Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 119

On the way, Emperor Ning suddenly asked, "Why did you intercede for your sister?"

Yun Shang gave a smile, "It was Uncle Jing's idea. He asked me to tell you that the third Prince of the State of Yelang entered the Imperial City secretly. Today, I took Uncle Jing's carriage to the countryside, but a man suddenly ran into the middle of the road and was hit by the carriage. He deliberately prodded me and my servant girl so that we would get off the carriage. That's how he learned of my identity. Uncle Jing said he was the third Prince of the State of Yelang."

Emperor Ning furrowed his brows upon hearing her words. He understood why Prince Jing asked Yun Shang to intercede for Hua Jing. The third Prince of the State of Yelang had asked to marry Hua Jing. After he entered the Imperial City, he would have learned of Hua Jing's imprisonment. However, he managed to see Yun Shang after he got the news. He might have changed his target to Yun Shang.

Emperor Ning looked at Yun Shang and shook his head, 'Yun Shang is Lady Jin's daughter. I've already hurt Lady Jin. I can't hurt her daughter.'

Emperor Ning had made his decision. He said, "Yun Shang, don't leave the Imperial Palace for a few days."

Yun Shang agreed, "Uncle Jing said the same to me. I won't leave the Imperial Palace. Father, don't worry."

Emperor Ning nodded, "Why did you ask to bring Lady Qingya into the Imperial Palace. Was it Prince Jing's idea too?" Emperor Ning suddenly became wary of Lady Qingya. If she was Prince Jing's hired spy, he couldn't sleep with her.

Yun Shang shook her head and looked a little shy, "She performed such a wonderful sword-dance. Uncle Jing is a military general, and I guess he might like sword-dance. So I want to learn it."

Hearing her words and seeing her shy expression, Emperor Ning laughed out loud, "Yun Shang, you've grown up."

They talked with each other for a while before Yun Shang said goodbye to Emperor Ning and went back to Qingxin Palace.

The next day, Emperor Ning issued a decree which stated that the conspirator that poisoned Li Yingying on New Year's Eve had been found. It was Li Yingying's sister who was born of the same father but a different mother. The lady's mother was a servant girl, so Grand Councilor Li's eldest son was unwilling to admit to the lady's identity and made the lady Li Yingying's servant. The lady harbored resentment toward everyone in the Li Clan, so she poisoned Li Yingying.

No one wanted to figure out how a servant girl from the Grand Councilor's House was able to put poison onto Li Yingying's Pipa at the heavily guarded Imperial Palace.

Hua Jing was then released. Soon after, Emperor Ning issued a second decree to declare the divorce of Hua Jing and her husband. As Emperor Ning deliberately concealed the fact that Zhao Yingjie was still alive, there were few discussions about it. In people's mind, a distinguished Princess should not be reconciled to widowhood. In the State of Ning, being a widow was unlucky. If she divorced her husband, there would be fewer objections for her to remarry.

Yun Shang gave a wee smile as she heard the decree, 'Hua Jing, did you think you got a lucky escape? The best part of the story has just begun...'

"Your Highness, rumor has it that Princess Hua Jing returned to the Grand Councilor's House today. She will return to the Princess Palace after having supper." Qian Yin whispered in Yun Shang's ear.

Yun Shang raised her eyebrows, "Really? Then I have to get out of the Imperial Palace now. Have you told Qian Qian the news yet? Remember to wear the skin mask and go to bed later."

Qian Yin nodded, "Qian Qian said she had everything prepared."

The sky gradually darkened. Yun Shang changed into an inconspicuous dress and jumped out from the window. Qian Yin wore the skin mask prepared by Ning Qian and lay in Yun Shang's bed, feigning illness.

Although it was already spring, the sky still darkened quickly. By the time Yun Shang left the Imperial Palace, the sky was completely dark. Yun Shang met up with Ning Qian and several other companions, all of whom had been waiting on the opposite side of the Grand Councilor's House.

Hua Jing's carriage left the Grand Councilor's House after a while. Yun Shang and her companions followed the carriage for a long time, but nothing happened. Yun Shang frowned. She went ahead of the carriage and quietly placed a large stone on the road without being noticed. When Hua Jing's carriage ran over the stone, it bumped heavily and stopped. Hua Jing's unhappy voice came from within the carriage, "What's going on?"

The carriage driver immediately answered, "No big deal, Your Highness. It's just a rock." When he was about to drive the carriage, he saw a man standing in front of them, "Who...who are you? What are you doing?"