Chapter 213 The Identity Of The Culprit


    They hadn''t hired any maid yet?


    Yun Shang and Qian Yin fell silent as they pondered over the situation. Their faces turned pale at the


    chambein''s words. If there were no maids working in Prince Jing''s Mansion, who was the girl that


    brought the food into the bridal chamber the previous night? How did she get in? And who had sent


    her?


    "Chambein, please summon the person to whom His Highness had given instructions to deliver the


    food." Yun Shang said determinedly. She wondered whether her food had been touched by malicious


    hands. The situation was indeed confusing. The midwife had told Yun Shang that she had been tainted


    with a pernicious scent. How could tampered food cause that? The Princess felt a sense of urgency.


    Perhaps it was already toote to start an investigation as the food had been eaten and the dishes


    were cleaned. It would be impossible to find any evidence from empty dishes.


    The chambein bowed to Yun Shang, and ryed her request to a servant.


    The servant hastened to the kitchen. Not long after, Prince Jing returned. Sweat beaded on his


    forehead due to the journey. Yun Shang smiled as she studied her husband. The attire he wore


    perfectly fit, which lent charm to his tall and handsome figure. At the sight, Yun Shang''s heart warmed.


    As the Prince stepped through the doorway, he noticed the awkward atmosphere. He nced at Yun


    Shang. Her face was pale and her expression conveyed astonishment. He shot a questioning look to


    the chambein.


    The chambein quickly briefed the Prince. Prince Jing frowned at his words. The expression on his


    face turned cold. He ordered, "All the guards patrolling the yard will be whipped twenty times on the


    back."


    The chambein answered with a bow, "Yes, Your Highness."


    However, Yun Shang frowned in disagreement. "We''ve got to figure out what happened. Before that,


    you..."


    Prince Jing stopped her. He shook his head, "Whatever the reason, it would be dereliction of duty for


    them to allow a stranger to enter. We were lucky that the food was only drugged. What if it had been


    poisoned? What disastrous consequence would that have led to? Except this, all other mistakes can be


    forgiven."


    Yun Shang wanted to plead for mercy for the guards. She opened her mouth several times, but couldn''t


    utter a word. The guards were the Prince''s subordinates. She should know better than to meddle with


    his decision regarding his men. Furthermore, the Prince was right. Neglect of duty was a serious


    matter. If this happened again, the consequence would be unthinkable. Her mother was lucky to have


    narrowly escaped death. Would Yun Shang still argue for mercy if the oue had been different?


    The Prince''s orders were carried out. Before he retreated to the inner chamber, he said to Yun Shang,


    "Wait for me. I need to wash and change."


    The chambein had left to oversee implementation of the punishment. With little else to do, Yun


    Shang contemted the situation. Suddenly, someone tugged on her wide sleeve. Yun Shang snapped


    back from her thoughts and saw that Qian Yin sought her attention. Qian Yin nced at the inner


    chamber before whispering, "Your Highness, His Highness is washing. Shouldn''t you help him with


    that?"


    Yun Shang gasped. She had been married in her previous life. She knew that it was her duty to tend to


    her husband. But she would rather not. After all, her marriage with Prince Jing wasn''t...


    Qian Yin became anxious and stomped her feet when Yun Shang failed to respond. She continued to


    emphasize her point, "Your Highness! Although you are a Princess of Ning, you still need to take good


    care of your husband. Qin Yi and I will not think less of you, should you choose not to tend to the


    Prince. But what would others think of you if they found out? What reputation will you earn if word


    spreads? What if others think of you to be azy wife?"


    Yun Shang was amused by her maid''s anxious tone. She shed a smile to her maid, turned and


    walked toward the inner chamber. She hesitated a while before making her way to the wash-stand.


    Prince Jing was standing by the wash-stand with his back toward the entrance of the chamber. He had


    removed his gown and hadn''t as yet worn his fresh tunic. As Yun Shang looked up, she was confronted


    with a disrobed Prince Jing. Her cheeks flushed as her eyes traveled over his bronze-colored


    masculine shoulders. Yun Shang had seen glimpses of the Prince''s chest on previous asions. She


    had also removed parts of his tunic when dressing his wounds. However, no matter how many times


    she saw his body, she was still dazzled by the glow and expanse of his charm. He was indeed an


    attractive man.


