"Send a few more gifts... oh, my poor heart..." Clarissa Summers clutched her chest and started complaining. "Tell me, why would the Drake Abyss Crown Princess investiture invite us mere mortal rulers? It feels just like a Hongmen Banquet—one of those infamous trap banquets from ancient history!"
"A Hongmen Banquet?" Marcus White looked lost. "Why does it feel like a trap to you?"
"What if they're scheming against the Fiend Empress and Lily—and then grab us as hostages?" Clarissa's anxiety only grew the more she thought about it. "Maybe we shouldn't go!"
"Didn't Lily say so herself? Our son-in-law has been completely vindicated! All those terrible things—they weren't his fault!" Marcus White reassured her. "When has Lily ever been wrong about anything?"
"But I just can't shake this uneasy feeling..."
"Stop being so paranoid. Lily said we have to go, and both she and Bobby will be there!" Marcus got up and picked out a random treasure. "This one will do! The Crown Princess knows we're just mortal rulers—compared to the gods, our cultivation is nothing. We can't show off with celestial artifacts or divine weapons, and she won't be picky!"
"Oh..." Clarissa nodded, then got sentimental again. "The Crown Princess really is blessed! Now she's become the Crown Princess, and soon she'll be Divine Empress... Sigh! Our Lily could've been Qilin Empress too, but instead..."
They always assumed the eldest prince would be the one to ascend as Crown Prince.
"Alright, alright, that's enough! Don't say that in front of Lily! Remember, she's pregnant! Pregnant women shouldn't get upset or stressed."
Clarissa took a deep breath and nodded. "No matter what, my son-in-law is the most handsome man on earth! And my future grandchild will be absolutely adorable. Yes! Definitely adorable!"
...
The couple carried their chosen gifts and arrived at the Celestial Palace.
There, they bumped into Jillian Summers and her husband, along with their daughter and son-in-law.
"Oh? Clarissa, Marcus, you two came too?" Jillian Summers greeted them with a bright smile.
"Yeah! We got a personal invitation from the Celestial Palace," Clarissa replied, looking a bit uneasy.
"What a coincidence, we did too," Jillian said. "Where are your Little Fish and Little Shrimp? Didn't they come with you?"
"They're coming too," Clarissa replied. "Little Shrimp is with his master. And Little Fish..."
She trailed off.
It felt awkward to say.
"Little Fish is coming with her husband, right?" Jillian Summers beamed. "What's his name again? Oh wow, I don't even know his name!"
Clarissa's face grew even more troubled.
If she said her daughter's husband was Damian Black, Jillian would roast her alive with teasing!
She might even poke fun in front of all the gods later...
Luckily, just then, Bobby Bai came running over, shouting happily, "Father! Mother!"
Clarissa scooped him up and showered him with kisses. "Oh, my sweet boy! Mommy missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Mommy," Bobby said. "And I missed Daddy."
Marcus grinned and grabbed his son's chubby little hand. "You've gotten taller and sturdier! Have you been listening to your master?"
"Yep! I've been super good!" Bobby said. "My master says I get a whole month off this time!"
"That's fantastic! Come back to the palace with us, and I'll personally make your favorite pastries!"