Two days had gone by since Ying Yue last saw Yi Yu. With nothing to do, Ying Yue continued wasting her day away remaining inside her residence. Although today was like any other day, Ying Yue couldn't help but feel excited knowing Jianyu was going to visit her tonight.
"Ahhh! There's nothing to do."
"Your highness, why don't you pay your mother a visit today?"
"I guess, I just saw her four days ago, but I think it's about time I pay her another visit."
"Do you need us to help you get ready?"
"No need Shen An. I'm just visiting mother."
Ying Yue quickly throws on her shawl and heads out towards the side palace. After walking around for fifteen minutes in the snow, Ying Yue could see her mother residence in the distance. Quickly greeting the guards, Ying Yue invites herself into her mother's main hall. Ying Yue could see her mother sitting alone, sipping on tea and chatting with her maids.
"Mother! I've come to visit you again!"
"Ah, Ying Yue! You bad daughter! Not once did you come visit me. Do you realize it's been four long days already?"
"Ha Ha, I'm sorry mother. I'm here, now aren't I?"
Feeling like a child again, Ying Yue went on and on about what she had been doing for the past four day, hence why she hasn't visited.
"Ying Yue I heard you had a visitor the other day? Who was she?"
"Ah! I met her at the noble lady gathering. She said her name was Yi Yu and her father's a duke. She kind of reminded me of Zhi Ruo so I kind of grew fond of her."
"Ying Yue, you shouldn't be trusting someone so easily. You don't know what her intentions are."
"Relax mother, don't overthink too much."
"Ying Yue, you're the empress now. Be careful about who you let into your life."
"Alright mother, I will keep that in mind."
With the sun nearly setting now, Ying Yue knew she had to return to her residence as Jianyu was going to be coming to visit her.
"Mother it's late now, I'll be heading back first. I'll come back tomorrow okay?"
"Alright, don't cause any trouble to son in law."
"What? How did you know he's visiting?"
"How can I not when there's excitement written all over your face? Ha Ha! Get going, don't want to keep son in law waiting too long."
Ying Yue blushes at her mother's words and quickly bids her farewell before heading out. With Shen An and Li An following behind her, Ying Yue heads back to her residence. Within ten minutes, Ying Yue could see the empress residence.
"Shen An and Li An you two are dismissed."
"Very well, have a good night your highness."
Shen An and Li An bids Ying Yue farewell to Ying Yue leaving. Unable to sit still, Ying Yue opens her window and grabs a chair. Seating herself by the window with her head poking out the window, Ying Yue stares into the moon and the stars.
"Looks like no matter where we go, the moon and stars are all the same."
Ying Yue continued to wait and wait for two hours with no sign for Jianyu coming. Feeling dejected, she closes the window and changes into her night robe.
"Guess he got busy."
With a deep sigh, Ying Yue decides she was done waiting and heads to bed. Sleeping towards the wall with her back against the bed. Ying Yue closes her eyes and start to doze off. Not even fifteen minutes after Ying Yue fell asleep; the person she was waiting for finally arrives.
"What's this? You ask me to come and here you are, fast asleep."
Jianyu smiles at the sight of seeing Ying Yue fast asleep. Jianyu props the bed curtains open and lays down next to Ying Yue who was fast asleep. Jianyu forces Ying Yue to move to her side; facing him. Lightly holding Ying Yue in an embrace, Jianyu places a kiss onto Ying Yue's forehead before bidding her goodnight.
"Goodnight my empress."
Morning breaks and Ying Yue wakes up to the cold air brushing against her face. Once again, Ying Yue wakes up in her bed alone, but something was different this time. The other side of the bed looked disheveled as if someone had been sleeping on it.
"Hah....so he really did come."
"Knock Knock."
"Come in."
"Good morning your highness."
"Good morning Shen An and Li An. Did either of you see his majesty this morning?"
"I did not, your highness."
"He was definitely here.....even his side of the bed is still warm. He left without even saying anything. He must've been busy."
"What would you like done today, your highness?"
"Hm, prepare a man outfit for me. I want to practice my sword today. I've been slacking lately."
"As your wish, your highness."
Shen An leaves to prepare Ying Yue's clothing, as Li An brought in some breakfast for Ying Yue. Ying Yue silently eats her meat soup and veggies as she stares out the window; watching the sun slowly rise. After finishing her meal, Shen An returns with a white outfit.
"Shen An, this doesn't look like something a man would wear."
"It's not your highness. His majesty had it tailored for you since he hated seeing you in men clothing. Although it's pants, he made sure it was your size and even the top looks different from the typical outfit."
"Wow, I had no idea. This is great!"
Ying Yue quickly disrobes herself and dresses herself in the completely white outfit. Quickly slipping into the new clothing; it was light yet warm. It was perfect for winter. Ying Yue ties her hair up into a ponytail and walks to her bed. Lifting up her pillows, she grabs her sword and makes her way outside.
"Fu Jia!"
"Yes, your highness?"
"Spar with me!"
"What? I can't do that! What if you get hurt?! It will be my neck on the line!"
"It's fine, come on. It's been too long since I've fought anyone."
Although reluctant to go along with Ying Yue's demand. Fu Jia knew he was not going to get out of it. Pulling his sword from his scabbard, he points it towards Ying Yue.
