She stood in front of him with a very pained expression on her face, the prime minister could see that she must have been lonely, but it is her own retribution for betraying her own father for a man who does not love her, according to him.

She dropped to her knees, tightly clutching her dress, the prime minister was taken aback, she has not bothered with him or her brother for years, but she actually kneeled in front of him.

​​

"What are you doing, your majesty? this is not befitting for an empress,"

"Father, I know I did wrong by betraying you and not fulfilling my filial duty all these years, please forgive me," she implored.

"After all these years…it seems like your majesty really can't take it anymore, the emperor whom you betrayed me for has not given you or your children any love for years, this is already expected," the prime minister coldly taunted.

"Father, I admit my wrongdoing, but I really need you, the emperor only favours the imperial consort, and the noble consort has the great general behind her, if this goes on and the emperor decided to select the crown prince, my children might not stand a chance," she persisted in tears and sobbing, the prime minister sighed then he kneeled on one knee.

"You are my daughter, even if I still have your brother, I won't forsake, even though you betrayed me, I still have your best interest but from now on, your loyalty must lie with your family not the emperor who will still forsake you no matter what you do for him," she shook her head in response then he sighed and wiped her tears.

He held her by her shoulder then he helped her up, she smiled broadly and heaved a sigh of relief.

How can she not understand her father intention in forgiving her despite her betrayal, her father might still love her as his child but that alone is not enough to earn her father's forgiveness, the only reason why he is wiling to have her back on his boat is only because of her children…he needs them to gain absolute power in the court.

- - - - - - - -

"Have you seen Yu Yan, she should be here by now?" Jia Yu inquired of An Ke as soon as An Ke entered her office, Jia Yu had been waiting to see her at least to confirm if she is alright but she has been waiting in front of Yu Yan and Han Chen's office, but she still didn't see her, so she decided to ask the others.

"I haven't, I thought she must have contacted you, did you hear anything from your cousin?" An Ke asked, she has just managed to take care of her patients without minding the rumours surrounding Yu Yan and Chen Kai that is going around the hospital.

"No, I haven't, and I have been calling him since yesterday…she was injured, what if something bad has happened to her?" she ruffled her hair and cupped her face in her hand.

"Yu Yan is strong…"

"Have you heard from Yu Yan yet?" Li Chen who was just entering the office after his round questioned as soon as he entered.

"No, you haven't heard from her either…this won't do, I am going to her house," she turned around to leave but An Ke held her hand.

"She definitely didn't go home last night, I phoned her mother last night, but she said Yu Yan isn't home yet, I had to lie to her to make her not pursue the matter," An Ke reported.

"She must not want her parents to find out about what happened yesterday, after all, her mother strongly warned her against the relationship…. Chen Kai that d*mn Jerk," Li Chen cursed, just remembering how he denied her yesterday and even made her seem like a gold digger and slut in front of everyone.

"Everyone is talking about what happened last night and I am worried that the team leader might be angry since she is not at work, I will go speak with her," An Ke offered.

"There is no need, I have already informed the team leader that she won't be coming to work throughout this week because she is sick," Han Chen informed as he entered the office, they all turned to him.

"Brother, why didn't you pick my calls?"

"I didn't know you called," he answered.

"Sick, is it serious?" Li Chen inquired with worry written on their faces.

"She just has a slight fever and I have already treated the cut on her wrist, it should be alright,"

"Her wrist…her hand is very important to her as a surgeon, I hope nothing goes wrong," Li Chen remarked.

"Where is she now?"

"At my house," he blankly answered.

They all reacted to his answer but their concern for her is too big to make it a big deal.

"Not that this is the first time…I will be coming to your house this evening then,"

"I doubt she will still be at my house by then, she didn't want to stay at my house, but I had to persuade her," He lied, although she didn't say anything, he could see that she seemed very comfortable in his house and with him, but he left the mansion as early as he could, so she won't be awkward when she sees him.

"That's right, she is not the type to be comfortable there, I will have to wait until she picks up my call then," they all sighed.

- - - - - -

She entered the apartment, hoping her parents will not be home so she can use the chance to pack her things out of the house into her already furnished apartment, even if she has to break the news to them, she doesn't want to do it while she still has to spend the night in the house with them.

Fortunately for her, no one was at home, especially her mother who is mostly always at home or with the neighbours, she hurriedly packed her things in three large suitcase and one bag then she carried them to the parking lot in two trips.

She had just closed the boot and was about to enter the car when she heard someone calling her name, from the voice, she knew it was her mother.

"Mum," she answered, turning around with a forced smile.

"Where are you going with that luggage?" she asked, seeing the suitcases in the boot before she shut them.

"Mum, I am moving out today," she answered, lowering her head.

She knit her eyebrows and moved closer to her, pressing the lock button of her car key.

"Why all of a sudden, I know you were going to move out but you didn't say you were moving out so soon and you almost left without informing us?" her mother questioned, with an interrogating look on her face.

At this point, she knew she has no choice then to tell everything to her mum and leave her with the task of explaining it to her dad.

"Let's go in first," she collected the plastic bags filled with groceries from her mum then she walked ahead of her.

As soon as they got the apartment, she placed the bags in the kitchen and returned to the parlour where her mum was seated, looking worried.

"Go on, what happened yesterday and why are you leaving suddenly?"

"Mum, I broke up with Chen Kai," she answered, her mother's face turned blank as though she didn't hear what she just said.

"What did you just say?"

"I broke up with Chen Kai yesterday," she repeated.

Thwack!

She held her cheek where she has just been slapped, she turned back to her mother with teary eyes.

"Mum…."

"I should slap you again, you don't even need to tell me why he broke up with you because I already know why, his family either refused to let you two be together and disrespected you or he ended things with you," she stated, raising her voice with a pained expression in her eyes.

The wronged look on her face faded away, hearing her mother, she understood why her mum slapped her.

"Mum…"

"I was against this relationship in the first place, I warned you that you were going to get hurt, this is how it always ends up, I warned you not to get hurt no matter what, but you still went on with it," her eyes started turning teary even though she tried to supress it.

She doesn't want to show that she pities her daughter, all she wants her to know is that she is very angry with her.

"Mum..."

"Why, why…why did you let yourself get hurt?" the question broke her completely, the strong façade she was trying to maintain shattered as the tears started dropping.

"I am sorry Mum, I should have listened to you but…"

"But you thought he really loved you," the anger on her face was overtaken by sympathy for her daughter, she moved closer to her and wrapped her arms around her.

"My dear daughter, I should have stopped you and maintained my stance then you wouldn't have gotten hurt," she shut her eyes tightly letting the tears flow freely.