An Eight-year-old Princess

In the Princess' Mansion in the Imperial City of the State of Ning, A woman knelt on the ground in front of the highest turret. She didn't feel the cold the night brought nor the harsh drizzle that fell mercilessly.

She was beautiful, with her pale complexion and silken black hair. But her eyes seemed hollow. She clutched a baby in her arms. She seemed worried about his bruised face and his shallow breathing. Every breath seemed to be his last.

"Please go back, Princess Yun Shang. The Emperor's Son-in-law will not see you." Lian Xin was guarding the turret's entrance. She had been Princess Yun Shang's most trustworthy court maid since her childhood.

The sky tore open as Yun Shang's heart broke; drenching her and everything around her. Clenching her teeth, she pulled at the cloak. She wanted to protect the baby from getting wet. When did it start? Yun Shang thought in a trance. When did everyone she trust start to betray her one after another?

Her face remained unmarred from falling tears. Maybe all her tears had already dried up? She had cried so bitterly in the past that now, even at the severest pain she could feel in her heart, she couldn't shed a tear.

Yun Shang kowtowed before Lian Xin three times, "You have been my maid for over a decade, Lian Xin. I always treated you nicely. Now, please. I just want to see the Emperor's Son-in-law and ask him to send for a physician to cure my baby. It's my baby, and also his..." Yun Shang's voice was hoarse.

"Your Highness, there is no use in pleading with me. The Emperor's Son-in-law has already ordered that no one should interrupt him..." Lian Xin stood under the eave and looked at the kneeling woman. A sneer emerged at the corner of her mouth. That's all you deserve Your Highness.

Yun Shang held the baby's cold little hand in hers as she thought. All her mounting bitterness and anger culminated into impulsivity. She rose to her feet and dashed toward Lian Xin. This was beyond Lian Xin's expectation. She braced herself, but the Princess was strong. She fell over with an "aha." Yun Shang took the opportunity to open the turret door and dash upstairs.

"Oh, no, no, no. You are not allowed to go up..." Lian Xin frowned and touched the aching parts of her body, "Hum! What do you think you can achieve by going up there?" she shouted after the Princess. "Do you really think that the Emperor's Son-in-law and Princess Hua Jing will send for a physician for your child?"

Yun Shang ran up the stairs. As soon as she set her foot on the last flight, she heard Hua Jing, "Emm..." "Aha..." "Don't touch that. Ahh..." "Jingran..."

Yun Shang felt dizzy. Her hands felt so weak she thought she'd drop her baby. She had to lean on the wooden banister to support herself.

Eventually, she found the strength to climb the last flight of stairs. She elbowed the door open, and clenched her teeth to suppress her pain.

"Who dares enter..." A man's panting voice ricocheted off the stone walls. Yun Shang shrank back at the sight of the two naked figures.

"Get out!" Mo Jingran roared in fury after seeing Yun Shang standing at the doorway.

Yun Shang opened her mouth, only to find that she couldn't speak. After taking a few labored breaths, she managed to whisper, "Huan'er is sick. Please find a physician for him, my Lord."

somewhat malignant smile and returned the gesture. She said, "Jingran if my little princess sister wants to see us, then let her. Why not bind her to a chair

left the bed and found a rope. "Put Huan'er on the table. After you watch, I will send for a physician to treat Huan'er's

she numbly nodded. Nobody in the Princess's Mansion would support her now. Yun Shang put the

with her legs and hooked them around his waist. Her toes fondled his back gently. A fire ignited in

most charming smile, "Look, my little princess sister.

burst into a roar of laughter, before

instant, the gasps and moans of lovemaking permeated throughout the room.

if her heart was being sliced, one cut after another. In her trance, she could even hear the sound of the wounds

for myself, and with him, lies

for a bar of incense to burn itself into ashes. Yun Shang looked at the baby on the table. His face seemed paler and his eyes were lusterless.

you have to be so noisy?" Mo Jingran abruptly turned his head and shouted at Yun Shang. Getting off the bed once again, he walked towards Yun Shang but stopped to look at the baby on the desk, "Dying, right? "

the baby, opened the window, and threw him out.

!" Yun Shang was so shocked that she stood up. She had forgotten that she had been bound. The ropes pulled her back and she fell to

she felt, Yun Shang screamed. Her scream was so heartbreaking that

head. It's her Princess Sister. She was holding a sword in her hand. Yun Shang took a deep breath when her sister pointed the sword at her face. "Oh, my! I have no idea what's wrong with me today. Your face is as beautiful and delicate as a flower. I really want to know what would become of it if I made a few

the scoff and sneer in Hua Jing's eyes, Yun Shang pleaded, "You can do whatever you want to my face, sister. Just let me live." Her voice was as

Yun Shang's face. Yun Shang felt a burning pain. With it grew an overwhelming hatred in her heart. But she thought of her baby. She clenched her

whimper? How boring!" She cut the rope binding Yun Shang's hands,

Yun Shang dashed toward the door. But she slipped and rolled down the stairs. At the base of the turret, she rose and ran out the

on the ground. He was quiet. There was blood flowing from his head. The rain washed the blood away in tiny trickles as quickly as it pooled around his little head. Yun Shang gently scooped up her baby. "It's all right. It's all right. My little Huan'er is fine. Mommy will take you to see the Imperial Physician. Just you see. Mommy will take you there right now. My

see the Imperial Physician?" Mo Jingran who had been standing by

Jingran. You already have the Princess' Mansion under your control, don't you?" She cannot leave. Even if she manages to enter the Imperial Palace, she can

round, and, lifted the woman in his arms. He carried her to the

Hua Jing shouted, "Jingran, you are so

covered in blood..." A court maid scurried into the inner chamber, and reported to a

that Yun Shang is under house