An Eight-year-old Princess

"Where did the beasts come in from? Get them out of here! Agh!" Only a faint cry could be heard from Hua Jing before the barking of the dogs drowned her out. Craning her neck to see, Yun Shang saw a courtyard full of people running in panic. Several wild dogs ran wildly around the yard, jumping and people and occasionally biting them.

The Taoist priest had fallen to the ground, and his face was covered with wounds. Hua Jing's gown had been ripped and soiled and there were visible scratches oozing blood on her arms. The phoenix crown was tilted on the empress' head. She was hurriedly running around the yard shouting at servants to get rid of the dogs.

With a smile on her face, Yun Shang hid behind a tree, watching the scene unfold. After the eunuchs and maids had finally driven the remaining dogs from the yard, she came out and in a fake panic cried out, "Mother, sister, are you OK? Where did these mad dogs come from? Why are they biting everyone? Hurry, you stupid servants! Chase them away!"

The eunuchs and maids quickly beat the remaining dogs unconscious and whisked them away. The yard was finally quiet, the ground now covered in a mix of human and canine blood.

With the help of her servant, Princess Hua Jing finally made it to her feet. Her whole body was in pain. Especially.. Her butt! A dog had bitten her square on the butt! Embarrassed at the sensitive nature of the wound, Hua Jing dared not call attention to the wound. She winced as she endured the throbbing pain. In a terrible mood she called out to the empress, "Mother, where did those beasts come from? How did they get in here all of a sudden?"

The empress was also a mess, her ropes ripped to pieces. But she was better at controlling her emotions. She snapped at the attendants around her. "Keep all of the beasts! Call Ming! I want to know where these crazy beasts came from!" The empress shot a cold glance at Yun Shang, who was totally unhurt, before walking away with her maids.

Yun Shang pulled her face into a pout. She walked over to Hua Jing. "Sister, are you hurt? Let me have a look." Yun Shang pressed her hand firmly onto the bite wound on Hua Jing's backside.

"Ahhhh!" Hua Jing let out a shriek and pushed Yun Shang away. However, as she did so, Hua Jing let go of her maid and fell to the ground. Yun Shang fell too and landed on top of her. Hua Jing shrieked again.

to…. I just wanted to help.." Muttering apologies to Hua

off me!" Hua

smile, Yun Shang cried out,

princess' side and pulled her up. The rest of the maids helped Hua Jing to her

at the Taoist Priest covered in dog bites and still on

to deal with him later. I'll speak to him myself about the matter." Yun Shang smiled. She altered her gaze between the woobling Hua Jing and the palace behind her. "With this much fresh blood, I dare say the yard

this whole this masterfully. He has been invaluable this time, but I don't fully trust him. Keep your eyes on him, Qin Yi. By the way, the Queen had asked for my

empress the pair of bracelets, as you wished. I've also accomplished the other matter, as you asked. But I worry that the Princess Hua Jing's wounds are too severe. She may not be fully recovered in time for her coming-of-age ceremony

"Look at you. You've really

past life. In that life, she had fallen for a young attendee during the proceedings. She found him to be gentle and chivalrous, yet handsome and masculine. It had been Hua Jing herself who had convinced her to give in to her feeling for him. Yun Shang had been smitten by him wanting to get married immediately. She had even professed her

she had met him at that time.. A wry smile crept onto Yun Shang's

reckless because of her noble birth. Now, looking back, she could see the empress and her daughter's fingers

would not allow that to happen again.

ointment that prolong the healing process. It is also