The duchess felt really uneasy ever since suzhen went to the palace and now it's getting late but there's no sign of her.
when she heard the sound of horses approaching,she walked outside and saw prince Haoran getting out of the carriage while carrying a lady.
wait is that...suzhen....
"huh! suzhen, my dear!!!"
her smile was replaced with a worried look.
she walked towards the prince and asked when she got near "prince Haoran,what happened?"
he immediately replied "she's fine,she needs sleep as for the details she'll tell you. well,she almost got hypothermia so she needs to sleep for some energy."
The Duchess was confused as to why suzhen almost got hypothermia.
"oh,her rooms upstairs.let me take you there" the Duchess gestured the way and prince Haoran followed her to the room.
---------------
Prince Haoran carefully lied suzhen on the bed and then covered her with the covers.
prince Haoran was about to bid the Duchess good bye when she suddenly spoke up "prince Haoran, what's wrong with suzhen?"
he sighed "it's something to do with marriage with the prince of naishi. she looked sad and ended up like this.but before this happened she talked with the empress. I don't know what they talked about but I think it was nothing good. I think she'll give you the details."
"oh..."
"I'm leaving,my Lady"
"oh.... thank you my prince"
Giving suzhen one last glance did he then leave.
-------------
when suzhen woke up late at night she went to the Duke's private study who seems to be working,and they didn't expect what was coming for them.
"why didn't you tell me,father!" suzhen yell indignantly.
standing up she continued "she have at the least told mum but regardless of that I will never marry him"
giving the duke and duchess one last glance she immediately left the study.
Horus who was quite the entire time followed after suzhen.
Fuming with anger the Duchess glared at the duke. she clenched her fists and pressed her teeth.
"you..."
Waving his hands,the duke walked to the Duchess who was so ready to punch him and held her fisted hands.
" Dear...."
"don't dear me when my daughter's in pain. sob,you should have at least told me. Alas,my daughter will marry a stranger"
angrily, the Duchess continued slapping the Duke's chest.
"why me daughter, I can't let her fall into a loveless marriage." tears fell on the Duchess's cheeks.
why should her only daughter be so unlucky.
The duke tried to comfort her. He embraced her and stroked her hair. " shhhh,I wish i could stop this marriage but this has to happen for the sake of the kingdom and it's people. I'm sorry but the decision is final and our daughters marriage to the prince of naishi will be finalized."
The Duchess cried her heart out. Fine. she would have to let go of her daughter.
FOREVER.
"Try to make our daughter understand, okay?" she heard him say.
He got no response. "Feijing" he raised a brow.
why should she make her daughter understand. This life is like falling from a cliff,but instead of being saved, you'll fall right into a ditch and you'll have to save yourself. no one's reliable.
she reluctantly nodded and sighed with a heavy heart.
--------------
"suzhen please eat your food" Horus tried to get suzhen to eat her food but she didn't.
"young miss.please eat for your sake, if not then for your family's sake" the servants struggled too.
suzhen had been standing in front of the window as she stared at the night sky not even uttering a single word.
suddenly the door opened.
"you may all leave"
"mum..."
"you too Horus"
the door then opened and everyone left.
"My dear,please eat something"
suzhen didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
she heard footsteps getting near and soon the Duchess was right besides her.
"mum.please leave,I just want to be left alone".
Hearing this from her hurt the Duchess areal bad. she could hear the nervousness in Suzhen's voice.
she plac d a hand on suzhen's shoulders and asked "suzhen,are you alright. you can tell Mama anything"
suzhen slowly nodded.
"suzhen , your my daughter. you're important to me. you know that ,right?"
the duchess sadly smiled "your strong my dear and no matter what happens you gotta be brave. Be ready,ok. the prince of naishi will be visiting you tommorow. This isn't over, you're not yet engaged. ANYTHING could happen".
she turned to the food and added " the food is cold,I'll send the maids to get you a new bowl. please eat ,ok."
with that said the Duchess left, leaving suzhen puzzled.
What did she mean by 'anything'