An Eight-year-old Princess

Soon after Lord Zheng had left, Qin Yi walked in, beaming, "How was that, Princess? Have I done well? Now I bet that will be a lesson for those who dare to gossip."

Yun Shang smiled at Qin Yi and said, "I told you to only tell Lu. He was the eunuch who attend to my father and that would have bene enough. Why did you involve Lord Zheng instead?"

Qin Yi seated herself on the edge of Yun Shang's bed and spoke softly, "I was talking to Lu when Lord Zheng happened to hear us. Then he said His Majesty had something for you and he would stopped by. Those ungrateful minx were just gossiping about you when he arrived. I'd say they had it coming."

"I knew they would have been secretly talking about me, especially since I returned unharmed again. By the way, since we've just arrived, I'm sure lots of people will be watching our every move. We can't afford a risk. It's too dangerous. So don't go visit my mother, at least for now. Perhaps just wait for a while." Thinking of her mother, the quiet woman who had never fought for herself, Yun Shang had gradually come up of a plan. She knew what it meant to marry into the Royal Palace. Either you were adored by The Emperor, or you suffered a lonely life, alone and in pain, seeking for an end desperately. Now that she had a second chance, she had the ability and the opportunity to rewrite every miserable chapter of her previous life. There was no doubt that she would also fight for her mother's happiness.

"Princess, we've got the medicine." Bead curtains were lift and Qin Meng's voice floated into the room. "I've send them to decoct the medicine. It won't be long. Do you have everything you need in the Palace, Princess? Let me know if you need anything else and I'll get it done for you."

The smile vanished from Yun Shang's face. As soon as Qin Meng entered, Yun Shang pretended to lean weakly against the pillows and coughed. "I'm fine. I don't need anything at the moment. What's going on out there? I heard Lord Zheng scolding the maids. Qin Yi was retrieving the belongings I brought back from the Ning'guo Temple, and I was too weak to get up and ask. Can you go see what the noise was about?"

Qin Meng frowned and replied, "Is that so? I'll go find out at once." Then she strode out of the room.

The corner of Qin Yi's mouth slightly quirked up as she stared at Qin Meng with great interest until she disappeared. "Princess, I've looked around the Palace. And I've found something quite interesting, " Turning back to Yun Shang again, Qin Yi leaned forward and whispered in her ears.

let out a smile and exclaimed, "This place is getting more and

cabinet, Qin Meng turned around and reported to Yun Shang, "I've asked around. According to the others, a maid had offended Lord Zheng and was

bowl and frowned, "It's

time, Princess. It can wait." Qin

to Qin Yi, "It's too stuffy here. I need some air. Take me out for a walk. I've spent the better part of my day in that carriage and this bed. I'm so

from the closet before holding Yun Shang up, "It's getting cold. Though the garden is lovely in this season, you must think of your health. You will suffer from a

pavilion, Yun Shang overlooked the Yanque Lake and enjoyed the refreshing air outside. Before she could get a clear glimpse of the view, Qin Yi began to urge her to return to Qingxin Hall. At her instance, Yun Shang agreed. As they walked in, a maid was wiping the table. Qin Yi then said to her, "Go find a cushion and place it on the lounge in the Princess's bedroom. The Princess likes to walk barefoot but she is too vulnerable and it is

sooner than she left, they heard a

saw Yun Shang and Qin Yi in the hall, looking as puzzled as she was. Yun Shang frowned, "Let's go have a look. Qin Yi asked her to find a cushion for me. She just

had hardly stepped in when they saw the maid was standing by the window, trying to push the window open with her shaky hands. When she heard the steps behind,

scream?" Qin Yi walked to

and again hastily, "No, it's nothing." While speaking, she

back." Qin Yi cornered the maid and was about to grab

and dodged the object the maid had just thrown at her. Yun Shang gazed at it as the thing fell on the ground. She recognized that it was the cat that had attacked her when she had first entered Qingxin Hall. Only that it was no