An Eight-year-old Princess

Qiwu Palace became more tranquil after the Empress' pregnancy as the morning ritual of a courtesy call to the Empress was suspended and the affairs of the imperial household were taken over by Lady Shu. As it was getting colder, the Empress seldom left Qiwu Palace.

"Has it been half a month since the Empress left Qiwu Palace?" asked Yun Shang casually. She had been lying on the couch reading a book.

"It has been 17 days, " answered Qian Yin. "I am thinking that we will not see the Empress for another five days. Then it will be time for the celebration of the winter solstice."

Yun Shang smiled slightly and turned a page. Then she said, "She has more patience than I thought. Lady Shu took power from her. Many people in the imperial household expected to see her fight back. It is very unexpected for her to simply hand over the Empress seal to Lady Shu and hide herself in Qiwu Palace. The Empress is not known to hide in her Palace."

Qin Yi was folding clothes. Hearing this, she replied with a smile, "I'm afraid the Empress knows what's going on in the imperial household even though she stays indoors. She has too many spies."

Yun Shang frowned as she felt something very important was being missed. She thought for a while but couldn't figure it out. She sighed, "Let's just wait. I am no less patient than her."

When footsteps could be heard nearing, the two women stopped talking. "Your Highness, an eunuch from Huanyi Bureau has brought washed clothes."

Qin Yi turned around to draw aside the curtain. Then she walked out the door. "Come in with the clothes!" came the voice of Qin Yi from outside.

Come in? Yun Shang raised her eyebrows in surprise. Qi Yi never allowed any staff from Huanyi Bureau to come into the inner hall before.

Lifting her eyes to the door, Yun Shang saw a skinny eunuch come in through the bead curtain which had been drawn aside. "Your Highness, these clothes have been washed and dried. Where should I put them?" asked the eunuch.

Qin Yin closed the bead curtain after entering the room.

"Lin?" Yun Shang straightened up and inquired gently, "Why do you come here today?"

Lin glanced at the two maids-in-waiting and understood that Yun Shang was not going to ask them to leave. Seeing this, he understood that the two maids-in-waiting were her confidants. So he curtsied and said, "Your Highness, I have something to tell you."

Yun Shang straightened up and said, "Say it. There is no outsider."

Lin nodded his head and said, "The other day, I heard about the Empress' pregnancy. However, I found an underwear stained with menstrual blood. It had been mixed with the dirty clothes of the maids-in-waiting from Qiwu Palace."

"It must belong to a certain maid-in-waiting who is in her menstrual period." said Qian Yin gently, looking at Lin.

Lin shook his head and said, "But the underwear was made of high-quality silk. It is not like other clothes that belong to the maids-in-waiting. Few ladies in the Imperial household have such kind of silk fabric, let alone the maids-in-waiting."

With a fluid glance, Yun Shang said, "I know what Lin means. In the Imperial household, it's not hard to get rid of a living man. But it's hard to get rid of an underwear stained with blood. So the underwear was hidden in the clothes of the maids-in-waiting."

"But how can you identify that the underwear is made of high-quality silk?" Yun Shang continued.

Lin said with complete confidence, "I'm totally sure about that. And I dare say I am an expert in identifying silk fabrics. I had been in the business of selling silk fabrics before I was framed by others and reduced to a eunuch in the Palace. I have a good relationship with a maid-in-waiting in Huanyi Bureau who is in charge of doing the laundry. The other day when I was chatting with her, she told me the maids-in-waiting serving the Empress have the best food to eat and the best clothing to wear and even the underwear they wear feels softer. She knows this as she does their laundry. I pretended to disagree and asked her to show me the underwear. On touching it, I knew it was made of high-quality silk."

Hearing this, Yun Shang whispered to herself for a while. A sudden thought seized her. Then the world around her became silent. After a long pause, Yun Shang suddenly rose to her feet and exclaimed, "I finally know what's wrong."

eyes, "All these days I felt that something important was being missed. When Lin just revealed the laundry incident, it occurred to me that more than half a month ago Lady Shu went all out to make the Empress eat the abortifacient at the banquet. I saw the Empress had

that…" Qin Yi's eyes shone. She stared at

us. That day when we learned that she was pregnant, I was so shocked that I never doubted whether she was really pregnant." If

is not pregnant, she will be unable to give birth to a baby. What's more, she is forced to hand over the Empress seal

but a glimmer of excitement remained in her eyes. "I guess that the Empress wants to create an illusion. She will most likely wait for a proper time to show that she lost her baby because of an accident. Then she could blame my dear mother for the accident." "As we all know, at present only my pregnant mother is her major obstacle in the

Lady Jin would be in danger." Qin Yi breathed out heavily before adding, "Do we need to tell our ladyship about this so that she can be

eyes to look at Qin Yi and then bowed

must still be in her menstrual period. I remember that every time the Empress gets her period, she suffers from menalgia.

to Yun Shang and asked, "Your Highness,

big smile. "Thank you for your message. Go back to Huanyi Bureau now lest you cause suspicion. In a few days, I will send someone with some sweet wine with

you, Your Highness." After this, Lin withdrew from the room.

embroidering in the main hall. She walked towards Xiu Xin and said with a smile, "What a leisurely life you live, Xiu Xin.

Xin raised her head and found Yun Shang standing near her. She stood up quickly and spoke, "The Empress does not feel

a concerned look appeared on Yun Shang's face. "Does my mother, the Empress feel ill? Why don't you call for an Imperial Physician? She is carrying the Emperor's baby. You should look after her very carefully. Who will be able

so. It's not a big deal. The Empress told us that she just

for a Physician. I will feel very worried if we don't

could say something to stop Yun Shang, the Empress' feeble voice came from the inner hall, "Is Yun Shang

walked into the inner hall and found the Empress lying in the bed. Her face was pale. She hurried to sit by the

sighed, "I feel

know about this, he will feel distressed and worried. I will sent for a Physician for you now. You are carrying a baby now. You should be more careful." Yun Shang frowned.

eyes. She turned and said to Xiu

Xin glanced at the Empress and

you know where my elder sister has

was worried

of yourself. You are having a baby now. Don't worry about my elder sister. She was born smart. She is famous in the Imperial City

she was." At the mention of Hua

official

few steps back. "Physician, come see

curtsied to her before he felt her pulse*. Yun Shang kept an eye on the Physician. She saw that as he

a traditional Chinese

worry. Through my diagnosis, I believe the Empress is just physically weak. I can prescribe some tonic medicine for her. But any

said with a smile, "OK. Do as the Physician said. Xiu Xin, you should urge the cooks to make

can put your mind at ease. I said that I'm

turned around and said to the Empress with a brief smile, "Being physically weak is also a kind of illness.

Yun Shang said, "Mother, I will return

Yun Shang smiled happily and then left Qiwu Palace.