Chapter 92 Lady Fu


    When the soldiers finished beating the early morning drum, Prince Jing returned to his camp and put


    on his armor. Then he went to the training ground.


    Luo Ding ran to Yun Shang and asked, "Mister Xiao, several soldiers were asking me about the people


    that you caught yesterday. What do I tell them?"


    Yun Shang smiled at him. "Just tell the soldiers that they are the thieves who stole our Map of Army


    Distribution. And tell them that the map has been found." Then Yun Shang walked into the tent. Zhao


    Yingjie and his mother were no longer in the Prince''s tent. Since Yun Shang didn''t bring many things


    when she came, there was not much for her to pack. So she just looked around for a while. Then she


    walked to the table and wrote something on a parchment. After that, she left the tent.


    "Bring my horse here." Yun Shang said to Luo Ding.


    Luo Ding nodded. "Mister Xiao, are you leaving the camp? I''ll fetch your horse for you."


    After a while, Luo Ding led the horse to her. Yun Shang smiled at Luo Ding and mounted. "Tell the


    Prince that I''m leaving." Then she raised her whip and dropped it fiercely. The horse neighed and took


    Yun Shang far away from the tent.


    Luo Ding frowned. "Isn''t he just going out of the camp? Is it necessary to tell His Highness about that?"


    When Prince Jing returned from the training ground, Luo Ding decided to tell him about Yun Shang''s


    leave, even though he was still confused about why he needed to do that. "Your Highness, Mister Xiao


    asked me to tell you that he left..."


    As soon as Luo Ding finished his sentence, he saw Prince Jing''s face change. Prince Jing quickly


    mounted the horse that was nearest to him and galloped to the gate of the camp with his armor still on.


    However, it was alreadyte. Even at the horse''s fastest speed, Prince Jing could only see Yun


    Shang''s silhouette from the mountain behind Xiyi Town. Yun Shang rode with several servants. Prince


    Jing grit his teeth in frustration. He squinted when he thought the girl on the mountain turned around to


    look at him.


    Then his mouth curved into a smile. Ning Yun Shang, this is thest time that I let you get away from


    me.


    Prince Jing''s eyes darkened. He stood there and kept watching the figures until they disappeared.


    Then he slowly rode back to the camp.


    "Of the Heaven''s will and by His Majesty''smand, to bring peace to the country after the ident


    on the day of the Winter Solstice, Princess Hui Guo went to Ning''guo Temple to pray and bring back


    their holy treasure. Now that Princess Hui Guo has returned with the White Conch, she has shown her


    sincerity. His Majesty is grateful for what she has done. The Princess will be rewarded with ten bolts of


    the finest brocade, three pearls from the South Sea, and a pair of jade ruyi*." The shrill voice of the


    eunuch rang through the Pce. Yun Shang led her maids to kneel and kowtow three times before


    respectfully epting the Imperial Edict from the eunuch. "Long live His Majesty."


    (TN* Ruyi is a long S-shaped handle with a head fashioned like a fist, cloud, or lingzhi mushroom. It is


    a talisman that symbolizes power and good fortune.)


    Then Qin Yi helped Yun Shang stand. Yun Shang smiled and put a golden bead into the eunuch''s


    hand. "Thank you for your trouble."


    The eunuch''s eyes widened. He smiled and said, "No trouble. No trouble at all. Congrattions to Your


    Highness. His Majesty treasures the White Conch very much. He even mentioned holding a grand


    ceremony for it and letting the Masters from the Temple give their blessings."


    Yun Shang smiled. "The blessed object deserves to be treated respectfully."


    After the eunuch left, Yun Shang handed the Imperial Edict to Qin Yi and smiled. "After the excitement


    at the frontier, it is a little hard for me to adjust to the boring life here. Qin Yi, tell me what has been


    going on in the Pce all these days."


    Qin Yi smiled. She took the tea from another maid and put it on the table beside Yun Shang. "Nothing


    special. The Empress is still in recovery. Although His Majesty withdrew the guards outside Qiwu


    Pce, the Empress still istes herself. Somedies went to pay their respects but none managed an


    audience with the Empress. So no one visits the Empress anymore. But even so, thedies in the


    imperial household still have something to do. They were busy ingratiating themselves with Lady Ming.


    What''s more, Grand Councilor Li sent a girl to the Pce earlier. Now the girl has be His


    Majesty''s favorite Lady.


    "Oh?" Yun Shang was surprised and turned to Qin Yi, "A girl sent by Grand Councilor Li? What''s her


    name?"


    Qin Yi smiled and answered, "Her name seems to be Li Fuyi. I''ve heard that she''s the Grand


    Councilor''s youngest daughter..."


