Preparations

The assistant is panicking, the empress is still lost in thought, but the two suddenly flinched when they heard some footsteps approaching.

"Mother, your son heard you are not yet ready for the occasion. Is there something wrong?" Yin uninterruptedly entered his mother's room. Despite all the calculations around him, his care for his mother is always been one of his priorities; so, when her assistant asked for help, he decidedly delegated to his people the pending works to look after her situation.

Unexpectedly, Yin came through the door and interrupted her thoughts.

"Your mother can take care of herself. My son shouldn't be here" the empress reprimanded but she is smiling softly, then looked sharply at her assistant who immediately looked the other way.

"Isn't it that your son is missing his mother and is willing to escort the most wonderful woman to present to the world" Yin immediately caught away the attention of his mother to lessen the punishment the assistant might receive later.

"Only my foolish son would say such things. Your fiancée is waiting for you, why would you hold an old lady instead of a young beautiful woman" the empress still managed to stir her thoughts rationally. As much as she wanted to her son's pampering.

"Truly you jest mother. In your son's eyes, there can never be a woman that I can admire more than you" although Yin said that, a person's face momentarily appeared in his thoughts.

He has been so busy the past few days that he hadn't had enough time to think about her, and although there's a big chance that he would see her during the banquet but the situation is going to be really awkward on his side.

Yin pushed away the thought and concentrated on his mother.

Although he feels like he is the closest person to her, at times like this, he is still not privy of her thoughts. But at least, he would like to share a little of her burden. That's why, he needed to secure the power in order to firmly sit on the throne and let his mother freely do what she wants. Even if he had to hurt a lot of people in the process even himself.

That's the least he could do in order to pay for all of his mother's care for him.

The empress noticed that her son was momentarily distracted. Misunderstanding that he is probably tired from all the responsibilities he had to handle these days, she finally made up her mind to prepare for the banquet as to not add worry to her beloved son.

"Alright, all of you, I know your concerns. Let's prepare for the occasion" the empress gave signal to her assistant then looked back to her son.

"Thank you for visiting me, now, let your mother do her thing, and don't be distracted anymore" the empress tried to push her son away.

"Don't worry mother, I have already finished all the task at hand. It shouldn't be a bad thing to rest a bit here while waiting for you" since Yin already freed his hand, he would also take advantage of the little time to get some rest.

"Your father might get disappointed" the empress tried to reason but was just saying things for the sake of it.

"There was never a day that he isn't" then the two of them smiled bitterly.

"You know that's not true"

"Mother, I'm not a child anymore. You don't have to cover for him. I've long since known that I can never get in his sight. That's why, I will take responsible for myself, and for you as well"

Seeing her son having his own plans, the empress nodded in agreement and decided to also break away from her shell.

"Then stay on the lounge for the meantime"

Yin was about to leave when he saw the heavily sealed suitcase.

"This is?"

"A chess piece" the empress answered meaningfully.

"Huh" then Yin turned away.

The imperial banquet always matches the first snowfall of the year.

This also signifies that Yue can finally go out from her room.

After the last incident, her brother, parents, and grandfather all agreed to let her reflect on her actions.

They had decided to give her a silent treatment, but even though that's the case, they sent her a lot of gadgets so she won't be bored in her room.

Instead of getting annoyed, Yue felt their warmest concern for her and she was overwhelmed with happiness, so she meekly nodded her head to her fate.

She heard a knock and turned to the door.

It's finally time to get ready for the banquet.

This night will determine whether she can work besides the imperial family.