    Hearing footsteps, Prince Jing turned. He was surprised when he saw Yun Shang had entered the


    chamber. However, he maintained hisposure and dressed calmly. Once ready, he walked to the


    shelf where the basin was ced and grabbed a towel. Quietly, he rinsed the towel with the water in


    the basin before wiping his face. Since Yun Shang had not spoken as yet, he casually asked, "Did


    something happen?"


    Yun Shang bit her lip as sheposed herself. After a brief pause, she boldly spoke, "Uncle, can I


    gather my guards in the courtyard? I want to ask them something."


    Prince Jing wrung the towel dry. He turned his head toward Yun Shang. After studying her for a short


    while, he asked, "How''s the wound?"


    "Almost healed, uncle." Yun Shang hurriedly added, "Moderate activity is always good for health when


    one is injured or sick."


    The Prince pondered for a while before he nodded, "Okay. You can do what you want. But till you are


    fully recovered, you can only do these activities for a half hour everyday."


    At the start, Yun Shang was overjoyed when the Prince agreed. However, she celebrated too soon. Her


    eyes widened in shock when she heard the Prince''s terms. She had not expected him to attach


    conditions to his consent.


    However, upon seeing Prince Jing''s emotionless face, Yun Shang sighed and epted. After all, half


    an hour a day was better than nothing.


    The Prince put the towel back onto the shelf before walking out with Yun Shang. The chambein was


    waiting for them in the living room. He approached the Prince and Princess as soon as he spotted


    them. He reported, "Your Highnesses, the boy who was instructed to deliver Her Highness''s dinner has


    disappeared."


    "Disappeared?" Yun Shang and Prince Jing blurted out in unison. Yun Shang sighed. She had


    expected that when she asked for the boy. If the culprit was capable of smuggling a maid into Prince


    Jing''s Mansion, he or she would definitely be capable of silencing the boy.


    "Send my men to investigate the matter and report every detail to me. Be quick and thorough."


    Snapped the livid Prince Jing.


    Nervous and sweaty, the chambein quickly bowed and left the room.


    "Let''s go to the Pce. You''ve been worried about Lady Jin the whole night." Prince Jing then turned to


    Yun Shang and suggested.


    Yun Shang flushed at his words. She could sense his feelings for her from this simple sentence. She


    nodded to him, "Let''s. Apart from that, paying respects to parents after the wedding night is a ritual. We


    cannot overlook that courtesy."


    Once the carriage had been prepared, the Prince and Princess left for the Imperial Pce.


    Lady Jin had woken up from her sleep. Her face was still pale from the pain and trauma she had


    endured the night before, but her spirit was high. The hunchbacked midwife who hade to her aid


    yesterday was tending to Lady Jin at her bedside.


    Yun Shang looked around but didn''t see Emperor Ning. She frowned as she took seat at her mother''s


    bed. "How are you feeling now, Mother? Does it still hurt?" Yun Shang asked tenderly.


    Lady Jin smiled warmly at her daughter before nodding. She took hold of Yun Shang''s hand and


    murmured, "I am good, Shang''er. Are you alright? Did I scare youst night?"


    Yun Shang almost wept when she heard her mother speak with her so tenderly. But she was afraid to


    worry Lady Jin more, so she restrained her emotions. She sniveled as she spoke, "No, mother, I am all


    right. It was all my fault. Yesterday, someone used me to get to you. I should''ve been more


    cautious...Mother, I am so sorry..."


    Lady Jin knew that her daughter was feeling guilty about the ident. She patted Yun Shang on the


    back of her hand, "Silly girl. It''s not your fault. I am a target. Ever since news of my pregnancy spread,


    every woman in the Pce has schemed to remove me and my child. How can you protect me from


    everyone?"


    She then turned to Prince Jing who was standing not far from them. She smiled, "Your Highness has


    always taken good care of Shang''er. Has she caused you much trouble?"


    "No, she''s been good." Prince Jing answered. His tone was gentle although his words were few.


    Lady Jin found constion in his words. She studied Yun Shang and Prince Jing with a smile before


    replying with delight, "I''m d to hear it."


    "Mother, will you return to Laifeng City?" Yun Shang softly asked.


