Chapter 82 Settling The Chaos


    In Shuya Pce, Lady Shu sat in her chair. Her servants and maids knelt before her.


    The silence was broken when a maid rushed in. She walked up to Lady Shu and spoke, "Your


    Highness, Qiwu Pce is being guarded at His Majesty''s order. I couldn''t find out what was going on


    inside."


    Lady Shu sprang to her feet. "What? Guarded?"


    Lady Shu tried to understand why the Emperor would do such a thing, but she couldn''te up with a


    usible exnation. "That''s strange. The Empress was the one who got hurt. Why would her Pce


    be guarded? If she did have a miscarriage, then I should be guarded. After all, she tried to set me up in


    front of everyone. The spectators would think that I pushed her to the ground. So I should be the one to


    me. Even if she is all right, I should also be the one who got med. By now, His Majesty should


    havee to scold me."


    "I find it confusing too. What happened earlier was quite a mess. First one physician was rushed to


    Qiwu Pce. Then every single physician from the Imperial Hospital was called there. I really thought


    that Her Majesty''s health must have worried the Emperor. But then His Majesty rushed out in anger, so


    I went to see what happened. But before I could get more information, the Pce was guarded." Lady


    Shu''s maid added as she was confused at what she had seen.


    "Who else was in Qiwu Pce besides the Empress?" Lady Shu asked.


    The maid hurriedly answered her. "Princess Hui Guo was also there. When His Majesty was sending


    the Empress back to her Pce, the Princess followed them. And His Majesty left earlier than her."


    Lady Shu nodded. "Let''s sit tight and see how things go. If the situation still remains so unclear


    tomorrow, I will go to Qingxin Pce to find out myself."


    The maid nodded. Then the maid looked at the other maids and servants who were still on their knees.


    Seeing this, Lady Shu waved to let them leave. "Excuse yourselves. You''re of no use."


    The servants on the ground conveyed their gratitude before standing and leaving.


    After everyone had left, the maid started to talk again. "Your Highness, His Majesty has asked people


    to investigate the ident that happened during the Ceremony."


    Lady Shu smiled. She reveled in the Empress''s misfortune. "I had almost forgotten. The esteemed


    Empress made a huge mistake today. Let them do whatever they need to. I didn''t do this anyway. The


    worst that can happen is that I get med for bad management. The garment was made by Shangyi


    Bureau, and although I am in charge of the imperial household, I had no business in it. But I am really


    curious about the person who is behind all this. Who was it that punished the Empress for me? That


    was a really nice move. Good for him. And even though His Majesty banned us from talking about the


    ident, I''m sure the officials who love to gossip will tell everyone that the Empress is a bane for us all


    when they get back home. She''ll be seen as the cursed one. Si''er, what have they found out?"


    The maid who was called Si''er quickly answered. "Your Highness, as you said, given that we didn''t do


    it, we are not the target of their investigation now."


    Lady Shu nodded and smiled coldly. Then she continued, "What bothers me is that the Empress was


    acting really odd today. I''ve never seen her like this before. Even if she believed that I was the one who


    framed her, she shouldn''t have juste at me. Besides, with her pregnant body, fighting like that


    would definitely kill her baby. Is that what she wanted? Why on earth would she do that?"


    Lady Shu was more confused than ever. She wondered who was behind all this. Who had nned the


    ident in front of everyone at the Ceremony? And why was the Empress so determined to risk her


    baby? And what was happening with the Empress now?


    These questions kept everyone awake in the Pce that night.


    The next day, the guards that had been ced outside of Qiwu Pce were still there. And even


    though Emperor Ning had given strict orders not to speak about the ident, the news that a Xiong


    character appeared on the Empress''s back during the Ceremony had been heard by all. The


    were punishing her. Even worse, they thought that her punishment was a warning of an uing


    disaster.


    Lady Shu hurried to Qingxin Pce with her maids. When she arrived, Yun Shang was reading through


    Buddhist sutras. She murmured something that didn''t make sense to Lady Shu.


    Lady Shu sat and waited patiently for Yun Shang to give her attention. Eventually, Yun Shang smiled,


    "Lady Shu, when did you arrive? I didn''t notice."


