Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 5

"Mother, mother..." Upon returning to Qiwu Palace, Hua Jing hurriedly ran to the empress' side.

She was met with a frown from the empress. "What are you doing here? You should be in bed."

Hua Jing waved to the servants around the empress and they retreated. Then she said, "Mother, I heard that Nichang Palace was on fire. How is it now? Was that little bitch burned?"

The empress was gloomy due to the depressing experience back in Nichang Palace and snorted at what Hua Jing said, "Burned? You make it sound so easy! She was rescued by your father's guards, and she later claimed that she saw some suspicious figures. In the end, All my men I put around her were arrested!"

"How could this be? Can we trust the them not to... betray us?" Still a young girl, Hua Jing was unaccustomed to these matters. Listening to the queen, she felt nervous and unsettled.

The empress addressed her nonchalantly, "The people I chose are completely loyal. They would keep our secrets in torture or in death!" The empress paused briefly, before continuing, "But there did seem to be something wrong with Yun Shang. Of course, she didn't disobey my orders. But when the emperor called to have the servants arrested, she..

Hua Jing thought for a moment about what the empress had told her. "During the day time, she didn't speak to me at all. Maybe she was just overwhelmed by everything, but she didn't seem to do anything out of the ordinary. I really don't think we need to worry about that simple-minded girl, mother.. By the way, Lian Xin told me she was possessed by demons. They had to call a monk to perform an exorcism."

"An exorcism?" The empress repeated after her daughter and then smiled. "Well, we really do need to drive out certain demons..."

"Do you have a plan, mother?" Listening to her mother, Hua Jing already knew that she did. She was positive that her mother had the perfect plan to make that little bitch suffer, once and for all.

The empress smiled and gestured with her finger, "Come closer." Hua Jing did as she was told. She listened closely to her the cold whisper from her mother, "Your coming-of-age ceremony will be held very soon. During the ceremony..."

Meanwhile, while mother and daughter were busy conspiring, Yun Shang found herself at a loss for words. Considering the last five years of her previous life, Yun Shang felt it strange to now be so close to her father again. This, coupled with the fact that she was living in the body of an eight-year-old girl, made her feel uncomfortable.

"Why are you so quiet all of a sudden? Are you scared? Why don't you talk to your father?" The emperor had stopped walking and now looked down at Yun Shang with a worried look.

Yun Shang shook her head. "I thought you were busy thinking about something. I didn't want to interrupt you.

The emperor stopped again and looked closely at the little girl. In the dim light of the servant's lantern, she reminded him of the consort Jin. Thinking of her, he smiled and said with a smile, "You were never like this in the past."

Yun Shang tried recall the voice of her eight-year-old self, "I don't sound like me? Who do I sound like?" The emperor was struck with the conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow. "You sound like your birth mother."

Yun Shang was surprised at the emperor's mention of her birth mother. She knew the emperor was talking about Lady Jin, who was living in the Cold Palace. She found herself with nothing to say but the emperor didn't seem to expect a response. He continued, "You birth mother was quiet and subdued. I used to think you were different, but it seems I was wrong. Lady Jin was also talented at the four classical arts, though I don't think you've studied any of them."

"Really?" Inside, Yun Shang felt a pang of emotion. On the outside, she smiled and laughed carelessly.

"You must be exhausted from all the commotion. Go to Wanshou to have a rest now. We are going to hold an assembly in Qinzhen Palace soon, and I need to prepare some official documents. I'll have the imperial doctors give you something to help soothe your nerves.

Yun Shang bowed and replied politely, "Yes, Father. As you wish."

She waited until the emperor left before she stood up and began the trip to Wan Shou Palace.

Yun Shang woke up from a nap at noon. However, after eating a light meal, she still felt tired. Just as she was about to go back to sleep, the head eunuch entered with about a dozen other attendants. From their attire, Yun Shang knew that they were all maids and eunuchs. As she sat up, she wondered what they were doing interrupting her nap. The head eunuch soon spoke up, "Your Highness, his majesty, the emperor, sent these servants for you. You may have your pick of the group. The rest will return at once."