    Lady Jin nodded. She smiled bitterly before borating, "I think so. The Pce is too dangerous for a


    pregnant woman. I would rather stay in Laifeng City instead of here. I''ll leave for Laifeng as soon as I


    feel strong enough."


    "That''s good. After all, the child was also hurtst night. You should rest for a while before you leave."


    Yun Shang echoed emotionlessly. The constant reminders of how she had almost lost her mother on


    her wedding day increased Yun Shang''s determination. She would not rest till she had removed all


    threats in the Imperial City. That way, no one would be able to hurt her mother and unborn sibling.


    Lady Jin and Yun Shang chatted some more for a while. When Lady Jin began looking tired, Yun


    Shang stood from her bedside. She nted a soft kiss on Lady Jin''s forehead before heading for the


    door. She told Qin Yi to take good care of her mother, then she left the Qiwu Pce with Prince Jing.


    The Empress sat in the front Hall of Qiwu Pce. She glowered as she listened to her servant


    exining recent events. After the servant stopped speaking, she threw her teacup to the floor and


    yelled, "That insolent wench! How dare she betray me! I took care of her for so many years! And what


    is my reward? Her neglect! Now she only pays respect to Lady Jin, her biological mother. To Yun


    Shang, I am nothing. How can she not even pay me a visit when she passed by my pce?"


    A young woman dressed in a cyan gown sat by the Empress''s side. When the teacup shattered and


    the tea water sshed, she didn''t stand or evade the stter. She stayed calm and simply wiped her


    wet dress with a handkerchief. Then she sighed before speaking, "It''s understandable. What happened


    to Lady Jin yesterday was horrible. Her Highness was probably too distraught to follow etiquette."


    The Empress snorted at these words. Silence engulfed the room as both women contemted the


    situation. Finally, the woman in cyan coughed before adding, "And Lady Jin was the Emperor''s favorite.


    His Majesty cherished her so much."


    At these words, the Empress frowned. She turned to the woman in cyan and bestowed upon her a


    deathly re. "Lady Ya, when was His Majesty''sst visit to your pce?"


    Lady Ya''s smile froze on her face. She forced one as she answered, "Why would you ask, Your


    Majesty? You see, the ident that happened to Lady Jin was so tragic that His Majesty has been in


    no mood in pleasure. It''s not just me. He has seldom visited other Ladies since Lady Jin returnedst


    month. I..." Lady Ya sighed before continuing, "It''s been four weeks since hisst visit. I haven''t seen


    His Majesty in nearly a month."


    The Empress was enraged. She closed her eyes in anger. After a long while, she suppressed all her


    feelings, and opened her eyes again, "This can''t happen again. You must capture His Majesty''s


    interest."


    Biting her lower lip, Lady Ya bowed her head and said, "I... I will do what I can. But..." she let out


    another sigh before continuing, "I''m afraid, Lady Jin is His Majesty''s only love..."


    The Empress was irritated at the constant mention of Lady Jin''s name. She frowned, "Perhaps she is.


    But she was also prisoned in the Cold Pce for over a decade by His Majesty."


    Lady Ya remained silent. And the Empress was in no mood of talking, either. She gestured to Lady Ya,


    "You''re dismissed. When you''re free, you muste up with a solution to regain the Emperor''s favor."


    Lady Ya curtsied before walking out. Frowning, Empress Yuan Zhen pondered over the situation for a


    while before she called her maid, "Come! Bring me a pot of tea!" The original pot had been brewed


    several times and had lost its taste. The Empress always favored newly brewed, strong tea, as the


    bitter taste reminded her of her current position with the Emperor. She thought to herself, ''How long


    has it been since the Emperor''sst visit? How long more must I wait?'' The Empress shed a bitter


    smile. It''s been too long. In fact it had been so long that she couldn''t even count the weeks.


    She felt uneasy today, for what Yun Shang said the night before still haunted her. How is it that the


    Princess knew her so well? And how on earth could she know about Li ns secrets? Ovee with


    anxiety, Empress Yuan Zhen ced a hand on her chest to steady her heart.


    "Your Highness! Your Highness! Wait! I need to inform Her Majesty first!" Upon hearing that, the


    Empress turned toward the door.


    Then Princess Hua Jing''s voice followed, "Get lost! Who are you to stop me from visiting my mother?"


