Meanwhile, in the human world; Ying Yue remained restrained in her father's residence. With only four days left to go, Ying Yue was starting to lose hope. Moving from the table she was sitting at; Ying Yue walks to her sleeping mother who was still in bed.
"Mother...what should I do? I don't even know if he's really coming for me.... he probably doesn't even know that I'm gone right now."
"........"
Knowing her mother was still asleep, Ying Yue knew she was just talking to herself now. Kneeling beside her mother's bedside, Ying Yue rests her head on the edge of the bed and closes her eyes. Unsure to why she was feeling so tired, Ying Yue ends up falling asleep. Unlike other nights, Ying Yue was now dreaming. Dreaming of a world different from the dragon and human world. Feeling like she was floating, Ying Yue lands onto a beautiful and clear pond full of lotus flowers. Rather than falling into the water, Ying Yue was walking on water. Unsure of what was happening, Ying Yue remained still and silent. All of a sudden Ying Yue notices a large and round shadow appearing over her. Unsure of what it was, Ying Yue glances at her reflection in the crystal-clear pond and sees the reflection of a large golden dragon coiled up. Rubbing her eyes, Ying Yue couldn't believe what she was seeing. Dragons were nothing more than a legend, or so she thought. With a strong gust of wind, Ying Yue watched as the dragon that was coiled above her in the sky descend closer to where she as standing. Watching in amazement, Ying Yue watched as the dragon took on the form of a beautiful woman. With only three feet between them now, Ying Yue stares into the eyes of the beautiful golden haired and jade eyed woman in front of her. Long golden hair, pale skin, rosy lips and cheeks, a beautiful figure and looking no older than twenty.
"Who...who are you?"
"This is not the first time we've met my dear."
"Uh...I'm not sure I know anyone or have met anyone that can transform into a dragon."
"Ha Ha, you silly child. Keep thinking."
The dragon woman walks closer to Ying Yue and using her right hand, she lightly brushes Ying Yue's right cheek. Breaking into a gentle smile the woman turns removes her hand from Ying Yue's cheek and turns her gaze away. Ying Yue was always a curious person. Seeing the dragon woman turn her back to her, Ying Yue calls out to her.
"Uh...for a dream, this sure feels realistic."
"Heh, what if I told you this isn't just a dream?"
"Then am I dead?!"
"Of course not, you silly child. Do you not recognize my voice at least?"
"Your voice? I can't think of anyone..."
Nothing was clicking in Ying Yue's head. Ying Yue knew she would recognize her if she had met her before, but no one came to mind. The only other option was she was someone from the dragon kingdom, but after being there for almost a year, Ying Yue knows she has not seen this mysterious woman there either. The woman stares at Ying Yue's puzzled face and breaks into a laughter.
"Ha Ha...you are indeed unique Ying Yue. You see. I... was once the dragon empress. You don't know me, but you know my son rather well."
Everything finally made sense now. The fact that she knew who Ying Yue was, but Ying Yue thought she knew how the empress looked like. The woman in front of her was much younger.
"How? I know I've seen you before...but right now you look different."
"This is the world inside the white tree with golden leaves, in the dragon world. Do you remember that tree?"
"Yes! Yes, I do. but how did I get here? I was laying by my mother's bedside just moments ago."
"I called for your spirit since I could sense how sad it was. You have a very free-spirited soul and being confined, breaks my heart Ying Yue. I have notified Jianyu that you're in need of help, but I am unable to communicate with him like I am with you right now."
"What? Is he coming for me?! Are you sure?!"
Ying Yue walks closer to the former empress and tugs on her sleeve. The dragon empress could see hope light up in Ying Yue's eyes. She quickly pats Ying Yue on the head and assures her to not worry.
"Don't worry Ying Yue. My son may be an idiot most of the time, but his love for you is real and sincere. He will come for you, so do your best to fight fate until then."
Unable to hold back her emotions, Ying Yue breaks down and cries. All her pent-up emotions were now coming out. Pretending to be fine when she wasn't has finally caught up to her. Ying Yue had hoped Jianyu was coming, but she thought it was just all her thinking. Now that the former empress has confirmed it, hope lights up once again in Ying Yue's eyes.
