An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 224 War Approaches The Border Cities

Yun Shang reached forward and delicately placed a finger under Qin Meng's chin. Then the Princess

raised Qin Meng's face. She said with a smile resting on her lips, "Why am I not convinced by your

statement? Lady Meng, you have followed the Empress's orders from the very beginning. When the

Empress abandoned you, you begged me to save your life. And I did. You said you would only listen to

me from that day. However, you concealed your pregnancy from me and even communicated with the

Empress secretly. If I hadn't noticed your deception, I would have probably fallen into your trap. Tell me,

Lady Meng. How can I trust someone who is so fickle?"

The Princess's question unsettled Qin Meng. She trembled as she struggled to find a convincing

explanation. Qin Meng opened her mouth, but failed to think of anything with which to justify her

actions. She just looked at Yun Shang with tears in her eyes.

"Do you want me to save your unborn child?" Yun Shang let go of Qin Meng's chin and leaned back on

the bed. She pretended to study a painting on the wall as she waited for Qin Meng to respond.

Qin Meng fell to the ground. She nodded and said in a hoarse voice, "Please, Your Highness, help my

child."

Yun Shang took a small bottle that was hanging around her waist and poured out a black pill. She

handed it to Qin Meng and said. "There is poison in this pill. It will show its effect once a month. Though

it's a poison, you and your unborn baby will stay safe as long as you take the antidote in a timely

manner. If you dare to come up with some ideas that you shouldn't, you will be responsible for the

consequences. If you want to keep your child, just take it. And if you don't trust me, I'll just forget that I

came to you."

Qin Meng raised her head and looked at Yun Shang's hands. Qin Meng found herself, yet again, faced

with impossible choices. On one hand, the Empress would kill her child if she didn't follow her orders.

On the other, if she refused Yun Shang, she and her child would meet the same fate. She went silent

for a long time as she carefully considered her options. Finally, she reached out her hand. Her fingers

trembled as she lifted the pill and brought it to her mouth. With one last deep breath, Qin Meng popped

the pill into her mouth and then swallowed it quickly.

Yun Shang smiled encouragingly before saying, "Very good. I haven't asked you to do something for

me in a long while. Now it's time to prove your loyalty. You've been with the Empress for so many

years, there must be someone working for you…"

Qin Meng was surprised and shook her head. She was about to say something, but finally she just

gritted her teeth and didn't open her mouth. Yun Shang smiled coldly and said, "Your task is very

simple. All you need to do is make the Empress believe that I have killed Princess Hua Jing."

Qin Meng's eyes widened in astonishment. She looked at Yun Shang and asked, "Princess Hua Jing?"

"Yes, Princess Hua Jing. I placed those young men in Hua Jing's Princess Palace. They have poisoned

her. It cannot be detected as it's a chronic poison. Symptoms of toxicity are also hidden. But as time

goes by, the toxins will accumulate and cause harm. As she was carried away by Qingsu, I'm afraid she

will lose her life before she arrives at her destination." Yun Shang smiled as she continued, "That's how

she will die. But it's your responsibility to convince the Empress about it."

Qin Meng lowered her head and did not say anything. Yun Shang stood and smiled. She raised an

eyebrow as she spoke, "Don't even try to think about weaseling out of this. You don't know it, but all the

people in your Palace report to me. Do you really believe that I am stupid? You will simply swear loyalty

to me and I would trust you? Now that I have put you in such a difficult position, I'm not worried at all

about you betraying me."

Qin Meng looked at Yun Shang. Her eyes were full of fear. She could not help wonder, 'How could it

be?' She remembered everything clearly. It had been less than a year since the Princess's return from

Ning'guo Temple. All this while, the Princess had been weak and sick. How could she have replaced all

the people in her Palace secretly? How did she manage it?

Yun Shang did not care about what Qin Meng was thinking at this moment. She just looked at Qin

Meng one last time before leaving the Palace. Qin Yi heard the guard outside greeting the Princess,

"Your Highness."

This guard's voice was low and deep. Qin Meng had tried to stay strong when confronted by both, the

Empress and the Princess. But now her will snapped completely. She, Princess Yun Shang, was only

15 years old...

After leaving Qin Meng's Palace, Yun Shang made her way to the tunnels. She had no further reason

to stay in the Imperial Palace.

When Yun Shang walked into the room, Prince Jing was staring blankly at the map in front of him. Yun

Shang asked her shadow guard to leave and then walked toward the Prince. She saw that the map

seemed to be of Ning's border with the State of Xia. The State of Xia was to the south of the State of

Ning. And there were several mountains in the bordering area. To the north side of the mountains lay

the State of Ning while the State of Xia was on the south of the mountains. Jingyang, Kangyang, and

Dexi were the three cities near the mountains. Yun Shang noticed that Kangyang was heavily circled

on the map.

