An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 23 Returning to the Palace

"Summon the Princess Hui Guo to the hall..." Hearing the sharp voice ordering her presence at Jinluan

Hall, Yun Shang arranged her attire and walked in with Qin Yi's support.

"I greet the Imperial Father." Yun Shang laboriously kowtowed to Emperor Ning thrice before rising with

a slight cough.

It had been seven years since the Emperor Ning had last seen Yun Shang. Though being filled with

emotion, Emperor Ning sighed and declared, "Princess Hui Guo has blessed our country for seven

years. Thanks to her, the weather has been favorable all this while. So I'll bestow her Jinling City as her

fief."

Jinling was a good city. Yun Shang smiled faintly and bowed again. The effort seemed to fill her

forehead with sweat.

"Please rise."

Yun Shang slowly rose and smiled faintly at Emperor Ning. Looking paler, she swayed and suddenly

fell down on the ground.

"Her Highness fainted..." Qin Yi stood up in a hurry and took a step to help Yun Shang.

"Hurry up, send for Imperial Physicians." Emperor Ning's voice sounded painful. Giving the order in

haste, he leapt from the dragon throne. Worried, he lifted Yun Shang and carried her in to the inner

sanctuary.

At Qiwu Palace, Empress Yuan Zhen were talking with Hua Jing on the couch. "The weather is

favorable this year. The osmanthus cake tastes sweeter than that of last year's. You have become

more filial."

Hua Jing smiled faintly and looked gentle, "Mother, I'm glad you enjoy it. I'll send some to my father

later. And I hear that Yun Shang returns today. She ought to be visiting my father in Jinluan Hall. I'll also

send some cakes to her later. I haven't seen her in so many years, I really wonder how she's doing."

Empress Yuan Zhen smiled "I have some spies in Ning'guo temple. It is said that she has gotten worse.

In a little while, it will be her Coming-of-age Ceremony. After that, she should get married. Though she's

your half sister, you should see whether there's someone suitable among the government officials and

pick one for her."

Hua Jing nodded in agreement and said, 'I know. I will help her."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." A maid lifted the door curtain and came in hurriedly. She said with a

smile, "Your Majesty, Princess Hui Guo is just as sick as rumored. His Majesty bestowed Jinling City to

her in Jinluan Hall. After bowing, she fainted when she tried to rise. The eunuchs in attendance tell me

that Prince Hui Guo is as pale as death. She is as weak as water. Every time she moves, she can't

help sweating."

"Really?" Empress Yuan Zhen frowned and said, "His Majesty bestows Jinling City to her. She's so

blessed. But she may not have the chance to enjoy it. Now you can go and take your reward..."

The maid thanked The Empress and left. Hua Jing was dissatisfied with The Emperor's decree. She

chatted with The Empress, "When I got married, my Imperial Father only bestowed Xiping City to me

as a present. It is remote with barren soil. Whereas he bestows her Jinling City..."

Empress Yuan Zhen glimpsed at Hua Jing, "If you can bear it, all of hers will belong to you. Otherwise,

you will lose everything. Moreover, you are well-known for your literary talent. You are obviously better

than her as she has lived in a temple for seven years. Take it easy. Being so sick, she doesn't

necessarily have the chance to enjoy what she's been bestowed with."

Hua Jing hurriedly said, "I know I was wrong."

The Empress nodded and stood up, "Now that she fainted as soon as she returned, I have to go see

her."

"So do I. I haven't seen my half sister in so long, I actually miss her. I'll also send her some osmanthus

cakes." Hua Jing ordered the maids to take a hamper, and accompanied Empress Yuan Zhen out.

"Where's Princess Hui Guo now?"

That maid replied hurriedly, "His Majesty carried Her Highness to a hall behind Jinluan Hall to rest. He

also sent for Imperial Physicians. So Her Highness should still be there now."

Empress Yuan Zhen nodded and left for Jinluan Hall with her attendants.

Yun Shang had just woken when Empress Yuan Zhen reached. She was propped up in bed and an

Imperial Physician was checking her pulse. She was frowning and looked pale. She seemed to be in

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"Shang'er, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so weak? Master Wu Na promised that you would

recuperate if you lived in Ning'guo temple for a certain time." Empress Yuan Zhen stepped up to Yun

Shang hurriedly and asked with concern.

Raising her head, Yun Shang smiled at The Empress and said, "Mother..."

Qin Yi who stood by, explained hastily, "Her Highness is too sick to talk too much. A few years before, a

child was lost in Ning'guo temple. When Her Highness was in search of the child, it rained heavily. Her

Highness fell from a cliff as the ground was slippery. Since then, Her Highness had been in poor health.

Thanks to Master Wu Na, Her Highness gets much better..."

"Mother, thank you for your concern." Yun Shang said softly. She lowered her head and coughed.

As the Imperial Physician had completed his examination, Emperor Ning asked worriedly, "How is Her

Highness?"

The Imperial Physician shook his head and sighed, "Her Highness was badly injured. She needs to

recuperate in peace and quiet. Otherwise, she will not survive."

Emperor Ning sighed and sat at the bedside, "Shang'er, you have suffered a lot in these years."

Yun Shang smiled and said, "Father, I'm fine."

Empress Yuan Zhen frowned. "It's unlucky for Shang'er to suffer so much before she comes of age.

You, Imperial Physician, should try your best and use the best medicines to nurse Her Highness's

health."

When they were speaking, an eunuch approached Emperor Ning. After listening to what he had to say,

The Emperor said, "I shall leave to solve some affairs. I leave Shang'er to your care, my Empress."

All bowed to The Emperor in a hurry.

After Emperor Ning left, Yun Shang smiled and said, "I wonder whether my Qinxin Hall has been

cleaned. I'd better leave for there."

The Empress smiled and said, "The servants clean it everyday. I have informed them to be present so

they can care for you. Qinxin Hall is peaceful enough to recuperate in. I haven't replaced the servants

with whom you are familiar."

Yun Shang nodded. Just as she was going to reply, a few servants entered. "Bow in respect before

Your Majesty, Princess Xi Ning, and Princess Hui Guo."

Empress Yuan Zhen said with a smile, "Here she comes. Shang'er, do you remember this maid? Lift

your head! Let Her Highness have a look..."

Yun Shang turned around. The lead maid raised her head with teary eyes and opened her mouth. After

a long moment, she said, "Your Highness..."

Yun Shang looked at the maid and soon recognized her to be Qin Meng. Yun Shang smiled faintly and

said, "It's you, Qin Meng. You have grown up..."