An Eight-year-old Princess

Chapter 26 Ill Intention

"Poisoned?" The crowd standing in the Hall looked at one other and couldn't believe it. The Palace

maid suddenly knelt to the ground and said, "Your Imperial Highness, I had no part to play in this. It

was Qin Yi who had asked me to fetch a cushion. That's when I entered the room and saw that the cat

had no breath and lay still on the ground. I was so shocked that I screamed. And later, I thought since

the other Palace maids, and I had adopted the cat, the blame would fall on us. I was afraid, and I

wanted to throw it out of the window first and intended to deal with it later. However, to my surprise, this

cat had been poisoned..."

Yun Shang gave her a brief glance. "I can't figure out who is to blame, but I am sure this officer will give

me a sensible explanation…"

The Supervisory Office Manager quickly lowered his head, "Yes. It's my job and my duty. Attempting to

murder Your Imperial Highness is a huge crime. I request your permission to report this incident to The

Emperor."

"Yes." Yun Shang agreed, "But I think that your assistants have many things to deal with here. So

perhaps I can let my two private Palace maids inform my father instead." The Manager was about to

say something, but Yun Shang sighed, "How vexing to encounter such a terrible thing especially since I

have only just returned. You must find who is trying to kill me, or I won't be able to live here peacefully."

"Qin Yi, go inform my father."

Qin Yi nodded and left. Yun Shang continued, "Although there was no death this time, the poison was

put in my medicine bowl. If I had drunk it, I wouldn't be alive right now. No matter who the murderer is,

they must still be in the Qinxin Hall. Officer, can you lock down Qinxin Hall to stop the murderer from

escaping?"

The Supervisory Office Manager nodded repeatedly. "You are right, Your Highness. I will do as you

have asked."

Yun Shang nodded and then leaned against the bed pillar. She coughed slightly. Then closed her eyes

and pretended to rest. Her face was still pale as though she were weak.

"Your Imperial Highness, your medicine was spilled. Should I make another bowl?" Yun Shang heard

Qin Meng murmur. Yun Shang waved her hand, "Never mind. I don't want the medicine now. I was not

harmed since I didn't drink the poisoned medicine. There's no need to take any more medicine."

Qin Meng stepped aside timidly. She bowed her head in submission. Despite the position, she could

still watch Yun Shang. She looked over the resting Princess and noticed that her toe stuck out from

under her dress and that her hands were clasped inside the long sleeves of the robe.

"Be careful, Your Majesty. Please be careful." Yun Shang could hear Lord Zheng speaking to The

Emperor. "Is that my father?" Yun Shang asked. As soon as she opened her eyes, she was almost

blinded by the brightness of the yellow robes worn by the person in front of her. She blinked to adjust

and then found it was Emperor Ning. "Are you harmed?" He asked. His eyes reflected the anxiety he

felt.

Yun Shang hurriedly shook her head, "My dear father, there's no need to worry about me. I'm fine. But

look at the poor little cat. How terrible!"

Seeing Yun Shang was unharmed, Emperor Ning calmed down a little. He took a seat and looked at

the Supervisory Office Manager who was kneeling on the ground. "Find out who is responsible!"

The Supervisory Office Manager quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will go and start the investigation

immediately." Meanwhile, the Manager turned to the eunuchs and said, "Collect everyone working in

Qinxin Palace. We need to question them."

After that, he turned to The Emperor. "Your Majesty, would you mind coming with our Princess…"

Emperor Ning turned to Yun Shang and said, "Shang'er, you are too weak to be there. I'll go."

Yun Shang thought it best if she were present to supervise the inquisition. So she replied, "If I don't

know who the murderer is, my mind won't feel at peace. I should come with you. Besides, everyone in

the Qinxin Hall is a suspect, including me."

Emperor Ning kept silent for a while as he thought about what his daughter said. He sighed. "Well, then

let's go." He stood up and walked outside.

Quickly, Qin Yi helped Yun Shang to her feet. Then she led The Princess outside. Emperor Ning and

Yun Shang sat in the Hall. On Lord Cui's order, all the maids in Qinxin Palace had been brought to the

Hall.

"Who invited the Imperial Physician?" "Who boiled the medicine?" "Who kept the medicine bottle?"

"Who sent it to The Princess's room?" "Who tampered with the medicine during this time?" "Now give

me the answers to my questions, one by one."

Yun Shang took out a silk handkerchief and wiped her head. She spoke to the Manager with a smile.

"You should be more proficient in dealing with such situations. When I was in Ning'guo Temple, I

witnessed Master Wu Na deal with a similar case. So I recommend his method to you. It would be

advisable for you to put these people in different rooms and interrogate them at the same time.

According to the results of the interrogation, if there is a discrepancy, you will find out who is lying."

Lord Cui could see sense in the method as described by Yun Shang. He said, "Master Wu Na is a man

of great wisdom. I've learned a lot. Do as The Princess said." He commanded his assistants.

The eunuchs followed instructions. They separated all Palace maids based on who had direct contact

with the medicine. The maids who didn't, were taken to a different room, while the maids who did, were

questioned separately. The eunuchs then asked the questions Lord Cui had put forward.

By the time The Emperor and Yun Shang had finished a cup of tea, all the maids had been questioned.

"At a quarter past three, Qin Meng and Xiang'er brought the medicine back from the Imperial Hospital,

and then Jing Xi and Qiu Wen boiled it, during which time, Jing Xi left for a few minutes. At five twenty,

Qin Meng served the medicine to our Princess. But our Princess said it was too hot and went for a walk

with Qin Yi. Meanwhile, the Palace maid Yan'er left to find a cushion for our Princess…" From the

events, I can see that Qin Yi the medicine maker, Qin Meng the medicine server, the maid Yan'er, and

the cutlery keeper, Qing Xin are all suspects. Lord Cui gave a bow to Emperor Ning and said, "I beg

your permission to search their rooms and bodies, Your Majesty."

Emperor Ning nodded and replied, "You have my permission."

"Let a wet-nurse search the maid's bodies please. They are women and shouldn't be touched by the

guards." Yun Shang reminded in a low voice.

Emperor Ning agreed, "Yes." Lord Cui took them away. Soon, he returned with two paper bags. "Your

Majesty and Your Imperial Highness, I found these medicine bags on Qing Xin and under Yan'er's

pillow."

Emperor Ning slammed his teacup on the table. "Bring them forward!"

Lord Cui waved his hand, and an assistant ran out. Soon all the Palace maids were brought into the

Hall. Emperor Ning shouted, "There's no need to interrogate anyone any further. You are all Palace

maids. You spend the whole day around The Princess. How dare you keep such vile stuff near her?

Take them out and kill them all!"

The Emperor had just passed his punishment when the two maids kneeling began screaming. The one

in pink pleaded, "Your Majesty, I'm innocent. It's just licorice powder in the bag. I have had a bad cough

lately, so I went to the Imperial Hospital for some licorice. Since I was so busy with my kitchen duties, I

asked them to grind the licorice so that I could mix it in water."