Eight-year-old Princess: Phoenix Reborn Chapter 37

"Your Majesty, it seems that Princess Hui Guo is not to be trifled with. If we become enemies one day… How about we strike before she gets stronger?" Wang Shunlai lowered his head and stood respectfully behind Prince Jing.

Prince Jing turned around and looked at the looming figure on Star Tower before replying. "I remember when I saw her for the first time. It was seven years ago and there had been no rain in the state of Ning for half a year. We were discussing official business that day and this 8-year-old girl rushed in saying that she wanted to go to Ning'guo Temple to pray for rain. Several days later, I left for the border. While there, I heard that she had succeeded in bringing rain for the people and was given the title of Princess Hui Guo."

"Your Majesty, what you mean is…" Wang Shunlai seemed to understand the Princes' intention, but he was unsure.

Prince Jing smiled and replied, "I used to think that someone helped her secretly. But after meeting her several times since then, I am convinced that this young Princess Hui Guo is a smart girl. Since she is smart, the Princess definitely knows what she should do. We will never become enemies."

Wang Shunlai had no idea why Prince Jing was so confident. However, he knew the Prince to be a wise person. He felt it wouldn't be wrong to trust the Prince. Wang Shunlai decided to dismiss his concerns and doubts. He agreed with the Prince in a respectful way and then Wang followed Prince Jing as he moved away from Star Tower.

It was already midnight when Yun Shang returned to Qingxin Palace. Qin Yi was pacing frantically in the courtyard. On seeing Yun Shang, she rushed forward and said, "Your Highness, you have finally returned! Did Prince Jing do anything harmful to you? I was so worried."

Yun Shang shook her head and replied, "I'm fine." Then she looked around and asked, "Are you alone?"

Qin Yi leaned forward and whispered, "I told the others that you were worried about the Emperor who had left suddenly. Especially since the Emperor had not taken his escorts. So you went to look for him. I thought you would like a bath after returning. It has been a long day for you. So I told them to prepare your bath-water."

Yun Shang nodded and walked into the inner room.

Not long after she sat down, Qin Meng opened the curtains and walked inside. She saw Yun Shang and expressed her concern, "Greetings, Your Highness. Did you find the Emperor?"

Yun Shang shook her head and smiled bitterly, "I have been away from the Palace for several years. Many things have changed here. I didn't find him and I almost got lost."

Qin Meng smiled. "Don't worry too much. The inner Palace is heavily guarded and the Emperor is very familiar with the Palace grounds. He will be alright. You must be tired. Would you like a bath before resting?"

Yun Shang nodded. "Bring in the water."

Qin Meng then went to arrange the bath. After finishing, Yun Shang lay on her bed, but she couldn't sleep. She pondered over the inconsistencies between her past life and her present. She wondered why Prince Jing, who didn't leave any impression on her in her previous life, had suddenly appeared in her present life. She felt unprepared. She knew that the Prince was by no means simple and wondered how she would deal with him.

With so many disturbing thoughts, it took a while for Yun Shang to fall asleep.

When she woke, the sun was already shining. She tried to get up, only to find that her body was sore and aching. Her mind was still confused. She couldn't help but let out a sigh. Then the mosquito net opened, and she saw Qin Yi smiling at her. "You scared me, Your Highness. How did you suddenly catch a cold?" Although her maid was smiling, Yun Shang noticed that she sounded relieved.

"I guess you caught a cold last night when you went to look for the Emperor. The wind on Penglai Island was strong and you didn't wear enough clothes." Came the voice of Qin Meng from a distance. Yun Shang sat up and pulled open the curtains. "It's my fault. I forgot that I am not as healthy as others. I will be careful in future."

"Your Highness, you'd better rest more." Qin Meng continued, "The Imperial Physician came and said your body was weak, and that your pulse was irregular. He didn't dare prescribe medicines for you. He did, however, mention that you should rest well and not get cold again. What do you want to eat, Your Highness? I will prepare whatever your heart desires."

Yun Shang massaged her aching head and said with a frown, "Make some light porridge. There's a bitter taste in my mouth and I don't have much of an appetite."

Qin Meng nodded and left. Qin Yi turned around and watched as Qin Meng left the room. She frowned with worry.

"Don't worry. At present, the Empress and Hua Jing's situation is still uncertain. Qin Meng wouldn't dare be rash about her plans. In addition, poisoning is such a clumsy tactic. It is meaningless to use it twice." "Did anything happen at the Palace?" Yun Shang leaned on the cushion Qin Yi had handed to her. She lifted her head and asked.

Qin Yi beamed with delight. "Your Highness, the Emperor stayed with Lady Jin. This morning, the Emperor issued a decree restoring her rank and sent some maids to serve her. But he didn't mention moving Lady Jin out of the Cold Palace. What do you think of this, Your Highness?"

Yun Shang nodded as she spoke. "This is good. It shows that my father really cares about my mother. But he has to be careful. There are so many people spying for others in the Palace. If he shows too much favor to my mother, some people might get jealous. In this way, people will think that the Emperor was benevolent to compensate me. It was my Coming-of-age Ceremony yesterday. Everyone already knows that I have no affection towards my mother."

"Really? But Lady Jin's Palace is kind of…" Qin Yi still had some doubts.

Yun Shang heard her maid's doubts and explained with a smile, "She has lived there for so many years. My mother just needs to hang on for a few more days. Moreover, since she has re-earned the Emperor's grace, the fence-sitters in the Palace would not be too harsh on her or treat her poorly. However, our attitudes matter, remember that…"

Yun Shang whispered to Qin Yi and leaned back. She toyed with an idea in her mind.

In Shuya Palace, Ya'er the maid was reporting the night's events to Lady Shu. She explained how the Emperor had visited Lady Jin, who had been confined to the Cold Palace for over ten years and restored her rank.

Lady Shu who was sitting in front of the mirror, watched as her maids changed the flowers in her hair one by one. She sneered, "How charming could a woman, who has lived in the Cold Palace for more than ten years, be? The Emperor was just faking it. However, there must be more trouble for the Empress in Qiwu Palace. You know, Lady Jin used to be very favored, which broke the Empress' heart. She was not happy that she had to help her raise Yun Shang when Lady Jin was confined to the Cold Palace. Now Lady Jin is being favored again, and the Empress still hasn't gotten rid of her troubles. I wonder what the Empress' expression will be when she hears about this."

Ya'er didn't say anything. Lady Shu looked at the silver butterfly hairpin in the mirror and nodded in approval. "That's the one. By the way, is there anything unusual happening in Qingxin Hall?"

Ya'er shook her head. "It seems that the delicate Princess in Qingxin Hall is sick again. The Imperial Physician was called for early this morning."

"Sick?" Lady Shu kept silent for a while and then turned around. "It is most likely that she pretends to be sick. Lady Jin was favored ten years ago. Now that her rank has been returned to Lady Jin, her daughter pretends to be sick to hide from her mother. How sad! Go to the hospital and inquire about the condition of Princess Hui Guo. I should visit her and convey my concerns.

Ya'er nodded. just as she was about to leave, she saw a maid rushing in. The maid spoke quickly, "Your Highness, Princess Hui Guo's maid, Qin Yi, has come. She said that the Princess is sick and needs a herb. According to the Imperial Physician, the Emperor gave the only one to you, so she came to ask for the herb."

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