Ying Yue lost consciousness the moment Jianyu entered the portal. Falling into a deep sleep, Ying Yue finally wakes up after two days. Unsure as to why her body was so sore, Ying Yue rubs her eyes open and realizes she was back inside the empress residence. All of a sudden Ying Yue hears someone knocking at her bedroom doors.
"Who is it?"
"Your highness it's Shen An and Li An."
"Ah! Come in!"
Ying Yue removes her blanket; revealing her thin white sleeping robe. Realizing her wound wasn't hurting anymore, Ying Yue pulls her rob partially off, and glances at where her wound should've been.
"Your highness, what are you doing?"
"Ah! Shen An, my wounds gone!"
"Of course, his majesty brought you back two days ago and you've been asleep ever since. He had her holiness come and heal you while you were still sleeping."
"I see.....two whole days huh...Wait! Where's my mother?!"
"She's fine, she's residing in the side palace. The emperor has removed his curse that he had placed on princess Biyu. Your mother should make a full recovery soon."
"I see...thank you Shen An. I'm sorry to have worried you and Li An by disappearing."
Ying Yue turns to look at Li An, hoping for a response from her. Shen An notices and quickly steps in to explain to Ying Yue what had happened to Li An while she was away.
"Shen An, what happened to Li An?"
"Li An came looking for you the day after you disappeared. She happened to overhear Zi Tai and Shi Chen's conversation. To silence her they captured her and tortured her for days.....eventually cutting a portion of her tongue out in the process."
"That's so cruel!"
Ying Yue runs to hug Li An who was standing by Shi Chen. Crying softly she pats Li An on her back; apologizing profusely.
"I'm so sorry! It's all my fault that you had to suffer. I'm sorry Li An, please forgive me!"
"Don't blame yourself your highness. If anyone's to blame it it's Zi Tai and Shi Chen's fault."
Shi Chen went on and on about what happened while she was gone and what Jianyu did to Shi Chen and Zi Tai.
"So Zi Tai is no longer a general?"
"Yes, your highness."
"I see.... will you ladies help get me ready? I would like to visit my mother and the emperor."
The sister's nods in agreement and goes on to help Ying Yue get ready. Choosing a light blue dress with white flowers sewed onto the front and back of the dress. Ying Yue goes on to have her hair braided and pinned up with gold hairpins. Using only light makeup, the twins uses a dash of blush and lipstick. Smiling in satisfaction at her reflection in the mirror, Ying Yue was now ready to set off.
Ying Yue makes her way towards Jianyu's sleeping quarters. After walking through the palace for fifteen minutes, Ying Yue was now standing in front of Jianyu's residence. Turning her attention to the sisters, Ying Yue motions for them to leave her.
"You two are dismissed, I will go alone from here."
"Yes, your highness."
Shen An and Li An quickly bids Ying Yue farewell before turning around and leaving her. Taking a deep breath, Ying Yue makes her way to Jianyu's sleeping quarters. Ying Yue was now standing only inches away from Jianyu's door. Unsure of what to say, Ying Yue stands silently in front of the door, before a voice motions for her to enter.
"Come in Ying Yue, how long do you plan to stand at my door?"
Feeling like an idiot, Ying Yue blushes at Jianyu's remarks. Slowly propping the doors open, Ying Yue walks into Jianyu's room before turning around to close the doors. To her surprise, Ying Yue sees Jianyu still in bed with his disheveled robe on. Jianyu finally sits up and moves to the edge of the bed; he slowly brushes his long red hair to the back before chuckling at the nervous Ying Yue.
"Ha Ha! You don't have to stand so far away, it's not like I'm going to eat you."
"I..I know that! How did you know it was me standing there anyways?!"
"You're the only one bold enough to barge into my sleeping quarters like this."
Jianyu motions for Ying Yue to walk closer to where he was sitting. Although hesitant, Ying Yue did as she was told.
"What is it?"
