Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 12

"Your Highness! Your Highness..." Qin Meng seemed anxious as she rushed into Qingxin Hall. Seeing the princess asleep in her bed, she stamped her feet. Then she bit her lip, and pulled the quilt off from Yun Shang. "Your Highness, something has happened!"

Yun Shang moaned, and slowly opened her eyes. Just as quickly, she closed her eyes again. After a short while she spoke in a languid voice, "What is the matter? Why do you wake me up at this hour? What has happened?"

Qin Meng saw Yun Shang was about to fall asleep again and hurriedly spoke, "Your Highness, you should get up! Someone died!"

"What did you say?" Yun Shang's body suddenly went rigid and her eyes snapped open. "Who is dead? And what is the cause of death? Have you sent for the Supervisory Office?"

Qin Meng rushed to answer, "The dead person's name is Xiang Lan*. She was a maid who used to sweep the floors in your Hall. Her body was found by a passing maid in the lake in front of your Hall. They say she drowned." Qin Meng paused and bit her lips as if she had more to say, but dared not say it.

(*TN: the fragrant orchids)

Yun Shang ordered, "What else? Speak up."

Qin Meng sighed and continued, "When I passed by, I overheard the maids say that Your Highness's bracelet was found in Xiang Lan's hand. They also said that Your Highness was likely to be the murderer." "My bracelet?" Yun Shang sat up. She looked at her maid, "Are you sure that they were talking about a bracelet, not anything else?"

Qin Meng nodded. "I'm sure that they were talking about a bracelet."

"Yes, Your Highness, a bracelet. One from the pair that you favored most. It has been lost for a while now." Qin Yi added as she entered the room.

Yun Shang smiled, "Is that true? Then I will have to go there and bring it back. After all, it is my favorite bracelet."

Qin Meng didn't understand why the princess was taking this situation so lightly. "Your Highness! But they are saying that you are the killer!"

Yun Shang turned to her, "Then how do you know that I didn't do it? My reputation has never been good."

Qin Meng shot her a contemptuous look, "If I had heard about such an act before I worked here, I might have believed it. But now I dare say such words are merely vicious rumor. Besides, Your Highness is just eight years old. No matter how malicious you may be, you are not capable of killing someone."

Yun Shang nodded, and stood up. She waited for Qin Meng to dress her. But Qin Meng was still immersed in her own thoughts. Qin Yi shook her head and came forward to help Yun Shang change.

"That is true. I am merely eight years old. How can I kill an adult? But you, Qin Meng, you and Qin Yi are old enough. I think you two could have outnumbered the girl in a fight. So you two must have been Princess Yun Shang's accomplice in the murder." Yun Shang quipped.

Qin Meng shivered and looked at Yun Shang with a frightened face, "I dare not to do that, Your Highness. In fact, I've never had the guts to kill a chicken, let alone a person. Your Highness... I'm serious! How Xiang Lan died is not of consequence. But there were so many people saying that you were her murderer. If these rumors reach His or Her Majesty, it would become a big deal."

Yun Shang was about to speak, but stopped when she heard a male voice from outside the chamber, "Your Highness. I come at Her Majesty's orders. The Empress has sent me to relay a message. Her Majesty wants to ask you a few questions at the Yanque* lake."

(*TN: bramble finch)