An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 169 An Incident In The Temporary Imperial Palace (Part Two)

Wen Ruyu noticed the jealousy on the other ladies' faces. Wen Ruyu was arrogant so she cared

nothing for the compliment given by Yun Shang. Moreover, she abhorred Yun Shang and she had

made a plot to kill Yun Shang, but her elder sister had died because of the plot. So she smiled coldly

and replied, "It's just a small trick. I, on behalf of the Imperial City, gave the performance. So it's natural

that I did better than any other lady."

On hearing this, Yun Shang felt joyful but she didn't express her emotion. Yun Shang expected that

Wen Ruyu would offend others once she opened her mouth.

Yun Shang smiled slightly and said, "I can't agree with you, Lady Wen. All these ladies are citizens of

our state. They are all here on behalf of one part of our land. Why does it sound like you feel superior

to them?"

Wen Ruyu frowned and snorted, "Some people are superior to others even though they all live in the

Imperial City. In a vast land such as our state, there must be a social hierarchy. Some people are rich

and noble while others are poor and despicable. The housemaids are always inferior to their masters.

Don't you think so?"

Other ladies' admiration for Yun Shang grew after her statement. But Wen Ruyu infuriated them. One of

the ladies said, "Lady Wen, you look like a lady from an eminent family. Has the Emperor conferred

upon you an honorary title? Or are you a lady of high rank?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ruyu became annoyed and said, "I don't think you know the law. According to

the law, only concubines of the Emperor, relatives of the royal family, or ladies whose husbands have

made great contributions to the state can be awarded with honorary titles. I am an unmarried girl. How

could I gain an honorary title?"

The lady replied, "Oh, I see. I heard what you said just now. You made me think that you are a lady of

high rank or that you had been awarded with an honorary title. Now I know that you are in the same

class as us. We are all civilians."

Yun Shang glanced at the lady who was speaking. The lady looked genial and elegant. But as she

spoke to Wen Ruyu, a mocking air appeared on her face. Yun Shang smiled and thought the lady was

eloquent. The lady had belittled Wen Ruyu indirectly.

Upon hearing what the lady had said, Wen Ruyu felt embarrassed and her face flushed. Her eyes

gleamed with anger.

The lady continued, "Lady Wen, you are just a civilian. Princess Hui Guo is the Emperor's daughter.

Just now you spoke to Princess Hui Guo in such a rude way. Don't you think you have offended our

Princess? Lady Wen, just now you said that I knew nothing of the law. I think you must know it. So can

you tell me what punishment you deserve for offending the Princess?"

Yun Shang smiled slightly and said, "Don't push Lady Wen so hard. You see, Lady Wen is speechless

now. Her father, the Deputy Minister of Revenue, must be very busy in dealing with national affairs so

he has little time to teach Lady Wen. As Mr. Wen has served the people and the country heart and

soul, so I must treat Lady Wen well. I think Lady Wen was just teasing me. She doesn't mean to offend

me. Don't take it so seriously." After she had uttered that explanation, Yun Shang turned to look at the

lady and asked, "Where are you from?"

The lady replied, "I'm Sun Ya'niang from the City of Jin."

Yun Shang said with a smile, "I see. You must be the daughter of the Governor of the City of Jin. Nice

to meet you."

Yun Shang's words failed to please Sun Ya'niang. Sun Ya'niang just replied in an emotionless tone,

"Nice to meet you too, Your Highness."

As the ladies were chatting, they saw a maid enter the garden. Yun Shang perceived a grim smile on

Wen Ruyu's face and her annoyance disappeared. Wen Ruyu also looked at Yun Shang and seemed

to expect something to happen.

Yun Shang turned to look at the maid and found that the maid looked familiar. Just as Yun Shang was

thinking about the maid's identity, the maid knelt before Yun Shang and said, "Your Highness, I'm a

maid serving Princess Hua Jing. Just now, Princess Hua Jing was taking a walk in the backyard and

she asked all the maids to leave her alone for a while. But in a moment, she disappeared. I have

searched every nook of the backyard but I haven't found her."

Yun Shang instantly stood and walked to the maid. She asked anxiously, "What? My sister is missing?

You should take better care of her." This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

When Yun Shang was reproving the maid, Wen Ruyu said gently, "There is no use in scolding her. Your

Highness, you can send some imperial bodyguards to find Princess Hua Jing."

Yun Shang nodded and ordered the imperial bodyguards to search for Prince Hua Jing.

At the same time, Qian Yin entered the garden and smiled at Yun Shang.

"Ah…" A scream came from the distance. All the people were shocked. Yun Shang said instantly, "All

the bodyguards, move quickly. Find out what happened in the place from where the scream came. And

some of you go to the front yard to protect the Emperor and other officers."

The commander of the bodyguards nodded and retreated. Wen Ruyu said gently, "Your Highness, did

something happen? Let's go and see."

Yun Shang said coldly, "None of you are allowed to leave the garden. Just stay here. You are all ladies.

If there are assassins, you are of little help. Instead, you will distract the bodyguards. It's the safest

option for you to stay with me as I have shadow guards here."

On hearing Yun Shang's statement, the ladies nodded. They didn't know what had happened but they

knew that they were safe as long as they stayed with Yun Shang. Yun Shang was the Emperor's

beloved daughter and the fiancee of the famous Prince Jing. There must be lots of capable bodyguards

around Yun Shang.