"That's more like it."
Ying Yue breaks into a grin, with adrenalin running through her, she also pulls out her sword. In a matter of seconds, Ying Yue was clashing swords with Fu Jia. With no one landing a hit, Ying Yue and Fu Jia finally calls it a draw after four hours.
"Wow Fu Jia. I think in terms of abilities you excel over ZI Tai."
"Thank you for your kind words your highness."
As Ying Yue was about to head back inside her residence, a guard comes knocking at Ying Yue's entrance.
"Your highness! You have a guest waiting for you."
"What? Who is it?"
"They said their name was Yi Yu."
"Ah! She's back already? Alright, have her come to the main hall."
"As you wish your highness."
Ying Yue watches as the guard quickly leave to escort Yi Yu to the empress residence.
"Guess I'll clean up later. Fu Jia, you don't need to follow me to the main hall. Unless you just want to hear some gossip."
"That's alright, his majesty assigned some tasks to me today so I will be gone for a few hours. Please remain within the palace while I am away."
"I know…I know. Don't worry."
Once Fu Jia was out of sight, Ying Yue heads to the main hall inside the empress residence. After sitting and waiting for ten minutes, the guard leads Yi Yu in.
"Ah! Yi Yu. Welcome back."
"Your highness, no need to get up to greet me."
"Well, come and have a seat! I'm sure there's a reason you're visiting today."
Ying Yue could tell that Yi Yu was restless. Unable to look Ying Yue in the eye, Yi Yu tries to tell Ying Yue of her incident with Bai Chun.
"Your highness! Please listen, the other day I…..ah…..!"
"Cough Cough!"
"Oh goodness, are you alright? Have some tea."
Ying Yue hands over a cup of tea to Yi Yu who frantically drank it. Yi Yu didn't know if Bai Chun was telling the truth or not, but it looked like the spell was real. The moment she tried to tell Ying Yue, her throat went completely dry making it impossible to talk.Yi Yu couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful that since Bai Chun was capable of spells, he maybe just be able to cure her illness. With her right hand to her throat, Yi Yu clears her throat and apologizes.
"Ahem, my apologies your highness it's nothing."
Yi Yu diverts the conversation to other things to distract Ying Yue from asking her about what just happened.
"Your highness, I didn't know you could wield a sword. Even your outfit is different from usual. It looks nice on you."
"That's kind of you, but I'm sure you didn't come here to just talk about my clothing."
"I...I don't understand what you mean by that, your highness."
"What's really on your mind, Yi Yu? What are you hiding?"
Yi Yu stopped in her tracks. Keeping her gaze to Ying Yue, Yi Yu could only clench her fists together and continue to bluff her way out of it.
"Your highness, I am perfectly fine. I was feeling good today and thought you might be as bored as me, so here I am."
Although Ying Yue was not buying it, she decided she couldn't pressure Yi Yu too much as she was sickly. The girls continued to snack on the sweets and tea. Before long, the sun was already setting.
"Oh my, it's gotten really dark."
"Right? I heard from the old priest that tonight will be a full moon!"
"A full moon you say…eh…"
"Hm? What's wrong Yi Yu?"
"Ah! It's nothing. I just believe I've been here long enough and have taken up too much of your time. I believe it's time I leave for the night."
"Oh! Let me accompany you to the gates. It's dark now so you never know. Even if it's the palace."
Ying Yue grabs hold of her sword and attaches it to her waist as she leads the way. Yi Yu remained quiet for most of the way to the palace gates as if she was scared of something. Ying Yue continues to brush off the bad feeling she's been getting all day from Yi Yu all day. Thinking that maybe Yi Yu just had a bad day at home and wanted to escape.
Ying Yue watched as Yi Yu walk out the palace gates. Ying Yue was only standing three feet away from the palace gate when Yi Yu turns around and calls out to her.
"Your highness…I'm so sorry."
Yi Yu was speaking so lightly that Ying Yue could barely hear her from the distance. The moment Ying Yue saw Yi Yu crying; she couldn't help but walk towards her. In that moment, Ying Yue was not thinking and forgot everything that Jianyu had told her not to do. The moment Ying Yue poked her hand out of the palace gates, she felt someone pull her out completely. A dark figure with long red hair was now standing in front of her.
"Gasp!...You!...You're Bai Chun!"
"Indeed I am. Well done Yi Yu."
"What? Yi Yu?! You're working for him?!"
"Oh, don't blame the poor girl. She had no choice."
"Let me go you criminal!"
Ying Yue turns to face the shocked Shen An and Li An who were trying to break through something that looked like a barrier. Even the guards nearby all witnessed what happened.
"Shen An! Li An! Find Fu Jia!"
"Don't bother. They can't hear us."
Ying Yue tries to break free from Bai Chun grip by kicking and punching him, but no luck. Bai Chun's grip was so strong, Ying Yue felt like her wrist was going to snap at any moment. Ying Yue tried it all. Name calling, biting, spitting, kicking, hitting. With nothing working, Ying Yue uses her left hand to grab hold of her sword, only to be knocked out unconscious by Bai Chun before she could. Bai Chun lifts the unconscious Ying Yue up and carried her away like a sack of rice.
"Don't forget your other task, Yi Yu."