Chapter 128 Horse Racing (Part One)

It was March 15th and flowers were blooming on this warm spring day. The State of Ning was holding a celebration to welcome the emissaries of States of Xia and the State of Yelang. Yun Shang accompanied Emperor Ning and the Empress in their carriage to the hunting grounds. A platform was built on the open space outside the forest. Yun Shang walked to the stand and sat down.

The Empress smiled at Yun Shang, "The daughters of many officials in the Imperial City have come. Why don't you talk with them?"

Yun Shang glanced at the girls who were whispering to one another and shook her head. "I met them at Lady Shun Qing's birthday party before. They always talk about clothes and jewelry. I rarely go out and am not very interested in these things, so I cannot contribute. What's more, if I join them, they will fear me as I'm a princess, and thus, they won't talk candidly. I'd better not spoil their day."

The Empress was surprised. She patted Yun Shang's hand and smiled. "Good girl. But you will suffer after you marry Prince Jing. Prince Jing doesn't have much contact with others because he is still single. After you get married, you will have to develop good relations with other people. These girls seem to be common now, but they were born with silver spoons and will marry into influential families in the near future. You have to be friendly with them. Don't underestimate the power of women. They can change many things secretly using only a few words."

Yun Shang felt her body stiffen involuntarily. What the Empress said was reasonable, but Yun Shang felt it strange. By rights, the Empress would be the most satisfied if Yun Shang was ignorant and notorious for messing everything up in Prince Jing's Mansion after she got married. However, the Empress was advising her.

"But I really don't know anything about fashion and jewelry." Yun Shang bowed her head, bearing a grievance.

The Empress squinted and said with a smile, "I wanted you to learn from Hua Jing, but I am afraid that Hua Jing isn't good at these things either. If you make a mistake, I can hardly absolve myself from the blame. Although you are not my biological daughter, I have been

s with Prince Jing. I thought you knew her. She is Wang Jinyan, the daughter of the Minister of Defense and War."

"Oh?" Yun Shang raised her eyebrows and looked at Wang Jinyan carefully. She did resemble her brother Wang Jinhuan, and Yun Shang liked her. Surprisingly, Wang Jinhuan, who was dissolute, had such a sister.

Jing Wenxi gritted her teeth and was unpleasant to Wang Jinyan. She snorted and said, "I heard that Prince Jing dotes on Princess Yun Shang. Prince Jing is invincible in the State of Ning. The girl that he likes must be extraordinary and good at riding and hunting. Princess Yun Shang, please impress us and get this reward, okay?"

Yun Shang raised her eyebrows and realized that she was the target. However, Jing Wenxi spoke like Cangyang Yu'er. Jing Wenxi had something in common with Cangyang Yu'er. Both of them liked Prince Jing, so they nursed jealousy against Yun Shang. Yun Shang gazed at Prince Jing who was surrounded by the crowd and groaned in her heart. As the saying goes, women are dangerous, but Prince Jing was a trouble!

Yun Shang refused politely with a smile, "I don't know how to ride."

Jing Wenxi opened her mouth wide in surprise and said, "Sorry, I didn't know that you can't ride, but if Cangyang Yu'er wins and asks His Majesty to marry her to Prince Jing as a reward, His Majesty will have to agree in front of so many people. By then, you will be embarrassed. It's pitiful that you can't ride."