An Eight-year-old Princess

The Empress? She fainted? Hearing these words, Yun Shang glanced at Qian Yin and saw anger surge in her maid's eyes. She flashed a smile before fixing her eyes on the teacup in her hand. Then she praised, "Smart move."

By pretending to have fainted, the Empress affected a helpless wife. She always acted with nobility and dignity in front of others and even selflessness if necessary. And in the previous decades, she had played the role of an impartial Empress well. Even when she was informed that she was infertile, she had been sad for a while, but she had recovered to the Empress she had always been. Someone who felt no joy or sorrow for herself, apart from what was the best for her husband.

That was why the Empress's sudden faint was so unexpected.

Right now, the Grand Councilor's power was at stake, as Lady Ming just irritated Emperor Ning, and Hua Jing was still in her recovery. And at this crucial point, the Empress suddenly fell ill.

With a smile on her lips, Yun Shang ordered, "Let's pay a visit to Qiwu Palace."

When they arrived, many others had also called on the Empress. They saw Emperor Ning, Lady Ming, Lady Fu, Lady Ya, and Qin Meng among the callers. Yun Shang also noticed several other ladies whom she didn't know.

Standing aside a desk, an imperial physician was writing the Empress's prescription. With a disturbed look on her face, Lady Ming asked. "How's the Empress now?"

The imperial physician bowed before answering, "Her Majesty is fine. But she always burdens herself with sorrow, which has finally induced her illness. She will wake up in two hours. But Her Majesty has always been weak, and I'm afraid the faint has harmed her health. When she wakes up, she needs more rest. If she burdened herself again, she would..." Shaking his head, the imperial physician said no more. But Lady Ming knew exactly what he meant to say. She frowned, and remained quiet.

Emperor Ning gazed at the pale Empress. His eyes were as dark as night sky; complex feelings mounting in their depths. After a long while, he turned to the ladies and said, "The physician has said that the Empress needs rest. Leave us, all of you."

The ladies exchanged several meaningful glances. They curtsied to the Emperor before leaving the Palace.

But Yun Shang remained. She spoke softly, "Father, Her Majesty needs someone to take care of her, and you are too busy with state affairs. I can look after her in your stead."

Emperor Ning paused for a short while, and turned to Yun Shang. Before he spoke, Lady Ming cut in, "Shang'er, you're an unmarried Princess. You can barely take care of yourself. I will find some experienced maids to look after Yiran. You should spend time on yourself."

expression showed in her eyes. Seeing that, Lady Ming's heart hitched. She wondered what Yun Shang had planned. Did the Princess want Emperor Ning to feel that she was a domineering person? 'What an awful woman! Keep playing innocent

he heard Yun Shang's

and not allowed to enter Empress Yuan Zhen's chamber as she was the most honorable woman in

him and asked,

before saying, "Your Majesty, the Grand Councilor has sent a memorial imploring you to allow him to visit Her Majesty, the Empress. The Grand Councilor said that since they heard the news of Her Majesty's illness,

Ming was extremely joyful. The Xia and Yelang envoys were still in the capital. The Emperor needed

known that her father resented the Grand Councilor the most. What would an Emperor feel, except for anger and hatred, when he was overtaken by other people? How

The Empress must've gone to great lengths for this drama. Apparently, she had caught a cold. And to have achieved that, she

about the entanglements in the Palace? After all, the Emperor had spent so many years on the throne, in which period, a lot of things had happened under his

Raising his voice, he ordered, "Lord Zheng, inform the Grand Councilor that Her Majesty is ill due to constant overburden. He may not visit her now, for she needs more rest. I will send for them when she recovers. But I'd like to

She did know

Councilor is Yiran's father. He cares a

scoffed. Did the Li Clan really think him to be a fool? How had Li Jingyan heard about Empress Yuan Zhen's illness, as the Empress had only just fallen ill, and the imperial physician had recently administered the treatment? How could word

the past few days, you've helped her with many affairs, mother, I don't think you can always help her, given the condition that the Empress can no longer overwork herself. Therefore, I've decided to trust Lady Ya with control of my Palace. Lady Ya is young and new to the Palace, but she's always

returned to the control of the Palace? The Emperor didn't take back Lady Ming's power when he rebuked her for she had wronged Yun Shang. Why would he

As per the proverb,

I'd like to ask you to help me with another very difficult matter." Emperor Ning frowned

questioning glance at

must have heard of Hua Jing's misdeeds, mother. Nothing remains a secret in this world. And there were so many people at the hunting ground the other day. I can't kill them all to cover up the scandal. And my decision isn't a rushed plan. The Palace is well guarded, and safer than the outer world. I have been worrying about Jing'er as she's been living alone in the Princess Palace. And when she returns to the Palace, please teach her how to behave, mother. I intended to nurture her into a talented young lady, well-versed in the Four Arts, but now she's