    Lady Shu smiled and said, "I''ve been here for a while. You were reading the sutras, so I didn''t interrupt


    you."


    Yun Shang smiled and asked Qin Yi to make tea for Lady Shu.


    Lady Shu waved to refuse. "Thank you, but that''s not necessary. I came here today to ask for a favor.


    Yesterday, Her Majesty and I had a little misunderstanding. After I returned to my Pce, I was


    regretful about what I had done. But I was afraid I''d upset her more if I went to apologize. So I sent my


    maid to convey my apologies, but she returned iming that Qiwu Pce had been ced under


    guard. I''m worried and don''t know what to do. And the situation has gotten worse today. Fortunately, I


    heard that Your Highness was at Qiwu Pce with their Majesties yesterday, so I came here. I want to


    know if Her Majesty is all right now."


    Yun Shang lowered her head and sighed. "The baby... is gone..."


    Lady Shu was shocked. She felt as though her strength had seeped out of her body. She fell back on


    the chair and her mind went nk. Howe? She didn''t push the Empress that hard yesterday. Why


    was the child gone?


    Lady Shu sat frozen for a while before she remembered that she was at Qingxin Pce. She forced a


    smile, "I see, thank you, Your Highness. It''s time for me to leave."


    "All right. Qin Yi, walk Lady Shu out." Yun Shang said to her maid softly. With a sigh, she lowered her


    head and continued reading the sutras.


    When Lady Shu left Qingxin Pce, Qian Yin burst intoughter. "Your Highness, you are so crafty.


    Lady Shu worries about the Empress''s condition and you scare her like that. Did you see her face? Her


    face lost all color at your words."


    Yun Shangughed too. "Well, I didn''t mean to. I was just telling her the truth. Besides, the Emperor


    will not admit that the Empress faked her pregnancy. He would im the same thing I said. The baby is


    gone. Once the Li Family hears the news, they will certainly do everything they can to find the culprit.


    That''s why we need Lady Shu as our scapegoat. So, for Lady Shu, knowing the whole truth or the


    partial truth will not change her situation.


    Qian Yin was half surprised and half confused. "But, the pregnancy was a lie. Besides, Lady Shu works


    for Prince Jing. You two are allied."


    Yun Shang sneered. "So what? Uncle promised me that she would not go after mother, but Lady Shu


    still went against his orders. Such a misbehaving servant is trouble for all. I''m just helping Prince Jing


    manage his people. Besides, given that Prince Jing is so ambitious, he must have more than one spy


    here. Even though we are in an alliance now, I can''t guarantee that we won''t work against each other in


    the future. I''m curious to find out who, other than Lady Shu, works for him."


    Qian Yin didn''t quite get it, but she still trusted the Princess''s judgment. So she stopped asking.


    "By the way, where did you keep physician Chen?" Yun Shang asked as she thought of something.


    Qian Yin hurriedly answered. "We kept him in an inconspicuous corner in the outer hall of Qiwu Pce.


    Since most of Lady Jin''s servants work for Your Highness, I thought he would be safe there. And it is


    also a ce that the Empress would never think of... "


    "Well done." Yun Shang nodded, "Get rid of him."


    "Cuckoo. Cuckoo..." Yun Shan looked at the window and raised her eyebrows at the sound. Then Qian


    Yin opened the window, and a wrapped paper ball flew in through the window. Qian Yin picked it up


    and handed it to Yun Shang.


    Yun Shang opened it and read the message. Her expression changed.


    "Your Highness, what''s wrong?" Seeing Yun Shang''s odd expression, Qian Yin couldn''t tell whether


    she was happy or not. So she asked.


    Yun Shang smiled tofort her. "It''s a message from Ning Qian. They were following Hua Jing but


    lost her at the border. Prince Qingsu of Ye Lang County saved her."


    "Prince Qingsu of Ye Lang County? He saved Hua Jing?" Qian Yin was startled. "How do they know


    each other? Is it just a coincidence?"