    "She looks quite timid and weak as if she could fall over with the wind? And does she love to wear


    white clothes? Does she have a mole under her eye?" Yun Shang looked up and asked.


    Qin Yi was more than surprised. She smiled and said, "Exactly. How do you know that?"


    Yun Shang reached for her cup. How couldn''t she know? In her previous life, Li Fuyi also came to the


    Pce. But she had been sent just a littleter than now. Yun Shang remembered that the Empress


    picked Li Fuyi for the Emperor. It was said that Li Fuyi was sent as a maid to chat with the Empress to


    keep her from feeling bored. After a few days, however, she gained the Emperor''s favor and became


    Lady Fu. Then, with the Empress''s help, Lady Fu moved up to higher positions. Within a year, she had


    be the second most Royal Lady in the Pce.


    Yun Shang sneered. Li Fuyi, what a lovely name. But deep inside Fuyi was more vicious than a ck


    widow. She was even more scheming than Li Yiran, the Empress. In her previous life, the rupture


    between Li Fuyi and the Empress had been because of Li Fuyi. She used the Empress to set up the


    Ladies who were in her way, and then she went further by nning on setting up the Empress.


    Yun Shang had been quite loyal to the Empress at that time. She felt it was unfair to the Empress, and


    helped make trouble for Li Fuyi several times. Yun Shang''s eyes were filled with scorn. She had heard


    that at the Grand Councilor''s mansion, Li Fuyi had often been bullied by her elder brothers because of


    her humble position. She had hidden her resentment and endured the unfair treatment. Her adversities


    had turned Li Fuyi into a difficult person.


    "Your Highness, what''s on your mind now?" Qin Yi waited but didn''t hear anything from Yun Shang. So


    she asked.


    Yun Shang smiled. "The Empress mentioned her to me. That''s why I know what she looks like. Don''t


    let her get near my mother."


    Qin Yi nodded. Before she could say anything, a maid called to Yun Shang from outside. "Your


    Highness, Lady Fu asks to see you."


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    Yun Shang drank her tea and said, "Well, how fast. I''ve not even been back four hours."


    "Your Highness, shall I ask her to leave? I can tell her that Your Highness does not feel well after the


    long trip, and that you have already slept." Qian Yin heard Yun Shang and suggested.


    Yun Shang coughed, "Give me the mirror."


    Qin Yi quickly handed the mirror to the Princess. Yun Shang looked pretty but pale in the mirror. Her


    face was morbidly white. That was her usual makeup. Yun Shang smiled, "Good idea. But even though


    I am not feeling well after my long trip, I should still get myself together and see my father''s new


    favorite."


    Yun Shang stood. She walked to the soft couch andy down. Qin Yi hurriedly brought a quilt to cover


    her. Then she walked to the curtain and weed Lady Fu. As a cold wind blew in, Yun Shang raised


    her hand to cover her mouth and coughed. Qian Yin hurriedly handed a cup of tea to her and patted


    the Princess on the back. Qian Yin said, "Your Highness, since you were not here for a long time and


    we didn''t know when you were returning, Qin Yi didn''t prepare preserves for you. Is it OK if I fetch you


    some osmanthus honey when the decoction of your medicine is served here?"


    Yun Shang nodded, "Osmanthus honey shall do. The medicine is too bitter."


    Just as she finished her sentence, a timid voice could be heard. "It''s my honor to meet Your Highness. I


    wish Your Highness good health and great fortune."


    Yun Shang looked up. Li Fuyi''s shimmering eyes were the first thing that Yun Shang noticed. Her eyes


    were so bright it was as if tears had washed them. Her eyebrows curved into an appropriate shape that


    gave her a worried look. She was wearing white clothes that lined her waist like a willow. She looked so


    delicate.


    Yun Shang didn''t let the Lady stand. She turned to Qian Yin and asked deliberately, "Has someone


    passed away in the Pce? Why does she dress like this? Father didn''t tell me anything about recent


    idents." Then she coughed harder and spoke in a hurry, "Go and ask who has suffered a


    misfortune..."


    Li Fuyi heard the Princess and looked embarrassed. "Your Highness, everything is fine and no one has


    passed away in the Pce. Dressing like this is just one of my habits."


    Yun Shang seemed stunned. Then she patted her chest and said, "Oh I see. I misunderstood. I thought


    you were wearing mourning apparel for someone. So, you are Lady Fu, right? I''ve just returned from


    Ning''guo Temple. This is our first meeting. You look so beautiful and delicate. Even I have the desire to


    protect you. No wonder father loves you."


