Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 104

Emperor Ning stared at Yun Shang for a moment. Then he stood up and pushed the window open. He looked out of the window at the white lands covered with heavy snow and sighed, "It's a pity that you are a girl."

Yun Shang was dumbstruck and had no idea why her father said this to her. At the sight of her father lost in thought, she lowered her head and repressed her impulse to ask the question.

"I'm well informed of this situation. And your investigation is over. As for the dead maid, is she named Bi Luo? Later, I will issue a decree and expound on this case. Bi Luo hated Lady Jin and deliberately threw the moss from the well on the ground. Consequently, Lady Jin fell. Afterward, Bi Luo was afraid that her plot might come to light, so she jumped into the well and committed suicide. The sense of helplessness was evident in Emperor Ning's voice.

Yun Shang kept silent for a moment. Then, she bowed her head and replied obediently, "I understand."

Emperor Ning turned and looked at Yun Shang as she gently shook her head in resignation. "Why didn't you ask me why I did this?"

Yun Shang thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty is the Emperor of a great country, while I'm just a woman without much knowledge. Therefore, my thinking is certainly not as comprehensive as yours. Although I have no idea why you made such a decision, I know that you care about my mother. However, so many people and families are involved in this case, including Lady Ming, Lady Yingying, my sister, and others yet unknown to us. Pull one hair and the whole body is affected. If a thorough investigation is done, it's likely that my pregnant mother might be hurt in the process."

Hearing her explanation, Emperor Ning's appraisal of Yun Shang moved up another notch. Previously he thought of his daughter as weak, frail, and quiet. However, it turns out that she was smart.

"It's good that you understand that. Today is not the time..." Emperor Ning sighed. Coldness and cruelty flashed in his eyes.

Yun Shang bowed her head. She was aware that this wasn't a good time to take revenge on the Grand Councilor's family. For this reason, she had decided to tell the truth to nobody but her father. There were too many people and powers involved in the Grand Councilor's family. However, she would take them out one by one in the future. As said by her father, today wasn't the right time. If inadequate actions were taken against Lady Ming and Lady Yingying, Grand Councilor Li would undoubtedly retaliate.

"Father, although it's well known that my mother miscarried, if some people working in the Palaces ask around, they will learn the truth. That would put my mother in greater danger. Because you have a temporary Imperial Palace in Phoenix City, I think it's better that my mother stay there and await her delivery. Besides, Phoenix City is near Ning'guo Temple, and my grandfather lives there in seclusion. I'm sure my mother would be well taken care of. Although the Imperial Palace is heavily guarded, women's trickeries and plots can't be prohibited."

Emperor Ning stared at Yun Shang seriously for a moment before asking, "Have you met Grand Tutor Xiao?" Yun Shang nodded and replied, "Grandfather is a friend of Master Wu Na. When I was recuperating at Ning'guo Temple, grandfather came to visit me several times. He taught me lyre-playing, chess, calligraphy, and painting."

Emperor Ning meditated for a moment and said, "That explains why your paintings at the party looked familiar. It turns out that Grand Tutor..." He stopped, waited for a moment and continued, "With the Grand Tutor taking care of your mother, I will feel relieved. As you said, I will order Shu Jin to regain her health at the temporary Imperial Palace in Phoenix City. However, even at that Palace, proper precautions should be taken."

"I understand. I will explore the way, personally go to the temporary Imperial Palace, clean the Palace, and escort my mother there. Father, what do you think of my arrangements?" Yun Shang asked in a low voice.

Emperor Ning shook his head, "If you go to the Palace, you might draw attention and raise doubts. Listen to me. I will send Prince Jing there in secret. In days to come, you will go and pray at Ning'guo Temple. That way you can take your mother. With Prince Jing accompanying you, I will have nothing to worry about."

Prince Jing? Yun Shang frowned but then she thought that her mother's security would be guaranteed with Prince Jing's protection. Then, she replied, "As you wish."

As soon as Yun Shang returned to Qingxin Palace, Emperor Ning's decree arrived. It said that Bi Luo tried to hurt Lady Jin and was afraid that her plot might come to light. Thus, she committed suicide. Her dead body would be exposed under the sun for three days and disposed of in the wasteland. After the Emperor's decree came another one. This time from the Empress. According to the Empress's decree, Lady Jin was promoted to a higher rank. It also said that since Lady Jin was injured, she should rest. It said that the ideal recuperation setting would be at the temporary Imperial Palace in Phoenix City.

"Your Highness, we all know that the dead maid isn't the culprit. So why did the Emperor lie in his decree?" Qian Yin frowned. A while ago, she asked around and was told that Bi Luo never left Changchun Palace the day of the accident. She certainly had no opportunity to do evil.

Yun Shang smiled and replied, "Don't mention it again. Right now, we can do nothing against the real conspirators. However, Father will get to know more of their crimes. When Father can't endure them anymore, then even God won't be able to save them."