An Eight-year-old Princess

"Your Highness, what color of clothes would you like to wear today?" As soon as Qian Yin entered the room, she saw Qin Yi styling Yun Shang's hair. She asked about the clothes with a smile.

Yun Shang thought about it and said, "Today's banquet celebrates the pregnancy of the Empress. Since it is a happy occasion, we should dress accordingly. Shangyi Bureau sent some clothes earlier and I saw a dress in Indian red. I'll wear that one."

Qin Yi smiled and pulled Yun Shang's hair up, "It's drizzling today. I'll fetch a cape. The other day, Prince Jing found a white fox while hunting and he gave the fox fur to His Majesty. His Majesty said that of all the royals in the imperial household, the color suits Your Highness the best, so he rewarded it to you. You were reading a book that day and weren't paying attention, so I put it away for you. I think the color matches your Indian red dress. Qian Yin, fetch it for Her Highness."

"Prince Jing? White fox?" Yun Shang was surprised and asked, "Is Prince Jing also coming today?"

Qin Yi smiled and looked in the mirror. She giggled at Yun Shang's expression. "Your Highness seems to be very interested in Prince Jing. Yes, he is coming. I heard that he is needed at the northwest frontier to settle the recent chaos there. He will be leaving with his troops in two days. His Majesty invited him to the banquet to comfort and encourage him."

"I see." Yun Shang nodded. In her pervious life, this was also the time when war broke out in the northwest. The country of Yelang had launched an attack. They gathered all the strong men in their country and formed an army of nearly 2, 00, 000 warriors. In her previous life, the war had lasted for several years. Hua Jing's royal husband had died in that war.

In this life, Yun Shang had already cut off the soldiers' supply of food, and tricked the Emperor's Son-in-law into staying in an empty city. She had even carried him off. So, in this life, Prince Jing, who was supposed to go to the frontier three years from now, was being sent there earlier.

The men from the country of Yelang practiced Kung Fu from an early age. They were all tall and good at fighting. An army of 2, 00, 000 strong warriors shouldn't be underestimated. Even though Prince Jing is the God of War in the State of Ning, it would not be easy for him to win the war.

"By the way, the master asked me to tell you that both Hua Jing and her Mother-in-Law have gone to the frontier in the northwest. Hua Jing only took four guards and two maids with her. The master said this would be a great chance." Qin Yi added.

Yun Shang turned around at Qin Yi's words, "Hua Jing? Is she out of her mind?"

Qin Yi smiled, "I also think it's unbelievable. But according to the master, it was the Empress who sent her there..."

Yun Shang shook her head, "Not likely. The Empress has always been careful and meticulous. It's not possible that she sent her daughter to die. However... After what had happened to the Emperor's Son-in-Law, Lady Zhao must have done everything she could to go to the frontier, which is not good for Hua Jing. In that case, it's understandable that the Empress sent Hua Jing there too. In doing so, Hua Jing would not have to suffer from constant rumors. But if the Empress really did that, she would have prepared for it and wouldn't let Hua Jing go alone."

"Is it possible that this is just a lie where the Empress sends Hua Jing to the frontier with few servants on purpose but secretly sent guards to protect her?" Qian Yin asked as she entered the room. She carried Yun Shang's selected attire in her hands. She spread out the dress for Yun Shang to see as she waited for the Princess to reply.

"Your Highness, see? This is the one right? Indian red with a cape. This cape is stunning. I've never seen such pure white fox fur." Qian Yin spread out the cape and ran her hands over the snowy white cape with a white coat around its neck. It looked very warm.

Yun Shang nodded, "It is beautiful indeed. I'll wear this one."

Qian Yin put the clothes away and stood aside as Qin Yin finished making Yun Shang's hair. "Protected or not, it would not be difficult to kill Hua Jing when she is in a place like the battlefield. Your Highness, why not let me notify Ning Qian and send her there to take a chance?"

Yun Shang smiled, "It is a good chance, indeed. How can I miss such a good one? However, I must take Hua Jing's life myself. Since she's already at the front, tell Ning Qian that I need her to keep Hua Jing there as long as possible. I'll find an opportunity to go there after I finish dealing with the affairs here."

