On the other side, in Concubine Chu's palace, just as Concubine Chu sat down in the inner chamber after returning, she heard a voice coming from behind the curtain in the room, "If it weren't for me helping you today, you would have ended up in the underground palace by now!"
"Who are you?" Concubine Chu suddenly stood up and asked in that direction.
The person slowly walked out from behind the curtain, and Concubine Chu's pupils dilated instantly.
"It's actually you...!"
Dongfang Yi's plan to trip up Concubine Chu at this time ultimately came to nothing because of Xiaoxin's death.
"Can we order an investigation into Concubine Chu's palace?" she said to Helian Qi behind her.
But all she got in reply was silence. Helian Qi finally didn't say a word.
"Forget it," Dongfang Yi said.
She understood that without any evidence, if they were to investigate Concubine Chu's palace, it would surely arouse dissatisfaction in the harem. People would say that the emperor doted on the queen too much, and the one in Cining Palace would never let her off.
Being in the imperial palace meant there were too many helplessnesses. While enjoying great power and wealth, one also lost things that were far more precious.
Thinking of this, Dongfang Yi left the imperial garden. Helian Qi behind her had a look of entanglement with countless indescribable emotions in his eyes for a moment.
As soon as Dongfang Yi entered the palace, she heard that Concubine Luo, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, was waiting for her in the palace.
Concubine Luo was still the same as when they first met, wearing a long green dress, with a pair of eyes still so lively.
As soon as she saw Dongfang Yi entering the palace gate, she quickly stepped forward to greet her.
"Greetings to the queen. I was ill some time ago and failed to visit you when you were sick. I feel deeply pained," Concubine Luo said as she bowed slightly.
Dongfang Yi waved her hand to signal her to enter the palace.
The two exchanged some polite greetings. Concubine Luo just said some unimportant things. Dongfang Yi, who was already in a bad mood, soon felt extremely bored.
Concubine Luo was smart enough to see the bored look on her face, so she bowed slightly and retreated.
Only after Concubine Luo completely disappeared from Dongfang Yi's sight did she seem to deflate and slumped back onto the bed.
She was thinking about Xiaoxin's death and the look on her face when she pleaded with her to protect her mother before she died. She couldn't help but feel a splitting headache. She could only laugh at herself for thinking she was smart, but unexpectedly making such a mistake.
Suddenly, a cold wind blew into the palace. Dongfang Yi suddenly stood up and was surprised to find that the window in the room was actually open. She couldn't help but feel suspicious. Just as she was thinking, suddenly a man's teasing laughter came from behind her.
She broke out in a cold sweat in an instant. This was the harem. How could there be the laughter of a strange man? She didn't dare to get up rashly and could only secretly feel around on her body to find the signal flare.
Unexpectedly, the man behind her suddenly said with a laugh, "That woman is doing the task you gave her. Even if you set off that signal, she won't be able to come back in time."
This voice sounded so familiar. Dongfang Yi thought, and then turned around.
The moment she saw the man in front of her, her pupils shrank sharply. Wasn't this... Situ Qing!!!
"How did you get here?!" Dongfang Yi exclaimed in surprise.
Unexpectedly, Situ Qing instantly moved to her side and covered her mouth with one hand.
"Shh - If you're so loud, you'll attract others," he said with his head close to Dongfang Yi's ear. The strength was so great that she couldn't break free.
"I've already said that I'll come back to find you," Situ Qing stared at the woman in front of him and continued.
Dongfang Yi felt a bit desperate. She and Helian Qi had uprooted his Black Hawk Society together. Of course, he wouldn't let her go easily.
She made a gesture to him indicating that she definitely wouldn't speak loudly, and only then did Situ Qing let go of her.
"Beauty, it's not my fault that your Black Hawk Society has become like this," Dongfang Yi said to him.
Situ Qing slightly narrowed his eyes, making it hard to see his expression.
"How is it not your fault?" Situ Qing asked with a curl of his lips.
"Look, beauty, I didn't harm anyone in your Black Hawk Society. And it was you who... kidnapped me..." After saying this, Dongfang Yi looked at the man opposite her with a bit of embarrassment in her eyes.
"Oh? Isn't it...?" Situ Qing was just about to say something when unexpectedly Dongfang Yi interrupted him.
"Alright, alright. Even if I followed you, but what crime did I commit!"
"Hahaha - You little woman are so interesting," Situ Qing suddenly burst out laughing wildly.
Dongfang Yi found that Situ Qing seemed to be smiling no matter when. Even last time in Dongguan when he watched his Black Hawk Society being turned upside down, the smile on his face didn't seem to be affected in the slightest.
"I'll come to see you next time," Situ Qing said and then disappeared from her sight.
Immediately after, she heard the palace door being pushed open, and a maid came in.
"Your Majesty, the emperor asks you to get ready. The prime minister and his wife will come to visit you soon," the maid said.
What?
Dongfang Yi was extremely surprised. Then she began to search the memory of the previous owner of this body in her mind.
She probably remembered that she was the legitimate daughter of the prime minister's mansion. Her father, the prime minister, had doted on her since childhood, and her mother also spoiled her. It was just that she had been weak - willed since childhood, which was why she had been bullied by her younger sister, Dongfang Chu, for so many years.
After entering the imperial palace, without the protection of her parents, Dongfang Chu resented that she had always been overshadowed by Dongfang Yi since childhood, so she framed her many times. Because of her weak - willed nature, Dongfang Yi in the past had ultimately lost her life. Dongfang Yi from modern times had just happened to travel through time and take over.
"I understand," Dongfang Yi replied. The maid then respectfully withdrew from the palace door.
About the time it took to burn an incense stick, she saw the prime minister and his wife.
A man in a black long robe and an official hat, and a noble - looking woman appeared in front of her.
The noble - looking woman immediately trotted over as soon as she saw Dongfang Yi. Unable to hold back her tears, she said, "My dear daughter, you've suffered..."
The prime minister beside her quickly pulled the woman and told her to pay attention to etiquette, but Dongfang Yi waved her hand and retorted, "Father, even if I've become the queen, I'll always be your daughter."
Hearing this, the prime minister's eyes were also filled with tears. The family happily entered the inner chamber.
"That rebellious child! She actually framed you!" the prime minister said angrily, slamming the table.
Dongfang Yi told them about Concubine Chu. The prime minister looked extremely angry, while the prime minister's wife kept wiping her tears on the side.
Dongfang Yi felt the long - lost warmth of family affection from them. In modern times, she had always been busy with work and often neglected her parents. Now thinking about it, she still felt a bit ashamed.
Now that she was in ancient times, she felt this long - lost family affection again. She couldn't help but think that this time she must try her best to fulfill her responsibility as a daughter.
The whole queen's palace was filled with a harmonious atmosphere. The family was happy and the warmth was just like this.