"Has the State of Xia started attacking the cities?" Yun Shang asked.

Prince Jing turned abruptly. He had not noticed that Yun Shang had returned. He wrapped his arms

around her and said softly, "You are back! Did everything go well?"

Yun Shang nodded and continued speaking, "What were you looking at just now?"

Prince Jing lowered his head and pointed at the map before replying "The armies of the State of Xia

have already crossed these mountains. They're approaching the three cities now. According to the

dispatch, they are divided into three groups. The army consisting of 500, 000 soldiers is being led by

the Crown Prince. They are headed toward Kangyang. The other two armies of 250, 000 soldiers each,

are being led by veteran generals Liyang and Dexi, and they are heading to Jingyang and Dexi,

respectively.

Yun Shang was shocked. Now the State of Ning was facing attacks on several sides. The Imperial City

was under Grand Councilor Li's control. At the same time, Ning was fighting against the State of

Yelang. Now, from the south, the armies of the State of Xia were approaching.

"Who are the generals of Kangyang, Jingyang, and Dexi, respectively?" Yun Shang asked in a feeble

voice.

Prince Jing lapsed into silence for a few seconds and then answered, "General Qi Lang is in charge of

Kangyang. And my people, Zhang Qi and Wei Nan are in charge of Jingyang, and Dexi, respectively. I

trust my people and their fighting abilities. But as for Qi Lang..." Prince Jing paused for a while and

then continued, "Qi Lang was a veteran general for the late Emperor. I don't question his fighting ability.

But he is extremely conceited. I'm afraid he might suffer losses because of his arrogance. There is a

river behind Jingyang and Dexi. Kangyang, however, is surrounded by plains. If Kangyang falls, the

armies of the State of Xia can march straight to the Imperial City."

Yun Shang frowned as she thought about what the Prince had said. Then she asked, "The State of Xia

has a strong army of a million soldiers. How many people with fighting skills do we have in the border

cities?"

"800, 000." Prince Jing pointed to places on the map before continuing, "It's true that the State of Ning

is very big. Since our territory is vast, we have a difficult time trying to protect all the border areas.

These places have scattered bases and troops. What's more, we have already deployed about a

million soldiers to the northern battlefield. So the force in the south is relatively weak. However, the

State of Ning can still gather 500, 000 soldiers to support the front. But it will take at least three months

to gather the troops and food. I'm afraid that the front cannot wait for such a long time."

He paused a little and sighed, "If I were there... we would still have a high possibility of victory.

However, considering the situation in the Imperial City now... I can't leave. The only thing I can do now

is just... wait and watch..."

Yun Shang fell silent too. She was a little anxious. At first, she was optimistic about the situation and

believed that as long as the troubles in the Imperial City could be settled, everything would be all right.

But now she realized that the situation was very complex.

Prince Jing laughed when he saw her serious expression. He closed the map and said, "The battle

situation is not so terrible. Let's wish that all the trouble in Imperial City will be settled as early as

possible. And then I will personally handle the border area challenges. We still have 800, 000 soldiers

on the border and they have enough supplies to fight for a while. You don't need to worry about it."

Yun Shang nodded. She stared at the closed map long after the Prince had rolled it up.

"You travelled all the way here from Laifeng. After your arrival, you've spent most of your time in the

Palace. You must be tired. Get some rest." Prince Jing said with a smile, "It won't be long before the

forces reach here. We don't have much to do except wait and watch. Once the soldiers reach, we will

handle the situation before breaching the Imperial City. Then we will cut off Li Jingyan's head!"

Hearing this, Yun Shang forced a small smile and responded, "Yes." Then she went into the bedroom

to sleep.

In the early morning the next day, Yun Shang heard an unfamiliar person speaking loudly, "Three big NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

families in the Imperial City have been killed by the Grand Councilor recently. Since the news spread,

everyone in the Imperial City is anxious about their lives. Your Highness, why don't you just allow me to

go to the Grand Councilor's Mansion and kill him? Today in Court, he said that he had already captured

the Emperor and that he was bringing him to the Imperial City. What bullshit!"

Another person echoed similar sentiments, "Yes, exactly! Upon hearing this, the traitors even hailed the

Grand Councilor and said that they wished him to be the Emperor as early as possible. The Grand

Councilor becomes the Emperor? He doesn't deserve it at all! How could he say such words when Your

Highness didn't say it." A third person simply said, "blah."

"Your Highness, why don't you take advantage of this situation and kill the Grand Councilor and ascend

the throne? I've always been inclined to your rule as Emperor. In the State of Ning, you are the most

qualified person to be the Emperor."

