An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 166 The Withered Flower (Part One)

After being interrupted by Prince Jing, Yun Shang thought for a long time about what she was about to

say, but she failed. With a sigh, she decided not to speak to Prince Jing again, but heard him say, "Your

grandfather wrote me that he would come to the Imperial City tomorrow."

Yun Shang was surprised at the news and hastily asked, "Really? My mother is going to give birth

soon. Why is my grandfather coming to the Imperial City at this time?"

"What?" The corners of Prince Jing's mouth turned up. "Mr. Xiao is coming to the Imperial City? Why

don't I know?"

"..." Seeing the slyness in Prince Jing's eyes, Yun Shang gnashed her teeth in silence. 'You fooled me.'

A flash of helplessness crossed her face. It never occurred to her that the fearsome, chilly, and revered

war hero could be so mischievous. She, though fooled by him, had a sweet and sour feeling. 'He

seems to be doing this only to me.' Yun Shang thought.

But the moment this thought arose, she suppressed it. 'How can I think about that when there are so

many worries these days?' She warned herself.

Yun Shang kept her head down and walked silently. Upon arriving at Qingxin Palace, she went into the

inner Hall without entertaining Prince Jing. Qin Yi immediately helped Yun Shang change into a light

yellow dress. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Yun Shang frowned, and asked, "Isn't this color

for little girls?"

Qin Yi looked at her with a smile. "Your Highness, aren't you a fifteen year old girl?"

Yun Shang was speechless and embarrassment flitted across her face. With memories of her previous

life, she had always thought she was no longer that young, and had forgotten that she was only fifteen

now.

As Yun Shang stepped out, Prince Jing looked at her with appreciation. A flush spread across her face.

She was somewhat regretful for not insisting on changing the dress.

Prince Jing seemed aware of Yun Shang's embarrassment. He rose to his feet with a smile and said to

her, "Let's go. There's probably a lot going on today."

Yun Shang nodded and followed Prince Jing with her head bowed. At this point, Prince Jing spoke, with

his usual cool tone, "I've sent someone to check the venue for the Flower Show Banquet. If there is

anything strange, we can make preparations."

Hearing this, Yun Shang was a little calmer. She nodded and said, "Li Jingyan definitely has an ulterior

motive. He knows we are on guard. If anything happens to us at the Flower Show Banquet, he will be

the primary suspect. After all, everyone knows you're not on good terms with him. Then why would he

take such a risk?"

Prince Jing thought about it for a while before he answered coldly, "Maybe he doesn't intended on

making something happen to us..."

Yun Shang immediately understood what Prince Jing meant. "You mean, he probably wants us to be

the scapegoat?" Before Prince Jing could answer, Yun Shang said with sparkling eyes, "Perhaps I will

ensure that something happens to us at the Flower Show Banquet tomorrow..."

A faint smile appeared in Prince Jing's eyes, but he pretended to sigh, "I didn't expect you to scheme

against yourself and use Li Jingyan as the scapegoat."

When Yun Shang recalled how the Li Clan had treated her in her previous life, her eyes flashed hatred.

"Danger can never be overcome without taking risks. This is a great opportunity to fight against him.

The opportunity comes to me. How can I miss it?"

When Yun Shang and Prince Jing reached the Palace gate, the Grand Councilor's carriage was waiting Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

for them. Seeing them come out together, Grand Councilor Li alighted, arched his hand towards Prince

Jing and said, "Your Highness, I have seen your carriage. Then I won't invite you to ride with me. Just

ask your coachman to follow me."

Prince Jing nodded as he helped Yun Shang into his carriage.

The Flower Show Banquet was held in the most prosperous part of the Imperial City, on a wide main

road to the east of the city. A high platform had been built in the main road, next to the top ten

restaurants in the city. In order to not affect the traffic, the platform was built on stilts.

"Just set up tables and chairs on both sides of the platform tomorrow and the Banquet can be held."

Grand Councilor Li smiled proudly.

Yun Shang smiled. Her beautiful eyes sparkled. She said to Grand Councilor Li, "This is a fantastic

idea. You must have put a lot of thought into it, Grand Councilor."

