Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 128

It was March 15th and flowers were blooming on this warm spring day. The State of Ning was holding a celebration to welcome the emissaries of States of Xia and the State of Yelang. Yun Shang accompanied Emperor Ning and the Empress in their carriage to the hunting grounds. A platform was built on the open space outside the forest. Yun Shang walked to the stand and sat down.

The Empress smiled at Yun Shang, "The daughters of many officials in the Imperial City have come. Why don't you talk with them?"

Yun Shang glanced at the girls who were whispering to one another and shook her head. "I met them at Lady Shun Qing's birthday party before. They always talk about clothes and jewelry. I rarely go out and am not very interested in these things, so I cannot contribute. What's more, if I join them, they will fear me as I'm a princess, and thus, they won't talk candidly. I'd better not spoil their day."

The Empress was surprised. She patted Yun Shang's hand and smiled. "Good girl. But you will suffer after you marry Prince Jing. Prince Jing doesn't have much contact with others because he is still single. After you get married, you will have to develop good relations with other people. These girls seem to be common now, but they were born with silver spoons and will marry into influential families in the near future. You have to be friendly with them. Don't underestimate the power of women. They can change many things secretly using only a few words."

Yun Shang felt her body stiffen involuntarily. What the Empress said was reasonable, but Yun Shang felt it strange. By rights, the Empress would be the most satisfied if Yun Shang was ignorant and notorious for messing everything up in Prince Jing's Mansion after she got married. However, the Empress was advising her.

"But I really don't know anything about fashion and jewelry." Yun Shang bowed her head, bearing a grievance.

The Empress squinted and said with a smile, "I wanted you to learn from Hua Jing, but I am afraid that Hua Jing isn't good at these things either. If you make a mistake, I can hardly absolve myself from the blame. Although you are not my biological daughter, I have been fostering you. I don't want you to repeat Hua Jing's mistake and hope that you can be a good wife. I will send two madams to your palace to teach you some things that you need to pay attention to as Prince Jing's wife. I won't force you. If you think that they are right, you can listen to them. Equally, you can dismiss them if they talk nonsense."

What the Empress said relieved Yun Shang. She was surprised that the Empress was so nice to her. The two madams would help her learn all the things she hadn't learned yet. Her grandfather had taught her the Four Arts, military strategies, and even martial arts. However, she had no one to teach her the basic things that girls should learn.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Yun Shang grinned.

The Empress nodded and said in a gentle voice, "I know that you are wary of me, but it is okay. You have grown up. I believe that you know whether what people teach you is useful or not. You will get married soon. By then you won't live in the Imperial City or pose any threat to me, so I won't take the past to heart."

Yun Shang was buried in thought for some time before she raised her eyebrows. The Empress had really changed a lot. Since she had honestly expressed what she thought, Yun Shang had to accept it. Yun Shang then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you are being oversensitive. I have been separated from my mother since I was a child, so I know little about these things. Even if you don't send madams to me, I may have to ask you about all the things I don't know in a few days."