After Xiao Yang completely disappeared from their sight, Dongfang Yi suddenly realized how intimate her position with Situ Qing was at the moment. She was in his arms, their bodies tightly pressed together without a single gap. She could almost feel the man's breath on top of her head. Suddenly, the air seemed to freeze.
"My lady, how long are you going to hold your husband?" the man on top of her said playfully.
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi came back to her senses and quickly pushed him away. She even reached out and flicked Situ Qing's nose, saying, "What are you yelling about! I'll break your legs!"
With that, she was about to hit him, but Situ Qing moved even faster and rushed out of the room. Dongfang Yi chased after him, eager to give him a good beating. For a moment, the awkward atmosphere was dispelled, and the two were surrounded by joy.
As Situ Qing ran in front, he thought that he didn't need to ask for more. Wouldn't it be great to live like this every day? The fragrance of her hair still lingered on his nose, and she could still play around with him so freely.
Thinking of this, he stopped in his tracks, turned around, and shouted in a cheeky voice, "My lady!" His expression was extremely annoying.
Hearing this shout, Dongfang Yi became even more angry and chased after him to beat him. For a moment, the inn became noisy, and some guests were even teasing them.
Just as Dongfang Yi ran past a dining table, a figure caught her eye, and she suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned back.
Sitting at the table was a woman wearing a white veil and a bamboo hat. Her familiar attire made Dongfang Yi think of someone immediately - Donghua.
For a moment, the smile froze on her face. She walked over step by step and slowly sat down opposite the veiled woman.
Situ Qing also noticed her strange behavior, so he put away his teasing expression and stood in the distance, staring fixedly at her.
"Who are you?" Dongfang Yi asked warily.
The woman opposite slowly took off her bamboo hat. Her face was so beautiful that one would never forget it once they saw it.
Donghua was still as beautiful as a peony flower as she was the first time they met. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, "Your Majesty the Queen."
Although her voice was extremely soft, so soft that only the two of them could hear it, it still instantly pulled Dongfang Yi into an ice cave.
In the distance, Situ Qing also saw Donghua's face, and his expression instantly became solemn. He knew Donghua. It was he who had injured her on the road back then, which was why he had been able to easily take Dongfang Yi out of the palace.
And if she was here now, did it mean that Helian Qi was also here?
On the other hand, Dongfang Yi also thought of whether Helian Qi was here at the first moment, so she subconsciously looked around, searching for his trace.
"The Emperor didn't come," Donghua said, seeing the woman in front of her and guessing what she was thinking.
Hearing her words, Dongfang Yi let out a sigh of relief as if she had finally been relieved of a heavy burden.
Looking at her, Donghua asked, "Are you so afraid of him? Do you really not want to return to the palace?"
Dongfang Yi forced a bitter smile and said, "He once gave me hope, but then that hope was shattered, so I'm scared now."
Hearing her words, Donghua couldn't help but frown. She wanted to say something but held back. She just stammered, "The Emperor will come to pick you up in three days."
"I won't go back!" she roared out of control. Who did Helian Qi think he was?!
Donghua lowered her head, sighed, and continued, "The Emperor expected you to say that. He asked me to convey a message to you. If you don't go back, the entire Dongfang family will pay for your decision."
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi widened her eyes in disbelief. She only knew that ancient emperors were often cruel, but she never expected that Helian Qi would actually want to kill an entire loyal family because of her decision!
She let out a few bitter laughs and then shook her head, saying, "What does he still want me to go back for? My heart is no longer there..."
Donghua, sitting opposite her, saw her sad expression, just shook her head, and said, "Then this subject will take her leave."
But just as Donghua was about to reach the door, she was blocked by Situ Qing.
"Want to leave?" Situ Qing threatened with that same smile.
Donghua stared at him coldly without saying a word.
"Let her go," Dongfang Yi suddenly said from a distance.
Although Situ Qing wanted to say something else, seeing Dongfang Yi's determined expression, he still let go of his hand that was blocking the way.
After Donghua completely disappeared from their sight, Situ Qing asked, "Xiaodong, they've found us, right? Let's go."
But Dongfang Yi just shook her head. Her voice was even a bit choked as she said, "It's useless. He's threatening me with the entire Dongfang family. I can't be so selfish for my own sake..." As she said this, Situ Qing actually saw a few tears roll down from the corner of her eye.
He had never seen Dongfang Yi cry. Even when Helian Qi had slapped her back then, she had only felt humiliated. But now, all she could feel was helplessness and being controlled. For the first time, she felt how unfair this era was.
Seeing her tears, all of Situ Qing's sorrow suddenly welled up in his heart. Seeing her cry, he even had the urge to die for her.
"I'll help you protect the Dongfang family. You just run away!" Situ Qing said.
As a descendant of the previous dynasty, although his power was not as great as Helian Qi's now, if he tried his best, he could still protect a family from under his hands.
But Dongfang Yi still shook her head. She had stopped crying and raised her head, saying, "I can't take the entire Dongfang family on such a risk." With that, she got up and was about to go upstairs.
She knew very well in her heart that if she insisted on freedom, Situ Qing would do anything for her.
But how could she be so selfish? She clearly knew that she couldn't reciprocate his feelings, but she still accepted his kindness and let him do such difficult things for her. She just couldn't do it.
Three days later, Helian Qi would come, and her only choice would be to go with him.
Dongfang Yi lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling. Her heart was filled with indescribable bitterness. She had finally been about to forget him, and finally had her own life.
But when she asked her own heart, at the moment she saw Donghua, besides anger and fear, there was actually a hint of excitement that she didn't even want to admit. She still hadn't completely forgotten her feelings for him.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
There was a knock on the door, followed by Situ Qing's voice, "Xiaodong, talk to me."
Dongfang Yi hesitated for a moment while lying on the bed, then turned over and got out of bed to open the door.
Situ Qing outside the door looked a bit haggard, but he still tried to put on a smile and said, "Xiaodong, can you please not go?"