Chapter 214 The Marital Life


    The physician confirmed Prince Jing''s conjecture. Yi Xiang was harmless. However, it cannot be used


    with perch, as thebination of the two ingredients would generate a special fragrance which,


    although harmless to ordinary people, would cause early delivery or miscarriage among pregnant


    women. ording to the physician, the fish gruel served by the maid must have been made with


    perch, which had turned the harmless Yi Xiang into a poison for Lady Jin.


    Yun Shang wrinkled her brow as she thought over what the physician had said. Her mother had once


    warned her about Li Yiran''s vile heart and malicious conducts. However, as she had seldom faced any


    obstacles while implementing her vengeance, the Princess had forgotten the helpful advise given by


    her mother.


    Yun Shang could not help but burst into a bitter smile. Yes! It would be extremely hard to uproot the Li


    n who was supporting Li Yiran. The Li family had expanded its influence in every corner of the State


    of Ning. Even without their support, Li Yiran would be a huge challenge. As the Grand Tutor, Yun


    Shang''s grandfather earned a high reputation and prestige in Ning two decades ago. In spite of the


    important role of Yun Shang''s grandfather in the court, Li Yiran had schemed and married the Emperor,


    who was then the Crown Prince. From Princess Consort to the Empress, Li Yiran had warded off all


    threats that would shake her status as the legal wife. Now, she was the Mistress of the whole imperial


    household. Unchallenged, Li Yiran''s influence and schemes had made the imperial household an


    unsafe ce. Yun Shang let out a sigh when she thought of the terrifying imperial household. The


    Emperor must have married dozens of concubines, if not more, since he took the throne. Had Yun


    Shang not been reborn, the Empress would have maintained her respect and prestige. Even if the


    Empress was unable to earn the Emperor''s unconditional love and trust, she could earn herself a good


    reputation both, in the Imperial Pce and among the popce.


    In both of Yun Shang''s lives, she and Hua Jing were the only children born to the Emperor in a twenty


    year span, and both of the Emperor''s descendants had been girls. Although that might have been the


    result of Prince Jing''s sneaky plots to some extent, there was no denying that Li Yiran had also yed


    a part in eliminating the Emperor''s bloodline.


    "It is surprising that the Li family dared to offend me and y tricks in my mansion. I think Grand


    Councilor Li is too conceited to know his ce. What a stupid man!" Prince Jing spoke while toying


    with the jade hanging on his waist. His unexpected statement interrupted Yun Shang''s thoughts.


    Yun Shang turned to look at Prince Jing. He was lying on the bench with his head sightly lowered.


    Calmness reflected on his face. Seeing the Prince in such a rxed manner, Yun Shang''s heart


    skipped a beat. Three days had passed since their wedding. But whenever she woke up, Yun Shang


    still felt as though she was in a dream. She could not believe that she had married Prince Jing, a man


    who was so perfect that he could only exist in a dream.


    Yun Shang blushed at her thoughts. She moved her gaze away before softly speaking, "The mansion


    has always been strictly guarded. It is extremely difficult to sneak into the mansion on an ordinary day.


    The Empress must have thought about this. So, she had to take action on our wedding day when there


    would be many peopleing and going thus, making it easier to sneak someone in. As the Empress


    had inquired into the preparations for the wedding, she would be able to identify opportune moments


    for her plots. That maid might have entered the mansion by impersonating Yan''er''s favorite servant girl.


    The Empress was quite smart in the way that she had nned her plot. The facial powder, the fish


    gruel, and my mother. The facial powder was the perfect source to carry the poison. The Empress


    would know that I would not normally wear any, but it was my wedding day and I would have to. She


    must have spected that I would be exhausted and hungry after the long day and challenging


    ceremony. It would be expected for me to summon for something to eat once I was in the bridal


    chamber. She must have also known that my mother woulde to see me on my wedding day to


    spend some time with me. It is also possible that the Empress even nned the meeting between my


    mother and I to be right after I would have eaten the fish."


    Yun Shang could not help but let out a sigh after having finished speaking. "The Empress is indeed


    very smart to have ounted for all these things in her nning. No wonder..." No wonder Li Yiran was


    able to secure her status as the Empress for so many years in Yun Shang''s previous life. No wonder


    Yun Shang''s mother had been reduced to a deste circumstance in spite of the Emperor''s love for


    her. It was no longer surprising that the Empress felt no fear in killing Yun Shang in her previous life


    with a poisonous wine despite the fact that she was the Emperor''s daughter. The Empress had


    pretended to be fond of Yun Shang and treated her like her own child. As a result, Li Yiran had not only


    earned herself a reputation as a selfless mother, but she also had the opportunity toy the foundations


    for her malicious plots. The Empress was so clever that she concealed her involvement so thoroughly


    that nobody would have thought that it was the Empress who had set up Yun Shang and killed the


    Princess in her previous life.


