An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 51 Qin Meng Receives a Title

What? The Emperor?

Everybody was astonished. Just as they were about to move forward to look, they heard a deep voice,

"Who do you refer to as the adulterers?"

The familiar voice filled the Empress with bewilderment and shock. When she came to her sense, she

hastily knelt down and said, "I didn't know it was you, Your Majesty. Please pardon my offense."

Emperor Ning shouted, "Get out! Don't bother Shu Jin and me."

The Empress waved at the consorts crowding behind her. Then she stood, turned and began walking

out of the Palace. A thought dawned on her. The Empress stopped and asked, "Shu Jin?"

She turned around and said with confusion, "Your Majesty, the girl next to you is not Lady Shu. She's

Qin Meng, a maid from my Palace."

Emperor Ning was about to rebuke the Empress but then decided to look at the woman in his arms.

Stunned with the discovery, he became speechless. After a long while, he pushed away Qin Meng and Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

asked, "Who is this? Where is my Shu Jin?"

Qin Meng, who was dressed in a belly band, woke up and screamed. It seemed that she didn't

understand the situation in front of her. She just whispered, "It hurts." When she identified the people

standing in front of her, she turned pale. She knelt down to greet the Emperor, Empress, and Princess

Yun Shang.

Emperor Ning stared at Qin Meng with a murderous look. "How could it be you? I remember clearly

that it was Shu Jin…"

Tears streamed down Qin Meng's face when she heard that, and she replied, "I hurt my legs a few

days ago, and I couldn't serve the Princess anymore, so the Empress sent me to Qiwu Palace. I

appreciated her generous treatment, but I felt despondent as I had become useless. Therefore, I snuck

out of the Palace when nobody noticed and tried to kill myself. However, I didn't expect that I would

meet your Majesty on my way. You came to me and held me. You kept calling me Shu Jin. I kept saying

that I was not Shu Jin but still…" Kowtowing at the same time, Qin Meng cried, "Please pardon me,

Your Majesty…"

Emperor Ning stood up. He staggered with the effort. Blue veins stood out on his temples as he pointed

at the Empress and said, "It's all your fault. You made me sniff the acacia incense…"

The Empress knelt down and kept repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Yun Shang was amazed to see that Qin Meng had repeated every word she had taught the maid the

night before. She thought to herself that Qin Meng was really a good actress. It was no surprise that

she had been duped into believing the maid all these years.

"Father…" Yun Shang spoke up.

Seeing Yun Shang, Emperor Ning couldn't help but frown, "Why are you here?"

Yun Shang replied, "Qin Meng used to be my maid. I went to uncle's mansion to see Doctor Xue Yan

some time ago. Qin Meng trespassed on uncle's forbidden place, so he broke her legs. And thus,

mother brought her to Qiwu Palace."

Yun Shang stepped forward, picked up a piece of clothing, and squatted down next to Qin Meng. She

hastily covered the maid. Then she turned to Emperor Ning and said, "What's done is done. It's too late

to worry about who is to blame. Qin Meng did nothing wrong. Please consider giving her a title such as

Higher Ranked Attendant or Noble Lady? Don't argue with mother over such trifles."

Emperor Ning looked at Yun Shang for a while before agreeing "Okay. As you have suggested, I will

give her the title of Higher Ranked Attendant. Empress, arrange for her to live in an empty Palace."

Then he straightened his clothes and left.

The Empress stared at Qin Meng for a long time with an icy expression. She spoke, "There is a side

Palace in Lady Ying's Yaoguang Palace. You can live there." Then she left as well.

As the Empress disappeared, Qin Meng sank to ground as if paralyzed. Her eyes seemed hollow. It

seemed as though her soul had been taken away.

Yun Shang smiled, "Congratulations, Higher Ranked Attendant. Qin Yi, Qian Yin, send the Higher

Ranked Attendant to Yaoguang Palace."

Qin Meng looked up at Yun Shang and said softly, "Thank you." Then she walked out with the support

of Qin Yi and Qian Yin.

Yun Shang stood up and smiled. She spoke to herself, "Empress, it must be terrible to see the one you

cultivated become a thorn in your flesh. Let's wait and see. The thorn will grow bigger. Eventually it will

be a strong weapon with which I will hurt you."

She stood there for a while laughing before returning to Qingxin Palace.

Qin Yi and Qian Yin returned to Qingxin Palace just before the Princess. Qin Yi smiled, "You saved Qin

Meng and turned her from a maid to a master. She will certainly be loyal to you."

Yun Shang shook her head, "Qin Meng will never be satisfied. It's easy to buy such a person. Never

think that she will always be loyal to anyone but herself."

"Then why did you help her?" Qian Yin was confused.

"Because after this, it would be impossible for her to work with the Empress again. In addition, the

Empress will see her as an obstacle. If Qin Meng wants to achieve higher ranks, she will need to

depend on someone. Moreover, she will need to turn against the Empress, which is also my goal." An

expression of rage flashed in her eyes.

Qin Yi nodded, served a cup of tea for Yun Shang, and said, "Your Highness, you asked me to

investigate Lin and I have found the truth. Even better? I found Lin too! He is doing odds and ends such

as carrying water and making washing bats at Huanyi Bureau. Since you didn't mention it, I didn't dare

to speak with him. I only heard that he was sent there by Qin Meng seven years ago after you left."

"It seems that Lin indeed doesn't work for the Empress. It must have been difficult for him these years.

However, this Huanyi Bureau…" Yun Shang contemplated for a while before adding, "Arrange a

meeting for us as soon as possible."

Qin Yi nodded, "I will arrange it right away." And then she left.

After Qin Yi left, Qian Yin looked at the Princess. "When Qin Yi and I were on our way back, I heard

that the Empress had been grounded. I do not think that she will let us go so easily. What should I say

if she asks any questions?"

"Just tell her that you didn't notice anything unusual about me. And tell her that you subtly questioned

me several times, only to find that I seemed not to know about Qin Meng. You can add that I have often

asked about wanting to visit Doctor Xue Yan at Prince Jing's mansion to see if he could help Qin

Meng."

"Understood, Your Highness." Qian Yin smiled as a new plan formed in her mind.