Eight-year-old Princess: Phoenix Reborn Chapter 47

"Princess, is Qin Meng really coming?" Qian Yin looked at Yun Shang somewhat suspiciously.

Qin Yi smiled, put a plate on the table, and said, "Princess, try some of the fresh passion fruit that the Emperor just sent you." Having said this, Qin Yi turned her head to Qian Yin and spoke, "Don't worry. If the Princess says Qin Meng is coming, then she must be coming. I know Qin Meng quite well, and I understand her temper. If she has heard the things that you deliberately wanted her to hear, she will definitely come to the Princess for help."

Qian Yin nodded slightly, "Right. A wise person would not be sitting idly, awaiting one's doom. From my observation, Qin Meng could make for half a wise person. But it's been two days since I passed on the message. Why hasn't anything happened yet?"

Yun Shang picked up a piece of passion fruit and beamed, "She's only waiting for an opportunity."

"An opportunity? What opportunity?" Qian Yin was confused.

Yun Shang didn't answer her. Instead, she ordered Qin Yi, "Go find out where the Emperor is staying for the night."

Qin Yi nodded and made her exit.

Soon, Qin Yi returned and reported, "Your Highness, today the Emperor is resting at Qiwu Palace. I heard that the Empress went to Qinzheng hall to invite the Emperor."

"The Empress invited the Emperor? Could it be that the Empress has found someone who can help her keep the Emperor there?" Hearing this, Qian Yin's eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Qin Yi with curiosity.

Yun Shang smiled and said, "For two months in a row, father visited every other concubine's Palace. He hasn't been to Qiwu Palace. How can the Empress not be anxious? A drowning man will clutch at any straw. However, this is great news for us, because Qin Meng's opportunity has finally come. We shall be ready tonight."

Qian Yin was still very curious, but she did not ask again, and hurried to make preparations.

It was just past nine o'clock and the palace gradually quieted down as its occupants turned in for the night. It was one of those caliginous nights when the moon sulked behind clouds. Suddenly, a few knocks came from the Palace gate. As soon as Qian Yin heard the sound, she stretched her neck and looked outside, "Princess, someone's knocking on the gate."

Yun Shang took a cup of tea and nodded, "OK." She didn't give any other response. Instead, she took her time to uncover her cup and gently sniff the fragrance of the tea.

Outside the gate, Qin Meng panicked. The longer she had to wait, the greater her anxiety became. As soon as the Emperor arrived at Qiwu Palace, people started bustling around. Therefore, she was able to sneak out before anyone noticed her whereabouts. What that also meant, was that she could not stay for long. She was nervous that someone might find her. She also suspected that inside Qingxin Palace, the Empress' informers probably had all been bought off by the new maid, Qian Yin. Qian Yin would certainly hear of her visit the moment she stepped into Qingxin Palace. If Qian Yin decides to report to the Empress, then Qin Meng would be faced with a terrible situation. She knew that she did not have much time left.

Qin Meng knocked on the gate again. This time someone opened the gate. It was someone she knew, "Qin Meng, aren't you supposed to be at the Empress' Palace? Why are you here?"

Qin Meng bit her lip and looked up with a smile, "The Empress has asked me to deliver a message to the Princess. Has the Princess retired to bed yet?"

"So late at night?" The eunuch asked with some hesitation.

Hearing the question, Qin Meng's countenance fell. She said with a frown, "I'm running an errand for the Empress. Can you afford the consequences if her message is delayed?"

The eunuch thought for a moment before letting Qin Meng in. He quickly closed the gate and turned to Qin Meng, "I don't know if the Princess has gone to sleep, but I can ask Qian Yin about it..."

"Huh, now all you care about is Qian Yin. Just like they say, out of power, out of favor." Qin Meng had a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold. She approached the eunuch threateningly. "Don't forget, I have something on you."

The eunuch frowned at her words and quickly feigned a smile, "I don't want this to happen either, but I really don't know if the Princess has gone to sleep. I can't afford to disturb the Princess any more than I can afford to offend the Empress."

"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility All you need to do is to take me to the door, and I will speak to the people inside. If the Princess refuses to see me, I will just turn and leave. If the princess blames you, I'll tell her that I threatened you. Is that okay? Like I said, if you delay the Empress' business, you'll have to face her wrath."

Having heard enough, the eunuch nodded and said, "Please follow me then." He led Qin Meng to the main Hall inside the Palace.

Qin Meng listened carefully for a moment. She thought she heard Yun Shang's voice. Qin Meng was about to speak when she the door opened and someone came out. She stared for a moment before recognizing that the person was Qin Yi. Her heart leaped and she said hurriedly, "Qin Yi, has the Princess retired to bed? Please take me to the Princess. There's an urgent matter."

"Qin Meng?" Qin Yi frowned, "Aren't you supposed to be at the Empress' Palace?"

"I'll explain later. Right now, I really need to see the Princess." Qin Meng clenched her teeth and said rapidly.

Qin Yi looked at Qin Meng from head to toe, and then went back into the chamber. A moment later, Qin Yi came returned and said, "Come inside, the Princess is waiting."

Qin Meng nodded with a smile, "Thank you, Qin Yi." She then followed Qin Yi into the main Hall. In the next instant, she saw a delicate maid walking out of the inner Hall. Having recognized the maid's clothes, Qin Meng knew immediately that she was the maid that the Empress had planted in Qingxin Palace, Qian Yin.

Qin Meng looked over at Qian Yin, and Qian Yin stared back at her intently as well.

"Qian Yin, where are you going?" Qin Yi asked.

Qian Yin chuckled, "The clothes that were sent to Huanyi Bureau a few days ago have been sent back. I will be putting away the Princess' clothes and using Her Highness' favorite sweet osmanthus fragrance on them so that the Princess can wear them tomorrow." (*TN The Huanyi Bureau is the department of laundry service in the imperial court.)

"Go ahead." Qin Yi smiled, and Qian Yin walked out of the Hall.

Qin Meng clenched her fist and hurried into the inner Hall. Upon seeing Yun Shang, she dropped to her knees and kowtowed, "Princess, I need to tell you something really important. It concerns your life. Please have someone trustworthy guard the door so that no one can enter or exit the Hall. Otherwise, I'm afraid that something terrible might happen..."

"It concerns my life?" Yun Shang's brows knitted, "How can anything happen to me when I'm safe in Qingxin Palace?"

"I swear on my life that I tell nothing but the truth. Please trust me and lock the doors, and forbid anyone to enter or leave the Palace." Qin Meng kowtowed a few more times.

Yun Shang hesitated for a moment before she nodded and said to Qin Yi, "Go and ask Qian Yin to guard door."

When Qin Meng heard this, she hastened to add, "Princess, not Qian Yin. It must not be her."

Qin Yi halted at these words and stared at Qin Meng for a long time, and then she said, "Princess, let me guard the door."

Yun Shang agreed and Qin Yi turned to leave for the door. Qin Meng also turned around and repeatedly urged, "Please, Qin Yi, do not let anyone out..."

Having received Qin Yi's reassurance, Qin Meng turned around again and knelt on the ground. She spoke with a trembling voice, "Princess, the Empress is trying to hurt you. I was sent to you by her and my task was to gain your trust and then find a way to kill you without anyone noticing."

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Chapter end