An Eight-year-old Princess

"I always thought that you were careful. How could you be so careless today? Besides Yun Shang, we also smelled the perfumed powder. It was lucky that you discarded the needle as soon as you spotted something wrong. Had we been caught, we would be in big trouble before we could teach Yun Shang a lesson." Lady Ming said with a frown. There was a hint of disapproval in her eyes.

Madam Yu fell to the ground hurriedly and kowtowed before Lady Ming for several times. "I understand, My Lady. I was reckless today. But I didn't expect that Princess Yun Shang would send people to investigate you on pretext of concern for your health."

"Hum, Yun Shang is by no means a simple girl. She pretends to be timid and overcautious. But occasionally, she seems to be clever, too. However, her cleverness was so deliberate that no one would doubt that it was just her way to cover her clumsiness." Lady Ming waved and said, "All right. Anyway, what happened cannot be changed. I have led a peaceful life for many years, and have kept my hands from getting tainted by dirty tricks. You seem to not be accustomed to sneaky schemes as well. Be careful next time. Few women in the Palace are simple-minded. Don't underestimate our enemies again."

Madam Yu replied immediately, "I understand, My Lady. It's getting late, you should retire now."

Lady Ming nodded, "It's getting colder. Set a warm stove in the room later."

"Yes." Madam Yu answered before standing up. She helped Lady Ming take off her clothes, and took out the warmers from under the quilt. The bed was already warm because of the warmers. Madam Yu pulled the quilt on Lady Ming after the Lady had lain on the bed. After folding and putting aside the clothes, Madam Yu walked to the stove. She added more coal to the fire. Then she blew out the lamp, walked out of the room, and retired in the small night-watch cabin in the outer room.

Lady Ming felt uneasy during her light sleep as she dreamed of a cat. The cat let out a pitiful scream and jumped at her. Lady Ming was so scared that she awoke from the nightmare. It was only a dream! Lady Ming wiped off the sweat on her forehead. However, when she was about to close her eyes again, she heard the faint yowling of a cat. And the yowling sounded more and more sad.

How could it be possible for some cat to come here? Lady Ming frowned. Thinking of the dream she just had, she could not help but feel frightened. So she called aloud, "Madam Yu..."

Movement was heard before Madam Yu responded, "Yes, I'm here."

After a short moment, a light was seen when Madam Yu walked in with a glaze-covered lamp. "What happened, My Lady? Are you thirsty?"

Lady Ming shook her head. She leaned a little forward and tried to hear for odd sounds. But, she heard nothing. So, Lady Ming asked, "Did you hear something, Madam Yu? The yowling of a cat, or something like that?"

Madam Yu shook her head at Lady Ming's question, "No. Did you hear something just now?"

Lady Ming said with a frown, "The meowing of a cat."

"The meowing of a cat?" Madam Yu felt a little surprised. "But I didn't. How could it be possible for cats to come here at his hour? It is forbidden to let pets wander about in the Palace after evening. How could it be possible?"

Lady Ming felt surprised, too. She thought she was imagining things. So she waved at Madam Yu, "All right. It may be an illusion."

Madam Yu nodded. But before she turned to leave, she noticed an open window. Madam Yu frowned at this. "Why is the window open? I remembered having closed it before I left. Look, the fire is not as big as before."

Lady Ming felt a chill after hearing Madam Yu's words. "It snowed the whole day today. Maybe the window was not shut tightly, and the wind blew it open?"

"Hum, " Madam Yu replied. She put down the lamp on the table by her side, and walked toward the window. Suddenly, she stopped as she felt as though she had stepped on an object which was both, soft and hard. Madam Yu almost fell when she stumbled into the object. She looked down, and saw a white fluffy thing under her foot. When she took a closer look at it, she could not help but let out a sharp scream, "Oh my.."

Lady Ming was startled. She propped herself up to look at Madam Yu. "What's happening?"

Madam Yu pointed at her foot and said with her eyes closed. "My Lady, it is a cat. A dead cat..."

This made Lady Ming's hair stand on end. She trembled as she said, "Guard! Call the guard! Call them now!"

heard at the entrance of every Palace. "Emergency summon from Lady Ming. Ladies, please get dressed and go to

idea what happened, but it seems that all the other ladies have been summoned, too." Qin Yi got up in a hurry, and then wakened Yun Shang. After

Perhaps it would be better for you to take one more coat for yourself. We don't need to be in

she scurried out of the room to check whether it was snowing or not. At last, she returned to the

on their way. Qin Meng and Lady Ying greeted Yun Shang, and the

of them wore makeup. And they all seemed listless as they kept yawning from time to

Shortly after, Yun Shang took her seat. A maid came and served her a cup of tea. While sipping the tea, Yun Shang heard the ladies sitting next to her gossip. They were speculating about why Lady Ming had summoned

Hall was like a sea of noise as everyone was talking. Suddenly, an eunuch announced from outside, "His

announcement. She turned to look at Madam Yu, and said, "I told you not to disturb

of the emergency summon from the eunuch who was sent to inform Lady Jin. It seemed quite urgent. I was curious as to why mother summoned everyone in the imperial household in the middle of

to Changchun Palace without wearing any makeup. Therefore, they all felt a little annoyed at Lady

little, and said, "Of course, I wouldn't send for everyone for no reason. After

a hurry. They were holding a shovel on which lay a cat drenched in blood.

face darkened as well. He immediately took Lady Jin into

Yu, tell them what happened..." Lady Ming sneered after getting

or not. I am a deep sleeper, so I heard nothing. Lady Ming thought the yowling might be an illusion. But before I left, I found that the window in Lady Ming's room was open. I thought it must have been blown open by the wind. So, I went to close it. But I stamped on this bloody thing before

incident. Emperor, you must be tired after dealing with affairs all day. I didn't mean to bother you for this trivial matter. I told them not to wake you, as issues in the imperial household are only the business of women. However, as you

Ning nodded, "Members of the imperial household need to learn. Don't worry, mother. I'm always

Lady Ming said, "Check the cat to find its owner. Besides,

maids standing by Lady Ming's side answered in

wouldn't be possible for me to sit here and talk with all of

were so many maids and eunuchs. Didn't any of them see who did this? It doesn't make any sense..." Lady Lan said softly after a

who seemed to pose more of a hindrance

is incapable of training her subordinates well?" Lady Ying lifted her eyes to look at Lady Lan as she spoke in an ironical tone. "I think the culprit must be very smart, so

Emperor Ning reproached with a frown. He lowered his head a little to speak gently to the woman in his arms. "Do you feel sleepy? If you are, I

Then she returned to look at Yun Shang,

manner. Though confused, Yun Shang knew that Lady Jin must do so for a reason. She lifted her eyes to look at Lady Jin, and said with

we were at Ning'guo Temple, Her Highness stayed

just turned to look at Qin Yi and spoke to her reproachfully, "I'm not as weak as you say.

Shang's hands, and said with a frown, "Why are your hands

she turned to look at Emperor Ning, "Your Majesty, would you please order for

been physically weak since childhood. I'm afraid she will get sick. Please let Madam Yu prepare a quilt for

at Yun Shang coldly and said, "Madam Yu, go and fetch a

the quilt, unfolded it, and put it on Yun Shang's shoulders. Yun Shang put her hands into the quilt. When she touched her sleeve, she felt something in it. It was wrapped in paper. Upon pressing the parcel,

across everyone in the Hall. At last, she set her eyes on Li Fuyi's face. "Lady Fu was hurt by the cat during the banquet. Are you feeling

Ming's words shocked her such that she jumped a little. After regaining her composure, Li Fuyi replied, "I'm feeling much better, Lady

sneered at