Chapter 198 Scheming And Plotting (Part One)

Shocked, Hua Jing turned to Yun Shang, only to be startled by the hatred in Yun Shang's eyes. Hua Jing suddenly understood. "It was you, wasn't it? It was you who framed me when my cousin was poisoned. In the hunting competition that day, it was also you who set me up. Several days ago at the temporary imperial palace, it was you who led to my..."

Yun Shang squinted with disdain. "What are you talking about, Sister? I don't understand a word. Actually, Sister, I have always been curious. Tell me, who is the father of your lost baby? I heard many people arguing about this when I was traveling through the Imperial City a few days ago. They were even gambling on the identity of this man in the tea houses. I bet five hundred taels on Prince Qingsu from the State of Yelang. Do you think I will get lucky, Sister? Oh, well, I understand if you want to keep it to yourself, Sister. Or maybe you have no idea either..."

Truly outraged, Hua Jing glared at her sister before throwing the court lantern at Yun Shang.

"Ha-ha ha-ha..." Yun Shang laughed cheerfully. "By the way, Sister, Prince Qingsu said that he would take responsibility to spare your reputation. But Father refused him. I suppose Father will not allow you to marry him. However, if you can't marry Prince Qingsu, who would want to marry you considering your reputation now? Do you know why Father refused Prince Qingsu's proposal of marriage?"

When Hua Jing heard the taunt, veins throbbed on her forehead. She gnashed her teeth. "Get out of here!"

Yun Shang shook her head and looked more joyful. "Let me tell you why, Sister. It is because your mother and Grand Councilor Li are loathe to agree so. If you marry Prince Qingsu, it would be known to all in the Imperial City that Princess Hua Jing was intimate with the third Prince of the State of Yelang not long after her husband had died. Moreover, the State of Yelang and the State of Ning were at war when this happened. What you did was treason, Sister. Do you think Her Majesty and the Grand Councilor would protect a Princess who is guilty of treason?"

Hua Jing's eyes turned red. Furious, she dashed towards Yun Shang. Yun Shang, however, dodged easily. Hua Jing couldn't manage to stop in time. She knocked over a vase. The vase shattered on the ground, and Hua Jing fell to the ground.

Yun Shang walked to her and bent to look at her sister. She said with a smile, "Be careful, Sister. What if you are bearing another baby now?"

"Yun Shang!" Hua Ji

id nodded and started to walk toward Yun Shang. She didn't stop when she reached the Princess. Instead, she turned and walked into an alley.

Yun Shang and Qian Yin followed her into the alley. Not many people were in the alley. The maid slowed down so that Yun Shang could catch up to her. The maid spoke to the Princess in a very low voice, "Prince Houjing of the State of Xia is now in a village at the bottom of Mount Kirin."

What? Yun Shang paused, but the maid had disappeared. Yun Shang frowned and didn't move for a long time.

Qian Yin had placed herself at the opening of the alley to guard against potential dangers. She didn't hear their talk. But from Yun Shang's expression, she knew that it must be something serious. After hesitating for a moment, Qian Yin asked softly, "What is wrong, Your Highness?"

Yun Shang squinted before an angry look flashed across her face. "We need to return to the Palace now."

Once at Qingxin Palace, Yun Shang changed into a formal dress and went to Qinzheng Hall. However, upon her arrival she learned that Emperor Ning wasn't there. Anxious, Yun Shang decided to look for Emperor Ning in the Imperial Garden. It didn't take her long to find Emperor Ning. She walked up to him and called softly, "Father."

Emperor Ning turned and that is when Yun Shang noticed the woman beside him. He was walking with Li Fuyi.

Yun Shang frowned. When did Li Fuyi win the Emperor's favor?

"Shang'er?" Emperor Ning beckoned her with a genuine smile. "Did you go somewhere today? I saw a really good piece of fabric, so I asked Lord Zheng to send it to you for your wedding dress. But you were not in the Palace."