An Eight-year-old Princess

"Your Highness? Your Highness?" Hearing Qian Yin's call, Yun Shang suddenly came to her senses. She looked up at Qian Yin.

"What's wrong?"

Qian Yin frowned and asked in confusion. "Are you alright, Your Highness? I was calling you, but you seemed distracted."

Yun Shang shook her head and sighed. "I don't know. I just have this strange feeling, as if something is about to happen. Never mind. What were you trying to say?"

Qian Yin looked at Yun Shang searchingly. "Your Highness, I was saying that our people in the Imperial Hospital reported that Xiu Xin came to the Hospital with some dregs of a decoction before dinnertime. She asked an Imperial Physician about the function of its materials. And hearing it was for prevention of miscarriage, her expression abruptly changed. Your Highness just sent me to fill the prescription this morning, so our people paid special attention to this incident. They came to report after Xiu Xin left."

"For prevention of miscarriage..." Realization dawned on Yun Shang's face. "Oh no! Could it be that mother didn't properly dispose of the dregs after decocting?"

Qian Yin took a gauze bag of dregs from her sleeve and passed it to Yun Shang. "They kept an eye on it and secretly got us some of the dregs. Please take a look, Your Highness. Is this the prescription you made for Lady Jin?"

Yun Shang opened the bag, smelled and nodded. "Yes it is. There's something special about this prescription. I could tell the difference from other medicine for miscarriage prevention simply by smelling. No wonder Hua Jing came here and invited me to stay at her Palace today. Now this explains her visit. The Empress is afraid I might get in the way of her plan. She wants to get rid of mother's child."

"What should we do, Your Highness? Should I inform Ning Qian and ask her to send more people to protect Lady Jin?"

Qian Yin asked with worry.

Yun Shang shook her head. "People often die under mysterious circumstances in the Imperial Household." Yun Shang stood up and called. "Qin Yi. Qin Yi..."

Yi hurried in with a look of surprise. "Yes,

you can to inform mother that the Empress knows about her pregnancy and it may bring danger to her and the child. I'll have to tell His Majesty this news. I'm afraid

shocked at the unexpected situation. She nodded. "I'll do as you bid, Your

Yun Shang left Qingxin Palace. She intended to search for her father at Qinzheng Hall.

Shang was stopped at the gate by Master Zheng. He reported that Emperor Ning was in the middle of discussions with the Grand Councilor and should not be disturbed. Yun Shang waited

at his desk. He put down the writing brush when he

Shang was just about to explain her visit when

both surprised and delighted. He looked

watched Lady Jin enter. Dressed in ivory with an unspeakable beauty in her deportment, Lady

Shang. Instead, she bowed

in Qinzheng Palace in quite

answering gently. "Yes, I'm

Mother didn't want others to know that they had been in touch. Is that why she chose to tell the Emperor herself? So that Yun Shang would not be

Emperor Ning looking stupefied. The ink-stone had turned over, and ink was pouring all over his hand. It took him some time to overcome

smiled. "I'm pregnant,

Ning caught Lady Jin's sleeves and laughed. "My Shu Jin is

"Father, the ink on your hands is

Ning looked at his hands. He looked up and noticed the stains on Lady Jin's ivory dress. His face reddened. "I am so happy. Way too happy to notice

smile. " The news has just been confirmed, Your Majesty. Madam Zheng has some medical skills, as Your Majesty knows. I have been feeling drowsy for