A week passes and it was time for Ying Yue and Jianyu to confront the royal family of Xinjing. Ying Yue felt like her old self after resolving her issues in regards to Shi Chen and the prime minister. Like any other morning, Ying Yue wakes up and feeds her soon as she waits for Shen An and Li An to help her get ready. Only difference today was, Ying Yue outfit choice.
"My lady, I brought you the outfit you requested."
"Thanks, Shen An. You can put it on the table."
Ying Yue places the sleeping Junjei onto the bed and walks over to her makeup table.
"My lady, why are you asking for men clothing again?"
"I have something to tend to this afternoon. I'll be busy with his majesty so you two will stay with my mother in her residence with Junjei."
"Did you want your makeup done today?"
"No, keep everything simple. I might sweat it off today if I wear any."
Shen An and Li An couldn't understand what Ying Yue meant, but brushed it off. Shen An tied Ying Yue's hair up into a ponytail and helped her change in the men outfit. It was a black outfit with gold embroidery in the front of the shirt. Just as Ying Yue was finishing up, Jianyu knocks on her bedroom door.
"Knock Knock."
"Come in."
"Ying Yue, are you ready?"
"Yeah, just about ready."
Ying Yue glances at Jianyu and realizes her was wearing the same thing as her.
"Really? Let me guess, you gave this outfit to Shen An so I would match you?"
"Heh Heh, there's nothing wrong with wearing matching clothing."
"Fine, I guess you have a point. Can you create a portal and take the twins and Junjei to mother? I already informed mother about them staying with her."
"Of course, anything for my wife and son."
Jianyu quickly opens up a portal and motions for the twin sister to enter. Ying Yue moves to her bed and picks up the bundled Junjei and hands him to Shen An. Once the portal was closed, Ying Yue grabs her sword from under her pillow and motions Jianyu to create another portal to Xinjing. Within mere seconds, Ying Yue and Jianyu were now standing inside a tea shop in Xinjing. Jianyu quickly changed his hair color and glances around the room.
"Why'd you bring us to the tea shop?"
"It's where I first came by accident. I want to check something quick."
Jianyu grabs hold of Ying Yue's right hand and they quickly exited the tea shop. Jianyu brings Ying Yue to the large tree at the end of the block in hopes of finding the man that was story telling there before.
To his surprise the tree was now gone and there was no sight of the man. A random young woman walking past Ying Yue and Jianyu could see them searching for someone.
"Ah, if you're looking for the man who used to tell stories here. He was executed a month ago."
Jianyu couldn't believe what he was hearing. With Ying Yue still in hand the offered for the woman to join them for tea as she filled them in more. The woman gladly accepts and brings them to a larger tea shop at the other end of the block. Jianyu motions for the woman to order whatever she wanted.
"Order whatever you like, but in return please tell us more about what happened to that man."
"Alright, then I'm not holding back."
The woman goes on to order a total of seven dishes and a large container of wine. The woman sips on her wine happily as she waited for her food.
"Ah....where to begin. That man was famous for a while. Everyone liked his storytelling. But for some reason he was executed for treason."
"Treason?"
"Yeah, apparently he sold information to the dragon emperor. What's worse, his own little sister reported him. She apparently got a good sum of money from getting her own brother killed. Can you believe that? Talk about heartless. Now there's even rumors she's staying in the palace as a concubine of the crown prince."
Jianyu felt slightly responsible. There was a high chance he was the indirect cause of this man's death. Ying Yue could see guilt on Jianyu's face. With him remaining silent, Ying Yue decided she was going to take over on asking questions.
"You said this woman was made a concubine? Isn't she just a commoner?"
"She is, I mean she was the beauty of the town. It's not unusual to see nobles take commoners as wives in Xinjing."
"Isn't it a little cruel to just kill someone off?"
"Well, it's because of that man that we're stuck in this drought and it's supposed to be the harvest season soon, yet none of our crops are growing. The poor are the ones suffering the most. Nobles can just purchase goods from merchants that come daily, but what about us poor people?"
"The royal family hasn't done anything to help?"
"What can they do? It's a curse I tell yah! I bet it was there fault we're in this situation."
"What situation are you talking about?"
"You haven't heard? You two must be new in town. Apparently, the crown prince kidnapped the dragon empress, that's why the dragon emperor went into a rage and cursed us! We can't even leave the city if we wanted to! Everywhere we go, nothing grows! Those who try to leave always end up coming back."
Ying Yue remained silent. As much as she hated Xinjing's royal family she couldn't bring herself to continue punishing the innocent and the poor. Ying Yue knew the woman's words held truth due to the number of people she saw begging on the roads earlier. Once the food arrived the woman asked for the food to be packed up.
"Oh? You're not eating them?"
"My mother and I run an orphanage here, the kids there needs this more than me."
Ying Yue reaches into her pocket and takes out what little gold she brought with her. She grabs the woman's hand and places her money bag in hand.
"It's not much, but I hope this helps."
The woman thanks Ying Yue and heads out with her containers of food. Ying Yue looks at Jianyu and motions to him that it was time to visited the royal family. Jianyu purchases a small room above the tea shop. Quickly locking them in, Jianyu creates a portal and teleports Ying Yue and him to the throne room. Within a split-second Ying Yue and Jianyu were now standing in front of the king of Xinjing. The king quickly notices Ying Yue and sends a guard off to grab the crown prince. All the ministers in the room quickly ran to hide by a corner as they watched Jianyu's hair change back into red.
"Well, if it isn't Ying Yue. So nice of you to return to Xinjing."
"I didn't come here for some sweet talk. I came to make a deal."
Ying Yue reaches for her sword that was tied to her waist. As she pulled out the sword, guards quickly surrounded the king. Within a few minutes the crown prince bursts in through the door and realizes Ying Yue was really back.
"Ying Yue!"
"Stay back!"
The crown prince stops in his track and finally notices Jianyu standing next to Ying Yue.
"Oh, you're here also."
"Disappointed? I wouldn't leave my wife alone with someone like you."
"How rude. Since you're here, why don't you lift up this curse?"
Ying Yue steps in front of Jianyu and locks eyes with the crown prince. Showing little to no emotions, Ying Yue cuts off the crown prince.
"Tell us where Bai Chun is."
"Why should I?"
"I'll lift the curse in exchange for the whereabouts of Bai Chun."
The crown prince was no longer smiling. He remained silent and reaches into his sash to pull out his fan. Slowly fanning himself he walks past Ying Yue and moves to stand next to the king.
"Give me a reason to agree to that."
"Do you want to avoid a revolt from your people or not?"
"They wouldn't dare do something like that."
"People will do anything when they have been pushed into a corner for far too long. Food is scarce as it is right now. How will your people make it through the winter?"
The crown prince remains silent once again. Ying Yue had some truths to her words as much as he hated to admit it.