An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 85 A Secret Letter From Qingsu

"My Lord." Someone stood outside the tent requesting a presence. Yun Shang was startled as she was lying on the bed. Fortunately, she just only recently dozed off and hadn't taken off her clothes. So, she jumped out of bed and stretched to where her shoes had been placed. But before she could get them, she heard Prince Jing speak, "You are tired from the long journey. You must rest now. As there are men in every corner of the camp, it is not convenient for you to stay in other tents. Spend the night here. I have ordered that no one will come and disturb you."

It seemed that Prince Jing could read her mind even with a screen between them. Yun Shang was at a loss at his thoughtfulness and flushed. She uttered a gentle "yes, " but still went out after putting on her shoes.

Prince Jing could not help curl his lips at the sight of the drowsy Yun Shang. He smiled as he spoke, "Soon it will be time for supper. Our food is limited. So, please make the best of it."

Yun Shang returned his smile and said, "Uncle, please don't worry for me. As this is the border area and it is far from the inland, such little hardship is within my expectation."

Then she recalled the question that had come to her mind earlier, and continued, "Uncle, I have noticed that our camp is flanked by two mountains. This would be to our disadvantage if the Yelang army launches a surprise attack against us. We could even suffer tremendous losses if they do something as simple as throw stones and rocks at us from the mountain."

Yun Shang spoke as if she knew a lot about military tactics. This, of course, had come to Prince Jing's attention. He walked nearer to the table and pointed at the map. He said to Yun Shang, "Come and have a look."

Yun Shang walked nearer and studied the map carefully. The map were circled with many drawings, which confused Yun Shang. To give Yun Shang a clue, Prince Jing pointed at one of the circles on the map and said, "This is where we are, and this is Yelang's camp."

Yun Shang bent forward to get a closer look of the densely dotted markings and curves. Prince Jing watched her in silence. At last, he heard Yun Shang speak, "I know."

"Oh? What do you know?" Prince Jing asked, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Yun Shang pointed at a vast flatland far from the circles and said, "This is the country of Yelang, which is typically flat. I think Yelang soldiers must be comfortable while fighting in flat areas, and there is a greater chance for them to win in flatlands. However, they would have a disadvantage if the war takes place in mountainous areas. There are only two mountains around us. Yelang soldiers would never think of launching an attack from on top of the mountain. But we can."

Prince Jing felt delighted that Yun Shang could get to this point without his help. He said with a nod, "I have sent soldiers to study the land. The two mountains are shrouded in heavy fog. No one can see beyond five steps once in the thick forest. I don't think Qingsu would take such a risk."

Yun Shang understood the situation after hearing Prince Jing's explanation. In terms of military strategy, she was, of course, no match for the Prince who was an experienced general after having fought in many battles. However, she knew what had happened in her previous life. That was her only advantage. Qingsu was by no means a weak opponent in the previous life. Even the Prince had suffered defeats while fighting him. Yun Shang lowered her head as she tried to figure out how could she warn the Prince about this in a way that would not arouse his suspicion.

"How I wish to know what Qingsu behaved during a battle." Yun Shang murmured, as if speaking to herself.

Prince Jing's eyes swept across Yun Shang swiftly. "He is a rushed man. Aggressive. But that is not all. He is also treacherous and good at trickery."

Yun Shang tried to recall something useful about this battle from her previous life. She had barely finished her wedding before the battle started. Mo Jingran began to reveal his nature as a playboy shortly after the death of Hua Jing's husband. He was involved in romantic affairs wherever he went, and even committed adultery with Hua Jing. She was so upset with Mo Jingran's unfaithfulness that Yun Shang had shut herself in her room. Her focus had been on finding methods to regain Mo Jingran's love. So, Yun Shang had paid no attention to anything else, including Prince Jing's battle expedition.

