Chapter 193 To Lower His Guard (Part One)


    Upon hearing the Prince''s words, Yun Shang said no more. After a long while, she chuckled. Though


    she wasughing, her eyes reflected her sadness, for she suddenly realized that she had never been


    loved. No one''s heart truly belonged to her, neither in her previous lifetime nor in the recent one.


    How could she be happy with a forced marriage? Both she and Prince Jing had their own schemes and


    troubles, but the ultimate solution was to get married. Only through marriage would they achieve their


    goals. What an awful couple they made...


    Yun Shang didn''t say a word. Instead, she giggled. She had matured considerably in this life at least,


    and had learned to exchange her marriage for what she wanted. As her bitterughter settled, she


    spoke to the Prince.


    "It''s not a good time, but we can''t dy anymore. You must''ve known about the one hundred thousand


    soldiers hiding in the State of Ning. At least that is what I''ve heard. Perhaps there are more of them.


    Right now, if you lost father''s trust, the other states would take the chance and invade Ning. And if that


    happened, it would be catastrophic for the State of Ning. I''m fully aware of your ambitions. But you


    can''t achieve any of them if the State of Ning is at stake. It''s also in your interest. Therefore..."


    "Therefore, our marriage is the best and only solution." Prince Jingpleted Yun Shang''s sentence.


    He felt a sudden ache spreading in his heart. Upon casting a nce at Yun Shang, he noticed the


    indifferent expression on her face. He hadn''t forgotten yet, how unhappy she had been when she


    learned that he had asked for the royal decree of their marriage. The Prince also remembered how he


    had forced and cajoled her into consenting. But now, when Yun Shang spoke of their marriage, her


    voice was calm and indifferent, as if they were discussing what they would have for dinner.


    He wished Yun Shang to set her goals based on what was in her heart, not by what was in her best


    interest.


    Yun Shang paused for a while when she noticed Prince Jing''s displeasure. But all she could manage


    was a bitter grin, as she said, "Of course. If that were the case, we should make the best of both


    worlds. So, why not?"


    Without saying another word, Prince Jing got to his feet and headed out of Yun Shang''s pce. Having


    heard their conversation, Qin Yi shot a worried look at Yun Shang. She had served the Princess for


    many years, and knew her better than anyone else. Although the Princess always appeared calm,


    wise, and selfless, she had high self-esteem. She certainly didn''t mean what she said...


    Silence continued. After about a quarter of an hour, however, Yun Shang burst into a loud, braying


    sounded so sad and helpless when sheughed.


    "Your Highness..." Qin Yi implored, trying to soothe her.


    Grinning, Yun Shang nced at her maid, "Qin Yi, I''m going to get married. But why can''t I..." Yun


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    Shang didn''t continue, as she wondered why she did not feel even the tiniest bit of happiness from the


    thought of her uing marriage with Prince Jing. Perhaps it was because of the circumstances in


    which they found themselves? Their marriage was more like a bargain, and its participants were the


    merchants. They married for interests, not love. But why was she not pleased by the result? At the very


    least, she had harvested what she had been longing for. She had dissuaded the Prince from pursuing


    his ambitions and saved her country. She''d also count herself lucky for marrying the Prince, for he was


    handsome in appearance and tall in stature. He was the most eligible bachelor in the State of Ning and


    many girls fantasized about life with him. She should be d that the Prince would be her life partner


    instead of some random in man. But why? Why couldn''t she persuade herself to be happy?


    "Qian Yin, tell Ning Qian to scout Mount Kirin and report to me to which state those soldiers belong."


    Yun Shang abruptly ordered. Then she massaged her temples with her hand.


    Qian Yin had also noticed Yun Shang''s sullen mood. As she didn''t want to worry the Princess more,


    she hurriedly obeyed orders.


    "Your Highness, you''ve been summoned by His Majesty. The Emperor is waiting for you in Qinzheng


    Hall." At the time, a eunuch entered, and ryed Emperor Ning''s request. As he spoke, Yun Shang


    recognized him to be Lord Zheng''s retinue. She nodded in acknowledgement.


    The Emperor had summoned her? Upon hearing the news, Yun Shang shed a smile. The Emperor''s


    intention was obvious. Her father must be overwhelmed by suspicion, and had decided to test her


    loyalty. Had the Prince reported their marriage ns to him yet?


    Yun Shang contemted on the matter for a long while. With Qin Yi''s help, she changed into a gown


    made of violet voile, and headed toward Qinzheng Hall. Qin Yi also followed the Princess out.


    Lord Zheng was already waiting at the door. When he spotted Yun Shang, he hurriedly opened the


    door for her, and urged with a grin, "Pleasee in, Your Highness. His Majesty has been waiting."


    Nodding to him, Yun Shang walked through the doorway. However, the doors closed behind her as she


    entered. Yun Shang''s heartbeat quickened as this was not normal. But she pretended to have noticed


    nothing, and kept moving forward. The Hall was empty but brightly lit by the many zemps on the


    walls. Emperor Ning stood alone behind his royal desk. Not a single servant could be seen. He was


    bent over the desk when Yun Shang approached. He seemed to be writing something on a piece of


    parchment.


    "Father, you summoned?" Yun Shang called him.


    Emperor Ning nodded. He raised his head and shed her a warm smile. But Yun Shang had noticed


    that the smile didn''t reflect in his eyes.


    "Shang''er, you are here. I don''t have many state affairs to worry about at the moment, and have much


    more free time than before. Your mother is not in the Pce, so I don''t have anyone to talk to. Perhaps


    we can have a father to daughter chat?" Smiling, Emperor Ning pointed to a chair nearby, and said,


    "Have a seat. I''ve got to finish this."


    Nodding to him, Yun Shang sat on the chair. She gazed at a zemp and murmured, "The woman


    painted on themp looks familiar."


    Emperor Ning paused for a while before he said, "This is the portrait I drew for your mother before."


    Yun Shang nodded to him, and breathed out a sigh. "Last month, I paid a visit to Laifeng Pce.


    Mother was fine, as was the child in her belly. I''m expecting a sibling soon, I guess."


    Emperor Ning hummed softly in consent. But before he could say anything, Yun Shang let out another


    sigh. She continued sadly, as if the conversation reminded of her earlier experiences, "When the child


    is born, please don''t give him or her to someone else. Mother has suffered a lot during these past


    years. Things would''ve been easier for her had I been around. The people in Laifeng City are honest


    and simple. During my stay there, I had asked mother whether she wanted to walk around the city. But


    she declined, for she hadn''t been outside in the past ten years, and she had no idea about the recent


    world. She said she was at a loss, not knowing what was in vogue, nor who was in power. She also


    had no idea what topic to talk about. With all that, she didn''t want to go out."