    Yun Shang snorted coldly. "It doesn''t matter why he saved her. I must go there as soon as possible.


    Come on. Let''s go see my father."


    When Yun Shang stepped into Qinzheng Hall, she found that Li Jingyan, the Empress''s father, was


    also there. Li Jingyan seemed quite annoyed. He snorted at Yun Shang and turned his head away.


    But Yun Shang did not pay attention to him. She walked straight to the Emperor and said, "Father, I''ve


    heard that themoners are panicking at the ident during the Sacrificial Ceremony..."


    Before she finished her sentence, Li Jingyan interrupted her. "Women in the Pce shall not interfere


    in politics. Did you forget? Didn''t your Mother teach you well?"


    Yun Shang turned to Li Jingyan and smiled. "I was raised and taught by Her Majesty since my


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    biological mother wasn''t around during my childhood. Are you saying that Her Majesty was an


    unqualified mother?"


    Emperor Ning frowned. "Go on with what you were saying earlier."


    Yun Shang ignored Li Jingyan and turned to Emperor Ning. She smiled. "I have a way to settle the


    chaos. After all, too many rumors may ruin a country."


    "Really?" Emperor Ning didn''t quite believe her. "Tell me about it."


    "The only reason themoners panicked is the appearance of the unexined character Xiong


    during the Ceremony. Calling it a pure coincidence was unconvincing. So they took it as a warning from


    the Heavens. So what we need to do is show them another sign that indicates auspiciousness, thus


    eliminating their fear."


    "An auspicious sign? But how are we going to do that?" Emperor Ning sighed.


    Yun Shang smiled. "Simple. If an ominous sign can be engineered, we can craft an auspicious sign as


    well. But it has to be done by someone prestigious such as Master Wu Na."


    "Master Wu Na?" Emperor Ning understood what she meant. "Exactly. How could I forget about that? If


    Master Wu Na tells the public that he has seen something auspicious, they would believe him. And


    then themoners will forget about the ominous sign. That''s how we sort this out."


    The more he thought about it, the happier he felt. "Shang''er, you have been of great help to me.


    Servant!"


    A servant hurried forward. Emperor Ning instructed, "Go to Ning''guo Temple and invite Master Wu Na


    here."


    The servant lowered his head in acknowledgement and stepped away.


    Having got what she wanted, Yun Shang decided to leave. Besides, Li Jingyan was so sharp that he


    may find out what Yun Shang was nning. So she presented her excuse and took her leave.


    In less than an hour after Yun Shang''s return to Qingxin Pce, word came that Lady Shu had


    received her punishment. For murdering the royal heir, she had been moved to the Cold Pce.


    It was only then that Yun Shang realized why Li Jingyan was at Qinzheng Hall. He must havee for


    his daughter. But contrary to her expectation, no one reacted too strongly to the news. Almost everyone


    was specting on the future leader of the imperial household. After all, the Empress had just lost her


    baby and was being guarded. Lady Shu was in the Cold Pce. Who else would be eligible for the


    position?


    All attention was focused on Qiwu Pce again. But this time, their focus was on another Lady who


    lived there. Lady Jin. Even though she was pregnant, and it may not be convenient for her to take over


    the Empress''s responsibilities, it was obvious that the Emperor loved her. Besides, she was the only


    one in the imperial household with the title of a Ladyship.


    It was beyond everyone''s expectation when Emperor Ning decreed that Lady Ming, who had been


    outside of everyone''s attention for a long time, would take over the position.


    Then they knew that even though the Empress had a miscarriage, the Emperor still valued her. After


    all, Lady Ming also bore the Li name. She was the Grand Councilor, Li Jingyan''s sister and also the


    Empress''s aunt.


    "Your Highness, lying about the pregnancy is a felony. Why does His Majesty let the Empress''s rtive


    take over her responsibilities?" Qian Yin thought hard but still couldn''t figure out what the royals were


    thinking.


    Seeing her confusion, Yun Shang raised her head and turned to Qin Yin. They smiled at each other.


    Then Qian Yinined. "You two are teasing at me. Why don''t you tell me what''s going on?"


