Dongfang Yi had heard some things about Concubine Chu from her parents. As for why Concubine Chu was now so prominent in the harem, it all started when she recognized the former left prime minister as her adoptive father.
Their father was Dongfang Jia'an, the left prime minister of the court, while Concubine Chu's adoptive father was Nangong Liuyun, a veteran statesman who had served two dynasties.
Old Master Nangong and their father, Dongfang Jia'an, had been political rivals in the previous dynasty, leading two opposing factions. For years, they were evenly matched. Since the Nangong family had no daughter, they raised Concubine Chu as their own in the harem. Due to her cruel nature, she managed to gain a foothold in the harem.
Only then did the mystery in Dongfang Yi's mind finally unravel. She now understood why, in this era, as the legitimate eldest daughter, she had been bullied by Concubine Chu, a concubine-born daughter.
Meanwhile, in Concubine Chu's palace, she was whipping a maid with a whip, scolding as she lashed: "Dongfang Yi! I want you dead! I want the entire Dongfang family to go to hell!"
As she spoke, her blows became more brutal. With a few cracks of the whip, the maid was directly whipped to the ground. Only then did Concubine Chu throw the whip on the ground and turn back into the inner palace.
Some other maids went to check the breath of the fallen maid, only to find that she had already died!
Everyone sighed. They knew that this maid had only accidentally spilled a bit of tea while serving it, yet she was so brutally executed.
Concubine Chu was filled with hatred. Since childhood, she had known that she was just an appendage in the Dongfang family.
Her father always doted on Dongfang Yi. No matter how smart she was, no matter how much better she was than Dongfang Yi in both studies and needlework, her father's gaze never lingered on her. Finally, when she grew up and entered the palace, and recognized Prime Minister Nangong as her adoptive father, Dongfang Yi seemed to have suddenly changed. How could she not hate?
Not long after, Concubine Lian came again. After hearing that their poison plan had failed once again, Concubine Lian had not dared to come for a long time.
She was afraid of Concubine Chu. Her family was just a small general's mansion, barely standing firm in the previous dynasty relying on Prime Minister Nangong. In the harem, she also had to rely on Concubine Chu.
"You still remember to come?" Concubine Chu sneered at the woman opposite.
Concubine Lian immediately knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness, we can only seek help from Old Prime Minister Nangong!"
...
Helian Qi had not come to Dongfang Yi's palace for the past few days. Since that incident, Dongfang Yi didn't know why, but it was as if a basin of water had been poured on her from head to toe.
This was the palace, and Helian Qi was the emperor. Just because of that ridiculous flutter in her heart, just because she had saved him outside the palace, did that mean it was love?
He just found her a bit interesting. He would have more women, and interesting ones would be continuously sent into the harem. What was she to him?
Thinking of this, Dongfang Yi couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. She laughed at herself, a modern person, for not being able to see through such illusory love.
She didn't sleep all night. Early the next morning, she rushed to the imperial garden. She decided to find out who had helped Concubine Chu kill Xiaoxin. In this huge palace, she had to ensure her own safety.
The imperial garden had been cleaned spotlessly, with no trace of the person who had died there. This was the coldness of the palace. No one's departure could affect its operation.
Dongfang Yi walked around the imperial garden several times but found no clues. Just as she was about to leave, she saw something shiny in a peony bush.
She slowly bent down and took it out. Looking closely, she found it was a jade pendant. One side was carved with a Xuanwu beast, and the other side was engraved with two characters she didn't recognize. It seemed to be the writing of another country.
Dongfang Yi quickly put it in her bosom. The next moment, she heard voices coming from not far away in the imperial garden. She stood on tiptoe and looked over. She saw Helian Qi and Concubine Chu standing beside him.
The way the two of them were snuggled together stabbed Dongfang Yi's eyes, and her heart suddenly felt empty.
So he got bored so quickly. I was just his pastime when he was bored.
Dongfang Yi left the imperial garden with a disappointed heart. When she returned to the queen's palace, she collapsed on the bed like a deflated balloon, her heart filled with desolation.
Not long after, she heard a laugh beside the bed. Dongfang Yi looked up and found that Situ Qing had somehow entered her palace again.
"What are you thinking about, woman?" Situ Qing asked with a smile.
"Why should I tell you?" Dongfang Yi retorted without even bothering to get up from the couch.
She seemed to have a bit of an understanding of Situ Qing's personality. Seeing that he didn't seem to want to kill her, she became more casual in front of him.
"Oh?" Situ Qing found it amusing to see the woman on the bed acting like a scoundrel, so he took two steps forward and bent down.
Dongfang Yi only felt a shadow covering her, and then she saw Situ Qing's face magnified in front of her.
It was still that extremely beautiful face, with his misty peach blossom eyes full of cunning.
At such a close distance, Situ Qing could even see the fine hairs on the woman's face, shining in the afternoon sun. Her eyes were like those of a frightened deer, and her lips were slightly parted in surprise.
He suddenly felt his body getting hot. A fiery impulse was surging towards his lower body. It seemed that only by ravaging the woman in front of him could he suppress this nameless urge in his heart.
"You'd better not do anything stupid." Dongfang Yi threatened. She was holding the signal firework in her hand. With just a press, Donghua would arrive in a quarter of an hour.
"Hehe..." Situ Qing sneered. He reached out and touched her forehead hair, then continued, "Do you think that woman can save you?"
Dongfang Yi's expression froze for a moment, then she said fiercely, "I'll make you die!"
"Hahahahaha, woman, if I strip you naked now and get into your bed, then shout out, what do you think Helian Qi will think if he sees this? Having you accompany me to death, it won't be lonely on the road to the underworld."
Situ Qing said every word to her, and then buried his head in her neck and giggled.
"You're shameless!" Dongfang Yi scolded in a low voice. She felt for the first time that this man was so rascal.
But this posture didn't last long. Situ Qing stood up and looked down at her, saying, "Helian Qi will never love you. Only I can save you."
"I don't need anyone's salvation!" Dongfang Yi shouted.
"You will. I'll be waiting for you to come with me at any time." With that, he disappeared from the inner palace.