"The affairs here?" Qian Yin thought for a while and couldn't figure out what Yun Shang meant. So she asked, "Your Highness, is there anything else you need to deal with here? Are you planning to wait for Lady Jin to deliver her baby safely?"

Yun Shang shook her head. "No. I'm confident that she will have a smooth delivery, and I won't wait for that long. My top priority now is to deal with the Empress's pregnancy... I'm not happy about that."

disappeared into the inner hall. A moment later, Qian Yin dragged a maid into the bedchamber. She had covered the maid's mouth to stop her from screaming. "Your Highness, it is maid

that the girl was ordinary-looking. Fear was written all over her face. Although held and steadied by Qian Yin, the maid kept shaking her head,

Shang turned around and said to

Highness, I didn't do anything. Earlier there was a maid who asked me to serve you tea. She told me to bring the teapot to you. Your Highness, I didn't hear

Qian Yin hurriedly covered the maid's mouth again. Then Yun Shang continued, "Get rid of her. Tell the others that she got caught stealing my jewelry and to avoid consequences, she

and left with the flailing maid in her hands. Yun Shang smiled coldly, "What a scene! It really makes me curious about tonight's banquet. We've just

into her bun before helping her dress. Qin Yi said, "Qin Meng is almost ready. I went

that she wanted to be at the top, there's no reason that she won't

door, Yun Shang noticed that this was the closest Palace to Qinzheng Hall, even though it had been empty for many years. Of course Yun Shang knew Jinxiu Palace is where Lady Jin used to live, so she sighed in her heart. Just when she was about to step in, a figure in purple robes walked

figure to walk nearer

Shang for a while. Then he complimented, "It looks good on you." Then he stepped inside Jinxiu

what he meant. It must be the cape. According to Qin Yi, Prince Jing was the one who gave this fox fur to

and walked into the Palace. As soon as she entered, she heard many concubines chatting around her. "This Jinxiu Palace is splendid. Even the Empress's

Majesty's Qinzheng Hall. I wonder how popular

felt someone walk up to her. Turning her head, she saw the quiet and gentle face of Lady Jin. The latter seemed to be thinking. Yun Shang called in a low voice, "Mother",

to be livelier than usual." Lady Jin lowered her head and kept her voice so low that only Yun Shang who was standing beside her could hear. Saying only that sentence, she raised

thank you all for coming. Don't just stand outside waiting. It's getting cold, please, come inside." The madame who served Lady Shu

lined with tables on both sides. From the jade inlaid in the pillars and the ground, the guests could tell that this Palace was luxurious in the past.

down. As soon as

was wearing a big red Phoenix robe and carried a hairpin shaped as a Phoenix on her head.

her outfit and smiled. It was an ordinary family dinner, but the Empress was dressing rather too loudly, presumably because it was

the Empress had the right to host banquets. But this time, the right was given to Lady Shu by the Emperor. Consequently, she must have been flattered by many. Here, the Empress was sending a subtle message that she, Li Yiran, was still the lead in the imperial household.

her seat at the center and turned. The guests

"Get up, everyone. It's just a family dinner. Don't be strained by rules too

on the left side. She looked up and noticed the Empress' outfit, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty looks great today. I thought you only wear something like this on important occasions. I didn't know that you would put on the Phoenix robe at today's banquet for me. What an honor to be treated

Jing must have taught Lady Shu a lot. Under her indifferent disguise, she had a quick response to a sudden attack. It was apparent to everyone that the Empress was trying to discomfit Lady Shu. But the Lady had smiled and thanked the

You have helped me a lot before

smiled, "Your Majesty is being polite. Helping you is part of

the banquet." Then she changed the topic. "The moment I stepped in, this place brought back many memories. In the old times, Jinxiu Palace was Lady Jin's Palace. Now, even by looking at it, I can feel its beauty. Lady Jin, in your opinion, is

I do think it's a nice Palace. Even after all these years of abandon, its inferior decoration is still elegant and breathtaking. Just now when I

warmly but coldness reflected in her eyes, "Yes, but too bad you don't

a majestic voice came from the door, "If Shu Jin still likes this

guests stood quickly and bowed. "Long live

another seat at the center and sat down,