Chapter 124 An Exotic Young Woman (Part One)

Yun Shang was lost in thought. The deep affection the Empress showed that day crossed her mind and her eyes grew cold. The Empress was calmer than before, but her calmness was a little frightening.

"What? Are you afraid? You think the Empress is now unfathomable?" Prince Jing looked at the girl sitting opposite him. He shook his head and said, "Then why did you deliberately expose her sterility?"

Yun Shang's eyes fell on the teacup in front of her. She watched as the tea leaves gradually unfolded. She gave a wry smile and said, "So, I have to face up to what I've done finally. The Empress had a weakness. She wanted a son. She tried to please my father so that he would frequent her Palace. Now that she knows she can't have children, the Empress doesn't seem to care about which concubine my father favors."

Prince Jing shook his head. "Her weakness didn't diminish. It grew. Without hope of procreation, her direct connection to the Li Clan will be even stronger. They are now bound together for good or bad."

Yun Shang considered that for a moment, and then asked, "You mean, we should start from the Li Clan? But the Li Clan's power is spread throughout the imperial court, and they have planted their people in almost every Yamen*. I don't know where to start."

(*TN: the government office in ancient China)

"You've always been smart. You can't be at your wits end. Slight negligence may lead to great disaster. Just grab their weakest point and strike it with all your might. Then perhaps they would gradually disintegrate. What do all Emperors fear? Think it over." A thin smile played across Prince Jing's mouth, and a faint sense of peace came over him.

'What is it that all Emperors fear?' Yun Shang thought as she squinted. Suddenly, a noise came from downstairs, and she raised her eyebrows. "They're coming?" Then she got up and went to the window to look out. A procession could be seen in the distance. About twenty guards were at the front, followed by five splendid carriages, and behind them, several carriages with large boxes followed. Finally another fifty or sixty guards walked behind the procession.

"They're finally here. I wonder if the person in the carriage is the real Cangjue Qingsu or an impostor." Yun Shang murmured to herself.

Prince Jing walked up to her and looked at the slow procession. The people in the procession were all dressed in the clothes of the State of Yelang, giving them a wild beauty. "Now that they have arrived at the Imperial City, he will be in the carriage."

The curtain of the second carriage was pulled open, and an enchanting face came into the sight of onlookers. The woman had thin eyebrows, big brown eyes, a Roman nose, and slightly pouty lips. At one glance, men were enchanted with

"My mouth is full of fragrance now, " said Lady Ya graciously.

Then she put down her teacup and looked at Yun Shang. "I grew up in a small town. There are so many rules in the Palace that I feel a bit out of place. That day I found you to be a forthright person, so I want to be closer to you. Your Highness, Qingxin Palace looks very elegant."

Yun Shang gave a faint smile and said, "Lady Ya, if you like it here, come any time."

"Don't be so nice to me, Your Highness, or else I'll take you seriously, " said Lady Ya. She giggled and covered her mouth.

"I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't mean it. Don't you believe me, Lady Ya?" asked Yun Shang. She noticed some teasing in Lady Ya's smile.

"How come?" Lady Ya smiled and looked at Yun Shang. "This morning when I went to pay my respects to Her Majesty, she told me that you were a very agreeable person and that you liked my dancing very much. So she asked me to come here more often. I was afraid you might not like to be disturbed. Now it seems that I was overthinking."

Yun Shang squinted and thought, 'The Empress sent her here. Anyhow, I'm still a thorn in the Empress's side.'

"Her Majesty really cares about me. When I am free, I will learn dancing from you, Lady Ya."

Lady Ya raised her hand and covered her mouth with an embroidered handkerchief, and said, "Then I won't bother you anymore. I'm going to take my leave."

Yun Shang gave her a nod. Then Lady Ya got up and went to the door, but as she reached, she stopped as though she had just thought of something. She turned to Yun Shang, "I heard that besides osmanthus fragrans, making tea with plum blossoms is also very unique. The plum blossom in the Empress's Palace is still in bloom. Your Highness, if you like the smell of plum blossoms, you may ask someone to pluck several branches." Then she left.