An Eight-year-old Princess novel Chapter 223

Yun Shang was sure that something had happened in the Imperial City. She hid behind a tree outside the city gate and studied the guarded entry, and the dozens of soldiers who were examining the commoners entering the city. Something caught her attention. She realized that while the commoners were allowed to enter the City, no one was being permitted to leave. It looked like that the Li Clan had blocked the gate, and forbidden anyone from exiting the Imperial City.

How dare they? The Li Clan was too audacious.

Frowning, Yun Shang pondered for a while before she sent a signal to her guards. The Prince had kept the news from her because he didn't want Yun Shang to get involved in the civil war and worried for her safety. But since she had returned and learned about the Li Clan's movements, she wouldn't step aside and watch. And she didn't think Prince Jing could drive her away.

After a while, none of her guards responded. However, Jing Ying, Prince Jing's shadow guard, appeared in front of her and reported, "Your Highness, His Highness has asked me to bring you to him."

A little surprised, Yun Shang stared at her. After a long while, the Princess nodded. It seemed that the Prince had ensured that his guards would protect her no matter the circumstance. No wonder he always knew where she went and what she did. Seeing that the Princess had agreed, Jing Ying bowed before turning to lead the way.

Later, Yun Shang was led into a little compound located in the corner of the Imperial City. She was surprised again, for she knew that it was one of her guards' strongholds, and also a junction of the secret passages that lay beneath the city. Under the yard ran many tunnels that also led to other strongholds in the Imperial City and Qingxin Palace. Some tunnels even went outside the city. When tasked with renovating Prince Jing's Mansion, Yun Shang had heeded his advice and ensured that a tunnel was dug below the mansion. From what she remembered, the tunnel work had neared completion when she left the Imperial City.

Prince Jing was waiting for her in the yard. He appeared indifferent when he spotted her. After several quick glances at her, he asked plainly, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Knowing that he was referring to Lady Jin's baby, Yun Shang nodded to him, "It's a little prince."

Prince Jing's body stiffened noticeably. However, he averted his eyes, and said, "I'm afraid that the Empress and the Grand Councilor have also received the news."

"Perhaps. How are things going in the Imperial City?" Yun Shang softly asked, "Lin has reported to me that the Imperial Palace is fully secured, with thousands of guards patrolling the Palaces and archers stationed throughout the walls. And I saw that the Imperial City has been closed, too. The gates are shut and no one is allowed to go out." Whilst she was talking, Yun Shang approached the Prince.

Prince Jing reached out and pulled her to him. He stood and hugged her around her shoulders. "You should not have come here. Over the past a few days, the Grand Councilor has been busy persuading the officials to ally with him. If they consented, they would be rewarded with gold and jewels. And if they refused, their whole family would be killed as a result of their defiance."

Upon hearing that, Yun Shang's eyebrows furrowed. She knew that every revolt was based on killing and torturing, but she didn't expect that the Grand Councilor would be so cruel and cold-blooded toward his fellow officials.

She asked with a frown, "Who have joined him? And who have been killed?"

Prince Jing sneered, "Before Li Jingyan could do anything, I informed all my allies to take their families away. None of them have been found and confronted yet. However, I can't fool him for too long. He will figure out what I have done in the coming few days. And I've also received reports from my men in the Palace. According to the report, the Ministry of Rites has been preparing for the enthronement ceremony. The crown is what they have been coveting. But I wonder which of them will ascend to the throne, Li Jingyan or Xia Houjing."

Gnashing her teeth, Yun Shang asked, "What's your intention? Has my father learned about what's happening in the Imperial City?"

Prince Jing nodded, "Of course, he knows about the rebellion. He has appointed me with the responsibility of handling the matter. Li Jingyan is a fool. He's stupid to believe that he could become Emperor just by gaining control of a city. Right now, there are no more than forty thousand Xia soldiers quartering in the Imperial City, whereas more than a million of them are laying siege at the border of the State of Xia. They are waiting for Li Jingyan's orders to invade Ning. But don't worry, I have mobilized our forces in secret, and our army is capable of defeating theirs. And within three days, the soldiers who guard the Imperial City will be there. At that time, I'll catch the rat in its hole."

Yun Shang felt relieved, but she suddenly recalled another matter. "If Li Jingyan wants the throne, he wouldn't harm the current Emperor, so my father is fine. But my mother is with him in Laifeng City, will she be in danger?"