    Empress Yuan Zhen felt more agitated. Although short-tempered, her daughter had always been well-


    behaved, and fully versed in embroidery and the Four Arts. She was once the most talented girl in the


    Imperial City, and the Empress''s pride and joy. Why had Hua Jing changed so much?


    Right now, Princess Hua Jing was a mere brainless beauty, who had fornicated with Cangjue Qingsu of


    Yng shamelessly. This was now public knowledge! She had already destroyed her own reputation


    with her deeds, and also undermined the Empress''s status.


    Before the Empress could react, she heard the bead curtain tter as it was pushed open. Then, she


    saw Hua Jing''s face. After a long separation, Hua Jing looked thinner than before. She even had dark


    circles under her eyes and an anxious look on her face.


    The Empress''s heart twitched. After all, Hua Jing was her precious daughter, whom she would love


    regardless of what the Princess did. She would never want to see her daughter suffer so.


    "What''s the matter? Where are your manners? If your father heard you shout, you would be


    reprimanded again. Haven''t you been in enough troubletely? Do you really want to enrage your


    father so much that he would strip you ofnd and title?" Said the Empress in anger.


    Hua Jing pouted. She approached the Empress and pleaded, "Mother, help me! That cunning slut Yun


    Shang is now married to Prince Jing. She is now under his protection. Prince Jing is a powerful man,


    who is beyond our reach. With him against us, I feel cornered. I can''t stay in the State of Ning any


    longer, mother. Please, please talk to father. Persuade him to allow me to marry Qingsu and move to


    the State of Yng!"


    The Empress massaged her sore temples. She sneered, "Cangjue Qingsu? How dare you mention his


    name! It would be better if you gave up that thought. You will never marry into the State of Yng. Your


    father will not agree to your marriage with Prince Qingsu, nor will your grandfather."


    With tears in her eyes, Hua Jing bit her lower lip as she pleaded again, "Mother, I''m now notorious in


    the aristocratic circle. Who else would marry me, except for Cangjue QIngsu? Mother, you''ve never


    stepped out of the Pce, so you have no idea how the people talk of me. They im me to be a


    lecherous woman who knows no shame. They even go so far as to say I have sexual rtions with


    random men. Every time I walk the streets, they point at me and whisper. I''m so mad..."


    Instead of being moved by her daughter''s plight, Empress Yuan Zhen shed a sneer. She red at


    Hua Jing with fury and said, "I thought you would be aware of this consequence before you became


    intimate with Cangjue Qingsu. Why didn''t you think about it before you did those things? Would my life


    in the Pce have been so hard if you hadn''t made such a big mess? You think you''re the only one


    who''s being gossiped about? Well, you are wrong! Although I am the Empress, because of you, I have


    been theughing stock of the Pce. All the Ladies, and even the servants, who behave respectfully


    in my presence,ugh at me when they think I''m not watching. Tell me. After what you have done, you


    think you can escape to the State of Yng and no longer bear the consequences. But what about


    me? Have you ever thought about me?"


    Hua Jing had once been treated as the noblest member of the Royal family since her childhood.


    However, in the past six months, she had been through all kinds of hardship. She had been forced into


    sexual rtions by Cangjue Qingsu. Whenever she recalled those experiences, her whole body hurt as


    though she were reliving his brutality all over again. She suffered during her pregnancy as she couldn''t


    ask anyone for advice. The weight of keeping such a secret also exhausted her. She had been sent to


    jail because of Yun Shang for more than two months. In that time, she had been possessed by hatred.


    Every minute of every day, all she could think about was how she was going to skin Yun Shang alive.


    However, after she was released, before she could aplish her revenge, she had a miscarriage in


    front of everyone. Since then, she had been cursed as a wanton wife by the Ning people. Every night,


    Hua Jing had nightmares about how people were belittling her. She felt as though she really was going


    mad.


    To top it all, when she came to the Pce to implore her mother to help, all Hua Jing got in return was


    a scolding. Hua Jing felt like she could no longer restrain her anger. She returned her mother''s re


    and sneered. "I''m not allowed to make a reasonable request? Why not? Have you ever asked for my


    opinion? Every time you''ve asked me to do something, I have followed your wishes. I have always put


    you and your needs before mine! See, you forced me to marry Zhao Yingjie, whom I didn''t want to


    marry, but I still obeyed. For once, I want to follow my own wishes, and you are scolding me. Why? For


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    what?"


