Ying Yue had returned to the dragon kingdom for a month now. News soon spread throughout the kingdom of the new prince. The dragon kingdom has been celebrating for the past three days because of the new royal baby. Everyone was celebrating except for Shi Chen. After losing face and being shamed for plotting to get rid of Ying Yue; her father the prime minister had her locked inside her room for most of the days. Shi Chen passed her days away sitting in her bedroom with her personal maid Ah Yi.
"Ah Yi, is it true that woman gave birth to a son?"
"Yes....my lady. I'm afraid it's true."
"Damnit! Nothing is going my way! If that woman would just disappear already, I would've been selected as the next empress! Now she's even given birth to a son!"
"My lady, what are you going to do?"
"What else can I do?! I'm locked in this room all day!"
Shi Chen pauses for a moment and remembers Zi Tai. If Zi Tai still had feelings for her, there was a chance he would help her again.
"Ah Yi, where is Zi Tai?"
"Last I heard he's been dismissed of his position and is guarding the western borders as a solider."
"Damnit!"
Shi Chen slams her hand onto the small brown table that was in the center of her room. Taking a deep breath Shi Chen seats herself on a chair and chugs on a bottle of rice wine.
"Uhm....my lady...I did hear of a rumor in the kingdom lately."
"What rumor? Spit it out."
"The missing younger brother of your father is alive and staying in the royal palace."
"What?! My father had a brother?!"
"You were probably really young when he went missing."
"Ha! That makes him my uncle, right?!"
"Yes, my lady."
"Hah! The gods haven't abandoned me yet. Ah Yi! Call for my father to come visit me as soon as possible."
"What should I say?"
"Just tell him I'm sick! He'll come!"
Ah Yi quickly exits Shi Chen's bedroom and heads out to find the prime minister. After twenty minutes of sitting around waiting, the prime minister finally arrives. The prime minister seats himself across from Shi Chen who was sipping on tea.
"You look perfectly fine. What do you want this time?"
"Father! I want to visit the palace!"
"What for?!"
"To visit my uncle of course. I'm sure you've heard of it by now."
"He's no longer your uncle. He abandoned his status and has long been dead to us. Besides, he never once came to visit us since he's been back. If he wants nothing to do with us, then so be it!"
"That might be the case for you, but not for me! Uncle won't be so heartless and turn me away!"
"He lives in the palace right now. You must be crazy if you think I'll let you go there to create another scene like last time."
"I just want to visit him! I promise I won't do anything! Please father! I've been locked up for months now. Any more and I'll go crazy!"
The prime minister thinks for a few minutes as he debates to let Shi Chen leave the residence or not. After ten minutes he finally gives in after seeing Shi Chen look so sad being locked up.
"Fine, you may go. But you must take Ah Yi with you."
"Thanks father!"
"Don't do anything that will bring us any more shame. I will arrange for you to visit him tomorrow. Until then, behave yourself."
"I promise father!"
The prime minister stands up and quickly leaves Shi Chen's room. Once he was out of sight, Shi Chen screams in excitement as she got what she wanted.
"I'm going to show that human that I always get what I want."
"My lady, what are you planning?"
"I'll have my uncle help me become empress."
"My lady.... are you sure your uncle will help with that? From what I heard he's rather close to the empress."
"Don't be stupid! We have the same blood, it's only natural he will choose family first!"
"I guess, if you say so..."
"Come, help me get ready for bed. We'll leave tomorrow in the morning."
Ah Yi helps Shi Chen change into a night robe and watches over her until she finally fell asleep. Once the sun was up and barely in the sky, Shi Chen was already awake and getting herself ready to visit the palace. Ah Yi who was tending to other business finally comes in to bring Shi Chen her lunch.
"My lady, please eat something before we go."
"Did you get the letter of approval from father?"
"Here it is, my lady."
"Good."
Shi Chen grabs her father's letter that he had written to inform Jianyu and the main guards outside the palace of her visit. Shi Chen quickly inhales her food and heads outside her residence where a carriage was waiting for her. Dressed in red and gold, with her long golden locks up and pinned with golden hairpins; Shi Chen was still breathtakingly beautiful as always. To make sure she left an impression, Shi Chen always used red makeup for her eyes and lips.
