Ying Yue had just woken up from her sleep due to her daughter's little wails. With her body aching; she still forces herself to sit up and breastfeed her daughter. With a deep yawn, Ying Yue burps her daughter before walking to her water bin and washing her face. Not even five minutes later, Shen An comes knocking at her door.
"Knock Knock."
Qian Lan quickly props a side of the door open and walks in with Junjei was happily running to Ying Yue and hugging her legs.
"Good morning, your highness. I hope you're feeling better today."
"A bit better than yesterday. Did you feed Junjei?"
"Yes, he was able to eat some porridge and bit of boiled meat at your mothers."
Ying Yue smiles and pats her son on the head for doing well.
"You did well, Junjei."
"Heh, Mama!"
Junjei reaches out his hands and waits for Ying Yue to pick him up. Ying Yue sighs and bends down to pick up Junjei. She quickly places him on the bed with Ru Shi.
"Shen An, help me get ready. I have to visit someone today."
Shen An quickly nods and helps undress Ying Yue. She quickly runs to a drawer and pulls out a clean yellow dress and helps Ying Yue into it.
"Your highness, would you like me to do your hair and makeup today as well?"
"That won't be necessary. Take the prince and princess to my mother and stay with her there. I will be heading out to find the emperor."
"As you wish, your highness."
Shen An carries off Ru Shi as Junjei held onto her hand. Once they were out of sight, Ying Yue heads off to find Jianyu. After walking for fifteen minutes, Ying Yue could now see the guards outside Jianyu's palace.
The two guards quickly notice Ying Yue and greets her. Out of the two, the taller one explains to Ying Yue that Jianyu was still in his meetings.
"Your highness, his majesty has not returned yet."
'Is he in the throne room?"
"Yes, your highness."
Ying Yue sighs and drags herself towards the throne room. With not a moment to lose, Ying Yue barges into the throne palace and makes her way towards the throne room. Without even knocking, Ying Yue slams open a side of the door; catching everyone in the room off guard. Jianyu who was sitting at the front and center of the room, quickly walks towards Ying Yue as she enters.
"My empress, why are you here?"
Ying Yue motions for Jianyu to lean in as she whispers into his ear.
"The white tree is dying. Your mother wants to say farewell."
Jianyu stares at Ying Yue's jade eyes before smiling and nodding before turning around and dismissing everyone.
"Ministers! Today's meeting is over! We will resume tomorrow morning!"
Jianyu grabs Ying Yue's hand and drags her out of the throne room and into a side room. Quickly chanting away, he creates a portal to the white tree and pulls Ying Yue through the portal with him. Within seconds, Ying Yue could see the white tree.
"The leaves have all fallen off."
"Where is the tree, Ying Yue?"
"Here."
Ying Yue grabs hold of Jianyu's hand and walks him over to the dying tree. Closing her eyes, Ying Yue sinks her hand through the tree's consciousness; taking Jianyu with her this time.
"Jianyu, open your eyes."
Jianyu slowly opens his eyes and realizes he was now inside the tree's consciousness. Rather than beautiful and vast land surrounding them. All Ying Yue and Jianyu could see was a dried-up lake, a red sky filled and dead grass and trees. Standing in the center of everything was the figure of a woman that was all too familiar to Jianyu. Ying Yue lets go of Jianyu's hand and motions him to run to her.
"Mo... mother!"
The woman finally turns around and realizes it was Jianyu and Ying Yue that had entered into her world.
"Jianyu!"
Jianyu's mother screamed with tear filled eyes. The mother and son embraced one another as the world continued to collapses in front of them. Ying Yue smiled from the distance and watched as Jianyu cried like a child from reuniting with his mother.
"Mother, what's happening?"
"Heh…heh...Don't worry my son. I am just leaving to be with your father. I only remained in this world because of the promise I made to your father before he died. Now that I've fulfilled that, there's nothing binding me to this world anymore."
"Promise? What promise are you talking about mother?"
Jianyu's mother smiles and pulls away from Jianyu.
"I promised to make sure the dragon line doesn't die out. My second promise to take care of Bai Chun. Now, that Ying Yue has completed those promises for me, I can finally rest after five hundred years."
"Mother…."
"Don't be sad my son. Your brother and father have been waiting for me for five hundred years. I think it's time I answers their calls. Now, you two need to leave. This world won't hold much longer before it collapses."
Jianyu's mother leans in and places a kiss on Jianyu's forehead and walks over to hug Ying Yue before sending them out of the tree's world. Ying Yue quickly opens her eyes and realizes the tree was no longer in front of her anymore.
"It's gone now…."
"The tree?"
"Yes…I think your mother is finally at peace now."
Ying Yue stands up and walks behind the water fall. Unsure of what Ying Yue was doing, Jianyu quickly follows after Ying Yue. A few minutes later they both emerged from outside of the cave. Ying Yue stared at the familiar scenery before her and smiles.
"This was my first memory of the dragon kingdom. Vast green fields, fresh air, and nature."
"Do you regret coming to this world?"
"I did at first. I hated being forced into things against my will, but now I'm happy. I have you, my mother and our children."
Jianyu smiles and pulls Ying Yue into an embrace and kisses her forehead as they both enjoyed the scenery before them.
"The same goes for me."