An Eight-year-old Princess

"Shang'er?" Prince Jing frowned while looking at the pained expression on Yun Shang's face. He called to Yun Shang softly and shook her to wake her up.

Yun Shang suddenly sat up with eyes wide open. She wasn't completely awake until Prince Jing asked her in a deep and gentle voice. "Did you have a nightmare?"

Yun Shang turned to him and looked at him in bewilderment. It took her quite a while to remember where she was. "Uncle?"

Prince Jing nodded. "We are back home."

Still confused, Yun Shang looked around and noticed that she was in a carriage. Her mind gradually cleared. Today was her wedding day, but she had rushed back to the Imperial Palace upon hearing that Lady Jin had entered premature labor. Shortly afterward, Prince Jing came with a dependable midwife who saved Lady Jin and the unborn child.

Yun Shang gave a sigh of relief. "Are we back at your mansion?"

Prince Jing nodded as he opened the carriage door and alighted. He turned and offered the Princess his hand. Yun Shang gently placed her hand in his before climbing out of the carriage slowly. They continued to hold hands as they walked.

"The midwife said there was a strange scent coming from me today. Uncle, since you have offered to conduct a thorough investigation, can you send the makeup I used this morning to a reliable physician or someone who has good knowledge of this?" Yun Shang said softly. The wedding dress had been made and preserved by Lady Jin. Once Yun Shang had received it, she had kept the dress close by. It would have been impossible for anyone to tamper with it.

Prince Jing agreed as they entered the main yard.

While they were gone, Qian Yin had become anxious. She kept checking the entrance of the yard. As soon as she saw Yun Shang and Prince Jing, she rushed to them. "Your Highness, how is Lady Jin?"

"She is alright." Yun Shang answered before telling her maid. "I need to bathe. Prepare water for me."

Qian Yin cast a glance at Prince Jing. Though puzzled, Qian Yin nodded and left.

After bathing, Yun Shang dressed herself in casual clothes. As she was a new bride, all her clothes were red as the color symbolized joy and fortune.

"I'm still quite worried, Uncle. I need to return to the Imperial Palace. You must feel uncomfortable as you drunk a lot earlier. I'll ask Qian Yin to make you some soup that will ease your discomfort. Please do have some and rest well." Yun Shang looked at Prince Jing as she spoke.

After a short silence, Prince Jing said, "It's getting late. You might not even be able to enter the Palace at this hour. Moreover, you are married now. If you show up at this time, people might gossip. After all, Lady Jin's Palace is attached to Qiwu Palace. And the Empress always keeps an eye on everything."

Yun Shang paused. Certainly she understood the risk, but she was really anxious about her mother. Every time she thought about the possibility that Lady Jin was put in danger because of her, the Princess was flooded with guilt.

Lady Jin had never complained about anything. Yun Shang however, felt like an unfilial daughter. There were so many things that Yun Shang should have done, but didn't. Most recently, she hadn't consulted with her mother about the wedding date. Her mother on the other hand, had traveled all the way from Laifeng Palace to attend the wedding. But Yun Shang had failed to protect her loving and kind mother.

"I will sneak into the Palace then. I'll leave once I make sure my mother is alright. I won't do anything else." Yun Shang muttered.

A soft knock came from the window. Prince Jing walked to the window and opened it. Yun Shang saw a man in black standing outside respectfully.

"Your Highness, Lady Jin has woken up and taken her medicine. She is safe and sound in His Majesty's company." The man bowed. His hands were folded in front of his chest and he looked at Prince Jing.

closed the window. "Do you feel better?" He asked.

thought. She didn't know what to say.

outside the window. She was finally relieved as that was how her people sent messages to her secretly. The message being relayed to her confirmed what the mysterious man had just told her and

I think he will take Lady Jin to Laifeng Palace when she is capable of traveling. And as for a dependable midwife who will attend to your mother, I will make the necessary

her lip and looked down. "I never thought that the Empress would take action against Mother through me. Neither did my

your fault. Nobody could foresee this. Moreover, I had my servants scrutinize everything you used today, but

Prince Jing. She asked with concern. "How much did you drink, Uncle?" There was a hint of disapproval in her tone. Before he could answer, Yun Shang

drink during the celebration. Prince Jing smiled. Yes, he was overjoyed to be her husband, even though their marriage meant more than that. From today on, Yun Shang would be his wife. She might be too young and her love wasn't that strong yet, but she had officially become his wife. After the incident at the Imperial Palace, Yun Shang would understand that

requested, Prince Jing drank the soup and cleaned himself

events, Yun Shang could now see that her act of pointing out the alcohol smell on Prince Jing was just a way to mask her nervousness. Although

He raised an eyebrow. Wasn't she always perfectly cool and collected? What was

You must be tired as well. Let's get some rest." Prince Jing walked to her and looked into her eyes as he spoke.

had dressed in casual clothes after her bath, Yun Shang now found herself in a dilemma. Before getting into bed, she would have to remove her outwear, which was alright since she was wearing her

amused to see her struggle silently. He decided to lighten her

are not sleepy anymore?" Prince Jing teased

She quickly slipped her feet out of her shoes and lay down on the bed.

at her girlish embarrassment. It was rare for him to smile. He looked at Yun Shang and asked, "Is this what

tone, Yun Shang blushed. She grunted, sat up and quickly took the outwear off. Then she lay down again and huddled under

of going to bed, he picked up a clean towel

quite a while. Out of curiosity, she turned around and peeked at Prince Jing from

than usual. The warmth from the dim candlelight softened his

impossible to take her eyes off him. 'He is a good-looking man, ' Yun Shang thought with a smile.

to

her eyes immediately and pretended to

her reaction, so

crawled in first, the bed and quilt felt quite warm. The thought of Yun Shang in his bed made the Prince grin. Even though Yun Shang was behaving peculiarly, his heart soared every time the Prince was reminded that she was now his wife. Although he used to camp with soldiers when placed at the border, this would be the Prince's first experience of sharing his living space with a woman.

that Yun Shang was still tense, Prince Jing put out the light with a flick of his wrist.

busy receiving guests and drinking to celebrate his nuptials. When he finally sobered up, he heard the news that Lady Jin's life was in danger. Afraid that Yun Shang might need help, he rushed to find the best midwife in Imperial City and brought her

The

lying in bed with her eyes closed, but she was far from being relaxed. Instead, she was focused on the man beside her. However, the only thing she heard was his slow and peaceful breathing. Was

vague silhouette. Yun Shang observed for a while. He did seem to be asleep. Yun Shang turned around with great care so as

the contrary, her mind was fully occupied. If Prince Jing, as he mentioned earlier, had checked everything she used today, her makeup should be clean. So

Jing must have done a lot of things while she was unconscious. Because she was still recovering, Prince Jing wouldn't allow anything to

all this

more frequently with dreams about her previous life. Yun Shang was unsettled when she recalled her dream in the carriage. She had never witnessed the scene in her previous life, but she knew it must have happened. No wonder Huan'er was always in poor health. She was so careless and trusting that she didn't suspect that the maid given by the Empress was slowly poisoning Huan'er. And it was Yun

the