Chapter 32: How Could You Come to Such an Important Occasion by Yourself

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: How Could You Come to Such an Important Occasion by Yourself

At eight o’clock in the evening, Shu Yao, accompanied by Shu Xin, arrived at the sixty-sixth floor of the Imperial Empire Tower for her appointment with the Empress.

Night had already fallen outside, but the interior was a blaze of brilliant light.

Shu Xin wanted to accompany Shu Yao into the venue, but the guards posted on either side of the door were unyielding.

Not knowing what awaited her daughter on the other side of the door, she grew increasingly uneasy.

Security for the Empress’s visit was ironclad. There was no way for Shu Xin to sneak in, even if she wanted to, so she had no choice but to give up.

Besides, she knew that in situations like this—when faced with a known but unspecified danger she couldn’t prepare for—it was her duty as a mother to remain more composed than anyone else!

"Yaoyao, don’t be afraid!"

Shu Yao wasn’t afraid, but she noticed that Shu Xin’s nerves were stretched taut.

"Mom, relax. I’ll be fine."

Shu Xin seemed to think her daughter was just trying to reassure herself.

As she smoothed a loose thread on Shu Yao’s white sweater—snagged by Xiao Juzi’s claws—she chided with a hint of annoyance, "I told you to wear that gown from the other day, but you wouldn’t listen!"

"Didn’t you say that gown was made from the leftover fabric of one of the Empress’s own? If I came here wearing that, wouldn’t I be sending a blatant message to the Empress?

Even if I win this fight tonight, people would still talk because of the dress.

I don’t mind if they say I won dishonorably, but it would be bad if people thought the Empress was showing favoritism."

Seeing how thoughtful Shu Yao was being, Shu Xin’s eyes began to well up.

She wished her Yaoyao didn’t have to be so sensible!

Her heart ached for her daughter. Forcing herself to calm down, Shu Xin spoke with resolve:

"Once you’re inside, send me a message every ten minutes. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll risk my life and storm in there myself!"

Shu Yao sighed helplessly. "I really should have left you at home with my younger uncle to keep Xiao Juzi company."

After bidding her mother farewell, Shu Yao walked to the door.

The guards on either side opened the door for her.

She stepped into the dazzlingly bright venue, and the large white doors swung shut behind her.

The venue was decorated in a European style, with white as the dominant color. A massive crystal chandelier cast a brilliant white light, making the space feel both bright and comfortable. At the center of the room, directly beneath the chandelier, a long dining table covered with a sea-blue cloth took up most of the space.

An attendant led Shu Yao to her seat.

Lin Yaodong and Zhen Zhen had arrived earlier, dressed to the nines and in high spirits. But the moment they saw Shu Yao, their expressions turned foul.

Sarcasm dripped from Zhen Zhen’s voice as she began, "Well, well. For such an important occasion, why have you come all by yourself?"

She pursed her lips. "Then again, if I were them, I wouldn’t want to come to an event like this with you either. Why would I want to be publicly humiliated alongside you?"

Shu Yao gave a dry chuckle. "To deal with the two of you, I’m more than enough on my own."

Zhen Zhen’s face fell. Wary of the formal setting, she didn’t dare make a scene, so she lowered her voice to a harsh whisper and spat:

"You ungrateful little brat. If Xiangxiang hadn’t pleaded for you, and if the Empress hadn’t intervened, I would have made sure you were locked up in the interstellar prison!"

Lin Yaodong interjected with false concern. "Yaoyao, for the sake of the bond we once shared as father and daughter, I’ll give you a piece of friendly advice. It’s not too late for you to take that little burden of yours and go back to Zone 9. From now on, you should stop fantasizing about the position of the Lin Family’s eldest daughter. And stop causing trouble for your mother and uncle."

Shu Yao just smiled coldly, not deigning to reply.

Zhen Zhen’s gaze, full of contempt, raked over Shu Yao’s body.

Seizing the opportunity, she launched another attack. "What in the world are you wearing! Coming to an appointment with the Empress dressed like *that*? You have no sense of propriety! Are your mother and uncle really so poor they can’t even bear to buy you a single decent outfit?

That gown you wore to the celebration banquet last time... you didn’t borrow it, did you? Wore it once and had to return it. I suppose no one would want to wear an outfit after a lowlife like you has had it on. Still, what a terrible waste of a beautiful dress!

Our Xiangxiang had no reason to be envious at all!"