Chapter 44 Lin''s Disappearance


    Yun Shang wondered what the Empress was nning. Soon, she figured it out. It seems that the


    Empress intended to rece Qin Meng with a new spy. What a wily snake!


    "I feel we should ask Qin Meng what she wants, even though she''s merely a maid, " said Yun Shang


    with a smile. "Besides, no more maids are needed regardless of whether she leaves or not. I became


    "No, you can''t. As a Princess, you must follow the rules, " responded the Empress. "I''ve already told


    the Imperial Household Department* to pick a good maid for you." The Empress took a prayer band off


    her wrist and rolled the beads between her fingers.


    (*TN: Its primary purpose was to manage the internal affairs of the Imperial family and the activities of


    the inner Pce.)


    "Alright, " Yun Shang smiled nonchntly.


    Satisfied, the Empress nodded. As if having thought of something important, she looked at Yun Shang


    and asked, "Have you found a cure for your illness? I heard that you were ill and declined all


    concubines'' visit."


    Hearing that, Yun Shang smiled apologetically, "I caught a cold, and I was afraid it would bring bad luck


    to others. Besides, I haven''t been back at the Pce for long. I''m still not used to visitors. After Lady


    Jin was favored by my father, many concubines came to me and said something I couldn''t understand.


    So I asked my maids to keep them out."


    The Empress stopped ying with her beads. "Hmm. Why do you call her Lady Jin? She''s your


    mother." The Empress spoke impassively while staring at Yun Shang.


    "Although she is my mother, I have not seen her since my childhood. She''s like a stranger. I feel


    awkward calling her mother. Hiding in Qingxin Pce is a cowardly act, I agree. But I don''t know what


    to do." Yun Shang smiled. "Besides, all my father did was restore her position. I''m sure it will be


    forgotten soon enough."


    Indeed, she had not been with Lady Jin during these years. When she was younger, Yun Shang would


    get angry if anyone mentioned that her mother was Lady Jin of the Cold Pce. But both Yun Shang


    and the Empress knew that it was the Empress who separated the Princess from her mother.


    "I have raised you since you were one year old. It is normal for you to feel like you and Lady Jin are


    strangers. But now she''s back. I know you are embarrassed, and it''s okay if you don''t want to be close


    to her. You are ady now, and soon you''ll get married and live with your husband. After that, these


    Yun Shang didn''t respond as the Empress was talking about marriage.


    "Take good care of yourself, and if you need any medicine, let me know." The Empress gave the


    Princess a meaningful nce, and then rose to leave.


    Yun Shang apanied her to the door, and watched until she couldn''t see the Empress anymore.


    "Your Highness, why did the Empress want Qin Meng to go even if she is disabled?" whispered Qin Yi.


    "She is disabled. That is why the Empress wants to withdraw her." Yun Shang chuckled. "Someone


    else is going to rece her. That''s the n."


    "Rece? Does it mean we''re going to be watched again?" frowned Qin Yi.


    "No. This is our chance." said Yun Shang.


    "Our chance?" asked Qin Yi. Before the Princess could reply, Qin Yi spoke up again. "Lady Shu is


    "What a coincidence. The Empress leaves, and Lady Shu arrives. Close the door!" continued Yun


    Shang. "Let two maids guard the door. Tell the Lady that I am ill and do not want to be disturbed."


    "But, your Highness..." hesitated Qin Yi.


    "Didn''t you hear what the Empress said? It was clear that she knew you had gone to Lady Shu for


    medicine. She came to warn me, albeit subtly that she is the only one in charge of the Imperial


    Household." said Yun Shang as she walked into her room.


    Qin Yi closed the door promptly and followed her.


    "Don''t let anyone in except my father and the Empress. No one... Including my mother..." said Yun


    Shang. She hesitated as she thought of her mother.


    "Aye, " Qin Yi nodded. "You sound indifferent, but I know you love her. The Pce is really not a simple


    ce."


    Although Yun Shang smiled, bitternessced her emotions.


    She went into her bedroom, opened the window, and whistled. A goose flew up and perched on the


    window. "Wow! Where did ite from?" asked Qin Yi in surprise.


    Without answering, Yun Shang went to the table and drew something. Then she put it into the goose''s


    mouth, and let the bird fly away.


    Qin Yi looked out the window in surprise, but did not see the goose. Then she turned away, and left to


    decoct medicine.


    As she was leaving, Yun Shang remembered something. "Do you remember there was a eunuch


    named Lin in Qingxin Pce seven years ago?"


    "Lin?" Qin Yi frowned, and shook her head.


    "At that time, the Empress brought a fake priest and tried to kill me. After that she caught the maids


    and eunuchs working here and tried to bribe them. But Lin told me that the Empressmanded him


    to poison me."


    Qin Yi suddenly recalled the incident Yun Shang mentioned. "Oh, now I remember, " she said.


    "When I returned to the pce, both the Empress and Qin Meng told me that none of the servants in


    the Qingxin Pce had changed. But after all this while here, I haven''t seen Lin. Please inquire about


    his whereabouts secretly." said Yun Shang.


    Hearing that, Qin Yi nodded. "Aye, I will." Then she left.