    "Let me handle this situation. You are my wife now. I care about everything that is important to you.


    Besides, as Grand Councilor Li and the Empress are bold enough to underestimate me, I should teach


    them a lesson as punishment." Prince Jing stood from the bench, walked to the window, and peeped


    out.


    Yun Shang was surprised at the Prince''s tone. She furrowed her brows as she thought. Ever since their


    return from Mount Kirin, Yun Shang had more or less felt a difference in the Prince''s attitude toward


    her. The Prince used to be polite before they went to Mount Kirin. But now, he seemed to be more


    authoritative, as if he wanted to control everything. He forbade Yun Shang from meeting with her secret


    guards and used rest and recovery as the excuse to keep her from implementing her ns for revenge.


    Now, he even wanted to retaliate in her stead! This plot almost caused her mother''s death. Yun Shang


    felt as though she should deal with it herself.


    "I think I''m getting more and more idle even though many things have happened recently and some of


    them concern me." Yun Shang murmured to herself.


    Prince Jing''s eyes sparkled when he heard the Princess grumble. He said with a gentle smile, "I think


    you are being too sensitive. As you feel you have idle time, I would like your help with something."


    "Hmm? What is it?" Yun Shang turned to look at the Prince. Her eyes sparkled at the prospect of being


    involved in his ns.


    She looked so cute that the Prince could not help butpare her expression to that of a furry little


    animal like... a rabbit that was staring at a delicious carrot.


    Prince Jing smiled. "You know, I seldom live in my mansion, and I spend even less time managing daily


    affairs in my household. I took no notice of such trivial things before. However, as a royal member of


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    the Imperial Pce, I do entertain a few visitors in my mansion. Earlier, because I was unmarried it was


    eptable to have a minimally furnished mansion. But now, it would be inappropriate for the mansion


    to be in a mess as it has a mistress. I know nothing about running a household. Could you please pay


    attention to the management of daily affairs in the mansion?"


    "..."


    Yun Shang curled her lips in dismay. She didn''t expect that the Prince would ask her to help him with


    running the household. She sighed and her shoulders sagged in disappointment. Wasn''t the


    chambein the right person to manage daily affairs in the mansion?


    Prince Jing seemed to have guessed what Yun Shang was thinking. He smiled before continuing, "For


    courtiers, affairs of the household, trivial as they may be, can sometimes incur severe consequences.


    For example, I have heard that the wife of the Assistant Officer of the Bureau of Sacrifice and Ritual


    had a quarrel with the wife of the Great Minister of War. Both women took fancy to a pair of earrings


    and fought over possession. A few dayster, the Assistant Officer of the Bureau of Sacrifice and Ritual


    was used of abusing his powers. Besides, it is said that when thest dynasty was at war with


    various rebel forces, its Fifth Prince managed a narrow escape from ughter only because he had


    built a secret underground tunnel in his mansion. So, Shang''er, many seemingly trivial things might be


    of great significance."


    Yun Shang raised an eyebrow as she seriously considered the Prince''s exnation. As Mo Jingran''s


    wife in her previous life, she was, of course, aware of the significance of daily affairs in the household.


    Simply put, it was unwise to underestimate a wife''s wishes andints as they could often be the


    husband''s driving force. Yun Shang knew nothing of the design of Prince Jing''s Mansion. But she


    understood the subtle hints in his exnation. The Prince had a reputation as a hard, cold man. He


    was undefeated in battle as well. Many people must hate him. It would be wise for him to take certain


    precautions while living in his mansion.


    Yun Shang didn''t dare to ignore the task with which the Prince had entrusted her. She nodded and


    said, "All right. As I have little else to do with my time, I will pay more attention to daily affairs in the


    mansion. But as for the matter of the Yi Xiang, since it is rted to my mother, I''m hoping that Uncle


    can give me timely updates and consult me before making a decision. Please let me know, because..."


    Yun Shang didn''t finish her sentence. In fact, she was hoping to kill her enemies with her bare hands.


    However, as the current situation was soplicated, Yun Shangcked confidence.


    Yun Shang grinned, "With Uncle''s help, I have no doubt that I will grow smarter and stronger. Uncle,


    you would also feel at ease knowing that I will be capable enough to protect myself."


    Prince Jing smiled and nodded. "Okay, I will consult with you whenever I need to make a decision. But,


    would you please stop calling me Uncle? It''s just..." ''I already feel terrible for rushing you into marriage.


    Now, every time you call me Uncle, I feel immoral and incestuous, '' Prince Jing thought to himself.