However, amidst the blur in her mind, she vaguely remembered something from the time she had gone to visit the Empress. Hua Jing had been crying at the Empress's Palace and airing her grievances to the Empress. She said she was a poor woman and should not have had to marry a general who was destined to die on the battlefield. She also mentioned Prince Jing, who had been trapped by Qingsu on a mountain after the Yelang Prince had set fire to the mountain. Prince Jing had managed a narrow escape from the fire but had been badly hurt.

The mountain... Yun Shang took a closer look at the map, and was quite sure that there were no other mountains within a hundred li* radius.

known as the Chinese mile, is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. One li is usually about

Were the mountains...

Shang said in a soft voice, "People who are good at trickery often disguise themselves as reckless. There are only two high mountains within a hundred li radius, but you chose to camp here. Qingsu must know why you made such a decision. Though our soldiers can

"That's right. It doesn't matter if

gauntlet and are ready to fight with him, he withdraws. I believe that would be one of his tricks to deceive you into thinking it is

would be such an expert at military tactics. The map alone... is hard to crack. And it is impossible for you to learn this in the Imperial Palace. It is beyond my expectation

to get involved in politics. However, it was also improper to tell the Prince that she learned it from Master Wu Na. There would be no problem if she learned the Four Arts from Master Wu Na. But it

felt a sense of loss. He didn't mention it again, and changed the topic to escape the embarrassing moment. Then he said in a casual manner, "That day at the banquet, the

had decided not to marry. She was, however, still at a loss while hearing Prince Jing mention the melody that they had performed together. She recalled how the Prince said, it must be her, on that day. Now, Yun Shang felt so disturbed that she interrupted the Prince in a hurry, "Lady Meng planned to dance to the melody of Phoenix on the Hairpin and

you mean there is a misunderstanding between us..." Prince Jing looked at Yun Shang. He had known from her expression that she didn't want to talk about the performance. His heart sank at the thought that she didn't feel the same way. He could not remember when it had started, but he had begun caring for Yun Shang genuinely. She had meant nothing to him before, but now he cared about her more and more. Looking at Yun Shang, he knew he had been a little rash in assuming how Yun Shang felt. Prince Jing didn't even know for certain how he felt about Yun Shang. He had just blurted out the first thing that came to his mind at the banquet. He had even felt light-headed as soon as he had finished speaking those words. Yun Shang, after all, was his niece, even though they were not biologically related. But their formal relations as uncle and niece was a fact that could not be changed, and the love between uncle and niece was against morals. Besides, he was so much older than her...

bring some food for you. You'd better

behind the screen until the maid was in front of her. Qian Yin smiled at Yun Shang and said, "Your Highness, as far as I can tell Prince Jing admires you from afar. Why didn't Your

she and Prince Jing were talking. Qian Yin must have heard every word. Yun Shang flushed. She glanced at Qian Yin before walking toward the bed and sitting

Prince. The Prince looks quite cold, and he is more than ten years older than Your Highness..." Qian Yin nodded while murmuring, as if

little girl, what are you talking about? Are you pushing me into selling you to the butler of my grandfather as

waved her hands desperately and begged, "Please don't, Your Highness. His son is a

to love affairs even though she had been given a new life. She was upset as she had felt the difference in Prince Jing's treatment. But she

a military camp stationed in the border area. As there was so much

during their morning drill. She finished her breakfast, dressed like a man, and walked out of the tent. As soon as she stepped

didn't expect the young master to remember his name. He was, after all, an important guest of the Prince. Luo Ding replied immediately, "Yes. The Prince is conducting the

the direction from which the shouting could be heard. She saw many soldiers practicing fighting skills with spears. In the front of the soldiers stood a

walked to her and said, "You got up

head with a smile, "This is my first time

Yun Shang and turned to cast a look at his soldiers. Then he recalled something he needed to discuss with Yun Shang. So he said, "There is something I

Prince

supposed to know anything about the war, especially something like a secret letter. However, Prince Jing assumed a serious attitude and seemed to not be joking. Then, she

is asking for a marriage between Ning and Yelang. He will request

asked in a cold tone. She was quite aware that the request of marriage must

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