"Feng Mian, would you mind explaining to me what happened that caused the plan to fail?" asked Yu Yingyi.

    "I wouldn''t say the plan failed, it was more like something happened that made the plan seem less important to follow." Song Feng Mian replied.

    "Alright, then tell me what happened. Summarize it into small parts," said Yu Yingyi.

    "My mother caught me leaving the room and I decided to run away from her. But since I was mindlessly running, I didn''t realize where I was going until I hit a dead-end which led to my mother confronting me about the events.. Right before my mother left, Jia Xin Yi suddenly appeared and the rest of it was them talking and deciding what to do." Song Feng Mian explained.

    "That ''s surprising, how did your mother catch you in the first place?" asked Yu Yingyi.

    "I was trying to get something for the outfit I was going to have you wear, but it seems it was useless since I got caught, I don''t think it''s as good as the dress you''re wearing now either," said Song Feng Mian.

    "I wouldn''t say that, I haven''t even seen what you were going to have me wear. Moreover, with your makeover skills, I''m pretty sure you''d make a dress on par with my dress," said Yu Yingyi.

    "Haha, thank you for the compliment. Though I think you''re overestimating my skills, the dress you''re wearing is incredibly well designed, where did you get it?" asked Song Feng Mian.

    "I don''t know actually," said Yu Yingyi as she turned to Jia Yi. "Didn''t you give me this dress, Jia Yi? Where did you get it?"

    "I found it inside of a box in front of the entrance of the palace, there was a note that said it was meant for you. I thought you told someone to deliver it to you so I took it inside." Jia Yi replied.

    "I never asked someone to deliver it to us. Does that mean I basically stole someone''s dress and wore it?" asked Yu Yingyi feeling worried.

    "Nope, it did say that the delivery was meant for you so I guess the person who delivered it to you wanted you to have it," said Song Feng Mian.

    "But that''s the problem here, the problem is who''s the one that sent it since Yingyi seems to be clueless about it," said Jia Yi.

    Before they could dig any further into who delivered it, the crowd seemed to become active again and started cheering.

    Yu Yingyi turned around to see what was going on that caused the crowd to cheer. When she saw it, her eyes widened in shock, was what she was seeing real?

    Song Zihan and Jia Xin Yi were walking alongside each other, the citizens made a path for them as they started walking in her direction.

    Yu Yingyi didn''t prepare for this, what was she supposed to say if the empress asked something she didn''t know how to answer? But instead, she was asked a simple question.

    "Do I go onto the stage and speak?'' asked Song Zihan.

    "Ah, uh, yes. Liya should be up there too, she''ll hand over the mic to you when you''re on top." Yu Yingyi replied.

    "Alright."

    Yu Yingyi didn''t expect the conversation to go as lightly as this, but the empress seemed to be different than before. The atmosphere around the empress seemed to be calmer and...happier. Yingyi didn''t know how to describe it. Song Zihan just looked happier.

    When Yu Yingyi''s eyes trailed down, she saw Song Zihan and Jia Xin Yi''s hands connect for a split moment before they parted as they walked up the stairs.

    Yu Yingyi smiled, it seems like they won the game. Song Zihan was finally happy and avoided the tragic ending. At this moment, Yu Yingyi could already guess what was going to happen.

    Song Zihan would announce her acceptance of same-sex relationships, though she probably won''t reveal her relationship with Jia Xin Yi.

    "What do you think is going to happen?" asked Song Feng Mian.

    "Who knows? Let''s watch everything unfold in the distance, there''s nothing else for us to do." Yu Yingyi replied.

    Finally, Yu Yingyi finished something she''s been wanting to finish for a while now. But she felt more relieved when she figured out Song Zihan wasn''t going to shut down the event.

    "I would''ve never expected this moment."

    Yu Yingyi nearly jumped when Song Liya''s voice appeared out of nowhere, just where did she come from?

    "Where did you come from?" Yu Yingyi asked.

    "Ah, I went from the other side since my mother was blocking the stairway. Jeez, she really made me jump down," said Song Liya.

    "Are you okay?"

    "I''m fine, though my mother seems to be a bit different."