After twenty minutes of riding inside the carriage, Shi Chen and Ah Yi were now standing in front of the main palace gates. Shi Chen hands over the letter her father had wrote. After the guards confirmed the letters content, one of the guards showed her the way to the jade palace where Duan Da was staying.
"My lady, that's the jade palace. It's normally used for the second wife of the emperor, but since the last emperor and our current one never married more than one woman it's become a side palace for guests now."
Shi Chen stares up and could see the large and beautiful palace in front of her. It alone was as big as her father's residence. Feeling more determined than ever, Shi Chen continues to strut forward; following the guard. Once they finally reached the entrance of the jade palace the guard bids them farewell and heads back to his post.
Waiting to greet them was Duan Da who was waiting outside the main entrance. Once he noticed Shi Chen, he knew exactly who she was.
"You must be Shi Chen."
"Yes! It's great to see you uncle Duan Da."
"Come in. I received notice from his majesty of your visit today. I have other guests so I cannot invite you inside the palace. But do accompany me to the garden in the back."
Although Shi Chen was irritated at this point for being disregard as less than his other guests, she sucked it in and remained silent. She knew she needed to be on Duan Da's good side if she wanted any favors.
Once they reached the back of the palace, Duan Da motioned for Shi Chen to take a seat inside the small brown pavilion in the center of the small garden. Even for a side palace, the small garden was as big as hers back home. Duan Da waited until Shi Chen was seated first to seat himself across from him. Maids soon brought out snacks and tea for the two to enjoy. Duan Da knew Shi Chen wasn't simply just visiting him on a whim. Her whole aura and face was emitting another intention. If Jianyu hadn't asked for Duan Da to play along, he wouldn't have even agreed to it in the first place.
"So, Shi Chen what brings you to the palace? Surely you didn't just come to visit me?"
"I really did come to just visit you uncle! I heard of the empress gave birth recently and wanted to congratulate her myself, but the empress won't allow me to come to the palace anymore. "
"Oh? Why is that?"
Duan Da sips on his tea as he waited to hear what lies his niece was going to conjure up.
"It's because she's afraid I'll take the emperor from her! Uncle, you have to help me free the emperor!"
"What do you mean by free?"
"That woman is from another world! I just know she casted some spell on his majesty! Otherwise he would never be with a woman like that!"
Duan Da was barely able to contain himself. The night before the emperor had already filled him on what Shi Chen had done to Ying Yue in the past. Duan Da holds in his laughter and continues to play along.
"I had no idea! What are you planning to do?"
"Well...I didn't think that far ahead.... I was hoping you'd help me come up with a way to win over the emperor's heart."
"You think you can do that if the empress was no longer around?"
"That's right! She's the only one in my way right now!"
Duan Da finally snaps and thinks he's heard enough.
"Count me out."
"What? But you're my uncle.... you're supposed to support me."
"I would've if it didn't involve harming the emperor of the empress. My loyalty to them comes first before anyone else. If that's all you came to talk about then you may leave."
"But..but I'm your niece! I'm family! You have to help me!"
"I have my own family now! I've long abandoned my old life.... now leave. I will pretend I didn't hear you talk ill of the empress today, but in the future if I catch you. You better pray I don't kill you for it."
"If....if you won't help me, then I don't need your help!"
Shi Chen could see anger and blood lust in Duan Da's eyes. Unable to take it anymore she quickly runs out of the jade garden and heads towards the exit of the palace. Unable to contain herself, Shi Chen shakes in fear as she thinks of Duan Da's last words. Shi Chen was finally able to breath and calm down once she was outside the jade palace.
"My lady, are you alright?"
"Ah Yi, did you see that man eye's? Those were the eyes of someone who's killed before. I was fool to think he'd help me. Guess I can't count on him."
"What're you going to do now?"
"I don't know...let's head back to the carriage for now."
Shi Chen and Ah Yi makes their way back to the main entrance and heads back to the prime minister's residence. While sitting inside the carriage in silence, an Idea finally struck her.
"Ah Yi!"
"What is it my lady?"
"Isn't the summer festival next month?!"
"That's right my lady."
"That's it! Nobles will all gather at the palace for a night of fun hosted by the emperor! This is my chance!"
"My lady, I don't think that will work. I mean there's going to be too many people watching."
"That's the point! They can't blame me if anything happens when there's going to be a ton of other people!"
"I will follow whatever you want to do, my lady."