An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 158 The Disappeared Madams (Part Two)

Yun Shang turned and took the offerings from Qin Yi's hand. Madam Yu hurriedly took it, and handed

the syrup to Lady Ming.

Lady Ming glanced at the bowl, and waved it away. Yun Shang smiled. She turned to Lady Fu, "I didn't

think I would meet you in Changchun Palace, Lady Fu. Are you transcribing Buddhist texts?"

Lady Fu flashed a smile. She put the brush aside and turned to Yun Shang, "Yes, I am. I have very little

interest in boisterous circumstances. Fortunately, Her Highness pities me, and shelters me in her Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

palace."

Hearing these words, Yun Shang returned the smile. She wanted to ask about the Empress's physical

conditions, but before she could say anything, Lady Ming cut in, "It's been said that you stayed

overnight in Prince Jing's mansion during his birthday party."

Yun Shang was a little surprised. She nodded to Lady Ming.

"Indeed, you're engaged to the Prince now, but you're still unmarried. You should pay attention to your

reputation. I wish you would meet Prince Jing less in the future." Said Lady Ming primly, almost like a

strict elder.

Yun Shang hurriedly curtsied to her, "I will, Your Highness."

"What has brought you here? Just bringing the plum syrup to me?" Lady Ming shot a cold and piercing

gaze at Yun Shang.

Yun Shang thought for a while before she answered, "I have something to report, Your Highness. It's a

small matter, and I'm not sure whether I should bother you with it. But Your Highness is in charge of the

Palace, and should be informed of everything that happens here. When I went back to my palace

yesterday, I was informed that two madams were missing. I sent people to search everywhere in the

Palace, but failed to find them. I then asked the Imperial Household Department, and learned that they

both worked for Lady Geng a long time ago. She seemed to be the late Emperor's Lady. But all my

servants are young girls, and none of them know anything about Lady Geng. Not knowing what to do, I

decided to take advice from you, Your Highness."

Hearing that, Lady Ming clenched the armrest of her chair tightly. Yun Shang noticed that and sneered

to herself.

"What? They are missing? How did it happen?" After a while, Lady Ming calmly asked.

Yun Shang didn't answer. Instead, she bit her lower lip. Seeing that, Lady Ming urged, "Say it. What

happened to them?"

Yun Shang shuddered, and looked at Lady Ming in horror. She frowned for a while before answering,

"Actually, something weird has happened. As I was raised in a Buddhist temple, I always stayed in awe

of deities and Gods. But I've been taught not to bring up the subject in front of other people, lest they

don't believe my words."

"You mean something has happened, but you don't dare to tell me?" Lady Ming raised her eyebrows.

She paused for a while before she spoke. "If you dare not speak, let your maids tell me."

On hearing that, Qin Yi quickly glanced at Lady Ming. Qin Yi's face was pale, and the expression in her

eyes seemed to convey that she was horrified. Surprised, Lady Ming gave a questioning look.

Yun Shang breathed a sigh, and turned to Qin Yi. "You received the maids' report. Tell Lady Ming what

you learned."

When she heard these words, Qin Yi bit her lower lip, and remained quiet. After a long while, she knelt.

Her eyes were red with tears, "Your Highness, the two maids were found missing last morning. The day

before, when the Princess was not in the Palace, the maids rested early in the evening. At night, they

gathered together to have a little chit chat. But after a while, they spotted the two madams sneaking

out, who carried a lantern with them. Since almost all the maids have been taught by the two madams,

and their relations are pretty good, they followed the madams out. The maids intended to hide in the

woods, and play a trick on them, but, they saw..."

Qin Yi shuddered, as if she was experiencing great horror. Lady Ming's face fell. She smacked her

palm on the armrest and snapped, "What did they see? Speak!"

Qin Yi hurriedly continued, "I...I heard it from the other maids...When they followed the two madams

into the bamboo grove beside a yard, the maids saw the madams take out offerings from a hamper.

They placed wine and meat on a make-shift alter, burned incense, and made paper offerings. They

muttered something that sounded like they didn't intend to harm Her Highness, and wished Her

Highness would not haunt them... Then the maids saw a wisp of mist flutter and swing. It slowly grew

and changed into a figure... along with flickering green lights..."

Lady Ming turned pale at her words. Her lips trembled, and she couldn't manage to speak. Yun Shang

sneered to herself, but pretended to be frightened. She spoke, "The maids ran back to Qingxin Palace,

terrified. And the two madams never appeared again."

Frowning, Yun Shang added, "In the Palace, the servants are not allowed to worship the dead. This is

a rule that the two madams failed to abide by. It's all my fault, so I didn't dare to report my neglect. The

other day, when the maids reported that the two madams had disappeared, I sent people to search the

Bamboo grove. They found all the things the maids had reported seeing. They also saw that the ashes

were stained with blood...I felt all this very scary and strange, so I decided to report the whole matter to

you, Your Highness..."