Nobody dislike praise, and Grand Councilor Li was no exception. Although he didn't like the girl who

praised him, he still felt triumphant.

Then Grand Councilor Li spoke with them in detail about being the Flower Show Guides. Prince Jing

and Yun Shang rehearsed with great cooperation, and Grand Councilor Li was pleased with their

performance. He laughed and complimented, "You really are a golden couple."

Afterward, Grand Councilor Li invited them to dine with him. He also sent for the two sets of official

attire for the next day's Banquet and handed them over to the Prince and Princess. After everything

was done, he left happily.

Yun Shang looked at the official attire with a smile of interest and said, "The fabric is intriguing."

Hearing her words, Prince Jing lifted his eyes to her and raised a curious eyebrow. "Oh? You seem to

know a lot about it. Why don't you tell me more?"

Yun Shang smiled as she brushed the dress with her hand. "This cloth, called pongee, is a little known

fabric. It is very light. This six-layer official dress weighs as much as two of our usual clothes, but very

few people use the fabric for clothes, because it is hard to find, and because, it smells... If the wearer

sweats, the smell is even worse..."

Hearing Yun Shang's explanation, Prince Jing thought for a long time before he said, "Li Jingyan must

have done everything possible to get the fabric to make the official dress for us. What's his intention?"

Yun Shang lowered her head and stared at the scarlet dress in her hand. The fabric was so soft and

smooth that ordinary people would have thought it was a rare, fine cloth, but she knew its secret. A

meaningful light flashed through her eyes. "Maybe, I know his intention, " she said.

Then she looked up at Prince Jing and suggested, "I'll take the two sets of official dresses back to the

Palace first. I'll bring yours to your mansion tomorrow."

Prince Jing arched a brow, nodded and agreed, "Okay."

He escorted Yun Shang to the Palace gate before returning to his mansion. As soon as he entered the

mansion, he saw the chamberlain hurrying to him. "Your Highness, Lord Hua Guo of the State of Xia

has come to visit."

"Eh? How long has he been here?" Prince Jing asked while gathering his sleeves.

The chamberlain hastened to answer him, "More than an hour. I told him you were in the Palace, and

advised him to wait at the post house, but he said he would wait for you here. Considering that he is an

old man and an important minister of the State of Xia, I took him to wait in the antechamber."

Prince Jing nodded and said, "Well done. Get me some tea."

Then Prince Jing walked toward the antechamber. As he entered the antechamber, he saw Lord Hua

Guo standing with his back to the door, as if looking at something. He was staring at a picture of a

hundred horses. Prince Jing had drawn it when he was free. The chamberlain had said that it looked

good as it matched his identity as a revered war hero before hanging it in the antechamber.

Lord Hua Guo seemed to hear footsteps and turned round. Seeing his face, Prince Jing was shocked,

'Why is there a hint of emotion in Lord Hua Guo's eyes?'

However, in the blink of an eye, Prince Jing found that he had hidden his emotions. He looked at Prince

Jing with a smile and greeted, "You're back, Your Highness."

Prince Jing gave him a nod before sitting. "I didn't know you would visit, Lord Hua Guo. Please forgive

me. I'm afraid I have been a poor host, " Prince Jing said to him.

Lord Hua Guo shook his head and replied, "It's all because I didn't tell you in advance. I didn't expect

that you wouldn't be home."

"Is there anything important that you wanted to see me about?" Prince Jing turned his head towards

Lord Hua Guo, who was already seated.

Lord Hua Guo's eyes fell on Prince Jing and mixed emotions reflected in them for a few minutes before

he smiled and answered, "No, there isn't. My son is disappointing and has been repeatedly defeated by

you, and he told me about your tactics, which I admire. When I was young, I loved fighting as well, but

now I'm too sick to go to war. It upsets me terribly. You are so young but so forceful that I developed the

idea of cherishing talents, so I came to visit you on purpose."

Prince Jing didn't quite believe him. However heroic he may be, he was once an enemy of the State of

Xia. It was possible that they appreciated each other, but his special visit for this reason was somewhat

artificial.