Chapter 48 Pregnant

"Are you saying that mother is trying to kill me?" Yun Shang took a sip of tea and stared calmly at Qin Meng, who was still kneeling on the ground.

Qin Meng nodded repeatedly, "Your Highness, when I was working in Qingxin Palace, I did a lot of terrible things to you. The Empress demanded that everything related to you must be reported in detail. When you were young, the Emperor was very fond of you. This meant that the Empress could not find the opportunity to hurt you. The only thing that she could do was teaching you to be rebellious, thus, alienating you from the Emperor. The Empress then sent me to your side. A few years ago, I tried to poison you in her behalf."

Yun Shang contemplated before speaking, "Well, you are back at the Empress' Palace. If you didn't tell me all these things, I would never have known about them. Why did you come to tell me?"

Qin Meng knew that Yun Shang was bound to ask this question. Already prepared, she answered at once, "Princess, after your return I failed my mission several times. The last time, my legs were broken while we were at Prince Jing's mansion. Although I can still walk, I'm crippled, and my leg hurts badly when it rains. The Empress already sees me as a pawn to be sacrificed. She sent a new person to you. And after the newcomer wins your trust, you will certainly forget about me, and I will disappear forever."

As she spoke, Qin Meng could not help but shed more tears, "But I do not want to die. I have my parents to care for back home. A few years ago, the Empress threatened to kill them if I didn't do as she commanded. It was always my dream to return to my parents after I'm dismissed from the Palace at the age of 25. Princess, I beg you. Please, help me."

Yun Shang fixed her eyes on Qin Meng for a long time before finally saying, "Why should I help you? After all, you did so many terrible things to me."

Qin Meng kowtowed again and said, "I'm willing to follow Your Highness' orders. I know all the spies that the Empress has planted in Qingxin Palace, and I can help you get rid of them one by one. I'm willing to do whatever I'm asked, and I will never violate Your Highness' orders."

Yun Shang took another sip of the tea and looked out into the dark night, "But how do you want me to help you?"

Seeing that Yun Shang's attitude softened, Qin Meng felt elated and said immediately, "If Your Highness could take me back from the Empress, I will serve Your Highness with a

Yun Shang. As Yun Shang walked out of the inner Hall, she said quietly, "Go distract the people in the Hall. And don't follow me. I'll be back soon."

Qian Yin did not ask any questions. She quickly set out to do Yun Shang's bidding.

The Princess waited till she heard Qian Yin's voice as she rallied the servants to the rear Hall. As soon as they began moving to the back, Yun Shang stepped out of Qingxin Palace, and disappeared into the night.

Knock, knock, knock... The sound of knocking sounded somewhat abrupt in the quiet of the night. Yun Shang knocked again a few times before she heard footsteps coming from behind the door. The door opened and Yun Shang raised her head. She smiled, "Madam Zheng, I'm here to visit my mother."

"Princess, it's you..." A smile appeared on Madam Zheng's face. She let Yun Shang in and closed the door behind her. It was then that Yun Shang noticed that someone was standing in the yard and looking at her with a warm smile.

Yun Shang hurriedly stepped forward, "Mother."

Lady Jin beamed, took Yun Shang's hand, and asked, "Why are you visiting me so late at night?"

Yun Shang answered with a smile, "Ever since I returned to the Palace, I have been closely watched. I haven't had the chance to visit mother yet. How have you been?"

Yun Shang's hand was resting on Lady Jin's hand. Thinking of Lady Jin's inexplicable death in her previous life, Yun Shang couldn't help but feel a little anxious. When Lady Jin was not paying attention, Yun Shang held her wrist to feel her pulse.

However, Yun Shang only did this on whim. She was shocked by the result, "Mother, are you pregnant?"