An Eight-year-old Princess

Qin Yi and Qian Yin were reluctant to do so. However, as Yun Shang was their master, they had to obey. The maids stood up and said, "Lord, you see..."

Prince Jing smiled and said gently, "As I am an unwelcome guest here, I'd better leave. Anyway, Lady Jin will go to Ning'guo Temple to pray in a couple of days, and I will escort her to the temporary imperial palace. So, Shang'er, we will soon meet again."

Yun Shang was taken by surprise. She had been a little elated when she heard the Prince announce his leave. But her curled lips froze with an embarrassed smile after she caught the latter part of the Prince's words. That was tantamount to a threat, with which, however, Yun Shang had no way to deal. Yun Shang gritted her teeth in anger to squeeze out the following words, "Uncle, you speak as if I am forcing you to leave. If you'd like to stay, be my guest." She withdrew into the inner hall as soon as she had finishing speaking.

Prince Jing felt intrigued as he watched Yun Shang leave in anger. She behaved childishly, and that was normal for a fifteen-year old girl. Although she was charming when calm, and dignified on ordinary days, her beauty was not perfect for lack of vitality. Yun Shang when angry, seemed more natural and prettier than usual.

Even Qin Yi and Qian Yin were startled. They had served Yun Shang for quite a long time, but this was the first time they had seen the Princess behave so willfully.

Then Qin Yi remembered how Lady Jin looked when Lady Jin and His Majesty loved each other heart and soul. Though a little girl then, Qin Yi could still recall the capricious behavior of Lady Jin when she was at odds with His Majesty. How Yun Shang resembled Lady Jin when she was quarreling with the Prince! With Yun Shang's unusual behavior in mind, Qin Yi more or less guessed how the Princess felt about the Prince. In spite of the Princess's cold attitude towards Prince Jing, she must view the Prince differently in her heart of hearts.

So Qin Yi lowered her head in front of the Prince and asked him with a smile, "It is cold here. Why not go to the inner hall to warm yourself, Lord? I will serve you a cup of tea. What's your favorite, Lord?"

Prince Jing lifted his eyes to look at Qin Yi. He nodded, "That would be nice. It's very cold. Please prepare for me a cup of Que She Tea."

Qin Yi nodded with a smile. Then she held Qian Yin's arm, and left with her. Qian Yin almost tripped when Qin Yi pulled her out of the room. She wondered how it was possible for the Prince to feel cold. People who have learned a high level of Kung Fu usually have warmer bodies.

Yun Shang fetched a book after entering the inner hall. She lay on her bed and began reading. After a while, she habitually reached out for the teacup that was usually on the table. However, she felt nothing. Yun Shang was surprised when she realized that nobody was serving in the room as Qin Yi and Qian Yin hadn't followed her. Yun Shang frowned and wondered whether Prince Jing was brazen enough to stay and keep her maids to serve him. With this in mind, Yun Shang stood and walked out of the room. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Prince Jing sitting on the chair. Yun Shang squinted to study the Prince, and could not help but feel upset. What a brazen man he is! He hadn't the slightest intention of leaving even though I have grown impatient with him?

His Majesty had awarded her the year before. Yun Shang felt more agitated at this sight. So she returned to the inner hall in fury,

and Qian Yin entered. Seeing Qin Yi carrying a cup of tea in her hands, Yun Shang uttered

Your Highness. I had inquired the Prince's opinion before I served him the Que She Tea. Besides, Your Highness doesn't like the taste of Que She, do you? I had to prepare the tea for the guest before I could prepare your favorite one. I noticed that the plums have been in full blossom recently. So I prepared Your Highness's tea with the water melted from the ice

teacup. She blew at the tea before taking a sip. It was sweet with a hint of plum. This eased Yun Shang's agitation from her quarrel

better when

in the Hall. So Qin Yi smiled and said to Yun Shang, "Your Highness,

bursting into laughter while seeing Yun Shang's sulky

had left Qingxin Palace. Lord Zheng said to Emperor Ning with a smile, "Your Majesty, I heard that Princess Yun Shang had a quarrel with Prince Jing when they returned to Qingxin Palace, and Her Highness ordered her maids to drive the Prince out of the Palace. However, the Prince stayed even though the Princess was mad at him. I wonder what the Prince said to the Princess to change her

agreeing afterward. After all, this is Shang'er's marriage. I should have asked for her opinion before making the decision. However, as I have issued an Imperial Edict to announce their marriage, there is no reason for me to revoke the

eleventh day of the first lunar month. As soon as Yun Shang heard

Empress was under house arrest. So only six or seven

trip outside the Imperial Palace. They took so much luggage with them that the luggage wagons alone constituted a long queue. On the eleventh day of the first lunar month, a mighty team proceeded toward its destination

better place for her pregnancy. It was rare for the ladies from the imperial household to spend their pregnancy period in the temporary imperial palace before the delivery of the baby. However, as the Imperial Edict had been issued and Lady Jin had

indicated by the rumor. But as per today's Imperial Edict, the Emperor mentioned Lady Jin's fragile condition because of the pregnancy. All the ladies in the imperial household were smart enough to guess what had happened. The rumor about the Lady Jin's miscarriage would be a scheme to prevent the Empress from hurting the baby in Lady Jin's belly. His Majesty must have designed all this to protect Lady Jin's baby.

a tough time if the Emperor became suspicious about her to such an extent. Some ladies, who had become miscarried by accident, even started to think over their miscarriages. They were suspicious that the Empress might have

days later. By then, Yun Shang had returned