An Eight-year-old Princess

Seven years later.

In a small town not far from the Ning'guo temple lived a family. About ten years ago, they had purchased the best house in the town. It was said that inside the house lived a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Their servants came in and out on errands or chores, and the townsmen only knew that their family-name was Xiao as the family was rarely seen.

It was late autumn and the weather was getting cold. In the mysterious Xiao house, two men sat under the arbor. One of whom was a man In his forties with urbane manners, dressed in green. "I'll place it here" he said.

"Are you sure, grandpa?" On the other side, sat a girl at the age of fourteen or fifteen. Her eyes were gentle like water, but with a touch of coldness. Her fingers were slim and well-cared for. She was so fair it seemed as though her skin had been dipped in milk. She had roses in her cheeks, and looked as if she would melt when touched. A smile blossomed on her lips, and her long black hair poured down her back. Today, she had tied it with a silk ribbon and it casually flew in the autumn wind. She wore a floor-length white gown, which was embroidered with butterflies. In a word, she was gorgeous. She was Yun Shang, who had grown up.

Xiao Yuanshan nodded, "I am sure."

Yun Shang smiled, and placed her black go-chess piece onto the chessboard, "Thank you, Grandpa. I've won again."

Xiao Yuanshan frowned and looked at the chessboard for a long time. Then he sighed, "The student has become the teacher now. I've only taught you go-chess for a few years, but now you are better than me. I have to bring you to Ning'guo temple sometime to let Wu Na experience what we call failure."

Yun Shang winked, and smiled. Her grandpa was aged, but still liked to bicker with Master Wu Na. From time to time, her grandpa would go and pick on him for fun. It was said that Master Wu Na and her grandma had known each other since childhood. When grandma married grandpa, Master Wu Na happened to be experiencing personal adversity, and so he chose to serve Buddha. But the two men were always at loggerheads with each other. According to grandpa, they were incompatible like "water and fire." But Yun Shang believed that meant they actually had a strong friendship.

from your Coming-of-age

Her

paused, "Why? Have

And you've also asked other people to teach me the art of war, trade and business, and how to cultivate my own power. These days have been the happiest days in my life. And I will forever remember how nice you have been to me, grandpa. The Palace is the last place I wanted to go to, but Lady Jin is still there and there are other things

Na was right. Now I know that I can't keep you here, too. The messenger is still waiting for you at Ning'guo temple. Go ahead, Shang'er. But remember to pay me a

will, grandpa." Yun Shang smiled, and sat with Xiao Yuanshan in the arbor for a long time. The

hurried to her and

smiled, "Why? Don't you want to

while and answered, "It's not that I don't want to go back. I just feel that I have lived here for seven years and I don't know how things will be at the Palace, which makes me a little

this time away." Yun Shang glanced at the woman sitting in the corner. She was quietly reading Buddhist texts. She then waved Qin Yi forward, and whispered in

curling smoke. Yun Shang pushed the door open, went in, and sat beside him. Glancing at the statue of Buddha in the shrine, she

eyes, looked at Yun Shang, and sighed, "She is just an innocent person. If you are afraid that she will be a

a hidden danger to myself. Only the dead can keep secrets. Master, I'll make sure I won't do it here. I will not violate the sanctity

in one's heart, not in a building. You are doomed to taint your hand with blood, Yun Shang, which has been written in your destiny.