As Ying Yue got closer and was within reach, Jianyu wasted no time and quickly grabs hold of her right arm and pulls her onto his lap. Holding tightly onto her waist and grinning from ear to ear, Jianyu plants a kiss right on Ying Yue's right cheek. Breaking into a smile, Jianyu looks at the embarrassed Ying Yue trying to break free from his hold.
"Good morning my empress."
"I swear...you have so much energy for someone who just woke up."
"Oh? I'm quite energetic in the other department as well. Did you want to try that out?"
Ying Yue pauses for a moment trying to understand what Jianyu was talking about. The moment Ying Yue caught onto what he was saying, Ying Yue grabs hold of Jianyu's cheeks and pulls on it.
"Ahhh! What are you doing Ying Yue?!"
"Who told you to say something like that in the first place?!"
Jianyu finally releases his hold on Ying Yue's waist, allowing her to run out from his hold. Wincing in pain, he rubs his cheeks and stares at Ying Yue. Ying Yue couldn't help, but feel a bit bad for using more force than she planned to. Nevertheless, she did what she had to.
"Now enough of your fooling around, aren't you going to get ready for your morning meetings?"
"Did you really come here to just tell me that?"
"Not exactly, but I did want to know what happened when we got back from the human world."
"Nothing really. You must've been tired or something but you wouldn't wake up once we got through the portal. Looks like I wasn't the only one not getting any sleep."
Ying Yue twiddles her thumbs together and turns her gaze to Jianyu before walking closer to him.
"Thank you, for coming to get me. Uh...after your meeting today, I believe we have a lot to catch up on."
"Indeed, we do. Come look for me in about three hours. I will be in the garden."
Jianyu calls out for maids to enter and help him get ready for his morning meetings. As the maids stripped off Jianyu's robe, Ying Yue knew that was her cue to leave.
"Uh...I'm going to go find my mother. Talk to you later Jianyu."
"Huh? Wait! Ying Yue!"
Ying Yue quickly runs out of Jianyu's residence and heads back out towards the side palace for guests. Taking a deep breath, she calms her beating heart. After walking around for twenty minutes, Ying Yue finally makes it to the side building. To her surprise, Ying Yue spots her mother sitting in the courtyard sipping on tea as maids catered to her needs.
"Mother!"
"Ah! Ying Yue! My sweet daughter!"
Madam Bai Shun runs from her seat and quickly runs to hug Ying Yue. Taking her by the arm she seats Ying Yue onto the table and hands her a cup with tea. With glistening eyes, she stares at Ying Yue. Ying Yue couldn't help but wonder what her mother was planning.
"Mother? Is there something I need to know?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're acting weird! Its obvious something happened while I was asleep!"
"Heh Heh! Who would've thought my tomboy daughter would end up being married to the dragon emperor! As a mother, who wouldn't be excited! Not to mention they cure me!"
"Now that you mention it, you do look a lot better and younger."
"I was sickly, that's why I looked older than I really was. Now that I'm better you won't have to suffer at the hands of your father again!"
"Mother, fathers not even here."
"Oh, you're right. Ha Ha I forget."
"So, what happened that's got you all smiling?"
"What, you didn't talk to son in law?"
"Son in law?! Mother I'm not even married to him yet! Don't you feel embarrassed saying that?!"
"Of course not! When he came to lift the curse on me yesterday, he also asked me for permission to marry you."
"Oh...what'd you say to him?"
"Of course, I said yes, he's saved you and me. Not to mention he's the dragon emperor and knowing you, no other man will be able to handle you."
Although her mother wasn't wrong, Ying Yue couldn't help but feel everything was going too smoothly. Rather than moping about things to come, Ying Yue takes a deep breath and decides to focus on the present.
Before Ying Yue knew it, three hours had gone by. Figuring Jianyu was finished with his morning meetings now, Ying Yue bids her mother farewell and heads out to look for Jianyu.
"Mother, it's late now. You should be having lunch soon. Unfortunately, I will not be joining you today as I have to head out. I'll be sure to come see you again tomorrow."
"Oh alright, I won't keep you then."