So she quarreled with Lady Zhao. To prove that the monk's prediction was untrue, she sent some people to the frontier to inquire about the Emperor's son-in-law. Today, she held a feast in Qianxin Tower. When we were at the feast, a servant reported that the Emperor's son-in-law was trapped in an empty city. The servant added that Lady Zhao remembered what the monk said the other day and now, she truly believes that Hua Jing is bad luck for her husband. In anger, she wrote a bloodletter and went to see father. She's demanding that an army be sent to save the Emperor's son-in-law and to let sister divorce him."

"What?" The Empress slammed her hand on the table before standing. "That Lady Zhao is still so tough and doughty. I will stop her from asking the Emperor's permission for the divorce! Where is Hua Jing?"

Yun Shang answered, "Sister is extremely upset, and is still sulking in the Palace. I saw the situation was not good, so I came here to let you know in case of any accident."

The Empress frowned. "This silly girl... The situation is extremely urgent. How can she be sulking on her own, which is not helpful at all?" Then Empress left the Palace.

Yun Shang turned to look at Lady Jin, who stayed calm and didn't even move. She smiled at Lady Jin mischievously, and Lady Jin shook her head with resignation. Relieved, Yun Shang followed the Empress.

When they were outside Qinzheng Hall, they heard the furious voice of Lady Zhao. "The monk from Ning'guo Temple told the fortune. He said that Hua Jing would be the cause of Yingjie's entrapment. If Hua Jing doesn't leave Yingjie, he will continue to suffer from disasters. Your Majesty, my family members have been generals for generations. We sweat and shed blood to protect our homes and defend our country. We even sacrifice ourselves. I don't want my son to suffer because of a woman."

The Emperor Ning sounded exhausted, "I have decreed that Prince Jing will lead the cavalry to save him. But I don't agree that he was trapped because of Hua Jing."

"I don't agree either!" The Empress stepped into Qinzheng Hall and spoke with contempt in her voice. "We know that the Zhao family has contributed to our country, and I thought you were upright and noble as you unflaggingly raised your son after General Zhao died on the battlefield. What's more, Zhao Yingjie is a real man. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to this marriage. Moreover, you didn't disagree either when they got married. However, after Hua Jing married your son, you tried everything to pick on her. Now you want her to divorce your son for a random excuse? You said this is good for your son. Did you stop and wonder what people will think of Hua Jing if she gets divorced? She is my daughter and a Princess.

With a stubborn look, Lady Zhao knelt and said, "I am ignorant. I only know that while reputation is important, human life is more valuable."

The Empress sat down next to the throne. She looked at Lady Zhao sharply and raised her voice, "You said that it's because of Hua Jing that your son was trapped. But Hua Jing never stepped out of the Imperial City. It's obvious that your son was defeated due to his incapability. How dare you shirk responsibility and shift the blame onto a weak woman!"

The Emperor frowned. "Enough. Stop quarreling. Is this a good time to argue?"

Then he said to Lady Zhao, "I am not quibbling, but I have done everything I can and have sent people to the frontier to save him. Also, your reasons for asking Hua Jing to divorce Yingjie are unfounded. Zhao Yingjie did nothing wrong. Why should Hua Jing divorce him? Let's both make a concession. Just go back and wait for the message."

Lazy Zhao stayed on the floor. She spoke loudly, "Since you don't agree, I will not beg anymore. I also don't expect you to send people to save my son. I will go myself. I could fight with my husband twenty years ago, and today, I can go to the frontier for my son. As for Hua Jing, " Lady Zhao stopped to snicker before continuing, "I will not say much about your daughter. You should know by now. She holds feasts and has fun with her fair-weather friends. She never cared about me. She is hard on the servants and doesn't keep the virtues of a woman. I don't want to mention these, and only ask that you let Hua Jing divorce my son. I have tried my best to save your dignity and that of the Princess. I will say nothing more if you don't agree. However, I will not admit that Hua Jing is my daughter-in-law anymore. I will leave now." After finishing, Lady Zhao stood up and left the Hall.

Yun Shang thought that even though Lady Zhao's reasons were farfetched, her last words were very strong and powerful. When she was contemplating, she heard a maid scream, "Ahh. The Empress fainted, "

In a daze, Yun Shang turned to see. "What is going on?"

Although she was confused, she pretended to be worried and followed the maid. She saw the maids help the Empress lie down on a bed in the side Hall behind Qinzheng Hall.

Before long, the Imperial Physician arrived and checked the Empress's pulse. After a while, he knelt in front of Emperor Ning with a joyful look.

Yun Shang frowned. She had a bad feeling because of the Physician's expression. Before she could figure out why the Physician was smiling, she heard him announce, "Congratulations, Your Majesty and Your Highness. The Empress is pregnant."