An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 199 Scheming And Plotting (Part Two)

Yun Shang was startled, but she managed to put on a bright smile. "Mother prepared the wedding

dress for me twenty years ago. It's really beautiful. Actually, I just went to visit Sister in her Princess

Palace. Yesterday, my maid who just returned told me that there were some rumors about Sister in the

Imperial City. I was worried about Sister, so I paid a visit to her today and found that she was not in a

good mood. Father, Prince Qingsu seems to be a decent young man. Why didn't Father accept his

proposal to Sister? If Sister marries Prince Qingsu, it would be beneficial to her reputation."

Emperor Ning squinted at Yun Shang and wondered if she was speaking the truth. Before he replied, Li

Fuyi interrupted, "Your Majesty, I hate to talk about this, but Princess Hua Jing is my niece. I felt sad

when Princess Yun Shang mentioned her situation. As a Princess from the royal family, Princess Hua

Jing has been cultivated and guided with the best etiquette. I think it would be impossible for her to

have done such things. She must have been framed. Maybe someone is plotting against Her Majesty?"

Yun Shang nodded. "I agree."

Emperor Ning was displeased. He looked at Li Fuyi coldly and sneered, "Save your breath. I can make

my own decisions."

Yun Shang lowered her head sadly. Emperor Ning frowned and said, "You are getting married soon, so

I'm going to send two experienced Madams to guide you regarding some necessary knowledge from

tomorrow. Do pay attention to their teachings. They will also accompany you to Prince Jing's Mansion

and continue to serve you there. Their advice could be of great use to you." Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"I will, Father. Thank you." Yun Shang had to agree. However, she was getting agitated, because she

was actually planning to ask for Emperor Ning's permission to leave the Palace for some time. She

wanted go to Mount Kirin and investigate why Xia Houjing was there. However, she didn't expect that

Emperor Ning would make such an arrangement all of a sudden. Although Emperor Ning had

mentioned it once before and Yun Shang had used it as an excuse to refuse the Empress's offer, she

never took it seriously because Emperor Ning hadn't brought it up again. Until now... It meant that she

might not be able to get away from the Palace at this point.

Yun Shang frowned. After finishing her small talk with Emperor Ning and Li Fuyi, Yun Shang rushed

back to Qingxin Palace. "Jing Ying, I need to see your master."

Soon she heard a soft response. Yun Shang sighed and lay down on the bed. If her guess was correct,

Xia Houjing, who had a low-key style, was not easy to deal with.

Yun Shang was tired from all the running around today, so she fell asleep.

When she woke, she sensed the presence of another person. She was able to tell that it wasn't Qin Yi

nor Qian Yin. Yun Shang suddenly opened her eyes and turned to that person. It was Prince Jing. He

was wearing a white long gown. He sat at her table with a book in hand. The book he was reading

looked like one of those she usually read. It might have been Qi's Tactics.

Yun Shang had hardly ever seen Prince Jing wearing white before, so she was surprised at how

unworldly attractive Prince Jing looked in white. He reminded her of celestial beings from legends she

had heard as a young girl.

"Are you awake?" Prince Jing asked flatly without even looking up at her.

Yun Shang nodded and frowned slightly. Why was Prince Jing here? Did Qian Yin and Qin Yi know

about this? Although engaged, they were supposed to avoid too much intimacy before their wedding.

Prince Jing put down the book and looked at Yun Shang. He was amazed at what he saw. Since she

had just woken up, Yun Shang looked adorably confused with her long hair spread around her

shoulders. The trace of a blush on Yun Shang's fair skin left him breathless and he found her to be

overwhelmingly alluring.

"Is this what you like to read?" Prince Jing showed Yun Shang the book in his hand as he asked.

Yun Shang nodded. "Yes. Every now and then ... And then she blushed again. "Actually, I don't really

understand what it is about. It always makes me sleepy, so it's a good choice when I have difficulty

sleeping."

Prince Jing smiled. "Not surprising. What has happened? I heard that you needed to see me urgently."

After a short silence, Yun Shang looked at Prince Jing solemnly. "My agents reported that there are

three groups of people at Mount Kirin, two of whom were probably sent by you and His Majesty. And I

was just informed that the other group actually belongs to Xia Houjing. I sensed something was

unusual when Ning Qian told me that Xia Houjing was at Mount Kirin. Those foreign soldiers are good

at hiding themselves. Even my grandfather didn't know about their existence till he accidentally

stumbled on them. So what is Xia Houjing doing there? I don't think it's pure coincidence."

Prince Jing listened to her attentively. Yun Shang continued to explain, "I think he must be related to

that foreign army somehow, so I planned to travel to Mount Kirin to investigate. But when I went to see

His Majesty, he told me that he would send two Madams to teach me royal etiquette, which means I

can't leave the Palace right now."

Prince Jing gawked at Yun Shang without blinking. Yun Shang couldn't tell if he was listening or not, so

she lowered her head and avoided his stare. "I just have this bad feeling."

"I see." Prince Jing responded softly and turned a few pages. "I didn't know that you had so much free

time to consider these matters..."

Yun Shang didn't understand what Prince Jing meant by that statement. So she asked, "What do you

think, Uncle?"

Prince Jing smiled and turned to her. "So you want to go to Mount Kirin, don't you?"

Yun Shang nodded.

"We'll go then. I'll take care of the Madams. But you can't take your maids with you, or His Majesty will

find out." Prince Jing said gently.

Yun Shang thought for a while before agreeing. It wouldn't hurt to leave Qian Yin and Qin Yi at the

Imperial Palace. She still had other assistance outside the Palace. Instead of inquiring about how

Prince Jing was going to explain her absence, Yun Shang asked directly, "When are we leaving?"

Prince Jing couldn't help smiling heartily. "When darkness falls upon the Palace and the beauty is

ready."

"What?" Yun Shang didn't expect to be teased all of a sudden. She glared at Prince Jing as a response

to his playful joke. "I'll be waiting for you tonight, Uncle."

Then she heard Prince Jing laugh cheerfully.

At Qiwu Palace, an old Madam was helping the Empress take off her hairpin before combing the

Empress's hair. "Your Majesty, Princess Hua Jing sent a message today. She wants to see Your

Majesty."

The Empress smiled bitterly. "Why can't she learn a lesson? She is my only daughter, but she never

learns to use her intelligence."

The Madam lowered her head and remained silent.

"I don't know if I will be able to protect her in the future." The Empress looked into the mirror and

touched the wrinkles around her eyes. She forced a smile, "It has been twenty years since I came to

this Palace. I'm getting old..."

The Madam shook her head hurriedly. "Please don't belittle yourself, Your Majesty. You are still at your

best age."

These words were of little consolation to the Empress. She knew the truth very well and she didn't

need these comforting words.

"It cost my family a lot to help brother get the position of Imperial Commander. Alas, he has been

dismissed from that position. And as a result, it would be difficult for Father and Mother to contact me.

The situation is getting serious and I can't wait passively for the end..." The Empress closed her eyes

with a touch of sadness.

"Madam, the sixth day of the next month would be a good chance. I'll make some arrangements while

preparing for Yun Shang's wedding. I have to gain His Majesty's respect again. I must seize this

chance. I'll write a letter to Father explaining my actions. Send it to him when possible."