Having vented her anger, Dongfang Yi was in a great mood. The drowsiness that had been brewing before had completely dissipated, and she suddenly felt like eating the ginkgo nuts on the tree.
Without hesitation, Dongfang Yi thought for a while. There was no one else in the Palace of Gathered Elegance. So she took off her shoes and removed all the jewelry from her head. Then she used both hands and feet and quickly climbed up the ginkgo tree.
Strangely enough, although it was the middle of winter, the ginkgo nuts were growing so well.
Dongfang Yi got extremely excited. She stuffed the ginkgo nuts into her bosom one by one. Unexpectedly, she lost her balance and fell straight to the ground. Dongfang Yi closed her eyes in fear. She had just arrived in this era... Was she going to ascend to immortality again?
However, the expected pain didn't come. Dongfang Yi fell into a broad and strong embrace. She sighed silently. Although this body was very light, it was still a fall from a height. None of the maids in her palace should be strong enough to catch her, right?
Opening her eyes in surprise, Dongfang Yi met a pair of teasing eyes.
"The queen has quite an interesting pastime."
Dongfang Yi felt a bit embarrassed. It was so embarrassing that the emperor had caught her doing such a thing. She was the dignified queen after all...
"Why does Your Majesty have the time to come here?"
Helian Qi raised his eyebrows. He had come here to ask about the matter of Concubine Chu being beaten the other day. Who would have thought that this little woman was picking ginkgo nuts on the ginkgo tree in the palace? It was really interesting.
"I came to see how the queen learns to climb a tree and pick fruits like a three - year - old child."
"I just thought the ginkgo nuts tasted delicious and got greedy." Dongfang Yi stood up straight and tidied her clothes.
"The imperial kitchen makes excellent ginkgo nut dishes. Come with me to take a look." After saying that, without waiting for Dongfang Yi's response, he took her hand and walked out of the palace.
Helian Qi's palm was extremely warm, different from her cold hands after climbing the tree. Dongfang Yi looked at Helian Qi's side profile. Were all ancient emperors so good - looking?
Her heart skipped a beat for no reason.
"Your Majesty, are you taking me to the imperial kitchen to steal food?" Dongfang Yi grinned and smiled at Helian Qi.
Helian Qi paused slightly, turned his head to look into her eyes, but said nothing.
Without getting an answer, the two walked in silence all the way. Occasionally, they met one or two palace servants who looked at Dongfang Yi in surprise.
When they arrived at the imperial kitchen, the delicious smell filled the air. Even though Dongfang Yi had just had a meal in front of the emperor, she felt extremely hungry. Relying on the fact that the emperor was by her side, Dongfang Yi became bold. She ate whatever she wanted. She stuffed a large pile of food into her bosom and also stuffed a pile into Helian Qi's bosom. She stopped only when Helian Qi's face had turned completely dark.
On the way back to the palace, Dongfang Yi still held food in her hand and ate it. At a corner, a figure in pink rushed over in a hurry and stopped in front of them.
Dongfang Yi blinked. In her memory, this should be Concubine Lian, a good friend of Concubine Chu. Dongfang Yi sighed silently. No wonder she was called Concubine Lian. Those tearful eyes were truly pitiful.
The emperor was really lucky.
When Concubine Lian saw Helian Qi, her eyes became even more teary. She knelt on her knees and angrily accused: "Your Majesty, although the queen is the mistress of the harem, she shouldn't be so overbearing and beat the concubines like this!"
Hearing this, Helian Qi glanced at Dongfang Yi beside him with a half - smile and said softly, "Hmm."
Hmm? Concubine Lian didn't expect Helian Qi to react so indifferently.
Dongfang Yi was enjoying her food and didn't really care when she heard what Concubine Lian said. This was how things were in the harem. When the person one relied on was injured but not out of favor, the subordinates would rush to file a complaint in a hurry. "How did I beat the concubines? Tell me."
Seizing the opportunity, Concubine Lian immediately said, "How did you beat the concubines? Don't you know what you've done, Your Majesty? Or do you not want to admit it? First, you slapped Concubine Chu to the ground. Her lips were swollen. Then you crippled her legs with a sandalwood stick. You are really cruel!"
Stupid people were just stupid. Dongfang Yi stopped eating and stuffed the food into Helian Qi's bosom. Then she adjusted her hairpin and said, "I wonder how you know all this? As far as I know, Concubine Chu is still unconscious. And the emperor has ordered the palace servants present to keep it a secret. How did you know?"
Concubine Lian probably hadn't prepared an answer for this and hadn't even thought about it. For a moment, she couldn't answer. Although it was cold, she broke out in a cold sweat.
She didn't expect the queen to ask such questions!
Helian Qi didn't say a word. He just stared at the woman beside him. There was such a woman in the harem, but he had only just discovered her.
Concubine Lian came to complain about her, but she counter - attacked and wanted to expose the secret spies Concubine Lian had placed in her palace. She was really intelligent. Helian Qi found it interesting and didn't want to spoil Dongfang Yi's plan.
"Your Majesty, it seems there are some bad people in my palace." Dongfang Yi smiled sweetly. "I've been punished to be under house arrest, but Concubine Lian has still inserted people around me. Concubine Lian is only a concubine with few servants around her, but she can have spies in my palace. I'm really inferior to her."
Concubine Lian was frightened. She didn't expect the queen to become so eloquent. Right... The emperor had previously killed an insider of Concubine Chu for her! Concubine Lian was suddenly scared. "Your Majesty... Maybe I made a mistake?"
What a clumsy answer. Dongfang Yi gave a faint smile. "How could you make a mistake? Weren't you so confident? How could you make a mistake about such a thing? I think you're just sad that your insider is dead!"
This was no longer an implication but an explicit hint. Helian Qi curled his lips and said, "They're just servants. The queen can decide for herself. I'll support you."
Concubine Lian turned pale. She didn't expect the emperor to protect the queen so much! How could she plead for herself then!?
"Get out of here. Don't come here and make a fool of yourself again." After saying that, Dongfang Yi started to eat the sweet food again.
Concubine Lian hurriedly bowed and left without thinking.
The smile on Helian Qi's lips grew deeper. Finally, he said amusingly, "The queen is really amazing. I didn't know you were so assertive before."
A gentleman of noble character, like jade being carved and polished. Wasn't this exactly what Helian Qi was like? Dongfang Yi sighed silently in her heart. It was really good to have a good appearance. So many women flocked to him.
"That's because Your Majesty has been so focused on Concubine Chu. How could you have the time to pay attention to me?"
The words came out smoothly. Dongfang Yi didn't notice until after she had said them. She then realized that the words were a bit inappropriate.
"So that's it. It was my fault. From now on, I'll definitely pay more attention to you." Helian Qi said seriously. But if you looked closely, you could still see the teasing smile in his eyes.
Helian Qi hadn't been this happy for a long time.
Dongfang Yi was stunned for a moment, and her face turned red.