An Eight-year-old Princess

"Poisoned?" The crowd standing in the Hall looked at one other and couldn't believe it. The Palace maid suddenly knelt to the ground and said, "Your Imperial Highness, I had no part to play in this. It was Qin Yi who had asked me to fetch a cushion. That's when I entered the room and saw that the cat had no breath and lay still on the ground. I was so shocked that I screamed. And later, I thought since the other Palace maids, and I had adopted the cat, the blame would fall on us. I was afraid, and I wanted to throw it out of the window first and intended to deal with it later. However, to my surprise, this cat had been poisoned..."

Yun Shang gave her a brief glance. "I can't figure out who is to blame, but I am sure this officer will give me a sensible explanation…"

The Supervisory Office Manager quickly lowered his head, "Yes. It's my job and my duty. Attempting to murder Your Imperial Highness is a huge crime. I request your permission to report this incident to The Emperor."

"Yes." Yun Shang agreed, "But I think that your assistants have many things to deal with here. So perhaps I can let my two private Palace maids inform my father instead." The Manager was about to say something, but Yun Shang sighed, "How vexing to encounter such a terrible thing especially since I have only just returned. You must find who is trying to kill me, or I won't be able to live here peacefully." "Qin Yi, go inform my father."

Qin Yi nodded and left. Yun Shang continued, "Although there was no death this time, the poison was put in my medicine bowl. If I had drunk it, I wouldn't be alive right now. No matter who the murderer is, they must still be in the Qinxin Hall. Officer, can you lock down Qinxin Hall to stop the murderer from escaping?"

The Supervisory Office Manager nodded repeatedly. "You are right, Your Highness. I will do as you have asked."

Yun Shang nodded and then leaned against the bed pillar. She coughed slightly. Then closed her eyes and pretended to rest. Her face was still pale as though she were weak.

"Your Imperial Highness, your medicine was spilled. Should I make another bowl?" Yun Shang heard Qin Meng murmur. Yun Shang waved her hand, "Never mind. I don't want the medicine now. I was not harmed since I didn't drink the poisoned medicine. There's no need to take any more medicine."

Shang. She looked over the resting Princess and noticed that her toe stuck out from under her dress and that her hands were clasped

careful, Your Majesty. Please be careful." Yun Shang could hear Lord Zheng speaking to The Emperor. "Is that my father?" Yun Shang asked. As soon as she opened her eyes, she was almost blinded by the brightness of the yellow robes worn by the person in front of her. She blinked to adjust and then found it was Emperor Ning. "Are you harmed?" He asked. His eyes reflected the anxiety he

shook her head, "My dear father, there's no need to worry about

a seat and looked at the Supervisory Office Manager who was kneeling on the ground. "Find

Meanwhile, the Manager turned to the eunuchs and said,

The Emperor. "Your Majesty, would you

said, "Shang'er, you are too weak to be there. I'll

supervise the inquisition. So she replied, "If I don't know who the murderer is, my mind won't feel at peace. I should

thought about what his daughter said. He sighed. "Well, then

Yun Shang to her feet. Then she led The Princess outside. Emperor Ning and Yun Shang sat in the Hall. On Lord Cui's order, all the maids in Qinxin

sent it to The Princess's room?" "Who tampered with the medicine during this time?" "Now

more proficient in dealing with such situations. When I was in Ning'guo Temple, I witnessed Master Wu Na deal with a similar case. So I recommend his method to you. It would be advisable for you to put these people in different rooms and interrogate them

the method as described by Yun Shang. He said, "Master Wu Na is a man of great wisdom.

with the medicine. The maids who didn't, were taken to a different room, while the maids who did, were questioned separately. The eunuchs then asked