An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 139 The Trouble Caused By Staying Out All Night (Part Two)

Yun Shang sighed and said worryingly, "I missed my mother very much after reading her letter.

However, the emissaries of the States of Yelang and Xia are here. I am afraid I cannot visit my mother

in Laifeng City. I felt sad. So I went to the Cold Palace where my mother lived before."

Lady Ming regretted that she didn't order a search of the Cold Palace. She had searched the entire

imperial household, but she never thought that Yun Shang would actually use the Cold Palace as an

excuse.

Yun Shang said in a faint voice, "My mother lived there for more than ten years. Although she moved

out a few months ago, her smell still lingers. I missed her so much that I slept on her bed last night. I

went back to Qingxin Palace after I woke up this morning and learned that you thought I was missing

as you couldn't find me. So I changed and rushed here. It is a misunderstanding. I shouldn't have gone

to the Cold Palace because I was in a bad mood. Ordinarily, no one visits Qingxin Palace. I didn't

expect that you would come to Qingxin Palace to show loving care for me in the early morning. It's my

fault. Please punish me."

On the way back, Yun Shang had inquired about the places searched at the order of Lady Ming and

learned that the Cold Palace, Qinzheng Hall where Emperor Ning worked, Qiwu Palace and a few

other Halls where Emperor Ning met the ministers hadn't been searched. With this knowledge, she

came up with this idea. Yun Shang had also chosen her words carefully. She wanted to tell Emperor

Ning that it was a trap as Lady Ming had never been to Qingxin Palace in the past, but went to search

for her on this occasion.

As expected, hearing what Yun Shang said, Emperor Ning became angry. He knew that if Yun Shang

failed to disclose where she went last night, Lady Ming would claim that she ruined her reputation by

staying out all night. Lady Ming had done all this on purpose. As soon as Emperor Ning left the court

this morning, a servant of Lady Ming had reported that Yun Shang was missing. So he rushed here. He

had guessed the whole story when Lady Ming interrogated the servants of Qingxin Palace. After

listening to Yun Shang, he further confirmed what he had previously thought.

It didn't matter whether Yun Shang really slept in the Cold Palace last night or not. Lady Ming, who was

in power in the imperial household, was making a fuss about it. She had even gathered all the

concubines. Apparently, she wanted Yun Shang to lose all standing and reputation. Emperor Ning

never asked about the ongoings in the imperial household, but he knew the tricks in it.

It was really difficult to deal with the Li Clan!

Lady Ming still refused to let the issue go even though she now knew where Yun Shang went last night.

She had omitted to search the Cold Palace, but she didn't believe what Yun Shang said. "You went to

the Cold Palace alone? What if something bad happened?"

Yun Shang stared at Lady Ming doubtfully. "Your Highness, this is the Imperial City where excellent

guards are stationed everywhere. There is nothing to worry about. No one can take me out of the

Imperial City quietly, right? If I'm wrong, then the Imperial Commander has to be killed as punishment.

Even if you don't believe me, you should at least believe the Imperial Commander. If I remember

correctly, the Imperial Commander is the youngest son of Grand Councilor Li, and I have to address

him as uncle."

Lady Ming was furious. She thought, 'Well done! Yun Shang, well done! I have to let you go this time,

but you won't be able to escape next time.'

"There is a maid in the Cold Palace. Although my mother moved out, the maid had been left to look

after the Cold Palace. She waited on me last night. Your Highness, if you don't believe me, you can ask

the maid." Yun Shang lowered her voice gradually to give the impression that she felt wronged.

Lady Ming clenched the armrest of the chair. She was dizzy with anger. After a while, she finally

calmed down and sneered. Since Yun Shang dared to speak of the Imperial Commander and the maid,

she must have made proper preparations. If Lady Ming still investigated, Emperor Ning would dislike

her. The Empress had fallen into disgrace, and Lady Ming was in power now. If she also lost power and

had to hand over the Empress's seal, no one could protect the Li Clan in the Imperial City.

"I trust you. I was just worried about you. Take your maids and inform the servants in your Palace next

time, or others will worry about you."

Yun Shang replied, "I know. Your Highness, thank you for your care. If there is nothing else, please

allow me to leave."

