Before long, two weeks had past already. Jia Li comes over once a week with the prince to boast about her palace life to her mother and father. She was living the life that was supposed to be Ying Yues. Filled with riches, servants and the love of the prince. Feeling defeated for once in her life, Ying Yue lived everyday like a lifeless doll ever since. Every time Jia Li and the prince came over to spend the night at the mansion. Ying Yue would stay with her mother in her room.
"Mother, why do all palace woman have to be so annoying? Or maybe it's just Jia Li."
"Don't waste your time worrying about such people. Ying Yue, is there a man you fancy? Maybe it's about time you settle down too,"
"No, thanks mother. I have the kingdom to worry about. That comes first before anything else."
"Well, what about Bolin then?"
"Mother! Bolin and I are just friends. I am also his superior, that's just weird."
"Well I don't see why not; he seems to fancy you a bit from what I've seen."
"Uh, mother we are just friends. I'm sure he feels the same way too."
"Fine, don't say I didn't try. Oh, I almost forgot. You have a letter that came today from Bolin."
"What?! Where?! Why didn't you say so earlier mother!"
Ying Yue grabs the letter out of her mothers hand and walks to the dinning table in her mothers room. Lightly chucking to herself, Ying Yue seats herself and began reading Bolins letter. From the looks of the handwriting, Ying Yue knew it was indeed from Bolin.
Dear Ying Yue,
It's been a while hasn't it? Are you feeling better? We finally made it to the northern borders. I guess you won't get this till a week or so. It's cold here, unlike the south when I was there. Gosh, why didn't you tell me it'd be so cold here. I've already reported to his majesty that there's no trace of Hong Chen or his troops left here. I'm estimating that we will be here for a good three more months. Remember to write back to me, you always forget to. Don't do anything that will reopen your wound Ying Yue. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Your best friend,
Bolin Zhao
Reading Bolin's letter was just the motivation Ying Yue needed to snap out of it. With a smile on her face, Ying Yue felt it was time to move on and stop feeling sorry for herself. Night falls and Ying Yue once again stays with her mother in her room. Ying Yues mother starts to worry seeing her thinner lately from no appetite.
"Ying Yue, you've stayed here a lot lately. What's wrong?"
"Nothing mother, I just miss you that's all. I promise from here on out, I will get better."
"If you say so Ying Yue, come its late. Let us get some rest for now."
Soon, day breaks and Ying Yue finally wakes herself up. Usually her mother is still sleeping when she does, but today her mother was gone. Ying Yues mother was always weak and sickly, so she rarely ever left her room. Wondering where she went, Ying Yue walks out of bed, washes up and leaves the bedroom.
"Chunhua!"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Have you seen my mother?"
"I have not my lady, some other maids did say they saw first madam leave early this morning."
"What? She left the mansion? Father let her leave on her own?! Get me my sword and horse Chunghua! I need to find my mother."
Worried something might happen. Ying Yue left so fast she didn't have time to tie her hair. She only quickly threw on a cotton filled jacket and made her way out through the front door. Ying Yue sets out into town and looked at all the locals shops her mother used to frequent before she became too weak to travel. Last place she could think of was the royal temple where the high priest was. Ying Yue makes her way to the royal temple. There she sees her mother, on her knees in her thin dress; praying in front of the gods statues that were in front of the temple.
"Mother!"
"Ying Yue? What are you doing here?"
"Mother! You're ill! Why did you come here?"
"Ying Yue, mother just wanted to come and pray."
"Mother, you don't even believe in them. So why pray now?"
Seeing her mother tearing up, Ying Yue wasn't sure what to say. Now she regrets ever telling her mother her dreams. Quickly helping her mom up, Ying Yue brushes off any dust that coudl've gotten on her mother.
"Mother it's my fault you're sad. I shouldn't have told you about my dreams."
"No! I'm glad you told me. I just hope they aren't what I think they are."
"What do you mean by that mother? Is there something I should know?"
"Now is not yet the time my daughter, lets head on home. It's almost lunch time."
Exiting the temple now, Ying Yue makes her mother ride her horse while she led the way. Pulling on the horse as she walked. After about thirty minutes or so they reached the mansion.
"Mother, I will ask the maids to bring us lunch, you can freshen up in the meantime."
"Alright, Ying Yue."
Ying Yue heads to the horse stable and leaves her horse to the servants there. Ying Yue decides to head to the kitchen. Using the shortcut through the garden that she discovered while stealing food in the past. There she catches the head chef Tao, who was still cooking.
"Tao."
"Ah, my lady. What are you doing in the kitchen?"
"Can you cook my mothers favorite sweet pork and have that ready with today's lunch?"
"Of course, my lady."
Ying Yue heads out of the kitchen and heads for her bedroom hoping to get a change of clothes. Ying Yue spots her father looking for her near her bedroom. It was unusual, as he normally avoids having anything to do with Ying Yue or her mother. Quickly putting her hair up into a bun, and tying it up with a green cloth, Ying Yue calls out to her father.
"Father? What are you doing here at this side of the building?"
"Ah! There you are Ying Yue. After lunch bring your mother with you and go to the royal palace."
"What? Why go there?"
"I don't know all the details either. Just be sure to not be late and embarrass me."
Ying Yue unsure of what just happened thought nothing much of it. After lunch she tells her mother they must head out to the royal palace. Ying Yues mother was unwilling at first, but after some convincing Ying Yue was able to get her mother to agree. With her mothers condition Ying Yue had to prepare for the travel.
"Chunhua, have the other servants prepare a separate carriage for me and mother. Father and step mother can have the other one to themselves."
"Yes, my lady."
"Come here Ying Yue, let mother do your makeup and hair again."
"Mother, I don't think we need to. I was going to wear my general uniform and do a bun."
"Silly girl, you aren't being summoned there as the general. They asked for the marquis Zi Wei Yang and his family."
Ying Yues mother does her hair once again, this time she braided two parts of Ying Yues hair and adds in a pink flower ornament. Ying Yues cheeks and lips were painted with a tint of pink. Ying Yues mother had her wear a pink flowy dress that she had made.
"There, now you're ready."
"Mother, I've never seen this dress before. Did you buy it?"
"No, Ying Yue. Every time you were sent on a mission or to war, to ease my tensions and worries I would past my days sewing."
"You made this? Wow mother! It's beautiful, thank you mother."
Ying Yue also helped her mother get ready. Not before long the carriage was ready. Her father and step mother had left first as they got tired of waiting. They left in the new carriage, but YingYue never liked the flashy way it looked anways. Ying Yue arrived in a brown like colored carriage with her mother by her side. They walked into the palace, and headed towards the main hall where everyone was at. She realized it wasn't just her family that was invited. The dukes, lords, prime ministers etc. were all summoned along with their family. Ying Yue noticed that everyone that was summoned all had their daughters with them. Ying Yue thought nothing much of it at the moment.