Yun Shang was shocked. She closed her eyes as complex emotions flooded her. If Prince Jing took

their advice and contested to be Emperor, wouldn't the situation become even worse?

Yun Shang held her breath and kept listening.

"I don't want to hear words like that anymore. If I hear this nonsense again, you will bear the

consequences." Prince Jing's cold voice could be heard admonishing the several speakers.

The person that suggested Prince Jing usurp the throne spoke, "Why? Your Highness. I remember that

when we were on the border, you had the intention to do so, you..."

The person suddenly stopped speaking. Yun Shang felt that her heart was going to jump out of her

chest! She gritted her teeth and felt so nervous.

"Tell Wang Jinhuan move as quickly as possible. I received news this morning that though the army

headed to Kangyang is being led by the Crown Prince, the general accompanying him is the former

counsellor of Lord Hua Guo and Xia Houjing's teacher. That general, Liu Yinfeng, is familiar with Qi

Lang's fighting tactics. At first, I thought Qi Lang could fight for about two months if our enemy was

being led by the Crown Prince. Now, I need to rethink the situation. If Qi Lang faces the Xia Crown

Prince and Liu Yinfeng, even I have no confidence that Qi Lang will be able to hold them for longer

than one month."

The people outside began murmuring amongst themselves. After they finished talking, they took their

leave. There was no further talk of Prince Jing becoming Emperor. As she lay in bed, Yun Shang grit

her teeth and tried to settle her mind. Everything was a total mess.

After a long time, she heard footsteps nearing the bedroom and knew that it was Prince Jing. She was

silent for a while and finally, she opened her eyes and looked to the door.

It seemed that Prince Jing did not know that Yun Shang had already woken. His steps paused as he

noticed that she was awake. He fell into silence for a moment and then walked toward the bed. He

asked simply, "You heard?"

Yun Shang paused for a moment and then nodded slightly. "Your Highness, do you want to be the

Emperor?"

Prince Jing looked at Yun Shang's face. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek. "Not so much

now. As for later on, " he stopped long enough to shrug before continuing, "that part is yet unclear."

Yun Shang lowered her eyes and asked after thinking about his explanation, "Why?"

Prince Jing sighed. In his eyes reflected an unfamiliar embarrassment. Yun Shang had never really

seen the Prince look like that. His answer was equally surprising. He said, "I probably wanted to be the

Emperor just because I felt bored and had nothing to do everyday. However, ever since our marriage, it

feels good to spend time with you. If, someday in the future, I feel bored again, maybe I will reconsider

becoming Emperor."

Yun Shang's eyes widened as she thought the Prince's explanation was extremely absurd.

"Are you kidding me?" Yun Shang frowned.

Prince Jing smiled and ruffled her hair. He narrowed his eyes a little and said, "You have been with me

long enough to know when I am telling the truth. Actually, sometimes, I feel that I am very lucky. I was

abandoned at birth. But I become Prince Jing and am second only to the Emperor because I met the

late Emperor. The late Emperor had the grace to raise me. And I promised him to help his son to

protect this state. But later on, my brother didn't trust me. At the same time, I was a little tired of wars

day after day. So I wondered whether my life would be more interesting if I became the Emperor. As a

matter of fact, I returned to the Imperial City with such thoughts. But I didn't know that I would meet you

here and find something new and interesting to look forward to. If someday, I really try to be Emperor, I

fear that you will probably hate me. Now, I care about you and thus, I don't want you to be unhappy. If

someday I don't care about you, maybe I'll think about it..."

Yun Shang frowned. She was so astonished with the Prince's long explanation, she didn't know how to

respond. To hear Prince Jing say that he cared about her and didn't want her to be unhappy was so

preposterous! Perhaps only Prince Jing could say something like this.

Yun Shang grit her teeth and replied teasingly, "Then, I shall thank you for your kind consideration,

Prince. And please, always care about me."

Prince Jing raised his eyebrows and actually nodded. "You are right, Shang'er. I hope that you and I

always care about each other."

Yun Shang could not say anything but fell into silence. After a while, she said, "The guy named Liu

Yinfeng, is he really so capable?"

Prince Jing didn't notice her sudden change of topic. He nodded and said, "Liu Yinfeng is indeed very

capable. He is extremely good at doing research on his enemy's fighting tactics and thus finding their

flaws. I fought with him a few years ago and we suffered many losses."

Yun Shang sat up and looked at Prince Jing. Her eyes reflected the excitement she felt. Prince Jing

frowned and asked, "Why do you look at me like that?"

"Your Highness, I want to go to Kangyang." Yun Shang said with a smile on her face.

"..."

Prince Jing did not respond to her. Yun Shang then held his hands and repeated more authoritatively, "I

want to go to Kangyang."