    Qin Yi smiled. "It was because of the Empress''s father, the Grand Councilor. He is a man of great


    power and has many loyal followers. That''s why His Majesty fears him. So, as long as Li Jingyan is the


    Grand Councilor, the Empress will keep her position."


    Qian Yin asked, "So we''ll have to get rid of the Grand Councilor before we deal with the Empress?"


    Yun Shang shook her head. "That would be the safest way, but it is not the only way."


    While they were talking, a voice came from outside. "Your Highness, Master Zheng is here."


    Yun Shang hurriedly stood and went out. She smiled. "I didn''t expect that you woulde. What are


    you here for, Master Zheng?"


    Master Zheng smiled and looked at Yun Shang. "Your Highness, Master Wu Na has arrived. He is at


    Qinzheng Hall ying chess with His Majesty right now. His Majesty sent me here to inform you. Would


    you like to join them, Your Highness?"


    "Of course, " said Yun Shang with joy in her eyes. "It''s been a long time since Ist saw Master Wu Na.


    Please wait for a moment. I''ll fetch my cloak and apany you to Qinzheng Hall."


    Qin Yi hurriedly walked to the inner hall. She took out Yun Shang''s cloak and draped it over the


    Princess''s shoulders. Master Zheng looked at them and smiled. "Correct me if I''m wrong, but is this the


    cloak that Prince Jing gave to His Majesty? I remembered that it was rewarded to Your Highness by


    His Majesty."


    "Well." Yun Shang acted as if surprised. "I only know that it''s a gift that shows father''s love for me. I


    didn''t know its origin. Turns out it was given by uncle."


    Master Zheng nodded and smiled. Then he followed Yun Shang to Qinzheng Hall.


    At Qinzheng Hall, Master Wu Na and the Emperor were ying chess. When Yun Shang arrived, they


    were tied in the game. So Yun Shang stood aside without interrupting them. After a long while, the


    Emperorughed happily. "Master, you''re getting better at chess these days. You won."


    Master Wu Na touched his beard and smiled. "Your Majesty must have been very busy with national


    affairs, so you have had little time to practice. Now, even Yun Shang ys better than you."


    Then Emperor Ning saw Yun Shang standing on the side. He stuck out his tongue and said with a


    smile. "Really? I didn''t know that she was good at chess."


    "Of course. After all, she was taught by..." Before Wu Na could say Xiao Yuanshan, he felt a slight pain


    on his back. He quickly realized that Yun Shang had pinched him before he could divulge who had


    taught the Princess to y chess. So he coughed and said, "She was taught by me, hand in hand."


    Emperor Ning felt happy. "You have taught Shang''er a lot. I couldn''t thank you enough."


    Wu Na smiled. "Amitabha Buddha. We just happen to have the same hobby. As for the recent issue,


    Her Highness wrote me a letter. And I''ve also heard a lot along my way here. Though lying is forbidden,


    I''ll break that rule once, for this is a national matter. Helping the people is a worthy cause. I will take


    Buddha''s punishment, if there is any. Don''t worry."


    Emperor Ning was more than grateful at Master Wu Na''s reassurance.


    The next day, Master Wu Na made his way to the most prosperous ce in the Imperial City. As a


    Buddhist monk, and a revered one at that, Master Wu Na was pious and free of secr desires. Upon


    hearing that Master Wu Na was in the city, themoners rushed to catch a glimpse of the Master.


    The crowd elbowed and nudged each other to get in front. When asked, Wu Na answered, "The other


    day, I was observing the stars above the Imperial City and saw an ill omen. So I hurried here. To my


    surprise,st night a red glow suffused the whole sky. That was a sign from the Heavens indicating a


    virtuousdy. With her presence, there''s no need to worry. Satisfied that all is well, I will now return to


    my temple."


    Within a day, Wu Na''s words spread like wildfire. No one focused on the Empress and the Ceremony.


    Instead, they all discussed Wu Na''s message and what it meant. If the topic of the Empress came up in


    passing, they brushed it aside and re-directed the conversation to Wu Na''s message. In their minds,


    the Empress must have been responsible for the ill omen.