Chapter 40 Alliance
"Seeing the doctor in Prince Jing''s mansion?" Yun Shang''s face turned red as she coughed.
"Considering how weak I am, I doubt any highly-skilled doctor can cure me of my illness. Never mind. It
is Father''s kindness. If I refuse to go, Father would be sad. It''s just that I heard that Prince Jing is
difficult to get along with, which is why there''s not a single maid in his mansion. Qin Yi, Qin Meng, you
two follow me to Prince Jing''s mansion."
Qin Yi and Qin Meng agreed and then left to instruct the other maids to pack the Princess''s belongings.
After a short while, one of Prince Jing''s servants came to notify them that Prince Jing was ready to
leave for his mansion.
Yun Shang nodded. Qin Yi and Qin Meng helped her stand and walked her out of Qingxin Pce
where a Nian* was waiting. When they arrived at the mansion gates, two horses and carriages were
waiting. Prince Jing stood beside one horse and carriage. When he saw Yun Shang, he walked toward
her and helped her get off the Nian.
(*TN: Nian, a kind of carriage pulled by people.)
A sudden gust of wind caught Yun Shang by surprise and she coughed. Prince Jing supported her as
she walked towards the carriage. She felt a bit uneasy, but thanked him and got in the carriage.
An hourter, the carriage stopped. Qin Yi and Qin Meng lifted the curtain and climbed down. They
stood outside the carriage and spoke, "Your Highness, we have arrived at Prince Jing''s mansion."
Yun Shang nodded, stood up and stepped outside.
Prince Jing was standing outside of his mansion, instructing a middle-aged man. Seeing Yun Shang,
he stepped forward and said, "I have already told my butler to inform the doctor. You can rest inside. I''ll
take you to himter."
Yun Shang nodded before bowing before the Prince. "I see. Thank you, uncle."
The Princess followed the butler into the mansion. Although the mansion was spacious, it seemed
neglected. Perhaps that was because only a few servants tended to the mansion. Yun Shang was
settled in a yard called Jinse. After leading Yun Shang into the yard, the butler left.
"Why was Prince Jing''s mansion so deste? I can''t even see a single living creature. It feels
unnatural. Your Highness ... We should just go back to our Pce." Qin Meng shuddered as she
spoke.
Yun Shang smiled. "Be careful. Do not to let Prince Jing hear you. If you annoy him, I won''t be able to
save you."
Yun Shang looked around the yard. Even though it waste at night, the flickering light from several
from the pavilion where she was sitting. One path led to the gate, while the other disappeared into a
bamboo forest skirted by thick groves of plum trees.
Qin Yi supported Yun Shang into a nearby room. Themp has been lit already. The room was bare
except for a table and several chairs. They walked from the outer room to the inner Pce. The inner
Pce was sparsely decorated as well. They saw a bed, a folding screen, a dressing table, a table for
a Chinese lute, and a desk. Even with the minimal furniture, the Pce seems elegant.
"Everyone says that Prince Jing is ascetic. He doesn''t even have a maid in his mansion. But why is it
that this room ... looks like a woman''s room?" Qin Yi asked in a low voice after looking around.
"Sh, this is not our Pce. Go unpack my things, and put them in ce. It''ste now, take rest soon."
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Yun Shang sat on the chair. Hearing subtle footsteps, she waved her hands indicating to her maids that
they needed to step away.
"Your Highness." Qin Yi and Qin Meng''s voice came from outside. Yun Shang sat straight and looked
outside. She saw a man in purple robes walking towards them.
Yun Shang smiled, "Uncle? Are we going to see the doctor now?"
Prince Jing kept silent. He sat across Yun Shang and stared at her for a long while before speaking.
"Let''s be honest. Why do you go out your way to see me? What do you want?"
Hearing this, Yun Shangughed and lowered her head. Then she said, "I just want to know whether
Lady Shu is on your side."
"Is that so? Do you have your answer now?" Prince Jing looked down and yed with a jade pendant
on his waist. He seemed to speak in a casual manner.
"Yes, I do." Yun Shang answered. She rubbed her hands in her sleeves as she thought. "To my
surprise, you''ve mostly lived at the frontier but still managed to nt a spy in Father''s Pce. I''m
impressed."
Prince Jing smiled. He wasn''t one for excuses. "Same as you." he pointed out.
"Lady Shu is quite a figure in the imperial household, but she always has trouble with the Empress. I
knew it was you who helped her. I don''t know what you''re nning, but I do know that right at this
moment, we have the same enemy. Why not form an alliance? Though I don''t have much to offer, I will
do my best to aid you." Yun Shang removed her hands from her sleeves. She leaned towards Prince
Jing and supported her head on her hands. She watched as he mulled over her proposal.
"In that case, I''ll say yes." Prince Jing answered. Since he hid his expressions very well, Yun Shang
couldn''t read his emotions.
Yun Shang stood up and smiled. "It''ste now. It doesn''t seem like you intend to take me to the doctor.
In that case, I''ll take my rest. You..."
Prince Jing studied Yun Shang as she spoke. Something seemed off. He stood up, and touched her
forehead.
Yun Shang was not expecting the Prince to touch her. In shock, she took a step back.
"You are sick?" Prince Jing frowned. He was asking a question, but he sounded like he already knew
the answer. "I thought the illness was just an act to get near me. I didn''t expect that you were actually
unwell.."
Yun Shang smiled to conceal her confusion. "If you hadn''t dragged me to the Star Tower in impulse, I
wouldn''t have caught a cold."
Prince Jing paused. He stepped forward and lifted Yun Shang.