Chapter 139 The Trouble Caused By Staying Out All Night (Part Two)

Yun Shang sighed and said worryingly, "I missed my mother very much after reading her letter. However, the emissaries of the States of Yelang and Xia are here. I am afraid I cannot visit my mother in Laifeng City. I felt sad. So I went to the Cold Palace where my mother lived before."

Lady Ming regretted that she didn't order a search of the Cold Palace. She had searched the entire imperial household, but she never thought that Yun Shang would actually use the Cold Palace as an excuse.

Yun Shang said in a faint voice, "My mother lived there for more than ten years. Although she moved out a few months ago, her smell still lingers. I missed her so much that I slept on her bed last night. I went back to Qingxin Palace after I woke up this morning and learned that you thought I was missing as you couldn't find me. So I changed and rushed here. It is a misunderstanding. I shouldn't have gone to the Cold Palace because I was in a bad mood. Ordinarily, no one visits Qingxin Palace. I didn't expect that you would come to Qingxin Palace to show loving care for me in the early morning. It's my fault. Please punish me."

On the way back, Yun Shang had inquired about the places searched at the order of Lady Ming and learned that the Cold Palace, Qinzheng Hall where Emperor Ning worked, Qiwu Palace and a few other Halls where Emperor Ning met the ministers hadn't been searched. With this knowledge, she came up with this idea. Yun Shang had also chosen her words carefully. She wanted to tell Emperor Ning that it was a trap as Lady Ming had never been to Qingxin Palace in the past, but went to search for her on this occasion.

As expected, hearing what Yun Shang said, Emperor Ning became angry. He knew that if Yun Shang failed to disclose where she went last night, Lady Ming would claim that she ruined her reputation by staying out all night. Lady Ming had done all this on purpose. As soon as Emperor Ning left the court this morning, a servant of Lady Ming had reported that Yun Shang was missing. So he rushed here. He had guessed the whole story when Lady Ming interrogated the servants of Qingxin Palace. After listening to Yun Shang, he further confirmed what he had previously thought.

It didn't matter whether Yun Shang really slept in the Cold Palace last night or not. Lady Ming, who was in power in the imperial household, was making a fuss about it. She had even gathered all the concubines. Apparently, she wanted Yun Shang to lose all standing and reputation. Emperor Ning never asked about the ongoings in the imperial household, but he knew the tricks in it.

It was really difficult to deal with the Li Clan!

Lady Ming still refused to let the issue go even though she now knew whe

ep you worrying about me. Don't tell my mother about it. She wouldn't be able to bear it."

Qin Yi hesitated for a while before she continued, "Qian Yin has secretly replaced almost all the servants in our Palace, but there is still a spy. The Imperial City is very unsafe. How is Prince Jing? Is he seriously hurt?"

Thinking of Prince Jing's belly wrapped with thick gauze, Yun Shang sighed, "He had come round when I left. He is seriously hurt. I'm afraid it will take a long time for him to recover."

Qin Yi nodded with worry. "Good to hear that he is fine. Prince Jing was hurt, and you were framed. It seems to be a set of interlocking stratagems. No concubine in the imperial household could do that." Qin Yi looked at Yun Shang as she continued gently, "Your Highness, I don't know how you extend your power and how many able men you have recruited in recent years. At least, I know you can deal with the women in the Imperial City. However, if other forces are involved, no matter how smart you may be, you are just a 15-year-old girl. I'm afraid…"

Yun Shang knew what Qin Yi was worried about, but she also knew that to pay off old scores and deprive the Empress and Hua Jing of what they had, she had to face the Li Clan. The Li Clan had tried very hard to make Li Yiran the Empress, so they wouldn't abandon her unless they had no other choice.

"Don't worry. I know what I am doing. I promise that I will leave no loopholes next time." Yun Shang thought her negligence had led to this incident, and she wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"Your Highness…" Qian Yin shouted anxiously from outside. Yun Shang frowned, turned her head and looked at Qian Yin who lifted the curtain and rushed in. "What happened?"

Qian Yin walked up to Yun Shang and whispered, "Your Highness, the Empress fainted…"