    The Empress took several deep breaths to restrain her anger. Her chest ached with the rage she felt


    when she heard Hua Jing''s rebellious questions. She snorted, "What gives you the right to ask me


    such questions? I''ve given you everything, and I can also take everything back. Who are you to argue


    with me?"


    Hatred reflected in Hua Jing''s eyes. She had nothing more to say to her mother. She glowered at the


    Empress before turning and running out of the Pce.


    The Empress shivered at Hua Jing''s hateful look. She felt as if ice had enveloped her heart. So, this


    ungrateful woman was her daughter. This was the daughter she had loved and cherished. What a


    marvelous result!


    "Come! Send my men to keep an eye on the Princess. I''m sure she will try to do something without my


    permission. She needs to be watched!" The Empress snapped orders. She was aware that her father


    was preparing for an important matter. He was almost ready. The n must not be ruined by Hua Jing''s


    reckless deeds, or the Empress would be no longer able to protect her stupid daughter.


    As Prince Jing and Yun Shang returned to Prince Jing''s Mansion, the chambein approached them


    and reported, "Your Highnesses, Madam Bai is waiting for you."


    Madam Bai? Who was she? Puzzled, Yun Shang shot a questioning look to Prince Jing.


    The Prince exined, "She is the shop-owner of Qixiang House, a perfumery in the Imperial City,


    where different kinds of rare spices and perfumes are sold. Yesterday, I asked her to examine your


    cosmetics, and today, she must havee to tell us the result. Come with me, let''s hear what she has


    to say."


    Yun Shang nodded and followed Prince Jing to the front hall.


    In the front hall, a young woman sat in a chair, waiting for them. Her hair was tied in a bun, which


    meant that she was married. Her face wasn''t particrly beautiful, however, she radiated confidence


    and a sense of calmness. Yun Shang couldn''t help studying this woman. When Prince Jing exined


    who Madam Bai was, the Princess had imagined the woman to be in her forties. She never thought the


    Madam would be this young.


    As Madam Bai spotted them, she put down her teacup gracefully. She stood and sped her hands


    before bowing to the Royals. "Your Highnesses."


    Surprised, Yun Shang was now more curious about her. As a princess, Yun Shang was not allowed to


    go out of the Pce often, but she had heard the legends of Qixiang House. It was said that the rouge


    and powders made there possessed unique and longsting aroma, and its owner was skilled at


    socializing, which helped the business to flourish. However, Madam Bai was nothing like the rumor.


    The princess didn''t spot any hints of ttery in her mannerisms. Her movement and speech were slow


    and unhurried. She was more like ady born in an aristocrat house than an eager shop-keeper.


    As Prince Jing and Yun Shang sat on chairs, Madam Bai cupped her hands again and bowed. Then


    she spoke, "I have examined Her Highness''s cosmetics. They are our production, but someone has


    added an exotic spice to it. The spice is called Yi Xiang. And although it is a kind of spice, it doesn''t


    have any special scent. So, it''s pretty hard to identify the spice based on its scent. However, the spice


    added to the cosmetics was not very finely ground, and could be easily distinguished from the original


    smooth powder. Although ordinary people can''t tell the difference, as a person who has been dealing


    with cosmetics and spices all my life, I was able to spot the spice."


    Yun Shang nodded to her, as she asked, "What is the effect of the spice?"


    Madam Bai frowned as she answered, "There was nothing special about it. It could be said that the


    spice has no effect at all."


    "Really?" Yun Shang remained silent as she pondered over Madam Bai''s exnation. Why would the


    culprit add a spice that had no special effect to her cosmetics? What was the culprit''s intent?


    Suddenly, the Prince asked, "If it is okay to use it alone, as you''ve said, what special effect will it have


    when used along with other herbs?"


    Yun Shang narrowed her eyes. That was a possibility. However, a potion that could expedite child


    delivery was not rare, nor hard to distinguish. Many guests present during the celebration had medical


    skills. If there were such a thing that could trigger the effect of the drug, the guests would''ve noticed. It


    was not possible to hide such a thing from all the guests.


    "There is a possibility, yes. But I have no knowledge of medicine. Your Highness will have to seek


    advice from a physician." Said Madam Bai softly.