An Eight-year-old Princess

"Why did Lady Shu steal the Queen's hairpin? She seems to have enough of her own." Yun Shang looked up at Qin Yi and Qin Meng with curiosity.

Qin Yi shook her head. "You may not be aware of this but the Phoenix is a symbol of the honored status of the Empress, which is why she wants to wear the Phoenix hairpin. If Lady Shu stole it, that means she wants to become the Empress. That is sacrilegious, " said Qin Meng with a smile.

"No, no, " said Yun Shang in wide-eyed amazement. "Lady Shu's position in the Imperial Household is unique. She is unlike any of the other women there. Aside from the Empress, Lady Shu is the Emperor's favorite. Why should she covet the Queenship?"

"Empress and concubine are not the same. No matter how much she is favored, she must kneel and salute the Empress." Qin Meng looked at Yun Shang with an air of complacency. "And above all, only the Empress' children can inherit the throne. Now the Emperor has no sons, but if the Empress and Lady Shu both had sons, things would be very different."

"Don't talk about the throne." Yun Shang frowned and rebuked gently. "I'll take it as I didn't hear you. But I'm afraid that even a Princess would not be able to save you if someone else heard what you said."

Qin Meng looked surprised and then knelt before the Princess and asked for pardon.

"I'm so sleepy now. You can leave." The princess nodded and yawned.

Qin Meng made a hasty bow and exited. Qin Yi stepped up to help the Princess prepare for bed. "Interesting." The Princess mumbled as she lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Lady Shu is quite a lady. She's been loved by the Emperor for nearly ten years even though the Empress is quite intolerant, " said Qin Yi.

say who is stronger than the other,

the Empress has won, " said Qin

shook her head. "Whatever. Just get some sleep and we'll talk

she went out with the

repeating in her head. Only the Empress' son is entitled to ascend the throne? Yun Shang smiled. 'How could the son of Empress Yuan Zhen be suitable for the

dawn. Qin Yi who was standing by her bedside smiled as the Princess opened her eyes. "Your Highness, this is a surprise. You used to stay asleep until noon, but now you wake so early! It must have been hard for you to stay out for so many years."

sat up in bed.

that an ingot of silver was found in the Palace maid's room, and the incense ashes on it belongs to the Empress. She said the Empress had framed her. Then she went to Qinzheng Hall and knelt there. She cried all night." Qin Yi reported the night's

seem to be such a schemer at first. You told me that she had said that the Empress had framed her, and that she went to the Empress'

suddenly that she did it on impulse." said Qin Yi. "Your

don't know who it is, but I want to meet this person." She stretched out her arms as Qin Yi helped her dress. Then she asked her how things were going. "Did my father only dispose of the two servant

Qin Yi with a look of appreciation. "Indeed, the two servant girls were executed by your father while the Empress received some hairpins as a consolation. And Lady Shu was given some tonic medicine and

about wisdom. She knew about this situation as she had experienced these events

another guess, " said the

Yi. "She is busy dealing with