"What would you do there? Why are you in such a hurry to rush to your death?" Prince Jing was

unmoved.

Yun Shang whined, "I have a logical reason! You said Qi Lang is extremely conceited. He won't listen

to other people's suggestions. But I am a female, and the Princess of the State of Ning. I'm afraid you

don't quite understand that once a woman becomes unreasonable, she is difficult to refuse. You said

that Liu Yinfeng was very good at researching on his enemy's tactics. He can do this research because

he knows our main leading generals. Indeed, they have rich experience. But because of that, Liu

Yinfeng could take advantage and learn their fighting strategies. What if there is a new leader who

doesn't have a pattern at all? He will have no way to find out their strategies and weaknesses."

"Nonsense." Prince Jing patted Yun Shang on her head. He stood up and didn't talk to Yun Shang.

Instead, he walked to the desk and started looking at the map again.

Yun Shang knew that he would not agree with her. She thought for a moment and then walked to

Prince Jing. She studied the map with him. She then asked the shadow guard to fetch all the

documents of the three cities. She also wanted the documents that recorded details about the generals

on both sides. She then sat down on the chair next to her and started looking through these

documents.

The rest of the day was uneventful barring three incidents, if they could be called that.

The first was the rumor spreading through the Palace. Most people knew by now that the Grand

Councilor was in rebellion, and many members of the court had been threatened or killed. Most of the

family members of the Emperor's Ladies worked for the court. Knowing that their lives were in danger,

the Ladies in the Palace worried about their well-being.

The second incident involved Xia Houjing. It was said that he was now in charge of the Grand

Councilor's Mansion. On this particular day, Cangyang Yu saw him as she walked around the Mansion.

Cangyang Yu went so far as to flirt with Xia Houjing regardless of her pregnancy. It was said that she

was barely dressed. Grand Councilor Li witnessed this scene and became so enraged that he beat

Cangyang Yu. Subsequently, her unborn baby died.

The third incident also happened in the Palace. It was said that the Palace was now being haunted by

a ghost. It cried sadly in the middle of the night and its voice sounded like Princess Hua Jing's.

Hearing all this, Prince Jing looked at Yun Shang, who seemed least surprised. He shook his head a

little and did not say anything.

Yun Shang raised her eyebrows when the Prince wasn't looking. She attributed the Prince's non-

acceptance of her earlier offer to go to Kangyang to ignorance. Since the Prince had stayed at the

border for so long, and he did not have any servant girls, he did not know that sometimes, when a

woman made trouble for no apparent reason, it could be very useful.

Three days after her return from Laifeng, a new rumor began. According to the rumor, Prince Jing and

Emperor Ning were leading an army and were on their way back to the City. The rumor said that the

army was so big that it would take them three days to reach the Imperial City.

Despite these rumors, Grand Councilor's Mansion was quiet. Earlier, Li Jingyan used to visit the

officers at the court almost everyday. Now, he stopped going to court.

For the next few days, the Imperial City was shrouded in silence.

On the eighth night since her return, Yun Shang snuck into the Imperial Palace with her shadow

guards. She asked the shadow guards to avoid the patrolling soldiers and bring all the Emperor's

Ladies to Qingxin Palace secretly.

Needless to say, the Emperor's Ladies were shocked when several men dressed in black showed up to

restrain them and take them to Qingxin Palace. They were further shocked to see Yun Shang in the

Palace and asked in a hurry, "Your Highness, what's going on?"

Yun Shang smiled as she looked at each of the Ladies. She said, "Have you heard that Grand

Councilor Li has betrayed the State?"

The Ladies exchanged looks before nodding.

"For those of you who don't know everything, I will give a short explanation. Grand Councilor Li has

indeed betrayed the State. Now the Imperial Palace is surrounded by his people. Father and Prince

Jing will be here with their army in two days. Grand Councilor Li believes that Father has no knowledge

of the Li Clan's traitorous plans. So when the army reaches here, the Grand Councilor will probably

lose his mind and take you as hostages so that he can threaten Father. That's why I am here. I wanted

to take you away from the Palace." Yun Shang tried to appear nonchalant by studying her nail polish

which had chipped over the past few days. After the Ladies had enough time to think about their

predicament, Yun Shang said with a soft yet steady voice, "Do you want to stay here and take your

chances, or do you want me to take you to safety?"

"I'd like to leave with you, Your Highness..." Lady Ya said quickly. Then Qin Meng spoke up. The other

Ladies decided to follow their examples and agreed to let Yun Shang help them.

Yun Shang smiled and then asked her shadow guards to take the women to safety.

After all the Ladies had left, Yun Shang headed for Qiwu Palace...