    Li Fuyi quickly lowered her head to hide her reddening cheeks. "You''re teasing me. I''ve always heard


    about the beauty of the Princess. Today, I realize that fairies do exist in the world. Two years from now,


    your beauty will undoubtedly make every man on this fawn over you."


    Yun Shang smiled but did not respond. Then she acted as if she remembered something. "Oh, I forgot


    that Lady Fu is still kneeling. Hurry. Help her up."


    Qian Yin quickly helped the Lady, but didn''t use much strength. Then, Li Fuyi thanked them and said,


    "When I was still at home, I heard a lot about you. Your Highness has cared for themoners from a


    young age. After entering the Pce, I''ve heard His Majesty also speak fondly about you. He''s been


    eagerly awaiting your return. Today, I finally meet you in person."


    Yun Shang put a smile on her face and appeared innocent, "Really?"


    Before she started to say more, Qin Yi entered with a bowl of decoction. So Yun Shang addressed Qin


    Yi instead, "I''ve already had a pill. Why not put down this bowl and wait for the decoction to cool? Qian


    Yin, put some osmanthus honey in it."


    Qian Yin agreed, but Qin Yi stopped the maid and said to Yun Shang, "Your Highness, we can''t do that.


    The imperial physician has said that putting honey in the decoction will dilute the medicine. Your


    Highness, be brave and drink."


    Yun Shang looked fearful and resistant. She shook her head repeatedly and grabbed Qin Yi''s sleeves


    and acted spoiled, "Qin Yi, my Qin Yi. Please. Just once, OK? I''ve just had the pill and it left a bitter


    taste in my mouth. Just let me add a tiny amount of osmanthus honey in it. I promise I won''t ask again.


    I''ll have someone make preserves for meter."


    "And no more preserves, too." Qin Yi sighed in defeat. She allowed Qian Yin to fetch the honey and


    warned Yun Shang in the same breath. Qian Yin hurriedly left for the inner Hall. Then Yun Shang said,


    "I know that you''re the best. I promise I won''t eat too many preserves. I''ll listen to you."


    "Why do you need to listen to her?" Someone new had entered the room and spoke with a maic


    voice. Yun Shang smiled and looked at the door. She nced at Li Fuyi and found her expression had


    changed.


    "Father." Yun Shang smiled and started to talk when Emperor Ning walked closer. "There are no


    preserves in my Pce, so I told Qin Yi to put some osmanthus honey in the decoction. And she said I


    shouldn''t have so much honey or preserves."


    Emperor Ning frowned and walked to Yun Shang. He picked up the bowl and sniffed. "Shang''er, do you


    feel ill? Why are you still taking medicine?"


    Yun Shang smiled. "I''m OK. I was just so anxious to bring the White Conch back to the Pce and


    even worried that something would happen along the way. So I returned in a hurry. Maybe it was too


    much for me, so I got a prescription. I''ve been taking the medicine for several days. I will be fine soon."


    Emperor Ning shook his head. "Look at you. Why didn''t you tell me? I could have sent someone to


    escort you."


    While they were talking, Li Fuyi joined the conversation. "Your Majesty."


    Emperor Ning turned and noticed that Li Fuyi was in the room. He smiled at her. "You''re here, too."


    Li Fuyi hurriedly responded, "Yes. Your Majesty mentioned the Princess numerous times, so I hurried


    here to see her after I heard of her return."


    Yun Shang smiled. "Congrattions, father. Lady Fu is really beautiful."


    Emperor Ning smiled with embarrassment. Then Yun Shang coughed twice. The Emperor couldn''t help


    but frown. His eyes fell on Lady Fu. His daughter had just returned from a half-day journey and needed


    to rest. But Lady Fu came to visit her. It seemed inappropriate. So he turned to Lady Fu and said, "You


    can leave. Go to Lady Ming''s Pce. She was just asking me about you."


    Lady Fu nodded and said, "I''ll leave now." Then she bowed to Emperor Ning and Yun Shang before


    she took her leave.


    After Lady Fu left, Yun Shang smiled. "Lady Fu is a beautiful woman. But she loves to wear white at


    such a young age. I was surprised by her outfit. I thought someone has passed away in the Pce."


    Emperor Ning thought about Lady Fu''s dressing style. He hadn''t found it odd before. He only felt that


    the in color matched her snowy skin quite well and made her more charming. Now, upon hearing


    Yun Shang''s opinion, he felt that white might be ominous. It was almost New Year, yet Lady Fu was still


    wearing white. That was inappropriate.


    Yun Shang saw Emperor Ning''s expression, so she changed the topic. "I''ve heard that Lady Ming is


    still in charge of everything in the imperial household. She is aging now. With so many things to deal


    with, I''m worried it might be too much for her. The New Year ising. She will soon be very


    busy."