    "You realize it too? Let''s way for her announcement, maybe we''ll find out why she''s different."

    "Alright."

    Soon enough, the crowd turned silent, Song Zihan must''ve gestured them to calm down since there was nonstop talking amongst the crowd.

    "As you all already know, I''m the empress, Song Zihan, and I''m here to make an announcement regarding the situation that happened earlier," said Song Zihan.

    Continuing, "Before we get into it, I have something to say as the empress. There were times where I acted irrationally. Perhaps I acted that way because I was afraid of what you all were going to think of me which was why I put on a disguise and hid my true self."

    When Song Zihan said that, instead of the crowd booing, they cheered. All of them denied that Song Zihan was in the wrong and that everything was fine. Yu Yingyi smiled at the sight, it seems like she wasn''t a bad empress at all.

    "Thank you for the cheers, now we''re going to discuss the subject the prince who is now the princess was talking about," said Song Zihan.

    The entire crowd went silent once again hearing this, to them, this was more important than the announcement she just made earlier.

    "Since you all seem supportive of the idea of same-sex relationships. Since I''m the empress, what other choice do I have other than supporting along with you?"

    Immediately, the crowd erupted into cheers. Finally, they didn''t have to hide. With the princess and her wife supporting them as well as the empress, who would dare go against it?

    "WOOOOOO!"

    "YOU''RE THE BEST EMPRESS!"

    "THANK YOU!"

    The entire plaza was filled with a joyful atmosphere, everyone was happy and people were celebrating with each other. It didn''t matter if they were nobles or commoners, something as trivial as that didn''t compare to the happiness and joy they were feeling.

    Yu Yingyi and Song Liya turned towards each other and embraced each other in a tight hug.

    "We did it, Liya!"

    "I know we did, it''s all thanks to you, Yingyi."

    Despite not looking at each other, they both knew they were smiling as widely as they can.

    "Sorry to interrupt your moment, but it seems like they have more to say," said Song Feng Mian.

    "Hmm? That wasn''t it?" Yu Yingyi muttered. "What else is there to say?"

    "Let''s find out."

    "Calm down everyone, there''s something else I''d like to announce," said Song Zihan as the crowd quieted down. "I''d like to use this event to my advantage, that''s why I''m announcing that the emperor and I are officially divorced. I know you''re listening Genghu."

    Everyone including Yu Yingyi was surprised, she didn''t expect her to announce their divorce in front of the entire city. That was when a short and gentle breeze came, Song Zihan''s fluttered back revealing her face.

    "Why''re you staring at my mother so intensely?" asked Song Liya.

    Still not taking her eyes off the empress, Yingyi answered, "Don''t you think she looks freer?"

    "She does?" Song Liya asked, not noticing the difference.

    "Hmm, perhaps it''s just me. Whatever it is, the empress is probably experiencing feelings she would never forget," said Yu Yingyi.

    "You''re finally set free, Zihan." Jia Xin Yi muttered behind Song Zihan. "How do you feel?"

    Song Zihan let out a small chuckle. "I''m feeling all types of emotions, but I guess I''m feeling happiness the most."

    "So, what''re you going to do after this?" Jia Xin Yi asked.

    "I don''t know yet, I came to the event on a whim and because of you. I didn''t plan anything yet." Song Zihan replied.

    "I see," Jia Xin Yi muttered. "Say, would you be lonely if I left?"

    "Is that really a question that needs to be answered? Of course, I''ll feel lonely if you left," said Song Zihan.

    "Then I guess I''m going to stay here for a while then. Don''t worry, there are people who can take care of the Jia Empire while I''m gone."

    Song Zihan turned around and stared into Jia Xin Yi''s eyes. "Are you serious?"

    "I am."

    "Then, do you promise to tell me when you have to leave? I don''t want to be left hanging like before."

    "I promise, but as I said earlier, it''ll be in a while until I go back to the Jia empire."

    "I''m glad."

    For the first time, Yu Yingyi saw a genuine smile formed on the empress''s face, it looked good on her. With this, the Blooming of Lilies event ended with the final Lily''s bloom.

    "Though, what''re we going to do with the citizens?"