Lady Ming nodded and turned to look at Emperor Ning. Emperor Ning, who was lost in thought, said

after a while, "Okay."

After returning to Qingxin Palace with her servants, Yun Shang ceased to smile and ordered in a low

voice, "The spy hasn't been eliminated. Qian Yin, check again carefully. Make sure that there is no

oversight this time. I heard from Qian Ya that Lady Ming had brought a martial arts master here this

morning. Who is he?"

Qian Yin answered, "He is a eunuch in his forties. He looked unfamiliar. I didn't dare to look at him, but I

saw that there was a purple rope around his wrist."

"Eunuch?" Yun Shang blinked. She had never heard of such a man in the Imperial City. Qian Yin often

followed her to Changchun Palace, but she said that she had never met him. The man must be a

stranger. However, he appeared suddenly but didn't attract any attention, which meant that he couldn't

be underestimated. In all likelihood, he was not a eunuch.

At the thought that she hadn't encountered such a man in Changchun Palace before now, Yun Shang

smirked, "If we seize the man, we can invent a charge against Lady Ming, but it will not be easy."

"Forget it. So much for that. I will investigate the identity of that man. You must be careful afterward.

Don't let others know that you practice martial arts." Yun Shang said gently.

Qian Yin nodded. She still looked upset as Lady Ming had schemed against Yun Shang.

Yun Shang grinned. "Do something to fix this. Go and tell the Empress that I visited Price Jing and

slept in his mansion last night. Prince Jing suspects that Cangjue Qingsu hurt him, and I am trying to

avenge Prince Jing."

"What?" Qian Yin was confused. "Your Highness, what do you mean?" She frowned and looked at Yun

Shang with doubt, "It's a test for me, right? Your Highness, please don't worry. Although the Empress

has proposed some attractive terms, I will never betray you for the sake of glory."

Yun Shang burst into a hearty laughter. "Just go. I have a plan."

Qian Yin pouted and agreed reluctantly, "I won't fail you. However, the Empress hasn't sent any

message to me in a while. I'm afraid she doesn't trust me anymore."

Yun Shang smiled. "That's why you have to tell her this. Although she may already know the truth, it will Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

be more believable if you tell her personally. Besides, tell her indirectly that I suspect you."

Enlightened, Qian Yin smiled broadly, "I won't fail you." Then she left.

Qin Yi walked up to Yun Shang and said gently with worry, "It's not safe in the Imperial City recently.

Your Highness, you must be careful."

Yun Shang nodded, "Sorry to keep you worrying about me. Don't tell my mother about it. She wouldn't

be able to bear it."

Qin Yi hesitated for a while before she continued, "Qian Yin has secretly replaced almost all the

servants in our Palace, but there is still a spy. The Imperial City is very unsafe. How is Prince Jing? Is

he seriously hurt?"

Thinking of Prince Jing's belly wrapped with thick gauze, Yun Shang sighed, "He had come round when

I left. He is seriously hurt. I'm afraid it will take a long time for him to recover."

Qin Yi nodded with worry. "Good to hear that he is fine. Prince Jing was hurt, and you were framed. It

seems to be a set of interlocking stratagems. No concubine in the imperial household could do that."

Qin Yi looked at Yun Shang as she continued gently, "Your Highness, I don't know how you extend your

power and how many able men you have recruited in recent years. At least, I know you can deal with

the women in the Imperial City. However, if other forces are involved, no matter how smart you may be,

you are just a 15-year-old girl. I'm afraid…"

Yun Shang knew what Qin Yi was worried about, but she also knew that to pay off old scores and

deprive the Empress and Hua Jing of what they had, she had to face the Li Clan. The Li Clan had tried

very hard to make Li Yiran the Empress, so they wouldn't abandon her unless they had no other

choice.

"Don't worry. I know what I am doing. I promise that I will leave no loopholes next time." Yun Shang

thought her negligence had led to this incident, and she wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"Your Highness…" Qian Yin shouted anxiously from outside. Yun Shang frowned, turned her head and

looked at Qian Yin who lifted the curtain and rushed in. "What happened?"

Qian Yin walked up to Yun Shang and whispered, "Your Highness, the Empress fainted…"