"Thank you, for telling me. I was beginning to think that my self-encouragement was nothing but a way to keep me sane."
"Believe in him Ying Yue. Please, don't do anything that will bring you harm before he comes for
you. "
"I... don't know what you're talking about."
"Are you going to lie to me as well Ying Yue?"
"No! I would never.... I mean I was just thinking it. It's not like I've done it yet."
Unable to look at the former empress face anymore, Ying Yue could only keep her gaze down. Ying Yue had made plans on how to escape her marriage with the crown prince. One, have Jia Li enter the marriage sedan in her place or two kill the crown prince and herself on their wedding night. Ying Yue was willing to die rather than marry a man she didn't love. Quickly looking up, Ying Yue watches as the former dragon empress slowly fade away.
"It seems our time is up Ying Yue."
"What? I still have so many questions to ask you!"
"It's alright, we will meet again. Next time, it will be your turn to come visit me in the dragon world."
"...."
In a matter of seconds Ying Yue watched as the dragon empress disappear in front of her. Soon, a strong gust of wind blows from under Ying Yue, sending her back into the sky. Ying Yue watched as her body floated back to where she was before she landed onto this mysterious world. Slowly feeling her eyes close, Ying Yue wakes up to someone calling for her in the real world.
"Ying Yue?"
Slowly opening her eyes and looking up. Ying Yue realizes it was her mother calling out to her.
"Mother? You're awake!"
"You were scaring me there, I kept calling to you and you wouldn't wake up. Did you have you have a nice dream?"
"Yes…. yes, I did mother."
Ying Yue moves from her mother's bedside and goes on to sit on her mother's bed. With a serious look on her face, Ying Yue questions her mother about the dragon race.
"Mother…...I'm going to ask you some question and please be honest with me."
"What? You silly girl. What is it?"
"The royal dragon clan…...can they transform into dragons?"
"Where did you hear this from?"
"No one told me, I'm just curious since they are called the dragon clan after all."
"If it means so much to you, I will tell you what I know. You see, the dragon race themselves are really no different from us humans. Why do you think their life span isn't that different from ours?"
"That is true…I noticed that too when I was in the dragon world."
"Now, transforming into a dragon is only something the royal family of the dragon clan can do. Although, none of our ancestors other than Kai ever saw it. Kai was blessed enough to see the form of the dragon emperor."
"How do they transform mother? How does that work?"
"I am not sure what triggers their transformation. Although, I've read that anger can also trigger the transformation."
"I see…you know the weirdest things mother."
"Ha Ha, that's because I was always sick and spent my days away reading scrolls. We had a collection of scrolls that dated as far back as five hundred years ago. Of course, when I married your father, he turned those all into the royal family. It's most likely in their royal library now."
As Ying Yue and her mother chatted away, they were soon interrupted by a knock on their entrance gate door. Ying Yue motions for her mother to stay in bed as she goes out to check.
"Knock Knock."
"Who's there?"
"It's me."
Ying Yue the voice of that person. It was none other than Jia Li, but what did she want? She had never once step foot into madam Bai Shun's residence before so why now? Ying Yue props the door open and motions for Jia Li to enter.
"What do you want Jia Li? It's unusual for you to come here. You don't even have your maid with you."
"I just want to talk about what you had mentioned to me the other day. I thought it over and decided that I do need your help in winning back the crown prince's affections."
"Ohhh…now you want my help?"
"If you don't want to help me then, I'll take my leave."
"Heh, I didn't say that. Come and have a seat then. We have a lot to talk about."
Ying Yue motions for Jia Li to sit across from her. Sitting under the shade of the tree and on a small table in the courtyard. Jia Li would go on to spend three hours talking about what happened between her and the crown prince. Ying Yue knew she should hate Jia Li for what she's done, but at the same time she was grateful. Ying Yue was able to meet Jianyu, because of her. In that moment, Ying Yue decided she was going to help Jia Li.
"Alright, I'll help you Jia Li."