    Emperor Ning turned to Yun Shang and said, "Well, you also think that I should let the Empress out?"


    Also?


    Yun Shang smiled. "I didn''t finish but father seems to already know what I was about to say. Looks like


    I''m not the only one to suggest that. Who else has mentioned it to you?"


    Emperor Ning''s eyes fell on Yun Shang''s face. He smiled, "There was Li Fuyi, and your mother..."


    Mother? Yun Shang squinted. After a while, she said, "Her Majesty has helped you tremendously all


    these years. And she has never made any huge mistakes. This time, she acted on impulse. But no one


    is perfect. You don''t want her locked in the Pce for her whole life, do you?" Then she added


    casually, "And mother''s belly is getting bigger, right? After some time, we will have more noise in the


    Pce."


    Emperor Ning smiled. "Yes, her belly is getting bigger. In a few months, you''ll be an elder sister. As for


    the Empress, I''ve told her to take good care of your mother''s unborn baby. If your mother delivers her


    child smoothly, then I''ll let the Empress out. But if anything happens to her or her baby, I''ll deprive the


    Empress of her royal title."


    Yun Shang was shocked. Emperor Ning was a smart person. He knew that Lady Jin had be the


    biggest threat to everyone in the Pce. All attention would be on her and her unborn baby. She was


    getting in the way of many. With Emperor Ning''s arrangement, the Empress would do her best to


    protect Lady Jin and her baby.


    Equally, the Empress will feel a growing resentment toward Lady Jin. After the child is born, the


    Empress would surely start her schemes. The Empress and Lady Jin had been ipatible since


    before Yun Shang was born. Father''s arrangement wouldn''t change anything.


    Emperor Ning talked with Yun Shang for some time before leaving. After Emperor Ning left, a maid


    came to tell Yun Shang that Lady Meng asked to see her. Lady Meng? Yun Shang was confused and


    looked to Qin Yi for an exnation. Qin Yi curled her lips and said, "It''s Qin Meng. She has gained His


    Majesty''s favor these past few days, so she was entitled Lady Meng earlier."


    Lady Meng, Lady Meng...... As Yun Shang secretly repeated the title twice, the door opened. Qin Meng


    entered and bowed to Yun Shang. "Your Highness."


    She stopped acting humble...Yun Shang smiled scornfully.


    "There''s no need to be so polite, Lady Meng. You look much better than before. I believe that you are


    leading a good life now."


    Qin Meng quickly kneeled. "All of my glory and achievement were given by Your Highness. No matter


    what position I''m in, Your Highness will always be my master."


    "Your master?" Yun Shang smiled. "But I don''t need a useless servant." Coldness shed in Yun


    Shang''s eyes. "I''m sure you''ve heard that Li Fuyi just visited me. I''ve heard that she is one of father''s


    favorites now. You are favored by the Emperor too. You should talk to her and make friends with her.


    She is far more popr than you now. When you climb to a higher position than her, you cane


    back and call me your master."


    Qin Meng''s eyes darkened. She hesitated for a while and then whispered. "But Lady Fu is the


    Empress''s younger sister, and she''s also Lady Ming''s niece. How can Ipete with her..."


    Yun Shang lowered her head and whispered in Qin Meng''s ear. "I''ll tell you a secret. Li Fuyi is one of


    the youngest daughters in the Li mansion. She was bullied by many. The Empress was among her


    tormentors. You''ve worked for the Empress, and you know her the best. I''m sure you and Li Fuyi can


    find a lot to talk about."


    Qin Meng bit her lip. She looked hesitant. Yun Shang continued, "If I were you, I would cry out loud and


    weep in front of Li Fuyi. I would im that I am sorry for what I''ve done to the Empress and wanted to


    apologize to her. I would mention that the Empress is in her recovery in the Pce so no one can see


    her. Then, I would beg Lady Fu to say something nice about me in front of the Empress, given that she


    and the Empress are sisters and they must be really close. Well, of course I wouldn''t go there right


    after leaving Qingxin Pce. I would wander around Qiwu Pce for a couple of days and then bump


    into Lady Fu by ident..."


    Qin Meng''s eyes brightened. She kowtowed before Yun Shang and said, "I know what to do now. I will


    aplish the mission."


    Yun Shang smiled and leaned back on the couch. She squinted at Qin Meng. "Mission? When did I


    give you a mission?"


    Qin Meng nodded repeatedly. "Your Highness is right. You have never given me any mission......" Then


    she kowtowed again and took her leave.


    Yun Shang squinted her eyes. It seemed like Hua Jing hadn''t returned yet. It made Yun Shang wonder


    what was going on with her sister...This Pce will soon be a stage for uing shows...