Prince Jing patted her hair comfortingly. He lowered his head to look into her eyes, and smirked, "Well, what did I tell you? If you hadn't come back to the Imperial City, you wouldn't be worrying about your mother. You could've protected her in person. At the start, I wanted you to stay at Laifeng City and look after your mother, but you have come here, regardless of your parents and my warnings." At his words, Yun Shang appeared anxious. Seeing the anxiety in Yun Shang's eyes, Prince Jing continued though he softened his tone, "But they'll be fine, don't worry. Every Emperor has his own force, a small army of guards that listens to his orders only. Your father's force contains about thirty thousand men, and every one of them is an excellent soldier. Right now, his force must be with him, or somewhere near Laifeng City. And your father is also under the protection of many martial arts masters. Li Jingyan couldn't hurt the Emperor even if he tried. He can't hurt your mother either."

Yun Shang felt relieved.

"Uhhhh!" Suddenly, a shriek broke the silence. Several cries and the sound of clamoring footsteps could be heard next. Yun Shang shuddered, and asked, "What happened outside?"

A guard quietly went out to check. After a while, he returned and reported with disgust, "Your Highnesses, a commoner just called the Grand Councilor a treacherous traitor, and was killed by the patrolling soldiers."

Yun Shang sneered. Hatred flashed in her eyes as she spoke, "What's the point of killing one's own people?"

With arms around her waist, Prince Jing led Yun Shang into the room, and said, "But you forget. Li Jingyan wouldn't see these commoners as his people. In his eyes, his people are the people of Xia."

At his words, Yun Shang trembled in anger. She had forgotten that Li Jingyan had been placed by Xia. However, he had lurked in the State of Ning for so many years, long enough to make everyone believe that he was loyal to Ning. And his disguise was nearly perfect. No one had ever seen a flaw and doubted his true identity. How very impressive.

And her father's ladies were at danger. If Li Jingyan were to usurp and ascend to the throne, or if he was placing someone else on the throne, the Emperor's ladies would be the first target. When a new Emperor ascended the throne in this way, the ladies surely suffered.

However, this would be a great chance for her to take over the Palace from the Empress. The Empress always thought that she was in charge of the Palace, but she knew nothing about the human heart, nor how people responded to fear.

Determined, Yun Shang decided to pay a visit to the Imperial Palace. She then told Prince Jing about her plan. The Prince stared at her speechlessly. After a long while, he reluctantly agreed.

Yun Shang then headed towards the entry of the secret passages. However, before she entered, a voice called from the outside, "Your Highness! The Grand Councilor took guards to the new Zhuangyuan's residence!"

Hearing that, Yun Shang quickly turned around. Craning her neck, she said, "The Zhuangyuan is an ally. Please tell him to pretend to surrender, and claim that all he wants is his sister's safety."

Prince Jing paused for a while. He smirked, "Well, well, I didn't expect him to be one of your men. I have investigated him before. No wonder his background was so clean."

Yun Shang nodded to him, and then entered the tunnel.

Since the tunnels were clear, in no time, Yun Shang reached Qingxin Palace. She waited in the tunnel for a long while. Once the clamor in the Palace finally subsided, she walked upstairs. Once in the Palace, Yun Shang noticed that it was getting dark outside. She worried that the Empress's informers might be in her palace. Thus, she hid under her bed and waited until the halls were quiet, and the lights had been put out. Then she jumped out of the palace wall and ran to Yarui Palace to meet Lady Ya. Another lady shared Yarui Palace with Lady Ya. She wasn't favored by the Emperor. Yun Shang feared that this lady might be the Empress's ally, thus she tried her best to sneak in secretly. She hid beneath the window of Lady Ya's chamber, and waited. Not long after, she heard Lady Ya enter and ask for hot water to wash. A quarter of an hour later, she heard Lady Ya speak, "I need to rest now. You can leave."

Yun Shang's eyes narrowed. She waited until Lady Ya came close to the window. Then she knocked on the window sill. The window opened and Lady Ya peeked out. When she saw Yun Shang, she was scared, and hurriedly brought her into the chamber. As they entered, Yun Shang slowly shook head, and pointed to the lit lamp on the table. Lady Ya quickly nodded, put out the lamp, and sat with Yun Shang on her bed.

"Your Highness!" Lady Ya whispered anxiously, "The guard in the Palace has been fortified. I've written many letters, but was unable to deliver them to you. And today, Empress Yuan Zhen suddenly summoned all His Majesty's Ladies and delivered a speech. She said that as long as we did exactly what we were told to, we would live. No one knows what she meant. But it sounded weird and ominous."

Yun Shang sneered. She said softly, "How interesting. She means to take her father's side."

Lady Ya was scared. She blurted out, "You mean a rebellion, Your Highness?"