An Eight-year-old Princess

Qian Yin stayed quiet. She carefully helped Yun Shang finish bathing, and helped her get dressed. Then she wrapped Yun Shang's wet hair in a towel before the Princess stepped out of the bathroom.

Qin Yi scurried toward Yun Shang, untied the towel on Yun Shang's head, and helped the Princess dry her hair gently.

Yun Shang squinted as Qin Yi's touches were so comforting.

"Your Highness, Master Zhao asked me to give this to you. As it was found in Your Highness's carriage, it must be important. So Master Zhao ordered me to bring this for you." Yun Shang heard a soft voice speaking to her. She lifted her eyes and saw a servant girl holding a sachet in her hand.

After taking the sachet from the servant girl, Qin Yi whispered to Yun Shang, "Your Highness, isn't this the birthday gift that you prepared for Prince Jing? Inside the sachet is the sword tassel you made for the Prince. Why is it here?"

Qin Yi's words reminded Yun Shang how careless she had been today. She was absentminded the whole day as she had failed to recall something important to her. She didn't realize that she had lost the sachet until this moment. But Yun Shang had been quite busy when she was at Prince Jing's Mansion, and afterward, she had been kidnapped and brought to this place. How could she get any chance to think about the matter of the Prince's gift?

"I was so busy that I must have forgotten about the gift for Uncle. But it doesn't matter. Keep it safe. I will give it to him next time." Yun Shang grinned and said in a casual manner.

a plan to escape. As the rooms were decorated similarly to

bed. Judging from Yun Shang's casual manner, Qian Yin and Qin Yi knew that the Princess must have a

in the west wing of the courtyard. The light cast the shadows of two figures on the window. Two persons were speaking with

surprised when she stepped into the room and saw the interior. The servant girls told me that she talked with her maids in a manner as if she were in her own Palace. And she went

Whoever wants to see the Princess may meet with her at anytime. If no one wants to see her, then tell us what to do with the Princess. But remind him that I have

the message now." The light flickered before it extinguished. Then silence permeated

as soon as she heard the noise.

didn't expect that Yun Shang would wake. She was at a loss for a little while

before her. She nodded at the woman. While looking at the woman's shadow on the ground, Yun Shang said, "Uncle told me he had arranged several secret guards in our midst. You are one of

woman replied, "I'm Jing Ying,

Jing Ying in her tone and manner, though Jing Ying treated her with due respect. Yun Shang knew Jing Ying must have followed her wherever she went. So Jing Ying would have known every word and everything she had said and done. But Yun Shang wondered what she might have said and done to upset this secret