Chapter 162 The Return Of The Empress (Part Three)


    Prince Jing asked Yun Shang to order some dishes, and then he added a few more. Wang Shui


    took the teacup that the Prince always carried with him, and went downstairs to make tea. A whileter,


    Wang Shui returned. After putting the teacup on the table, Wang Shui whispered to the Prince,


    "Your Highness, I saw Xia Houjing of the State of Xia just now. It seems he is entertaining guests here.


    Some people at the banquet looked familiar. I once saw pictures of the Xia officers. One of them must


    be Lord Hua Guo of Xia."


    Prince Jing raised his brows a little, "Oh?"


    Yun Shang learned some information about the officers from the State of Xia, and knew something


    about Lord Hua Guo, too. He was quite influential in the court of Xia as many of his ancestors had been


    generals in the history of Xia. The Hua family had made tremendous contributions to Xia. Lord Hua


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    Guo had a daughter, Hua Yi, thete Empress of the State of Xia. About two decades ago, the State of


    Xia was at war with the State of Yng. The Emperor of Xia led the army to the battlefield in person,


    and brought the Empress with him as well. However, the Xia army was ambushed by Yng soldiers,


    and the pregnant Empress was forced to jump from a cliff. Only a bloody head reminded when the


    Emperor of Xia found her, and there were many animal bite marks on her head.


    The Emperor of Xia was so grieved that his hair turned white overnight. Lord Hua Guo also suffered


    after news of his daughter''s death. He became ill. Although his illness was not so serious as to threaten


    his life, he could no longer lead an army and fight on the battlefield again. Although the younger


    generals from the Hua n were also good fighters, they were not as good as Lord Hua Guo. Without


    the support of Lord Hua Guo, the Hua family gradually lost its glory as a military n.


    But... Yun Shang lifted her eyes to look at Prince Jing and saw a trace of confusion in his eyes. The


    Prince must also feel puzzled about Lord Hua Guo''s visit to the Imperial City of Ning... in secret...


    Prince Jing and Yun Shang nned to leave after dining, as Yun Shang wanted to pay Wang Jinyan a


    visit. She hadn''t seen Wang Jinyan in a long time. Yun Shang had learned from the Prince that Wang


    Jinyan was unhappy as Lady Wang was considering finding a husband for her.


    Yun Shang intended to go to Wang Jinyan''s home. But when Prince Jing learned of her intention, he


    insisted on dining with her in this restaurant before escorting her to the Wang Mansion.


    After they finished dining, Prince Jing opened the door. But he was taken by surprise as soon as the


    door opened. As Yun Shang walked behind the Prince with her head bowed, she didn''t see who was


    standing in the doorway. She walked toward the door, and almost ran into a person. But the Prince


    checked her in time. Yun Shang lifted her eyes and saw a familiar figure standing in the passage


    outside. By his side was an old man with grey hair. He looked dignified and stern in spite of his in


    dress. Yun Shang also felt startled when she saw the old man''s face. He must be Lord Hua Guo.


    It seemed the two men had just finishing dining as well.


    Xia Houjing never expected that he would meet Prince Jing and Yun Shang in this restaurant.


    Regaining hisposure, he said with a smile, "What a small world! It is sheer coincidence that we


    see each other here, Prince Jing."


    Yun Shang noticed that Lord Hua Guo''s expression changed when he heard Xia Houjing''s greeting.


    Lord Hua Guo stared at Prince Jing with amazement for a long while. It seemed that he could not


    believe the man standing in front of him was Prince Jing of the State of Ning.


    "As luck would have it." Prince Jing said calmly. He just gave a response to Xia Houjing out of


    politeness. Then he looked at Yun Shang, who had been watching the two men from Xia in secret.


    "How could you be so reckless?"


    Yun Shang was surprised at Prince Jing''s question. Soon she realized that the Prince must mean her


    carelessness in almost knocking down Lord Hua Guo. Yun Shang lowered her head and stayed silent.


    Then she said softly, "I''m so sorry."


    The apology satisfied Prince Jing very much. As afort, he rubbed Yun Shang''s hair gently. Then he


    lifted his eyes to look at Xia Houjing and Lord Hua Guo. After a moment the Prince asked with


    uncertainty, "Prince Huojing, if I am right, this must be Lord Hua Guo of the State of Xia..."


    To Prince Jing''s surprise, Xia Houjing admitted to Lord Hua Guo''s identity honestly. He smiled at the


    Prince, "You have sharp eyes, Prince Jing."


    Prince Jing returned his smile. But his brow frowned a little. An instantter, the Prince asked merrily,


    "When did Lord Hua Guo arrive at the Imperial City? I heard nothing about your arrival."


    Lord Hua Guo had been staring at Prince Jing since they had first met. He said to Prince Jing in a


    resonant voice, "I came here to run an errand for our Emperor. His Majesty heard that Ning girls are


    both talented and beautiful. As our Crown Prince is still unmarried, His Majesty wants to find a Ning girl


    to marry the Crown Prince. His Majesty has ordered Prince Houjing to look for an ideal girl for the


    Crown Prince. I have brought with me an Imperial Edict. If Prince Houjing finds the right person, I will


    announce the Imperial Edict and ask for Emperor Ning''s approval for this marriage."


    Prince Jing raised his brows a little when he heard Lord Hua Guo''s exnation. He said with a smile,


    "It is said that the Crown Prince of Xia is a noble, handsome young man. It would be lucky for a girl to


    marry your Crown Prince." Prince Jing''s smile was so superficial that a trace of contempt could be seen


    in his eyes.


    Lord Hua Guo nodded and grinned at the Prince, "I didn''t inform Emperor Ning of my arrival. I should


    have paid Emperor Ning a visit as soon as I arrived at the Imperial City. But I am old and quite weak. It


    took us half a month from Xia to here. I am very tired from the long journey. Prince Jing, please extend


    my apology to Emperor Ning for me. And please tell Emperor Ning that I will pay a formal visit to him in


    a couple of days."


    Prince Jing uttered a "yes" in response. Then Xia Houjing and Lord Hua Guo left. Prince Jing and Yun


    Shang waited until Xia Houjing and Lord Hua Guo disappeared from view. Then they went downstairs,


    and mounted the carriage.


    "Lord Hua Guo wouldn''te here for a trivial matter such as the marriage of their Crown Prince. He


    muste here for something more important." Prince Jing murmured with a frown.


    Yun Shang nodded and sighed, "What an interesting ce the Imperial City is with so many interesting


    people..."