Chapter 199 Scheming And Plotting (Part Two)
Yun Shang was startled, but she managed to put on a bright smile. "Mother prepared the wedding
dress for me twenty years ago. It''s really beautiful. Actually, I just went to visit Sister in her Princess
Pce. Yesterday, my maid who just returned told me that there were some rumors about Sister in the
Imperial City. I was worried about Sister, so I paid a visit to her today and found that she was not in a
good mood. Father, Prince Qingsu seems to be a decent young man. Why didn''t Father ept his
proposal to Sister? If Sister marries Prince Qingsu, it would be beneficial to her reputation."
Emperor Ning squinted at Yun Shang and wondered if she was speaking the truth. Before he replied, Li
Fuyi interrupted, "Your Majesty, I hate to talk about this, but Princess Hua Jing is my niece. I felt sad
when Princess Yun Shang mentioned her situation. As a Princess from the royal family, Princess Hua
Jing has been cultivated and guided with the best etiquette. I think it would be impossible for her to
have done such things. She must have been framed. Maybe someone is plotting against Her Majesty?"
Yun Shang nodded. "I agree."
Emperor Ning was displeased. He looked at Li Fuyi coldly and sneered, "Save your breath. I can make
my own decisions."
Yun Shang lowered her head sadly. Emperor Ning frowned and said, "You are getting married soon, so
Content held by N?velDrama.Org.
I''m going to send two experienced Madams to guide you regarding some necessary knowledge from
tomorrow. Do pay attention to their teachings. They will also apany you to Prince Jing''s Mansion
and continue to serve you there. Their advice could be of great use to you."
"I will, Father. Thank you." Yun Shang had to agree. However, she was getting agitated, because she
was actually nning to ask for Emperor Ning''s permission to leave the Pce for some time. She
wanted go to Mount Kirin and investigate why Xia Houjing was there. However, she didn''t expect that
Emperor Ning would make such an arrangement all of a sudden. Although Emperor Ning had
mentioned it once before and Yun Shang had used it as an excuse to refuse the Empress''s offer, she
never took it seriously because Emperor Ning hadn''t brought it up again. Until now... It meant that she
might not be able to get away from the Pce at this point.
Yun Shang frowned. After finishing her small talk with Emperor Ning and Li Fuyi, Yun Shang rushed
back to Qingxin Pce. "Jing Ying, I need to see your master."
Soon she heard a soft response. Yun Shang sighed andy down on the bed. If her guess was correct,
Xia Houjing, who had a low-key style, was not easy to deal with.
Yun Shang was tired from all the running around today, so she fell asleep.
When she woke, she sensed the presence of another person. She was able to tell that it wasn''t Qin Yi
nor Qian Yin. Yun Shang suddenly opened her eyes and turned to that person. It was Prince Jing. He
was wearing a white long gown. He sat at her table with a book in hand. The book he was reading
looked like one of those she usually read. It might have been Qi''s Tactics.
Yun Shang had hardly ever seen Prince Jing wearing white before, so she was surprised at how
unworldly attractive Prince Jing looked in white. He reminded her of celestial beings from legends she
had heard as a young girl.
"Are you awake?" Prince Jing asked tly without even looking up at her.
Yun Shang nodded and frowned slightly. Why was Prince Jing here? Did Qian Yin and Qin Yi know
about this? Although engaged, they were supposed to avoid too much intimacy before their wedding.
Prince Jing put down the book and looked at Yun Shang. He was amazed at what he saw. Since she
had just woken up, Yun Shang looked adorably confused with her long hair spread around her
shoulders. The trace of a blush on Yun Shang''s fair skin left him breathless and he found her to be
overwhelmingly alluring.
"Is this what you like to read?" Prince Jing showed Yun Shang the book in his hand as he asked.
Yun Shang nodded. "Yes. Every now and then ... And then she blushed again. "Actually, I don''t really
understand what it is about. It always makes me sleepy, so it''s a good choice when I have difficulty
sleeping."
Prince Jing smiled. "Not surprising. What has happened? I heard that you needed to see me urgently."
After a short silence, Yun Shang looked at Prince Jing solemnly. "My agents reported that there are
three groups of people at Mount Kirin, two of whom were probably sent by you and His Majesty. And I
was just informed that the other group actually belongs to Xia Houjing. I sensed something was
unusual when Ning Qian told me that Xia Houjing was at Mount Kirin. Those foreign soldiers are good
at hiding themselves. Even my grandfather didn''t know about their existence till he identally
stumbled on them. So what is Xia Houjing doing there? I don''t think it''s pure coincidence."
Prince Jing listened to her attentively. Yun Shang continued to exin, "I think he must be rted to
that foreign army somehow, so I nned to travel to Mount Kirin to investigate. But when I went to see
His Majesty, he told me that he would send two Madams to teach me royal etiquette, which means I
can''t leave the Pce right now."
Prince Jing gawked at Yun Shang without blinking. Yun Shang couldn''t tell if he was listening or not, so
she lowered her head and avoided his stare. "I just have this bad feeling."
"I see." Prince Jing responded softly and turned a few pages. "I didn''t know that you had so much free
time to consider these matters..."
Yun Shang didn''t understand what Prince Jing meant by that statement. So she asked, "What do you
think, Uncle?"
Prince Jing smiled and turned to her. "So you want to go to Mount Kirin, don''t you?"
Yun Shang nodded.
"We''ll go then. I''ll take care of the Madams. But you can''t take your maids with you, or His Majesty will
find out." Prince Jing said gently.
Yun Shang thought for a while before agreeing. It wouldn''t hurt to leave Qian Yin and Qin Yi at the
Imperial Pce. She still had other assistance outside the Pce. Instead of inquiring about how
Prince Jing was going to exin her absence, Yun Shang asked directly, "When are we leaving?"
Prince Jing couldn''t help smiling heartily. "When darkness falls upon the Pce and the beauty is
ready."
"What?" Yun Shang didn''t expect to be teased all of a sudden. She red at Prince Jing as a response
to his yful joke. "I''ll be waiting for you tonight, Uncle."
Then she heard Prince Jingugh cheerfully.
At Qiwu Pce, an old Madam was helping the Empress take off her hairpin beforebing the
Empress''s hair. "Your Majesty, Princess Hua Jing sent a message today. She wants to see Your
Majesty."
The Empress smiled bitterly. "Why can''t she learn a lesson? She is my only daughter, but she never
learns to use her intelligence."
The Madam lowered her head and remained silent.
"I don''t know if I will be able to protect her in the future." The Empress looked into the mirror and
touched the wrinkles around her eyes. She forced a smile, "It has been twenty years since I came to
this Pce. I''m getting old..."
The Madam shook her head hurriedly. "Please don''t belittle yourself, Your Majesty. You are still at your
best age."
These words were of little constion to the Empress. She knew the truth very well and she didn''t
need theseforting words.
"It cost my family a lot to help brother get the position of Imperial Commander. s, he has been
dismissed from that position. And as a result, it would be difficult for Father and Mother to contact me.
The situation is getting serious and I can''t wait passively for the end..." The Empress closed her eyes
with a touch of sadness.
"Madam, the sixth day of the next month would be a good chance. I''ll make some arrangements while
preparing for Yun Shang''s wedding. I have to gain His Majesty''s respect again. I must seize this
chance. I''ll write a letter to Father exining my actions. Send it to him when possible."