After Situ Qing left, the entire palace seemed empty. Only the open window let in the howling cold wind.
Autumn was almost over, and winter was approaching.
In modern times, Dongfang Yi had always dreaded winter. She loathed the icy touch and the feeling of being adrift. Now, as winter came again, she felt that long - lost sense of loneliness once more.
One afternoon, Helian Qi finally came to the Queen's palace, followed by many maids and eunuchs.
"Your palace is too empty," he said.
Dongfang Yi responded numbly and accepted the maids and eunuchs without saying a word.
Looking at Helian Qi, he seemed a bit thinner. His expression was as cold as ever, with his lips tightly pursed into a straight line. He quietly arranged everything and then left the Queen's palace without saying another word to Dongfang Yi from start to finish.
Watching Helian Qi's departing back, Dongfang Yi's heart grew even colder, and her expression involuntarily twisted.
She couldn't be like the other concubines in the palace, complaining and grumbling because of being neglected. She was a new woman who had received the best education in the 21st century. How could she... for these things...
Before she could finish thinking, Dongfang Yi felt her cheeks become wet. She raised her hand and found that she had already couldn't help crying.
She smiled bitterly at her own weakness. She had so easily fallen in love, and it was with the most heartless man in the world.
On the other side, although Helian Qi had left the inner palace of the Queen, he still stood in front of the outer palace gate for a long time. There was no expression on his face, and his lowered eyes were full of tangled emotions.
"Your Majesty, since you are reluctant to part, why don't you stay longer with the Queen?" Ru Yi beside him asked with concern.
But he got no response. Helian Qi strode towards the Chengqian Palace. Ru Yi quickly followed behind him.
I can only protect your safety like this for the time being.
Within a few days, rumors began to spread in the palace again, saying that the Queen had fallen out of favor and Concubine Chu had regained power.
It was said that the Emperor had only doted on the Queen to win over Prime Minister Dongfang to pacify the border rebellion. Now that the rebellion had been quelled, the Queen was of no more use, and the Emperor still favored Concubine Chu the most.
When Dongfang Yi, who was watering the flowers in the inner palace, heard these rumors, she just smiled bitterly a few times. She thought these were just palace rumors and not worthy of belief. But unexpectedly, her tears had already dropped one by one. She smiled bitterly and quickly wiped them away.
The maid beside her could only sigh at the Queen's appearance.
That night, Dongfang Yi was taking a walk outside the palace. The bright moonlight cast a long shadow of her. Suddenly, she recalled the night when she was outside the palace with Helian Qi.
It was the same kind of moonlight as tonight. But at that time, Helian Qi would hold her hand, and even the wind seemed warm. It was a pity that people's hearts change easily, and they could never go back to that time.
She didn't want to go back to the palace. The large palace garden was like a precious and delicate birdcage. On second thought, the imperial palace was just a bigger and more exquisite birdcage.
When she passed by a palace wall, she suddenly heard some noises from the other side. Faintly, there were a man's and a woman's voices. But who would be talking here in the middle of the night?
So she put her ear against the wall and listened carefully.
"How's the matter going?" the man said.
"It failed, but I'll find another opportunity soon," the woman replied.
The woman's voice was a bit flustered, and it sounded very familiar to Dongfang Yi. She searched her mind carefully. And after hearing the woman's second sentence, she finally understood.
"I'll kill Dongfang Yi first."
This shout of "Dongfang Yi" was so evocative. Wasn't this the gritted - teeth voice that Concubine Chu used when she addressed her?
So it was Concubine Chu! But who was the man talking to her?
Then the man said again, "You'd better not touch Dongfang Yi. Hurry up and kill Helian Qi. That person from the previous dynasty said that if you still can't do it, she can replace you at any time!"
"But..." Concubine Chu wanted to say something more, but the man interrupted her.
"Just follow the order!" the man said.
Concubine Chu could only say "Yes" and stopped talking.
There were some rustling noises from the other side of the wall, and then it became quiet. Presumably, they had separated.
On this side of the wall, Dongfang Yi was so shocked that she was covered in cold sweat. She never expected that Concubine Chu was colluding with the previous dynasty.
Then the person who tried to assassinate Helian Qi in the palace last time... must be her!
Dongfang Yi always thought that Concubine Chu was just vying for the Emperor's favor, but she never expected that she had such evil intentions. Dongfang Yi instinctively wanted to rush to the Chengqian Palace to tell Helian Qi about this.
When she arrived outside the Chengqian Palace, her steps became hesitant. She didn't know how to start. After not seeing him for so long, she didn't even know what to say first.
Ru Yi outside the palace saw Dongfang Yi pacing back and forth. He quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings to the Queen. I'll go and report immediately."
Dongfang Yi nodded instinctively.
After a while, Ru Yi came out and led her into the Chengqian Palace. Helian Qi was bent over the desk, reviewing official documents. The dim yellow candlelight softened his side face. She suddenly felt that she had seen this scene a long time ago. He was like a painting that no one could disturb.
"What's the matter?" Helian Qi asked without even raising his head.
Seeing his ignoring look, a bitter feeling welled up in Dongfang Yi's heart.
"I have something important to tell you," she said.
"I just saw Concubine Chu outside..." Before she could finish her sentence, Helian Qi interrupted her, "That's enough. Don't bother me if it's not important."
Dongfang Yi was shocked and stopped speaking. Then she smiled bitterly, bowed slightly and said, "Then this concubine will take her leave."
After watching her walk out of the palace gate, Helian Qi finally raised his head from the desk. His eyes were full of tangled emotions, and his mouth couldn't stop moving, as if he wanted to call out that person's name, but in the end, he didn't make any sound.
Ru Yi outside the door could only sigh helplessly at the scene in the palace.
After leaving the Chengqian Palace, Dongfang Yi suddenly started running. Her tears fell one after another. Her heart felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar. It seemed that only by running could she prevent others from seeing her absent - minded appearance.
It seemed that only in this way could she temporarily forget all her sorrows. After a while, she slowly stopped. Her standing body was swaying, and her body seemed to lose all its strength and slowly fell down.
On the verge of fainting, Dongfang Yi seemed to see that familiar face. Those eyes that were no longer cold were full of distress, and they gently held her in their arms.
"Helian Qi..." Dongfang Yi murmured softly and finally fell into a deep coma.
"I'm here."